Sunday, December 24, 2023

 Blessings

 

 

 Incarnation

 Christmas Eve

 Jesus is Light

 

 Hymn #180 “What Child Is This” 

Advent Calendar, Candle of Love

 Hymn #178 “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” 

Praise and Prayer 

 Responsive Reading: Light Incarnate

 Advent Candle: The Christ Candle

 Special Music: "Be Born In Me", by Francesca Battistelli

 

 Be Born In Me, Lyrics

VERSE 1 

Everything inside me cries for order, everything inside me wants to hide

 Is this shadow an angel or a warrior?

 If God is pleased with me, why am I so terrified?

 Someone tell me I am only dreaming,

 Somehow help me see with heaven's eyes

 But before my head agrees, my heart is on its knees

 Holy is he, blessed am I

 CHORUS:

 Be born in me, be born in me, 

Trembling heart, somehow I believe that you chose me

 I hold you in the beginning, you will hold me in the end

 Every moment in the middle, make my heart your Bethlehem

 Be born in me 

VERSE 2 

All this time we've waited for the promise,

 All this time you've waited for my arms

 Did you wrap yourself inside the unexpected? 

So we might know that love would go that far

 CHORUS BRIDGE:

 I am not brave, I’ll never be, the only thing my heart can offer is a vacancy

 I'm just a girl, nothing more, but I am willing, I am yours 

CHORUS

 

 Communion 

 

Special Music: "Light Of The World" by Lauren Daigle 

 Light Of The World, lyrics

 The world waits for a miracle

 The heart longs for a little bit of hope

 Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

 A child prays for peace on Earth

 And she's calling out from a sea of hurt 

Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel

 And can you hear the angels singing

 Glory to the light of the world, 

Glory, the light of the world is here

 The drought breaks with the tears of a mother

 A baby's cry is the sound of love

 Come down, come down, Emmanuel

 He is the song for the suffering

 He is Messiah, the Prince of Peace has come

 He has come, Emmanuel

 (4x) Glory to the light of the world

 For all who wait, for all who hunger

 For all who've prayed, for all who wonder 

Behold your King, behold Messiah, Emmanuel, Emmanuel

 Glo-glory to the light of the world 

Glory to the light of the world 

Glory to the light of the world

 Behold your King, behold Messiah, Emmanuel, Emmanuel 

The world waits for the miracle

 The heart longs for a little bit of hope

 Oh come, oh come Emmanuel

 

Sermon: “Jesus is Light” 

Hymn #195 “Silent Night”

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 The Sunday School children participated in the church service on December 17.  First, Ezra and Indy read the Advent message.  Then they sang "Silent Night," read the Christmas story from Luke, and sang "Away in a Manger."  Unfortunately, Cash was not able to be there.

The boys made Christmas decorations from tea jars. They used stickers to make the nativity scene on the side of the jars.  Then they filled the jars with white crinkle paper. ~Mary

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Pastor Donna's house is cozy with Christmas and even though she was unable to have her tea party this month, we can take a peek here at her snowman, tree, and her Tomte' collection. 

Thanks for sharing Pastor Donna!

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Barb Handy has a couple of pretty Christmas photos to share with us too....  thanks Barb!

 

and last but not least....is a photo of my Christmas tree...

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

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  New Year’s Eve: usual Sunday service, 10 am, December 31st

 

 

 

 

  New Year’s Eve Gathering at Marcia’s home, about 5 pm

 

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Old churches must not simply stand as monuments to the past but as spiritual grandparents that have invested in the future by passing on their life to others and releasing their offspring to form new congregations. ~ unknown

 

 

 Today's Sunday Church Share..

 

 

Picture via Pinterest

 

 

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Percy's Tidbit 

 TRUST like JOSEPH

HOPE like SHEPHERDS

SEEK like WISE MEN

WORSHIP like ANGELS

LOVE like JESUS

              

 

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 Be sure to look around this Christmas....you just might see a ewe in the pew celebrating the birth of Jesus

 

(do not know picture source)

 

 

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Have a great week!