NEWSLETTER December 2018
Peace Talk
House of Prayer on Parker and Main
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30 “Don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife.” Matthew 1:20
From the Deacon’s Desk Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God, Our Father and Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. We look forward to Christmas with a great amount of anticipation. For
centuries, the prayer of every young Jewish girl was that she would bear the Messiah, the anointed one, the one that would save His people. This is the greatest news and honor any couple could ever have received! It may come as a surprise to us then to imagine that both Mary and Joseph had fears that needed to be calmed. An angelic messenger was certainly enough to startle and cause fear. The idea that your future wife may have been unfaithful or that following through with the marriage to a pregnant woman would cause a loss of reputation and respect in town would cause anxiety as well. I’m sure they didn’t expect that the child would be conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and not flesh and blood. Both of them in faith accepted the responsibility God had bestowed upon them. God calls on us as well, though usually it isn’t announced by an angelic messenger, to a special purpose in His kingdom. That purpose can be filled with apprehension and anxiety as well. However, God’s words to us are the same “Do not be afraid.” As we look at Mary and Joseph, we can see that God had everything planned. Though Mary and Joseph did not feel prepared, and weren’t for some of the things to come, God equipped and provided them with everything they would need as they took care of the child named Jesus. We receive many good gifts from God! On Christmas God’s greatest gift, His Son, is given to us. As we prepare for Christ’s second coming with anticipation, may He bless you this Christmas and all the year in the memory of His first coming. We also pray that He would inspire all of us to use our gifts to the fullest extent possible. That as we share our God given gifts with each other, every heart around us may be warmed and every life edified to the glory of God! Merry Christmas everyone!! SDG, Deacon John
If you find yourself unable to attend worship on Sunday, head over to Facebook and during the readings and sermon portion of the service we will go LIVE on “God’s Peace at Parker and Main”Facebook page. Now you can stay connected to God’s word and and Pastor message each and every Sunday. Past Sundays are available now on the “Video” section of the page.