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Watch the full service on our YouTube channel by clicking here.
2 Peter 3:14-15 New International Version
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.
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Advent Two
John Cleese (yes, the British comedian of Faulty Towers fame) has a great interest in near-death experiences.
He says he finds that people who dismiss them have not read the literature.
This goes for religious experiences in general.
A grieving father shared this with me:
Remember that fire we had over here last year. My little nine-year-old girl died in that blaze.
She was all I had.
I couldn’t eat or sleep. Couldn’t work. I grieved till I thought I would die.
One day I wandered back into the rubble of the place we had lived. I sat down in the midst of the rubble. The sorrow was heavy on me.
But then I felt a presence—a power—like a million volts of electricity. I felt it could blow up the world, but it was full of love.
The love surrounded me, and I heard a voice.
The voice from the power said, ‘Your little girl is safe and well. She is with me.’ And the power began to let me go. My heart was changed. I still hurt, but I do not hurt like I used to.
I know a thousand stories like that. They point to a personal God who cares about our pain.
But how many such stories do you know?
I was guest preacher in a church some years ago. I talked about religious experiences.
A woman said to me as she was leaving, “Pastor, I’ve been in church all my life. This is the first time I’ve ever heard that God does anything.”
A lot of people believe in a God who doesn’t do anything.
If that’s your God, you’ve been running from reality. It’s time to slow down and take notice.
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Christmas Show, Sat. Dec. 16, 6:00 p.m.
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Eastside Dinner
If you missed it last year—you don’t have to miss it again. Ronnie Sullivan’s family is cooking a big enchilada dinner for us as a fundraiser for Eastside Ministries.
This is a great event.
Unfortunately—I will NOT be there.
Still recovering from my intestinal virus.
I am still at the Jello stage.
Second Sunday of Advent
This Sunday.
Second of four Sundays.
And this is the way it falls every few years—Advent Four is on Christmas Eve.
Pomp and Circumstance Got Delayed
The additional pomp and circumstance of Advent begins THIS week.
My sermon Sunday: “Jesus Got It Right”
Keep this in mind: Both The Christmas Show on Saturday, Dec. 16th and the Christmas Eve Service on Sunday the 24th are at 6:00 p.m.
Service for Eloise
Friday—11:00 a.m.
Laurel Land on Crowley Rd.
And God bless—
MB
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Good morning, folks!
I have quite a bit to share today. Most important is to share with you how very grateful I am for all of you and how important you are to me.
Memorial for Eloise Rhodes: Viewing is Thursday Dec. 7 from 5p-7p; Funeral is Friday Dec. 8 at 11am. Laurel Land Funeral Home 7100 Crowley Road, 76134.
Ongoing fundraiser for Eastside Ministries due to the devastating fire they experienced that completely destroyed the food service building. If you would like to make a tax-deductible gift to this ministry, please make the donation to Eastside Community Assistance or Eastside Ministries (eastsidecommunityassistance.org). You may also bring your donations to the church, and we will deliver to the organization. Our next Christmas concert is December 16th at 6pm. Santa tells me that Bill and Cindy Wheeler will be feeding us pulled pork sandwiches with all the trimmings. If you would like to bring a dessert, please feel free. Finally, St. Matthew will be collecting lunch items for those folks living without adequate shelter. Items to be collected are:
- Packaged tuna or chicken salad (not canned)
- Individually packaged crackers
- Individually packaged candy bars, chewy granola bars, or cookies
- Fruit cups
- Gatorade or water bottle (can be reused/recycled)
We will assemble 30-35 lunches per week. The church purchased the items this week. The total to purchase all of these items was $161. If you prefer, you may give money to St. Matthew designated for this project. You may also bring the listed items, no more than 36 of each please. We will have to store these things until they can be packaged and distributed, and we do not have a large space for storage. Please let me know if you have any questions. We are looking for volunteers to help assemble lunches. Give your name to Bill Parker if you can help with this.
Blessings to all of you! Mary