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Newsletter>
Pastor Craigs Notes; Advent Candles; Stewardship
December 1, 2005
PASTOR CRAIGS NOTES: For many of us, the coming of colder
weather is a welcomed event. It is a change in our daily
routine and a chance to do some new things. We now bundle
up and wear layers of clothes to keep warm instead of the
lightweight items that we had on just a week or so ago.
Wouldn't it be nice to have that sort of change in our
lives? To be one-way one day and then be given a fresh
start over the next.
That's what God gives us through Jesus. The ability to
change and start over again. No matter what you did or did
not do, no matter what you said or did not say, no matter
what hurt or pain that you might have, tomorrow is a new
day through Jesus.
We forget this sometimes. That we can change and do better
than we did. But also, those around us can change. If we
ask for the hope of change, we must allow God's work within
the lives of others and remember that we are just like
those that we want to find some fault in.
The Birth of Christ was a fresh start. God doing something
different in the lives of those he loves. God loves you
and your neighbor. God is working in you and at the same
time in them. We are all unfinished works.
Merry Christmas and a Happy NEW Year.
Praying for you as I hope that you are praying for me.
Craig
THE MEANING OF THE ADVENT CANDLES:
Advent is a season of waiting, expecting and hoping.
Beginning four Sundays prior to Christmas and ending on
Christmas Eve, Advent helps us to prepare for the coming of
the Christ child at Christmas.
The Advent wreath consists of four candles, three purple
and one pink, encircling a white candle. One of the four
candles is lit each Sunday of Advent, and the white candle
is lit on Christmas Eve. Each candle has a special meaning
and significance.
The first Sunday of Advetn we light the hope candle. We
light this candle because, like God's people centuries ago,
we also look forward with hope to the coming of God.
The second Sunday of Advetn, we light the Peace candle.
This candle is lit to remind us of the peace God brings to
our lives by forgiving our sins.
The third Sunday of Advent we light the pink candle,
called the Joy candle. We light htis candle because we
know that Christ will come again. We rejoice in God's work
in history and in the future.
The fourth Sunday of Advent we light the love candle. We
light this candle to remind us of the great love God has
for us. He sent his only Son to Earth to die for our sins.
On Christmas Eve we light the white candle called the
Christ candle. We light this candle to celebrate the birth
of Jesus Christ. Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus,
Jesus the Good Shepherd, Jesus who forgives our sins, Jesus
who will come again, Jesus the son of Mary, and Jesus the
Son of God!
CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE:
Our annual candle light Christmas Eve service will be
Saturday, December 24th, at 6:00pm.
STEWARDSHIP:
Christian stewardship is the joyous management of all of
life and life's resources so that God's mission on earth is
accomplished. Every believer, responding in love to God's
abundant outpouring of material blessings, shares the
responsibility of Christian stewardship. Everything that
we "own" is actually "on loan" from God. For as the
apostle Paul wrote, "We brought nothing into the world, and
we can take nothing out of it" (1 Tim. 6:7)
You have an opportinity to share your love, and all the
gifts God has given you, with your church. As we enter
into a new year, show your love by making a financial
commitment to God's work in your church.
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