Pastor Chris Williams preaches to the Sunday morning congregation at The Church@Antioch.

By F.D. Purcell

In a world full of options both positive and negative Chris Williams knew his city of Antioch thrived for something new and innovative, a place of worship that was groundbreaking, fresh and new.

“A lot of my congregation was moving to Antioch,” Williams said of the former church that he pastored for 16-years, Bethany Baptist Church in Oakland. “I had to leave my comfort zone and lead where the people are.”

Emery and Chris Williams

A third generation of ministers, Williams the eldest of three boys knew at the tender age of 16 that he was chosen to carry on the family tradition. While many teens his age were straddling their occupational goals, by 17 Williams had already retired from his drumming duties in the church his father pastored, a position he’d held since the age of 12 to focus solely on his ministry.

“I can’t explain how it happened, there was just a feeling of knowing that came over me,” said the Bay Area native about his choice. “It helped that its (pastoring) multi-generational in my family, between my aunts and uncles there is approximately 13-14 of us that are ministers so when I felt things were changing I started asking my dad a lot of questions and he told me to pray about it.”

A pastor for nearly 30-years Williams got his undergrad in Biblical Studies from California Baptist University in Southern California and went through intense training at Faith Theological Seminary in Washington State.

“We want to provide a place that’s full of energy, a place of neighboring and empowerment. I am humbled to be a part of this,” said wife Emery who like her husband grew up in the church, the daughter of two ministers.

The first of their five previews began in late August. The previews were held monthly until December and gave the community a taste of what they could expect through music, song, and dance and The Church @Antioch: A Place to Belong officially kicked-off on January 4, 2015 with a red carpet event. The nearly 250 in attendance included the Mayor of Antioch and a performance by Grammy Award winning songwriter KJ Scriven as well as praise dancers and a dramatic skit about a single working mother.

“Pastor Larry from Golden Hills has been a mentor to me and has opened his doors to us,” said Pastor Chris. “They have offered to help in any way they can and have opened their doors to us, as well as other sites with no sense of control.”

In fact their new members class, The Encounter at The Church @Antioch is held each Thursday at the Antioch campus of Golden Hills Church, 1800 Woodland Drive at 7 pm.

They even provide weekly reminders via text regarding new members classes and services.

Sunday services are held at 10 am in the theatre at Black Diamond Middle School, 4730 Sterling Hill Drive, Antioch.

For more information call (925) 679-5757 or visit their website at churchatantioch.org, or on Facebook: The Church @Antioch.

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,

you may now dismiss your servant in peace.

30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:

32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

From the Book of Luke, Chapter 2, in the Bible, New International Version. For more, click here.

Merry Christmas!

By Lt. Connie Hall, Corporate Officer, The Salvation Army of Antioch Corps

The Salvation Army needs your help. We are short on toys and may not reach our goal of providing Christmas to our neighbors in need. We have been able to fill nearly 270 request for help but are short on toys for nearly 100 families. We are in desperate need of brand new toys for girls age 6-12. Our shortfall comes due to a downturn in donations and our failure to receive our ‘Toys for Tot’ order. Please consider helping as every little bit can make a huge difference to a child in our community we are hoping that any agencies or community programs which have excess or have completed there distribution would be willing and able to share their resources.

Any thing at this point would help.

Please call (925) 778-0808 and drop off the toys at 620 E. Tregallas Road in Antioch, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information visit www.salvationsarmy.org.