Results

Christmas Together is the theme of the Christ’s Birthday Observance for 2021. After all this time away from our workplaces, or isolated at home, or sick, or quarantined, or even facing the loss of loved ones without the means of properly mourning their death with little delay, we need a season of Christmas…

A survey was done to see which characters from the advent account most people identify with. How many of you think its Mary? Joseph? The wise guys? Anyone for Herod? Not surprisingly, the shepherds came out on top by far. I recently read a story about a pastor who said, “When I was young I always wanted…

Have you ever given or received a puppy for Christmas? You’ve seen it on the TV commercials for sure. A super-cute, tiny, cuddly fuzz ball is usually wearing a bright red bow around its neck. It usually either comes bounding around the corner or peeks its head out of a box as soon as the kids or special…

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news…

Opening Song Advent Prophecy / Hope 2020 could have blown out our Hope candle Everything was more difficult Eg: Work, school, grocery shopping, finding TP, eating out, gathering for worship, BD parties Not just b/c of a virus: racial tensions, elections Having hope was more difficult Will I get the virus?…

While Jesus was saying these things, one of the women in the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You and the breasts at which You nursed.” But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor…

Toxic Christianity? Recent articles in the Washington Post as well as Christianity Today are asking the question: How did Christianity become so Toxic? In the recent Alabama election, White Evangelicals turned out in droves to vote for Roy Moore who in his 30s pursued teenage girls and had to be banned…

The challenge of being in but not of the world. We are called to be different than the world but if we are not careful we become like the world. Yet, we cannot just escape and isolate—the call of God demands something different. Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is…

If you’ve been journeying with us the past four weeks, you know that we’ve been celebrating and observing Advent, and now here we are on Christmas Eve, on the verge of the celebration of the arrival of Jesus, our Savior, the light of the world, Immanuel, God with Us. The Christmas story is a powerful…

Intro 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice.…

Scripture Reading 18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided…

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled,…

Verse 6 “ All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way ;” Israel had strayed far from God, a dark place spiritually although probably one of their most “religious” times Gentiles were strays… far from this God who was their creator. Wondering aimlessly in this dark world…

Last week we were impacted by Isaiah’s audacious hope as his prophecies were fulfilled with pinpoint accuracy. Jesus was a sure sign, a sent Son, and a Savior. Isaiah reminded us that one can never start too early when getting ready for something really big. On this second Sunday of Advent, our focus…

Introduction This morning we are continuing in our series of the 4 evangelists and there view of the Christmas Story. We have looked at Matthew, Mark and this morning we will take a look at the Doctor’s view of the story. As I said at the beginning of the series, Luke is all about Details, Details, Details.…

Today, I want to read the Christmas Story. The reason is that I want to do this is that we can go through the whole season and realize we never heard the Christmas story. Too many people wake up the day after Christmas and realize that they did not hear the Christmas story. They drive by nativity scenes…

Turn to and read Luke 2:1-20 . Pray. For the next few moments I would like you to ponder this question. Now, before you answer that question too quickly, stop and think… Is a Christmas tree truth or tradition? Are stockings hung on the mantle truth or tradition? Is gift giving truth or tradition? Are…

We are in the second week of the Christmas Season and the Series, Journey of Christmas. Let me ask you some questions about your favorite things about the Christmas season. How many of you would say that decorating is your favorite activity? Not decorating but looking at other people’s decoration? How…

Intro 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 The people who walked in darkness…

Therefore, my brothers,1 whom I love and jlong for, kmy joy and lcrown, mstand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. Therefore: My brothers, whom I love and long for, My joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord My beloved. 2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to nagree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you…

God With Us advent - coming, expectation All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). God With Us Hope - Zechariah - hope of son Hope of redemption - Messiah…

Luke 1:8–20 (AV 1873) 8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9 according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying…

There is a rather poignant Christmas story about a little girl who watched her mother & dad getting ready for Christmas . To her, it seemed that dad was preoccupied with burdens & bundles , & mom was concerned about parties & presents , & they just had no time for her . She felt that she was being shoved…

Texts: Luke 2:8-12 esp. Vs. 10 Luke 2:8-12 “In the same region [where Mary gave birth to Jesus] there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they…