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Sermon – Luke 2:8-15 – Too Crowded for Christ?
Lay Reading - Micah 5:2-5a
It was the fall heard around the world. I’m guessing most of you heard about this and remember this. A few years ago a mob of Wal-Mart shoppers rushing for a $29 DVD player trampled Patricia VanLester and knocked her unconscious the day after Thanksgiving. Her sister, Linda Ellzey watched, “She got pushed down, and they walked over her like a herd of elephants. I told them, ‘Stop stepping on my sister! She’s on the ground!’”
Crowds are synonymous with Christmas. Haven’t you noticed? Spend just a few minutes in a mall and you would think “what recession”. The Malls are packed, the checkout lines are long and seem to take forever, the roads are crammed with cars, and even churches have a few more people than normal. And of course, our homes are teeming with additional decorations, parties, and activities.
The problem with crowds at Christmas is that they tend to trample Jesus, just like the mob of shoppers that trampled Patricia VanLester. People get so involved in the shopping that we miss the Savior. We are so busy with travel that Jesus is left home alone. We slide into a seat at church that is not our usual place because someone else is sitting in our place and we don’t focus on Jesus because we are angry with someone taking “our seat”. We are in such a hurry at Christmas that we aren’t living well, our souls are in need of a break, if not intensive care.
Christian author Richard Foster wrote in his book Celebration of Discipline, “In contemporary society our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in ‘muchness’ and ‘manyness,’ he will rest satisfied.” At no time of the year is this observation a greater reality. Could it be that the crowds, the shopping, the incessant bell ringing and music playing, the increased numbers of activities, the fast-paced lifestyles are simply a ploy of Satan to keep us from the Savior?
Many years ago a very wealthy European family held a christening for their child. Many guests were invited to the home for the occasion. They arrived in their big cars wearing the high style fashions. Their jackets and coats were carried to a bedroom and laid upon the beds. After hors d’oeuvres and the usual lot of conversation and commotion, they were ready for the christening ceremony.
“Where’s the baby?” someone asked.
The nanny ran upstairs to look. She returned several minutes later. The baby was nowhere to be found. Someone remembered that the child had last been seen lying on one of the beds, and after a frantic investigation the little child was found buried sleeping under the coats and jackets of the guests. The chief reason why they had come had been forgotten, neglected, and destroyed.
Crowds and clamor have a tendency to smother Jesus at Christmas. He, more often than not, is forgotten, neglected, and if we aren’t careful, destroyed.
Those Who Did Not Hear God's Message
The first Christmas, in some respects, was not unlike Christmas today. The tiny hamlet of Bethlehem was crowded. People were stirring everywhere. People were probably sleeping on the streets, in alleys, or anywhere else they could find a spot. The merchants were up earlier than usual waiting for the influx of visitors to purchase their wares. The barking of street dogs and the complaint of donkeys pulling carts awakened children.
The owner of the inn had awakened earlier than most in the town. His inn was full. All the beds were taken. People were everywhere, on mats, in chairs, curled up in every corner, anywhere they could find space.
The crowds and the clamor hushed the cry of the baby born outside the inn probably in a cave, placed in a manager, normally reserved for sheep. The baby boy was wrapped in strips of clothing to keep him warm.
And, God, the proud father, sent out a birth announcement like none other. And it should be like none other because never before had God taken on human flesh. The transcendent God was now living in human flesh. This child, God incarnate, would change the world.
The citizens of Bethlehem did not hear the announcement of the baby. The tiny town was too jam-packed, too noisy, too consumed, too preoccupied. The mayor of Bethlehem didn’t get the announcement. The High Priest in Jerusalem was left out of the loop. So, too, was Caesar Augustus and the members of his Royal court. None of the officials, none of the power brokers received the announcement. The palace didn’t hear, the temple didn’t hear, Jerusalem didn’t hear, Bethlehem didn’t hear. Why? Too crowded, too busy, too noisy, too pretentious.
Those Who Heard God's Message
God’s birth announcement regarding his son entering human history was heard by an unpretentious group on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Listen to Luke’s accounting: “In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. This will be the sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a manger’” (Luke 2:8-12).
The announcement of Jesus’ birth came to sheepherders. Sheepherders? Sheepherders were today’s social equivalent of a homeless person living on the street who does odd jobs for minimal pay.
Shepherds were borderline social outcasts. They didn’t fit in with the culture. They were always traveling and moving with their sheep, they didn’t have much of a home life. They lived and traveled around with sheep. They didn’t look good. They smelled pungent. Their language was crude and harsh. They were mostly uneducated and unsophisticated men. You know the type. These folks aren’t up on the latest trends and fashions. Don’t have the latest gadget or the newest toy. Haven’t gotten a personal web page, or laptop, or email address for that matter. They didn’t follow the sheep watching movies on their iPod Touch. They were, shall we say, backward.
Shepherds were also religiously unclean. In Jewish tradition to fully participate in the religion you had to undergo certain rituals and attend festivals and services to be considered clean and acceptable to God. Because of the shepherd’s work schedule and constant migration, they could not attend those services and perform the necessary ritual of purification. When they did go to the Temple Mount, the religious people overlooked them. You know the look. “You don’t belong here. What is your kind doing at our church? Clean yourself up then you can come here.” They were led to believe that they were not good enough for God.
Additionally, shepherds were loners. Tending their sheep out in the fields under the stars away from the city and the crowds. You know the sort. It is the cowboy on the western range, who is singing…
Oh, give me a home, where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,
And the skies are not cloudy all day.
These people lived a simpler life. Less hectic. Slower. Calmer. Noise free. People-less.
As a consequence, sheepherders avoided crowds. They preferred a life of solitude, quietness, separated from the others. Interestingly, it is to these people that the angel spoke regarding the birth of Jesus. God made his announcement of his son’s birth to people that were considered outcasts, overlooked, and outsiders. People who were not among the socially privileged. People who did not merit the standards of the religious elite. People who were separated from the crowds.
Here’s the point: God’s birth announcement came to those who were not in the crowded city, but rather to those men separated from society. They could hear because they were in a place to hear. Sometimes we don’t hear God because it’s too crowded and loud. If God would speak to those who are outcast by society, overlooked by religious leaders, and outside the hustle and bustle of the city, then if I get in a similar place I can hear him speak to me. If God spoke to the shepherds, then there is hope for all of us.
