Dear Members and Friends,
Today is our daughter Rebekah’s birthday! She might have been born on Christmas morning, but Annie was worried that I would follow through on my idea to have a real live newborn baby in the manger for the Christmas Pageant at church. We have strived as a family to keep this day special for Becka because, at this time of the year, so many other distractions and concerns continue to crowd her day. It's so close to Christmas and it’s the first day of Winter… and how hard it was for our little girl to discover that her birthday was the shortest day of the year!
(Don’t cry, as a teenager, she relished the idea that it was also the longest night of the year!) And now… the “Bethlehem Star” appears for the first time in 800 years… did it have to happen on December 21st!? Doesn’t matter, it's always your birthday to us! Happy birthday Becka!
I know that there are many of you who worry that our times, our culture, and our world threaten to overwhelm the meaning of Christmas with other concerns and distractions. This year, 2020, there are so many things that worry us and we strive together to keep “Christ in Christmas!” Well, guess what? Fear not oh favored ones, quoting the angel Gabriel, God loves the world! Nothing can separate us from that love… nothing (Romans 8). And if you think that the celestial phenomenon that led the Magi to Bethlehem was the conjunction of planets… well think again. Stars don’t move across our sky from East to West. In other words, our science can’t explain the fact that God moves heaven and earth to save us!
My friend Judy Smith posted on Facebook… that Christmas will still be Christmas… even without gathering as a family, having a celebration around the dinner table, lots of presents wrapped in ribbons and bows… only Christ is needed for Christmas! The same one who promised to be with us always… even during a Pandemic. So fear not, friends. NOTHING can take Christ out of Christmas. May this year be especially meaningful, recognizing how much we need our God.
God’s love made visible! Incomprehensible! God is invincible! God’s love shall reign!
Joyfully pray for peace and goodwill. All of our yearning God will fulfill.
God gave God’s son to us to dwell as one of us, God’s blessing unto us! God's love shall reign!
Open all doors this day of God’s birth, all of the goodwill inherit the earth!
Live in a loving way, praise God for ev’ry day, open your heart and pray, God's love shall reign!
God’s star will always be, guiding humanity thruout eternity… God’s love shall reign!
(God’s Love Made Visible by Dave & Iola Brubeck)
Please join us LIVE on Sunday Mornings at 10:00 am for singing, and 10:15 am for worship. Use this link www.facebook.com/brigchurch.org.
If you haven’t joined us for “virtual worship”, give me a call - you need to join us! The CHURCH WEBSITE is www.brigchurch.org. My email is jrscotland@aol.com. My cell phone is (609) 457-2999.
...and why don't you come by the church and pick up a HYMNAL?
Carol Sing Christmas Morning at 11:00 am.
WE HAVE A DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADVENT AVAILABLE ONLINE OR IN PRINT, PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO ACCESS THIS RESOURCE!
WE HAVE A DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADVENT AVAILABLE ON LINE OR IN PRINT, PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW YOU WANT TO ACCESS THIS RESOURCE! Christmas Eve Labyrinth of Light At the Community Presbyterian Church of Brigantine back-lawn 5pm to 9pm, December 30th, 2020 Online worship at 5pm and livestream 11pm Candlelit Service www.brigchurch.org (Masks and social distancing required)
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