At this  next event we will once again be having a dinner, but instead of a restaurant ~ we will be breaking in to small groups to have dinner in the home of a couple. We’ll meet at the church for appetizers and some fun and then we will draw names for our dinner party companions and travel to dinner then back to the church for a special dessert and some devotions and sharing by Pastor Sheridan and others.

One day Jesus told a story about a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho when he was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. Two religious folk—let’s call one a pastor and the other a board member—came upon the man in need and carefully passed by on the other side of the road. They knew enough to avoid a problem when they saw one!

Later on, a fellow came along who had no real ties to the injured man. They weren’t from the same community; they were of different races and even different religions. Yet this stranger did something the other to gentlemen had failed to do—he took compassion on the man in need. He was seeing as God sees!

You realize that I’m referring to the story of the Good Samaritan. This masterful little tale teaches us to look beyond the many things that can separate us from others, especially those who are in need, and to see them as God does, with eyes of compassion.

This Sunday I’ll be challenging you to do just that as we explore a powerful teaching of John the Baptist (see Luke 3:1–18). Between now and then, give try this exercise. Call to mind the person or group of people whom you know who are in need. Now ask yourself this question: when I think of these folk, do I see a problem to be avoided or do I see precious souls whom Jesus loves?

When we can see the latter, we’ll be seeing others as God sees them.

You are loved—

Pastor Sheridan

This past week, following one of our Growth Groups, we were talking out in the foyer of the church and a member of the group commented on the lesson topic with tears in her eyes how hard it is to keep joy in your heart when so many things in life keep piling on. Over the past four years her family has gone through some very difficult times financially and that day she and her husband received news that it would become a possibility that they could lose their house. She was at the end of her means and didn’t know what to do. There in the foyer , she looked at me and asked, ” How can I have joy?”

I responded,” You will have joy, because God is your joy. Because you are God’s and God is yours. He will provide!”

Another group member standing with us said, ” That’s easy for you to say, you are not going through it!”

I said, ” That is true, but I know what it is like to have to trust God and find my joy in God when times are their toughest. We had a one year old baby girl and my wife Laura was diagnosed with cancer.” God was our joy through that very difficult time.

I left the conversation thinking and praying, God, I know you can provide; you can do anything; will you do it here? I really hoped so.

I received a text message the very next day from the woman who had asked “how can I have joy.” She asked me to thank the person who gave them $1,200 to meet their need! I responded: Praise God, Jehovah-jirah. The Lord will provide!I told her I would love to thank whoever gave that money to you , but this is the first I am hearing of it. I know that through someone’s obedience and open heart to God that He provided.

Then I prayed, God you are awesome! You are still the same – yesterday, today and forever!! Jehovah-jirah!

God doing miraculous things through His people – How awesome is that ? !

Pastor Sheridan

Click on the image above or here to begin a Bible reading plan – there are many to choose from!

Jan. 14: Children’s Workers Meeting 10:30 am at the church, if you are a worker in the Children’s Department or just interested in finding out where you might be able to volunteer and serve come and meet with Shirley Yoder our Children’s Ministry Director.

Jan. 20 – Girls Night Out at 7:00 pm/location to be announced soon. Ladies get this fun evening on the calendar, every time we get together it’s a wonderful evening of fun and fellowship and strengthening our walk with the Lord.

Jan. 21 – Sublime Youth Group Snow Day !! They will leave the church at 9:00 am, let Pastor Kyle know right away if you are going!

Jan. 28 – 456 ! An event for grades 4 – 6. A scavenger hunt starting at 4:00 pm at the church. FUN!

Vicki

This morning the reflection & devotion was on the “Christmas Song” – you know the one…. “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose,Yuletide Carols being sung by a choir, and folks dressed up like Eskimos”….. The song brings to mind some pleasant scenes: carolers at the door, snowy Christmas mornings.

But in the middle of our Christmas dreams and scenes, kids storm in to room yelling,”Mom”, or “Dad” ….telling on each other or complaining. The bills come in the mail, the phone rings with unpleasant news or maybe the job interview you did, you heard nothing on….