How To Hear God’s Message
So how do we hear God’s message to us? What must we do? Travel to Israel and become a sheepherder? Move to the wilderness, join a cult, and never bathe again? No! What must we do to prevent the crowds from trampling out Christ at Christmas? What must we do to hear God’s message like the shepherds, the first recipients?
Be Still.
First, we must be still. We’re not good at that as Americans are we? We have to be still. Christmas, by its very nature, anticipates something on the horizon the like of which we have never seen before. Yet it is possible to not see it. We can miss it. To turn just as it brushes past us. And, once past, once we have missed it, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God’s back fade in the distance, we grasp that we have failed to notice it. So move away from the hustle and bustle. Sit. Linger. Ponder. Slow down. Relax. Wait. Behold. There will be time enough for running, for activity, for pushing, for worrying, for crowds. But for now, stay. Wait. Be still. Something is on the horizon. “Stop . . . and know that I am God” (Psa. 46:10), writes the Psalmist. Sure it is fun to go to every party, to be involved in every event. But like the shepherds, we, too, need to refrain from an overload of activity to see Christ. This will mean that we deliberately choose to stop, to wait, and to push back. I’m not talking being a hermit, but having balance.
Have you ever been in a restaurant where a waiter piled dishes high on a tray so they could carry it all at once? Have you ever see all of that come crashing down to the floor because it was over loaded and unbalanced? I have. And it is never pretty. Thankfully in all my years as a waiter it never happened to me, but when I would see it happen to others, it was obvious to outsiders what was going to happen. We could see it coming, even if they couldn’t. How many of us are like that right now? Too much on our tray. Out of balance, over loaded, trying to do too much, and missing what this all really is about? Slow down, take your time, be still in this time of hustle and bustle and draw near to God. You won’t regret it.
Find a quiet place.
Along with this, we need to find a place of quiet. Christmas comes packaged with a lot of noise. It’s everywhere. There’s music playing, bells ringing, people chattering, paper rustling. The nature of crowds prompts noise. It can’t be avoided. The only way is to move away from the noise to find a place of quiet.
This entire message is focused on four words from Luke 2:8. The shepherds were “out in the fields” (Luke 2:8). Out in the fields implies that they were away from the clutter of life and the crowds that accompany that mess. They had found a place of quiet. A place of quiet is not always a physical place. In fact, often when we need quietness the most, we can’t get away from the crowds. A quiet place is a place of the heart. Like the eye of a hurricane, the storm rages around us, but internally there is calmness, peace, and silence.
I know it wasn’t sung on the first Christmas morning, but it could have been. The shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night understood the meaning of Silent Night. Listen closely to the words.
Silent night, holy night; All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child! Holy Infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
That’s what I want to experience, don’t you? Silence. Calm. Sleep. Peace.
Find the time, and if you can, the place, to enjoy the silence, the calmness, the peace this Christmas. Move away from the crowds and listen to the still, silent voice of God. “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools” (Eccl. 5:1). Find a place, apart from the crowds, to be silent.
Be intentional.
This isn’t going to happen by accident. There’s a word about the shepherds that stuck out to me in Luke’s narrative of the birth of Jesus. It is the word living. Notice Luke 2:8. “And there were shepherds living out in the field nearby . . .” (Luke 2:8 NIV). They were living. Now I’m sure Luke means that they were eating and breathing while performing their job. Could it mean more than that? Perhaps, it expresses the intentionality of their lives. They weren’t just going through the motions. They weren’t just waiting for the paycheck. They weren’t hoping for the weekend so they could party till they dropped. They were living. They weren’t in a hurry. They weren’t bombarded with peer pressure. They weren’t exposed to the latest fads and facts. But they were living.
I wonder if the same thing can be said about me? Am I really living? I’m afraid I’m guilty of pretending to live all too often. Are we missing out on what is truly important in life because we didn’t stop and intentionally plan for those important things? It is called the tyranny of the urgent. It pushes everything else to the side, even if those other things are more important.
Remember reading about Henry David Thoreau? He escaped the crowded world to live at Walden’s Pond. So he could live more deliberately. He wrote things like: "I would rather sit on a pumpkin and have it all to myself, than be crowded on a velvet cushion."
Christmas is about God living in human flesh. That same God lives within us through the Holy Spirit enabling us to live. Will you hear the message of God this Christmas, and everyday for that matter? Will you stop long enough to be still to listen for God? Will you find a place of solitude? A place that God can break through the clamor. Will you determine to live intentionally? Will you stop pretending, stop going through the motions, and live the life God intended for you to live? Let’s not trample Jesus out of Christmas.
Advent Reading Week 2:
The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
The candle we light this morning reminds us that through Christ we can all be reconciled to God and in relationship with Him. (light the candle at this point)
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sermon - Luke 2:8-15 - Too Crowded for Christ?
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Worship Bulletin for Sunday, December 6, 2009
2nd Sunday of Advent
* Denotes when the congregation stands
(Those who are able, please stand.)
The Prelude Silently prepare your hearts for worship
The Advent Wreath
*The Call to Worship “Christmas Joy Medley”
*Opening Prayer
*Gloria Patri #559 red
God’s Spoken Word Micah 5:2-5a
Silent Meditation
The Lord’s Prayer (using ‘debts’ and ‘debtors’)
Welcome and Announcements
The Right Hand of Christian Fellowship
*Hymn “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly”
Ministry In Music Choir
Children’s Message
Morning Message “Too Crowed for Christ?”
Luke 2:8-15
The Offering
*Doxology #554 red
*The Prayer of Dedication
The Lord's Supper
Communion liturgy will be displayed on screen.
*Hymn #118 red “It Came upon the Midnight Clear”
Benediction
The Postlude
Welcome to First Congregational Church!
Today is the second Sunday of Advent. Let us continue
to spiritually prepare ourselves for the celebration of
Christ’s birth. We are delighted that you are here today!
If you are a visitor, please fill out a card from the pew pocket
and place it in the collection plate when passed.
