WELCOME TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10,

2006.

(CHURCH BELLS RINGING.)

>> GOOD MORNING. >> GOOD MORNING.

>> WELCOME EVERYONE TO FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

IF IT'S YOUR FIRST TIME, I HOPE YOU FIND WORSHIP MEANINGFUL.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO SIGN AND PASS THE RED BOOK TO YOUR

NEIGHBORS ALONG THE PEW SO WE KNOW YOU'RE HERE.

LET US PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS FOR WORSHIP.

>>> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> I'D LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO STAND AND SING OUR OPENING

HYMN ON THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT, HYMN NUMBER 129.

"LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O MIGHTY GATES."

   LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, O MIGHTY GATES   

   BEHOLD THE GLORIOUS RULER WAITS   

   THE SOVEREIGN ONE IS DRAWING NEAR   

   THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD IS HERE.   

   FLING WIDE THE PORTALS OF YOUR HEART   

   MAKE IT A TEMPLE, SET APART    

   FROM EARTHLY USE FOR HEAVEN'S EMPLOY   

   ADORNED WITH PRAYER AND LOVE AND JOY.   

   REDEEMER COME, WE OPEN WIDE OUR HEARTS TO YOU, HERE CHRIST, ABIDE.   

   LET US YOUR INNER PRESENCE FEEL   

   YOUR GRACE AND LOVE IN US REVEAL.   

   SO COME, OUR SOVEREIGN, ENTER IN   

   LET NEW AND NOBLER LIFE BEGIN.   

   YOUR HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE US ON   

   UNTIL THE GLORIOUS CROWN BE WON.   

>>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

PLEASE TURN TO THE SECTION IN YOUR BULLETIN THAT SAYS

"LIGHTING THE CANDLES OF ADVENT."

PEOPLE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS HAVE SEEN A GREAT LIGHT.

THE PROPHET ISAIAH SAID THESE WORDS LONG AGO, THEY RESONATE

IN OUR LIVES EVEN NOW.

FOUR CANDLES OF ADVENT STAND AS STUBBORN REMINDERS THAT

THE DEEPEST, DARKEST OF OUR WORLDS WILL NOT OVERCOME THE

LIGHT OF GOD'S LOVE AND GRACE.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE LITANY.

PREPARE THE WAY OF THE WORD.

PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD. WE HAVE HEARD THE PROPHETS.

GOD'S CHOSEN ONE WILL SOON BE AMONG US. WE MUST MAKE READY.

>> PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATH STRAIGHT.

>> THE WILDERNESS PLACES OF OUR LIVES MAY THREATEN TO OVERCOME US.

WE EASILY LOSE OUR WAY, BUT A SECOND CANDLE ADDS ITS LIGHT.

THE CANDLE OF WISDOM, THE PREPARATION, JOINS ITS CANDLE

OF WATCHFUL WAITING.

>> LET US PRAY.

SEND YOUR SPIRIT TO THE WILD CORNERS OF OUR HEARTS.

GRANT US WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WE WILL

PREPARE WELL FOR THE COMING OF THE PROMISED COUNSELOR.

AMEN.

IF ALL THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD OR STAY FORWARD FOR

WIGGLE TIME, CHRISTINE HAS WIGGLE TIME THIS MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> DO YOU HAVE A CHRISTMAS TREE AT YOUR HOME YET?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU PUT ON YOUR TREE?

ORNAMENTS.

STARS.

ANGELS.

CANDY CANES, PRETTY LIGHTS. 

MONKEYS.

ALL SORT OF THINGS.

BUT EVERYBODY HAS ALL SORTS OF THINGS ON THEIR TREE.

SOME PEOPLE HAVE CARTOON CHARACTERS, WINNIE THE POOH

AND THERE'S ALL SORTS OF THINGS OUT THERE TO HANG ON YOUR TREE.

WE REALLY GO ALL OUT DECORATING THE TREE. SOUNDS PRETTY.

FIBER OPTIC TREE, THEY HAVE ALL SORTS OF THEM OUT THERE NOWADAYS.

ANYWAY, IN THE CHURCH WE SOMETIMES HAVE A SPECIAL TREE.

WE CALL IT A CHRISMONS TREE.

IT IS THIS BIG, TALL, PRETTY, GREEN TREE.

IT DOESN'T HAVE WINNIE THE POOH ON IT OR SPORTS CHARACTERS

AND IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A FIBER OPTIC TREE.

IT'S A VERY GREEN TREE. IT'S A SPECIAL KIND OF TREE

AND AT CHRISTMAS WE USE A GREEN TREE BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,

THE EVERGREEN TREE NEVER DIES.

IT'S ALIVE IN THE FALL, ALIVE IN THE WINTER, ALIVE IN THE SPRING, ALIVE IN THE SUMMER.

IT'S ALWAYS GREEN AND WE USE A GREEN TREE TO SYMBOLIZE THAT GOD IS ALWAYS AROUND,

ALWAYS WITH US, ALWAYS ALIVE.

AND WE HAVE SPECIAL ORNAMENTS. AND THERE WAS A LADY WHO LIVED IN A SMALL TOWN IN

DANVILLE, VIRGINIA, IN THE 1940S AND SHE WENT TO A VERY SMALL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN THIS

LITTLE TOWN IN DANVILLE, VIRGINIA, AND SHE WANTED HER CHURCH TO BE ABLE TO DECORATE

A TREE THAT WASN'T SO SECULAR, THAT DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE COMMERCIALISM.

SHE WANTED TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT SO IT WOULD TELL A STORY OF CHRISTIANITY, SO SHE

FOUND A WAY TO DO THAT BY MAKING ORNAMENTS OUT OF THINGS TO SYMBOLIZE DIFFERENT

THINGS IN THE STORY.

THE STAR WAS A BETHLEHEM STAR THAT LED EVERYBODY TO BABY

JESUS IN THE MANGER, AND THEN THIS ONE IS A CHI-RHO.

SOME OF THE ORNAMENTS ON A CHRISTMAS TREE COME FROM THE

LETTERS OF THE GREEK THAT SYMBOLIZE DIFFERENT THINGS.

LIKE THE P AND THE X ARE ACTUALLY TWO GREEK LETTERS

THAT STAND FOR THE FIRST LETTERS OF JESUS' LAST NAME, CHRIST, SO JESUS CHRIST.

THEN THERE'S THIS ONE. THIS ONE HAS THREE RINGS. THEY ALL CONNECT.

AND THESE REPRESENT THE TRINITY, FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST.

GOD AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. THEY ALL CONNECT, THEY'RE ALL ONE.

THEN THERE'S SOME CROSSES. I BET YOU GUYS KNOW WHAT CROSSES STAND FOR, RIGHT?

JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR ALL OF US.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE CROSS IS.

HERE'S ONE. HERE'S A SEA SHELL. DO YOU KNOW WHAT A SEA SHELL IS?

WHAT'S A SEA SHELL REPRESENT?

>> WATER?

