Miss this week's message?
“O Come All Ye Faithful” is a beautiful and familiar Christmas carol that is sung during this holiday time, but have you ever really soaked in the words of this song? It is a true song of worship and honor for our Lord and Savior. In this week's sermon Pastor Dennis shares with us “How to honor Christ at Christmas”. We are reminded to not allow the commercialization of Christmas to over shadow its true meaning. Learn from this heart opening message some wonderful ways we can honor Christ that will not only bless us but bless Jesus.

Click here to listen to this week's message

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
We look forward to seeing you and your family tomorrow evening at our special candlelight service as we remember and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. With music and worship, a live nativity and communion, this will be a truly memorable part of your holiday celebration. Join us in V1 at either 5 or 7pm service for this remarkable hour-long event. Childcare will be provided for infants and children up through kindergarten.

30 DAYS OF FASTING AND PRAYER
We feel that God is challenging us as a church to start off 2009 with a 30-day fast, beginning January 2nd. When we fast together, tremendous breakthrough is released. So, we encourage everyone to join us in this fast. We also invite you to join us for corporate prayer and worship each Sunday evening in January at 6pm in V1 beginning on the 4th. In order to help you in this, information about the how's, what's and why's of fasting are available at the table in the lobby.>.

CORE NEW YEAR'S EVE SERVICE
The 30+ single's NEW YEAR'S EVE SERVICE ministry will celebrate and welcome in 2009 with a live band, our favorite DJ, friends, food and lots of fun & surprises on Wednesday, December 31st beginning at 10pm in our V2 facility (building located on Financial Drive). Bring your favorite food or dessert to share, while we provide the drinks. You don't want to miss this party! Doors open at 9pm.
For more information please contact Keo Ngo at 770-849-9400 ext 255 or kngo@victorywc.org.

SPRING '09 FINANCIAL CLASSES REGISTRATION
Attention everyone! Online registration for our spring classes opens January 10th at victoryatl.com. Lobby Registration will be January 17th-18th ONLY. If you want to get set on the right course in your finances or in starting a business, you'll want to register as soon as possible - the classes fill up very quickly. You may choose from: How to Start a Business, Crown Biblical Financial Study and Financial Peace University.

SPRING '09 MARRIAGE COURSES
Victory's Family Ministries is happy to offer four invaluable and relevant courses that will enrich, help repair, or simply further educate you as you continue in or enter marriage: With this Ring; With this Ring Blended Version (those who already have children); Married Forever and Married Forever Blended Version (step-families). Online registration for our spring session of these classes will be available this weekend at victoryatl.com. Although classes begin February 16th and 21st, please be aware that there is a required orientation session on Jan 11th or 18th from 11am - 12pm, in V4 for the pre-marital courses. Please visit our table in the V1 main lobby for more information.

V-GROUP TRAINING CAMP
Attention new and potential V-Group leaders: We want to invite you to our V-Group Leaders Training Camp on Saturday, January 17th at 9:30am in the Zone in V1. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the vision of the V-Group Ministry, Foundations of V-Group Leadership, Developing the Heart of a Shepherd and The Art of Listening. We will also talk about group preparation and developing leaders from within your group, as well as techniques for caring for your individual small group members. If you are interested in becoming a V-Group leader or currently are a V-Group leader who hasn't yet attended Training Camp you don't want to miss this opportunity! Childcare will be provided for a nominal fee of $5/child or $10 max/family. Please register to reserve your childcare spot.

VICTORY WORLD CHRISTIAN SCHOOL'S OPEN HOUSE
Would you like to meet the dynamic faculty and staff of VWCS? Want to know about the incredible things God is doing through our children? Then join us on Sunday, January 11th from 4 to 6pm in the V3 Auditorium for our VWCS Open House. You'll see high-tech demonstrations of the interactive Smartboards, Rosetta Stone and RenWeb. You will also catch a glimpse of how we use accelerated math and reading to enable students to grow academically several grades in one year. In addition, you'll have the opportunity to meet and talk with the parents of some of our currently-enrolled students. We'd love to have you there. Come and discover the incredible experience God has for your family at VWCS!

