Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
– James 4:8 –
Christmas is a favorite season for many of us – parties and gatherings, laughter with family and friends, and extra time off from work. In addition to all these good things, our hope is that you will especially take time this season for the best thing… drawing near to Christ and experiencing His presence.
CHRISTMAS AT FIRST WOODWAY
Christmas Coffee House
November 28 – December 15 | 6:30 – 10:00 am | The Venue
It’s that time again! Our Annual / Peace On Earth Coffee House / opens for you to share coffee and conversation with a friend or neighbor. Opening Day is Monday, November 28, 6:30 -10:00 am and will follow this schedule – Monday through Thursday until December 15. We will have coffee and other drinks, breakfast food and pastries, and a wonderful safe space to enjoy some friends and fellowship, or just some Peace on Earth.
College Ministry Christmas Extravaganza
December 2 | 6:00 pm | Sands’ House
Deck the Halls (and maybe your friends) at our annual College Ministry Christmas Extravaganza on December 2 at 6:00 pm. College students, come play Christmas games, eat dinner, and let’s celebrate the gift of our Savior in an extravagant way! Bring your friends, roommates, neighbors, and a white elephant gift! It’s all happening at the Sands’ House!
Light of the World: Sing Hallelujah
December 4 | 9:00 and 11:00 am
Please note the first service begins 30 minutes earlier than usual – one Sunday only!
Celebrate the birth of Jesus this holiday season by joining us for one of our favorite events of the year! The First Woodway Worship Choir and Orchestra will lead in a Christmas Worship program titled “Light of the World” during both morning services at 9:00 and 11:00 am (please note the adjusted services times). Light up this Sunday and the start of the whole season with a 100 voice choir, 40 piece orchestra, children’s choirs, and a candle lighting! You will also have an opportunity during worship to provide a gift to help support a local nonprofit through a ministry we call, “The Twelve Trees.” Both worship services will be live-streamed.
On this Sunday, Adult Life Groups will not meet and Kingdom Kids will provide Sunday School for Babies-Prek only; children in Kinder-5th grade will attend worship with their parents. Youth will meet at their regular time, 9:30 am, and all ages will meet together in The Venue. Both worship services will be live-streamed.
Twelve Trees Outreach
December 4
During our Christmas Worship service on December 4, there is a time for our church family to bring forward gifts and place them under one of twelve trees lining the front of the worship center. Each tree represents an area ministry that serves our community. If you would like to bring a gift for one of the ministries, each has provided us with a “wish list” of the items they most need. To make it easy while you are out shopping, you can also access this list under “Serve” on the church app!
Winter Wonderland
December 4 | 5:00-7:30 pm | Church Campus – Outdoors
Everyone’s welcome to First Woodway’s Annual Winter Wonderland on Sunday, December 4 from 5:00 to 7:30 pm! Invite all your family and friends to see a LIVE retelling of the Nativity Story, live music, enjoy a food truck dinner, taste a variety of holiday sweets and hot cocoa, and celebrate our Savior with games, crafts, and inflatables. We will wrap up our evening with community Worship, lifting our voices together for JESUS the LIGHT of the world! Meet us on the circle drive and make your spirit BRIGHT!
SENIOR ADULTS: The Christmas Light City Tour and Belton Lights
December 6 | 5:00 pm
The Senior Adult Ministry is so happy to invite you to tour the lights of Waco and Belton on Tuesday, December 6. We will load church bus and vans in the FW church parking lot and begin our tour at 5:00 pm. It’s a wonderful time of visiting with friends as we see the lights of Christmas! Refreshments of hot chocolate and cookies will be provided for you on the tour. There is no cost, but we must have your reservation and you can make those by calling the church office at 254-772-9696. Reservations must be made by Sunday, December 4, seating is limited.
YOUTH: BIG Christmas
December 7 | 7:00-8:30 pm | The Venue
The last WNL before our Winter Hayride will be another Big Wednesday we are calling BIG CHRISTMAS! We are once again combining both high school and middle school at The Venue from 7:00-8:30 pm. Worship, skits, food and maybe a guest appearance from the Big Man himself. You do not want to miss this amazing night! Bring a first-time guest and you and your friend will receive a special Christmas gift from us! Our theme is UGLY SWEATER so get your sweater ready! There will be a contest for the best ugly sweater and the winner will receive an awesome prize! You better be there!
