- Men's Breakfast Saturday at 8 AM
- Our annual Christmas Play will be held Sunday December 13, during the normal worship hour at 11. Play practice is each Sunday please have your children here at 9:45 AM. This year's play will have just a couple of lines for each child to learn. Come join us! If you have any questions please call Molly McMillan.
- We will have a brief congregational meeting following worship to hear a report from the nominating committee and elect elders to the class of 2018.
Scripture
Isaiah 40:1-11 ESV
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. 5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken." 6 A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. 9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" 10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Mark 1:1-8
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Questions for Reflection
- What are some of the various ways people comfort themselves about life’s difficulties?
- What is one of the most comforting messages you’ve ever received from a fellow Christian?
- In contrast to the previous announcements of God’s judgment, how did Isaiah begin God’s message? (40:1)
- What good news did Isaiah have for Jerusalem concerning the sufferings that went before? (40:2)
- What did Isaiah instruct the people to do, even while they were in the wilderness? (40:3)
- How did Isaiah use the surrounding land to illustrate the change that Isaiah envisioned when God would intervene on behalf of His people? (40:4)
- How did Isaiah contrast the mortality of human life with the Word of God? (40:6-8)
- With what exclamations of joy did Isaiah announce God’s arrival? (40:9-10)
- How does Isaiah’s message of comfort apply to us today?
- In what sense can it be comforting to meditate on the overwhelming greatness of God?
