Archive for December, 2009

A Wonderful Gift!

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

At Christmas we celebrate God’s greatest gift, the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  And because of his birth, death and resurrection, we too have been given gifts with which to honor Christ and serve others. God has brought together the gifts of one of our members in a way that promises both to honor God and bless his people.  Clinton Knight has used his artistic love for organ music, his technical knowledge of computers, and his affection and appreciation for his father, the late James Knight, to undertake an amazing project to retrofit a beautiful pipe organ console into a magnificent digital instrument.  

The story of this organ has too many incredible facets to be told in a short email.  You can learn more about it and follow the detailed progress over the last four years at Clinton’s blog on the project: http://homepage.mac.com/clintonk/iblog/B505170200/index.html.   However, you will have the opportunity to see and hear first hand the results of Clinton’s work as the Knights will donate the organ to Ambassador for the new building, in memory of Clinton’s father.  The features and sound will give us another amazing musical medium with which to praise our mighty God in song.   

If you plan on attending the Knights Christmas drop-in this Saturday afternoon.  You will have the benefit of getting a preview of the organ’s ability as Clinton will lead in some Christmas hymns on the instrument, currently housed in his garage.  We are very thankful not only for the amazing gift this instrument will be to our church in terms of worship, but also for the wonderful gifts of God’s people to bring glory and honor to Him. 

 Artistic beauty meets digital technology.

 

They paved paradise…

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Well maybe not paradise, but they did put up a parking lot at our new church building.  The paving is completed and you can now drive smoothly onto the property.  (see pic below)

Speaking of paving, I’m reminded of the prophet’s words in Isaiah 40:3-5.  “A voice cries, ‘In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord…Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.”   

Jesus came in the flesh to reveal the glory of God and to pave the way to a restored relationship with our heavenly Father, a relationship that had been broken and barred by the insurmoutable obstacle of our sin and rebellion.   As you head towards Christmas, perhaps your life seems a bit rocky and rough.  Perhaps there are mountains that seem insurmountable or valleys that seem uncrossable:  broken relationships, financial hardships, failed dreams, marriage/parenting struggles, physical illness or other trials of life. 

Take a moment to remember that the glory of the Lord has been revealed in Jesus Christ.  Because Christ has come and through faith in Him, the trials of this life may not disappear, but we can face them with the confidence, strength and grace that God provides.  He loves us and is for us and one day all those rough places truly will be smoothed out forever.   

Remember this Christmas that Jesus came to pave the way to paradise!  

 

They paved APC and put up a parking lot.

Women’s Christmas Tea

Monday, December 7th, 2009

The annual Women’s Christmas Tea was held at the Halle Cultural Arts Center in downtown Apex this past Sunday, December 5th.  It was a lovely afternoon of great fellowship, fantastic food and a wonderful message given by Cas Monaco.  Enjoy the pictures below of the event.

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White Elephant Christmas Party

Monday, December 7th, 2009

The small group that meets at the Clark’s home on Sunday evenings had their annual White Elephant Christmas Party on Sunday, December 6th.  As always, there was a potluck of amazing food and a fun and silly evening of fellowship.  A few pictures to highlight the festivities!

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