e-note
Dear Friends,
I know what some of you are thinking, “Christmas is twenty-six days away, I need to get on with shopping.” A few of you are thinking, “I am glad I did my Christmas shopping during the after Christmas sales last year.” and others, you know who you are my brothas, are thinking, “I don’t need to worry about it for another twenty-five days.” I can relate. I will see you at the mall on the Dec. 24th.
This Sunday will be the first Sunday of advent. We will light the first candle, read some incredible Advent Scripture, sing some worship songs to our Lord, including Christmas songs, and celebrate the anticipation of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is what the advent season is about. Anticipation.
The apostle Paul wrote, “The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.” (Rom 13:12) Paul says for us to live in the anticipation of our coming Savior, the second time.
The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Scripture reading for Advent will reflect this emphasis on the Second Advent, including themes of accountability for faithfulness at His coming, judgment on sin, and the hope of eternal life. Advent also symbolizes the spiritual journey of individuals and God’s local church (us), as they affirm that Christ has come, that He is present in the world today, and that He will come again in power.
God tells us that as His children, we are children of the light. Jesus brought the light into the darkness of the world. As Christ-followers, we are light in the dark world. That is stressful living that takes much faith. Advent is the anticipation of light returning to the world and an eternal future of living in the light. No more darkness…….
We will be worshiping in double anticipation this Sunday as we will be having communion together. Jesus gave us communion as a symbol of His death and resurrection for our sins and it is to remind us that He is coming back. Jesus said, Mark my words—I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.” (Matt 26:29)
As a church family we have been praying for some new staff members. This Sunday I am excited, and eagerly anticipating, introducing you to two new LCC staff members. We now have a new associate pastor, and a new children’s pastor Just in time for an exciting 2008 at LCC.
I have mixed emotions about my wife Lisa stepping down as our children’s pastor. I am sad to be losing an incredibly gifted and committed staff member. I have enjoyed working with her and she has been way more than a children’s pastor at LCC. I am looking forward to sitting at the dinner table without bringing the day to day work of the church home. Lisa is an awesome pastor’s wife and minister to those in need. She will be subbing in the GCISD and we are praying about other opportunities that will enable her to have weird days off like mine so we can get on the bike and hit the highways and byways on days off.
This Sunday I will be starting a Christmas teaching series I am calling “Christmas Presence”. In acts 2:28 Luke writes, “You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.” While we are thinking about the presents we will buy for the kids, the father that is so hard to by for, the friend that has everything, we need to remember that God has the true answer to all of our needs. We all want hope, joy, love, peace, security, and many other needs that only God can provide. He did it for us by sending His Son Jesus.
This Sunday we will look at how the presence of Jesus brings hope. Not the, “I hope I get a new car or job kind of hope’, but the hope that comes with the presence of Christ in our lives and a secure relationship with God the Father.
We are all surrounded by people who have real needs that only the presence of God can provide. Who are you going to invite to Christ this Christmas season? During the Christmas and new years season, more people think about God and the need for change in their lives than at any other time of the year.
Be sure to invite a friend to church this week. Eight out of ten people in Tarrant county do not attend a church regularly and nine out of ten people say they would go to church if invited by a friend.
I am anticipating an awesome Sunday at LCC. If you are part of the LCC family or do not have a church you attend, I hope to see you Sunday. If you are a friend and supporter of me and LCC and have another church home, thanks for your support and take a friend to church this Sunday.
Serving you in Christ
Royal
