ANN D’ALESSANDRO –

Looking for something to do on Christmas Day or need  a place to go & connect with others?  Here are some options for Christmas Dinners and Fellowship on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day!

1. ***1. A Family Christmas on Dec. 24th from 5pm-7pm at Transcend Church.  Music, the Christmas story, free family photos in front of the Christmas Tree, a free meal, and free backpacks for children!  Sign up at www.transcendchurch.org/Christmas;717-831-8545
2. ***2. On December 24^th, the Lancaster County Project for the Needy holiday dinner distribution will take place at Clipper Stadium, 650 North Prince Street, Lancaster. The distribution will begin at 8:00 am.
3. ***3. St Matthew in York is having a Free Christmas Day Dinner for those in need or spending the day alone. Full meal served 11am-3pm. Everyone welcome. 717-845-2721
4. ***4. The 3 churches in Brownstown are offering a free Community Christmas Dinner at the West Earl Firehall in Brownstown from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Christmas Day, December 25th for anyone.  Take out meals are available or you can call 717-656-7570 to request a delivered meal.
5. ***5. Community Christmas Day Dinner from Noon-3pm at New Creation Community Church in Dover. Everyone is welcome. Reservations are not required but would be helpful to ensure adequate food is prepared. Call the church office at 717 764 0252  for reservations. Delivery available.

All of these events are listed on our events calendar – https://wjtl.com/events/

Ann D’Alessandro -Wishing You A Very Merry Christmas!!

ann@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the day of Christ’s birth.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Every day is a gift for us to celebrate. But there is a particular day that is especially worth noting as a day of celebration.

The surrounding verses include references to Christ. Verse 22 talks about the stone that the builders rejected becoming the capstone. The Apostle Peter applied this verse to Jesus in his writings. And verse 26 was applied to Christ at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.”

The coming of Christ into the world is a day to celebrate and is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK -Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “Why is the virgin birth of Jesus so important?”

In the Old Testament, Isaiah prophesied that the virgin would be with child, and in Matthew chapter 1, that prophecy became reality at the birth of Jesus.

First, the virgin birth is significant because it is a miracle. Jesus was not born by ordinary means. His birth was the result of Divine Intervention.

Secondly, the virgin birth is significant because it highlights the fact that Jesus was not born with a sinful nature. The angel said to Mary “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

This fact set Jesus apart from every other human being. He knew what it was like to be human, but He did not sin. This made Him a worthy sacrifice for our sins when He went to the cross.

The virgin birth reveals Jesus to be the Son of God and the Savior of the world in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Ann D’Alessandro

Do you know a family in need this holiday season? A colleague facing loss?  A friend battling an illness? A neighbor in crisis?
Reach out, and share their story.
Help Susquehanna Valley families enjoy the holiday season with hope and dignity.   Together, we can Share the Blessing…  You can visit the website and nominate a family in need or make a contribution to help families and individuals who are selected.  Share the Blessing’s board of directors will review all nominations and contact the family in need to help meet their individual needs. Thank you!

*Representatives will be on the Get Up & Go Show on Thursday from 7am-8am to talk about Share The Blessing.

Share The Blessing is an approved 501C-3 charitable organization.

http://www.sharetheblessing.com/

Ann D’Alessandro – Wishing You A Very Merry  Christmas!

ann@wjtl.com

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend
December 16-18, 2016

5 Messick’s 4th Annual Christmas Drive-Thur animated light show, featuring over 70,000 lights choreographed to Christmas Music. Continues today, tomorrow and Sunday (Dec 16-18) 6:30p-9pm with shows beginning every 15 minutes at Messicks Farm Equipment in Elizabethtown. Donations benefit local nonprofits. More Info: Messicks.com

4 Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas event tonight (Dec 16) 6pm-8:30pm. Wagon rides, Decorated historic buildings, bonfire and carols accompanied by the Lititz Moravian Trombone Choir.  Cookies & hot cider in the yellow barn. The event is free, please bring one or more non-perishable food itemsfor Lancaster Food Bank. More Info: LandisValleyMuseum.org

3 The Christmas Story Live Nativity at Woodcrest Retreat, Ephrata, today 6-8:30pm and tomorrow 5-8:30pm (Friday, Dec 16 and Saturday Dec.17) Actors and animals in six unique scenes. Guests will depart every 10 minutes to travel with Biblical characters and receive items to assist them on the outdoor journey along candlelit wooded trails.  More Info: WoodCrestRetreat.org

2 The Music for Everyone (MFE) Community Chorus accompanied by Big Boy Brass will perform a free Holiday Concert in the festive lobby of the Marriott Hotel at Penn Square tonight (Friday Dec. 16th) at 7pm. All ages are welcome to share in this joyful community event and join The Chorus in a traditional Holiday Sing-a-Long. MFE Chorus Facebook Page

1 15th Annual Journey With Jesus at Ed’s Landscaping in Elizabethtown tomorrow (Sat. Dec. 17) from 6pm-8pm on North Market Street in Elizabethtown, two miles from the square.  Journey with Jesus is a walk through event with key scenes from the life of Jesus.  Donations benefit the ministry of WJTL. More Info: (717) 367-1006

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Q and A Segment explores the question, “What is the true meaning of Christmas?”

There are many possible influences that can take our attention away from the true meaning. Too much activity can lead to stress during the holiday season. Too much shopping can lead us to debt after the holiday season.

The true meaning of Christmas is marked by a special, sacred gift that came from heaven to earth about 2,000 years ago-a child born in a manger who was born to save God’s people from their sins.

The true meaning of Christmas can be found in the proclamation of the angel to the shepherds when Jesus was born. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

This focus point will make our celebration of Christmas meaningful during this holiday season in the Year of Exploration.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Exploration, today’s Reason to Believe is the Incarnation.

This is a term that means “the act of being made flesh.” This term applies to Jesus in the sense that He came from heaven to become a man. The Incarnation of Christ refers to His humanity. At the same time, Jesus retained His deity in human form.

Speaking of Jesus, John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The meaning of the Incarnation to our lives is that God has come near to where we are. We know He can identify with the experience of being human, because He shared those experiences with us, except that He never sinned. He experienced hunger, pain, sorrow, anger, anguish, and joy. He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses.

Josh McDowell says, “The Incarnation is Jesus’ way of saying, ‘I understand.’”

The Incarnation is a reason to believe in God’s good news.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

Kristi Leigh – WJTL DJ

Kristi@WJTL.com

WJTL is having our Christmas Open House on Tuesday, December 13th from 4pm-9pm and we would love to see you!  We’ll have hot chocolate, cookies, station tours and more!  It’s a great time to drop off your end of the year donation, meet the WJTL staff and see the exciting progress of our Phase Three Construction!

WJTL

1875 Junction Road

Manheim, PA  17545