Leaders in the Service:
Pastor Rev. Chris Meirose
Organist Kristin Ziemke
Greeters Phyllis Suemnick & Roy Nelson
Ushers Leah & Eric Worke
Nursery Attendant Kathy Connor
Lay Reader Keith Johnson
Multi-Media Tim Schroeder
Acolyte John LaDue
Council Duty (December) Steve Hansen
Communion Servers Phyllis Suemnick (bread)
Steve Hansen
Milly Neidt
Norine Paulson
Worship Assistants Next Week (December 13)
Greeters Milly Neidt & Gordon Diesch
Ushers Cindy & Roger Ashland
Nursery Attendant Karen Below
Lay Reader Carl Sonnenberg
Multi-Media Keith Johnson
Acolyte John LaDue
This Week at First Congregational Church:
Today Sunday School
8:45 a.m.
Worship with Communion
10 a.m.
Wednesday Youth Chat (4th-5th)
3:15 p.m.
Youth Chat (6th-8th)
4:30 p.m.
Youth Chat (high school)
6 p.m.
Praise Team Rehearsal
6:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
7 p.m.
Saturday Salvation Army Bell ringing
1-5 p.m.
Sunday Sunday School
8:45 a.m.
Worship
10 a.m.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sermon - Luke 2:1-7 - Time for Christmas?
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Lay Reading - Romans 11:33-36
LK 2:1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
LK 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
One of the occupational hazards of being a pastor is that Sunday comes every seven days, whether I am ready or not. In like manner, Christmas comes on December 25 every 365 days, whether we are ready or not. Are you ready for Christmas? Who went shopping on Black Friday? And Christmas cards and letters – do you send these out? I’ve tried, but I keep ending up getting to it around St. Patrick’s Day, am I the only one? Along with Christmas is an assortment of obligations, duties, activities, observances, and traditions. These activities are compressed into our already frazzled lives. Christmas is going to come regardless of if you have sent the cards, lighted the tree, wrapped the presents, or done all the shopping.
Not to worry, retail stores will come to your rescue. I remember when stores did not decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving, now many stores have aisles ready by Halloween. When Justice is an adult I suspect that stores will be decked out for Christmas by Labor Day. Stores open earlier and stay open later too right? If that is not convenient one can shop online or over the phone. Or, the wealthy hire a personal shopper to buy all their gifts. Seriously? I get paid to spend your money? Sign me up! I love being a pastor and all…just kidding. That’s a crazy job though.
If we are honest with ourselves we don’t have time for Christmas. Ask yourself, do I have time for Christmas? Am I just cramming it in?
Time is the new currency. Our society values time almost as much as money. People may be frivolous with their money, but not with their time. Ben Franklin wrote, “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.” Time is the one commodity that we can’t generate more of. We can make additional money. We can generate more energy. But we only have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 24 hours in a day. No more, no less.
In case you aren’t counting, presently, there are just over 25 days, or 613.5 hours, or 36,810 minutes, or 2,208,600 seconds until Christmas. The clock is ticking. Time is running out.
Isn’t it interesting that time is made for consumerism at Christmas, but is time made for the Christ of Christmas? Will you make time for Jesus this Christmas?
What if Joseph said, “I don’t care what Caesar Augustus ordered, I don’t have time to go to Bethlehem to pay my taxes. I have got some bookcases to build.”
What if Mary said, “I’m too young to have a child, it will demand too much of my time, and, furthermore, I’m not married, I’m not having this child.”
What if God said, “Send my Son to earth? You got to be kidding, I don’t have time for those God-forsaking people. And, anyway, it is a stinky, dirty planet.”
But Joseph did not make that statement, and neither did Mary or God say those things.
Christmas is about a God who made time and came at the right time. Listen to these two verses.
“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born” (Luke 2:6 NIV).
“When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4 NIV).
These verses are tied together referring to the birth of Jesus. “The baby” refers to Mary’s baby, Jesus. A very human baby from a very human mother. “His Son” refers to God’s Son. A very divine baby from a very divine father. In these two verses the whole theology of the incarnation is unveiled: this baby of Mary’s, God’s only Son, was totally human, yet totally divine.
God made time for us. Think that one over for a minute. God, the Creator of the universe, the God over all things, who knows all, who sees all, He made time for you and me. The reference to “time” in both those verses I just read grabs my attention. “The time came” and “When the time had fully come.” God made the time and at the right time in history Jesus came. God didn’t say, “I don’t have the time.” Rather, he said, “I’ll make the time.” God’s Son was born on that first Christmas morning. And, it was all for us. God made the time and sent his Son at just the right time out of his love for you and me.
So I have to ask so they don’t revoke my pastor card, will we make time for Jesus? Will I? Will you? I mean Christmas is a busy time in my industry right? Get this - Jesus came to a world that he created, to a people that had for thousands of years awaited his arrival, but they didn’t have time for him.
While he is not mentioned by name in the Bible, an innkeeper was confronted by a man and his pregnant wife. He turned them away saying he had no room for them. He didn’t have time for the Savior, because he was too busy. It was the census. The tiny town was crowded and his was the only place for lodging. He had rooms to clean, food to serve, decorations to put up, towels to wash, people to care for. He wasn’t an evil man or unsympathetic, he was just busy, that’s all.
The innkeeper reminds me of people who become so consumed with the commotion of Christmas that they miss the Christ of Christmas. They are addicted to activity, not necessarily sinful activity, just things that keep one occupied. The clutter of shopping, parties, concerts, decorating, and dinners preoccupy their day. They are too busy for the Son of God.
Standing in sharp contrast to the innkeeper is another man who didn’t have time for the Savior. Herod, the King of the Jews, was very old, very sick, and nearly dead. He was a dying man desperately trying to hold on an unstable throne. Like all despots, he held tightly to the reins of power and brutally removed anyone who got in his way. Over the years he killed his brother-in-law, mother-in-law, and even his own wife. The notion of a baby “born” king of the Jews was a direct threat to his throne. No wonder he tried to kill Jesus. In his eyes, he had no choice. It was kill or be killed. He didn’t have time for another rival. He was ready to kill anyone who was a threat, even a tiny, helpless baby born at the end of a dirt road in a barn, in the middle of nowhere.