>> IT REPRESENTS BAPTISM, TO BE BAPTIZED AND THE SEA SHELL REPRESENTS BAPTISM.

I HAVE TWO MORE IN HERE THAT I FOUND ON OUR TREE.

THIS ONE IS A BUTTERFLY. THE BUTTERFLY REPRESENTS NEW LIFE.

AND THEN THIS ONE, THIS ONE IS SPECIAL. THIS IS A CHALICE, A CUP.

THIS REPRESENTS COMMUNION, AND THEN THERE'S LOTS MORE WE

CAN PUT ON OUR TREE.

IF YOU LOOK ON THE VERY TOP THERE'S A CROWN WHICH REPRESENTS THAT JESUS IS OUR

KING AND SOMETIMES WE GET A FISH WHICH REPRESENTS JESUS. AND YOU SEE A DOVE,

THE DOVE  IS A LITTLE BIRD. AND THAT REPRESENTS THE HOLY SPIRIT.

WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SYMBOLS AND THERE'S A MANGER SCENE OVER THERE.

YES, A CHILD IS REPRESENTED. LOTS OF DIFFERENT ONES.

THIS ONE, THE SEA SHELL, THEY'RE ALWAYS ONE COLOR.

YOU NOTICE THEY'RE ONE COLOR, NOT RED OR BLUE OR GREEN OR YELLOW.

THEY'RE ALL GOLD AND WHITE AND THAT'S THE COLOR IN THE CHURCH HERE AT CHRISTMAS.

SO THIS LADY, HER NAME WAS FRANCES AND SHE MADE THESE ORNAMENTS IN THE 1940S IN HER

CHURCH TO FIND A WAY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AND TELL THE STORY ON THEIR TREE, AND

THAT'S WHAT WE CARRIED ON AND WE STILL DO IT.

AND SO THIS YEAR, WHEN YOU DECORATE YOUR TREE, YOU CAN FIND AN ANGEL, AND THINGS.

LETS PRAY AND I WANT YOU GUYS TO HELP ME PUT THESE BACK ON

THE TREE.

OKAY?

DEAR GOD, HELP TO US REMEMBER

WHAT CHRISTMAS REALLY IS

ABOUT, ABOUT YOUR BIRTH OF

YOUR SON JESUS.

IN YOUR NAME, WE PRAY, AMEN.

IF I CAN GET ONE OF THE

ADULTS HERE TO HOLD THAT,

LETS PUT THE ORNAMENTS ON THE

TREE.

EVERYBODY TAKE AN ORNAMENT.

BE CAREFUL, REAL CAREFUL.

I FORGOT TO TELL YOU, I WAS

TOLD THAT THESE ORNAMENTS

WERE MADE IN THE EARLY `70S

BY SOME LADIES IN OUR CHURCH,

SO THESE ORNAMENTS HAVE BEEN

AROUND A LONG TIME.

>> NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE

READING OF THE SCRIPTURE.

I WENT THROUGH HERE -- YOU

SEE A LOT OF SMILES A LOT OF

EYES REALLY CRINKLING HERE.

WE'RE AWFUL PROUD OF THESE

CHILDREN.

OUR READING THIS MORNING IS

THE BOOK OF MALACHI, CHAPTER

3, VERSES 1 THROUGH 4.

YOU WILL FIND THEM IN YOUR

PEW BIBLE IN PAGE NUMBER 830.

A ORACLE, THE WORD OF THE

LORD TO ISRAEL BY MALACHI.

I HAVE LOVED YOU, SAYS THE

LORD, BUT YOU SAY, HOW HAVE

YOU LOVED US?

IS NOT ESAU JACOB'S BROTHER,

SAYS THE LORD?

YET I HAVE LOVED YE -- I HAVE

LOVED JACOB, BUT I HAVE HATED

ESAU.

I HAVE MADE HIS HILL COUNTRY

A DESOLATION, AND HIS -- I AM

READING THE WRONG VERSES.

SORRY.

EXCUSE ME.

COMING OF THE MESSENGER.

SEE, I AM SENDING MY

MESSENGER TO PREPARE THE WAY

BEFORE ME, AND THE LORD WHOM

YOU SEEK WILL SUDDENLY COME

TO HIS TEMPLE.

THE MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT

IN WHOM YOU DELIGHT, INDEED,

HE IS COMING, SAYS THE LORD

OF HOSTS.

BUT WHO CAN ENDURE THE DAY OF

HIS COMING AND WHO CAN STAND

WHEN HE APPEARS?

FOR HE IS LIKE A REFINER'S

FIRE AND LIKE FULLERS' SOAP.

HE WILL SIT AS A REFINER AND

PURIFIER OF THE SILVER AND HE

WILL PURIFY THE DESCENDANTS

OF LEVI AND REFINE THEM LIKE

GOLD AND SILVER, UNTIL THEY

PRESENT OFFERINGS TO THE LORD

IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

THEN THE OFFERING OF JUDAH

AND JERUSALEM WILL BE

PLEASING TO THE LORD AS IN

THE DAYS OF OLD AND AS IN

FORMER YEARS.

THE SECOND READING THIS

MORNING IS IN MARK 1, 1

THROUGH 8.

IN YOUR PEW BIBLE AT PAGE

NUMBER 867.

THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD

NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST, THE SON

OF GOD.

AS IT IS WRITTEN IN THE

PROPHET ISAIAH, SEE, I AM

SENDING MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF

YOU AND YOU WILL PREPARE YOUR

WAY.

THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING OUT

IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE

THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS

PATHS STRAIGHT.

JOHN THE BAPTIST APPEARS IN

THE WILDERNESS PROCLAIMING

BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE

FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND

PEOPLE FROM THE WHOLE JUDEAN

COUNTRYSIDE AND ALL THE

PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM WERE

COMING OUT TO HIM, AND WERE

BAPTIZED BY HIM IN THE RIVER

JORDAN.

CONFESSING THEIR SINS.

NOW, JOHN WAS CLOTHED WITH

CAMEL'S HAIR AND A LEATHER

BELT AROUND HIS WAIST, AND HE

ATE LOCUSTS AND WILD HONEY.

HE PROCLAIMED, THE ONE WHO IS

MORE POWERFUL THAN I IS

COMING AFTER ME.

I AM NOT WORTHY TO STOOP DOWN

AND UNTIE THE THONGS OF HIS

SANDALS.

I HAVE BAPTIZED YOU WITH THE

WATER, BUT HE WILL BAPTIZE

YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS.

>> THANKS BE TO GOD.

>> LET US STAND FOR OUR HYMN

OF THANKSGIVING.

