December 14, 2025
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” ~ John 1:14 (NIV) ~
Here’s one of those Christmas stories that has endured the test of time. I have shared it with you before, but it deserves a second look. The original author is unknown.As we consider the joy of Christmas this Sunday, let this story help you be creative in finding joy in places where there seems to be none.
“It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.
It all began because my husband, Mike, hated Christmas oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it: overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute, the gifts given in desperation.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties I reached for something special just for Mike.
Our son Kevin was wrestling at the junior-varsity level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear.
It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. We ended up walloping them. As each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado a kind of street pride that couldn’t acknowledge defeat.
Mike shook his head sadly. ‘I wish just one of them could have won,’he said. ‘They have a lot of potential but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.’That’s when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas. Each Christmas, I followed the tradition one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year giving a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas.
The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the envelope never lost its allure.
The story doesn’t end there. We lost Mike due to cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was so wrapped up in grief that I barely got the tree up. But on Christmas Eve, I placed an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad.
The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelopes.”
Blessings on your week as you allow the Holy Spirit to develop the spirit of joy in your life this Christmas week. See you Sunday as we discover CHRIST’S GIFTS TO US on this SIMPLE CHRISTMAS.
Pastor Terrell
P.S. I am excited about Christmas Sunday Worship service coming up on December 21st and our Christmas Eve service on Tuesday, December 24th. I hope that you have already put these two services on your Family Christmas Calendar. They may help you discover some of the joy and peace that you’re looking for!
in DECEMBER
Sunday, December 21: Christmas Sunday Family Worship 10:30 AM in Worship Center Wednesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 5 PM in Worship Center
with our activities.
ScheduleforSunday,December14,2025:
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM Room #201
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM Room #202
Preschool Worship opens @ 10:15 AM KID CITY
Sunday Morning Worship @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ (K-6th) dismissed during Morning Worship
Church Business Meeting following Morning Worship in Worship Center
Cookies ‘n Carols @ 6:00 PM in Fellowship Hall
Schedulefortherestoftheweek:
Wednesday@ 6:25 PM Choir Rehearsal in Room #206 @ 6:30 PM Youth Group in Fellowship Hall
PLAN TO STAY AFTER MORNING WORSHIP
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14th
Gospel Conversations
Total : 50,054
IF YOU NEED HELP OR ASSISTANCE
Deacon of the Week:
Doug Crow 520-831-0146
SUNDAY, 12/14/25 @ 6:00 PM FELLOWSHIP HALL
DECEMBER 21, 2025
FAMILY WORSHIP 10:30 AM
5:00 PM @ First Southern Worship Center
Morning Worship at a Glance
“How Great is Our God”
“Angels from the Realms of Glory”
“Redeeming Love”
Welcome & Offertory Prayer
Kidz4Christ dismissed
“Crown Him”
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”
“Jesus, Name Above All Names
ETERNAL HOPE
FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST
Christ’s Gifts to Us
Micah 5:2-5
“There is a Redeemer”
“Crown Him”
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young
Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.
TO RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER THROUGH YOUR EMAIL SIMPLY MARK THE FRONT OF YOUR CONNECTION CARD. THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO RECEIVE CURRENT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.