Service Schedule for December 19th

Barring another winter blizzard this coming weekend, I am hopeful that we might be able to gather together in worship this Sunday. I hope and pray that everyone was able to stay safe during the snow storm. I also hope word got around that our worship services and programs for that day were cancelled. The Tabor Choir Christmas Program will be rescheduled for worship on December 26th.

Morning Worship Services

For the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we will be lighting the candle of Christ, the Prince of Peace. Our hymns, prayers and Bible reading will also point to the peace that we find in Jesus Christ...Emmanuel ("God is with us"). Our Gospel lesson this morning recounts the story of Jesus' birth, with a focus on Joseph. Joseph is faced with difficult decisions. He has to think about adherence to the Law, yet also decide what to do when God tells him to do something that would seem to violate the Law. Jesus in his ministry often told folks that even though they remember laws and traditions being one way, Jesus was telling them that it would be different. Jesus tells us to love God and love one another. Jesus says he is the fulfillment of the Law. What does than mean for us today? How does this relate to Jesus and the Prince of Peace?

At our Oakfield service, the children of the Sunday School program will be performing "Little Drummer Boy."

Scripture Readings for Sunday:

• Isaiah 7:10-16
• Romans 1:1-7
• Matthew 1:18-25

Evening Worship Services

In our final evening service of 2010, we will be spending time looking at Jesus, the Prince of Peace. We, too, will focus on the reading from Matthew 1:18-25. We will also share Communion together.

Christmas Eve Service Review

As we anticipate the celebration of the birth of Jesus, I wanted to remind everyone of our service schedule for Christmas Eve:

• 6:00PM @ Oakfield UMC: Worship Service with Communion
• 7:30PM @ Tabor UMC: Worship Service with the Children's Christmas Pagaent
• 10:00PM @ Oakfield UMC: A Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols - Members of both congregations are encouraged to attend this service. The entire service will be done by candle light, and we will listen to the story of Jesus while singing our favorite Christmas carols. I hope you can join us for this new venture. Please spread the word in the community!