Christmas

The Story of Christmas: Extraordinary in the Ordinary

The Story of Christmas: Extraordinary in the Ordinary

by Yanelis Lopez, Associate Director


Christmas is almost here, that awesome time of the year that many of us absolutely love. You know, the one that shifts everything in the family calendar and centers around a date that holds immense significance in human history. We're talking about the story of Jesus, and trust me, it's a mix of the extraordinary and the everyday.

So, here's how it all starts: an angel named Gabriel pays a surprise visit to Mary, a down-to-earth and devoted young woman from Nazareth. The angel's greeting is great, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you" (Luke 1:28), and that sets the stage for a journey that's nothing short of unexpected and transformative. It all unfolds through the eyes of this ordinary woman, making the extraordinary feel surprisingly relatable.

Let's zoom in on the details: Nazareth, a not-so-flashy town, and Mary, an ordinary yet extraordinary woman. Picture this – a young, unmarried woman facing potential social hiccups and serious challenges. But, hey, her unwavering acceptance of the divine plan is like a beacon of faith. Suddenly, this little town of Nazareth, not exactly a headline grabber in the world's affairs, becomes the backdrop for a divine revelation. It's like all these seemingly small pieces click together to create this beautiful mosaic of divine intervention, showing that every thread in the Christmas story has its purpose and meaning.

Now, as we reflect on Luke 1:26-38 during this Christmas season, let's not lose sight of the beauty in the small and seemingly ordinary. Embracing the humility and simplicity of the Christmas story gives us a profound lesson: that greatness often arises from the seemingly insignificant, and the smallest details can lead to the most extraordinary outcomes. Christmas, at its core, teaches us to appreciate the beauty in the small, because it's through these modest moments that the great plan of God is revealed.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

Ya casi estamos en Navidad, este tiempo del año que muchos de nosotros amamos. Ese tiempo que cambia todo en el calendario familiar y se centra en una fecha que tiene una inmensa importancia en la historia humana. Estamos hablando de la historia de Jesús, y créeme, es una mezcla de lo extraordinario y lo cotidiano.

Así es como comienza todo: un ángel llamado Gabriel hace una visita sorpresa a María, una joven terrenal y devota de Nazaret. El saludo del ángel es grandioso, "¡Alégrate, llena de gracia! El Señor está contigo" (Lucas 1:28), y eso prepara el escenario para un viaje que no es nada menos que inesperado y transformador. Todo se desenvuelve a través de los ojos de esta mujer común, haciendo que lo extraordinario se sienta sorprendentemente cercano.

Vamos a detallar un poco: Nazaret, una ciudad no tan llamativa, y María, una mujer común pero extraordinaria. Imagina esto: una joven soltera enfrentando posibles problemas sociales y desafíos serios. Pero, eh, su aceptación inquebrantable del plan divino es como un faro de fe. De repente, este pequeño pueblo de Nazaret, que no es precisamente un destacado en los asuntos del mundo, se convierte en el telón de fondo de una revelación divina. Es como si todas estas piezas aparentemente pequeñas se unieran para crear este hermoso mosaico de intervención divina, mostrando que cada hilo en la historia de Navidad tiene su propósito y significado.

Ahora, mientras reflexionamos sobre Lucas 1:26-38 durante esta temporada navideña, no perdamos de vista la belleza en lo pequeño y aparentemente ordinario. Abrazar la humildad y simplicidad de la historia de Navidad nos brinda una lección profunda: que la grandeza a menudo surge de lo aparentemente insignificante, y los detalles más pequeños pueden conducir a los resultados más extraordinarios. La Navidad, en su esencia, nos enseña a apreciar la belleza en lo pequeño, porque es a través de estos modestos momentos que se revela el gran plan de Dios.

¡Les deseo a todos una Feliz Navidad!

LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES?
JOIN US FOR VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION - JANUARY 13TH

Join our team of volunteers for the spring trimester and be part of "loving people from all places." Attend our volunteer orientation on January 13th, 2024 and find your place serving kids, youth, or adults in the immigrant community in KCK

For more information about volunteer opportunities visit www.missionadelante.org/serve

Be part of our programs!

We are so excited for everything that is happening in our programs and we are grateful for all our volunteers who make everything possible. Would you consider partnering with us next trimester?

How can you help?

  • Pray for our program participants would create an impact in our community and grow with their walk with the Lord.

  • Volunteer – Come to Observation Nights. For more information visit: http://www.missionadelante.org/serve

  • Donate to join us in building a multicultural community of disciples making disciples.

