NOTE FROM PASTOR J R FOR DECEMBER 18, 2016

This Sunday is The Fourth Sunday of Advent. The theme for this Sunday is “Love.” The themes for the four Advent Sundays are essential pillars of our faith in Christ. They are “Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.” The last 3 of which are the first 3 listed among the fruits of the Spirit. There are other gifts from a loving God.

Gifts have become a large part of our Christmas observances and traditions; and all over the world, families and friends give presents to each other. One of the main reasons of this custom of giving and receiving presents at Christmas, is to remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men of Frankincense, Gold and Myrrh. Most children around the world believe in a Christmas gift bringer. It’s often St. Nicholas, Santa Claus or Father Christmas. And indeed, Christians believe in a Supreme Christmas Gift Bringer as Christmas itself is really about a big present that God gave the world about 2000 years ago – Jesus! One of the most famous Bible verses, John 3:16, says; “God so loved the world, that God gave God’s one and only Son; so that “whosoever” believes In Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”

Think of the term “whosoever believes in Him” as representing anyone who accepts this gift given by God. That person gets “The Greatest Gift of All.” The Old Testament and Gospel text assigned for this Sunday call this gift “Emmanuel – God With Us; revealed IN us.” This gift is about a relationship with God and it brings with it lots of smaller gifts such as “Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.” The song, “The Greatest Love of All” has this wonderful line in it that says “I found the greatest love of all, inside of me!” The question is will you let it out? Will you let it lead you, guide you, order your steps and direct you path in life?

I said earlier that with “The Greatest Gift of All” comes other promises. These other promises are not just promises for things we want. They are also promises for things God knows we need.

Join us for worship at Covenant this Fourth Sunday of Advent. The theme is ‘LOVE’ and I’ll be preaching about “The Greatest Gift of All” and promises for things God knows we need. The assigned scripture text used for the sermon will be “Isaiah 7:10-14” and “Matthew 1:18-25.”

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