St. John's will celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent with a
special service, Lessons and Carols in our Sanctuary,
at 5 pm. Please join us as together we explore this special season
of the year through songs and reflections on the Christmas Story
Friday, December 26 Church Offices Closed
Saturday, December 27
8:00 am Women’s Bible Small Group
9:00 am Daisy Troop 21174
Sunday, December 28, Christmas Joy Offering
9:00 am Church School
10:30 am Worship Service
4:30 pm Centering Prayer, Pastor's Office
Sunday, November 9
McPhail Hall, after worship
pounding is the southern custom of giving groceries, etc.,
with each participant giving a pound. Today the custom also includes gift cards.
William, Suzana, Yor & Atillio
Samuel & Hamat
Marco & Mary
Date Assignment Facilitator
Sept 28 1:1-18; 19-28 Suzette
Oct 5 1:29-34; 35-42 Bill
Oct 12 1:43-51; 2:1-12 Fran
Oct 19 2:13-25; 3:1-13 Suzette
Oct 26 3:14-21; 22-36 Ann
Nov 2 4:1-15; 16-26 Kathie
Nov 9 4:27-42; 43-54 Evan
Nov 16 5:1-9a; 9b-18 Kathie
Nov 23 5:19-29; 30-38 Suzette
Nov 30 5:39-47; 6:1-15 Mindi
Dec 7 6:16-25; 26-35 Evan
Dec 14 6:36-46; 47-59 John F
Dec 21 6:60-71; 7:1-9 Ann
Dec 28 7:10-18; 19-30 Leonie
Another powerful movie on this subject is Eyes Wide Shut starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. This disturbing movie was Stanley Kubrick's last film and is a frightening portrayal of life among the upper crust of the high, high occult elite. This is not a movie for anyone under 21 years and is not for anyone who is feint hearted. The portrayal of the Satanic ritual in this movie is highly accurate since Kubrick was all too familiar with such activities from his own personal life. This movie provides a glimpse behind the curtain into the world of the small but powerful elite who run this world in which we live. They have a different religion than us "common folks" but according to Jesus they are not to be feared.
I wonder if many of the so-called "serial killers" we read about in the press are in reality fall guys for active Satanic cults. Plenty of evidence to make this case is provided in the book Programmed to Kill: The Politics of Serial Murder by David McGowan. We need to wake up to the reality of evil in the world if we intend to be mature Christians.
Last Sunday's sermon, "Disappearing Act," was a discussion of the reality of Satan and Satanism. Someone remarked to me on the way out the door after the service, "I don't know anyone who doesn't believe in Satan." To which I responded, "I don't many pastors who DO believe in Satan." I sometimes wonder if we mainline pastors have been so trapped in the web of political correctness that we have been marginalized to the point of insignificance. As C.S. Lewis demonstrates in The Screwtape Letters, Satan's best line of defense is to remain undetected. To quote from the review of that book by Patricia Klein on amazon.com:
"The most brilliant feature of The Screwtape Letters may be likening hell to a bureaucracy in which 'everyone is perpetually concerned about his own dignity and advancement, where everyone has a grievance, and where everyone lives the deadly serious passions of envy, self-importance, and resentment.' We all understand bureaucracies, be it the Department of Motor Vehicles, the IRS, or one of our own making. So we each understand the temptations that slowly lure us into hell. If you've never read Lewis, The Screwtape Letters is a great place to start. And if you know Lewis, but haven't read this, you've missed one of his core writings."
Here is the text from last Sunday's sermon:
Let us pray:
Loving God, we join in prayer with your Son, Jesus Christ,
and pray that You will deliver us from evil.
We bind Satan from working in our city, community, church and our personal lives.
We thank you that in Jesus' name we are free to love and serve God
in this good world that you have created and which your love maintains. Amen.
The story of Christ's birth is a subversive story of an upside-down kingdom. It's a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love that is still changing the world to this day. So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling that we somehow missed its purpose.
Is this what we really want out of Christmas?
What if Christmas became a world-changing event again by turning our focus back to the birth of Christ? What could happen to your family if this focus was celebrated in loud, bold and totally unexpected ways? What if you could actually trade your season of stress for a season celebration and unbelievable memories with your friends and family? What if all of this could save a life at the same time? It can.
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