Monday - December 13, 2010
Good Morning!
The Advent/Christmas season is filled with moments of unexpected joy. For me, Sunday morning when the children presented the Christmas story was just such a joy filled moment. I never tire of hearing the story of Christ’s birth, and their words and singing brought the story of Christ alive for me. Thanks to the Sunday School children and leaders for proclaiming the Good News that Jesus Christ has come to be Emmanuel - God with us.
This Week in Worship: Sunday, December 19, 2010
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Christmas Cantata: Call Him Jesus
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars:
Monday, December 20, Longest Night Service at 7:00 pm
Friday, December 24, Christmas Eve Service at 8:00 pm
Annual Church Family Christmas Banquet
Join us on Sunday, December 19th for our Annual Church Family Christmas Banquet.
The banquet is sponsored by the United Methodist Women
and catered by Milloff’s Catering. Call Jan for tickets.
Cost is $22 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, and free for children 5 and under.
Wednesday Bible Study
The Wednesday Evening Bible Study gathers at 6:00 pm for a potluck dinner and for Bible Study at 6:30. The lessons for the Fourth Sunday in Advent are:
Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25
Come and be fed by the Word of God!
Longest Night Service
Join us Monday, December 20th at 7:00 pm
for a quiet and contemplative worship service on the longest night of the year.
Christmas can be a painful time for some. The constant refrain on the radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the season, about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern; we need to know that we are not alone. We need to know that the light of Christ is greater than the darkness.
New Sermon Book Available
Pastor Stephen has just published the 2009-2010 Sermon Book. It contains all the sermons since the First Sunday in Advent 2009. Cost is $12.00.
Pastor Stephen has copies for sale.
It can also be ordered on-line at www.lulu.com/banquo
Advent Meditation
What Child is this who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom Angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and Angels sing;
Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh,
Come peasant, king to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
William Chatterton Dix (1865)
“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”. (James 5:7)
Blessings,
Pastor Stephen
No comments:
Post a Comment