OUR WEEK - DECEMBER 11 TO DECEMBER 17

REMINDERS —
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7TH —TODAY IS PEARL HARBOR DAY.
WE REMEMBER 3,000 LIVES LOST WHEN
PEARL HARBOR WAS ATTACKED IN 1941— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
CHRISTMAS PARTY AT ADAIR U.M.C.
HOSTED BY ADAIR U.M.W. AT NOON— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
• ADVENT BIBLE STUDY —“What I Want for Christmas.”
In Casey U.M.C., - at 2 PM.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8TH —
• ADVENT BIBLE STUDY —
“What I Want for Christmas.”
In Adair U.M.C., - at 7 PM.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10TH —
— CHRISTMAS MALL —Casey U.M.C. — East Wing, Social Room
• • • • • 9 A.M. TO 1 P.M. • • • • •
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11TH
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT COLOR: PURPLE OR BLUE

SCRIPTURE READINGS:
ISAIAH 61:1-4, 8-11
(The Message)
Different scholars propose two different time
frames for this week's reading from Isaiah.
Some believe the prophet was announcing
good news of deliverance to the Judean
people in exile in Babylon. Others argue the
message was instead for those same people
to cheer them up after they had returned home
and found just how destroyed it had been.
The Spirit of the Lord anoints a prophet to bring
good news to the oppressed, the brokenhearted,
the captives, the prisoners, and the mourning - -
good news that includes "the day of vengeance
of our God" that will destroy the social order that
keeps them in their oppressed state. When the
current order is destroyed, rebuilding of God's
"ancient ruins" will begin.
ISAIAH 61:1-4
1 The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because
God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news
to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce
freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners.2 God sent me to announce the year of his grace -
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies -
and to comfort all who mourn,
3 To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give
them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages
of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart
instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of
Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory.
4 They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of
the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities,
take the rubble left behind and make it new.ISAIAH 61:8-11
8 "Because I, God, love fair dealing and hate
thievery and crime, I'll pay your wages on time
and in full, and establish my eternal covenant
with you.
9 Your descendants will become well-known
all over. Your children in foreign countries Will
be recognized at once as the people I have
blessed."
10 I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise
from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a
suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of
righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on
a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara.
11 For as the earth bursts with spring wild
flowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms,
So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full
bloom and puts praise on display before the nations.
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PSALM 126 (UMH 847) (The Message)
A Psalm of Ascent, one of the Psalms sung by
pilgrims as they made their way to the temple
after it was rebuilt after the return from exile, as
prophesied by Isaiah. 1 It seemed like a dream, too good to be true, when
God returned Zion's exiles.
2 We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our
good fortune. We were the talk of the nations -
"God was wonderful to them!"
3 God was wonderful to us; we are one happy people.
4 And now, God, do it again - bring rains to our
drought-stricken lives
5 So those who planted their crops in despair will
shout hurrahs at the harvest,
6 So those who went off with heavy hearts will come
home laughing, with armloads of blessing.
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1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-24
(The Message)
Concluding his letter, Paul offers specific
practices commended for living now as those
who rejoice in God's salvation in full view of the
end to come. Those practices include regular
rejoicing, constant prayer, persistent thanksgiving,
openness to the Spirit's voice through prophets
and the life of the community, and discernment
about what is good, keeping the good, discarding
the rest.
16 Be cheerful no matter what;
17 pray all the time;
18 thank God no matter what happens. This is the way
God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
19 Don't suppress the Spirit,
20 and don't stifle those who have a word from the
Master.
21 On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out
everything, and keep only what's good.
22 Throw out anything tainted with evil.
23 May God himself, the God who makes
everything holy and whole, make you holy and
whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body -
and keep you fit for the coming of our Master,
Jesus Christ.
24 The One who called you is completely
dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!
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JOHN 1:6-8, 19-28
(The Message)
The witness of John the Baptizer concerning his
own identity. "I am not worthy to untie the thong
of his sandals." He was clear he was "not the
light," but equally clear that his life was all about
testifying to the light to come and announcing
his arrival.
JOHN 1:6-8
6 There once was a man, his name John, sent by
God
7 to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to
show everyone where to look, who to believe in.8 John was not himself the Light; he was there to
show the way to the Light.
JOHN 1:19-28
19 When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of
priests and officials to ask John who he was, he
was completely honest.
20 He didn't evade the question. He told the plain
truth: "I am not the Messiah."21 They pressed him, "Who, then? Elijah?" "I am
not." "The Prophet?" "No."
22 Exasperated, they said, "Who, then? We need
an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something -
anything! - about yourself."
23 "I'm thunder in the desert: 'Make the road straight
for God!' I'm doing what the prophet Isaiah preached."
24 Those sent to question him were from the
Pharisee party.
25 Now they had a question of their own: "If you're
neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why
do you baptize?"
26 John answered, "I only baptize using water. A
person you don't recognize has taken his stand in
your midst.
27 He comes after me, but he is not in second place
to me. I'm not even worthy to hold his coat for him."
28 These conversations took place in Bethany on the
other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing at
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 12TH —
This is Pastor Bob's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today.
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14TH —
Prayer Breakfast at Happy Chef - 7 A.M.
• • • ADVENT BIBLE STUDY • • •
“What I Want for Christmas.”
In Casey U.M.C., - at 2 PM.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15TH —
• • • ADVENT BIBLE STUDY • • •
“What I Want for Christmas.”
In Adair U.M.C., - at 7 PM.
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FUTURE FOCUS ——
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24TH —
• 5 P.M. Christmas Eve Service in ADAIR U.M.C.
• 9 P.M. Christmas Eve Service in CASEY U.M.C.
We will have Holy Communion at both services.
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May you have peace this Christmas season.
That may sound like a very small gift, but think of all
the places on this earth where people would give
almost anything to enjoy some peace. Pray for
those who are hungry, for those who are frightened,
those who are captive, and oppressed.
Many of us can hardly envision such affliction, but it
is real, though perhaps not in central Iowa.
It is a very big world, and pray for all who need peace.

God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Bob