   LIKE A CHILD LOVE WOULD

SEND TO REVEAL AND TO MEND    

   LIKE A CHILD AND A FRIEND,

JESUS COMES    

   LIKE A CHILD WE MAY FIND

CLAIMING HEART, SOUL AND MIND    

   LIKE A CHILD STRONG AND

KIND, JESUS COMES    

   LIKE A CHILD WE WILL MEET,

RAGGED CLOTHES, DIRTY FEET    

   LIKE A CHILD ON THE STREET,

JESUS COMES    

   LIKE A CHILD WE ONCE KNEW

COMING BACK INTO VIEW    

   LIKE A CHILD BORN ANEW,

JESUS COMES    

   LIKE A CHILD BORN TO PRAY

AND TO SHOW US THE WAY    

   LIKE A CHILD HERE TO STAY,

JESUS COMES    

   LIKE A CHILD WE RECEIVE ALL

THAT LOVE CAN CONCEIVE    

   LIKE A CHILD WE BELIEVE,

JESUS COMES    

>>> PLEASE BE SEATED.

GOOD MORNING.

>> GOOD MORNING.

>> ARE THERE ANY

ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ANYONE

NEEDS TO MAKE?

>> I HAVE ONE.

>> GARY HAS ONE.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU

AND I KNOW THAT PAUL WILL

PROBABLY SAY THIS, TOO.

THIS EVENING IS GOING TO BE

OUR 27TH, 28TH MORAVIAN LOVE

FEAST.

IT STARTS AT 5:30 WITH A

PRESENTATION OF MUSIC FROM

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

IN KNOXVILLE'S TROMBONE CHOIR

AND THEN THE SERVICE BEGINS

AT 6 P.M.

WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES, JACK

BARKER AND I WERE TALKING

ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT.

WE'RE FINDING OURSELVES

HAVING TO COMPETE WITH MORE

AND MORE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS

SERVICES AT THIS TIME OF THE

YEAR.

FIRST FRIEND IS HAVING THEIR

CHRISTMAS PRESENTATION

TONIGHT AS IS CUMBERLAND

PRESBYTERIAN AND THEY'RE ALL

OVER THE AREA, SO WE WOULD

LIKE VERY MUCH TO HAVE A VERY

NICE REPRESENTATIVE CROWD

FROM THE CHATTANOOGA AREA.

NOT ONLY IS THIS FOR THE

MEMBERS OF FIRST CHRISTIAN

CHURCH, BUT IT'S ALSO FOR

MEMBERS OF THE CHATTANOOGA

AREA COMMUNITY, SO GRAB

SOMEONE THAT DOES NOT

NORMALLY COME TO THIS CHURCH,

ESPECIALLY TO THE SERVICE,

AND SAY YOU NEED TO COME AND

WITNESS THIS BEAUTIFUL

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES IN THE

STYLE OF THE MORAVIAN CHURCH.

WE NEED TO COME TO THIS

SERVICE TONIGHT.

>> THERE WILL BE CHILD CARE

SO PLEASE BRING YOURSELVES,

YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FRIENDS.

CHRISTINE, YOU LOOK LIKE

YOU'RE DYING TO SAY SOMETHING

THERE.

>> THANKS.

I WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE

THAT THIS COMING WEDNESDAY IS

THE CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS

PROGRAM AND ALSO OUR SPECIAL

FRIENDS FROM BROWN ACADEMY

WILL BE HERE TO SING FOR US

FOLLOWING THE CHILDREN'S

CHRISTMAS PLAY, SO PLEASE

COME.

THE CHRISTMAS DINNER IS ALSO

WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT 5:30 AND

THE CHILDREN'S PLAY IS

UPSTAIRS IN THE SANCTUARY AT

6:30.

>> PLEASE COME TO DINNER ON

WEDNESDAY, 5:30, FOLLOWED BY

THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM, OUR

CHILDREN FROM OUR CHURCH AND

SOME CHILDREN FROM BROWN

ACADEMY WILL BE PRESENTING

SOME MUSIC, SO PLEASE, PLEASE

COME AND SUPPORT THAT

MINISTRY.

>> TRAVIS?

>> IF YOU CHECK YOUR BRIDGE,

THERE'S TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

ONE IS THE FOR THE BRIDGE

SERVICE, WE ARE LOOKING FOR

VOLUNTEERS TO HELP IN A LOT

OF DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, SO

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED, THEN

PLEASE TALK TO ME OR CALL THE

CHURCH OFFICE.

THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT

WAYS THAT WE NEED HELP TO

MAKE IT WORK, AND ALSO, FOR

THE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM THAT

WE'RE GOING TO BE STARTING

UP, IF YOU HAVE AN OLD GUITAR

THAT'S JUST SITTING AROUND

THE HOUSE THAT YOU WOULD LIKE

TO DONATE, WE'RE GOING TO BE

GIVING GUITAR LESSONS TO THE

CHILDREN AT BROWN, SO IF YOU

HAVE ONE YOU WOULD LIKE TO

DONATE, THEN DROP IT BY THE

CHURCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SOME OF YOU PROBABLY WILL BE

HEARING FROM ME.

I'VE BEEN SICK THIS WEEK, SO

IF I SAID I WAS GOING TO GET

TO YOU AND I DIDN'T, I

APOLOGIZE, ABOUT THE AFTER

SCHOOL PROGRAM AND MAYBE SOME

GIFTS THAT YOU WOULD BE ABLE

TO OFFER IN THE TUTORING.

SO KEEP AN OPEN MIND AND

HEART WITH THAT, AND YOU'LL

BE HEARING MORE INFORMATION

ABOUT IT.

OUR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM.

ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?

>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THIS

IS AN ANNOUNCEMENT OR NOT,

BUT IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME, I'D

LIKE TO REINTRODUCE TO YOU MY

WEEKEND GUESTS, ROLAND AND

MARILYN FOUTS.

THEY'RE LONG-TIME MEMBERS

HERE AND IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A

CHANCE TO GREET THEM, PLEASE

DO SO AFTER CHURCH BECAUSE

WE'RE NOT GOING TO RUSH OUT.

WE DON'T HAVE ANOTHER MEETING

TO GO TO.

(APPLAUSE.)

>> THAT'S WORTHY OF

ANNOUNCEMENT.

ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?

>> THE CHILDREN ARE

REHEARSING RIGHT AFTER

CHURCH, IF ALL THE CHILDREN

WILL BE IN FRONT OF THE

SANCTUARY FOLLOWING WORSHIP.

THANK YOU.

>> CHRISTMAS PRACTICE RIGHT

AFTER WORSHIP.

JOYS?

ANY JOYS?

JIM.

I HAD A FEELING.

>> MYSELF AND MOGGIE ARE

PROUD GRANDPARENTS, BORN

MONDAY, LITTLE BOY, DUNCAN,

EIGHT POUNDS MSIX OUNCES.

HE'S JUST THE SMARTEST, MOST

BEAUTIFUL YOUNG THING YOU'VE

EVER SEEN.

(APPLAUSE.)

>> JIM SIGNED HIM UP FOR THE

PH.D. PROGRAM.

>> AND I HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT

WITH A JOY.

LAST NIGHT AT THE CHOIR

PARTY, HE WAS HANDING OUT

CALLING CARDS WITH A PICTURE

ON IT ALREADY FOR THIS SMART

BRIGHT YOUNG KID.

