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Archive for the ‘Christmastide’ Category

Second Sunday of Christmastide-Jan 5

04 Jan

Tell Them What You Heard-Christmastide is a time when we remember that God revealed Himself to His people. God could have come into the palace of a king but chose rather to come in the manger as a baby to remind us that He wants us to serve rather than to lord it over others. He revealed Himself first to the shepherds to remind us that He cares for the lowest shepherd, as well as the greatest king. Once the shepherds heard the good news, they immediately went and worshiped Him. Then they went and told everyone all they had heard and seen. During the worship service, do you feel the Lord’s presence? After the service, have you gone out and told anyone what you have heard and what you have seen the Lord do?

 

 

First Sunday of Christmastide-Dec 29

30 Dec

-(Lights Reveal His Coming) See the Lights-Help someone see the Light-Every Christmas cities, corporations, and private individuals create beautiful light displays and Christmas displays. Many are free or very low cost. Search the net and find one. There are probably some within an hour or two drive of where you live. (check if they continue until the new year, some end on Christmas Eve) Invite someone to go along, especially if they have kids. When I was younger many home displays had a display of the manger, of Santa Claus, or other Christmas scene, but few do today. Many Christmas displays today are just a mass of light which look pretty, but fail to convey a message. The government is increasingly banning manger scenes from public property, so it is all the more important for churches and individual Christians to display the manger scene. If neighbors have no church background they may be confused about the baby in the manger and it will give you a chance to tell them about the first Christmas when God sent His Son to save us all.

 

 

video-Meaning of Christmastide

25 Dec

 

First Sunday of Christmastide-Dec 31

27 Dec

Tell the Story-Many people will see the manger scene and not understand what it means because they have no church background. A large percentage of people today have not attended church and do not know anyone that they know of who attends church. Many Christians assume those they meet at work and at school attend church somewhere but few of them do. Few churches today have Christmas eve services but those that do usually include only members and do not include visitors. It is a great time to invite those who do not attend church to come and hear the Christmas story, especially those who have children. Christmas carols used to be sung in the schools and played in stores, but many have dropped or even banned those with a Christian message. Church members can get together and carol at nursing homes and in their neighborhood to tell the Christmas story. Songs should not be random but organized to tell the story.

 

 

Video-Meaning of Christmastide

21 Dec

 

First Sunday of Christmastide-Jan 1

28 Dec

Twelve Days of Christmas

Now that the commercial Christmas is over, we can relax and enjoy the true meaning of Christmas. Most people don’t realize that Christmas isn’t over, it actual runs for twelve days from Dec 25th to Jan 5th (few people think about the words in the song-“Twelve days of Christmas”). This time is called Christmastide and is a good time to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas occurs on the shortest day of the year to remind us that when things were darkest and it seemed there was no hope, God came down to us in the form of a baby and dwelt among us. God revealed Himself to His people and He is with us. His presence changed the world forever. He isn’t someone up there in heaven, who is unreachable. He cared enough to come to us in our time of greatest need and is still here when we need Him

 

 

Video-Christmastide-intro

20 Dec

Since Christmas falls on Sunday this year, it is the first Sunday of Christmastide, as well as the first day of Christmastide.

 

Fourth Sunday of Advent-Dec 18

15 Dec

Hope For Our Community-  Because Christ lives, there is hope for our community. While liberal proponents complain that churches provide no benefit to the community and merely take up valuable space that could be used by tax paying businesses, churches provide a valuable resource for the community. While many liberal churches now support abortion and Gay privileges, Bible believing churches continue to uphold the value of life, the value of the rule of law, the value of the family, and the value of the individual. Bible-believing parents often have stable marriages which provide consistent training to their children in moral living which would not exist if the churches did not exist, since there are no other organizations in our society that promotes those values on the scale that the church and other religious based organizations do. Churches provide support for non-government social service agencies which provide invaluable help to those struggling which goes far beyond the sterile monetary support they get from government agencies. We are seeing the effects of the loss of Christian values in our society as killing increases, lawlessness increases, families crumble, and suicide increases. As churches are increasingly silenced, it will only get worse.

 

Video-study course-Christian Celebrations-promo

22 Jun

I have a course on Basic Christian Beliefs for new Christians and as a refresher for long-time Christians, which is posted on Udemy.

It is available by posting the following link in your browser.

https://www.udemy.com/course/christian-celebrations/?referralCode=D706C0B4E96819B18699

 

Second Sunday of Christmastide-Jan 2

31 Dec

Those who feel forgotten.  Christmas is a time when we remember that Christ came to His people to reveal the nature of God and to show us a better way to live; a way of peace and love. This should be a time when we should draw together as a family and draw together as a church family. We need to bring some light into their life just as Christ brought light into the world for us. We should seek those around us who will not know the joy of Christmas unless we share it with them We need to take time to reach out to those around us who may be alone, whose families are gone or far away, and have no friends close. By visiting, we remind them that we have not forgotten them and God has not forgotten them either. Some may be able to invite them to share Christmas with their family so they do not have to spend Christmas alone. There are also many who are burdened with heavy cares, or who have lost loved ones, are shut-in and cannot get out, and let them know they are not forgotten and are not alone. We need to bring some light into their life just as Christ brought light into the world for us. Some will not share the joy of Christmas because of financial needs and cannot afford special gifts. The church can help brighten their Christmas. A growing number of Christians are deciding that instead of giving each other gifts they don’t need, they will put that money into buying gifts for those that might not otherwise receive gifts, or by supporting Christmas programs by organizations in their local area like The Salvation Army, or abroad like Samaritan’s Purse or simply giving gifts to neighbors they know who might not otherwise know the joy of Christmas. Christmas is also a great time to teach your kids the value of giving and the greatest gift they can give is themselves. Volunteer as a family to help a local church, social service agency, day care, hospital, or nursing home. Many have special programs at Christmas that need volunteers.