News Release

ATWOOD — As Pastor David Banning leads the Atwood Otterbein Church through the Advent season, he is focused on family lines, homelands and heritages not only for the church family but for Jesus Christ. The services encourage the congregation to grow the bonds of love and faith that connect them to one another and drive them to invite others into the Christian family.

The pastor’s Advent series began Sunday, Dec. 3, detailing the family line for Jesus Christ, and he helped the congregation see the importance of understanding the influences from their pasts that shape life in the present. On Sunday, Dec. 10, the focus will be on family homeland, what makes up the homeland, its landscape, foods, culture and community. Sundays, Dec. 17 and Dec. 24, will focus on “Family Heritage” and “Eternal Family.”

At the annual Christmas Eve service, the congregation will be receiving and accepting new family members. Banning’s service will focus on how Mary and Joseph welcomed Jesus into their family and how the community welcomed Jesus.

The public is invited to share the holiday with the congregation’s families on Sundays beginning at 9:30 a.m. The church is located at 306 E. Main St. in Atwood, and folks are invited to come early for coffee and stay late for snacks and fellowship. Patsianne Harrold will be conducting Bible study focused on Esther in the sanctuary following Sunday services.

Banning may be reached by phone at (574) 858-2291 or by email at [email protected]. The church’s website is atwoodotterbeinchurch.org and the Facebook page is Atwood Otterbein Church.