>> NEVER TOO EARLY TO START.

OTHER JOYS?

CONCERNS, PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE

OPERATING FOR?

>> I TALKED TO (INAUDIBLE)

LAST NIGHT AND TED IS VERY

ILL IN MEMORIAL ICU, IF YOU

WOULD PRAY FOR HIM.

>> PLEASE PRAY FOR MY

BROTHER, HE'S (INAUDIBLE) AND

HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE

MORE TREATMENT, THANK YOU.

>> AND MARTHA POPE NEEDS OUR

PRAYERS.

>> ALSO PRAY FOR RODNEY AND

ANN HUFF.

>> MY DAUGHTER PAM IS DRIVING

WITH HER HUSBAND DOUG TO

BETHESDA, MARYLAND, TODAY TO

THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

HEALTH FOR MORE TESTING, SO

IF YOU WOULD KEEP THEM IN

YOUR PRAYERS.

>> ANY OTHERS?

OH.

>> DONNA HARTLINE, SHE HAS

GONE HOME TO ARKANSAS.  HER

FATHER IS FAILING, SO THE

FAMILY HAS GONE.

>> ANY OTHERS?

>> MY SISTER-IN-LAW SHIRLEY

ALDRICH STILL NEEDS OUR

PRAYERS.

SHE HAS A LONG WAYS TO GO.

>> BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT

OF SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO

TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY.

GRACIOUS GOD, WE ARE REMINDED

IN THE ADVENT SEASON THAT YOU

COME TO US AS A CHILD.

MAY WE NOW IN THIS TIME OF

PRAYER COME TO YOU AS

CHILDREN, FILLED WITH HOPE

AND JOY, FILLED WITH AWE AND

WONDER OF YOUR GOODNESS.

MAY WE COME TO YOU BECAUSE WE

ARE REMINDED THAT YOU CARE,

YOU HEAR OUR CRIES FOR HELP,

FOR PEACE, COMPASSION.

PLEASE HEAR OUR NEEDS, THAT

WE ARE GRATEFUL, AND AS WE

LEARN TO WAIT, WE LEARN

PATIENCE, JUST TO LISTEN TO

YOUR ANSWERS TO OUR PRAYERS.

REMINDING US THAT WE HAVE

WHAT WE NEED, NOT NECESSARILY

WHAT WE WANT.

HELP TO US TRUST THAT YOU

KNOW BETTER.

THIS SEASON COMES TO US SO

FAST, IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

IT WILL BE OVER.

SO CONTINUALLY PUT THAT CHILD

IN FRONT OF US SO THAT WE

MIGHT STAY FOCUSED, BUT AS WE

GIVE AND RECEIVE GIFTS, WE

ARE REMINDED OF THE GREATEST

GIFT THAT YOU OFFERED AND

THAT WE MIGHT TAKE THAT GIFT

AND PLACE IT IN OUR HEARTS.

WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE

PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE PUT IN

OUR LIVES SO THAT WE MIGHT

SHARE THIS BRIEF TIME

TOGETHER.

MAY WE NEVER TAKE THAT FOR

GRANTED.

MAY WE CONTINUALLY LIFT THAT

UP AS YOU LIFT US UP.

WE LIFT UP THOSE PERSONS,

THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE IN ILL

HEALTH, WHO ARE IN DRASTIC

NEED OF HELP.

USE US TO BRING ABOUT YOUR

WELLNESS TO THESE PERSONS,

HELP US TO BE OPEN TO BE USED

IN YOUR NAME AND FOR YOUR

SAKE.

FOR THESE YOUR CHILDREN.

MAY THEY FEEL YOUR PRESENCE

AND KNOW YOUR PEACE.

COME THIS DAY TO WORSHIP.

WE OPEN OUR HEARTS AND OUR

MINDS THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE

WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US THIS

DAY, LOOKING AS CHILDREN FOR

A NEW WONDERFUL GIFT.

HELP US TO LIVE OUT OUR

CALLING EACH AND EVERY DAY AS

YOUR DISCIPLES.

WE ARE REMINDED OF THIS

CALLING IN THE PRAYER THAT

JESUS TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES,

SO AS DISCIPLES, WE SAY IT

TOGETHER BOLDLY.

OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN

HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME,

THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE

DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN

HEAVEN.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY

BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR

TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE

THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST

US.

AND LEAD US NOT INTO

TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US

FROM EVIL, FOR THINE IS THE

KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE

GLORY FOREVER.

AMEN.

>> NOW IS OUR TIME OF

OFFERING AS WE REFLECT ON THE

GENEROSITY OF GOD, HIS

ULTIMATE GIFT TO US, HIS SON,

LET US GIVE GENEROUSLY.

   PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL

BLESSINGS FLOW, PRAISE HIM

ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW.

PRAISE HIM ABOVE YE HEAVENLY

HOSTS, PRAISE FATHER, SON AND

HOLY GHOST.

AMEN.    

>> WE NEED YOUR HELP.

IF YOU TURN IN YOUR HYMNAL TO

HYMN NUMBER 124, I WANT YOU

TO JOIN AND SING WITH US ON

VERSE NUMBER 4 IN YOUR

HYMNAL.

WILL YOU DO THAT FOR ME,

PLEASE?

PLEASE?

>> YES, SIR.

>> HUMOR ME?

>> YES.

   LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP

SILENCE, AND WITH FEAR AND

TREMBLING STAND    

   PONDER NOTHING EARTHLY

MINDED, FOR WITH BLESSING IN

HIS HAND    

   CHRIST OUR GOD TO EARTH

DESCENDETH, OUR FULL HOMAGE

TO DEMAND.    

   KING OF KINGS YET BORN OF

MARY    

   AS OF OLD ON EARTH HE STOOD    

   LORD OF LORDS IN HUMAN

VESTURE, IN THE BODY AND THE

BLOOD    

   HE WILL GIVE TO ALL THE

FAITHFUL HIS OWN SELF FOR

HEAVENLY FOOD.    

   RANK ON RANK THE HOST OF

HEAVEN, RANK ON RANK THE HOST

OF HEAVEN.

SPREADS ITS VANGUARD ON THE

WAY, SPREADS ITS VANGUARD ON

THE WAY.

AS THE LIGHT OF LIGHT

DESCENDETH, AS THE LIGHT OF

LIGHT DESCENDETH, FROM THE

REALMS OF ENDLESS DAY, FROM

THE REALMS OF ENDLESS DAY.

THAT THE POWERS OF HELL MAY

VANISH, THAT THE POWERS OF

HELL MAY VANISH, AS THE

DARKNESS CLEARS AWAY, AS THE

DARKNESS CLEARS AWAY.    

   AT HIS FEET THE WINGD

SERAPH, CHERUBIM WITH

SLEEPLESS EYE, VEIL THEIR

FACES TO THE PRESENCE    

   AS WITH CEASELESS VOICE

THEY CRY, AS THEY CRY.    

   ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, LORD,

MOST HIGH.

ALLELUIA, GOD MOST HIGH.    

>>> LET US PRAY.

FOR THESE YOUR WORDS, O GOD,

WE GIVE YOU THANKS, THAT THEY

PENETRATE OUR HEARTS IS OUR

PRAYER.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY,

AMEN.

I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT

ABOUT REPENTANCE THIS WEEK.

I HAVE NO BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TO

MAKE ABOUT IT OR ANYTHING,

BUT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT

REPENTANCE AND WHEN I FIRST

LEARNED OF REPENTANCE, THE

WORD REPENTANCE.

AND I REMEMBER THAT EVERY SO

OFTEN, WE HAD TO GO TO

CONFESSION.

I WAS RAISED ROMAN CATHOLIC

AND WE HAD TO GO TO

CONFESSION, AND THE THING I

REMEMBER ABOUT CONFESSION IS

THAT MY FRIENDS AND MY

COUSINS AND I, JOHNNY, MIKEY,

TONY, PAULY, YOU KNOW, ALL MY

FRIENDS, WE'D GET TOGETHER

AND WE KIND OF WOULD GROUP

OUR SINS TOGETHER, AND SO WE

DIDN'T WANT TO SAY THE SAME

ONES.  WE DIDN'T GIVE IT MUCH

THOUGHT OBVIOUSLY.

YOU TELL THE PRIEST THIS AND

YOU TELL THE PRIEST THIS AND

YOU TELL THE PRIEST THIS.

WE'D COME UP WITH A CERTAIN

GAME PLAN.

IT REALLY WAS LIKE A HUDDLE.

SO WE WOULD GO AND TALK ABOUT

THE SINS THAT WE NEEDED TO

REPENT OF, AND I REMEMBER IT

FELL TO ME THIS PARTICULAR

DAY OF CONFESSION THAT I

NEEDED TO REPENT OF THE SIN

OF HITTING MY SISTER.

SO I WENT IN AND I SAID, YOU

KNOW, I HIT MY SISTER AND

THAT WAS MY SIN, AND, OF

COURSE, I DON'T HAVE A

SISTER.

I'M AN ONLY CHILD.

(LAUGHTER.)

>> AND I KNOW IT'S NOT GOOD.

I'M NOT -- THIS IS NOT ONE OF

THOSE EXAMPLES THAT I'M

LIFTING UP.

BUT THAT REALLY WAS WHERE I

FIRST LEARNED ABOUT

REPENTANCE, AND I'VE BEEN

THINKING ABOUT WHAT'S

HAPPENED TO REPENTANCE, THAT

WORD, THE THEOLOGY OF

REPENTANCE.

IT SEEMS THAT FOR A LONG

TIME, REPENTANCE WAS LEFT TO

T.V. PREACHERS AND IT'S BEEN

EXAGGERATED AND YOU SEE

PREACHERS YELLING, "I BELIEVE

THAT YOU NEED TO REPENT," AND

I DON'T KNOW, THAT DOESN'T

SEEM LIKE A GOOD THING TO ME,

PEOPLE YELLING OR THE

DISTORTION THAT REPENTANCE

HAS RECEIVED OR WHERE YOU

REALLY EVEN FEEL BAD ABOUT

YOURSELF.

THAT'S WHAT REPENTANCE IS

ABOUT, AFTER YOU GET YELLED

AT, YOU NEED TO FEEL BAD

ABOUT YOURSELF.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S REALLY

WHAT REPENTANCE IS ABOUT.

OR MAYBE IT'S ABOUT THE

CARICATURE THAT'S BEEN PUT

UPON JOHN THE BAPTIST AS A

CRAZY MAN, AS MAYBE THAT HAS

SOMETHING TO DO ABOUT IT.

THE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW

THIS MESSENGER COMES SHOUTING

AND, OF COURSE, WE LIKE TO

TAKE THINGS LITERALLY ALL THE

TIME, SO WE ENVISION JOHN THE

BAPTIST JUST SCREAMING OUT,

REPENT, REPENT!

MAYBE I SHOULD BE ON T.V.

(LAUGHTER.)

AND WE HEAR ABOUT THIS MAN

WHO, HE DRESSED, HE DIDN'T

HAVE A SENSE OF FASHION, HE

HAD THIS WEIRD DRESS AND HE

ATE LOCUSTS AND HONEY,

STRANGE DIETARY NEEDS.

WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT JOHN, IT

SEEMS LIKE THAT'S THE JOHN

YOU GET.

YOU IMAGINE HIM JUST

SHOUTING, REPENT, REPENT!

BUT IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT

THE TEXT, IT'S REALLY NOT

JOHN THE BAPTIST THAT'S

SHOUTING.

IT'S USUALLY THOSE FELLOWS ON

TV, THOSE PREACHERS SHOUTING,

REPENTANCE!

BUT REPENTANCE IS WHAT JOHN

THE BAPTIST HAS COME TO

PREACH, AND YOU KNOW, WE

DISCIPLES HAVE TAKEN THAT

SERIOUSLY FOR QUITE A LONG

WHILE.

WE CALL IT IN OUR LINGO THE

FIVE-FINGERED EXERCISE:

FAITH, REPENTANCE, BAPTISM,

FORGIVENESS OF SIN, AND GIFT

OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

REPENTANCE IS A VITAL PART OF

THAT.

IT SEEMS THAT JOHN THE

BAPTIST WAS SHINING THIS

BRIGHT LIGHT IN THE FACE OF

HIS PEOPLE.

EVERY YEAR AT PASSOVER TIME,

THEY RECITED THE STORY OF

EXODUS FROM EGYPT, TELLING

OVER AND OVER HOW GOD RESCUED

ISRAEL FROM PHARAOH, BRINGING

THEM FROM THE RED SEA AND

AWAY ACROSS THE WILDERNESS TO

THEIR PROMISED LAND.

I MEAN, ALONG WITH THE

CREATION STORY, IT'S THE MOST

IMPORTANT STORY IN THE OLD

TESTAMENT, AND JOHN'S

AUDIENCE WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT

VERY WELL.

BUT SIMPLY -- INSTEAD OF

SIMPLY HEARING THE WORDS AND

REMEMBERING THE STORY, JOHN

WAS TURNING THIS INTO SOME

SORT OF PLAY AND TELLING HIS

HEARERS, HIS AUDIENCE THAT

THEY WERE THE CAST, THEY WERE

TO COME TO THE WATER AND THEY

WERE TO BE FREED.

IT WASN'T JUST A HISTORY

LESSON ANYMORE.

THEY WERE TO LEAVE BEHIND

THIS WORLD OF SIN IN WHICH

THEY WERE LIVING, THE WORLD

OF REBELLION AGAINST THE

LIVING GOD.

THEY WERE LOOKING IN THE

WRONG DIRECTION AND GOING IN

THE WRONG DIRECTION.

