Christ’s Birthday Observance Readies the Church of God for Christmas

Posted November 13, 2017

By Shelly Short

The word Advent is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” The Advent season lasts for four Sundays. This year’s Advent begins on Sunday, December 3, and, as always, ends on Sunday, December 24. The Advent celebration is both a commemoration of Christ’s first coming and an anticipation of his second coming. As Israel longed for their Messiah to come, so Christians long for their Savior to come again. Please join Christian Women Connection for the 2017 Christ’s Birthday Observance as we celebrate the birth of Christ collectively and say, “Come Lord Jesus.”

Our scripture this year is Titus 2:13—“…while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (NLT). In the 1949 issue of Friends of Missions, Mary Lovely wrote an article titled “How Far on Christ’s Offering.” In her article, Mary asked these important questions: Is Christ’s name on our Christmas list? What will be our gift to him on his birthday? My question to you today is if we say, “Come Lord Jesus,” are we ready to give of our talents, time, and resources to Christ? I find the answer to this question to be a resounding Yes!

Together we will pray with and for each other through Project Prayer. We will spend time in devotion and thought through the Meditation Journal. We will celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through our gifts and by generously contributing to the Christ’s Birthday Observance offering. You make a significant difference in the work of the Church of God through your prayers, devotion, and gifts. Almost every ministry of the Church of God is touched in some way by the Christ’s Birthday Observance offering. This church-wide offering supports Church of God Ministries (including Global Strategy, the Church of God Convention, and the International Youth Convention, and much more) and the endorsed agencies, including our colleges and universities and Servant Solutions. Through Christian Women Connection, mission projects, leadership development, scholarships, and women’s ministries are funded.

Advent readings this year written by former missionary Kathy Simpson!

Over the years, the Christ Birthday Observance has raised substantial resources to promote the kingdom work throughout the Church of God and beyond, to a world that desperately needs to know Christ as their Savior. I thank you in advance for your generous gifts as we enter the 2017 season of Advent. May this year’s observance prove to be our best to date! Order product here.

What is the Christ’s Birthday Observance?

The Christ’s Birthday Observance is a tool to help your church begin the journey of Advent with prayer, devotion, and celebration.

Why should my church participate in the Christ’s Birthday Observance?

Focus on Christ during the season of Advent (which is often overtaken by commercialism).
Share the story of Christ’s birth.
Celebrate Advent in concert with Church of God congregations around the world.
CBO is deeply rooted in the Church of God. The Observance, which began in 1949, continues to be one way Church of God congregations come together for the benefit of the kingdom.
In addition to prayer and devotion, CBO offers an opportunity to give to the combined ministry efforts of the Church of God in the largest offering in the Church of God.

How can my church get involved?

Every church can participate in this journey by using Advent resources, participating in Project Prayer, and by giving to the Christ’s Birthday Observance offering. Each year your church will be sent a resource packet to help in the celebration. For more information, go to www.christianwomenconnection.org or call 866-778-0804.