OUR WEEK — DEC. 13TH - DEC. 19TH

REMINDERS —
WE ARE HAVING A BLIZZARD at the moment.
This promises to continue through the night in to
Wednesday. CANCELLATIONS ARE ANTICIPATED.
Call ahead before leaving home.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9TH
PRAYER BREAKFAST AT HAPPY CHEF - 7 A.M.
EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
We will take a free will offering for
THE MINISTERIAL EMERGENCY FUND.
There is a short meditation and prayer, and then we
share breakfast together.
Each will pay for his own meal.
This is our chance to meet together as Christian
brothers and sisters of all our local churches.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1OTH —
T.T.T. #2 MEETS AT 9:30 A.M.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12TH —ANGEL FOOD DISTRIBUTION WILL BE
FROM 11 A.M. - NOON AT CASEY U.M.C.
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CHRISTMAS MALL will be held at the
Casey Community Building
ALL DAY SATURDAY, opening at 9 A.M. . .
THIS IS DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDREN.
Cost of gifts will be around $.50 - $1.00 - $2.00.The kids can come and shop for presents for their
own family members.
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13TH —
The pressure of extra services, parties, pageants,
and shopping, make it all too easy for us to lose sight
of why we prepare for and celebrate Jesus' birth.
We give thanks for church pastors, musicians,
teachers, organizers, cleaners, cooks, decorators,
generals, and mostly, the foot soldiers who insure
that the mobilization plans do achieve our
desired goal . . . . .

• Advent marks the beginning of the church year.
It begins with the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day
and ends Christmas Eve. If Christmas Day falls on a
Sunday, Advent will last four full weeks. If Christmas
Day falls on any other day of the week, Advent will
last less than four weeks.
The Third Sunday of Advent is "Joy Sunday".Color: Purple or Blue - The United Methodist Book
of Worship upholds the traditional color of purple
for Advent, signifying penitence and royalty;
but it also allows blue, the color of hope.
Look for our Mitten Tree in Casey U.M.C.Providing mittens and hats for little ones —
It is so simple, it is easy to overlook.
Children must have mittens. Bring your donation
of new hats, gloves and mittens to put on the tree.
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Scripture Readings are:
ZEPHANIAH 3:14-20
(New International Version) NIV
The author does establish his Hebrew lineage.
“Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah,
son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, king of Judah.”
"Cushi", Zephaniah’s father, means ‘Ethiopian’.
Genealogy was considered extremely important
because of God's covenant with Abraham and his
descendants.
PROMISES OF FUTURE FAVOR AND PROSPERITY
After the promises of taking away sin, follow
promises of taking away trouble. What makes a
people holy, will make them happy. The precious
promises made to the purified people, were to have
full accomplishment in the gospel.
THE FUTURE OF JERUSALEM
14 Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel!Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The LORD, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day they will say to Jerusalem,
"Do not fear, O Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."
18 "The sorrows for the appointed feasts
I will remove from you;
they are a burden and a reproach to you.
19 At that time I will deal
with all who oppressed you;
I will rescue the lame
and gather those who have been scattered.
I will give them praise and honor
in every land where they were put to shame.
20 At that time I will gather you;
at that time I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all the peoples of the earth
when I restore your fortunes
before your very eyes,"
says the LORD.
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ISAIAH 12:2-6
(Contemporary English Version) CEV
The song of praise in this chapter is suitable for
the return of the outcasts of Israel from their long
captivity, but it is especially suitable to the case
of a sinner, when he first finds peace and joy in
believing.
2 I trust you to save me,
LORD God,
and I won't be afraid.
My power and my strength come from you,
and you have saved me."

3 With great joy, you people
will get water
from the well of victory.

4 At that time you will say,
"Our LORD, we are thankful,
and we worship only you.
We will tell the nations
how glorious you are
and what you have done.

5 Because of your wonderful deeds
we will sing your praises
everywhere on earth."

6 Sing, people of Zion!
Celebrate the greatness
of the holy LORD of Israel.
God is here to help you.
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PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
(New International Version) NIV
After calling for Syzygos, to intervene, to work
at reconciling a conflict, Paul reminds the
congregation that in and through all challenges
they may face as a community, from within or
without, they can and should rejoice in Christ.
These verses give direction to all in general.
Let believers be of one mind, and ready to help
each other. As the apostle had found the benefit
of their assistance, he knew how comfortable
it would be to his fellow-laborers to have the help
of others. Let us seek to give assurance that our
names are written in the book of life. Joy in God
is of great consequence in the Christian life; and
Christians need to be again and again called to it.

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds
in Christ Jesus.
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LUKE 3:7-18
(Contemporary English Version) CEV
JOHN THE BAPTIST'S MINISTRY.
The design of John's ministry was, to bring the
people from their sins, and to their Saviour.
He came preaching, not in a sect, or a party, but
as a profession; the ceremony was washing with
water. John preached the necessity of repentance,
in order to the remission of sins, and that the
baptism of water. John the Baptist says
"One more powerful is coming!"

7 Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but
John said to them, "You bunch of snakes!Who warned you to run from the coming judgment?
8 Do something to show that you really have given
up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to
Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into
children for Abraham.
9 An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots.
Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be
cut down and thrown into a fire."
10 The crowds asked John, "What should we do?"
11 John told them, "If you have two coats, give one
to someone who doesn't have any.
If you have food, share it with someone else."
12 When tax collectors came to be baptized, they
asked John, "Teacher, what should we do?"
13 John told them, "Don't make people pay more
than they owe."
14 Some soldiers asked him, "And what about us?
What do we have to do?"
John told them, "Don't force people to pay money
to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with
your pay."
15 Everyone became excited and wondered,
"Could John be the Messiah?"
16 John said, "I am just baptizing with water. But
someone more powerful is going to come,
and I am not good enough even to untie his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
and with fire.
17 His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready
to separate the wheat from the husks.
He will store the wheat in his barn and burn the
husks with a fire that never goes out."
18 In many different ways John preached the
good news to the people.BIBLE SCHOOL PROGRAM THIS EVENING —
6:30 P.M. AT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
This is for all the children of Good Shepherd Church,
Methodist Church and Presbyterian Church.
Don't forget — 6:30 P.M.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 14TH —
The Office is Closed Today.
Gospel of John Bible Study at 6:30 - Casey U.M.C.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16TH —
ESTHER CIRCLE will meet with Ginger Spangler
at 7 P.M.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17TH —
T.T.T. #2 AT 9:30 A.M.
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FUTURE FOCUS —
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 24TH —Christmas Eve Services -
5:00 P.M. in Adair and 9:00 P.M. in Casey.
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STAY INSIDE WHERE IT IS WARM!
Don't take chances out on the roads, unless you
absolutely must. The weather will quiet down, the sun
will come back, and shine like diamonds — and
then you can take on the world again.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Lynn