Christmas 2014

Dear Neighbor,

You are warmly invited to a Nativity play on Sunday, December 21 at 4:30 and 6:00 P.M. The script, read by a narrator, will be the Christmas stories from the Gospels. The story will be reverently presented by costumed actors, and artists will sing some Christmas songs. Each performance is about half an hour, so it is suitable for children

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Why was the Lord born in a town called “Bethlehem”? In the Lord’s Providence, nothing happens by chance. “Beth” means house, and “lehem” means bread. The Lord was born in the “House of Bread” because He came to feed us for our eternal life. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35).

The first people to greet the Lord were shepherds, who feed as well as protect their flocks. Jesus too came to “feed His flock like a shepherd” (Isaiah 40:11).

Strikingly the Lord’s first bed was a manger, a feeding trough for horses. The Lord came to feed our minds with the truth, and through the truth, to feed our hearts with love. Because the Lord was born into the world, we can know who God is and what He is like. We are fed by the truth that He is Divine Man. He shows us how to be truly human: how to be loving and wise in His image and likeness.

At Christmastime we may be especially aware of how the Lord feeds us spiritually. Through the beautiful Christmas stories He nourishes us with good will among men. We can come to our God and follow Him. He will save us from our sins, giving us the truths, the hope, and the strength to repent of them.

As we get together with friends and family and share good food during the holidays, we can be eternally grateful to the Founder of the Feast, the Lord God Jesus Christ.

You are most welcome to come worship Him on Sundays at 10:00 A.M. “O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.”

Merry Christmas!

Rev. Lawson M. Smith