God of New Beginnings,
We pray we might sense Your nearness this day. You are with us in all times and in all circumstances, but often we turn away from You. We deny Your presence because to acknowledge You requires changes in us. Please forgive us we pray. May we experience Your love as we share it with others. May we know Your peace as we seek to bring peace to others. May we honor You, Loving God, with our deeds and words. As we prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christmas, may we be open to Your amazing grace that brings us close to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
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The Family Christmas Tree is set up in the logia next to the entrance to the education wing. Bring an ornament with your family’s name on it.
The children and some of our youth are rehearsing at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon for the Christmas Program that will be next Sunday evening in the Fellowship Hall. All “players” are encouraged to be present. A number of people are planning a “tasting party” after next Sunday’s program with Christmas treats from around the world. Be sure to put this program on your calendar and support these children and youth with your presence.
May God’s Spirit touch our hearts as we prepare and move closer to Christmas Day.
The scripture for today is Job 1:1a, 2:1-13:
There was once a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job. That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.
One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.”Then Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.”The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.”
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself, and sat among the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God, and die.”But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Now when Job’s three friends heard of all these troubles that had come upon him, each of them set out from his home—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They met together to go and console and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him, and they raised their voices and wept aloud; they tore their robes and threw dust in the air upon their heads. They sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 31:1-8:
In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; do not let me ever be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for your name’s sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. You hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have taken heed of my adversities, and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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