December 8, 2019
Community table is this Wednesday. Lasagna, tossed salad, bread and dessert will be served.
If I were you, I would be here to volunteer so I could be close to the kitchen.
Christmas Eve Services are coming together nicely. It will be a beautiful, meaningful evening.
We need the cookies for the military by this coming Sunday. Let’s not disappoint these folks who sacrifice so much.
Our faithful member, Julia Broussard, sang with the community choir that performed the “Messiah” at Tarleton last Saturday. They were accompanied by the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Laura Leatherwood served as Worship Leader. She read the scripture lesson from Matthew 3:1-12.
Our congregation extends sympathy to the family and friends of Vic Jones.
We added Janie and Lon Laquay to our prayer list. Janie has a broken arm that did not behave itself and needed to be re-broken and set again. This is a bad time of the year to not have use of both hands.
Juanita Duncan gave the Advent reading and Neva Smith did the lighting of the candles on the Advent wreath.
Pastor Ken gave a short program for the lighting of the Chrismon tree at the altar rail of our church. He said as we prepare for the coming of Jesus, the Light of the World, let us remember whenever you see a lighted Christmas tree, The One who brings light to our darkness, healing to our brokenness, and peace to all who receive Him. Amen.
Rev. Ken Lunsford titled his sermon “Repent! Get the Garbage Out.”
John the Baptist preached “Change your hearts and lives! Here comes the kingdom of heaven!”
People from Jerusalem, all throughout Judea and the Jordan River came to John. They confessed their sin and were baptized in the Jordan. When many Pharisees and Sadducees came to be baptized, John called them children of snakes! He told them to produce fruit that shows you have changed your heart and lives. John also told them one is coming after me and I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
God had chosen John to be the prophet who announces the arrival of the Messiah. The world needed to know God’s plan for the salvation of the world was kicking into high gear. John preached “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Christ is coming, Get the garbage out and repent!
You almost never hear the word repent, in our modern society anymore. But repent was the first word of John the Baptist’s gospel, the first word of Jesus’ gospel, first word in the preaching ministry of the twelve disciples, and it is the first word in the preaching instructions Jesus gave to His disciples after His resurrection. You need to change your mind and understanding to reflect God’s purposes. You need to get right with the Lord. It is the first step. Sin comes from turning away from the love of and reverence for God. But the fruit of repentance is joy and peace.
Don’t just go through the motions this Christmas season. Get the garbage out and bear the fruit that comes from knowing you are restored to God. Amen.