Good day dear friends. We've come to the last day of 2004. At twelve midnight tonight we welcome the New Year 2005!
The newspapers, newsmagazines, the television shows have all given us a "wrap up" of the news and photos of this past year. What would we see if God allowed us a wrap up of this past year? What would God highlight as "newsworthy" in our lives? Would we be proud of most images or would some of them make us blush or worse?
There is no better way to close out the year than in prayer. For the study guide I had suggested that we use the beautiful and powerful words of the hym "O Little Town of Bethlehem” as a model for prayer. We still can but we can also write our own end of the year prayer/start of a New Year prayer.
Whatever you write, here is my prayer for us:
God of the ages, we've come to the close of how humanity marks calendar years. Joyous and tearful celebrations and remembrances will be ours as we stop to reflect on what this year has brought. Some of us bid farewell to loved ones as they've gone off to war; others as they've entered into the Church Triumphant. Some of us have bid welcome to new family members through births or through marriage. Some have bid farewell to spouses because of divorce or separation. Whatever the emotion let our spirits be comforted in the joy of knowing You are with us.
As we think about what tomorrow and the rest of this New Year holds, let us remember that it is You, dear Father, that holds tomorrow and more importantly, that holds us. Hold us tight, don't let us go. Let the words spoken through prophets and writers speak to us directly from You as we remember Jeremiah's sharing, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) Let us hold fast to that assurance that we have both hope and a future in you.
As we've thought about images from this past year, we've sinned against You and against others. Forgive us we pray. Wash us in the blood of the Lamb that atoned for us. And let that assurance of hope and a future be one that is blameless.
Bless us and use us. May this New Year be a year of growth in spirit and in service to You.
We love You and praise You in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great end of the year and in case I don't stay up until midnight, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Blessings!
e.v.
Friday, December 31, 2004
Thursday, December 30, 2004
God's Heart Was The First to Break
Good day dear friends.
As we being our time of devotion, let us do it in prayer.
PRAYER: God of all, we begin with silence and reflection. The majesty of yesterday's sunset is now the splendor of today's bright morning light. You are there and You are here. The joy of seeing loved ones is blended with images of those who are mourning the consequences of natural disasters. You are there and You are here. We praise You and we love You and we ask for Your blessing to be with us as we meditate upon Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: We can’t pretend that the birth of Jesus was not without pain. The sadness of that wonderful birth was that the insecurities of the ruthless ruler, Herod, resulted in the murder of all male children two and younger. Herod, according to tradition murdered even his own children, especially his sons because of his fear that someone could more effectively rule than he. God’s fulfillment of prophecy comes with this tragic price paid by the mothers and fathers of the children born in that area, not because of God’s heartlessness but because of what Herod was all about. God’s heart broke with each of those innocent’s death and God’s own heart would break later when His own son would die on the cross. What do you suppose the magi knew about Jesus that Herod didn’t (Clue: What gifts did they bring?)
Sunday I preached two different sermons. The one mentioned on Monday in this email devotional was basically the one from eleven o'clock. The one at 8:30 was more a study on the passage from Matthew and how the Gospel very honestly shares the truth of the consequences of Herod's anger. It was our music director who called me and asked me the truly hard question: Why did God allow these murders?
A very good question. To try to answer it is to try to answer those "God only knows" questions that we have a list already compiled. I believe this was Paul's struggle too as he said, "Now I know only in part; then I will know fully." (1 Cor. 13:12 NRSV). As we talked we agreed there were maybe three reasons: First, God did warn them, they chose not to listen. Or God did "allow" this as something that happened as a result of their relationship or lack of relationship with Him. Or lastly, God's heart, as happens in the unexplainable, was the first to break.
Herod, as tradition tells us, was so insecure, he had many, including his own children, murdered. One tradition said that he had preordered the murder of the leading Jewish officials on the day that he died so that there would be at least some mourning and crying on the day of his death. If true, we get a picture of someone really sick. And it was his sickness that led his order to murder all children under the age of two and under.
