December Post

I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas!
Tis the season where we gather together with friends and family to celebrate Christ. However we are living in a world that wants to pull Christ out of Christmas and make it all about commercialism. Even Thanksgiving has turned into an event where it’s not about families & friends gathering together expressing their thankfulness for all the Lord has done in their lives. Have you recently observed thanksgiving has taken a turn? Current trends have recognized that the millennial generation no longer wants to spend time with the family during thanksgiving, they would rather be spending time shopping and spending money they don’t really have. So the retailers in recent years have turned the holiday season into a time to promote the greatest deals and sell the best new gadgets. I pray that this view does not creep into our lives and into the church.
Let’s push aside the world’s quickly changing view of the Christmas season. I want us to think about having a white Christmas this year even if we don’t get any snow on Christmas day. Think about this with me for a moment. Snow is really quite remarkable. The purity of a fresh blanket of snow covers all filthiness and impurities in the landscape. We need to have a white Christmas where our motives, our actions, our conversations & especially our hearts are pure, each and every day of our lives. Not just during what we call the “Holidays”.
Jesus has come into our lives to cover our lives with a blanket of purity. And he wants to cleanse us from all unrighteousness as well. 1 Jn 1:19 If we confess our sins, he (Jesus) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. O that the Lord would purify us from our sins, so we would be clean. That he would wash us, so we would be whiter than snow. Jesus is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle, a people that are without blemish.
God, I’m dreaming of a white Christmas where we as the church are cleansed from the ideas and mindsets of the world. Where we turn to you and we recognize the need to remain pure each and every day of our lives.
Let’s all have a White Christmas this year!

-Scott Patterson

Someone Came and Because They Did…

Centre Pointe has truly changed my life! I came here as a lost and confused college student. I was a little afraid of what the people would think of me at first but I was welcomed with open arms from the very first visit. The love of God is so evident in every single church member and I am so thankful to have these people in my life! God is doing awesome things at Centre Pointe and I am so blessed to be a part if this church!                                                 ~Katy Sauers

Centre Pointe in State College is the gateway to my Faith! This is where I had my first strong encounter with the Lord when I received the Holy Ghost. Then, I got baptized.Centre Point is now my new family! I am so grateful for all the amazing people there! I’m so overjoyed that the church is with me while I find my walk with Jesus. I pray to God everyday and I thank Him because He allowed me to have great relationships with the people at Centre Point! Whenever I have questions to build my Faith someone is always there to help me understand better. I encourage everyone to go and visit and really see what worshiping really looks like! I promise that the excitement and the craving to really seek God will have you coming back. I am a personal witness!                                                                                                   ~Thalia H. Camacho

It may sound a bit cliche, however having Centre Pointe Church in State College, PA means the world to me, literally. I moved here a little over a year to attend Pennsylvania State University. As many young people can relate to, the venture off to college is very intimidating and a scary process. Having the church here not only gave me a very strong support group,  but it also blessed me with what I consider family. Apart from the warm welcome I received, I feel beyond blessed to attend a church with such a beautiful, anointed and Holy Ghost filled atmosphere                                                                                                                        ~Abby Sanchez

I always had a curiosity about Jesus, but no real direction or role models on how to live righteously. But, when I came to Centre Pointe I found both of these things as well as the most important aspect of life, a relationship with Jesus. Belonging to Centre Pointe is a blessing because it’s a church that speaks the truth about Jesus and won’t water it down. I am privileged to be in a church where people listen to and obey God, even if it means leaving their home and going across the country or world. The passion and desire for God in this church is unsurpassed by any other and I am thrilled that I have a church family that cares about people.                                                                                                                            ~Shawna Mitchell

I am really glad that I am a part of Centre Pointe. If I hadn’t met these people and gone to this church, I would not have the Holy Ghost or even know how awesome and loving God is, This church has changed the way I look and see the world. The one think I love most about Centre Pointe is how loving people are here. Sometimes I have questions about Bible verses or about God and and everyone is always happy to answer them. Those are the things that make Centre Pointe so awesome and if you don’t believe me come and find out for yourself.                                                                                                                                                        ~Joannah Skucek

What I like about Centre Pointe is how everyone genuinely cares for on another. I also like how the Holy Ghost moves during worship and altar call. I can truly experience God’s presence at this church.                                                                                                               ~Chelsea Woodland

Putting the Bow on it….

It’s that time of year when the gifts will be purchased, wrapped and then the final finishing touch – The Bow.  What is the purpose of bow on a gift?  Did you ever accidentally (hmmm – gentlemen) stack gifts on top of each other and smash the bow?  I did recently and somehow managed to straighten it up so that my wife never knew…..until now.  Yikes!  I just told on myself.

The bow is that completing.  “Putting a Bow on It” is a term used to express completion.  Finished.  Done.

As I write this 2014 is down to 28 days.  The major portion of the work has been done.  The growing season has come and gone.  Harvest is done.   Things have been wrapped up.  In the church we have made the plans, executed the plans, had special services, hosted our first ever Missions Training Seminar, fundraisers have happened, youth group has grown, first Fall Festival outreach was a success, Children’s Crusade, VBS, CMI, and many other things too numerous to mention.  Now what?

It’s time for the Bow!  Let’s imagine that the celebration of Thanksgiving is creating the bow and setting the stage for that careful positioning of the bow.  Similar to one of our family traditions where we spend Black Friday putting up the Christmas decorations.

How then do we put the bow on 2014?  Humor me to believe that we, as Christians, are indeed celebrating the birth of our Savior in this last month of the year even if our world has lost sight of this.  If that is the case then let’s follow the example of the first comers to the manger in Bethlehem.

Luke records that the Angles appeared “praising God” and saying Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  He tells us that the Shepherds “returned glorifying and praising God.”  It would seem to me that was the bow at the birth of Jesus and it would be fitting for us to place that same bow on 2014 as we head down the homestretch.

Let’s purpose to make a special effort to Praise and Glorify God throughout the remainder of 2014.  Let’s put the bow on 2014!

Pastor