NEW - Special Needs Ministry
Your children are welcome! At Victory, we believe that all children are created in God's image. Every child has value to God-and us! If you would like your child with special needs to grow in an understanding of his or her value to God and to enjoy time with other children in an inclusive classroom setting or have one on one assistance in our current classroom environments, please click here for more information and to apply. If you have any immediate questions, please contact Amanda Dance at adance@victorywc.org or 770.849.9400 ext. 304.

Victory Blog
Do you read the Victory Blog? Did you even know it exists? Well, it does and it's a great source of news, updates, stories and thoughts from our pastors, as well as photos and video from our events. Check it out at victory.vwcblogs.com.

V•Groups -- a place to belong
In the high-tech, low-touch culture of America, many of us are searching for a place to belong. We wrestle with issues of life such as relationships, money, self-discipline, insecurity and fear in our search for peace and significance.

We weren't meant to walk through life alone. True growth--both spiritual & personal--often takes place in loving, supportive, grace-giving, truth-telling relationships -- like those found in V•Groups.

V•Groups are small groups of 10-12 people who meet weekly across Metro Atlanta. They are places for people just like you, who are seeking answers, change, real relationships -- and above all, God.

Click here to find a V•Group near you.

How to Honor Christ at Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful holiday full of fond memories and time for families to spend together. And, it's a wonderful celebration of Jesus' birth here on earth. Yet our society has taken Christmas and so commercialized it that the very meaning of Christmas has been stolen and its focus redirected so that it has little or nothing to do with Jesus' birth but has everything to do with money, profit and the economy. This is certainly not the way we were meant to see Christmas.

Christmas is first and foremost about Jesus! It is a celebration of HIS birth. As we grow closer to Jesus, we find that our focus will move from the presents we get, to those we give, and ultimately, to a deep desire to bless and honor Jesus. It is that spirit that I want to encourage us all to do this Christmas as the wise men did so long ago and give gifts to Jesus first. Let us bless and Him. How?

We can honor and bless Jesus:

1. By trusting Him regardless of how difficult things become in the world. Trusting or honoring anything else (money, possessions, government, ourselves, etc.) above Christ will drive peace away and lead to fear. Trusting Jesus is the only thing that brings peace to our hearts.
2. By extending love and forgiveness to everyone that's in my life. Jesus is delighted when we operate in the same love He operates in. The devil wants to keep us bound in offenses against others.
3. By developing a life that cares for people less fortunate than yourself. Many in our society are completely self-focused during this holiday. Reaching out in care and service to those who are less fortunate than us is the best cure for this. As Jesus said, "In as much as you have done it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me."
4. By always maintaining a thankful heart in all things. Murmuring and complaining about what we don't have is the opposite of this - it dishonors Jesus. But, if we remain thankful for who God is and what He's done in our lives, even in the midst of the "wilderness," He is greatly honored and blessed.

I hope that you and your family have a truly wonderful Christmas together. Even more, I hope that you will take these words to heart (listen to this week's message for a more in-depth teaching on this subject) and truly honor and bless Jesus as we celebrate His birth and all that it means for us as individuals and for our world!

• Pray for President and Mrs. Bush as they celebrate Christmas at Camp David with 30 family members including former President George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Barbara Bush, daughters Jenna (Bush) and Henry Hager and Barbara Bush, siblings Doro Bush, Marvin Bush and many more - for God's richest blessings and gracious presence as they celebrate together.
• Pray for the Obama family as they celebrate their last Christmas before entering the White House, asking for God's presence and blessing and for great times of family fun as they spend time together. Pray for their health and safety throughout the coming weeks.
• As the nation pauses to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, pray for a sense of peace and joy to spread throughout our country. Pray for churches, pastors and lay people alike as together we celebrate this extraordinary holiday, and pray that many will come to know Jesus Christ as savior through these celebrations. Pray for God's blessing for families and singles alike, and pray for those who live at the margins of our society to have the support and help they need during the days and weeks to come.
• Pray for members of our military as they serve with faithfulness and dedication, many sacrificing their comfort and convenience for our well-being and safety. Pray for them to have God's powerful protection, giving thanks for the great reduction in casualties in recent months.