Our Christmas Eve services are at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. on December 24.
Who will you bring with you?
The 6 p.m. Service features our children and youth through music,
drama and dance as they express the meaning of this holy night in
their own unique fashion. The 11 p.m. Service will feature violin,
organ, piano, and solos by Mark Swindler as well as a few Christmas
carols and will conclude in candlelight. Both services will be
meaningful expressions of who we are as Christians and Presbyterians.
Unchurched folks are more likely to attend worship on Christmas Eve
than at any other time of year so consider which of your unchurched
friends you may invite to these services. They will appreciate your
invitation.
We will again receive the Christmas Joy Offering during worship this
Sunday. This offering supports the assistance programs of the Board of
Pensions, that provide support to retired and active church workers
and their spouses and families.
Michael Leach will serve as liturgist and Steven Leach will fill the
pulpit. Michael is a Sophomore at Trinity University and Steven is a
Senior at Princeton Theological Seminary. I appreciate their
leadership this Sunday as I will be away that day. I look forward to
seeing you on Christmas Eve or in the new year.
In the meantime, remember in prayer Julia McKisic, Frances Stanley,
Evelyn Weinburger and Lois Krewinghaus who broke her ankle. Also,
remember Bonnie Poole in Manor Place and Sherman Wilson in Brighton
Gardens with a fractured vertebrae in his neck, and the many families
who face this Christmas having lost a job and perhaps even their
homes.
Here is the Christmas story once again, as expressed in Luke's gospel:
In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping
watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood
before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they
were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see—
I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is
born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the
Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in
bands of cloth and lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the
angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those
whom he favors!" When the angels had left them and gone into heaven,
the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see
this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."
So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying
in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told
them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the
shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered
them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
-Luke 2:8-10
I leave you with this beautiful image from the evening lectionary
reading for today, Psalm 17:8, which says: "Guard me as the apple of
the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." May that be the
experience of you and you family during this holy season.
Peace of Christ be with you,
Pastor Jon
- - -
To read this message online, click on
http://groups.google.com/group/st-johns-presbyterian-church/web/epistle-for-december-23-2009
- or copy & paste it into your browser's address bar if that doesn't
work.
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St. John's Presbyterian Church
5020 West Bellfort / Houston, TX 77035
T. 713.723.6262 / F. 713.723-4015 / Email: office.sjpc@gmail.com
Worship Service: Sunday, 10:30 am / Sunday School: 9:00 am
