The Wilkes Team

The Wilkes Team wants to wish you all a very

Merry Christmas!!!

May we not forget the greatest gift of all – Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! 

” For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” ~ Isaiah 9:6

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“….and breaking bread from house to house, did they eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,” Acts 2:46

This was a Christmas party that will be in our memory for years to come!

Our exciting adventure began at the home of Joshua and Lisa. We all enjoyed a tasty array of festive hors’dourves and drinks. While there, each family was given a box to decorate and prepare to fill for a family or individual in ministry. What a wonderful time of the year to let other’s know that you are praying for them and are blessed by their service to our Lord Jesus. Praise the Lord for those who He has called to serve the Lord in full-time ministry.

Our next stop was at the home of Joel and Sarah Potter. Here we partook in a scrumptious family style Christmas dinner and enjoyed more wholesome fellowship. Each person was given the opportunity to write a short note to their ‘ministry family.’

The last stop of the Christmas Dinner was the Barn where awaited a fine spread of desserts and Christmas goodies.

Here we filled our boxes with little gifts, goodies, and words of encouragement. 

A time of talking, laughing, and fellowship over the delicious desserts were enjoyed by all. As well as a memorable gift exchange.

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We had the joy of hosting the Snively Reunion at the barn during this wonderful time of the year! Words can’t truly express the blessing it was.

There was many wonderful activities, food, and fellowship to enjoy. But the sweetest time was when we all gathered together for a time of prayer and praise to our Lord. The presence of the Lord was truly there! I was left in awe as I heard the passion, fervency, gratefulness, and longing to be all that Christ would have us be.

As we concluded the evening there was a tighter bond between us all. The desire to spend more time together was evident. Praise the Lord for family!

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There is a ‘Cut Your Own Christmas Tree Farm’ about ten minutes from the barn, which offers a great assortment of fir trees to pick from.

When we heard about it we thought it would be a great memory if we all went and cut down our Christmas tree this year. We all cheered at the idea and anticipated the evening together.

We made some fun family memories that night! O, the joys of doing things together!

As we go through these last 9 days before Christmas may we take the time to make family memories. Enjoy one another!

• As our dear friends the Neely’s would say, “Sit long – Talk much -Laugh often.”
• Make cookies and Christmas goodies together for your neighbors.
• Invite a couple families over and go Christmas caroling! Hand out cookies and a Christmas track. The candy cane story is a great track to give out!
• Send a ‘Box of Blessings’ to a missionary, or a family that is in need.
• Look for people that you can bless through your words, time,  a note, or gift.
• Be available! Sometimes we miss those opportunities to bless others because we are so wrapped up in what we are doing! Evaluate what is truly important? How does the Lord want me to be spending my time, energy, and gifting’s?
• But most of all, don’t let the days slip by without taking the time to truly bask in the greatest gift that we have been given- Eternal life through Jesus Christ!

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Spending time with Grandma and Grandpa has always been a real delight to the Wilkes Team! No matter what you are doing with them you leave their presence encouraged, blessed, inspired, and grateful to God for the gift of Grandparents!

Last Thursday was no exception! Almost all of the extended Wilkes family was able to meet at our Grandparent’s house for a day of making gingerbread houses!

But it wasn’t only about making gingerbread houses. It was also about being together, “working” together , eating together, as well as having time to fellowship and encourage one another in our walks with the Lord.

It was a day we wont forget!

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Through a series of communication avenues, certain individuals, and the workings of Divine Providence, an opportunity arose for Sarah to play her harp at an event in Culpeper. She practiced and prepared and then the time came – Tuesday evening, 6:00pm. None of us in the family were actually sure what to expect at this event. We knew the Thanksgiving holiday was it’s impetus and we also knew they were going to have a guest speaker, U.S. Senate Chaplain, Barry Black. Nevertheless, the result of this event exceeded are expectations as we witnessed Culpeper coming together to give thanks to their Creator and Lord.

The service was initiated with the color guard and harp music playing in the background. Next, a series of introductory remarks were given, including gratefulness to our civil leaders (many of whom were present), a reading of the VA Governor’s Thanksgiving proclamation, and most importantly, praise and adulations to the Giver of all things, our God and Creator.

Then Rev. Black came forward and preached a sound, biblically based, and practical message on the importance of Thanksgiving. During his message, he alluded to experiences from his life relating to Thanksgiving. He shared how rough his beginning was of living in the hood of Washington DC and growing up in a single parent home. He also spoke of his mother instructing him in the scriptures and challenging him to memorize scripture. One day his mother brought him a recording of a Sermon preached by former Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall. Young eight year old Black listened to this message. Liking it so much, he listened to it again, again, and again. Then finally, he had memorized the sermon word for word. This young boy was inspired by this message not knowing in the least how God would place him in the exact same position as the Reverend who gave the message. These stories he shared with a true sense of gratefulness in how God had worked in his life. Another aspect of his message, which inspired the whole Wilkes team, was his Scripture memory. Verse after verse flowed from the man’s lips, verses that had been internalized and applied.

We are so thankful to have had the opportunity of attending this Thanksgiving service. It is an event we will remember for many years to come. We also are abundantly grateful for both church and civil leaders of the City of Culpeper who put this event  together, and their understanding of what Thanksgiving is truly all about.

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