The Rev. William Sloan Coffin, when pastoring Riverside Church in New York, lost his son Alex, in a storm and because Alex had been drinking. He drove off a pier and drowned. As people tried to console him, one well-intentioned lady said, "I just don't understand the will of God..." And this angered Rev. Coffin for it was not the will of God, he went on to say, that his son should drink. It was not the will of God for Alex to drink past the limit of what makes someone unable to function fully and it was not the will of God to make Alex drive while drunk. What Rev. Coffin did understand was that God's heart was the first to break.
We will one day know the why of the tragedy of the murder of the innocents. But could we not also say it was precisely why Jesus came to the world with His message? For it not to bring everyone into a full relationship of love with God, with neighbor and self? Did Jesus not die because of our sin?
The magi brought the gifts worthy of a king (gold), a high priest (frankincense) and burial (myrrh). Jesus fulfilled each as we proclaim Him our King, our High Priest who intercedes for us as we pray and live our lives, and He who died to pay for our sinfulness.
PRAYER: God speak to our hearts again those words of love. Let us love You more today than ever before. Let us love one another more than ever before. And let us love ourselves more than ever before. Put to death our doubt and insecurity about ourselves, so that our lives reflect only that we've been in Your presence. Let it be so today and always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
As we being our time of devotion, let us do it in prayer.
PRAYER: God of all, we begin with silence and reflection. The majesty of yesterday's sunset is now the splendor of today's bright morning light. You are there and You are here. The joy of seeing loved ones is blended with images of those who are mourning the consequences of natural disasters. You are there and You are here. We praise You and we love You and we ask for Your blessing to be with us as we meditate upon Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Thursday: We can’t pretend that the birth of Jesus was not without pain. The sadness of that wonderful birth was that the insecurities of the ruthless ruler, Herod, resulted in the murder of all male children two and younger. Herod, according to tradition murdered even his own children, especially his sons because of his fear that someone could more effectively rule than he. God’s fulfillment of prophecy comes with this tragic price paid by the mothers and fathers of the children born in that area, not because of God’s heartlessness but because of what Herod was all about. God’s heart broke with each of those innocent’s death and God’s own heart would break later when His own son would die on the cross. What do you suppose the magi knew about Jesus that Herod didn’t (Clue: What gifts did they bring?)
Sunday I preached two different sermons. The one mentioned on Monday in this email devotional was basically the one from eleven o'clock. The one at 8:30 was more a study on the passage from Matthew and how the Gospel very honestly shares the truth of the consequences of Herod's anger. It was our music director who called me and asked me the truly hard question: Why did God allow these murders?
A very good question. To try to answer it is to try to answer those "God only knows" questions that we have a list already compiled. I believe this was Paul's struggle too as he said, "Now I know only in part; then I will know fully." (1 Cor. 13:12 NRSV). As we talked we agreed there were maybe three reasons: First, God did warn them, they chose not to listen. Or God did "allow" this as something that happened as a result of their relationship or lack of relationship with Him. Or lastly, God's heart, as happens in the unexplainable, was the first to break.
Herod, as tradition tells us, was so insecure, he had many, including his own children, murdered. One tradition said that he had preordered the murder of the leading Jewish officials on the day that he died so that there would be at least some mourning and crying on the day of his death. If true, we get a picture of someone really sick. And it was his sickness that led his order to murder all children under the age of two and under.
The Rev. William Sloan Coffin, when pastoring Riverside Church in New York, lost his son Alex, in a storm and because Alex had been drinking. He drove off a pier and drowned. As people tried to console him, one well-intentioned lady said, "I just don't understand the will of God..." And this angered Rev. Coffin for it was not the will of God, he went on to say, that his son should drink. It was not the will of God for Alex to drink past the limit of what makes someone unable to function fully and it was not the will of God to make Alex drive while drunk. What Rev. Coffin did understand was that God's heart was the first to break.
We will one day know the why of the tragedy of the murder of the innocents. But could we not also say it was precisely why Jesus came to the world with His message? For it not to bring everyone into a full relationship of love with God, with neighbor and self? Did Jesus not die because of our sin?
The magi brought the gifts worthy of a king (gold), a high priest (frankincense) and burial (myrrh). Jesus fulfilled each as we proclaim Him our King, our High Priest who intercedes for us as we pray and live our lives, and He who died to pay for our sinfulness.
