Don't you just love CHRISTmas cantatas? Well, I do! Our choir started working on ours some time ago. It's called JOY, JOY, JOY and was written by Deborah Craig-Claar and David T. Clydesdale. What I love about this collection of songs is that it s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s our choir's musical ability. That's good - hard but good! Our choir at the Matthews Church of God is under the direction of Mary Locklear (husband Ron pictured with her below). Mary is also a music teacher so she gives us quite a work-out and doesn't allow us to be lazy or sloppy. That's good too - but hard (sometimes). She doesn't allow us to offer "crippled sacrifices". I like that. When the wisemen came from afar they were bearing the best they had to offer; they brought priceless, precious gifts to worship the infant King! We are presenting this cantata on Sunday, December 14th at 6:30pm. When we stand on that stage and sing these songs, we will be offering the best we have. Nothing else will do as we celebrate the birthday of our Savior.Ron and Mary Locklear (Mary is a sister to Judy Jacobs-Tuttle)
At this time of year there is all kinds of joy. We may be overjoyed because family and loved ones are near, because of what may await us under the CHRISTmas tree or the memories of CHRISTmas' past when we remember the good ole' days. There is also joy at the thought of the birth of JESUS - the Savior of the world. After all these years I still love to hear about the joy that filled Mary's heart when the Angel told her of the coming Messiah and how the Shepherds' hearts must have sang out with joy and excitement as they raced across the hillside to Bethlehem to see the Baby Jesus! Deborah Craig-Claar writes in the foreword of this musical collection the following words and they ring true in my heart today."But most of all, there is the joy of celebrating the Savior, Immanuel, God with us. The Father's greatest joy was sending us His Son; our greatest joy is believing in Him." I pray that you experience that joy this holiday season!
Our church is in a building project and this picture is of the window in our foyer. This is what you see from the inside. Love it! See the disciples sleeping in the background? Wake up, boys! As much as I would like to think I would have stayed awake and alert, I am afraid I might have fallen asleep too. By 10pm I'm usually out.
This is the window at the front of the new Sanctuary. Our new baptistery is just below the window. Makes me want to go under all over again.
This is a shot of the same window from the outside front of the Church. This was taken the day of installation (I think). I am praying very earnestly that we get moved in to the new Sanctuary by our cantata. That would be an AWESOME CHRISTmas gift for the entire church body. If you are in the Charlotte area on December 14th, stop by and enjoy JOY, JOY, JOY.
Our church is in a building project and this picture is of the window in our foyer. This is what you see from the inside. Love it! See the disciples sleeping in the background? Wake up, boys! As much as I would like to think I would have stayed awake and alert, I am afraid I might have fallen asleep too. By 10pm I'm usually out.
This is the window at the front of the new Sanctuary. Our new baptistery is just below the window. Makes me want to go under all over again. 
This is a shot of the same window from the outside front of the Church. This was taken the day of installation (I think). I am praying very earnestly that we get moved in to the new Sanctuary by our cantata. That would be an AWESOME CHRISTmas gift for the entire church body. If you are in the Charlotte area on December 14th, stop by and enjoy JOY, JOY, JOY.
Matthews Church of God
517 E. John Street
Matthews, NC
matthewscog.org
The new sanctuary is going to be beautiful!!! 'Love the windows.
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