Dear Church Family,

Christmastime is a joyful season. We have so many reasons to rejoice as we remember our Savior’s birth, our Emmanuel. In that light, Advent and Christmas at CityRise are already off to a wonderful start with gatherings as well as our sermon series, The King Has Come. This past weekend, we enjoyed our always lively (and tasty) Gingerbread House decorating party, and on Sunday morning we experienced another remarkable presentation of music from Handel's Messiah during our CityRise West U Baptist services. Check out the photos below, and click here if you want to watch or share our presentation of Messiah. 

But that was only the first weekend of December! Tomorrow and Saturday, we’re going to have a jingle-bell time at CityRise Bellaire for Christmas at CRB, a nostalgic, family-friendly concert experience. If you attended our 80s Christmas concerts in years past, you know these shows are entertaining, funny, interactive, and well done. They’re perfect opportunities to spend a holiday evening with family and friends, and to invite neighbors to join you as you enjoy cocoa, carols, and cookies in a classic Christmas atmosphere. (Plus, there’ll be games and prizes!)

You’ll have two opportunities: tomorrow night, December 12 at 7P and Saturday afternoon, December 13 at 4P. So come all ye faithful and bring a friend to one of these special concerts!

We’re also gearing up for CityRise Missouri City’s huge campus and community party this weekend: Christmas Together: A Community Celebration! Our Missouri City events are consistently popular and well-attended—both as fun get-togethers and as meaningful outreach moments to our neighbors. Make your way out to Missouri City on Saturday at 5P for Christmas CRMC style! 

Lastly today, as you may know, Dr. James Tour recorded an interview for the Tucker Carlson Show a few weeks back. That interview is scheduled to be released tomorrow, Friday, December 12, on Tucker Carlson’s YouTube channel. (Here is where you can watch it.) Jim told me that he was very appreciative of the way that Mr. Carlson interviewed him. Please pray that the Lord uses this interview to engage many hearts.

Whether it’s at a concert, a party, or a worship service, we hope to see you this weekend, Church Family. Most of all, we’re praying that in the middle of all the activity, you’ll rejoice for the nearness of Jesus, our King who has come and who will come again.


Stay Expectant,
Pastor Roger

P.S. As 2025 comes to a close, prayerfully consider your year-end giving to CityRise and your continued support of God’s work here in Houston. All the ways to give financially can be found at cityrise.org/give. Thank you for your generosity!