The Story After the Story

Written by Jason Schoff, Latino Outreach Director
In the days leading up to our Christmas Eve service, I visited several community families in their homes to talk with them about their Christmas plans and to make sure they knew the details for our service.  I found out that one young Latino couple and another single man didn't have any plans for Christmas Eve following our service.  This seemed tragic, especially given that Latinos stay up past midnight on Christmas Eve celebrating with family and friends. What could I do?  I was leaving early the next morning to join my family.  I love to be involved in God's plan but sometimes He reminds me that I am not the main solution, others are.  

Cynthia was the solution.  God used Cynthia and her love for people and hospitality to make the night complete.  When she found out these three friends would be going home without a party to attend, she extended an invitation.  Maybe there was no room in the inn for Jesus nor was there room at other parties for Martin, Sindi and Michael, but Cynthia allowed these fellow believers that opportunity to join her family for tamales, posole, and other traditional Mexican foods.  Cynthia is one of the bright spots in our ministry because she understands the importance of relationships to our discipleship efforts.  It will be exciting to see her take other steps to lead in the year ahead.  

Our Christmas Eve service was a wonderful end to our 2012 ministry season, but so much of what makes us excited happens outside of the big events when perhaps only God is watching.


 In other news:

  • The Mission Adelante staff enjoyed a restful and refreshing break spent with family and friends! Thank you for your prayers to that end.  Most of us returned to the office reinvigorated (there's some illness about), and we're looking forward to diving into a new trimester.
Prayer needs:
  • Please pray for our new volunteers as they come for orientation this Saturday. Pray that they would feel welcomed and encouraged by the opportunity to serve with us!
  • Please pray for the Bhutanese Leadership team meeting on Sunday.  Pray for ownership, direction, and vision for this team.
  • We would love prayers for all of our outreach activities as they ramp back up over the next week, that the Lord would guide us to be His hands and feet to the community that we love and serve. Pray particularly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for smooth, stress free, and Spirit-filled days as our outreach programs launch for the spring trimester.

Other needs:
  • Volunteers to serve once per week for the duration of the spring trimester, beginning next week (the week of January 14) and concluding the week of April 8:
    • Two men and 1 woman who would be excited about forming discipling/mentoring relationships with Bhutanese teenagers through Bhutanese Teens Club on Tuesday evenings. Please contact Hannah Hume at hannahh@missionadelante.org.
    • Volunteers who love kids and love Jesus to mentor Bhutanese kids ages 5-12 on Tuesday evenings. Specifically, two more men are needed. Please contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
    • Volunteers to mentor Latino kids through either Leaders In Training on Monday or Tuesday afternoons, or Kids Adelante outreach Bible study on Thursday evenings. Please contact Megan McDermott at meganm@missionadelante.org.
    • Volunteers to help organize our Resource Center on Wednesday afternoons between 1 and 3 pm. The Resource Center provides food, clothing, and household items to immigrants in need of these items. Please contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org if you're available at that time.
  • A dining table and chairs. If you have one available please contact Drew Hammond at drewh@missionadelante.org.
  • Two twin beds, 1 queen bed, a sofa, and a kitchen table and chairs to seat 6 or 7 have been requested through our Resource Center. The Resource Center also needs inventory including new and gently used kitchen items, bedding, towels, and medium stuffed animals. Please contact Molly Merrick at mollym@missionadelante.org to set up a time to drop-off your donation. Please help us out by not leaving donations inside or outside our facility.  Thanks.           
  • Small toys and trinkets (valued at about $1 each--ie Target dollar bins, or dollar store) to be added to our Kids Club prize box, which contains reward for excellent behavior during our Tuesday night program for kids ages 5-12.  If you can help us out contact Kristen Maxwell at kristenm@missionadelante.org.
  • The Bhutanese and Latino LIT programs need a small group (or groups) to purchase pre-packaged, healthy, after-school snacks for the kids.  We would be blessed to receive a couple months (@ 3 days/week) worth of snacks.  Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • Fifteen to twenty 8 GB flash drives for the Latino LIT students to use, preferably with a ring or another way to attach them to lanyards. Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.
  • Bhutanese and Latino kids' programs are in search of a gently used lamination machine to keep our frequently used materials usable for longer. Please contact Megan at meganm@missionadelante.org.

Important dates:
  • Volunteer Orientation & Training--Saturday, January 12 @ 9:00-12:30 All volunteers should attend this training once at the beginning of serving with Mission Adelante.  It's also a great way for someone to become familiar with Mission Adelante.  If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about what we do, and about our volunteer opportunities, please plan to attend/encourage him or her to attend this informative training.
  • All Volunteer Huddle & Dessert--Monday, January 14 @ 6:30 p.m.  We encourage everyone that will be volunteering with us during our spring trimester to attend so we can prepare for a great launch.
  • Spring trimester programs launch--Week of January 14