Herod is not unlike the men and women today who won’t allow anything to interfere with their career, position in life, ambition, plans, or lifestyle. They won’t let someone else be king of their lives. They see Jesus as a threat so they don’t make time for him. Allegiance to someone else other than themselves is unthinkable.
A whole group of people didn’t have time for Jesus. And, if there were a group of people who should have been aware of the timing of Jesus arrival, it was the chief priests and scribes. They were the theologians, the religious elite of Israel. They were the pastors, the seminary professors of their time. They had studied the prophecies regarding the coming of the Messiah. They were encouraged to the read the signs of the times for his arrival. They preached of a Deliverer, the Anointed One, which would come to eradicate the oppressors from their country. A King who would set them free.
They were the theological experts, the guardians of spiritual truth, yet they never bothered to travel the five miles from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to find out for themselves if the Messiah had indeed been born. Surely they, too, saw the star. They heard the news about the infant born in Bethlehem. Why did they not make time for Jesus? Indifference. They didn’t care. They had all the facts but the Messiah was not really important to them. They didn’t have time for the Savior because they felt they didn’t need him. They were self-righteous, believing they were already all that God could ever want of them. They were sickeningly arrogant. They had no time for the Savior. In fact, when Jesus began his public ministry, it was these same men that despised Jesus and ultimately plotted his murder.
I know people like that, don’t you? People who just don’t care about Jesus. People who had rather not really engage with him. Sadly, many of those people are in the church, going through the motions, but not fully engaged. Have you learned yet that familiarity breeds contempt? Apathy is a soul killer. It is typical of people, including religious people, who don’t think they need a Savior. Jesus came to people who had a problem—sin—and knew it. Indifferent people ignore their sin and Jesus. They don’t care about the remedy because they don’t believe they have the disease, and even if they had the disease, they think it won’t kill them.
There’s an old story about a man who said to his friend, “I’ve heard that the two major maladies in America today are ignorance and apathy. What do you think?” His friend responded, “I don’t know and I don’t care!”
How many of us have not taken the time for the Savior simply because we don’t care? Do you ever have that gnawing in the back of your mind that that this should be more important – that Christ should be more important?
One other group of people was present who didn’t have time for Jesus. They are not mentioned in this text, but they exist. They live in every age. They are the people who don’t have time for Jesus because of delay. We have a name for them—procrastinators. The procrastinators saw the star, heard of the baby, knew that something strange and wonderful was happening, and wanted to check it out, but never got around to it. They were going to do it—just later. They had the opportunity of a lifetime. The very Savior of the world was within their grasp, but they put off going to the manager to see the baby Jesus.
Procrastinators are in each generation. They know what they should do but fail to act because of a lack of urgency. “There’s no hurry,” they say. There is always tomorrow. It is communicated in such phrases as, “I’ll buy the gift after Christmas, when it goes on sale.” “I’ll write the thank you note after things slow down.” “I’ll see my Dad when the holidays are over. I’ll have more time then.” “I’ll give my heart to Jesus next Sunday.” But tomorrow never comes. The opportunity is lost.
A legend recounts a company of demons before Satan’s throne. Satan barks in a loud voice, “Who will go to earth to convince people not to give their lives to Jesus.”
One said, “I’ll go and tell them there is no heaven.”
“That won’t work,” Satan protested. “The conviction of a better life is too deep-seated in the hearts of men.”
“Then, I’ll go,” said another. “I’ll tell them there is no hell.”
“Won’t work,” Satan thundered. “Man’s conscience will witness against such mockery.”
Just then a dark spirit glided forward, “Satan, I’ll go.”
“And what will you tell them?”
“I will tell them,” answered the spirit, “you have plenty of time to trust in Jesus, tomorrow will be soon enough to give you heart to the Savior. There’s no hurry.”
According to the legend that was the demon sent and is still abroad the earth whispering to the hearts of men and women: “There’s plenty of time for Christ. There’s no hurry. Just have fun while you can. Tomorrow is soon enough.”
Do you have time for Jesus? May I ask you a personal question? Of the five types of people which do you most identify with?
Do you identify with Joseph and Mary? It wasn’t easy or convenient, but they made time for Jesus.
Are you like the innkeeper? Do you not have time for Jesus because you are too busy?
Maybe you are like Herod. You don’t have time for Jesus because you are self-absorbed in you own agenda.
Or, perhaps, you most identify with the religious leaders. You’re familiar with Jesus, but your heart is covered with calluses. You’ve heard the story so many times that you don’t hear it anymore and you just don’t care. So you’re saying, “Why bother?”
Does the procrastinator group resonate with you? You know the need and realize the peril, but would rather wait? Are you whispering to yourself, “There’s no hurry? I’ll make time for Jesus later.”
If God made time for us, can’t we make time for him this Christmas? Let’s get ready for Christmas and make time for Jesus beginning now. Christmas is going to come whether we are ready or not. And Jesus is going to come again, whether we are ready or not. While there is still time let’s get ready for Christmas and for Jesus. And if you have to choose one over the other, it’s best to be ready for Jesus.
The circle of the wreath reminds us of God Himself, His eternity and endless mercy, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath speaks of the hope that we have in God, the hope of newness, of renewal, of eternal life. Candles symbolize the light of God coming into the world through the birth of His son. The four outer candles represent the period of waiting during the four Sundays of Advent, which themselves symbolize the four centuries of waiting between the prophet Malachi and the birth of Christ.
Historically, the primary color of Advent is Purple. This is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King. Originally Advent was a time of penitence and fasting, much as the season of Lent is practiced in some church traditions today.
In the four weeks of Advent the third Sunday came to be a time of rejoicing that the fasting was almost over. The shift from the purple of the Season to pink or rose for the third Sunday Advent candles reflected this lessening emphasis on penitence as attention turned more to celebration of the season. The white candle in the middle is the Christ candle, which we will light Christmas eve to remind us of the coming of our Savior to the earth.
Today we light the first candle in anticipation of our coming Lord. (Light the candle at this point).
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Bulletin for Sunday, November 29, 2009
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Sunday, November 29, 2009
1st Sunday of Advent
* Denotes when the congregation stands
(Those who are able, please stand.)
