December 10, 2022 - Advent Devotion
Sunday
Sunday Worship
December 11, 9:30 a.m.
The Third Sunday In Advent
Lighting of the Advent Wreath - The Shepherd’s Candle
Children’s Christmas Program - “Get Ready For the Real Story”
Sunday, December 11, 2022, 9:30am
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Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mendelssohn
Hark The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy and mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful all you nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic hosts proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Hark The herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
As this week comes to an end, we take a look at another old time children's Christmas classic.
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a great story of acceptance. At the heart of this story is Rudolph who is so different from everyone else. Later in the story, Rudolph and his friends find themselves on the Island of Misfit Toys. By story's end, Santa is stopping on the island to help all these unwanted toys to find a home.
As children of God, we can often look at ourselves and think we are misfits. We think we are so unworthy, that we have sinned more than anyone else, that we deserve not being accepted by others, that we deserve not being wanted, not being wanted even by our God.
Christmas is God's gift, "God and sinners reconciled!" We have been baptized with a baptism of repentance, a baptism of change, a baptism of reconciliation, a baptism by the One greater than I and greater than John, a baptism in the power of the Holy Spirit, a baptism that tells us no matter how different we are, no matter how sinful we see ourselves, God tells us He wants us, for Christmas, for all eternity!
Let us pray: God who accepts all, I often see myself only as a misfit. It is easy for me to feel unworthy, as if I am the only one who is different, as if I am the only one no one really wants. Announce to me, reconciliation is at hand, I am accepted just as I am forever, your comfort and joy are mine, in the One who is greater than all, in the One who has come at Christmas, in the One who will come again. Amen.
