Sunday night's "First Family Christmas" was a wonderful evening of singing, as First Baptist's choirs led us in praise to God and holiday cheer. Hundreds of voices, from the very young all the way to senior adults, joined together to start the Christmas season for us in great fashion.

Have you ever seen so many beautiful children and teenagers? Row after row they crowded onto the platform at their appointed times and sang so wonderfully. The adult choir, orchestra, handbells, ensembles and soloists, were at their best, too.

There were parents crouching in every aisle near the front, recording still pictures and video to remember the moment and chronicle the faith development and growing up of their children. FaceTime for grandparents a world away. Surely it was the most documented event in Alexandria that night!

Thank you Roger McGee and your entire music ministry staff for such an incredible gift! Hundreds singing for hundreds more who filled the FAC. There was laughter, tears, godly pride and much joy all around. The Bible says that one of the signs that a church is Spirit-filled is that the members "sing and make music from their hearts to the LORD" (Ephesians 5:19) and we were certainly doing that.

But the entire day was glorious, really. We lit the first candle in our Advent wreath. There were baptisms in both morning services, a man professed his faith in Jesus. Gale Nemec gave an enthralling portrayal of Elizabeth just before my message. There was also the children's "parade of flags" to start off our Lottie Moon emphasis -- topped off by commissioning eight of our members for their mission trip to Bulgaria next week!

We even managed to fit a well-attended and positive business meeting into the over-loaded day. The budget for 2019 was discussed and committee leadership was approved.

And, when it was all over for me, a hamburger and french fries from McDonald's and a little television at home.  God was smiling upon our church on Sunday. We all sensed it and, I am sure, whispered our own prayers of gratitude before drifting off. I went to bed and slept like a baby.