Luke 2:1-20

Combined Worship at 10:00

Isaiah 62:6-12          Psalm 97          Titus 3:4-7          Luke 2:1-20

 

                  O Come, O Come Emmanuel and rescue captive Israel! That is the opening refrain of a famous Advent hymn. But today is a day when we shift fully from the spirit of Advent to the hope that is ours in Christmas. It is the celebration of the Christ Child! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

If you are able to be with us for worship (I hope you are!) on Christmas morning…we will read the Gospel of Luke chapter two. We will read it, allow it to speak for itself, and cherish every word of the great story.

We have arrived! Our The Road to the Manger took us past the Red Sea, on to the Sea of    Galilee, in and out of Jerusalem, and finally we arrive in the City of David known as Bethlehem. Did you know that the word Bethlehem literally means ‘house of bread?’ I think of that often as we watch Jesus break bread and say, ‘this is my body’ for the literal body of Christ was born in the city of bread.

I hope you will accept one last challenge as we come to the end of our 29 day journey. I would invite you to come together with family, friends, coworkers, fellow students, and share the Gospel of Luke with one another. Read it out loud, share a simple meal with one another, and pray a word of thanksgiving because it is true, a little child shall lead us.

Amen, God bless you all! Merry Christmas!

Be sure to stay tuned as we roll into January and beyond with the Grand Sweep!