PRAYER: God speak to our hearts again those words of love. Let us love You more today than ever before. Let us love one another more than ever before. And let us love ourselves more than ever before. Put to death our doubt and insecurity about ourselves, so that our lives reflect only that we've been in Your presence. Let it be so today and always. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
A longtime dear friend, Jerry Morton, now from Chicago, Illinois. Tom and Jerry were both from Benton, Louisiana, who came to Lon Morris. Jerry was our RA on our wing on the second floor of our dorm.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
What the years can do! The then soon-to-be-wed Tom Carrington, first roommate at Lon Morris College for me way back in 1971! This photo taken Monday, Dec. 27th at First UMC in Lufkin, Texas at about 4:45 before the 5 o'clock wedding.
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
God asks, "What have you done for me lately?"
Dear friends, our prayers continue to be with those who were terribly affected by the tsunami in Asia. As the death toll rises so should our prayers for families and relief workers.
PRAYER: God of all people, we lift our hearts together for the healing and comfort of those who lost loved ones. We pray especially for those children whose parents cannot be located and for parents who have lost children. Bless those there already working and those who are on the way. Let the brokenhearted find peace in You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Reflect on the number of trips you have made on behalf of God. It could have been a mission trip or a youth trip. What was your experience like? What did it teach you about God and His love? What are your plans for this coming New Year in terms of a mission or service project trip? What would motivate you to leave your “comfort zone” to a place of risk and reward for God?
Those of us who belong to a church need not look far to find a situation or setting where we can serve. First Church is no exception. We offer so many mission opportunities that one can't help but find one where we can go and give of our time and love to help the less fortunate.
It's not too late to sign up for the Mozambique mission though there's lots going on already and you don't want to miss out on going on this trip. We can be doing other trips as well. It's just a matter of leaving our comfort zones to a place of risk and reward.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
PRAYER: God of all people, we lift our hearts together for the healing and comfort of those who lost loved ones. We pray especially for those children whose parents cannot be located and for parents who have lost children. Bless those there already working and those who are on the way. Let the brokenhearted find peace in You. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday: Here’s our action for today. Reflect on the number of trips you have made on behalf of God. It could have been a mission trip or a youth trip. What was your experience like? What did it teach you about God and His love? What are your plans for this coming New Year in terms of a mission or service project trip? What would motivate you to leave your “comfort zone” to a place of risk and reward for God?
Those of us who belong to a church need not look far to find a situation or setting where we can serve. First Church is no exception. We offer so many mission opportunities that one can't help but find one where we can go and give of our time and love to help the less fortunate.
It's not too late to sign up for the Mozambique mission though there's lots going on already and you don't want to miss out on going on this trip. We can be doing other trips as well. It's just a matter of leaving our comfort zones to a place of risk and reward.
Have a great day in the Lord!
Blessings!
e.v.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Can You Hear Me Now?
Good day dear friends.
As we pray this morning let us lift up the family of The Reverend Dr. Bill Hinson, retired pastor from First UMC Houston. Bill was a friend of mine as we both served on the Asbury Seminary board. We were together not too long ago for the Inaguration of President Jeff Greenway. Bill was a true man of God who loved Jesus and preached Him lovingly.
PRAYER: God of life we thank you for those precious lives that have blessed us. Among those we lift up the memory of Bill Hinson for his tireless service to You and Your people. Bring comfort and healing to his wife, children and grandchildren. Be with all today who mourn. We pray a special blessing on those who lost loves ones in the earthquakes in Asia. Be with those who are already there working to mend the area, but You are the only one who can mend hearts and spirits. Be with us as we seek meaning for our lives as we study Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: How much do you know about angels? The urgent command to leave for Egypt was conveyed to Joseph by an angel. In your daily life, how have or do you hear from God? How would your spouse respond to your claim that God is asking you to leave something or do something? What would s/he say if you said, “An angel of the Lord told me....” What are your angel stories?
The Bible mentions angels as messengers and unseen workers of the Lord. The most oft quoted passage about angels comes from Psalm 91: "9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." In fact, Satan quoted it to Jesus after our Lord's forty days of fasting. And in that same story as found in Matthew 4 it says that "angels came and waited" on Jesus. Angels are creatures of God. We see them performing worship tasks in Isaiah 6 and we heard about them in this week's passage warning Joseph and convincing him to marry Mary and we saw archangels preparing Mary and Zechariah for their heavenly tasks. It wasn't too long ago there was an almost national craze about angels and folks devoting themselves to icons and pins, posters, etc. about angels. The warning for some is that we cannot and should NOT worship the creation of God. The only one worthy of our worship is God.
