Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Giving
In keeping with our 51+1 theme for Honduras 2011 I’d like to remind each of you of the many opportunities for practical missions this Christmas season. I’m sure you each have family traditions which have elements of giving to others. There are many things each of us could do for those in need.
You could team up with others and provide meals for the homeless.
Contribute food to your local food pantry.
Work with your Sunday School class to adopt a family in need.
Go through your closets and find some warm clothes to give to a local mission.
Many of our churches are taking an annual foreign mission offering.
You could send a special donation to the Good Sheppard’s Children Home in the name of someone that “has everything”.
You could take cookies to shut-ins or nursing homes and spend a little time with them to make their lives a little less lonely.
It’s doesn’t take long to send a note of encouragement to a friend or to make a phone call and just say something like “I was thinking of you.”
There are countless things that we could do to share the joy of the season with others. We know doing things for others not only brings joy to them but also to us. But I think it would be great if each of us could find one person to share the story of Christmas with. The story is so etched in our memories and hearts that by just reading it from Luke’s Gospel we can see the angels in chorus singing-welcoming His birth, and the shepherds in the fields, and the babe in the manger. But sadly to some people, even some that you and I know, Christmas doesn’t remind them of these things. But we can share with them this true story of true joy. I pray you will find that opportunity in the next week to share the most precious gift of all, Jesus.
Luke 2
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
You could team up with others and provide meals for the homeless.
Contribute food to your local food pantry.
Work with your Sunday School class to adopt a family in need.
Go through your closets and find some warm clothes to give to a local mission.
Many of our churches are taking an annual foreign mission offering.
You could send a special donation to the Good Sheppard’s Children Home in the name of someone that “has everything”.
You could take cookies to shut-ins or nursing homes and spend a little time with them to make their lives a little less lonely.
It’s doesn’t take long to send a note of encouragement to a friend or to make a phone call and just say something like “I was thinking of you.”
There are countless things that we could do to share the joy of the season with others. We know doing things for others not only brings joy to them but also to us. But I think it would be great if each of us could find one person to share the story of Christmas with. The story is so etched in our memories and hearts that by just reading it from Luke’s Gospel we can see the angels in chorus singing-welcoming His birth, and the shepherds in the fields, and the babe in the manger. But sadly to some people, even some that you and I know, Christmas doesn’t remind them of these things. But we can share with them this true story of true joy. I pray you will find that opportunity in the next week to share the most precious gift of all, Jesus.
Luke 2
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Share Jesus
OK team, the Christmas season is in full swing and opportunities abound to express our faith in many ways. As you know the main purpose of our trip to Honduras next summer is evangelism. We go there to share the Gospel with those that are lost. We do this by ministering to the people of Honduras in practical ways thus allowing them opportunities to witness the love of Christ through our actions. We will spend a lot of energy and money the next few months in order to give ourselves the opportunity to carry out this mission for one week. The idea of our 51+1 theme is that we do the same thing here at home the other 51 weeks of the year. This time of the year provides us with many opportunities to share the Christmas story in practical ways right here at home.
Those of you that are members of FBC Olive Branch have a great opportunity to reach out to our community on December 18-19th in what we are calling "First Christmas". There are many different opportunities for serving in this community outreach effort. Please make every effort to participate in this two day event.
We will have a team meeting on January 11, 2011 at 6:30 in the choir room 0f FBCOB. I will be sending an email out in the next couple of days with more details about this meeting. Also be reminded that a $250.00 deposit is due before January 15th.
Those of you that are members of FBC Olive Branch have a great opportunity to reach out to our community on December 18-19th in what we are calling "First Christmas". There are many different opportunities for serving in this community outreach effort. Please make every effort to participate in this two day event.
We will have a team meeting on January 11, 2011 at 6:30 in the choir room 0f FBCOB. I will be sending an email out in the next couple of days with more details about this meeting. Also be reminded that a $250.00 deposit is due before January 15th.
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