For this special Christmas edition of This Week in the BRN Family,  fellow BRN Family members from across Pennsylvania and South Jersey have sent in merry messages and seasonal Scripture verses to encourage you and yours. May these glad tidings bring you joy, and remind you of the sweetest gift of all – Jesus Christ,  our Lord and Savior! Merry Christmas, BRN Family!

Advent Blessings…

The Advent season always reminds me of a central passage that sums up the Christmas narrative (Matthew 1:22-23): “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).”

We serve a Savior who embodies three distinctive traits. He is Incarnational (He’s real to us); He is Relational (He’s near to us); and He is Transformational (He changes us). From the James family to my BRN family: We wish you a joyous holiday season as we all seek to model The Christ of Christmas to a troubled world in desperate need of Him! – Paul J. James, Senior Pastor at CareView Community Church in Lansdowne, Pa.

Verse for the Season: “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means, ‘God with us’).” – Matthew 1:22-23 (NIV)

Christmas Greetings…

Merry Christmas to all of you! I’m praying Christ will be worshiped and enjoyed more and more in our churches and communities. May His light shine through us, bringing hope in the darkness. – Ben Reaoch, Senior Pastor at Three Rivers Grace Church in Pittsburgh, Pa.

Verse for the Season: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” – Philippians 2:5–7 (ESV) 

 

Glad Tidings…

Merry Christmas from the Sanders family and the Hillview Baptist Church family in Williamsport, Pennsylvania! We pray you have a wonderful season celebrating our Savior, and that many who are lost might meet Him this season! – Jamie Sanders, Senior Pastor at Hillview Baptist Church in Williamsport, Pa.

Verse for the Season: “And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'” – Luke 2:10-11 (ESV) 

Merry Blessings…

On behalf of the Proclamation Community Church and the Waters family, I would like to extend our sincere desire that our BRN family experiences the fullness of the Lord’s blessings during this Advent season. As we live out the realities of the last days, may we use this time to be reminded and encouraged by the Sovereignty of our Lord Jesus Christ!  – Gerald Waters, Mission Pastor at Proclamation Community Church in Philadelphia, Pa.

Verse for the Season: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Warm Wishes…

Merry Christmas from your co-laborers at Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Philipsburg, Pa. We’re thankful for another year of celebrating the birth of our King with all of you at the BRN! – Daniel Arter, Senior Pastor at Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Philipsburg, Pa.

Verse for the Season: “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” – Isaiah 9:7 (ESV)

Hopeful Regards…

May this Christmas season breathe hope, love, joy, and peace into your soul as you spend time with our Lord and others in your life, whatever that may look like for you this year.

May you experience God with you in your moments and break away from the norm to be present as they happen, and may past memories bring nostalgia, new memories be made, and love be given and received in abundance. – Lori Zeppuhar, BRN Team Member/BRN Hub Support

Verse for the Season: “‘Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel’ (which means, God with us.)” – Matthew 1:23 (ESV)

Winter Greetings…

Akiko and I would like to wish our BRN family a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. This is a wonderful time to proclaim our Savior to all we come in contact with over the holidays, God bless you all! – Kenneth Sachs, Senior Pastor at God’s Field in Freedom, Pa. 

Verse for the Season: “‘For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'” – Luke 2:11 (ESV)

Abundant Blessings…

The church family of the First Baptist Church of Ulysses joins with me and Gail in wishing each of you a joyful and merry Christmas, and an abundant and happy New Year! – Ray Rohland, Interim Pastor at The First Baptist of Ulysses in Ulysses, Pa. 

Verse for the Season: “Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” – Luke 2:13-15 (NIV)

Sweet Salutations…

Greetings and Merry Christmas from our campus group at Montgomery County Community College. We call ourselves “The Fellowship at Montco,” or FAM Club for short because – “We are more than friends, we are family!” At our End-of-the-Semester, Pre-Finals, Celebrating-Christ’s-Birthday Party, we ordered Chick-fil-A and had lots of sweets and treats. Our theme for this night was, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him,” (Psalm 34:8). The funny thing is we had one student show up in a chicken costume because we said to “dress up.”  (See if you can find the chicken costume!)

Thanks BRN family, for your prayers and support with College Campus Missions/ Ministry – Merry Christmas! – Brady Rennix, Next Gen Minister in the Greater Philadelphia Region

Verse for the Season: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” – Psalm 34:8 (ESV)

Joyful Remarks…

Hey BRN brothers and sisters in Christ! Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and praying God’s blessings for you this Christmas season.  – Rob Sheldon, Senior Pastor at Greencastle Baptist Church in Greencastle, Pa.

Verse for the Season: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)

Peaceful Tidings…

Merry Christmas to all of you fellow workers in God’s vineyard! It gives me great joy to once again be reminded of the peace and hope Christmas brings to all of us! – Darius Nable, Senior Pastor at The Church of the Good Shepherd Cherry Hill in Cherry Hill, NJ 

Verse for the Season: “How can I repay the Lord for all the good he has done for me?” – Psalm 116:12 (CSB)

 

Be a part of This Week in the BRN Family

Have exciting things happening in your church!? Let us know so we can celebrate with you and share the good news with our BRN Family. Submit stories of your church accelerating Kingdom movement, loving their neighbors or celebrating baptisms on our News Tips page. We can’t wait to hear from you!