Holiday Office Hours and Staff Vacation: The Church Office will have limited hours over the holidays, please contact the church office before coming to church. Sunday services and regularly scheduled events will continue. Check with ministry team leaders if you have questions about a particular event. Pastor Matt will be out December 25-Jan 3 and Pastor Josh will be out December 29-Jan 3. Please contact the elders if you have an emergency. 

Christmas Swap Party: THIS swap party is for CHRISTMAS and ONLY Christmas items on Saturday, December 13 from 9am-10:30am. You can come shop even if you don’t donate. Bring only Christmas items in great condition. You get to give, receive, and donate, all while enjoying some fellowship. Bring Christmas Sweaters, Christmas jewelry, scarves, décor, ornaments, puzzles, dishes, toys for kids in good condition, etc. don’t have to bring anything in order to shop. Items left over will be donated to a Life Network Thrift Store. Bring a treat to share if you would like, coffee is provided. Questions contact Connie Harrington connie.h.harrington@gmail.com

Thank You!

Christmas for Kids has wrapped up for another year!  Thanks to your overwhelming generosity, we were able to provide gifts for 113 of the children on the Christmas for Kids gift list at our local Department of Human Services!

What a fun year to witness, yet again, God’s provision through you… we loaded Alex Funke’s trailer and set-off for DHS with bags and bags of gifts, including: clothes, toys, books, games, personal care items, diapers, a car seat, a stroller, a bike trailer, 2 high chairs, a guitar, a queen size bed, scooters and 4 bikes! Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus. You have provided much more than just material gifts; you’ve given each recipient a glimmer of hope and wrapped them in love and care for a brief moment in time and affected their lives in ways we will never know. God bless you, and please keep your child in your prayers throughout the year.

Many thanks to the Christmas for Kids team! What a blessing to me personally to have these talented, willing, and capable volunteers come alongside and contribute greatly to the program’s success. And all those who helped them.

Gift Logistics—Judy Ehrlich: Jill Bogenschutz, Mike Ehrlich, Alex Funke, Adam Glaser, Cherlynn Moes and Mike Odell

IT—Craig Odell

Ornaments and Décor—Liz Giesman: The Giesman Family

Shopping—Cherlynn Moes: Toma Garst, Melissa Klute, Amy Negaard, Sharon Patterson, Barb Rader, Katie Randall, Paula Randall and Piper Shannon

Table Staffing—Joan Funke: Sheila Doe, Annabelle Giesman, Kendra Glaser, Tammy Hemphill, Marilyn McGee, Lisa Pfister, Paula Randall, Ginger Seidel, Piper Shannon, Andrea Sprague, Karen Thornton, Evelyn Ulsh, Gail Westmoreland and Jessica Whisenant

Serving Him together,

Kelly Odell

Christmas for Kids Coordinator

January 15, 6pm-8pm at Forestgate
What is Welcome COS?
Welcome COS is a faith based ministry in Colorado Springs that equips churches to serve refugees with dignity, compassion, and practical support. We connect volunteers, churches, and refugee families so that new arrivals experience real community, belonging, and the hope of Christ through the local church.

What Happens at a Volunteer Training?
Our volunteer trainings are an introduction to refugee ministry. In about an hour, participants learn:

• Who refugees are and what their journey is like

• The most meaningful ways volunteers can help (mentorship, hospitality, transportation, practical support)

• Best practices for serving with cultural sensitivity, compassion, and healthy boundaries

• How to walk alongside a refugee family in a way that reflects the welcome of Jesus

The trainings are accessible, relational, and designed for anyone curious about getting involved; no prior experience required.
Questions? Reach out to Steve Stanton at steve@waypointcos.org.

Forestgate will be hosting a Financial Peace University class starting January 11 from 3-5pm in the double classroom.

The Fellowship Team will host a pot-luck style brunch during the Sunday School hour on December 28. We are asking everyone to bring a dish, enough to share. Last name A-J bring a brunch side/fruit/dessert. Last name K-Z  bring brunch main dish/casserole/egg dishes (Drinks and paper goods provided by the church.)