The Prelude Silently prepare your hearts for worship
The Advent Wreath
*The Call to Worship “Offering”
*Opening Prayer
*Gloria Patri #559 red
God’s Spoken Word Romans 11:33-36
Silent Meditation
The Lord’s Prayer (using ‘debts’ and ‘debtors’)
Welcome and Announcements
The Right Hand of Christian Fellowship
*Hymn #2 red “How Great Thou Art”
Ministry In Music Choir
Children’s Message
Morning Message “Time for Christmas?”
Luke 2:1-7
The Offering
*Doxology #554 red
*Hymn #121 red “There’s a Song in the Air”
Benediction
The Postlude
Welcome to First Congregational Church!
If you are a visitor, please fill out a card from the pew pocket
and place it in the collection plate when passed.
Leaders in the Service:
Pastor Rev. Chris Meirose
Organist Peggy Bartelt
Greeters Cindy & Keith Johnson
Ushers Michael & Merrick Osweiler
Nursery Attendant Amber Johnson
Lay Reader Steve Hansen
Multi-Media Matt Connor
Acolyte
Council Duty (November) Judy Mokoff
Worship Assistants Next Week (December 7)
Greeters Phyllis Suemnick & Roy Nelson
Ushers Leah & Eric Worke
Nursery Attendant Kathy Connor
Lay Reader Keith Johnson
Multi-Media Tim Schroeder
Acolyte John LaDue
Council Duty (December) Steve Hansen
Communion Servers Phyllis Suemnick (bread)
Steve Hansen
Milly Neidt
Norine Paulson
This Week at First Congregational Church:
Today Worship
10 a.m.
Fellowship Hour
Following worship.
Wednesday Ladies Friendly at Jonnie Beans
11:30 a.m.
Youth Chat (4th-5th)
3:15 p.m.
Youth Chat (6th-8th)
4:30 p.m.
Youth Chat (high school)
6 p.m.
Praise Team Rehearsal
6:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal
7 p.m.
Sunday Sunday School
8:45 a.m.
Worship with Communion
10 a.m.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sermon - Joshua 24:15 - Habits of Highly Successful Families
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Sermon – Joshua 24:15 – Habits of highly successful families
EPH 6:1-4, 10-13
Well today I want to talk about habits of highly successful families. Let’s look at a great passage of scripture on what’s most important for a family. In the Old Testament book of Joshua, the children of Israel moved into the Promised Land. They were getting ready to set up their homes as permanent places rather than tents that would be taken down and moved every few days. The leader, Joshua, issued a strong challenge to the families. He said in Joshua 24:15, “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” If someone came over to your house, even though you might not have a plaque with this on the wall would they know this about your family?
In preparing for this message, I reviewed a survey from a previous church of 20 families in that church. These were people I consider to have healthy, positive families. Some were retired couples, with grown children, others were blended families, and others were parents with young children. They were asked to share the habits they thought that make their families strong. From their responses I have prepared a top replies list. As you learn them, you should be asking yourself if your family has these habits. If these are not things you are doing habitually, you should consider making them habits for your family.
The first one is: Children are disciplined with love and consistency
Discipline is necessary in any area of life, but especially in the home. Children are born with a stubborn, rebellious nature, and they are by nature sinful. Okay, I know your children and grandchildren are perfect, but wouldn’t you agree that everyone else’s children are rebellious?
You don’t have to teach your kids how to disobey and say, “NO!” You have to teach them not to be disobedient. The Bible says in Proverbs 22:15 says “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction drives it far from him.” Don’t use that as an excuse to abuse your child, but see that as biblical wisdom for the need to have structure, rules, discipline.
In strong families, limits are clearly explained to the children. Then, they are told the consequences if they violate those limits. And if the child pushes beyond the limits, discipline is applied. One of the worst things a parent can do is to promise punishment, and then not deliver it because it teaches a child the terrible lesson that they can get away with breaking the rules.
Actions have consequences, and the earlier we as humans understand that, the better we will fit into the rest of society. So healthy families have boundaries and discipline.
Let’s go to the next habit: Money is managed wisely and discussed openly.
Almost every response we got mentioned something about family finances. Money problems can tear a marriage or a family apart. Several respondents reported all financial decisions should be discussed as a family. One family wrote, “There is no ‘his money’ or ‘her money.’ We realize that it’s all ‘God’s money. And then our money.’”
Another family wrote, “We follow the 10/10/80 financial plan. We give God the first ten percent, we save the next ten percent, and we discipline ourselves to live on 80% of our income.” These families teach their children about the importance of giving their money to God. They want their kids to know they tithe, and that one reason they may not have as many “toys” as some of their friends is because they are giving to God.
Several wrote that is so important to get to the point that the only debt you have is for your principle residence. It’s important to avoid buying things on credit. If you use credit cards, you should always try to pay the full balance to avoid paying the interest. If you find you cannot pay the full bill on your credit card for two months, the card needs to be put in the draw, or cut up. The debt trap has snared many families. The strong families from our survey worked hard to keep a handle on their family finances.
The next healthy habit from our survey was: The family has learned to cope with adversity
Lest you think all the families in the survey were living lives free of trouble, think again. These families experienced everything from the death of child, brain tumor in a child, physical handicaps, infertility, degenerative disease, and a variety of assorted disasters. Every family has to face and deal with adversity, tribulation, and problems. It’s how a family deals with these problems that makes them stronger. One family wrote: “(Wife’s name)’s (disease) has taught us not to take time or anything for granted. Consequently, we try to have fun as we go and realize that each stage of our life is special and cannot be regained. The adversity of her illness has made all of us more sensitive to others and strengthened our relationship with God and each other.”
Coping doesn’t mean the family members ignore the problem, or they flippantly say, “Praise the Lord” and act as it it’s not there. They face their problems and then depend on God’s grace and power to help them live with it every day. They consider themselves Survivors in the midst of their pain and problems.
The next common response was: Each person is treated with respect and kindness
One of the strong families surveyed wrote: “We try to treat each other, not as good as, but better than we treat other people. Some people are more polite to strangers than to their own family, and we really try to avoid that.” Another family wrote: “Kindness permeates the atmosphere. Sarcasm and ‘put-downs’ are not allowed and this starts with the parents attitude toward each other.” Another wrote: “We don’t speak disrespectfully to each other as husband and wife and don’t allow our kids to be disrespectful to us or to other adults.”
