Third Sunday of Advent

Poinsettias in Remembrance
You are invited to bring a poinsettia in loving memory or in honor of someone dear to your heart.
Please bring your poinsettia in a 6-inch pot and drop it off during worship on Sunday, December 21, or at the church office December 15–18, between 9am - 4pm

These beautiful flowers will fill our worship space with love and remembrance throughout the Christmas season.

Let’s fill our church grounds with the warm glow of luminaries this Christmas Eve! If you’d like to help place or light luminaries before the services begin, we’d love to have you join us from 2-2:30pm to set up or from 4-4:30pm to help light them.

Your gift cards and monetary donations, over 60 gift cards and over $1000 cash/checks, will be cherished and will make a meaningful difference for the youth at Homeless Youth Connection.  

This Christmas season has been filled with joy, faith, and meaningful moments for our CLP Kids, and we are so grateful for all the ways they’ve helped us celebrate the story of Jesus together.

We began the season by sharing Christmas joy in the community as our CLP Kids Choir sang at the City of Hope Tree Lighting on December 9, shining Christ’s light beyond our church walls. The following evening, children confidently retold the Christmas story during the CLP Kids Christmas Story Pageant on December 10, sharing the miracle of Christ’s birth with heart and enthusiasm.

Throughout the season, our kids also gathered for our annual CLP Kids Christmas Kids Night In / Parents Night Out, enjoyed walking together in the Christmas parade, and joined in the fun and fellowship of our annual Live Nativity, helping bring the story of Christmas to life for hundreds of guests.

The celebration continues! Don’t miss CLP Kids joining the choir this Sunday during worship at the 8:30 AM service—a joyful reminder of the season’s hope.

We are so thankful for our children, their families, and the many volunteers who make these moments possible. What a gift it is to celebrate the season together!

This year’s Live Nativity was a beautiful reminder of what happens when a community comes together to welcome others in the spirit of the season. On a cool December evening, The Church at Litchfield Park welcomed more than 200 guests of all ages—families, neighbors, and friends—who gathered to slow down, remember, and rejoice.

Throughout the night, hayrides filled with festive caroling carried laughter and song through the neighborhood, creating a joyful soundtrack to the evening. Inside, our Annual Remembrance offered a quiet, sacred space for reflection, as guests paused to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. It was a tender and meaningful moment for many, reminding us that Christmas holds both joy and longing—and that God meets us in both.

At the heart of the evening was our rotating Live Nativity, where families shared in the retelling of the Christmas story. Watching children and parents step into this tradition together was a great reminder that the story of Jesus continues to be passed from generation to generation.

Of course, no winter gathering would be complete without warmth and treats. Guests enjoyed rich, delicious hot chocolate and sweet baked goods (thank you to all who contributed baked goods — we raised over $300 for our summer mission trip!), while the breezeway buzzed with excitement as children participated in crafts and families captured special memories at Santa pictures.

There were so many ways for families to engage, linger, and consider the season—not just as a holiday, but as a holy moment filled with hope, memory, and love.

We are deeply grateful to the many volunteers who served so generously and made this night possible. From setup to tear-down, from guiding hayrides to pouring cocoa, from leading remembrance to welcoming children—thank you for offering your time, creativity, and hearts. Because of you, our campus became a place of warmth and welcome.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who came out to walk with us in this year’s Christmas Parade! Your smiles, energy, and festive spirit helped spread joy throughout our community.

A special thank you to Sue Kujawski and the CLP Bell Choir for being our joyful “Jingle Bells”—you added such a wonderful and unmistakable sound of Christmas that delighted all who watched and listened.

We are so grateful for each of you who helped share the joy of the season beyond our campus and into our community.

This past week, more than 70 women gathered for our annual Women@CLP Christmas Tea, Wrapped in Love—and it was truly a joyful celebration of the season.

From the moment we arrived, the room was filled with laughter, connection, and creativity. Women were quite literally wrapped in love through a fun and friendly centerpiece-building relay, where teamwork, strategy, flexibility, and encouragement took center stage. The energy in the room reflected the heart of our theme—working together in harmony and celebrating the gifts each person brings.

We paused to center our hearts around Colossians 3, reflecting on what it means to clothe ourselves with love and allow Christ’s love to bind us together in perfect unity. This time of devotion reminded us that the beauty of the season is not just in what we create, but in how we love one another.

The afternoon was sweetened by delicious desserts, warm fellowship, and meaningful conversation as women mingled and celebrated one another’s creativity. A special highlight was Addie Weller, who shared her musical gift by singing The First Noel, drawing our hearts back to the wonder and hope of Christ’s birth.

One of the most meaningful expressions of the day was our Wrapped in Love gift collection. Together, we gathered just under 80 gifts for women and girls served by the Phoenix Rescue Mission—a beautiful, tangible way to extend Christ’s love beyond our walls. Thank you to Sharon Matz for coordinating this effort and helping make it such a blessing to others.

We are grateful for every woman who attended, served, created, and shared in this special afternoon. As you enjoy the photos below, we hope they capture just a glimpse of the joy, beauty, and love that filled the room.

Thank you for being part of Women@CLP—where we gather, grow, AND celebrate together.

Join us for donuts and coffee as we box up Christmas throughout the sanctuary and our beautiful campus.

Living Hope in a Hard World - 10 Week Study

Date: January 28, 2026  Hostess: Jane Holdcroft

Where: PebbleCreek's Eagles Nest Alcove  Time: 11:30 a.m.

Lunch: Off the menu 

Homework:  We changed our devotional time to someone different each month. The devotion leader can select from The Upper Room or from something else they'd like to share.  Each month we'll put the names in a dish and draw for the following month - two names for our usual two tables. Thought it would be fun to share this task and learn from one another. January devotional leaders are: Cathy Navarra and Carol Hahn (If either of you are unable to do devotions, let me know and we'll find someone else.)

R.S.V.P. to Diane Piehl at 623-935-2796 or walterdianepiehl@cox.net

With offering boxes available before, during, and after services, you are encouraged to give as the Spirit leads—with joy and intentionality. 

Freely you have received: freely give - Matthew 10:8

The current CLP Board of Directors held a zoom board meeting on Tuesday, December 9th. President Harold Matz had an announcement to make about a change in CLP leadership. Due to recently identified medical issues that will require long term rehabilitation, Harold resigned his position as President of the Board of Directors effective December 9, 2025. 

Current CLP Director of Stewardship Jason Butler has agreed to accept the position of President of the Board of Directors at the Church of Litchfield Park. Jason’s acceptance of the position was approved by a vote of confidence by the current Board of Directors at the meeting.

The Board is deeply grateful for Harold’s faithful leadership and continues to pray for his health and healing. We are also thankful for Jason’s willingness to step in and serve as Board President. 

The Board and Pastors would like to express our sincere appreciation to the members and congregants of The Church at Litchfield Park for their trust, support, and prayers throughout this year. It is the people of this church that have always made it a special house of worship and a true blessing to the community.

Email the Board of Directors or Council of Ministries: clpboard@clp.church

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES
8:30 and 10:00am in Sanctuary

OFFICE HOURS
Monday through Thursday ~ 9am to 4pm

300 North Old Litchfield Road
Litchfield Park, AZ  85340
(623) 935-3411
info@clp.church
https://clp.church