EVERY TIME I THINK OF JOHN

THE BAPTIST, I THINK OF THE

GUY WHO WORKS ON THE STATE

ROAD CREW WHO PUTS UP THE

SIGNS, YOU KNOW, LEFT LANE

CLOSED, WRONG WAY, DETOUR,

MERGE.

THAT'S JOHN.

PUTTING UP SIGNS.

IT'S TIME TO TURN AROUND AND

GO THE RIGHT WAY, WHICH BY

THE WAY, THAT'S WHAT

REPENTANCE REALLY MEANS.

TURN AROUND AND GO THE RIGHT

WAY.

IS THIS GOOD NEWS?

THIS REPENTANCE?

IT IS IF REPENTANCE IS MORE

THAN FEELING BAD.

IF REPENTANCE IS DEMONSTRATED

BY A WAY OF LIFE AND NOT JUST

FEELING BAD BECAUSE SOMEBODY

YELLED AT YOU AND TOLD YOU

YOU WERE BAD.

IF REPENTANCE IS ABOUT MAKING

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS OR

GIVING YOUR LIFE TO THE NEEDS

OF OTHER PEOPLE, OF LETTING

GO OF ALL YOUR GRUDGES, OF

BEING FREE BEFORE GOD, THEN

REPENTANCE IS GOOD NEWS.

AND IF THAT IS WHAT JOHN IS

PREACHING, I THINK PEOPLE

WILL BE VERY INTERESTED.

IF THAT IS WHAT REPENTANCE IS

ABOUT, THEN THAT'S GOOD NEWS,

BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S THIS

DEEP NEED FOR THIS KIND OF

REPENTANCE THAT JOHN AND

JESUS SPEAK OF.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE

TROUBLED IN OUR WORLD, MAYBE

SOME PEOPLE RIGHT HERE.

PEOPLE EMBROILED IN UNHEALTHY

RELATIONSHIPS, PEOPLE CAUGHT

UP IN OUR CONSUMERISTIC

CULTURE, TO WHERE THEY'RE

CONSUMED WITH HAVING STUFF

AND THEY'RE IMPRISONED BY THE

NEED TO HAVE STUFF, WHICH IS

MASKING THEIR REAL NEEDS FOR

FULFILLMENT.

PEOPLE WHERE THE DOLLAR IS

ALMIGHTY INSTEAD OF THE

ALMIGHTY.

THESE AND MANY MORE ARE CRIES

FOR SOMETHING MORE, SOMETHING

MORE.

THE OTHER NIGHT, WE WERE

SITTING ON THE COUCH AND WE

WERE WATCHING TV AND

MONTGOMERY WAS SITTING RIGHT

NEXT TO ME AND HE STARTED

READING ALOUD.

WE'RE ALL WATCHING T.V.,

DOING SOMETHING ELSE, AND

MONTGOMERY JUST STARTED TO

READ ALOUD.

WE SAID MONTGOMERY, SHHH,

WE'RE ALL WATCHING TV.

HE WAS -- I WAS TEMPTED TO.

WHY WAS HE READING OUT LOUD?

WANTED TO SHOW ME THAT HE

COULD READ, WANTED ME TO READ

WITH HIM.

WANTED ME TO READ WITH HIM.

IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT HIM

READING ALOUD.

HE WANTED ME TO READ WITH

HIM.

JOHN IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK

LOOKS AND LISTENS TO BEYOND

WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO WHAT THEY

NEED.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT CAN BE

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET

PAST OUR WANTS TO WHAT WE

REALLY NEED, BECAUSE WE GET

SO COVERED UP WITH OUR WANTS,

DON'T WE?

THAT SOMEHOW WE TRANSFORM

THEM INTO NEED AND THEY'RE

REALLY NOT.

THERE'S A BOOK, IT'S THE

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A FACE, I

DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE READ IT.

IT'S BY LUCY GREALY.

AS A TEENAGER SHE WAS

DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER IN HER

JAW, BOTH IN HER BONE AND HER

FLESH.

THEY CUT IT OUT.

SHE HAD TREATMENTS, MORE

TREATMENTS, SHE HAD SURGERY,

SOME OF THE SURGERY WAS TO

REPAIR HER FACE, SOME OF THE

SURGERY WAS TO TAKE AWAY HER

FACE.

SHE HAD OVER 30 SURGERIES,

REPAIR, CUTTING AWAY,

REPAIRING, CUTTING AWAY.

IN THE MEANTIME, SHE NEVER

WENT OUT.

CLOSED THE CURTAINS, LET HER

HAIR GROW SO IT WOULD COVER

THAT PART OF HER FACE.

SHE WORE BIG FLOPPY HATS AND

WORE THEM DOWN THE SIDE, THAT

SIDE OF HER FACE.

AND SHE WAS ANGRY.

IN HER WAS ANGER AND

BITTERNESS AND ENVY AND

JEALOUSY, AND SHE THOUGHT IF

I ONLY HAD A NEW FACE.

IF I ONLY HAD A NEW FACE, IF

I ONLY HAD A NEW FACE.

SHE SAID, IT TOOK ME FIFTEEN

YEARS TO FACE THE REAL

QUESTION.

IF I ONLY HAD A NEW HEART.

IF I ONLY HAD A NEW HEART.

AND WITH THAT, THE BITTERNESS

MELTED AWAY AND THE ENVY AND

THE COLDNESS AND THE ANGER.

FIFTEEN YEARS, ASKING THE

WRONG QUESTION.

HOW CAN WE GET PAST ALL THESE

THINGS AND GET TO THE GOOD

NEWS THAT JOHN SPEAKS OF?

HOW CAN WE GET A NEW HEART?

HOW CAN WE TURN THE RIGHT

WAY?

HOW CAN WE HELP PEOPLE GET A

NEW HEART?

SURELY WE DON'T NEED RANTING

AND RAVING AND SHOUTING LIKE

SOME PEOPLE DO, TELLING

PEOPLE TO REPENT AND MAKING

THEM FEEL BAD.

SURELY WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE

A JUDGMENTAL SPIRIT WHEN WE

TALK OF REPENTANCE.

I MEAN, DOES REPENTANCE HAVE

TO BE CONFRONTATIONAL, SO IN

YOUR FACE?

I REMEMBER LAST MAY I WAS IN

ATLANTA AND I CAN'T TELL YOU

EXACTLY WHERE IS, BUT I WAS

IN SOME PLAZA.

I WAS WALKING WITH SOME

FELLOW PREACHERS AND I

DISTINCTLY REMEMBER THIS MAN

YELLING ABOUT REPENTANCE AND

BEING SAVED, AND I LOOKED AT

ALL THE PEOPLE AROUND THAT

PLAZA.

SOME PEOPLE, YOU COULD TELL

HAD REALLY DEEP PROBLEMS,

MENTAL PROBLEMS, PHYSICAL

PROBLEMS, PEOPLE IN

WHEELCHAIRS, JUST REAL

PROBLEMS, AND HERE IS THIS

PERSON YELLING AT THEM TO

REPENT.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS SO

HELPFUL.

