steve's corner · steve's corner “one matters - the one who was courageous" the...
TRANSCRIPT
Steve's Corner
“One Matters - The One Who Was Courageous"
The Scriptures surroundingthe birth of Christ vary greatlyin volume. Joseph receives adream during the quiet of thenight, the Wisemen follow adistant and silent star, whilethe Shepherds are given anAngel Cantata of music andsong with loudpronunciations. Quiet or loud,which describes yourChristmas?
For me it seems that loud has taken over the show. My family and I watched anepisode of “Christmas Light Fight” the other night - a show where differinglight/decoration displays are pitted against each other. Loud was certainly the order ofthe day with one home looking so garish Las Vegas called and asked them to tone itdown a bit. While there were some nice elements to the displays, it all seemed toomuch, just too loud.
As our culture moves more and more towards screaming louder and louder in anattempt to get the most attention, we should all be mindful that the greatest truth isoften found in the calmest voice. In fact, I would caution putting too much faith inanyone who screams or rants and raves about anything. In Scripture the greatest ofGod’s truths are spoken by the most humble of servants. God’s own selfdemonstrates the preference of quiet over garish. In Genesis we hear that God spoke
and worlds were created. I’ve never imagined God screaming creation into being.
In the book of I Kings 19:11-13 (NRSV) we find this word to the prophet Elijah “Hesaid, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about topass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountainsand breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind;and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; andafter the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire asound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantleand went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice tohim that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’".
God has communication options yetHe chooses to speak from the silence.
This Christmas I pray that we all can get away from the noise for a while, the longerthe better in my opinion. Try cutting off the cable news, drive somewhere without theradio on, step outside of the Christmas party and find a quiet spot for a few minutesand see if - absence the noise - see if you can’t manage to hear what God isspeaking to your heart this Christmas.
This Week in Worship Matthew 1:18-25. This is the story of Joseph, the often forgotten man of Christmaswho is given no lines but one of the largest roles in human history. Take a fewmoments and read the Scripture:
"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Maryhad been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to bewith child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man andunwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But justwhen he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dreamand said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for thechild conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are toname him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this took place tofulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: "Look, the virginshall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," whichmeans, "God is with us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel ofthe Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relationswith her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.”
This Scripture troubles me greatly. If you want to find out why you will have to show upSunday! Check us out on-line with our live-stream of the 9:30 a.m. service or on ourwebsite!
See you Sunday,Pastor Steve
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News & Updates!
A Warm Welcome to our New Members!
Joey and Gayren Handy
Greg and Mary Stanley
Thadd and CatherineJohnson with their
son Colton Johnsonwho was baptized!
Welcome to theDUMC family
and the family ofGod!
Calendar of Events!
This Sunday!We will eat, play games &
celebrate Jesus!
We hope you’ll use this timeWe hope you’ll use this timeto finish last minuteto finish last minute
Christmas shopping,Christmas shopping,wrap gifts, go caroling withwrap gifts, go caroling with
the churchthe churchor enjoy a relaxing dinneror enjoy a relaxing dinner
out. out.
Open to ages 3 to 5th grade3:00-6:00 p.m. in the FLC.
Contact Contact Jennifer with any anyquestions regarding thequestions regarding the
Children's Christmas Party!Children's Christmas Party!
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Christmas CarolingCome Christmas Caroling for shut-ins with us this Sunday,
December 22nd. All smiling faces are welcome! We will meet at3:00 p.m. in the CORC and carol until 5:00 p.m. Afterward, cookies
and cider will be served in the CORC.Contact Sara Lee for more information at [email protected].
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Don't miss out on this great Christmas gift!
COFFEE FOR CHRISTMASand A CAUSE
Hope Farm Coffee fromHonduras makes a great
Christmas gift, hostess gift, orstocking stuffer ANDsupports a Honduran
Children's Home! Coffee bagsare available for $15 in thechurch office or from Julie
Doss [email protected]
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Prayer Team
The Bible tells us topray continually, andto bring everything inprayer to the Lord.There are over 60Bible verses aboutprayer.
It is important!It is important!We have a team thatmeets twice a month,but we encourage youto join in!
If you would like moreinformation or to join
either team,contact Sara Lee at
[email protected] 704-230-9004
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Care Team
Visiting someone canmake their daybrighter. We have aministry that visitspeople in their homes.If you have an hour amonth, you can makea difference insomeone's day, heartheir stories, andmake new friends.
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