12/21/14---Order of Service
Welcome
Opening Hymn 196-Come Thou Longexpected Jesus
Prayer of Confession/Prayer of Intercession
The Lord’s Prayer
Praise & Worship-O come all ye faithful-234
Sermon: Matthew 1:16-21; Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke
1: 26-38
Offertory- Steadfast Love/As the deer panteth
Announcements/ Concerns
Closing – Hymn 220-Angels from the realms
A SUPPORT GROUP FOR MARY
The Christmas story is one of hope for the
oppressed, suppressed, marginalized, downtrodden and undeserving members of our
community in the meantime, between the
great acts of God in the past and the great
acts of God in the future.
The grand-mothers of Jesus found in the
cemetery journey of Matthew chapter one
(Tamar, Rahab, & Bathsheba) tell the story of
interracial marriage. Matthew chapter one
tells of the Alumni Association of Mary, the
mother of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
How many parents are ready to give their son
to a pregnant daughter in-law? How many
ladies are ready to sacrifice their lives, to go
through what Mary went through to give our
fallen world redemption from sin, poverty,
sickness and death? How many men are
ready to father a prince of peace for our wartorn and chaotic world?
For our salvation, Mary was willing to carry
the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, our
Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the
everlasting father, the Prince of peace for
Nine long months, without complaining.
Have we ever sacrificed anything for the
salvation of souls in our neighborhood,
community, city, county and state?
Somebody was willing to sacrifice a donkey,
a stable, etc. to bring our Savior to the world.
Are Christians so patient to wait for nine
months to feed Mary’s baby, or recommend
that the pregnancy be terminated, or the baby
given for adoption?
Tamar, in Genesis chapter 38 will not take no
for an answer to be an alumnus of Mary’s
college, so took the law into her own hands.
Rahab, the well-known hostess of Jericho did
not allow all the good news about Israel’s
victory to escape her, so decided to die for
the people of God to save her family, instead
of her nation.
Bathsheba, despite all the humiliation
decided to be the wife of David, and the
mother, by faith in order to be the
grandmother of Jesus.
Mary missed her teenage years to bring us a
savior. Are we willing to share the good news
of Christmas to a world searching for the
good news in the wrong places. Merry Xmas.