GOOD MONDAY MORNING…IT IS CHRISTMAS EVE….MY HOW EXCITING IT IS AS WE DRAW EVER CLOSER TO CHRISTMAS…I KNOW THERE ARE FOLKS THAT ARE NOT WILD ABOUT CHRISTMAS, BUT WHEN I THINK THAT WE CAN CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT GOD SENT HIS ONLY SON JUST FOR US…THAT IS SOMETHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT!!!!

   MY DAD WAS ALWAYS EXCITED ABOUT CHRISTMAS AND I GUESS IT RUBBED OF ON ALL OF US.  GROWING UP THE MUSIC, THE DECORATIONS, THE FOOD AND YES, THE GIFT WERE JUST SOMETHING TO BEHOLD…BUT WE LEARNED THE TRUE MEANING IN GOD GIVING HIS SON…AND THAT WE TOO SHOULD GIVE….I WONDER WHAT GRANDMA AND UNCLE GEORGE DID WITH ALL THOSE HANDKERCHIEFS THEY GO OVER THE YEARS FROM ME!!!  WE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GIVE AND WE GAVE THE BEST WE COULD…EVEN IF IT CAME FROM WOOLWORTHS….

  ANY WAY…MAY THIS SEASON BLESS YOUR LIFE AND MAY YOU BLESS OTHERS!!!

 

 

READINGS FOR THE WEEK:

ISAIAH 60: 1-6; PSALM 72:1-7, 10-14

EPHESIANS 3:1-12; MATTHEW 2:1-12

 

SUNDAY’S SERMON:

GUEST PREACHER:  THE REV. DAVE FORTUNA

 

Selfishness makes Christmas a burden, love makes it a delight."
- author unknown

 

CHRISTMAS EVE

COMMUNION

AND

CANDLELIGHT

AT

GILLIAM UMC

5:00 PM

 

 

The Essential 100 Challenge (The E 100) is an EFFECTIVE Bible reading program    built around 100 carefully selected short Bible passages — 50 from the Old Testament and 50 from the New Testament. It enables YOU to get the big picture of God's Word and in the process develop a daily Bible reading habit. PICK UP THE MATERIALS SUNDAY….

 

 

Family Relationships

I ran short of money while visiting my brother, and borrowed $50 from him.

After my return home, I wrote him a short letter every few weeks, enclosing a $5 check in each one. He called me up and told me how much he enjoyed the letters, regardless of the money; I had never written regularly before.

Eventually I sent off a letter and the last five-dollar check.

In my mail box the next week I found an envelope from my brother. Inside was another $50.

 

 

A PRAYER FOR CHRISTMAS

 

DEAR FATHER IN HEAVEN, AS WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTH OF YOUR SON. THIS CHRISTMAS  MAY WE SEE THE GLORY THAT THE SHEPHERDS WITNESSED AND MAY WE KNOW THE JOY THAT FILLED THEIR SOULS WITH HOPE.   WE THANK YOU FOR THIS SEASON OF HOPE, PEACE, JOY. AND LOVE.  MAY EACH OF THOSE MOMENTS BE REFLECTED IN US.

MAY WE, WILLINGLY SHARE THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL;BY OUR WITNESS, BY THE WAY WE LIVE AND IN OUR ACTIONS TOWARD OTHERS. HELP US TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS ALIVE , FOREVER MORE. AMEN.