"An Email from Emmanuel"
On Christmas Eve I have responsibility for preaching at the 5 and 7 o'clock worship hours. Our adult choir will be singing and our bell choir will be playing. I should be a service full of beautiful music. At the end of the service we will turn off all our lights, light our candles, and sing "Silent Night". In the middle of the service we will be asked to ring our bells. If you have a bell bring it to the service.
The sermon is going off in two directions. I plan to look at two different aspects of the Christmas theme.
1. Why did we come? We came to see the Christ Child.
The implications of that fact are huge. It is symbolic of the fact that we, as human beings, seek new life and hope and a future. Coming to see the child is an activity we find ourselves doing frequently. Children are interesting to us. We travel great distances to see our first grandchild. We are intrigued with children. Christmas is a time to acknowledge the meaning of the search for the child.
2. Like the Magi we discover ourselves going home a different way. We may actually travel the same path but it will be different to us. Christmas will make us see things in a new way. We will leave on Sunday seeing things anew. We will go back home a new way and we will be new people as we return. We will be renewed if Christmas has the power is has the potential to possess.
I want us to think about why we have come and how we will return on Christmas Eve.
If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Merry Christmas.
Charles Schuster
The services on Christmas Eve:
3:00 Children and family service. Joel Kershaw preaching and his sermon title, "Angels We Have Heard On High"
5:00 and 7:00
11:00 Music by the Bellacordia String Quartet
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