CHRISTMAS WORSHIP
Two opportunities for Christmas worship are coming up – this coming Sunday and then our annual Christmas Eve service at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 24. So much about the Christmas story provokes wonder and awe in our hearts and minds, which should compel sincere and earnest worship of the Lord by His followers. Also, services in this season often will draw those who do not usually participate in worship -- believers not currently walking in close fellowship with the Lord as well as unbelievers. Let’s focus our prayers this week on these worship services.
Pray that . . .
The Lord will receive from each of us worship that is worthy of Him, in light of this marvelous plan in which He entered our world in order to bring salvation.
We who love the Lord will take advantage of the opportunity this season affords and invite others to these services.
Believers who are distant from the Lord and unbelievers will respond positively to the Spirit’s drawing of them to the worship services.
These services will result in believers and unbelievers opening up their hearts to the Lord and giving Him the gift He most desires – themselves.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. -- Luke 2:17-20 (NIV)
On coming to the house, they [the Magi] saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. -- Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
WEEKLY PRAYER UPDATE – December 17, 2025
Missions:
Capstone Church, Helena, Montana – Caleb Groteluschen, pastor; Ben Quigg, worship leader
Senator Barnes & family – East Asia Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative for World Ventures
Juan Pablo and Sol Herrera – Hispanic ministry in Ponder; new class began on Oct. 19
Stephen & Sabrina Marshall – church planting in France
Church:
Christmas Eve service
Ponder Kares for Kids
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions
Preparation of budget and committees for 2026
Staff search for permanent worship leader
This week’s worship service, Bible studies, and BodyBuilder groups
Personal Needs:
Spiritual awakening in our community, in our nation
Salvation -- Those on your "Who's Your One?" list
Chary Horton – recovering from surgery on Wednesday to repair break in upper arm
Judy Vaughan – recovering from broken collarbone following recent fall
Steve Simpson – cleared of having active brain tumor; seeking help for eyesight due to having stroke behind left eye
Randy Ramey (He & wife, Elise, are among our newest members) – in Phoenix awaiting imminent kidney transplant; Pray that a kidney will become available soon.
Gary Carrington – Due to other health issues and the fact that the chemo treatments have not been effective, he will no longer be receiving chemo treatments for his cancer.
Hank and Susan Quigg – pray for their recovery from house fire and their rebuild over the next six to eight months; pray for connection with the right contractor
Shelly Pope – no longer taking trial treatment for liver cancer; still taking cancer medication
Susan Quigg – diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's
Grief: Stan Brandon & family – death of his mother
Lori Kleibrink & family – death of her mother
Debbi Stack, Charlie Williams & families – death of their father, Jack Williams
Gene and Judy Vaughan – pray for physical and mental healing and mental well-being
Chary Horton – ongoing health issues requiring lots of care
Tim Johnson – doing well at home recovering from hip replacement surgery
Donna Nuckels (Don's sister-in-law) – auto-immune disorder caused by Covid vaccine
Justin McClain (Ponder resident) & wife, Maranda & 2 daughters – continuing cancer treatment
John Frank's new great-niece, Maggie – has completed chemo treatments for cancerous tumors, and they have shrunk enough for her to have surgery to remove them
John Frank's mother, Justine – tumor growth has reappeared; will undergo more treatment
Halle Deaton (25 yr old former member from Krum) – diagnosed with breast cancer
Those in assisted living/nursing homes: Barbara Nofziger, Carolyn Gillespie, Mary Alice Benton
Our government leaders and first responders
Pray that . . .
The Lord will receive from each of us worship that is worthy of Him, in light of this marvelous plan in which He entered our world in order to bring salvation.
We who love the Lord will take advantage of the opportunity this season affords and invite others to these services.
Believers who are distant from the Lord and unbelievers will respond positively to the Spirit’s drawing of them to the worship services.
These services will result in believers and unbelievers opening up their hearts to the Lord and giving Him the gift He most desires – themselves.
When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. -- Luke 2:17-20 (NIV)
On coming to the house, they [the Magi] saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. -- Matthew 2:11 (NIV)
WEEKLY PRAYER UPDATE – December 17, 2025
Missions:
Capstone Church, Helena, Montana – Caleb Groteluschen, pastor; Ben Quigg, worship leader
Senator Barnes & family – East Asia Anti-Human Trafficking Initiative for World Ventures
Juan Pablo and Sol Herrera – Hispanic ministry in Ponder; new class began on Oct. 19
Stephen & Sabrina Marshall – church planting in France
Church:
Christmas Eve service
Ponder Kares for Kids
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions
Preparation of budget and committees for 2026
Staff search for permanent worship leader
This week’s worship service, Bible studies, and BodyBuilder groups
Personal Needs:
Spiritual awakening in our community, in our nation
Salvation -- Those on your "Who's Your One?" list
Chary Horton – recovering from surgery on Wednesday to repair break in upper arm
Judy Vaughan – recovering from broken collarbone following recent fall
Steve Simpson – cleared of having active brain tumor; seeking help for eyesight due to having stroke behind left eye
Randy Ramey (He & wife, Elise, are among our newest members) – in Phoenix awaiting imminent kidney transplant; Pray that a kidney will become available soon.
Gary Carrington – Due to other health issues and the fact that the chemo treatments have not been effective, he will no longer be receiving chemo treatments for his cancer.
Hank and Susan Quigg – pray for their recovery from house fire and their rebuild over the next six to eight months; pray for connection with the right contractor
Shelly Pope – no longer taking trial treatment for liver cancer; still taking cancer medication
Susan Quigg – diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer's
Grief: Stan Brandon & family – death of his mother
Lori Kleibrink & family – death of her mother
Debbi Stack, Charlie Williams & families – death of their father, Jack Williams
Gene and Judy Vaughan – pray for physical and mental healing and mental well-being
Chary Horton – ongoing health issues requiring lots of care
Tim Johnson – doing well at home recovering from hip replacement surgery
Donna Nuckels (Don's sister-in-law) – auto-immune disorder caused by Covid vaccine
Justin McClain (Ponder resident) & wife, Maranda & 2 daughters – continuing cancer treatment
John Frank's new great-niece, Maggie – has completed chemo treatments for cancerous tumors, and they have shrunk enough for her to have surgery to remove them
John Frank's mother, Justine – tumor growth has reappeared; will undergo more treatment
Halle Deaton (25 yr old former member from Krum) – diagnosed with breast cancer
Those in assisted living/nursing homes: Barbara Nofziger, Carolyn Gillespie, Mary Alice Benton
Our government leaders and first responders