Memorial Service

Intro....

We extend a word of welcome to all that are here today.

I know for each of you, Christmas can be a difficult time....

It is a time of family and friends, celebration and wondrous joy but sadly there is a void at times that cannot be filled.

You hurt at times, you are pained with memories then at times you are blessed with joy, happy tales and so many precious memories.

A space you wish could be filled, but cannot anymore more. At least not yet.....

Now this evening, I want to encourage you. I want to remind you of hope and of the joy we will have in the morning.

One of my favorite passage in the Bible is .... verses 1-3

John 14:1–3 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

This is one of my favorite passages from the Scriptures… Why?

Well I am reminded that Jesus tells us here that

This is the night before Jesus crucifixion, and here Jesus is teaching the disciples in the Upper room. And amid their fears and worries he is giving them hope.

Hope - that they would know in the midst of despair, sadness and hurt there was just that…hope.

Listen to what Jesus says....

Don’t worry about the events around you, what you have experienced.... here is what you can do...

Just as you have believed in God, Keep believing in me as well. Don’t let your faith wain in the midst of hurt, or what you have or will experience…

And in verse 2…

“In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would told you, that I go to prepare a place for you....”

What was Jesus telling them… there was hope for the future, God made sure that heaven was ready, Jesus was about to complete his mission in this world. The cross!

You see during this time of year, we are getting ready to celebrate Christmas. And of course we know that Christmas is more than a tree and gifts, Christmas is about Christ!

That is why we celebrate Advent.... we are celebrating the coming of Jesus into the world. That is what advent means - His arrival!

Listen to the message of ....

Luke 2:1–7 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

What a unique time,

Luke 2:1–8 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

Luke 2:9–17 ESV

9 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. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths 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, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.

Here was a poor couple, traveling to their home state to be taxed for an occupying country, Rome. and it while making this journey, Jesus would come into the world, born of a virgin, born as a baby.

That event is the blessing of this season...

Christmas is the celebration of Jesus coming into the world. That faithful night Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, wrapped in the swaddling cloths and laid in a humble manger. How wonderful if you travel today to the Holy Land, that place as been preserved, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was built around the site of that stable

That night the world changed my friends, because that night meant that death wouldn’t hold mankind powerless, it wouldn’t leave us without hope, and sadness wouldn’t reign in our hearts forever

The gift of God had come into the world and we celebrate it during this time of year.... it is the time to worship, Christmas… Christ’s mass.

Remember that first passage, ....

John 14:1–6 ESV

1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

He left us, and through the cross He changed everything, giving us hope. He went and prepared a place for us...

So that were He is, we might be also!

Tonight I would encourage you that death has no power over us, the grave cannot hold us. The coming of Jesus that we celebrate at Christmas, gives way to the cross that we will rejoice in at Easter.

Christmas is special, it reminds us that God’s gift blesses each of us, especially at Christmas.

Let pray