SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR
Christmas Eve, December 24
Isaiah 62:6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Christmas Sunday
December 25
Psalm 96
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
Happy birthday, Jesus!
I'm so glad it's Christmas.
All the tinsel and lights
And the presents are nice,
But the real gift is You.
Happy birthday, Jesus!
I'm so glad it's Christmas.
All the carols and bells
Make the holiday swell,
And it's all about You.
Happy birthday, Jesus!
Jesus, I love You.
I love You, Jesus.
Arnetta Jones, the Executive Administrative Assistant who operates our Central Atlantic Conference office in Catonsville, Maryland, shared the above little song from her granddaughter’s Christmas program.
I hope that, in the New Year, many of you get to meet with Arnetta and her colleague, Angie Megna, as we put on the Synod of the United Church of Christ in Baltimore. Arnetta and Angie, along with our Associate Conference Ministers, are the voice and hands and feet of our Conference, more than anybody else. God bless them.
With our beautiful Christmas Card program last night at Bethel, we began our annual collection for the Christmas Fund / Veterans of the Cross. This year’s theme is, “God’s Love Colors Everything.”
The Christmas Fund is administered by the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ.
The following is a testimonial to the good work of the Christmas Fund, also known as “Veterans of the Cross” :
“It wasn’t easy picking up the telephone to share with you my present situation. In fact it was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life although it reminded me that grace still happens. Sometimes we as clergy persons lose sight of God’s grace when the negative stuff comes into our lives….”
“…thanks so much for sharing your time and ministry with me. Your most gracious gift is appreciated more than words can say as I continue to live in the ‘meantime.’”
These eloquent words are from a pastor who is the recipient of the caring and concern of those who contribute to the Christmas Fund Offering.
Your gift to the Christmas Fund will not only assist pastors like the one above, but also provide for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and provide Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks next December to low-income retirees.
Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income makes it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care.
Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors.
† † †
Christmas-time is when we get our greatest exposure to the New Testament Epistle to Titus. It speaks of the Grace of God which we do not deserve, yet God gives so richly.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Like all of you, at Christmas-time I am hit by a lot of requests for charity. We feel the temptation to throw them all in the trash, to ignore them, to regard them all as money-grubbing by despicable beggars. We “get tired of it.”
As followers of Jesus, however, we must let this onslaught of requests for help remind us how God patiently hears our prayers, and those of the entire weary world. Love came down at Christmas....
Christmas Eve, December 24
Isaiah 62:6-12
Psalm 97
Titus 3:4-7
Christmas Sunday
December 25
Psalm 96
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Luke 2:1-20
Happy birthday, Jesus!
I'm so glad it's Christmas.
All the tinsel and lights
And the presents are nice,
But the real gift is You.
Happy birthday, Jesus!
I'm so glad it's Christmas.
All the carols and bells
Make the holiday swell,
And it's all about You.
Happy birthday, Jesus!
Jesus, I love You.
I love You, Jesus.
Arnetta Jones, the Executive Administrative Assistant who operates our Central Atlantic Conference office in Catonsville, Maryland, shared the above little song from her granddaughter’s Christmas program.
I hope that, in the New Year, many of you get to meet with Arnetta and her colleague, Angie Megna, as we put on the Synod of the United Church of Christ in Baltimore. Arnetta and Angie, along with our Associate Conference Ministers, are the voice and hands and feet of our Conference, more than anybody else. God bless them.
With our beautiful Christmas Card program last night at Bethel, we began our annual collection for the Christmas Fund / Veterans of the Cross. This year’s theme is, “God’s Love Colors Everything.”
The Christmas Fund is administered by the Pension Boards of the United Church of Christ.
The following is a testimonial to the good work of the Christmas Fund, also known as “Veterans of the Cross” :
“It wasn’t easy picking up the telephone to share with you my present situation. In fact it was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life although it reminded me that grace still happens. Sometimes we as clergy persons lose sight of God’s grace when the negative stuff comes into our lives….”
“…thanks so much for sharing your time and ministry with me. Your most gracious gift is appreciated more than words can say as I continue to live in the ‘meantime.’”
These eloquent words are from a pastor who is the recipient of the caring and concern of those who contribute to the Christmas Fund Offering.
Your gift to the Christmas Fund will not only assist pastors like the one above, but also provide for the Supplementation of Small Annuities, Supplementation of Health Premiums, Emergency Grants, and provide Christmas “Thank You” Gift Checks next December to low-income retirees.
Your gifts are needed more than ever to help the growing number of retirees whose low-income makes it difficult to meet increasing living costs. This is your opportunity to participate in God's promise of renewal by enabling this ministry of compassion and care.
Our joy at Christmas is a response to God's promise of new life through the birth of Jesus. It is a joy we are called to share widely, through our witness and gifts, both to loved ones and to distant neighbors.
† † †
Christmas-time is when we get our greatest exposure to the New Testament Epistle to Titus. It speaks of the Grace of God which we do not deserve, yet God gives so richly.
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. This Spirit He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:3-7
Like all of you, at Christmas-time I am hit by a lot of requests for charity. We feel the temptation to throw them all in the trash, to ignore them, to regard them all as money-grubbing by despicable beggars. We “get tired of it.”
As followers of Jesus, however, we must let this onslaught of requests for help remind us how God patiently hears our prayers, and those of the entire weary world. Love came down at Christmas....
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