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December Birthdays

Adedeji Adepoju Richard Bobola

Phan Duoc Evelyn Erhabor Ipyana Mhango

Abbey Oke Ola Shanu

Ibukun Kayode Ronke Ado-Imoisili

Christopher Obimah FranSola Armimze

ECCLESIA

Christmas is coming the geese are getting fat…

The Christmas season is here, I can picture Santa and candy: everything that’s lovely and warm. The eggnog I always heard about but never drank. The Christmas presents I have seen but never enjoyed… it’s Christmas people and the world is geared and ready… for what the financial world would term the most lucrative time of the year. The season for spend spend spend, of lose lose lose and then gain gain gain; and I’m not just talking about weight. Its Christmas, and here in Northern Ireland, we’re getting our snow boots, gloves, muffs and scarves on, ready to go out

and do some carolling… it’s the season with the mostest fever. It’s Christmas!

O Come o Ye Faithful, Joyful and Triumphant….

We hear the call of Christmas like the gonging of a cymbal. From afar we can tell… for the lights are on… the markets are wild… the people feverish… the shops overflowing. At once all is alive;

everyone that has been faithfully enduring the year is ready for the reward of this time of celebration. Never mind that the celebration is for the ONE that is rarely acknowledged.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel….

A friend once said that Christmas is the birthday party where the celebrant is forgotten because everyone is so busy exchanging gifts between themselves. How horrid is that??? I sure wouldn’t

appreciate such a birthday; but the One whose birthday marks Christmas sits in our midst awaiting acknowledgement but never dishing out hatred. “He came unto his own, and his own received Him not… John 1: 11”. In love the Father gave of himself “For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” And we have this assurance and proof that “…Neither

death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. So God in His love gave us a gift, Jesus Christ; and all we need do in the way of saying thank you is to receive Jesus Christ… because as many as received him,

to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (John 1:12).

While shepherds watched their flocks by night…

So blessed people, as we work hard preparing for Christmas, as we go out and shop for Christmas, as we make ourselves a blessing by blessing others… let us not forget the reason for

the Season. Christ Jesus: that is who Christmas should really be about. In our every act, deed, word in this season: let us exalt the name of Jesus. In every good work remember to say it is for Jesus; in every sacrifice remember to say it is for Jesus. At home or work or play remember to

say, it is for Jesus. For without Christ in the mass we would have nothing but a mess. Therefore

Feliz Navidad, We wish you a Merry Christmas in Christ Jesus! By Sindile Moyo

The Reason for the Season!!!

The Monthly Newsletter of Place of Victory for All Nations, Belfast

December 2011

For further details or if in need of counselling and prayers, you can contact us on: Telephone: 02890 236391/ 07414246008 Email: placeofvictory_belfast@yahoo.com Web: www.placeofvictoryni.org

Events Saturday 17th December, 12pm Intercultural Dinner with the Welcome Organisation Saturday 17th December, (time t.b.c) Carols in the City @ City Hall Sunday 18th December, 5pm PVN Christmas Party @ Europa Hotel (Ticket required – pls contact office to buy yours) Sunday 25th December, 11am Christmas Service @ Europa Hotel Sunday 31st December, 9pm-12.30am New Year’s Eve Watchnight Service @ Europa Hotel Sunday 1st January 2012, 11am New Year’s Day Thanksgiving Service @ Europa

Be on the lookout for Ecclesia: the PVN yearly

Magazine out in January!!!

Value your smile!!! This is something that many of us are guilty of: We barely smile even to respond to greetings from our fellow men. We are always in a rush to be done with what we are doing or to get to our various destinations on time. Experts says that we use 72% of our muscles to frown and only 14% of our muscles to smile-meaning that it’s much harder work to wear a frown! It puts more demand on your body. Ecclesiastes 9:7 says “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine..” So if you want to stay in good health, consider this: 1. A Smile costs nothing but creates so much; 2. It enriches those who receive, without

impoverishing those who give; 3. It happens in a flash and the memory of it

sometimes lasts forever; 4. It creates happiness in homes, fosters goodwill in

businesses and is a sign of true friendship; 5. It is rest to the weary, daylight to the

discouraged, and sunshine to the sad; 6. It is nature’s best antidote for trouble; 7. It cannot be bought, borrowed, begged nor stolen

because it lives in you. For a happy healthy mind, wear that fantastic and gorgeous smile on that wonderfully made face of yours. It looks good on you!

**SMILING @ YOU WHO READ THIS** By Omobola Shanu

Community Fellowship Venues:

Central Belfast: Andras House, 60 Great Victoria St, BT2

South Belfast: * Starbucks Café, Lisburn Road, BT9 * Runnymede Parade, Belfast BT12

Cathedral Quarter: The Streat Café University of Ulster Building, York Street, BT1

Lisburn: Donald Drive, Lisburn, BT28

East Belfast & Holywood: Pls contact church office for details

Newtownabbey: Derry Hill, Newtownabbey, BT37

If you are not currently attending a Community Fellowship Group we would like to encourage you to plug into one. They are a great way to grow in the faith and develop godly, supportive relationships.

Please NOTE!!!

The last CFG for the year will be on Weds 21st Dec.

We resume Weds 11th Jan. 2012

Christmas To Do List: These are the steps we need to take to make our Christmas program a success.

Donate food and clothes for local families Book a ticket for the Christmas Party £15 for singles & £30 for families

Contact PVN Office about assisting with the Intercultural Dinner

Get your mitts, gloves, scarves; pick up a PVN jumper and join us in the city for Carols

Tell a friend or neighbour or colleague about the actual meaning of Christmas: Spread the Word

Invite someone for the Christmas Party £10 for invited guests

Surround yourself with family, with people that love and care for you. Share that warmth with everyone you meet and never forget there is no Christmas without Christ

Cook up a storm this Christmas

PVN Christmas Party, 5pm-9pm @ Europa Hotel (Pre-booking & ticket required)

Cook up a storm this Christmas:

Try an awesome

Christmas Cheesecake Or

Tuwo, Injera, Kenke, Mince Pies, Oplatek Or even

Turkey Curry

Whatever tickles the fancy, Take time and make some.

Carols in the City @ City Hall (Time T.B.C)

AA ttoouucchh ooff PPuurrppllee aanndd SSiillvveerr