Good Morning Family!
As I have started this newsletter article every time for the last eleven years now counting this one: Well done! Many thanks to everyone for our Church Family Thanksgiving Dinner! Not only was all of the food great, but the fellowship around the tables was even better! Our Kitchen Team went above and beyond and so did all of those of you who brought dishes or cooked the turkeys! That Sunday is always a very special day for all of us.
Now, as it happens from time to time, Advent Season in the life of the church begins in November. There are five Sundays in the Advent Calendar and so beginning today will take us to the finale on December 28th. I decided this year to take a different track in our Advent sermons. It’s a little unorthodox, but that has never stopped us before 😊
Since, at Christmas time I have always signed my Sunday letter, “God Bless us, Everyone!” I thought we might allow Charles Dickens to set up each message this year. Now, I am fully aware of the fact that Dickens did not write “A Christmas Carol” as a book of theology, neither does it have a biblical view of what are commonly referred to as ghosts. (We have talked about this at length in our Tuesday 1:3ABF gatherings.) However, the “ghostly” story told by Dickens has very appropriate biblically based thoughts on reflection, redemption, and repentance. All of those things will do us well this year as we will build upon our recent series, “The Way of the Cross”.
So, put on your night cap and come with me as we allow the spirits of Christmas found in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol remind us of the call of the Holy Spirit of the Lord as we examine ourselves in the light of His work throughout our own lives. We will let the real Spirit of Christmas then lead us to the ultimate blessing of Christmas: Christ, Immanuel, God with us!
Our calendar of weekly themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, Love, and Christ are on a separate insert in this bulletin. Hold on to that through the holidays and per chance if you have a copy of A Christmas Carol, it might do you well to read the corresponding chapter each week before we gather to refresh your memory. It is a short read only five “staves”. Then during the messages, we will bring the Bible to bear on the implications in following Christ.
As always, my prayer is that we would all, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15
God Bless Us… Every One!
Bro. Steven
Dr. Steven Gann
Your Shepherd of the Hills