The question for today is, how do you listen for God in your daily life? Is God's voice loud and clear? Some would say, "I've never heard God!" And these might be the same who don't take time to pray or read the Scriptures. God speaks through our prayer after we say Amen. God speaks through our reading of scriptures as we hear each word coming from God and speaking to our needs. Sometimes God uses US, yes us, to speak His word to some. Sometimes unexplainable things happen and if we just stop and pray and reflect we'll say, oh, I understand what God was saying! If we strive to be connected to God, God will connect with us and we'll hear his message to us.
As to what your spouse would say, that's your story.....
PRAYER: God speak to us in loud and loving ways so that we can know what it is we should be and do. Bless all who have read this message with a full and deeper meaning of Your love and purpose and speak to those who should read this. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
As we pray this morning let us lift up the family of The Reverend Dr. Bill Hinson, retired pastor from First UMC Houston. Bill was a friend of mine as we both served on the Asbury Seminary board. We were together not too long ago for the Inaguration of President Jeff Greenway. Bill was a true man of God who loved Jesus and preached Him lovingly.
PRAYER: God of life we thank you for those precious lives that have blessed us. Among those we lift up the memory of Bill Hinson for his tireless service to You and Your people. Bring comfort and healing to his wife, children and grandchildren. Be with all today who mourn. We pray a special blessing on those who lost loves ones in the earthquakes in Asia. Be with those who are already there working to mend the area, but You are the only one who can mend hearts and spirits. Be with us as we seek meaning for our lives as we study Your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Here is our study guide for today:
Tuesday: How much do you know about angels? The urgent command to leave for Egypt was conveyed to Joseph by an angel. In your daily life, how have or do you hear from God? How would your spouse respond to your claim that God is asking you to leave something or do something? What would s/he say if you said, “An angel of the Lord told me....” What are your angel stories?
The Bible mentions angels as messengers and unseen workers of the Lord. The most oft quoted passage about angels comes from Psalm 91: "9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone." In fact, Satan quoted it to Jesus after our Lord's forty days of fasting. And in that same story as found in Matthew 4 it says that "angels came and waited" on Jesus. Angels are creatures of God. We see them performing worship tasks in Isaiah 6 and we heard about them in this week's passage warning Joseph and convincing him to marry Mary and we saw archangels preparing Mary and Zechariah for their heavenly tasks. It wasn't too long ago there was an almost national craze about angels and folks devoting themselves to icons and pins, posters, etc. about angels. The warning for some is that we cannot and should NOT worship the creation of God. The only one worthy of our worship is God.
The question for today is, how do you listen for God in your daily life? Is God's voice loud and clear? Some would say, "I've never heard God!" And these might be the same who don't take time to pray or read the Scriptures. God speaks through our prayer after we say Amen. God speaks through our reading of scriptures as we hear each word coming from God and speaking to our needs. Sometimes God uses US, yes us, to speak His word to some. Sometimes unexplainable things happen and if we just stop and pray and reflect we'll say, oh, I understand what God was saying! If we strive to be connected to God, God will connect with us and we'll hear his message to us.
As to what your spouse would say, that's your story.....
PRAYER: God speak to us in loud and loving ways so that we can know what it is we should be and do. Bless all who have read this message with a full and deeper meaning of Your love and purpose and speak to those who should read this. We pray in Christ Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, December 27, 2004
God Goes With Us, Provides, and Protects!
Yesterday we studied the passage from Matthew 2:13-23 as we studied the aftereffects of Herod's wrath against "the child who has been born king of the Jews" (2:2). The angel of the Lord comes to warn the holy family and they flee to Egypt. God goes with them, provides for them and protects them. An upcoming book, "Jesus in Egypt" will chronicle traditions and legends about the time the family spent in Egypt. Our main point during worship were these four words, GOD IS WITH US.
Let us go to our study guide:
Monday: The sermon yesterday mentioned the first couple to leave a land. Compare the story of Abram and Sarai in their leaving their country with that of Joseph and Mary. What are the similarities and what are the differences? Which of these two journeys would you have preferred? Why?
