A Reason to Celebrate

Today Immanuel Christian School celebrated the start of Christmas break with our All-School Christmas Program and Grandparent’s Day.

For weeks, students have been learning lines, memorizing scripture and practicing songs. Parent volunteers and school staff have been preparing food and drinks to serve our honored guests. IMG_0064The school was full of parents, video cameras and smartphones in hand, excited to capture their children participating in music and drama. Meanwhile, our students were thrilled to have an atypical day where their grandparents are invited to stop by and spend time in their classrooms.

IMG_0100Today also marks the first ICS Alumni Reception and Brunch.  We were equally delighted to welcome over 70 former students, representing classes from 1985 to 2013, back to ICS to spend time together and to see how the school has changed since they graduated.

However, as wonderful as today is for these reasons, we are so much more thankful to be able to celebrate Christmas, the day that God’s perfect choice for the redemption of mankind came to earth to be born as a baby.  Jesus, the Light of the world and the Word, became flesh.  John 1:1-14 (ESV) explains the reason for Christmas so beautifully.

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

“Immanuel” means “God with us” and we are grateful as a school to be able to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. Our hope is that you take time to reflect on this most undeserved, unearned and greatest of gifts as you celebrate Christmas with family and friends.

All of us at ICS wish you and yours a blessed Christmas!