Midweek Check-in (Nov. 26, 2025)

Good evening, church family, and Happy Thanksgiving!

I’m writing this from Nashville, Tennessee, where we’re celebrating with a house full of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins! Tuesday night we enjoyed our annual trip to Opryland Hotel, complete with matching jammies for the cousins.

Some of them even smiled for the photo!

Whether you’re gathering with a big group of family and friends or just keeping things small this Thanksgiving, I hope you know how thankful your pastor and your church are for you!

I typically share a word of scripture in these weekly emails, and I don’t want to miss that opportunity just because it’s a major holiday.

It can be a bit difficult to find a Thanksgiving-themed Bible verse, mainly because this holiday was created long after the Bible was written. Of course, themes of thankfulness and gratitude are all over the pages of scripture even though you won’t find anything in the Bible about Pilgrims and turkeys.

So here’s my attempt to share a helpful, relevant Bible verse for Thanksgiving:

“All fat belongs to the Lord.”

-Leviticus 3:16

OK, wait. I’m not serious. I mean, that really is the last sentence of Leviticus 3:16, but it’s taken way out of context if we try to apply it to a Thanksgiving feast! I think I can do better than that.

So, please, let me try again. Here’s a better verse for our Thanksgiving celebrations:

“I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy.”

-Philippians 1:4

I hope your day is full of joy! See you Sunday!

Your pastor,

Billy Byler 

THIS SUNDAY: We’re celebrating the first Sunday of Advent this Sunday AND the fifth Sunday of the month, which means this is a Family Worship Sunday! The kids will stay in the service with us the entire time. We’ll have our regular Kids Moment at the beginning of the service, and activity bags will be available to help keep the kids engaged throughout the message.

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

·ANGEL TREE: Starting this Sunday you’ll see a Christmas tree in the lobby with angel ornaments. On each angel is a family who could use a little help this Christmas. If you’re able, pick up an angel and help bless a family in need with a few gifts this Christmas! Please deliver the gifts to the church by Sunday, Dec. 14.

·CHRISTMAS POST OFFICE: Once again the youth will be having their Christmas Post Office Fundraiser this year starting this Sunday. Instead of purchasing stamps to mail your Christmas cards to people who are a part of 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 anytime over the next four Sundays to take advantage of this convenient service AND help the youth group raise some funds! Note: we’ll have a list of regular church attenders available at the booth starting Dec. 7.

·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.

·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.

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:

·We love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (on TV while sitting on a warm, comfy couch!). Get an early look at the new ballons here.

·Researchers have discovered a new way to increase good behavior in public spaces: add Batman.

·With only 29 days until Christmas, I cannot understand how these socks are less than $6.70. But you can show just how cool you are this Christmas with a pair of 6-7 socks for just $6.49.