The Abram/Sarai story is found in Genesis 12:1-20 and Joseph/Mary’s story is found in Matthew 2:13-23. Again, the question from yesterday applies today, where are you traveling and why? Are you serving God in your daily journeys?
12:1-20: 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6. Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. 10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien.
Interesting both families were in Egypt. Both were asked (some would say "ordered") to leave their families to an unknown place. One was to begin the promised race of God, the other to protect the Son of God. Neither journey was easy, but both had God with them. The journey of Abram and Sarai started a long journey to find the promised land of God. The journey of Joseph and Mary was to protect He who was born to bring us into the Kingdom of God.
Of both, we can say that God was with them. Of both, God provided and protected. Of the one I would have chosen I can't decide. Neither was easy. I shared my sojourns into Denver in the early 70s and my comical experiences with my trying to find Mexican food. A family seated on the front row was laughing the loudest and after church they told me they were from Colorado and when the first tried Mexican food they must have eaten at the same restaurant where they served corn chips (Fritos) and catsup! They couldn't stop laughing they said because their daughter born here in Texas was skeptic about "hot sauce" from Colorado. The daughter laughed when she discovered that it was the type of sauce that goes good with hash browns!
The main point is wherever we're journeying, God is with us. The "land" we're entering matters not, for God is with us. I said we could fill in the blank of whatever "land" it is that we find ourselves, despair, fear, doubt, financial worries, illness, the illness of a loved one, etc., etc. God is with us.
Keep those four words with you today: God is with me. And use them as the journey brings its challenges to you.
PRAYER: God of the journey stay with us. Give us hope, joy and courage. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Let us go to our study guide:
Monday: The sermon yesterday mentioned the first couple to leave a land. Compare the story of Abram and Sarai in their leaving their country with that of Joseph and Mary. What are the similarities and what are the differences? Which of these two journeys would you have preferred? Why?
The Abram/Sarai story is found in Genesis 12:1-20 and Joseph/Mary’s story is found in Matthew 2:13-23. Again, the question from yesterday applies today, where are you traveling and why? Are you serving God in your daily journeys?
12:1-20: 1 Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother's son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6. Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb. 10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien.
Interesting both families were in Egypt. Both were asked (some would say "ordered") to leave their families to an unknown place. One was to begin the promised race of God, the other to protect the Son of God. Neither journey was easy, but both had God with them. The journey of Abram and Sarai started a long journey to find the promised land of God. The journey of Joseph and Mary was to protect He who was born to bring us into the Kingdom of God.
Of both, we can say that God was with them. Of both, God provided and protected. Of the one I would have chosen I can't decide. Neither was easy. I shared my sojourns into Denver in the early 70s and my comical experiences with my trying to find Mexican food. A family seated on the front row was laughing the loudest and after church they told me they were from Colorado and when the first tried Mexican food they must have eaten at the same restaurant where they served corn chips (Fritos) and catsup! They couldn't stop laughing they said because their daughter born here in Texas was skeptic about "hot sauce" from Colorado. The daughter laughed when she discovered that it was the type of sauce that goes good with hash browns!
The main point is wherever we're journeying, God is with us. The "land" we're entering matters not, for God is with us. I said we could fill in the blank of whatever "land" it is that we find ourselves, despair, fear, doubt, financial worries, illness, the illness of a loved one, etc., etc. God is with us.
Keep those four words with you today: God is with me. And use them as the journey brings its challenges to you.
PRAYER: God of the journey stay with us. Give us hope, joy and courage. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great day!
Blessings!
e.v.
Saturday, December 25, 2004
NEW SERMON SERIES COMING JAN 9, 2005
The other day Nellie and I were in an auto dealership's repair shop trying to get to the bottom of our Suburban's problem. The service writer was a nice young man who quickly caught on to my being a pastor and starting talking about his faith. He had come to the Lord and his life was different now. How different I would discover soon. He said he and his cousin were rabid Dallas Cowboy fans and had partnered in buying tickets together. His last tickets he said he was selling to his cousin because his pastor was preaching the last sermon in a series he was really enjoying. I thought wow, what a feeling to know that some Christians thrive on hearing the word of God and enjoying sermons on God's word.
