OUR JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS
In a little more than one week, we will come to Christmas Day. During these Sundays of Advent we have focused on "Timeless Truths in a Transient Today- A Journey to Christmas."  How has your journey gone?
We have talked about those persons who made the visit to that first Christmas when Christ was born.                                                                                                                               
We heard MARY'S  story and realized that, even as a teenager, she responded to  God's message from the angel Gabriel saying, "Greetings, favored one, the Lord is with you. You will conceive and bear a child and you shall name  him Jesus." (Luke 1:26-31) Mary was faithful to answer the call from God.
 
We listened as JOSEPH told his own story. He considered separating himself from Mary after he discovered that she would bear a child, not his own. God's Holy Spirit spoke to Joseph saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:18-22) Joseph was faithful to answer God's call.
 
An  ANGEL carried the Good News that a Savior was born to simple SHEPHERDS who watched their flocks by night. The shepherds were filled with fear when the angel appeared to them. But the angel said "Do not be afraid, for I bring you Good Tidings of great joy, which shall be to ALL THE PEOPLE, for to you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 8-11) The angel was faithful to carry God's message.
 
The SHEPHERDS who heard the message responded by saying, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing which has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us. When they saw this......the SHEPHERDS returned glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, as it had been told them." (Luke 2:15-20) The Shepherds were faithful to make their journey to the manger also.
 
Why were all these persons journeying to Christmas? Because of God's call upon their lives to hear, see, and share the Good News of God's love, in the birth of His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. This is the same reason we make our journey to Christmas this year.
"We would see Jesus!" There is no better reason for the Christmas journey than that.
 
I invite you to complete the JOURNEY in the days just ahead, by being present for the following opportunities to see Jesus:
DECEMBER 20 - Morning Worship: 8:45 and 11:15 AM in the Sanctuary and 11:15 AM in the Fellowship Hall for the Anchor Worship Service, as we hear "The Shepherds' Story."
DECEMBER 20 - 5:00 PM  CHILDREN'S NATIVITY PAGEANT in the Fellowship Hall. Holy Communion will be served.
DECEMBER 24 - 4:00PM & 8:00PM Traditional; 6:00PM Non-Traditional "CAROLS, COMMUNION, AND CANDLELIGHT" in the Sanctuary on Christmas Eve.
WE CELEBRATE THE CHRIST BORN AT CHRISTMASTIME! THE PASTORS, YOUR CHURCH STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES, WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!                                                                                
                                                                                                Dick Reese