SENIOR ADULTS: GoodTimers Feliz Navidad Christmas Celebration
December 13 | 6:00 pm | Worship Center
GoodTimers is a fun fellowship group for ages 55+ which meets the second Tuesday of each month, September through May, at 6:00 pm in the Worship Center and Fellowship Hall. During this FESTIVE fellowship we will enjoy a delicious, catered meal and celebrate our King of the World, Jesus! Cost is $10.00 per person; reservations are required through the group leaders or HERE.
Neighborhood “Care-oling”
December 14 | 5:00 pm | Meet in the Commons
Neighborhood Care-oling is an outreach effort to our Woodway community. We will be visiting and caroling at the homes of your friends and or, neighbors who may not have a church home and need the love of Jesus. Maybe you know someone who has been going through a difficult time and needs some encouragement! We will be singing carols, providing a nice goody basket, and praying with each family. We will meet in the Commons at 5:00 pm for a pizza dinner, pray at 5:30, and then dash out in teams in vans and cars. Come spread some cheer and be a part of Neighborhood Care-oling! Please contact Lynn Brooks if you plan to attend!
YOUTH: Annual Winter Hayrides
December 14
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to do as the wise men did for Christmas and take a trip through the countryside. Our version is a hayride to a country home for a bonfire to honor the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is one of our most favorite Christmas traditions! It all takes place on Wednesday, December 14 in place of WNL and Prime Time.
We meet in the parking lot of the New Day Family Fellowship (1861 Church Rd, McGregor, Texas 76657)
Middle School meets at 6:00pm and returns at 7:45pm
High School meets at 8:00pm and returns at 9:45pm
Kingdom Kids: Happy Birthday, Jesus!
December 18 | 9:30 am Sunday School
Our annual “Happy Birthday, Jesus!” parties will be held during the 9:30 am Sunday School hour on December 18. We will play games, work on some fun crafts, have a special snack, and hand out gifts. In addition to that, we are asking our families to bring the following, which will be donated to Care Net:
// Ones & Twos: Newborn + Size 1 Diapers
// Threes & Fours: Size 2 or 3 Diapers
// Kinder – 2nd Grade: Size 4 or 5 Diapers
// 3rd – 5th Grade: Unscented Wipes
Family Advent Resources
Family Advent Materials will be out the end of November! Advent Calendars, Family Advent Devotion Guides, and many more Advent resources will be available. Don’t miss this opportunity to be intentional with your families as you focus on the real meaning of Christmas.
Kingdom Kids: Mission Project | December 2022
This December, the Children’s Ministry will once again be collecting items to donate to CareNet. You can bring your donation any Sunday in December (through December 18) and place it in the black buckets you will find in the Atrium of the children’s building, both upstairs and down. Please use this as your guide as to what to donate, and thank you for being a blessing to others this Christmas season!
// Babies – two-year-old classes: newborn or size 1 diapers
// Three-year-old – pre-k classes: size 2 or 3 diapers
// Kinder – 2nd grade classes: size 4 or 5 diapers
// 3rd – 5th grade classes: unscented wipes
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Saturday, December 24 | 3:30 and 5:00 pm
Celebrate the birth of Jesus with the First Woodway Family! Bring the kids in their pajamas and share in the Christmas joy with carols, hymns, and a special story time. It will be a wonderful evening to worship Jesus, the King of the World! 3:30 and 5:00 pm in the Worship Center. (We will not live stream the Christmas Eve services.)
Christmas Morning Worship | Sunday, December 25 | 10:00 am
Merry Christmas! We will worship together at 10:00 am in the Worship Center. Life Groups, Youth and Children’s Ministries will not meet so that you may worship as a family on these special mornings! We will live stream the service, so our church family can join us from anywhere!
New Year’s Day Worship | Sunday, January 1 | 10:00 am
Happy New Year! We will worship together at 10:00 am in the Worship Center. Life Groups, Youth and Children’s Ministries will not meet so that you may worship as a family on these special mornings! We will live stream the service, so our church family can join us from anywhere!