That’s life, isn’t it. Always a little extra on the ‘canvas’ of life that we didn’t picture on there. Surprises we didn’t expect and they aren’t always good ones.

But you know – God isn’t surprised . In fact , nothing surprises him. Don’t mistake bad things happening in your life as Him not being in control. This is not about His ability but about His sovereignty.

We wish it wasn’t so, but bad things will happen in our lives. Jesus said we’d have trouble; John 16:33. He also promises that He’ll calm us in the midst of it ; John 14:16. No matter where we are in life, whether the picture looks like we thought it would or not, rest assured, Our God is in control and can make all things beautiful. “All things work together for the good of those who love Him, Who’ve been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Wherever you are in your life, whether what you pictured is actually happening or not, you can completely rest in the fact that God is God. He is amazing and awesome and sovereign. He loves us more than we can ever imagine and He’s got things under control.

So much under control that He has planned out the details to degrees we don’t even know. I like what Pastor Sheridan shared about Zechariah and Elizabeth last week…. their names meaning ‘ God with us.” Even little details like that He has in His control!

Vicki

Our “Cheerful Lambs” present their Christmas musical special this coming Sunday ~ December 11 at 10:45 am. It is wonderfully precious to see the wonder and excitement of little ones as they celebrate the Christmas season. Don’t miss this Special Christmas presentation by our littlest lambs!

The following Sunday ~ December 18th ~ our Super Church kids with a little help from some of the teens, will perform “The – Not – So – Silent – Night” during the morning Worship  Service at 10:45 am. I’ve caught a little of their practice time and it looks wonderful !! Support our Children and our Ministry to them by being here !

Remember  to invite your family and friends to these special events !

Actually I love it too. ( and I miss my Vermont snow, which makes it even more Christmassy in my mind) But in the last few years I’ve found my self over stressed, over emotional and over tired through out the holiday season. Then before you know it – it’s January and it’s all over and I feel like I missed it all….again! I wonder what’s wrong with me!!?  How do I get myself in this spot?

I’ve’ been thinking about it a lot this year and I believe that I know what’s wrong. Well – a lot of things that are wrong. A lack of planning – overloading my calendar – expecting too much of myself – and forgetting the most important things.

This year as I enter the Thanksgiving/Christmas season I am purposefully asking God to re-adjust my priorities, my plans, my heart. If I blow through the end of November and December and get to January and say “What happened” , something is seriously wrong! I am determining that I can only do so much. What I decide to do I am going to do well and not take on a dozen extra things and only end up doing them halfway. I’m not going to exhaust myself and be the Grinch when the grand-kids want to share the wonder and joy with me. I am going to be in God’s Word faithfully this month, daily experiencing what this season is all about. I want to be open to Jesus this year, I want to find time to meditate on the wonder of His birth, the prophecies being fulfilled, the hope and love that Christmas represents.

All this is nothing new…. we read articles all the time about how to slow down and enjoy Christmas, we are intelligent – we know we are packing way too much in to this time of year, but we still do it …I;m just sharing with you what is going on in my heart this year, my plan, and maybe it will encourage you to really think before you add another date to your calendar.  I hope that however you plan this next month you can Enjoy, share the wonder,  and fully experience again the excitement and joy of Christ’s birth!

Blessings ~ Vicki

The Advent season is a time for reflection and preparation, but its mood is joyful. Advent has been enriched by Christian tradition to reflect its distinctive Christian meaning. It proclaims the revelation of God’s love as expressed in Christ’s birth in a humble stable, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His victorious resurrection! It points to the hope of Christ’s coming again as the King of kings and Lord of Lords. Advent makes innkeepers out of all of us, asking each of us to make room for the arrival of Christ The King.

November 27, is the First Sunday of Advent. On that Sunday the Advent candle will symbolize Hope, the message on the first Sunday is straight-forward: Jesus is coming again, and unexpectedly. ” Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come.” Mark 13:33

November 27th is also the evening that we gather together for a very church Family Fun evening for the Hanging of the Greens. The evening begins with a short but special service then we get to have s finger food snack for dinner and start some fun decorating!