Brothers and sisters,
Happy Monday to all! Yesterday in the songs and scripture Pete chose for our worship, we looked with anticipation to the celebration of the birth of Christ Jesus our Lord. We then focused on the greatness of Jesus from Luke 1 as Mary was told that she would be the human mother of Jesus. We saw Jesus’ inherent greatness in that He is great in and of Himself whether people accept His greatness or reject it. We recognized the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ in that Jesus has the greatest name, the name before which every knee will bow. We realized the greatness of the Lord Jesus Christ in that He has absolutely the greatest Father, Most High God. We grasped that Jesus has the greatest throne and heritage that fulfills all the promises the Word of God made about the Messiah. We perceived the greatness of His miraculous and unique virgin conception and birth. Don’t reduce celebrating Christmas to merely presents, family, and food. Don’t even reduce it to the birth of a child, or the birth of someone who made a huge impact on the world. Remember Christmas is about the Great One of the universe, God the Son Himself, becoming Emmanuel, God with us, to do for us what we could not do for ourselves-save us from sin! The story of Christmas forever remains the story of the greatness of Jesus Christ, Immanuel, God with us.
This Friday, December 8, we will meet at the church building at 6:30 PM and then go out to carol in our neighborhood. Then, we will come back to the building and enjoy treats together. You might feel like you can’t go out and carol. That is understandable. We want you to come for the fellowship. Bring a Christmas treat we can share as we celebrate the season together.
During the month of December, we will be taking up the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. We encourage you to pray and give toward supporting missionaries who takes the good news of Jesus to people that have no or very little witness to the saving gospel of Jesus.
Remember to keep praying continually for each other. None of us know fully the burdens our brothers and sisters in Christ might be carrying.
Love being your pastor!
Bob Ray, Pastor, East Madison Baptist Church