EPH 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
If you want a healthy family, you must treat each family member with kindness. Kindness is love with its work clothes on. Kindness is treating the other person the way you’d like to be treated. There are millions of people who need a little kindness, and you can start looking within your own family.
Strong families show kindness, respect, and practice courtesy with each other.
Another one of the most important themes in the surveys was: The family eats and talks together regularly.
Everyone who responded to the survey talked about the importance of family meals. In a time when fast-food joints abound, I was surprised at how often these strong families sat down together to eat and talk. One person wrote: “We eat dinner together almost every night. We really listen and ask each other how the day’s events made us feel.” Another mother said, “I’m a great cook, so that keeps them coming to the table.” I was surprised by how many people mentioned the idea that most of the family communication takes place during meal times. Another person wrote: “We make a point to have dinner together each night and we talk about what has happened in our lives that day. We listen to each other. Another very busy family wrote: “We spend a great deal of time communicating with each other. We eat a sit-down dinner at least three days a week, even if it means being late to baseball practice.”
If you want to strengthen your family life you may need to make some changes. You may want to work on getting everyone together and making sure that conversation is on the dinner menu.
Here’s my second to last survey response: Love is expressed every day.
I was impressed by how many of the families stressed the importance of sharing love with each family member every day. Here are some of their comments: “We show affection to each other. There is an abundance of hugging, kissing, and snuggling at our house and we SAY “I love you” every day.” Another wrote: “We say I love you to each other every day, and we mean it. (We say it even if we are mad at each other).” I laughed at one comment: “We all say “I love you” every time we part or hang up the phone–sometimes that’s dozens of times a day. Warning: It becomes habit and you have to be careful not to accidentally say it on the phone when you’re talking to your best friend of the same gender!
It all begins with a husband and wife who love each other and aren’t ashamed to show their kids they are in love. One man wrote: “The greatest thing a dad can do for his kids is to love their mother–this instills a security in kids like nothing else.” Another couple wrote: “The marriage relationship has top priority over the demands of children. We take yearly trip as a couple and have “couch” time each day as a couple.”
An old man got on a bus one February 14th, carrying a dozen roses. He sat beside a young man. The young man looked at the roses and said, “Somebody’s going to get a beautiful Valentine’s Day gift.” “Yes,” said the old man. A few minutes went by and the old man noticed his young companion was staring at the roses. “Do you have a girlfriend?” the old man asked. “I do,” said the young man. “I’m going to see her right now, and I’m going to give her this Valentine’s Day card.” They rode in silence for another 10 minutes, and then the old man got up to get off the bus. As he stepped out into the aisle, he suddenly placed the roses on the young man’s lap and said, “I think my wife would want you to have these. I’ll tell her that I gave them to you.” He left the bus quickly before the young man might object. As the bus pulled away, the young man watched as the old man walked into a cemetery.
It’s true that “dead noses smell no roses.” Be sure to tell your family members “I love you” every single day. Are you ready for the final one? You all remember the TV Show Family Feud? Well then, survey says: Jesus Christ is the glue of the family.
Every response we got mentioned several things relating to this key habit. Granted, since the survey was done with church going families, it might have stacked the deck a bit, but I do know that families who worship together, stay together. They pray together, they have family devotions together, they grow spiritually together, and in that growth they grow closer to each other. Jesus is not just a welcome guest in the home; He is the Lord of the home. I could have used a word other than “glue.” I could have said Jesus is the center of the family, or the heart of the home, or the foundation of the family, but I like the word glue. Here are a few more of their comments:
• “We pray together. Before anyone leaves for work/school each morning, we hold hands and pray and we pray together each night.”
• “Our Christianity is not tucked into Sunday but lived every day.”
• “Church attendance on Sunday morning is NOT an option. We had our babies in Sunday School from the time the pediatrician gave the okay. We only miss if out of town or too sick to get out of bed.”
Take a moment and think about habits again. You can have all of the first few, but if Jesus is not Lord of your life and Lord of your home, then the few years you enjoy as a family on earth will be the extent of your family time together. On the other hand, you may be lacking in a few of the other nine, but if Jesus is the Lord of your home, then your family can thrive and be effective forever!
CONCLUSION
I got the idea for the title of this message from the book Stephen Covey wrote twelve years ago entitled Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In the book he tells the story of the golden goose. There was once a farmer who bought a golden goose. A week later the golden goose laid a golden egg, and the farmer was ecstatic! He cashed the golden egg in and had a wild time. The following week he found the golden goose laid another golden egg! Again he cashed it in and spent the money. This happened week after week until one week the farmer just couldn’t wait till the end of the week to get the golden egg so he killed his golden goose and took the golden egg out of it. He had another wild time with the money. But the next week he realized there was no golden egg, for he killed his golden goose. The moral of the story is to never kill your golden goose. Your family is like your golden goose: it is the most valuable earthly treasure you’ll ever have. The only thing that can add more value to your family is when Jesus is the Lord of your home. I challenge moms and dads today to make a fresh commitment to Christ. I challenge families to follow the example of Joshua and say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!” Let’s pray.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Bulletin for Sunday, November 22, 2009
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Christ the King Sunday
The Prelude Silently prepare your hearts for worship
*The Call to Worship “Give Thanks”
*Opening Prayer
*Gloria Patri #559 red
God’s Spoken Word Ephesians 6:1-4, 10-13
God Answers Prayer
Silent Meditation
The Lord’s Prayer (using ‘debts’ and ‘debtors’)
The Dedication of Justice Graceson Meirose
Welcome and Announcements
The Right Hand of Christian Fellowship
*Hymn #546 red “We Gather Together”
Ministry In Music Choir
Children’s Message
Morning Message Joshua 24:15
“Habits of Highly Successful Families”
The Offering
*Doxology #554 red
*Hymn #36 red “For the Beauty of the Earth”
Benediction
The Postlude
* Denotes when the congregation stands
(Those who are able, please stand.)
Welcome to First Congregational Church!
It is only right that we should express our unlimited gratitude to God on this Sunday before Thanksgiving.