We will have our Christmas Eve Candlelight services at 4pm and 5:30pm. We hope you will be able to join us, please take an invite card and invite friends, family and neighbors! The nursery will be open for both services.

From Hans Larsen:
“Dear Church Family,
I will be going on a short-term mission trip to Merida, Mexico, to teach a class to local ministry leaders from across Mexico with my brother, Eric, and their NEXT Institute partner at San Pablo Seminary.  The dates for the trip are January 17th-25th, 2026.  Please pray health and ability to travel and to teach effectively and that God would use this class as a means to equip these ministry leaders to reach the next generation all across Mexico.  If you would like to support this trip financially, please use this link: https://mtw.org/projects/gyfm-next-team/ and put “Hans Larsen Mexico Trip” in the memo.  To give by check, please make the check out to "Mission to the World” and write "project account 88100." Mail checks to:
MTW
P.O Box 744165
Atlanta, GA 30374-4165
Just a year ago in my debilitated state, I couldn’t imagine ever being able to do something like this.  All praise and thanks to God for his loving care to heal and enable me to go and help spread the Gospel in this manner.  And thank you for your prayers and support for me and my family over the years in general, and also specifically in this endeavor.  I am humbled, honored, and blessed by you.
Your brother in Christ,
Hans”

Women’s Wednesday Evening Bible Study Spring 2026 will be “In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character” by Jen Wilkin. Books $7. We will start with a kick off potluck on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 6:30pm in the double classroom. Please RSVP to Stephanie at Wednesdayeve@forestgate.org.

Bible Reading Plan - 2026.  It is very important for all Christians to be regularly reading through the entire Bible.  In past years Dale Oderman has put out an annual reading plan based on an overall 3-year plan to read through the entire Bible chronologically. For 2026 the plan starts over in Gen 1 and goes up through part of King David's life.  If you would be interested in using this plan, contact Dale (dbvlo68@gmail.com) to request a copy.

Are you planning to join the Wise Owls Community Group Christmas Celebration? We are gathering together this Wednesday, 1pm at church, for a meal, devotional and gift exchange. Your gift should be $10 or less. If you'd like to contribute to our meal, please let Sharon know what you intend to bring. Don't want to cook... that's ok, just come and enjoy the sweet fellowship of the Owls! Questions? Contact Sharon daisy82@usa.com.

Fashion Statements: Biblical Theology and Salvation History Through the Motif of Clothing
This Sunday School series will attempt to uncover a topic of substantial significance -clothing. God created everything to declare His glory, including clothing. The gospel is first told in scripture through the motif of clothing. Scripture’s breadth and beauty of clothing imagery begins in Genesis, ends with white robes in Revelation, and in between is a tapestry of spiritual realties bearing witness and pointing to something greater. Join us as we examine clothing that is aflame with doctrine!

Tuesday Morning Bible Study: January 13 - April 28
We will meet in the double classroom for fellowship and the study will begin at 9:30am. Our book this spring will be “Suffering: Gospel Hope When Life Doesn’t Make Sense” by Paul David Tripp. For more info or to register, please contact Pat at tuesdayam@forestgate.org. Books are $12 and will be available in December. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join us for a Christmas Carol sing-along on Saturday, December 20 from 7-8 pm at Forestgate! We will sing classics like Joy to the World, Deck the Halls and Silent Night. It will be a fun evening getting us all into the Christmas spirit. Children are invited to sing with their parents. There will be refreshments, hot chocolate and other goodies. RSVP HERE. See Tony Burch for questions.

Nominations for Church Officers: The session is accepting nominations for church officers through Sunday, December 14. Click HERE to read more about the qualifications which are also mentioned in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:5-9. 

Forestgate offers a DivorceCare support group for people seeking faith-based guidance on a recovery path after separation or divorce. The philosophy of this ministry is to provide a caring environment where people can come alongside others to help them find healing from the pain of separation or divorce. The next support group series will meet Sunday evenings at Forestgate from 6:00pm-8:00pm, starting January 11. Register HERE. Contact Bruce or Connie Harrington for more information harrington.bruce@gmail.com.