December 2024 Newsletter

 

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December 2024 Newsletter

Have a great day!

~ Carmen 

Scripture for Sunday (12/1/2024)

As winter slowly approaches and days grow shorter, our hearts turn toward home. This Advent season, we invite you to join us on a journey of spiritual homecoming through our series "Coming Home." Each week, we'll explore what it means that God chose to make a home with us through Christ's birth.

First Sunday: "Reading the Signs of Hope"

Theme: The Journey Home Begins

Scripture for Sunday
Jeremiah 33:14-16 (ESV)

14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

Luke 21:25-36 (ESV)

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Prayer of the Day

Lord Christ, through repentance and faith make us truly a people prepared for the advent of your kingdom, when you fully establish your mighty yet gentle rule eternally. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Scripture for Sunday (11/24/2024)

Sunday November 24, 2024, following worship we will have our annual Thanksgiving lunch. The church will provide meat, please bring a side dish or a dessert to share.

Scripture for Sunday
ESV Deuteronomy 26:1-11

"When you come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance and have taken possession of it and live in it, 2 you shall take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from your land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a basket, and you shall go to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name to dwell there. 3 And you shall go to the priest who is in office at that time and say to him, 'I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come into the land that the LORD swore to our fathers to give us.' 4 Then the priest shall take the basket from your hand and set it down before the altar of the LORD your God. 5 "And you shall make response before the LORD your God, 'A wandering Aramean was my father. And he went down into Egypt and sojourned there, few in number, and there he became a nation, great, mighty, and populous. 6 And the Egyptians treated us harshly and humiliated us and laid on us hard labor. 7 Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. 9 And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God. 11 And you shall rejoice in all the good that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house, you, and the Levite, and the sojourner who is among you.

ESV Psalm 100 

A Psalm for Giving Thanks

1 Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 5 For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

Prayer for the Day

Lord, we come before You with hearts full of joy and gratitude. We give thanks for Your steadfast love and faithfulness that endures through all generations. Guide us to serve You with gladness and enter Your presence with praise. Remind us of the blessings You have bestowed upon us and help us to spread Your love and light to others. May our words and actions today bring glory to Your name. Amen.

Scripture for Sunday (11/17/2024)

Scripture for Sunday
Mark 13:1-8 (ESV)

And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" [2] And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."

[3] And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, [4] "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" [5] And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one leads you astray. [6] Many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. [7] And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. [8] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.

Mark 13:31-37 (ESV)

[31] Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. [32] "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [33] Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. [34] It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. [35] Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning— [36] lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. [37] And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake."

Prayer of the Day

Lord, as we reflect on the impermanence of earthly things, grant us wisdom and courage. Help us to stand firm in our faith amidst uncertainties and challenges. Open our hearts to Your eternal truths and guide us to trust in Your steadfast love. May we find peace in Your promises and strength in Your presence today. Amen.

Scripture for Sunday (11/10/2024)

Announcements:

• Sunday, November 10, 2024, following worship we will have a congregational meeting to elect 4 members from the congregation to join the 3 outgoing elders on the nominating committee.
• Junction ISD's VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION Monday, Nov. 11th, 2024, 10:00 AM in the Big Gym. 
• Sunday November 24, 2024, following worship we will have our annual THANKSGIVING LUNCH. The church will provide meat please bring a side dish or a dessert to share.

Scripture for Sunday
Micah 6:6-8 (ESV)

6 “With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Mark 12:38-44 (ESV)

And in his teaching he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces

[39] and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, [40] who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

[41] And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. [42] And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. [43] And he called his disciples to him and said to them, "Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. [44] For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

Prayer for the Day

Heavenly Father, help me to walk humbly, love mercy, and act justly in all that I do today. Guide my steps to reflect Your will, showing compassion and fairness to everyone I encounter. May I live out Your call with a heart full of grace and a spirit of humility. Amen.

Announcements; Scripture for Sunday (11/3/2024)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

• Men’s Breakfast on Saturday morning at 8 AM. Coffee will be on at 6:30. Come and join us!
• Memorial services for Marcie Stimmel will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, November 2, 2024, in our sanctuary with a reception to follow.
• First Sunday Breakfast in Grace Place at 9:30. Come and get breakfast and then go to Sunday School.
• Time change: Daylight Savings Time ends Sunday Nov 3, don’t forget to fall back.

Scripture for Sunday
Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (ESV)

1 “Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules—that the LORD your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, 2 that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Mark 12:28-34 (ESV)

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Prayer of the Day

God of grace, remove from our lives all that distracts us from that which is ultimate and foundational; that is, to love you body and soul and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. In the great name of Jesus we pray. Amen.