Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend – December 18-20, 2015

5 Live Nativity at St. John’s United Methodist Church in Granville tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (December 18-20) from 7pm – 8:30pm each evening. Free Hot chocolate and cookies! More Info: http://www.grantvilleumc.org

4 Walk Through Bethlehem at St. John’s Blymires United Church of Christ in  Dallastown, tonight and tomorrow (Friday Dec 18 and Saturday Dec 19) Hear the stores about the birth of the Christ child, meet the people and animals who were there on that “very special  night”. Includes a display of nativities from around the world. Also Craft making for children. More Info: www.stjohnsblymiresucc.com

3 Third Annual Messick’s Christmas Drive-Through Light Show tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (Dec 18-20) 6:30pm-9pm each evening at Messick’s Farm Equipment, Mertz Drive in Elizabethtown. More than 70,000 animated lights that dance to choreographed Christmas Music. Free, but donations are accepted and benefit local non-profits. More info: Messicks.com

2 Journey with Jesus tomorrow (Sat. Dec. 19) 6-8pm at Ed’s Landscaping 2 miles west of the square in Elizabethtown. Walk thru a rustic barn and experience the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection. Dozens of actors & live animals including a Camel. Donations benefit WJTL. More Info:edslandscapingsupply.com

1 Servant Stage Company’s presentation of A Christmas Carol tomorrow, 11am, 3pm and 7pm and Sunday 3pm and 7pm (December 19 & 20) at Lancaster Church of the Brethren, Sunset Ave, Lancaster. A faithful rendition of Charles Dickens’ holiday tale of redemption, charity, and the spirit of Christmas. The performances are free however, reservations are required and donations are accepted. More Info: servantstagecompany.com

JOHN SHIRK – In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His purpose for coming to the world.

According to First Timothy 1:15, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”

The Christmas season is full of special activities, shopping sprees, decorations, and gifts. It can be a busy season that keeps us doing things that may be good, but may also keep us from slowing down to reflect on the greatest gift of all-the reason why we celebrate Christmas.

God’s love for us prompted Him to send Jesus to the world on a rescue mission. Jesus did not come to us because we were good, but because He is good. His blood shed for us at the cross was an acceptable sacrifice for our sins, and as a result, we are declared acceptable to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot enter heaven on our own merit, but it is possible to enter heaven on the merit of Christ and what He has done for us at the cross. That was the purpose of Jesus that adds meaning to Christmas.

A daily connection with Christ is our lifeline to God’s forgiveness and His gift of eternal life.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

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Did you know you can listen to Some Sort of Rock show on both Friday (10pm) & Sunday nights (8pm/10pm)?  Here’s the playlist for the December 11th/13th episode:

Hour 1

1. Reach for the Sky – Red Letter Hymnal
2. Chasing Fears – Graceful Closure
3. What We Call Christmas – Bleach
4. He Came with Love – Memphis May Fire
5. Something to Say – The Red Airplanes
6. Satisfied – House of Heroes
7. Falling Apart – Spoken
8. Vicious  – Silverline
9. My Favorite Things – Family Force 5
10. Punk The Halls – Stellar Kart
11. Alive – Tree63
12. Turn It To Gold – Abandon Kansas
13. Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence  – The Modern Post (Dustin Kensrue)
14. Go Tell It On The Mountain – Needtobreathe
15. I’m Not Running Away From This – Hearts Like Lions

Hour 2

1. Bring It On – Kutless
2. Live On Forever – The Afters
3. Love Came Down At Christmas – Jars Of Clay
4. What Child Is This – Sumerlin
5. Bring It On – Seventh Day Slumber
6. Yours Again – RED
7. Staring At the Sun – Roelant
8. Treason – Pioneer
9. Little Drummer Boy – Audio Adrenaline
10. Christmas This Year (feat. Leigh Nash) – TobyMac
11. Sayonara –  Disciple
12. Into Your Veins – Five Iron Frenzy
13. O Come All Ye Faithful – Kings Kaleidoscope
14. Joy To The World – David Crowder Band
15. Come Alive – Attaboy
16. Taking Back – About A Mile

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend – December 11-13, 2015

5 Columbia Old Fashioned Christmas – Downtown Columbia – Sunday (December 13) 1pm-7pm. Strolling Carolers, horse-drawn carriage rides, cookie decorating and more holiday fun. Luminaries will be lit at 5pm. More Info: parivertowns.com

4 Winterstown United Methodist Church (route 24) in Felton, York County Christmas Drive-Thru Nativity tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (Dec 11-13) 6:30pm-8:30pm each evening. A Drive Thru Nativity featuring 10 different scenes with over 40 cast members along with live camels, sheep, goats and cows and more. The event is free, donations accepted and benefit Red Lion Area Community Services and Servants Organization. More Info: 717-244-1984.

