Dear Church Family, “Amen and Awomen…” this is how Congressman (Reverend) Emanuel Cleaver recently ended his prayer in the House of Representatives. Most Christians (and Jews) know that Cleaver’s prayer, despite the phonetic similarity, “amen” doesn’t have any gendered connotation in the original Hebrew. It was a naked attempt at promoting a platform of the Democratic Party: [...]
Dear Church Family, I came across this prayer for a new year from Billy Graham and thought it was worth publishing….and praying! Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future. We each have [...]
Dear Church Family, When the angel told Joseph that Mary was going to conceive a son, not by him mind you, but by the Holy Spirit, then goes on to say; ….you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins – and they shall call Him Emmanuel.” Well, this was simply [...]
Dear Church Family, Because of the International Date Line (which I have crossed several times) you can fly from the USA on December 24th and arrive in Australia on December 26th, completely missing Christmas Day. But you can also stay home and miss it, end up exhausted, broke, glad it’s over, and not experience the [...]
Dear Church Family, This past Friday evening my clan (the Josephs, Riddicks and Johnsons) got together for what has become a family tradition – decorating Gingerbread houses. Each of the grandchildren; Noah, Greyson, Nixon, Silas and now Sawyer (this was her inaugural experience), get their own house and then decorate in their own unique way. [...]
Dear Church Family, Every year comes the wonderful season of Advent and Christmas. One of the things that is special about the Christmas experience is that it seems that even those people who have a hard heart and are somewhat distant from God, at one moment, or possibly several moments, they think about God and [...]
Dear Church Family, It’s good to be back just in time for the holiday season. I am deeply appreciative to Pastor Doug who was a “switch hitter” these last couple of weeks as he led in worship in the CWS and delivering the message in both services. If I can use a sports metaphor, which [...]
November 29 – December 27 “The Nouns of Christmas” The persons, places and things of Christmas will be our sermon series theme during this Advent and Christmas season. The Lighting of the Advent Candle The Advent Wreath is a ring of evergreens with four candles, one for each week of Advent. It also includes a [...]
Dear Church Family, With the Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas season not that far away there are some holiday traditions that mark this season in our church. First our season kicks off with our Thanksgiving baskets. In years past we have collected food and purchased turkeys for Thanksgiving baskets for needy families. Our WMU and women’s ministry have led [...]
Dear Church Family, NOVEMBER….what an interesting month. Especially this year. With the election tomorrow, Thanksgiving in in a few weeks and the 1st Sunday of Advent is coming early this year on the 29th. It will be a fascinating month. With the Thanksgiving/Advent/Christmas season not that far away there are some holiday traditions that mark [...]