Well, here's your chance to get in on a new series based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Entitled, "Doing the Unexpected," the five sermons will center on Jesus' main points from that sermon. The first sermon begins Jan. 9th and it's called, "Learn the Be-Happy Attitudes." Please be in prayer for Pastor Rob and myself as we prepare these sermons. And don't be shy about inviting folks with you to our church. Let this New Year be a year of growth, first in our spiritual lives, secondly in the worship attendance of this church and a positive growth in our community.
Have a great rest of Christmas Day and we'll see you tomorrow in worship at 8:30 and 11:00 traditional worship services.
Blessings!
e.v.
Well, here's your chance to get in on a new series based on Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Entitled, "Doing the Unexpected," the five sermons will center on Jesus' main points from that sermon. The first sermon begins Jan. 9th and it's called, "Learn the Be-Happy Attitudes." Please be in prayer for Pastor Rob and myself as we prepare these sermons. And don't be shy about inviting folks with you to our church. Let this New Year be a year of growth, first in our spiritual lives, secondly in the worship attendance of this church and a positive growth in our community.
Have a great rest of Christmas Day and we'll see you tomorrow in worship at 8:30 and 11:00 traditional worship services.
Blessings!
e.v.
The Christmas Story
LUKE 2:1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before 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; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!" 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us." 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. NRSV
It was a glorious night last night in worship. It started at 4:30 with our glorious children's drama. Under the direction of Donna Thompson and many parents, and our Children's Coordinator, Katrina Allison, the kids put on a wonderful reenactment of the Christmas story. A large group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. filled our sanctuary for this program. Then at 6 Pastor Rob led the worship of our first of three candlelights services. At 7:30 and at 11:00 I led the services of special music, candlelight and at eleven, Communion. A great crowd of members, friends, etc. filled our church as God filled our hearts with the message, "Come Home."
In my sermons I shared how we've answered the call of our moms or dads when it was time to quit playing outside and come home. Some answered the call of Uncle Sam to enter into his service, but on that special night when Christ was born, God called you and me to "come home." The message of Christmas is just that: Come home to God, to the fullness of his love.
On that night according to Luke, God spoke to the most common of folks, the shepherds, and invited them into the fullness of life. No more fear, enter into joy and receive the good news of God acting through his Son to receive our salvation.
Communion was made more special knowing that at the sacrament we again hear God, through Christ saying, "Come home!"
Don't forget tomorrow we have a regular worship schedule: 8:30, Sunday school at 9:30, and our two 11 o'clock worship services. My sermon at the 8:30 and 11 traditional service is "Even as Strangers in a Strange Land, God is with us."
So come home and worship God!
It was a glorious night last night in worship. It started at 4:30 with our glorious children's drama. Under the direction of Donna Thompson and many parents, and our Children's Coordinator, Katrina Allison, the kids put on a wonderful reenactment of the Christmas story. A large group of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. filled our sanctuary for this program. Then at 6 Pastor Rob led the worship of our first of three candlelights services. At 7:30 and at 11:00 I led the services of special music, candlelight and at eleven, Communion. A great crowd of members, friends, etc. filled our church as God filled our hearts with the message, "Come Home."
In my sermons I shared how we've answered the call of our moms or dads when it was time to quit playing outside and come home. Some answered the call of Uncle Sam to enter into his service, but on that special night when Christ was born, God called you and me to "come home." The message of Christmas is just that: Come home to God, to the fullness of his love.
On that night according to Luke, God spoke to the most common of folks, the shepherds, and invited them into the fullness of life. No more fear, enter into joy and receive the good news of God acting through his Son to receive our salvation.
Communion was made more special knowing that at the sacrament we again hear God, through Christ saying, "Come home!"
Don't forget tomorrow we have a regular worship schedule: 8:30, Sunday school at 9:30, and our two 11 o'clock worship services. My sermon at the 8:30 and 11 traditional service is "Even as Strangers in a Strange Land, God is with us."
So come home and worship God!
"Is this all I got?" Our oldest before opening gifts last night in the Valverde tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Eve after worship.She really didn't say that, but it shore is funny!
Posted by Hello
Posted by Hello
Sunday, December 19, 2004
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