Love Didn’t Begin in Bethlehem

Hey there SCC Family !

Welcome to The Bridge Weekly Vol 2. Issue 52!
The final issue of the year has arrived! Volume 3 is just around the corner.
If you’re reading this in cozy clothes, mid-coffee, surrounded by family, or enjoying a quiet moment to yourself—Merry Christmas. We hope today is a good one for you. On Sunday, Joel reminded us that love didn’t begin in Bethlehem; it was already moving toward us long before the manger. Love is who God is, and Jesus makes that love visible and trustworthy. As we stay rooted there, clarity begins to settle in, fear loosens its grip, and faith grows quietly through ordinary moments. Christmas invites us to pause and live from the love God has already given.

Pre-Service Prayer
Our prayer team is available from 9:30–10:00 a.m. before the service. If you have a prayer need or would like someone to pray with you, the team gathers near the Prayer Room in the Great Room. It’s a simple way to quiet your heart and welcome God’s presence before the morning begins.

This Sunday, Joel will be sharing as we take time to reflect on what God has been doing among us this year. Through a series of short, conversational interviews, we’ll hear stories from people in our church family about how God has met them, led them, and shaped their trust in Jesus. It’s a simple, meaningful moment to pause, listen, and give thanks together.

On Christmas Day, we’re especially thankful for the generosity that continues to shape life at SCC. Your giving helps create space for care, ministry, and presence in our church and community. If you’re planning a year-end gift and would like it included on your 2025 tax receipt, donations need to be received or postmarked by December 31. Thank you for being part of what God is doing among us through faithful partnership.

Colby’s Next Step | How We Can Help

As Colby prepares for his time with World Embrace, Kathy Mainse reached out with a few practical needs for their base and the Lookout Café, one of their self-sustaining community spaces. The café serves locals, expats, and missionaries, and helps cover base expenses so that donations can go directly toward ministry projects. Every contribution supports the work happening on the ground. If you have any of the items below at home or happen to spot them while out and about, bringing them in would be a real gift. White linens are preferred so they can be easily bleached. Items can be dropped off at SCC during office hours or contact Colby at [email protected]
Items needed:

As Tracy shared on Sunday, December 21, the Youth Group Leadership Planning Meeting was an encouraging time. Engagement was strong, and the gathering reflected a clear sense of health, unity, and spiritual maturity among both youth and leaders.

As we continue to walk through this season of change with Elev8 Youth, we want to invite the church into intentional prayer.

This is a time of listening and paying attention—a time of trusting that God is already at work among our teens and those who serve them. While we will begin the search for a Youth Pastor, we also recognize that this in-between space matters. God is speaking in the middle of it, and we don’t want to miss what He is saying in our desire to arrive quickly at an outcome.

Please join us in praying for:

• Our youth, that they would continue to encounter Jesus in worship, community, and everyday life.

• Our Youth Leaders, both long-standing and newly stepping in, for strength, unity, and joy as they serve.

• Wisdom and clarity as we begin the Youth Pastor search in January.

• A spirit of discernment, that we would recognize what God is opening and what He is inviting us to wait on.

• The right people to step into support roles, including communication and coordination, at the right time.
  

We are grateful for the faithfulness already present in this community and for the way God continues to shape and lead Elev8 Youth. Thank you for covering this season in prayer as we listen, discern, and walk forward together.

HERE+NOW is a night of worship and prayer happening January 11 at 6:00 p.m. at Elmsdale Nazarene. This gathering is open to people from all churches, backgrounds, and traditions, created as a space to pause and seek God together. As a new year begins, HERE+NOW invites us to focus on the present moment—welcoming God’s healing, renewal, and nearness right where we are. If you’re longing for space to listen, worship, and re-center your heart, you’re warmly invited to be part of the night.

God still speaks, and learning to recognize His voice is part of following Jesus. This five-week course creates space to grow in clarity, confidence, and discernment as we explore how God speaks through Scripture, prayer, community, and everyday life. Each week includes a different teacher, simple practices, and time to listen together in a relaxed, supportive setting. If you’re curious, attentive, or wanting to grow in confidence as you follow Jesus, you’re warmly invited to join us. Register using the button below

Money Matters is a casual, conversation-style evening designed for anyone wanting a steadier, more practical approach to finances. It takes place Wednesday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. and features short, approachable talks followed by open Q&A. Topics include budgeting, debt, savings, and tithing, shared in a low-pressure, non-judgmental setting. The evening will be hosted by Darren, with insights from Temba Ngwenya, Scott Nash, Ron Goddard, and Don DesRoches—and yes, there will be refreshments..

Christmas can be full of people, food, conversation, and motion. Even so, there are small moments where God meets us in the middle of it all. A quiet breath, a shared laugh, a simple prayer. As this year draws toward its close, may you notice those moments and receive them as gifts—small spaces where God’s presence steadies and renews us.

Looking to get more involved? Joining a team is a great way to build community, discover your strengths, and help others experience Jesus along the way. From making coffee to running slides, greeting at the door to helping with kids—there’s a place for you. Let’s find it together.

There’s always something taking shape at SCC—and we’d love for you to be part of it. From upcoming events to ways to serve and grow, our website is the best place to explore what’s happening. Take a look and find your next step.

Thanks for being part of what God is building here. We love walking this out with you—and we’ll see you Sunday.

P.S. Love didn’t begin in Bethlehem, but Christmas reminds us where it became visible. Jesus still meets us in ordinary moments, steady and near, inviting us to trust the love that came first.