● December 2024 "The Mountain Top Messenger" Newsletter
(please click on above link to open current newsletter)
God's blessings on your Advent! This month we are experiencing the rare occurrence of the Advent
indeed beginning on the 1st of December. This leads us to four Sundays in Advent and only 3
Wednesdays. I first want to offer up another thank you to those who helped adorn our church for the
season, it looks great and I feel it really helps enhance our worship space. Things are moving right
along, we have begun our Sunday series based on Isaiah 40:1-11 Comfort, Comfort My People.
What an appropriate name, at least I feel for me as Pastor anyway. That is my goal, to help comfort
you in your knowledge of just who Jesus is and what his coming down from heaven and entering into
our world means for us. To give you comfort in knowing what Jesus has done for us here on earth
and how it relates to our future comfort with Him in heaven for eternity. While Lent and Easter are
my favorite season, none of that could happens without first experiencing Advent. And for me there
is nothing quite like sitting in the sanctuary in the evening with nothing but the Christmas lights on
and the Cross and stain glass illuminated. It is so peaceful and relaxing, I recommend you try it
some time, if you would like to, let me know, I can arrange it for you. I might even be able to schedule
a few times for you to come in, sit down, and really enjoy some quiet time in our Lord's house.
Our Wednesday Soup and Sandwiches will have started by the time you read this, I hope you
got a chance to enjoy the first one. We have one more coming up on the 11th of December, if you
didn't make the first one please try for the second. As a reminder for the Wednesday evening services
remember the service time is 6:00pm and our services for midweek are looking at Zachariah's
song, Elizabeth’s song, and finishing up on Dec. 18 with Mary’s Song. By the way soup and sandwich
begins at 5:00pm.
Christmas Eve Services will be at 4:00 and 7:00, the choir will be singing at the 4:00 service
and both services will be candlelight services. We will also have a Christmas morning service at 9:00am.
It is going to come and go very quickly I am afraid, so please join us as often as you can.
I forgot to mention that along with the Isaiah 40:1-11 reading being our focus for our sermon
messages on Sundays we will also be having an adult Bible study focusing on an overview of the
entire book of Isaiah, which has sometimes been referred to as the Fifth Gospel, so please if you
have the opportunity join us for that as well.
It doesn't happen often, but I believe at the moment I have run out of things to say. So I am
going to close simply by saying I pray that all of you have a Happy, Safe, and Enjoyable Advent and
Christmas Season. And that you always remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
God bless you all and thank you for allowing me to be your pastor.
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to
you. May He look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Rick
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