Midweek Check-in (Dec. 10, 2025)

Good morning, church family!

I need to use this midweek check-in to make an apology.

At one time in my life, I was a professional writer. I covered sports for a daily newspaper. At the top of the list for any successful journalist is the necessity for accuracy – even more than speed.

Well, I failed last weekend in a way that I hope you’ll forgive and maybe even find humorous. After a wonderful and busy Saturday of serving more than 100 pastors and spouses as we hosted the annual Kansas District Pastors’ Christmas Luncheon, I thought it would be appropriate to express my gratitude with a thank you note to our team of volunteers.

Here's how I started that note: “I want you to know just how proud I am of our church and the many who served so selfishly today…”

Oops. OK… so… the word I was looking for was: “selflessly”.

I want to be clear. I don’t think anyone serves selfishly at our church. You know that. I know that you know that. I just want to say it.

I’d like to blame autocorrect. And that may have been the case. But I’m not so sure. Like I said, it was a busy weekend, and I may have simply typed the wrong word. I’m sorry.

I hope you can forgive me. Rest assured – I do sometimes make mistakes. Let’s be honest. We all do. I think the mark of a wise Jesus follower is not that we live in perfection but that we demonstrate humility when we fall short and grace and forgiveness when others do the same. We do this because God has offered His forgiveness to us!

We have been ransomed through his Son’s blood, and we have forgiveness for our failures based on his overflowing grace, which he poured over us with wisdom and understanding.

-Ephesians 1:7-8

Praise the Lord for a God who forgives when we mess up!

Your pastor,

Billy Byler

CHRISTMAS CAROLERS: Our kids and teens had so much fun Tuesday night singing Christmas carols for the residents of Regent Park Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. Thanks to all who lent their beautiful voices! Note: there will be no kids and youth activities tonight at the church.

CHRISTMAS AT WOODLAND LAKES! Mark your calendars for these festive events and services coming up at the church!

·ANGEL TREE: We still have eight unclaimed angels from our Angel Tree, and presents need to be turned in by this Sunday. If you would be willing to purchase gifts for a family in need or make a donation to help the cause, please contact Sherilyn Elder at (316) 734-3535.

·CHRISTMAS POST OFFICE: Once again the youth have set up their Christmas Post Office Fundraiser this year. Instead of purchasing stamps to mail your Christmas cards to people in our church, you can simply bring your Christmas cards to the table in the church lobby and the teens will deliver them for 25 cents each! Drop off your Christmas cards any Sunday before Christmas to take advantage of this convenient service AND help the youth group raise some funds! Note: we have a list of regular church attenders available at the booth.

·SONGS OF THE SAVIOR: Join us for our Christmas Worship Service on Sunday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. for an evening of familiar Christmas songs, worship and communion. Pastor Josh White, lead pastor at Ark City Church of the Nazarene, will be our special guest speaker.

·CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: Bring the entire family for Christmas Eve at Woodland Lakes, Dec. 24, 6-7 p.m. The candlelight service will include traditional Christmas hymns and a special reading of the Christmas story. And don’t forget to get a family photo at our Christmas photo booth!

BLOOD DRIVE: We are partnering with Angel Wings Learning Center and the American Red Cross to host a blood drive in January. However, we need to make sure we have enough people willing to donate blood. Potential donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in generally good health. We won’t be able to set a date until we know we have enough potential donors, so if you are interested, please sign up on the sheet at the welcome center in the church lobby. Thank you!

BAPTISM: Our next opportunity to be baptized is coming up in January. If you are interested in participating in the sacrament of baptism, please contact Pastor Billy.

JUST FOR FUN: Hey, you read Pastor Billy's midweek check-in all the way to the end! As a reward, check out these crazy stories I came across recently:

·A 14-year-old boy in New York used his origami hobby to come up with a way to fold regular copy paper that makes it strong enough to hold 10,000 times its own weight – a discovery that could be used to improve deployable structures in emergency situations.

·A farm in Tennessee that cares for rescued barnyard animals is now offering unique encounters, including cuddling with a turkey.

·With only 15 days until Christmas, prepare for that special mistletoe moment with this tube of pickle-flavored lip balm.