DIGITAL CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE AND LORD’S SUPPER

For anyone who can not join us for our Christmas Eve service, we will be offering a digital service on our website. During the service, we will be partaking in the Lord’s Supper.  For your participation, the elements of the Lord’s supper are available at the church office. If you cannot come by the church, call the church office, and a deacon can deliver them to you.

LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® is an annual offering collected by believers around the world to support international missions. The offering was officially named in 1918 by Woman’s Missionary Union in honor of the missionary to China who urged churches to start it and give sacrificially.

This offering is unique from other mission offerings in that 100% of gifts provide for missionaries all over the world. It is a valuable part of Southern Baptists’ 175-year history of reaching the nations with the gospel and vital to reaching the vision of a multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ.

CHURCH GOAL: $5,000
RECEIVED SO FAR: $1,525

Giving as of December 16, 2020

Budget for 2020 . . . . . . . .  $326,787.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . .  $295,365.39
Received to Date . . . . . . . . $266,406.60
Needed for weekly budget . . . . . .  $6,284.37
Tithes Received this week . . . . . . . $7,854.61

MID-WEEK DEVOTION

Don’t forget to check out Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotion on the book of Psalms. They are uploaded each Wednesday on the sermon page.

From OUr Pastor

     Isn’t this a great time of the year?  I love it!  The decorating, gift giving and time with family are so much fun.

     As believers, we have even more reason to celebrate.  We know the real reason for Christmas.  For us, Christmas is not just a fun day on the calendar, but an event that changed our lives for eternity.  We know the birth of Christ is a watershed moment in history.

     Isaiah made this clear when he was inspired to write: For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace… 
(Isaiah 9:6-7a).

     Think about the Christ of Christmas.  He is God.  He is named “Wonderful” (a clear reference to His awesome nature), “Mighty God”, and “Eternal Father”.  All of those are clear references to Him as God.  As John was inspired to write in John 1:1, “The Word was with God, and the Word was God…”  The Christ of Christmas is God.  How could we not celebrate His coming?

     Yet, the Christ of Christmas is also man.  Verse six clearly refers to Him as a child.  God became man.  Our Lord’s most used reference of Himself was “Son of Man”.  The living, eternal God became man in every way by being born through Mary.  How could such an event not be celebrated?

     The Christ of Christmas is God who became man to be the Savior.  We see the hinting of this truth when Isaiah wrote that a “…Son will be given to us…”  Doesn’t that remind you of John 3:16?  God gave His Son to be the perfect, one-time sacrifice for our sins.  Through Him (the Prince Peace), we have peace with God.

     Last, the Christ of Christmas is the Sovereign King.  Verse 7a says, “There will be no end to the increase of His government…”  Our Lord will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords.”  In spite of this world’s rebellion, He will establish His kingdom.   In fact, the more this world rebels against Christ, the closer it is to being subjugated under His rule.  The Christ of Christmas is the Eternal King.  Such a One is worthy of our celebration.

     We Christians have more reason than anyone to celebrate Christmas.  Our Lord is God who became man to save us from our sins and to rule forever!  Hallelujah!  Merry Christmas!