We rejoice in your presence. Let us joyfully praise God through, prayer, song and reflection on the Word.
If you are a visitor, please fill out a card from the pew pocket
and place it in the collection plate when passed.
Leaders in the Service:
Pastor Rev. Chris Meirose
Organist Kristin Ziemke
Greeters Inez & Carl Sonnenberg
Ushers Monte Dufault & Chad Schumacher
Nursery Attendant Amber Johnson
Lay Reader Stephanie LaDue
Multi-Media Keith Johnson
Acolyte Allison Dufault
Council Duty (November) Judy Mokoff
Worship Assistants Next Week (November 29)
Greeters Volunteer(s) needed!
Ushers Shawn & Cole Pomeroy
Nursery Attendant Cindy Johnson
Lay Reader Shawn Pomeroy
Multi-Media Matt Connor
Acolyte
This Week at First Congregational Church:
Today Sunday School
8:45 a.m.
Worship
10 a.m.
Talent Show
4 p.m.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Following talent show
Wednesday Community Choir rehearsal
6:15 p.m.
Community Thanksgiving Service
at Christian Assembly
7 p.m.
Thursday Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday Christmas decorating
9 a.m.
Sunday Worship
10 a.m.
Fellowship Hour
Following worship
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sermon - Matthew 5:14-16 - Sharing the Light
If you read via RSS you may have to click through for audio/video content.
The sermon written below is VERY different from the one preached on Sunday. That happens sometimes. But if you want to read it, it is still good stuff. Pastor Chris preached on only the first two points written below, and then went in a different direction.
Sermon – Matthew 5:14-16 – Sharing the Light
Lay Reading - PS 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
PS 118:25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
PS 118:26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.
PS 118:27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.
PS 118:28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
PS 118:29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Read Matthew 5:14-16
Would anyone care to guess what the best gift you can give a pastor is? I think there might be more than one answer to that question, but if you are asking me – my answer would be simple – bring someone to church with you next week. That’s it. Just that simple. There are a lot of things I’d love to have in this world, but nothing would make me happier than to have you invite a friend, a family member, a co-worker – someone, anyone – to come to church with you. This is an especially good time of the year for it too. Even though I know it doesn’t feel like it, Christmas is just around the corner, and it is probably the easiest time of the year to invite someone come to church with you.
A few years ago, Don Posterski wrote a little book called “Why am I afraid to tell you I’m a Christian?” And that is the question I’d like you to ponder now: “Why are we afraid to tell people about our faith?” Talk about this with the person beside you?
What did you come up with?
There are some professions in our society that have negative reputations, when we hear about a used car salesman, or politicians, or insurance sales people or lawyers, we often have a picture that comes to our mind.
What comes to your mind when you hear the word evangelist, or evangelism?
Images of Evangelists – negative: Obnoxious, pushy, money-grabing, insensitive, self centred, big hair, bad suits…
- positive: Extroverted, Billy Graham, committed, bold, outgoing, articulate, concerned for the salvation of others…
Our negative images of Evangelism can be a big obstacle. But here’s the deal, we do not have to become pushy or obnoxious for the sake of the Gospel! Our positive images can be a less obvious obstacle, but an obstacle all the same. We might say “I could never be Billy Graham” – well, not likely. But there are probably many people in our circle of influence who wouldn’t relate well to Billy Graham, but they do relate to us! The point is that, in order to be effective in reaching people for Jesus, we do not have to become something odd that we do not want to be. Nor do we have to become something great that we may never be.
Rather, we can be ourselves. God knew what He was doing when He made you and me. He gave you the personality he wanted you to have, and he wants to use it to spiritually impact those around you. Not everyone is gifted to be an evangelist. Honestly, my spiritual strengths are pretty low in the evangelism category. But while we might not all be evangelists, we are called to evangelism, we are all called to let our light shine. And I know that the word evangelism carries some baggage with it, so I want to dig deeper into that today. How can us non-evangelists practice evangelism? The Bible insists that it is a part of our Christian faith. Christ was very clear that we are to make disciples – that we, not somebody else, but we are to make disciples. So if we are called to evangelism, what is that evangelism supposed to look like?
Let me introduce or re-introduce you to relational evangelism. The first key to relational evangelism is that we need to be authentic in our faith. We don’t have to have all the answers, or live a perfect life. Effective evangelism flows out of a genuine, living relationship with Christ where His love for the lost people passes through us to others. You may have heard it said that “You are the only Bible that some people will read.” This is why our lives must reflect our message, if we are people who don’t reflect the fruit of the Spirit to some extent - Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” – Galatians 5:22-23 - then our light is pretty dim. The reality of our faith is demonstrated by a life that has been noticeably marked by God’s love and leadership. So how does your faith look? If someone is reading you as their Bible, what do they see? Parents, this is especially big in the development of your children’s faith.
Jesus said that as we “abide in Him” we will “bear much fruit” (John 15:5). Joe Aldrich said in his book, Lifestyle Evangelism, that “Christians are to be good news before they share the good news”. St Francis of Assisi supposedly said “Always preach the Gospel, and when necessary, use words.”
The verses that we began with says Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. As we are about to enter into the Christmas season, I challenge all of you to think this over. Find ways to be extra gracious. Extra generous. Extra kind. Loving. Unexpected grace is deeply moving and incredibly powerful. Walmart check out story.
The second step in relational evangelism is to be natural. Instead of trying to be something we are not, relational evangelism reflects our own personality and design. It fits who we are! This puts others at ease and gives them the assurance that what we have is real and worth looking into.
If we have a personality change or a change in vocabulary as soon as we begin to talk about spiritual matters with someone, it’s hard for them to believe that what we have to say is for real. God uses the personality and the gifts that he has given each of us to draw people to him. Peter was a confrontational guy, and so his evangelism was confrontational. Paul was an intellectual guy, and so his evangelism was intellectual. The blind man in John 9, on the other hand was not a great theologian, so he just told others what Jesus did for him.
Matthew liked to throw parties, so when he wanted his friends to meet Jesus, he threw a party.
