New Care Notes
CHRISTMAS CARE NOTES are available in a rack on the right wall near the Sanctuary entrance.
These 8-page booklets offer spiritual encouragement, help and hope.
Three of the booklets in the rack are:
.”Going on an Advent Prayer Journey”
.”Getting Through the Holidays When You’ve Lost a Loved One”
.”Facing the Holidays When a Family Member is Seriously Ill”
Feel free to pick one up for yourself or for a friend.
ADVENT SING ‘N CELEBRATE
DECEMBER 1st AT 7 PM
On this first Sunday of Advent, may the busyness of our world slow to a more peaceful pace, so we can pay closer attention to the coming of our Lord.
We hope you can join us as we wait and celebrate together in joyful anticipation!
Sermon December 1: Sing Out the Joy –Isaiah 42:10-17
Advent is a time to take stock of the fact that Joy comes to the world because the Lord has come. Isaiah foretold that when the Messiah came, He would give us JOY in the midst of the harshness of life.
I wonder can we find the joy in the midst of the events in our economy, in a marriage gone sour, in a nation that is conflicted?
Let’s discover the joy the Lord will bring.
“Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth…”
(Isaiah 42:10)
From Pastor Kenny Newsome:
Welcome to the season of Advent!
Advent is a time of waiting, expectation and preparation for the coming of the Christ. Traditionally, Advent started 6 weeks before Christmas and was a time to reflect and examine on one’s life and the things in it that would cause us not to celebrate and gain the fullness of Christmas joy. Then the church shortened the time to 4 weeks and in doing so lost some of its meaning.
All of us know that Advent is the time of preparation. We adorn our homes with greenery, put up the tree, hang wreathes and string the lights, all for the purpose of celebrating Christmas. However, I wonder if we spend as much time getting our hearts ready to “receive our King” as we do on the material trappings?
This year, Pender members have given us a gift of their reflections of Christmas. It is our hope and prayer that you and your family will use this booklet to prepare for a “holy Christmas” rooted in the birth of our Savior and Lord Jesus. Just a few moments of prayer, scripture reading and reflection in the quiet of Advent will lead you and yours into a true celebration and not just having another holiday meal.
Let’s prepare our hearts and make Jesus the reason for the season!
The Pender Advent Devotional is available on the Pender website.
Dec. 24 ~ Christmas Eve Services:
News and Views 