Leta Sage brought us a special prelude to the service with the Hammered dulcimer. Leta played “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel.”Leta is a master of the Hammered dulcimer and anytime we get to hear it we thank the good Lord above who gave Leta such talent.
Leta and James Sage brought guests to church Sunday; their son Keith and his fiancée, Ashley Hancock. The young couple became engaged during the Thanksgiving holidays. Best wishes for their future.
Lisa Leatherwood was pleased to have her brother, David Newton, sister-in-law, Sylvia, and niece, Yolanda, in church with her.
Sunday, November 27, was the first Sunday of the Advent Season. The Salinas family did the lighting of the first candle of the Advent wreath. Adrian did the reading of the message and Raymond with Joe’s help, lit the candle. It really is the start of Christmas now.
The Children’s time was about waiting. Pastor Ken spoke to the children about always waiting for something, something to happen. He said Advent is like that, we are waiting for the Christ child.
During the offertory Leta Sage played “What Child Is This” on the dulcimer. The music floated on air through the sanctuary.
Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Be on Guard, Keep Watch.” Pastor Ken said it’s amazing to watch our society gear up for Christmas; the lights, the playing of carols in the stores and on the radio.
Our Jewish friends are still waiting on the Messiah; in fact they have been waiting for thousands of years. The prophet Isaiah was waiting and hoping for the Messiah. Isaiah wrote these words, “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you!”
Many people today are waiting for a savior and some of them are our neighbors. The Savior came in the form of the babe of Bethlehem, but the world still waits. That is the meaning of Advent; it is the celebration of what has been and what is yet to come. The Savior of the world has come, but that is the beginning of God’s redeeming work. People need the Savior in Russia, Afghanistan, Africa, and in gang-ridden parts of our inner cities. The war over evil and darkness still has to be won. That victory will only be complete when the Savior, Jesus Christ, returns and the kingdom of God is established on earth even as it is in heaven.
Of course, it is our responsibility to reach out these people who are waiting, to show them the love of Jesus. Their hope and our hope is that Christ will return and usher in the kingdom where there will be no more suffering, no more pain; where people will live in peace and harmony. In the 11th chapter of Isaiah he writes, “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child shall lead them.”
Let’s get ready and keep ready, be ready to greet the Savior.
Rev. Ken Lunsford along with Judy Lunsford, Barbara Stevens, and Nancy and Cliff Wooldridge represented Dublin First Methodist at the Charge Conference held in Stephenville. Laurel Street United Methodist was represented by Wilma Davis and Martha Starnes. Several other area churches sent representatives as well.
Our District Superintendent, Rev. Carol Woods, conducted the meeting. The churches voted to accept the decisions made at their last administrative council meetings concerning operations for the coming year. They next watched a video, sang together, heard a great devotional from Rev. Woods, and received communion together. They enjoyed visiting with friends from around the area and Judy visits with her cousin, Eleanor Chaffin, from Iredell.