VÄLKOMMEN JUL! | WECOME CHRISTMAS!
“BE STILL AND KNOW“
Find JESUS this Christmas!
Bring the Family to our
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service at 6:00 pm.
Loving God | Friendly People |
Relevant Message
LOTS OF FAMILIAR CAROLS
UGLY SWEATER SUNDAY – DECEMBER 29
WATCH OUT! This could get UGLY!
Wear your ugliest Holiday outfit for worship on Sunday, December 29 at 10:30 am. Come dressed in an ugly sweater, sweatshirt, suit, tie or shirt! You can even wear the sports uniform of your most disliked team (no hard feelings).
THE SEASON OF ADVENT 2024
JESUS is COMING! Are You READY?
WHAT IS ADVENT?
ADVENT is the four weeks leading up to Christmas of prayer and preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus. “Advent,” in Latin, literally means “coming” or “arrival.”
The Christian Church has looked ahead to Jesus Christ’s Second Coming since his Ascension in the first century. The angels told his Apostles, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” God promised Jesus would return. As faithful followers of Jesus, we hold to that promise: JESUS is COMING!
Christians have looked forward to Christ’s return to the world – not as the babe of Bethlehem – as the Risen Lord and King. The Season of Advent reminds contemporary Christians not to look nostalgically backwards wishing for the good ol’ days, but to look forward to Jesus Christ’s promises: He will Come Again!
Jesus said, “But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”
Matthew 25:31-32
We observe the Season of Advent by reflecting on the four virtues of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love- one theme for each week leading up to the Christmas Eve Service. We light candles, prepare unique wreaths, fast and pray, eat traditional foods, hold special church services, sing contemporary and traditional carols, and read specific Bible verses each day to reflect on the future arrival of Jesus on Earth. Join us each week as we prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT – DECEMBER 1, 2024
The Candle of HOPE!: Remembering Tamar
Jesus is Coming! On the first Sunday of Advent, we light the Prophecy Candle and think about the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus. As fully devoted followers of Jesus, we have hope in the anticipated Second Coming of our Lord and King Jesus Christ, our Savior. The prophets wrote of Christ’s incarnation long before his birth. As we hear their words, we remember our struggles and the struggles of our world, and we pray, Lord Jesus Christ…Come!
As we light this candle of HOPE, let us claim the promises we have in Jesus Christ, that now…the Holy Spirit is working in, on, through and among Christ’s followers to be eye-witnesses and citizens of the Kingdom of God, and at Jesus’ return, God will make all things right under the supreme Lordship of His Son, our Lord.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT – DECEMBER 8, 2024
The Candle of PEACE!: REMEMBERING RACHEL
Jesus is Coming! On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we light the Angels’ Candle as we marvel at the God who declares to us, “Fear not!” and his gift to us: the Prince of Peace. We remember the words of our Savior, who promised the angels would come again…announcing his Second Coming. Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done” (Mathew 16:27).
As we light this candle of PEACE, let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Gaza, Afghanistan, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, India, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uganda, Yemen, and all place where armed conflicts rage. Let us proclaim that Christ is our peace, that we are just peacemakers whom Jesus blessed, and peace on earth starts with making peace with God in our hearts.
THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT – DECEMBER 15, 2024
The Candle of JOY!: REMEMBERING RUTH
Jesus is Coming! On the third Sunday of Advent, we light the Shepherds’ Candle. The church traditionally gives the title “GAUDETE” to this week of Advent. “Gaudete” is the Latin word for “rejoice.” May our souls rejoice like the shepherds as we worship today!
As we light this candle of JOY, let us pray that all people may embrace the spirit of joy this holy season as we look forward to the joyful return of our Savior, Jesus!
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ADVENT – DECEMBER 22, 2024
The Candle of LOVE: REMEMBERING BETHSHEBA
Jesus is Coming! On the second Sunday of Advent, we light the Bethlehem Candle and think about the love that Christ demonstrated. His sacrificial love was evident as he took on human flesh and entered our world in humility, as he cared for and healed large crowds of people, as he fed the multitudes, and as he marched to Jerusalem where he said he would be “betrayed, handed into the hands of evil persons, suffer and die, and the third day rise!”
As we light this candle of LOVE, let us pray all people will receive the love of God offered freely in Christ Jesus. As 1 John 4:9–10 tells us, In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS is
All about JESUS CHRIST!
The Church celebrates CHRISTMAS (English word meanings “mass on Christ’s day“) as a festive observance of the birth of Jesus, held on December 25 in the Western Church. God promised through the people and prophets of the Jewish people that God’s Anointed Savior of All People, the Messiah, WOULD COME.
As Christians, we celebrate that the JESUS is the Jewish Messiah…and HE CAME!
Today, we look forward to Christ’s SECOND COMING to the world as the Risen Lord and Almighty King of the Universe. We hold on to God’s promise that Jesus Christ will COME AGAIN!
Decorating the Sanctuary for Advent/Christmas
HANGING OF THE GREENS – (Decorating for Christmas): Come and enjoy the fellowship as we decorate the sanctuary and other areas of the church on this date. Donuts, hot chocolate, and coffee will be provided. For any questions, see Brice Smith. (FYI: It’s his 74th Birthday).
Updated: November 23, 2024