This past November was a busy month for us. On November 11th we held a family dinner and afterwards filled shoe boxes with different items for children to be sent to “Operation Christmas Child” a mission program that’s in their 25th year of operation. This event was well attended. We assisted with the Food Pantry on Monday. Thank you to those that were able to assist us. November 12th. Our 5-week Bible Study on “Grace is Greater has been completed. There were 17 people that attended. After Worship on November 25th we brought down all the decorations, Christmas Tree, and did some light cleaning for our annual “Hanging of the Greens’ Service on December 2nd. Thank you to everyone that was able to assist in any way. Thanksgiving is behind us now and I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for every day.
December will be a busy month as we begin the season of Advent on Sunday, December 2nd. The Sanctuary will be decorated with greens, a Christmas Tree, scriptures will be read, and each week we will light a candle that symbolizes Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. On Christmas Eve, the White Candle will be lit remembering Jesus is the Light of the World. We will hold a Candle Light Communion Service on Christmas Eve, December 24th at 6:00 pm. I would encourage you to invite a friend to attend with you.
More people today are saying Merry Christmas than in the past because “Jesus is the Reason.” I’m not saying He has nothing to do with it because It say in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” For God so loved the world that includes you and me. Jesus was born to this earth, so that we might be saved and spend eternity with Him. The Apostle Paul said in Romans 5:8 “God shows His love for us, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus came to this earth born of a virgin, in a manger to live His life as a servant to those considered the lowest of the low, and ultimately give His life as a sacrifice for all mankind, past, present, and future. He was crucified, shed his blood on the cross and paid a debt for every human beings’ sin. What the cross meant to kill, became a victory for us.
Christmas can be a joyous time for many, sometimes may even be considered the best time of the year. However, for some it can be difficult, depressing, loneliness, loss of a loved or maybe the Christmas Season and Christmas Day has never gone as you hoped and you’re feeling empty. I want you to remember and hold on to this: Jesus came to earth, died a horrible death for all, because He LOVED EVERYONE INCLUDING YOU! In Matthew 10:29-31 Jesus said: “9 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. This verse means God is aware of everything that happens even to sparrows, and you are far more valuable to him than they are. Because God places such value on you, you don’t need to fear difficult times or circumstances. These can’t shake God’s love or dislodge his Spirit from within you. He knows your weakness, brokenness, heartaches, and joys. What a gift to hold on too and what a gift to share with someone that God loves and cares about them too. I John 4:11 says “Since God loved us, we also ought to love others.”
This Christmas above and beyond all the noise we will have going on, remember to share the greatest gift of all.
Invite someone to attend our Sunday Worship and Christmas Eve Services.
On behalf of Carol and myself, have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
God Bless all of you.
Pastor Doug