Come and See!

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Merry Christmas!

Luke 2:1-14 (ESV)  
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.  [9] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a 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!"

Friday, December 11, 2015

Children's Christmas Play & Breakfast on Sunday (12/13/15)

On Sunday Morning, Parents, please have your children here for the Christmas Play at 9:30 AM. The children will do a run-through of the play and then eat breakfast. 

Sunday morning we will have our annual Christmas play put on by the children and youth of the church. This will be during the Worship Service hour.  We will have breakfast during the Sunday School hour.  Please bring a breakfast dish to share. 

Thursday, December 3, 2015

December 2015 Newsletter

Click on the link to open this month's newsletter.

December 2015 Newsletter

Merry Christmas!
Carmen

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Scripture & Questions for Sunday (12/6/15)

Announcements

  • 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

  1. What are some of the various ways people comfort themselves about life’s difficulties?
  2. What is one of the most comforting messages you’ve ever received from a fellow Christian?
  3. In contrast to the previous announcements of God’s judgment, how did Isaiah begin God’s message? (40:1)
  4. What good news did Isaiah have for Jerusalem concerning the sufferings that went before? (40:2)
  5. What did Isaiah instruct the people to do, even while they were in the wilderness? (40:3)
  6. 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)
  7. How did Isaiah contrast the mortality of human life with the Word of God? (40:6-8)
  8. With what exclamations of joy did Isaiah announce God’s arrival? (40:9-10)
  9. How does Isaiah’s message of comfort apply to us today?
  10. In what sense can it be comforting to meditate on the overwhelming greatness of God?