I DIDN'T THINK THAT WOULD

HELP THEM TURN WHATEVER WAY

THEY NEEDED TO TURN.

IT JUST SEEMED TO MAKE THEM

FEEL WORSE THAN THEY WERE

ALREADY FEELING.

YOU KNOW, I READ THIS WEEK

WHERE A PHILOSOPHER HAS SAID,

WHEN IT COMES TO -- THERE HAS

TO BE PRECEDING IT A

LINGERING.

I LIKE THAT, A LINGERING.

DON'T THROW PEOPLE INTO A

DEFENSIVE MODE WITH SHOUTS OF

REPENTANCE, BUT JUST EASE

INTO IT BY ASKING, WHAT IS IT

THAT WE REALLY NEED?

ESPECIALLY DURING THIS SEASON

OF GIVING AND RECEIVING.

REPENTANCE, THIS TURNING

TOWARD GOD, THIS NEW HEART,

CAN ALSO HAPPEN WHEN WE

REALIZE THAT WE'RE PART OF

SOMETHING BIGGER THAN

OURSELVES.

I'M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE

EITHER HEARD OF UMBERTO ECO.

HE WROTE A BOOK, DER NAME DER

ROSE.

IT WAS MADE INTO A MOVIE WITH

SEAN CONNERY AND SEAN CONNERY

IS THIS MONK.  THERE'S ALSO A

DETECTIVE.

UMBERTO ECO SAID HE WAS ONCE

INVITED TO GO TO A

PLANETARIUM AND HE LOVED THE

PLANETARIUM, AND WHEN HE

ARRIVED, THE TIME CAME TO

TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS SO

THEY COULD SEE THE BEAUTY IN

THE SIMULATED SKY.

STARS AND SUN AND THE MOON.

IT WAS AWESOME, HE SAID,

AWESOME.

HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT THE

DIRECTOR OF THE PLANETARIUM

KNEW HE WAS COMING, AND SO BY

MEANS OF THE COMPUTER, THE

DIRECTOR SET THE SKY AT A

CERTAIN POSITION, THE SKY AS

IT APPEARED OVER ALESSANDRIA,

ITALY, ON JANUARY 6TH, 1932,

THE NIGHT UMBERTO ECO WAS

BORN.

HE SAID, THAT'S WHERE I WAS

BORN, THE NIGHT I WAS BORN.

HE SAID I WAS STILL AS I

LOOKED UP.

I WAS FILLED WITH A SENSE OF

PEACE.

I COULD HAVE DIED AND IT

WOULD HAVE BEEN ALL RIGHT.

SOMETIMES, SOMETIMES THE

LARGENESS OF GOD OVERCOMES US

AND HELPS US TURN AROUND.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE SEE THAT

WE'RE PART OF SOMETHING

BIGGER THAN OURSELVES, WE

TURN AND GO THE RIGHT WAY.

I REMEMBER ONE CHRISTMAS

SEASON, THIS WOMAN AND HER

THREE BOYS STARTED ATTENDING

CHURCH.

SHE KNEW SOMEBODY WHO KNEW

SOMEBODY AT THE CHURCH AND

SHE STARTED COMING TO CHURCH

WITH HER BOYS, AND YOU COULD

TELL, IF YOU PAID ATTENTION,

THAT SHE WAS BARELY HOLDING

IT TOGETHER.

CHRISTMAS EVE CAME AND IT WAS

OUR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE,

AND SHE WAS ALONE.

HER THREE BOYS WEREN'T WITH

HER THAT NIGHT.

SHE HAD BROKEN DOWN A FEW

TIMES DURING THE SERVICE, AND

SHE WOULD WALK OUT AND SHE

WOULD COME BACK IN AND SHE

WOULD WALK OUT AND COME BACK

IN.

AFTER CHURCH, CHRISTMAS EVE,

AFTER GREETING PEOPLE, I WAS

EAGER TO GET HOME, GET THE

KIDS READY FOR BED AND GET

READY FOR CHRISTMAS MORNING,

RELAX WITH CHRISTINE.

I WAS READY TO GO HOME, AND I

HEARD A VOICE THAT SAID, MAY

I SPEAK WITH YOU?

NOW, NOW.

SURE, SURE, YOU CAN SPEAK

WITH ME.

AND I HEARD A VERY SAD STORY

THAT NIGHT, WHICH I DON'T

NEED TO GO INTO, BUT IT ENDED

LIKE THIS.

I HAVE REALLY MESSED UP MY

LIFE, SHE SAID.

I HAVE REALLY MESSED UP MY

LIFE.

NOW, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

DO YOU SHOUT?

REPENT!

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

MAKE THEM FEEL BAD ABOUT THE

PAST, FOR KEEPING YOU LATE ON

CHRISTMAS EVE?

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

WHAT DO YOU SAY SO HER LIFE

WILL BE TURNED AROUND?

DO YOU OFFER GOOD NEWS?

DO YOU TELL HER THERE'S THIS

GREAT WORD AND IT'S MORE THAN

A WORD?

IT'S CALLED REPENTANCE?

IT'S CALLED TURNING AROUND,

IT'S NOT A DO-OVER LIKE SOME

PEOPLE LIKE TO CALL IT

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DO YOUR

WHOLE LIFE OVER.

BUT YOU CAN START WITH A NEW

HEART TODAY.

YOU CAN LET GO OF ALL THE BAD

IN YOUR PAST THAT IS HOLDING

YOU DOWN TODAY.

YOU CAN TRUST IN THE GOODNESS

OF GOD TODAY.

YOU CAN LET GOD HELP YOU

TODAY.

YOU CAN SEE HOW BIG GOD IS

AND HOW YOU ARE PART OF THAT

LARGENESS TODAY.

THAT WAS JOHN'S MESSAGE FOR

THOSE PEOPLE THAT DAY, THAT

THE ONE COMING CAN DO ALL

THOSE THINGS, TURN TOWARD HIM

TODAY.

IT'S THE SAME MESSAGE FOR US

ON THIS SECOND SUNDAY OF

ADVENT.

LET ALL THAT BADNESS, ALL

THAT CONSUMERISM, ALL THAT

WEIGHS DOWN ON US, ALL THAT

KEEPS US FROM GOING IN THE

DIRECTION THAT GOD HAS CALLED

US, ALL OF THAT CAN BE WIPED

AWAY BY ONE LITTLE WORD.

REPENTANCE.

REPENT!

REPENTANCE.

TURN TOWARDS GOD.

TURN TOWARDS GOD.

THAT'S MUCH BETTER THAN

SOMEONE SHOUTING OR SOMEONE

MAKING UP STUFF THAT YOU

DIDN'T EVEN DO, ISN'T IT?

