The Best Time of the Year
By Makenzie Magnus
Gone are the days of 100-degree temps, mosquitos and accidental sunburns. A giddy “Sayonara, summer!” To me, fall and winter is the absolute best time of the year, and there are so many ways that our church embraces this season. It provides a richness and intentionality to the season that I wouldn’t trade for the world. There’s a lot to look forward to this time of year, so here’s what’s on my bullet list:
Thanksgiving Fest: This will be our second Thanksgiving Fest for our local schools, and it was absolutely amazing last year. Opening our doors to the community, engaging relationships and enjoying each other’s company are some of the reasons I love this night. Sixty families requested more information about our church, and we were able to create a fun atmosphere that not only provided people with some great items for a Thanksgiving meal, but also a place of welcome and relationship. This year’s Fest is Friday, November 12, from 5-8 p.m. We have fun plans, so if you can serve, please sign up here!
The Gift Goes On: This is hands-down my favorite night of the entire year (besides the Candlelight Service). This night just glimmers with cheer, purpose and fun. There is a great variety of vendors, so you can shop for everyone on your list, knowing the vendors are paying it forward to our Karis Adoption Fund. Have you been to other markets where every booth looks the same? Not here! Bring your friends and family on Tuesday, November 16, from 5-9 p.m. to the Cube. There will be food trucks, a live auction, a raffle and the best vendors...I can’t wait! (Pro-tip: Follow @TheGiftGoesOn on social media to see vendor highlights and special info.)
The Advent Season: This year, our theme is “God with us.” This truth will center us during the Advent season, and I already know it will be a special time ending with my absolute favorite Candlelight service. It can be tricky to slow down in a frenzied season like Christmas, so I invite you to carve out intentional time to reflect and slow down. My sister and I started a December tradition a few years ago of having one night a week where we stash our phones away, turn off the TV and the lights and enjoy a candlelit night with friends and a lazy dinner (setting out simple snacks or a good soup). It’s amazing how refreshing it is when we give ourselves just one night away from technology!
Remembrance Service: If you have never been to our Remembrance Service, I highly encourage you to go! Bob Willis, a certified grief counselor, sculptor and author has a God-given gift and creates an amazing space to remember, honor and grieve that is very needed. If it’s been a hard year of loss, this night is a gift where you can acknowledge that the cheer and twinkle of Christmas feels so separate from how you feel. This year it is Tuesday, December 7, at 7 p.m. in the Chapel. And of course, there will be hot chocolate and Christmas cookies afterward! You may also choose an angel from the angel tree in honor of your loved one.
Christmas at the Cube: This is going to be amazing! The “Christmas village” is going to be so cute! And we are really focusing on inviting our community more than ever before. Friday, December 10, is our “Church Family Preview Night” and Saturday, December 11, is the “Community Night and Concert.” The festivities are endless. There is a petting zoo, food trucks, snowman-building contest, dessert contest, karaoke, Christmas village, inflatables, hayride, snowball fights, bonfire and more. It will literally be like a Hallmark movie exploded at the Cube. We need you and your groups to jump on board and help make this the best weekend ever. Sign up to serve at www.councilroad.church/advent.
I’m so looking forward to celebrating this season with you, church family!
Author Bio
Makenzie graduated from Wheaton College where she majored in Christian Ministry, Urban Studies and Photography and somehow managed to apply it all to work in the real world! She has a passion for community development after years of working in urban ministry in Chicago, non-profits in Austin and serving on staff at CRBC. She loves being able to equip and serve the church as the Minister of Missions which includes cultivating both local and global partnerships. She is also quite the homebody, an avid Harry Potter fan, loves Oklahoma City and being with her friends, family and adorable weenie dog, May.