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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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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 18TH —
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
COLOR: PURPLE OR BLUESCRIPTURE READINGS:
2 SAMUEL 7:1-11, 16
(The Message)
Nathan brings good news and a “reality check”
to David. The good news: God intends to
establish David's lineage permanently, though
conditionally. David, Israel's hero-king, had
spent his life and the nation's resources
defending and expanding the kingdom and its
capital, Jerusalem. There he had built a lavish
royal palace complex for himself and his heirs
in Jerusalem.
Having done all of this, he noticed that he hadinvested nothing on building projects for the
religion of his people. The chief place for
religious gatherings was still, literally, a tent.
So he began to lay out a plan to build a majestic
temple to honor the God of his people.
The reality: God has been present with God's
people by being in their midst as they have
traveled. There is no need for David to build a
temple.
• God did allow Solomon to build a temple; a
facility which ultimately became the largest
religious campus of buildings on the planet in
that or any time so far.
2 SAMUEL 7:1-11
1 Before long, the David made himself at home and
God gave him peace from all his enemies.
2 Then one day King David said to Nathan the
prophet, "Look at this: Here I am, comfortable in a
luxurious house of cedar, and the Chest of God sits
in a plain tent."
3 Nathan told the king, "Whatever is on your heart,
go and do it. God is with you."
4 But that night, the word of God came to Nathan
saying,
5 "Go and tell my servant David: This is God's word
on the matter: You're going to build a 'house' for me
to live in?
6 Why, I haven't lived in a 'house' from the time I
brought the children of Israel up from Egypt till now.
All that time I've moved about with nothing but a tent.
7 And in all my travels with Israel, did I ever say to
any of the leaders I commanded to shepherd Israel,
'Why haven't you built me a house of cedar?'
8 "So here is what you are to tell my servant David:
The God-of-the-Angel-Armies has this word for you:
I took you from the pasture, tagging along after
sheep, and made you prince over my people Israel.
9 I was with you everywhere you went and mowed
your enemies down before you. Now I'm making you
famous, to be ranked with the great names on earth.
10 And I'm going to set aside a place for my people
Israel and plant them there so they'll have their own
home and not be knocked around any more. Nor will
evil men afflict you as they always have,
11 even during the days I set judges over my people
Israel. Finally, I'm going to give you peace from
all your enemies.
2 SAMUEL 7:1616 Your family and your kingdom are permanently
secured. I'm keeping my eye on them! And your
royal throne will always be there, rock solid."
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LUKE 1:46-55 (UMH 199)
(The Message)
The Song of Mary. Listen to this song and hear
in it the signs that Mary is pregnant with the end
of this age and the hope for the coming one!
And the worship we offer is of the One who is
as Mary sang in her song at Elizabeth's house.
46 And Mary said, I'm bursting with God-news;
47 I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
48 God took one good look at me, and look whathappened - I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
49 the God whose very name is holy, set apart
from all others.
50 His mercy flows in wave after wave on those
who are in awe before him.
51 He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
52 He knocked tyrants off their high horses, pulled
victims out of the mud.
53 The starving poor sat down to a banquet; the
callous rich were left out in the cold.
54 He embraced his chosen child, Israel; he
remembered and piled on the mercies,
piled them high.
55 It's exactly what he promised, beginning with
Abraham and right up to now.
Quoting from the King James (since so manysettings of this song have used that version):
— MARY'S SONG — KING JAMES VERSION
• He hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden
• and his mercy is on them that fear him from
• generation to generation.
• He hath shown strength with his arm;
• he hath scattered the proud in the imagination
• of their hearts.
• He hath put down the mighty from their seat
• and hath exalted them of low degree.
• He hath filled the hungry with good things;
• And the rich he hath sent empty away.
(Luke 1:48-53).
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ROMANS 16:25-27
(The Message)
A concluding doxology that joins the eternal
praise of God for revealing the mystery of
salvation intended for the whole world in
Jesus Christ.
25 All of our praise rises to the One who is strong
enough to make you strong, exactly as preached
in Jesus Christ, precisely as revealed in the
mystery kept secret for so long
26 but now an open book through the prophetic
Scriptures. All the nations of the world can now
know the truth and be brought into obedient belief,
carrying out the orders of God, who got all this
started, down to the very last letter.
27 All our praise is focused through Jesus on this
incomparably wise God! Yes!
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LUKE 1:26-38
(The Message)
The angel Gabriel announces to Mary that she
will become with child by God and bear the Son
of the Most High whose throne will be eternal.
She consents and thus fulfills God's intention
to establish David's line forever.
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God
sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of
Nazareth
27 to a virgin engaged to be married to a man
descended from David. His name was Joseph, and
the virgin's name, Mary.
28 Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her: Goodmorning! You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.
29 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what
was behind a greeting like that.
30 But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have
nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you:
31 You will become pregnant and give birth to a
son and call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father
David;
33 He will rule Jacob's house forever - no end, ever,to his kingdom."
34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never
slept with a man."
35 The angel answered, The Holy Spirit will come
upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called
Holy, Son of God.
36 "And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth
conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called
her barren, and here she is six months' pregnant!
37 Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."
38 And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the
Lord's maid, ready to serve. Let it be with me just
as you say. Then the angel left her.
Blessed Among Women.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 19TH —
This is Pastor Bob's and Naomi's day off.
The office is closed today.
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This is the Longest Night of the year . . . . . and
tomorrow we can look forward to the night being
a couple minutes shorter. Well, that certainly
lifts my spirits!
• Advent Bible Study at 2 P.M. in Casey U.M.C.“What I Want for Christmas.”
• • • There will be a Blue Christmas Service —
in Adair U.M.C. at 7 P.M. for those of you whohave experienced a profound loss this year.
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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22ND —
• Advent Bible Study at 7 P.M. in Adair U.M.C.
“What I Want for Christmas.”
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A-C School's Winter Break begins today.
Don't forget to go back to school January 3rd!
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24TH —
CHRISTMAS EVE ———
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SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25TH —
Services will be at the regular time.
• May Peace be your gift at Christmas
and your blessing all year through!
• The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
• “A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone near,
A little gift from one held dear,
Best wishes for the coming year.”
—— John Greenleaf Whittier
• The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most
significant event in all history, because it has
meant the pouring into a sick world, healing
medicine of love, which has transformed all
kinds of hearts for almost two thousand years.
God Bless and Keep You,
Pastor Bob
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