Andrew wasn’t the most verbal person, but when he meets Jesus, he runs to his brother Simon and says, “You’ve got to see this guy!” Some of us may not be the most articulate, but we are really good at inviting others along. Tabitha in Acts 9 had a servant style of evangelism, so much so that when she died, all the widows were crying out and showing Peter the clothes she has made for them. God uses all these people in different ways to draw people to him according to their personality and gifts. Some people are evangelists and have special gifts, but all of us can participate in evangelism with what God has given us. All of us can let our lights shine.
The third thing we need to do in relational evangelism is to make it personal. When it comes to reaching people who need Christ, there are two possible approaches: personal or impersonal. People today seem to be growing immune to many of the less personal methods of communication such as tracts, religious radio and television, billboards, and bumper stickers. People are, however, open to talking with a personal friend.
You may have seen it before – a person does a heap of research on what TV will suit their needs the best. They decide that they should buy a Sony – it has good picture and sound, and has a low price, so he goes and tells his neighbor his plan to by a Sony TV and the neighbor says “Oh no, my brother-in-law had one of those and it was terrible! And so what does he do – he doesn’t buy the Sony and gets another brand.
What do we do when we need advice on an important decision or need help with a problem we are going through? Where do we turn? Generally we talk to someone we know and trust. If that is true of us, it is certainly true of the people we know outside of church. They do not want to talk about personal matters, especially spiritual issues, with just anyone; they want to confide in a friend, someone they are close to.
How did you come to faith? Through impersonal means, or through a significant relationship? Ask for a show of hands.
Jesus didn’t fly over Jerusalem with Angels dropping gospel tracts did he?! No, he came and dwelt among us, eating and drinking with sinners. He even was the disciples’ friend before he was their savior. Jesus knew how to get personal. He sat down and talked with people and met them where they were in life.
The fourth thing to understand about relational evangelism is that it is process-oriented.
To be effective, we must not rush or push a person. It takes time to understand the message, believe it, and act on it. Seldom do people hear the message for the first time and commit their lives to Christ. We must patiently bring people along, step by step.
When our friends make a commitment to Jesus, we want them to stay with Him. We do not want them to be like the stony ground in the parable where the seed sprouted up quick but then was wilted by the sun. Jesus says that no one builds a tower without counting the cost. Otherwise you will get the foundation laid and not be able to afford the top. We need to allow our friends to count the cost as well as the blessings of a relationship with Jesus.
Another thing about relational evangelism is that it is team-oriented. God rarely uses just one person to bring someone through the entire process of coming to faith in Him. More often He orchestrates a number of people, places, and events to lovingly move a person toward Christ. There are two implications to this.
First, we do not have to feel that we individually carry the full burden of leading family and friends all the way to the point of trusting Christ. Rather than thinking of yourself as a rope, as a life line spiritually to someone else, we should see ourselves as a link in a chain. We make up part of what it takes for that person to come to and grow in faith. We play our part in contributing to the whole, rather than having it all rest on our shoulders. That doesn’t mean we can ignore our responsibility to participate though. Every link in a chain is as important as the one next to it. They all play a role. It is encouraging to know we can be a link or two in the chain that God himself is forging. And it is exciting that all the “links” from the first to last can celebrate together along with the angels in heaven (Luke 15:7,10) when a person finally crosses the line of faith.
The second implication is that it is strategic to intentionally partner with other Christians to “link up” our strengths and abilities in order to lead people to Christ
I’d like to be one of those links for your friends. Being a pastor, it is sometimes difficult for me to have a lot of contact with non-Christians, but I do try to make sure that it happens in my life. So if you have a friend who has some questions about faith, or issues that you are having troubles with, tell them you have a friend at church who loves to think about these things, and ask them if they’d like to have lunch with you and your friend.
Relational evangelism must be fueled by love. It is not about putting a notch in our Bibles. We want to lead our friends to Jesus because we want them to live their lives knowing God’s great love for them and knowing the power of the Spirit in their lives!
2 Corinthians 5:14-15: “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”
God calls us all to share our faith, to be a light into a dark world. We are the main means that God has chosen to spread his message of forgiveness and love to all people, of every nation, every neighborhood, and every street. And he will use us most powerfully in the relationships that we have.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Bulletin - Sunday, November 15, 2009
First Congregational Church of Waseca, MN
24th Sunday after Pentecost
* Denotes when the congregation stands
(Those who are able, please stand.)
The Prelude Silently prepare your hearts for worship
The Call to Worship “Be Unto Your Name”
*Opening Prayer
*Gloria Patri #559 red
God’s Spoken Word Psalm 118:24-29
Dedication of Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child
Silent Meditation / Pastoral Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (using ‘debts’ and ‘debtors’)
Welcome and Announcements
The Right Hand of Christian Fellowship
*Hymn #219 red “He Hideth My Soul”
Sunday School children sing
Children’s Message
Morning Message “Sharing the Light”
Matthew 5:14-16
The Offering
*Doxology #554 red
*Hymn #228 red “In My Heart There Rings a Melody”
Benediction
The Postlude
Welcome to First Congregational Church!
It is with enthusiasm that we welcome each worshiper. May God’s love be very real to us as we humbly approach his throne of grace.
If you are a visitor, please fill out a card from the pew pocket and place it in the collection plate when passed.
Leaders in the Service:
Pastor Rev. Chris Meirose
Organist Peggy Bartelt
Greeters Kathy Connor & Lillian Somers
Ushers Matt Connor & Doug Leet
Nursery Attendant Inez Sonnenberg
Lay Reader Doug Leet
Multi-Media Tim Schroeder
Acolyte Adam Schumacher
Council Duty (November) Judy Mokoff
Worship Assistants Next Week (November 22)
Greeters Inez & Carl Sonnenberg
Ushers Monte Dufault & Chad Schumacher
Nursery Attendant Amber Johnson
Lay Reader Stephanie LaDue
Multi-Media Keith Johnson
Acolyte Allison Dufault
This coming week at First Congregational Church:
Church Council following worship.
Wednesday
Youth Chat (4th-5th) 3:15 p.m.
Youth Chat (6th-8th) 4:30 p.m.
Youth Chat (high school) 6 p.m.
Praise Team Rehearsal 6:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal 7 p.m.
Sunday Sunday School 8:45 a.m.
Worship 10 a.m.
Talent Show 4 p.m.
Thanksgiving Dinner following talent show