3 Third Annual Messick’s Christmas Drive-Through Light Show tonight, tomorrow and Sunday (Dec 11-13) 6:30pm-9pm each evening at Messick’s Farm Equipment, Mertz Drive in Elizabethtown. More than 70,000 animated lights that dance to choreographed Christmas Music. Free, but donations are accepted and benefit local non-profits. More info: Messicks.com

2 Gifts That Give Hope Alternative Gift Fair, tomorrow (Saturday, Dec 12) 10am-4pm at the Lancaster Farm & Home Center. 30 Nonprofit Organizations marketplace: fair trade, sustainable gifts that promote microbusinesses and end poverty. Food, crafts and more. Kids Cookie Break broadcasting live with free Chick-Fil-A Cookies, requests, prizes and more. More Info:  http://giftsthatgivehope.org/lancaster

1 Journey with Jesus tomorrow (Sat. Dec. 12) 6-8pm at Ed’s Landscaping 2 miles west of the square in Elizabethtown. Walk thru a rustic barn and experience the story of Jesus from birth to resurrection. Dozens of actors & live animals including a Camel. WJTL will be broadcasting live. Donations benefit WJTL. More Info: http://www.edslandscapingsupply.com/jwj

Stop by The Junction Center and pay a visit to WJTL for a special Christmas Open House Drop-In on Tuesday (Dec 15) & Wednesday (Dec 16)  from 4pm –  8pm.

We’ll spread some Christmas cheer with hot chocolate, cookies and tours of The Junction Center.  It will also be a great time for you to drop off your end of the year donation, pick up the new Kids Cookie Break Christmas CD and meet the WJTL staff.  Hope to see you then!
Merry Christmas!!!

The Junction Center

1875 Junction Road

Manheim, PA  17545

717-392-3690

Some Sort of Rock Show can now be heard on Friday nights from 10-Midnight AND Sunday nights from 8-Midnight!  Here’s the playlist for your December 4th & 6th episode…

Hour 1

1. Feet, Don’t Fail Me Now – Needtobreathe
2. Broken Lines – Foreverlin
3. It Was You – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
4. Monster – Skillet
5. Little Drummer Boy – The Almost
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – After Edmund
7. Desperados – Andy Mineo
8. Facemelt – KJ-52
9. Come Alive – Attaboy
10. Mercy – Ravenhill
11. Taking Back – About A Mile
12. Supernova Sunrise – We Are Leo
13. O Little Town of Bethlehem – Dustin Kensrue
14. Angels We Have Heard On High – Seabird
15. Mr. Roboto – Rapture Ruckus
16. Halo – Manic Drive

Hour 2

1. Say It Like You Mean It – Switchfoot
2. Stranger  – Hearts Like Lions
3. Bring It On – Kutless
4. Safety – Fireflight
5. I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day – 7eventh Time Down
6. The Rebel Jesus – House Of Heroes
7. Bring It On – Seventh Day Slumber
8. Light Up the Sky – Thousand Foot Krutch
9. Dead Man – Rhett Walker Band
10. Staring At the Sun – Roelant (ru-LANT)
11. Chasing Fears – Graceful Closure
12. Alive – Tree63
13. The 12 Days Of Christmas – Relient K
14. The First Noel – David Crowder Band
15. Porcelain – Bread of Stone
16. Edge Of My Life – Manafest

Five Fun Free Family Things To Do This Weekend – December 4-6, 2015

5 Lego Building Party tonight (Friday, Dec 4) 5-8:30pm at Hammel Associates Architects, Grant Street, Lancaster. Architectural, Trains, Freestyle, Connects, Creator, and over 40,000 lego pieces. More Info: hammelarch.com

4 Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band Christmas Concert, Sunday (Dec 6) 7pm at West Willow United Methodist Church in Willow Street.  Many Holiday Favorites performed. Free.  More Info:717 330-5495

3 BREAKFAST WITH SANTA tomorrow (Sat Dec 5) beginning at 9am at ZION UMC OF YORK. Free Breakfast, stories with Santa, Crafts and Music with PHREDD. The event is free but please bring a canned good to be donated to a local food bank. More Info: zionumcyork Facebook page.

2 LBC production of Handel’s Messiah, tonight and tomorrow (Fri & Sat, Dec 4 & 5) 7pm tonight and twice Saturday at 2pm and 7pm at The Good Shepherd Chapel on Eden Road, Lancaster.  The Lancaster Bible College Chorale is joined by a cast of student and professional artists to present a fresh rendering of Handel’s masterpiece that includes usic, theater and dance. Free, but tickets are required. More Info: lbc.edu/events

1 Lebanon Christkindl Market tomorrow (Sat Dec. 5) from 9am-4pm at Coleman Memorial Park.  Lebanon’s version of an authentic Christmas Market, inspired by the 700-year-old traditional German Christkindl Market – a festive event prepared by various churches, organizations, and residents featuring outdoor booths, handmade crafts, music by many local community groups as well as some traditional Christkindl treats.  More Info: http://www.lebanonchristkindlmarket.org

JOHN SHIRK-In the Year of Connection, today’s Encounter with Jesus examines His letter to the church at Thyatira.

In Revelation 2:22, the main message to this church was to turn away from immorality and idolatry, and turn to God. The whole church was not corrupted, but some were by the influence of a woman named Jezebel, who called herself a prophetess.

The church was making some progress. Jesus identifies their deeds, their love, their faith, their service, and their perseverance, and says, “You are now doing more than you did at first.”

But they were too tolerant of the sinful practices that Jezebel promoted. Tolerance is consistent with the Christian faith when it reflects kindness and respect to a person who disagrees with us. But tolerance goes too far if we are putting our stamp of approval on sin. Validating sin leads to the spread of a spiritual cancer throughout the body.

Romans 2:4 talks about the riches of God’s kindness, tolerance, and patience as influences to lead us to repentance.

A daily connection with Christ teaches us to love God, love people and hate sin.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com