• Had absolutely no clue what to expect at the Christmas Eve service. Would anybody show up? Would it go over well? Was it worth trying?
• All of those questions got answered in a big way!
• Our goal was to stay true to OneLife in terms of what it’s like to be with us on a Sunday but yet still be traditional since “that’s what you do” on Christmas.
• I think our team did a great job striking a balance between modern and traditional.
• We opened with a couple of full band, rockin’ Christmas songs. Then we transitioned to an accoustic feel, complete with cello!
• I wrapped up the “Do You Hear” series talking about how hearing from God is like seeing a light in the darkness. When we hear from Him, everything starts to become clear.
• What’s neat is that Jesus was called the “light” at birth by Simeon and as an adult by John the Baptist. But Jesus called us – his Church – the light of the world. That’s a pretty high standard we should live up to!
• We then walked through the Christmas story with candlelight and Christmas carols.
• 170 people showed up which was great! I would have been happy with 100 so I’m glad God is bigger than my little box!
• What was really exciting was seeing OneLifers be so excited about their church that they brought entire rows full of family members, friends, and neighbors.
• Not only was it a good crowd, but it was a generous crowd. Nearly $1500 was given toward our Christmas offering – all of which goes toward helping us reach out into our community and beyond.
• I’m really excited to see how all of this momentum rolls over into the New Year.
• We are kicking off 2010 with a New Year’s Party on Sunday. Don’t miss it!!!

Late on the recap and going to keep it short and sweet this week. But stay tuned for a recap of what I am praying will be an awesome Christmas Eve service tomorrow afternoon!

• Part 3 of “Do You Hear” was about hearing from God when life seems normal.
• The Wise Men (aka Magi) were just doing their jobs when they heard from God.
• But it wasn’t a booming voice. No angels. No supernatural, hard to understand experience.
• Their everyday lives (watching the stars) intersected with God’s word (a star would rise out of Jacob – a prophesy of the Messiah) and they knew what God wanted them to do.
• We were missing our college students and lots of young families this week because of Christmas so it seemed a little down in the auditorium.
• But when I got the communication cards, we still had four first time families! Not a Sunday has gone by without first-time guests being with us.
• I am extremely excited about our Christmas Eve service tomorrow at 4 p.m. Really praying for lots of people who wouldn’t usually go to church to show up and hear the Gospel!
• The music is going to be incredible. A great blend of modern Christmas worship from the OneLife band with a traditional accoustic candlelight set thrown in.
• We’re giving our volunteers time with families and friends and not having a service next Sunday.
• We resume on January 3 with a New Year’s Party! If you are a OneLifer or want to know more about what’s in store for OneLife, don’t miss this Sunday!

The busiest but most awesome weekend to date at OneLife.

• Saturday was crazy for us. We spent the morning hauling a portable baptistry to the high school AND assembling the new stage set.
• Then it was time to get the parade float ready. Somehow they fit 4 speakers, two subs, amps, a sound board, AND sound man Tyler on the back of a truck. Then the entire band on a trailer.
• Gotta say, we were a fun float!
• The band played “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” – very spiritual
• We threw TONS of candy and passed out hundreds of info cards about the Christmas series and Christmas Eve Service.
• Check out PowellChristmas.com for more info.
• Sunday morning was nothing short of a miracle from God. We baptized 6 people, 5 others prayed to receive Christ, and there were 250 in attendance.
• Our previous high attendance was 166.
• Jumping nearly 90 people in a week is not normal nor something we can make happen. It’s all God!
• At first our lack of faith said “It’s just baptism families.” But there weren’t 90 baptism family members there!
• Unfortunately it was our last Sunday with college students until January. Really going to miss them!
• After the service was over and torn down, it was time to get ready for our first OneLife Christmas Appreication Party.
• This was our gift back to all those who volunteer, give sacrificially, and invite their friends and family. These people make it happen!
• The food was AWESOME! Fried chicken, ribs, mac and cheese, brocolli casserole, green beans, mashed taters, rolls, banana pudding, cherry cobbler and SWEET tea.
• We also started a Christmas tradition for our volunteers – a OneLife Christmas ornament.
• I know I’ll always cherish mine! It says “Our first Christmas…”
• Can’t wait for week two of our Christmas series this Sunday!

• The dreaded Sunday after Thanksgiving. One of the country’s biggest travel days which means nobody goes to church.
• At least that’s what I thought heading into it. But we actually didn’t see too much of a drop!
• Since we were between series I took a Sunday off and Kevin preached.
• He did a great job using Blues Brothers to drive home his point. “We’re on a mission from God.”
• Two people marked on their cards that they prayed to receive Christ!
• We had a surprising number of guests for a holiday weekend. That was great to see.
• We also had a guest worship leader – Holly Alejo. Check out her website.
• She did a great job but I’m ready for the OneLife Band to be back and hitting on all cylinders! I’ve missed the whole gang the last 2 weeks.
• This coming Sunday is going to be INCREDIBLE!!!
• We are starting a new series, singing Christmas songs, and baptizing for the first time. It’s going to rock!
• We hope to have our highest attendance yet since the day before is the Powell Christmas Parade. We will be doing tons of promotions at the parade. And throwing TONS of candy
• If you live in the area, come to the Powell Christmas Parade on Saturday at 5. It’ll be lots of fun.
• Check out our website we just launched to promote the parade and the Christmas Eve Service we will be hosting. PowellChristmas.com.
• To cap off a fun-filled weekend, the OneLife Christmas Appreciation Party is Sunday night! Catered dinner for the adults and childcare for the kiddos will be provided. RSVP online now if you haven’t yet!
• It’s gonna be a great weekend at OneLife as we kick-off the Christmas season. Invite a friend and come ready to discover how you can hear from God this Christmas!