It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! It’s my favorite time of year. It’s not just because my birthday is Christmas Eve’s eve, and it’s not because I have two nieces born on Christmas Day two years apart, though both help make it one of my favorite times of the year. Nor is it because of classic shows like A Charlie Brown Christmas, The Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. It’s not even the many Christmas parties I get invited to after I schedule my December doctor’s appointment so that my lab work and the scale don’t expose my holiday hunger!

Christmas is my favorite time of year because of the Christmas songs. Some people like Hallmark Christmas movies, others like decorating their homes with lights and trees, and I like Christmas songs!

Play me Nat King Cole’s version of The Christmas Song or the Temptations' rendition of Silent Night, and I’m in my happy place for the season. I can listen to these songs over and over on my playlist. There are others, too, including Silver Bells, O Holy Night, Come All Ye Faithful, and Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella.

But can you guess the one song that stands out from all the rest? It’s a song that changes everything for me. It’s a simple yet profound song found in playing a simple scale and pauses. Don’t know it yet? Click here to watch and listen to Willie Manor (who does an excellent Morgan Freeman) tell the story to help you guess my favorite Christmas song. 

We have planned several experiences at the church to help you prepare for Christmas. Here are a few to add to your list: 
- Snellville Community Church’s Festival of Trees: Sunday, December 1 through Friday, December 20 at City Hall
- Women’s Christmas Luncheon: Tuesday, December 3 at 11:30 a.m.
- Photos with Santa: Saturday, December 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Hat and Mitten Tree to keep kids in Snellville warm this winter: Sunday, December 1 through Sunday, December 22 
- Angel Tree for foster children: Sunday, December 1 through Tuesday, December 10
- Festival of Lessons and Carols: Sunday, December 22 at 4:00 p.m.
- Christmas Eve Candlelight Services: Tuesday, December 24 at 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. with Holy Communion
- Outdoor Live Nativity with animals on Christmas Eve: Tuesday, December 24 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

At Christmas, we celebrate the coming of Jesus, who changed everything about who we are. Granted, many distractions try to pull us away from Jesus this season, but ultimately, the Good News of Christmas is that this season is set apart for us to remember that Jesus has come into the world to change it. If we allow Him to do so, He will change our lives too.

Please join me in our experiences so Christmas may become your favorite time of the year!

At the Intersection,
Dr. Quincy D. Brown
Senior Pastor