This weekend, we conclude our four-part Declutter series in which we learn about creating margin in our lives for discipleship relationships. Jesus lays out our mission through His life example, His teaching on the greatest commandment and His challenge for us in the Great Commission.

Over the last two weeks we have been looking at things that clutter our lives. We’ve discussed how unsettled issues in our souls can create clutter and how clutter in our schedules keep us from using our time for God. This week, Pastor John looked at how our finances are cluttered.

The start of a new year is often a time for reflection and new directions... decluttering our lives to make a fresh start. In our Declutter series, we examine how we can create more margin in our lives by eliminating the clutter to make room for what matters most. This week, Pastor Chip helps examine ways we can create margin in our schedule.

The start of a new year is oftentimes a time for reflection and new directions… decluttering our lives to make a fresh start. In our new series Declutter, we examine how we can create more margin in our lives by eliminating the clutter to make room for what matters most.

This weekend, we take a deeper look into the words of Christ found in Matthew 6:9-13. Our Savior challenges us to reach beyond the status quo by setting aside pride, selfishness and materialism to focus on Him.

The story of the first Christmas is the story of God breaking in. Because of Christmas, God is with us now, here. In the midst of everything that pounds on our hearts, God is literally in our story. Celebrate Christmas Eve at Prairie Lakes Church, and discover why Jesus’ presence among us changes everything.

This week is the last in our series Story of the Carols, as we study the “Joy to the World.” Often we view joy differently than Scripture portrays it. This week, Pastor John explains what true joy looks like and how it’s obtained.

Although arranged by John Baptiste Calkin in 1872, the song “I Heard on the Bells on Christmas Day” was actually based on the poem “Christmas Bells,” written by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. A series of events in Longfellow’s life led him to pen the poem. In 1861, the Civil War broke out, causing hatred, racism and division throughout the country. That same year, his wife died tragically. Two years later, his son was severely wounded fighting in the Civil War. The following year, 1864, President Lincoln was reelected, the Civil War raged on, and Longfellow wrote the carol.

It’s Christmas Eve 1818 in the tiny village of Ogledorf, Germany; a blizzard has the village residents stranded and the members of St. Nicolas’ Church have just learned that their organ is broken. Clearly there is no way Christmas services will be held without an organ to accompany the herald of Christ’s birth. The priest and the organist quickly take to the task of creating a carol that could capture Christmas joy yet be sung without an organ. At midnight, the now treasured song “Silent Night” was born. The simple beauty of the song is that it captures the simple beauty of a life with Christ, peace in the midst of chaos.

We’ll be using Christmas carols, and the stories and scriptures they’re rooted in, to walk toward Christmas. This week, we’ll consider “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and its acknowledgment of God’s presence with us throughout the current joy of His Son’s life here on earth and the continued longing for His coming again.