THIS SEASON, THIS ADVENT

SEASON, WHETHER IT'S YOU OR

MAYBE IT'S A FRIEND OR

SOMEONE IN YOUR FAMILY, SHARE

THAT GOOD NEWS, THAT TODAY

GOD CAN GIVE YOU A NEW HEART

AND THAT YOU CAN BE ON THE

RIGHT PATH, GOD'S PATH FOR

YOU.

IF THAT'S NOT GOOD NEWS, I

DON'T KNOW WHAT IS, AND ALL

OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID

>> AMEN.

>> OUR HYMN OF REFLECTION,

HYMN NUMBER 350, I BIND MY

HEART THIS TIDE.  IF YOU HAVE

NOT OR IF YOU NEED TO DO SO

AGAIN, WHETHER IT'S IN THE

PEW OR YOU COME FORWARD, IT

DOESN'T MATTER TO GOD, I

INVITE YOU TO TURN TOWARD

GOD, START ON THE PATH THAT

HE HAS CREATED FOR YOU.

LET US STAND AND SING.

   I BIND MY HEART THIS TIDE    

   TO THE GALILEAN'S SIDE    

   TO THE WOUNDS OF CALVARY    

   TO THE CHRIST WHO DIED FOR

ME.    

   I BIND MY SOUL THIS DAY.    

   TO THE BROTHER FAR AWAY.    

   AND THE SISTER NEAR AT HAND    

   IN THIS TOWN AND IN THIS

LAND.    

   I BIND MY HEART IN THRALL    

   TO THE GOD, THE LORD OF

ALL.    

   TO THE GOD, THE POOR ONES'

FRIEND    

   AND THE CHRIST WHOM GOD DID

SEND.    

   I BIND MYSELF TO PEACE    

   TO MAKE STRIFE AND ENVY

CEASE    

   GOD, KNIT THOU SURE THE

CORD    

   OF MY THRALLDOM TO MY LORD.    

>> BE SEATED.

THIS IS OUR TIME IN

CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION.

CHRIST INVITES ALL THOSE WHO

SEEK TO BE IN PEACE AND

CHARITY WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR.

LET US NOW SILENTLY TURN

TOWARD GOD AND SHARE OUR OWN

AUTHENTIC CONFESSION.

LET US PRAY.

>> IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY,

AMEN.

IN THE NAME OF CHRIST, WE ARE

FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE

SING OUR COMMUNION HYMN,

NUMBER 405, "IN MEMORY OF THE

SAVIOUR'S LOVE."

   IN MEMORY OF THE SAVIOUR'S

LOVE, WE KEEP THE SACRED

FEAST.    

WHEN EVERY HUMBLE, CONTRITE

HEART IS MADE A WELCOME

GUEST.    

   BY FAITH, WE TAKE THE BREAD

OF LIFE, BY WHICH OUR SOULS

ARE FED.    

   THE CUP IN TOKEN OF HIS

BLOOD THAT WAS FOR SINNERS

SHED.    

   IN FAITH AND MEMORY HERE WE

SING THE WONDERS OF HIS LOVE    

   AND THUS ANTICIPATE BY

FAITH THE HEAVENLY FEAST

ABOVE.    

>> FOR I RECEIVE FROM THE

LORD WHAT I GIVE ALSO UNTO

YOU, THAT THE LORD JESUS ON

THE NIGHT HE WAS BETRAYED

TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD AND WHEN

HE HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE

IT AND SAID, THIS IS MY BODY

THAT IS FOR YOU.

DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

IN THE SAME WAY, HE TOOK THE

CUP ALSO AFTER SUPPER,

SAYING, THIS CUP IS THE NEW

COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.

DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK

IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

>> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE ARE

WALKING TOWARD OUR

CELEBRATION OF THE EARTHLY

BIRTH OF OUR SAVIOUR, YOUR

SON, JESUS.

AS WE TAKE THIS BREAD, WE

REMEMBER HIS BIRTHDAY, HIS

LIFE HERE, AND HIS ULTIMATE

SACRIFICE FOR US.

AS WE WALK, HELP US TO

REMEMBER THAT OUR WORST DAYS

ARE NEVER SO BAD THAT WE ARE

BEYOND THE REACH OF YOUR

GRACE, YOUR LOVE, AND OUR

BEST DAYS ARE NEVER SO GOOD

THAT WE ARE BEYOND THE NEED

OF YOUR GRACE, YOUR LOVE.

WHATEVER WE DO, LORD,

WHATEVER WE DO, LET US COMMIT

IT TO YOU AS AN ACT OF

WORSHIP.

>> OUR FATHER, TODAY WE LIT

OUR SECOND CANDLE OF ADVENT,

THE WISDOM CANDLE.

AS WE ARE HERE, ABOUT TO

PARTAKE OF THIS CUP, HELP US

TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR WISDOM

AND YOUR WAY IS NOT

NECESSARILY EASY, BUT IT'S

THE WAY OF LOVE, OF TRUTH,

AND OF OUR RELATIONSHIP IN

YOU.

AMEN.

>> PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

LET US PRAY.

WE ARE THANKFUL, O GOD, FOR

THIS MEAL.

MAY WE BECOME INSTRUMENTS OF

GRACE THIS ADVENT SEASON.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

OUR FINAL HYMN, HYMN NUMBER

165, "ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S

CITY."

WOULD YOU PLEASE STAND.

LET US GO FORTH THIS DAY IN

PEACE AND GO FORTH WITH

COURAGE, REMEMBERING THAT AS

WE TURN TOWARDS GOD, WE

REMEMBER THE GRACIOUS WORDS

OF OUR LORD JESUS, BE NOT

AFRAID, BE NOT AFRAID, FOR I

AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO

THE END.

AMEN.

   ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY

STOOD A LOWLY CATTLE SHED    

   WHERE A MOTHER LAID HER

BABY IN A MANGER FOR HIS BED    

  MARY WAS THAT MOTHER MILD,

JESUS CHRIST HER LITTLE

CHILD.    

   CHRIST CAME DOWN TO EARTH

FROM HEAVEN, LOVE INCARNATE

FOR US ALL    

   AND HIS SHELTER WAS A

STABLE, AND HIS CRADLE WAS A

STALL.    

   WITH THE POOR, THE SCORNED,

THE LOWLY, LIVED ON EARTH OUR

SAVIOUR HOLY.    

   JESUS IS OUR CHILDHOOD'S

PATTERN, DAY BY DAY, LIKE US

HE GREW.    

   HE WAS LITTLE, WEAK, AND

HELPLESS, TEARS AND SMILES

LIKE US HE KNEW.    

   THUS HE FEELS FOR ALL OUR

SADNESS, AND HE SHARES IN ALL

OUR GLADNESS.    

   AND OUR EYES AT LAST SHALL

SEE HIM, THROUGH HIS OWN

REDEEMING LOVE.    

   FOR THAT CHILD WHO SEEMED

SO HELPLESS LIVES AND REIGNS

IN HEAVEN ABOVE.    

   AND HE LEADS HIS CHILDREN

ON TO THE PLACE WHERE HE IS

GONE.