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Record of Faithfulness |
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Giving:
General Fund: $2492.20
Attendance:
Combined Service for Childrens Program: 210
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Upcoming Events |
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December 18
New Life Christian Academy Production 6:30PM
December 24
6PM Candle Light Service
Women's Bible Study
9 AM Monday -- Youth Center
Every 3rd Saturday Youth Trash Pick-up Meet at Church 10:45 AM |
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Members in Ministry
December 21 |
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Traditional Greeters: TBD
Contomporary Greeters: TBD
Nursery:
Traditional: Greta Ayers
Sunday School: Greta Ayers
Contemporary: Regina Filmore
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Birthday's and Anniversaries |
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December 18
Paula Wright Birthday
December 23
Noah Elkins Birthday
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January Meetings |
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January Meetings |
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Monday, Jan.5
6 p.m. Age-Level Ministries
7 p.m. Worship Committee
Tuesday, Jan. 6
6 p.m. PPR Committee
7 p.m. Trustees
Saturday, Jan 10
9 a.m. Leadership Training
Monday, Jan. 12
7 p.m. NCD Church
Health Team
Training
Tuesday, Jan. 20
7 p.m. Finance Committee
Wednesday, Jan. 21
5:30 p.m. Youth Council
Saturday, Jan. 24
8:30 a.m. Every Member in
Ministry Training -
Guntersville 1st
Sunday, Jan. 25
5 p.m. Parent/Student
Confirmation
Orientation
Monday, Jan. 26
6 p.m. Confirmation
Mentor Training
Tuesday, Jan27
6 p.m. Stewardship
Committee
7 p.m. Church Council
Thursday, Jan. 29
5:30 p.m. NLCA Board of
Directors | |
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New Life Line
December 17, 2009 |
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Greetings!
On this fourth and final Sunday of Advent, we will light a candle and remember Mary's words, "Let it be with me according to your will." Our scripture lesson is actually the Old Testament lesson from the third Sunday of Advent: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11. Let's read the entire chapter:
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; 6 but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. 7 Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. 8 For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
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This chapter begins with familiar words. These are the words that Jesus chooses to read for his first sermon in Capernaum. I often think of them as Jesus' mission statement. The words as reported in Luke 4: 18-19 are slightly different and he stops short of declaring the day of God's vengeance:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
o During Advent we remember not only that Jesus came to earth but why Jesus came. What does this mission statement tell us about the reason Jesus came?
o What does it indicate Jesus came to save us from?
o Why do you think Jesus stopped his reading before proclaiming the day of vengeance?
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Scholars point out that this passage not only applies to a person-the anointed one (the Hebrew for anointed is mashach from which we get the word Messiah) as well as to the community of the anointed one. As Christians, we recognize Jesus' mission in this passage which means that as Christ's body here on earth, this is our mission too.
o In what ways do you see Jesus in this passage?
o In what ways do you see yourself in this passage? In what ways do you identify with his call, in your life today?
o In what ways do you see our congregation in this passage?In what ways do we live this call out in our ministry? In what ways do we fall short?
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According to the prophet, God's glory is revealed to the world as they look at the community of faith. People of the covenant should display God's splendor and are called to proclaim (preach!) the good news (evangel or evangelism!). Given the message of this passage, how can we keep Christ in Christmas for the world?
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Finally, who are the oppressed, brokenhearted, captives, prisoners, and those who mourn in our community? How do we proclaim the good news of Christ's birth to them?
Christmas is approaching fast! Is your heart prepared to welcome Christ?
See you Sunday!
Pastor Sherill |
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2009 CONFIRMATION CLASS
Each year, an opportunity is given for our young people to spend some time studying what it means to be a follower of Christ and a member of Christ's body, the Church. At the end of this special time of studying, questioning, and exploring, youth are given the opportunity to make a profession or reaffirmation of their faith. Classes will begin in early February and those in the Confirmation Class who choose to affirm their faith will be received into membership of the Church on Pentecost Sunday, May 31st. If you would like your youth (ages 10 and up) to be involved in this class, please let me know so I can begin planning. If you have questions about confirmation and what it means, please feel free to e-mail me and you can also learn more here.
Please begin to keep our 2009 Confirmation Class in your prayers.
Pastor Sherill
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Christmas Stars are on the Christmas Trees at both banks here in Grant.
Each Christmas Star has a wish list attached to it for a child in need tis Christmas. For some of these children, this is mostly all they will recieve for Christmas this year. The average spendature is between $50.00 and $100.00 per child. Leave gifts un-wrapped and place them in a large bag with their star attached to it. These bags should be returned to the Bank no later than this Friday, December 19. |
PRIME TIMERS BAKE SALE
December 21st at 7AM
Mark your calendars!!!
Biscuit, Sausage, Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Home baked goods for your Christmas Meal!!
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Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
Dec. 24th at 6 p.m. |
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The United Methodist men's breakfast will be this Sunday December, 21 at 7:00AM, or at 6:00AM if you want to help prepare breakfast!!
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Youth Trash Pickup this Saturday December 20th.
Meet at Church at 10:45AM. If you need a ride, call Sharna 653-0198. Cancel if it is raining.
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WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES
Here is the schedule for Wednesday Night Bible Studies through the end of January:
Dec. 17 Regular Activities
Dec. 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion
Service 6 p.m.
Dec. 31 No activities
Jan. 7 No activities
Jan. 14 Youth Puppet Show
Jan. 21 Children & Youth Bible studies (no adult)
Jan. 28 Regular Activities
(Adult Bible Study resumes) | |
Weekly Prayer
Gracious God, as the roots of a tree spread out in darkest soil, let me spread out into the darkness of my own life to see what is nourishing me there. Help me trust your presence as I dig deep into the darkness of my self to find both the clods of unhealthiness that need to be broken up, and the gems of goodness that need to be praised. Remind me that there is nothing to fear when I face myself squarely, for always in the mystery of my own being, the tracks of your love are visible. Amen. |
Church Office Hours
9 AM - 1 PM Monday Through Friday
728-2093
Church Staff
Pastor:
Sherill Clontz (256) 508-3760 (cell)
Secretary:
Katie Buffington 728-3570
Contemporary Worship Leader:
Milanda Taylor 728-3099
Contemporary Music Director:
Jim Holcomb 587-0217
Children's Ministry Director:
Greta Ayers 728-2347
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