Our church will be presenting a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on 12-24 in our beautiful sanctuary. All are welcome to attend, come as you are, with your work clothes on, your uniform on, the children in pajamas or me with my apron on. Let us all together sing, pray, rejoice and tell the old, old story once again. Now that is Christmas!
Several of the ladies of our church met at Laura Leatherwood’s home for a Christmas party. We all brought goodies to share and Laura made wassail to drink.
Laura presented a devotional on Christmas and what a “sweet” time of year it is. She incorporated a variety of store bought candy into her program. She began by showing us a bag of Sugar Babies and asked ”what does this mean.” We answered “the sweet baby Jesus!” And so the story from Luke proceeded on until Laura got to Smarties which I was not familiar with, but others shouted the Wise Men!
Laura placed all the candy in a sack and drew a name, the winner was Annette Cleveland. After this we had a “Chinese Gift Exchange.”
The women had such a good time that they decided to do this on a monthly basis.
Rev. Ken Lunsford and Judy went to a Christmas party at the home of Rev. Howard Martin and his wife Carol. Howard is the pastor of Stephenville First United Church. Others attending the party were Rev. Mike Hannah and his wife Francis; Mike pastors Greens Creek United Methodist and Rev Laraine Waughtal, pastor of Morgan Mill and Bluff Dale United Methodist Churches.
The group also had a “Chinese Gift Exchange” after a supper of chili, cornbread, and potato with cheese soup. It tasted so good on such a cold night.
On Sunday, 12-15, the prelude was done by Leta Sage on English hand bells; she played “O Holy Night.”
We sang Happy Birthday to those with December birthdays. They are Tammy Coan, Laura Young Jones, and Norma Parks. Then we honored those with December anniversaries. They are Ronnie and Melani Belew and Pat and Paul Beaty. Congratulations to these folks.
Mary and Mike Haley gave the Advent reading that was missed last week due to services being cancelled. They lit the second candle on the Advent wreath. Next
Jennifer Miller and her sons Nolan and Zeke each gave the current Advent reading and lit the third candle on the wreath.
The Children’s Time was next and Laura Leatherwood brought a mirror to show the youngsters.
Laura asked the children if they ever played with a small mirror using it to reflect sunlight or a light in their house. She held the mirror so it reflected some of the lights in the church. Laura said the mirror does not make the light, it only reflects it and if you hold up a piece of paper between the light and the mirror, which she demonstrated, it could not shine the light back.
John the Baptist said he was a witness that had come to tell the people about a light that was coming and that light was Jesus. Laura told the children to be like the mirror and reflect Jesus’ light and don’t let things come between you and God, don’t ever turn away. Be a good witness like John.
Our congregation was treated to a wonderful hand bell program presented by Leta Sage, Donna Starkey who is Leta’s sister, Laura and Lisa Leatherwood, who are sisters-in law, and Pat Beaty. Leta served as Choir director. They received a standing ovation from those present.
The English hand bells used were borrowed from another church as Dublin First Methodist has no set of its own.
Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon started about snow and ice! It was based on Matthew 11:1-19.
Pastor Ken asked us if we noticed how the children responded last Sunday when everything was iced over. They didn’t mind the ice and snow.
Adults see all the weather problems such as automobile accidents, falls, heart attacks and cancellations. The kids see sleds, snowmen, laughter and no school. It is a different perspective and I can’t say ours is better than the kid’s.
Jesus didn’t, in fact he was quite clear in saying that the youthful view was crucial when it comes to the life of faith: “I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.
Children are imaginative; they bring us smiles as they learn. One child prayed, “Our Father, who art in heaven, how do you know my name?”
Children know where to go when they need something and who to ask and ask and ask.
Children understand faith. A little boy was forbidden to go on a picnic he was looking forward to because he had been naughty. But later his mother relented and said he could go. He said “It’s too late, I have already prayed for rain.” What faith!
After all, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child. . .”
Several of the ladies of our church met at Laura Leatherwood’s home for a Christmas party. We all brought goodies to share and Laura made wassail to drink.
Laura presented a devotional on Christmas and what a “sweet” time of year it is. She incorporated a variety of store bought candy into her program. She began by showing us a bag of Sugar Babies and asked ”what does this mean.” We answered “the sweet baby Jesus!” And so the story from Luke proceeded on until Laura got to Smarties which I was not familiar with, but others shouted the Wise Men!
Laura placed all the candy in a sack and drew a name, the winner was Annette Cleveland. After this we had a “Chinese Gift Exchange.”
The women had such a good time that they decided to do this on a monthly basis.
Rev. Ken Lunsford and Judy went to a Christmas party at the home of Rev. Howard Martin and his wife Carol. Howard is the pastor of Stephenville First United Church. Others attending the party were Rev. Mike Hannah and his wife Francis; Mike pastors Greens Creek United Methodist and Rev Laraine Waughtal, pastor of Morgan Mill and Bluff Dale United Methodist Churches.
The group also had a “Chinese Gift Exchange” after a supper of chili, cornbread, and potato with cheese soup. It tasted so good on such a cold night.
On Sunday, 12-15, the prelude was done by Leta Sage on English hand bells; she played “O Holy Night.”
We sang Happy Birthday to those with December birthdays. They are Tammy Coan, Laura Young Jones, and Norma Parks. Then we honored those with December anniversaries. They are Ronnie and Melani Belew and Pat and Paul Beaty. Congratulations to these folks.
Mary and Mike Haley gave the Advent reading that was missed last week due to services being cancelled. They lit the second candle on the Advent wreath. Next
Jennifer Miller and her sons Nolan and Zeke each gave the current Advent reading and lit the third candle on the wreath.
The Children’s Time was next and Laura Leatherwood brought a mirror to show the youngsters.
Laura asked the children if they ever played with a small mirror using it to reflect sunlight or a light in their house. She held the mirror so it reflected some of the lights in the church. Laura said the mirror does not make the light, it only reflects it and if you hold up a piece of paper between the light and the mirror, which she demonstrated, it could not shine the light back.
John the Baptist said he was a witness that had come to tell the people about a light that was coming and that light was Jesus. Laura told the children to be like the mirror and reflect Jesus’ light and don’t let things come between you and God, don’t ever turn away. Be a good witness like John.
Our congregation was treated to a wonderful hand bell program presented by Leta Sage, Donna Starkey who is Leta’s sister, Laura and Lisa Leatherwood, who are sisters-in law, and Pat Beaty. Leta served as Choir director. They received a standing ovation from those present.
The English hand bells used were borrowed from another church as Dublin First Methodist has no set of its own.
Rev. Ken Lunsford’s sermon started about snow and ice! It was based on Matthew 11:1-19.
Pastor Ken asked us if we noticed how the children responded last Sunday when everything was iced over. They didn’t mind the ice and snow.
Adults see all the weather problems such as automobile accidents, falls, heart attacks and cancellations. The kids see sleds, snowmen, laughter and no school. It is a different perspective and I can’t say ours is better than the kid’s.
Jesus didn’t, in fact he was quite clear in saying that the youthful view was crucial when it comes to the life of faith: “I tell you the truth; anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, put His hands on them and blessed them.
Children are imaginative; they bring us smiles as they learn. One child prayed, “Our Father, who art in heaven, how do you know my name?”
Children know where to go when they need something and who to ask and ask and ask.
Children understand faith. A little boy was forbidden to go on a picnic he was looking forward to because he had been naughty. But later his mother relented and said he could go. He said “It’s too late, I have already prayed for rain.” What faith!
After all, “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child. . .”
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