Sunday's Comin' December 11, 2009

Submitted by bill on Fri, 12/11/2009 - 1:55pm

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

       The Advent Season is an interesting time. For most of us, things only get busier and it seems to require more of us—more energy, more money, more time… I think we have more choices than we think we do during these days.  But to those who feel a bit overwhelmed, for those who feel like it’s just too much, I have good news for you.  Help is on the way!  We also recognize that this can be a very difficult season for those who are experiencing real loss and grief.  For some this will be the first Christmas without a loved one, or perhaps facing the holidays with broken relationships and fragmented family—all can be quite depressing.    I’ve got good news for you, too.  Help is on the way!  You have reason to live hopefully, even in sadness or grief. You have reason to hope even in overwhelming situations…and its hope beyond reason…unreasonable hope.   
     The best news is hope is something to receive, not something to manufacture.  Hope is a gift from the Lord.  There are things you can do to encourage it, ways to hold on to it. We can grab on to hope, but it must be true hope for often false hopes are given to us.  It has to be hope with substance, hope with handholds.  The arrival of Jesus into this world, is the arrival of hope, not just 2000 years ago, but hope today and tomorrow.   
      This Sunday I will be preaching from Romans 15 and Colossians 1 on “The Arrival of Hope.”  This hope is an anchor, the author of Hebrews tells us.  It holds in storms, high winds and rough seas.    Let’s explore this together.
 
See you Sunday,
 
Bill
 
P.S.   I don’t do this often, but some of you would be disappointed if I didn’t tell you when we need help.  It is an honor and a privilege to provide an emergency shelter for homeless women and children in our church.   It takes a lot of volunteers and help to make this a home—a discipling, faith-building, loving family that feeds the hungry, comforts the afflicted and provides the kind of care you would want us to give in the name of Jesus.  Would you pray about volunteering to stay overnight (even just one night), or to provide breakfast and snacks for our guests?   We especially need help over the holidays.   Thanks for all you do for Christ, for Grace Community Church and for the least of these.

Wednesday Check-in

Submitted by bill on Wed, 11/25/2009 - 3:40pm

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

         First, let me thank each of you who came to our Town Hall Congregational Meeting last Sunday.  It was encouraging to see so many who want to help us move forward as a church, growing in our faith and furthering His kingdom.  We will send out a recap of the things we talked about at the meeting next week. The budget did pass and again, many thanks to those who have given generously to help us make it through these hard economic times.   
        If you were at Grace last Sunday, you heard a pretty sobering, yet liberating message on the seventh commandment, "You shall not commit adultery."  It was sobering in that it brought to our minds all the ways lust has impacted our lives, our families and our world.  It was liberating in that realizing it all begins with lust, we know in Christ there is a way of life and fullness that frees us and prepares us to rightly enjoy God's good gifts which includes our sexuality.   Faithfulness to Christ sexually is a freedom our world knows little about.  We want to shine for Him especially in this area that has become so confused and perverse.  Moral purity is not achieved by white-knuckling our way through a seductive culture.  It is the result of God's grace and our cooperation with the Holy Spirit to see each other as God sees us.   For some it means getting help to get free of things we've allowed in our lives that we cannot control.  Both our men and women's ministries help brothers and sisters work through these issues.  Just contact the church office or our website if you'd like to get involved with those ministries.   

        We will be pausing our study of Deuteronomy to enjoy Advent, the four Sundays the church has celebrated in preparation for the birth of Christ.   Our hope is that these next four Sundays will help you really enjoy this season of the year and fill your life with great hope and joy as you await the celebration of the first coming of Christ.   We will return to our study of Deuteronomy after Christmas.   

       Have the best Thanksgiving.  Thank Him for all He has given, all He is and all we have to look forward to in Christ.  

 
God bless you,
Bill


P.S.  Thanks, too, for all the gift boxes you prepared and brought for Operation Christmas Child with Samaritan's Purse.  Can you imagine the faces of the children who will receive them and perhaps hear about Jesus for the first time?  Thanks for saying, "Yes!" to Jesus and to the least of these.          

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