the approach - a different way in a manger

crosspointe is hosting “the approach” this friday night (6pm-12am) and saturday (9am-3pm). “the approach” is our next-level worship experience that we create several times per year. the format is always different, we want to keep it creative and fresh.

this time we’re repackaging the traditional advent celebration for our church community. several interactive stations will help to teach the meaning behind the four weeks of advent: hope, peace, love and joy. our aim is to equip families to create their own celebration throughout the month of december.

here’s an overview of the stations:

Holiday Pace
In our culture, Christmas has become anything but a peaceful season. Is there a different way to celebrate Christmas?

Advent Logs
Throughout the experience, you’ll assemble an advent log for your family. While this may seem vague as you’re doing it, by the end of the experience you will have built the central tool you need to continue the celebration of Advent at home with your family or life group.

Hope
Throughout the generations, God’s people, Israel, have waited for a promised Messiah - one who would rescue them from oppression and usher in a new age where God reigns. This station will help us identify with what it’s like to wait in hope.

Peace
Jesus brings us real peace. He came to earth as the Prince of Peace, and He calls us, too, to bring peace into our world. In this station, we will focus mainly on how Jesus uses us to bring peace to the world. The four centers at this station explore different ways to bring peace into your life, your family, your community, and the world.

Love
We’ve heard it said that Christmas is about giving. So, we empty our pockets and wrack up the credit card bills. After all, the more we spend, the more love we show, right? And each year we try to give bigger and better than we did last year. What if this year we gave something that can’t be wrapped?

Joy
The good news of the birth of Jesus was not first declared to high society, but to the working class - a band of ragtag shepherds, working the night shift. They did not have riches, but they received the riches of heaven with the greatest of joy. And with the same zeal, they shared this joy with their community. Here we will discover that joy is found not by those who seek it for themselves, but by those who share it with other people.

Christ
The good news of Christmas is that Jesus gave Himself for the whole world. He could have clung to his status and rights as royalty – the King of all Kings. But instead He emptied Himself and entered into our world in humility. Do we truly grasp the weight of this gift? At this station we’ll examine our hearts when it comes to our “rights.”

this event will also launch us into our christmas series the next few sundays. we’re calling it “a different way in a manger.” contrasting the two kingdoms of Herod and Jesus. one marked by power, coercion and manipulation. the other marked by humility, service and love.

a fun time should be had by all (who come out).