It’s the second Sunday after Christmas, the first Sunday of a new calendar year, and the last Sunday before the Epiphany! Pastor Rob tells the story this week of Anna and Simeon and baby Jesus’ first trip to the Temple in Jerusalem – one of the most overlooked stories of the Christmas season!
In this week’s online service, we enjoy the sights and sounds of a virtual cantata! Arranged and organized by Gloria Brown, several musicians and singers in our church lend their gifts of music to tell the story of Christmas in song. So grab a nice cup of coffee or hot chocolate, sit back, and enjoy a virtual cantata on this cold December morning.
Church Organist Gloria Brown plays through some of her favorite Christmas hymns in a brief organ recital for Christmas Day. Merry Christmas!
Pastor Rob and his family lead a brief prayer service of lessons and carols to celebrate the Nativity of the Lord. Featuring special music from Matt Rogier, Linda Dreisner, Mary Ann Simpson, and Than Myint.
Reflect, Resist, Re-Imagine – A song of resistance and resolution challenges us to reflect God’s love by highlighting the creative power of God, while a letter to the early Church delves us into re-imagining who God is, who God uses, and who God called us to be. (Luke 1:26-38, 46b-55)
Refocus, Restore, Rejoice – On this third week of Advent, we live into the joy of God. We rejoice in the therapeutic nature of God and refocus on the one who is to come! (Psalm 126)
Also this Sunday, we enjoy a special annual Christmas presentation from our puppet ministry!
Remind, Reveal, Reinforce
With the people of Israel and the people of Mark’s Gospel, we remind ourselves of the restoration we hope for ourselves and the world. And we look for God to show up and be revealed in the everyday, the ordinary. (Isaiah 40:1-11 & Mark 1:1-8)
With heightened anticipation, we wait for Love to be born, and reflect on ways our waiting might be active in reshaping, reclaiming and remembering. (Isaiah 64:1-9 & Mark 13:34-37)
On this final Sunday of the church year – just one week before the start of Advent – we pause to give thanks. United States Thanksgiving Day is not rooted in the history of the church, nevertheless it has become an appropriate time for Christians to reflect on the blessings of a loving and compassionate God.
While Pastor Rob is away this week, we welcome back Rev. Patty King Bilyeu, Associate Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches – Great Rivers Region.
Rejecting Fear, Embracing Joy – Investing ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically in sharing God’s love and embracing the joy found in trusting the one to whom we lift our eyes, we move toward the fullness of God’s presence in our lives. (Matthew 25:14-30)
