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Advent 2008 My dear friends in Jesus Christ our Saviour: PRAISE THE LORD! – Again it is time to “proclaim the Holy Birth!” Yes, the electric joy of Christmas is soon to fill our hearts with the real GOOD NEWS of the Son of God born of a virgin! Spiritually we kneel at the lowly manger and adore the King of kings and the Lord of lords. With the children we relive the wonderful Christmases of our youth and our hearts fill with joy as we see their eyes light with the wonder of the Holy Birth. It is my prayer for all of us, that the Holy Spirit will relight the fire of the real Light of Christmas in our hearts at this most special and holy time of the year. May the particular joy of knowing that God has sent His Son Jesus into the world to be our Saviour fill you up. With delight, may you thank Him that once again we have opportunity to join with the stars of heaven and “proclaim the Holy Birth!” Will you join us at the house of God and join in claiming the joy that is given to us? Plans are moving ahead for all the Festive Services and the joy of Christ-filled expectation is starting to burn. We are going to raise our collective voice to heaven with all the might and fervour that we can muster to praise Him. It is a time for re-dedication – a time to awaken slumping spirits – a time for you and me to see what the Lord has done and join in the celebration. “O Lord, we welcome Thee; Our hearts for joy are leaping. Thou, Jesus, dearest Child, Thy precious promise keeping, Art come from heaven to earth – To be our Brother dear; Thou, gracious Son of God, Wilt banish all our fear!” “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These words of Isaiah ring in our ears every Christmas “For to us -- a Son is given”. This year we have the greatest Christmas present ever given to humankind. In one Son we have eternal life. God decided to do it before, long before, Isaiah was alive. The gift of Jesus is something God promised a long time ago and carried through. That Gift is new every day! In the newness of a newborn Babe we have it all. There is nothing held back. The Christ on the cross is in that new Gift for you and for me. My friends, it is all for you. Celebrate with me, this heavenly joy at the manger once again this year. Let the Holy Spirit fill your heart with the real delight of His Birth for us. A child-like faith and understanding of this great, universal fact is all you need to receive the true Gift of Christmas. This Gift demonstrates the fact that God loves you. For your life has a most wonderful route set out. Jesus, the Gift, said: “I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly!” Jesus Christ is the only way for you to be made right in the eyes of God. Only through the Gift of Christmas can you receive and know and experience the life that He gave you. We who separate ourselves from God need the assurance that we can receive into our lives Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. Jesus said: “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him.” Open up to joy! Let the Spirit lead you! Let go and let God do it. He gave the real Gift and He loves you with the only real love. Christmas is proof of that beginning. For Christmas is a God-done thing. There is nothing we can do to make it happen for it happened before us and in spite of us and because God, in His love, had no choice. It is all that His love could do. He sent His own Son into a world that has no idea how wonderful a Gift it has been given. You do not have to reach out for the Gift and you certainly do not have to open the gift and you do not have to receive the Gift. A gift is a gift and that is all there is to it. God gave the GIFT! Merry Christmas -- “To God on high be Glory!” Between now and Christmas Day you will be told, ‘Merry Christmas’ many times. Your Pastor and his family would like to add some real meaning to this blessed greeting and wish you a Christmas time of joy and delight with all of Christ’s love warming your soul and heart. Rejoicing in His days
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