Luke 3:1-6
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'”
“Prepare” is the word of the week, John the Baptist munches on locusts while yelling at everyone how they need to prepare for the coming of the messiah. Christmas is now a few weeks away and we are all busy preparing, getting ready for not just the one day of Christmas but all the celebrations that will take place between now and then. The stores are full not only of the perfect item for all the people on your list but also of sparkling little outfits to help you shine at your parties. In addition to the gifts that need to be purchased and wrapped in the most pinterestly-perfect manner, there is this pressure that we and our houses need to be photo-shoot ready throughout this season. We can spend an enormous amount of energy and money trying to accomplish this but knowing it’s an easy distraction. When John said “get ready” he didn’t mean touching up our highlights or getting new Christmas sheets from Pottery Barn, he meant the exact opposite. Instead of shining up the masks we like to hide behind, John is giving us permission to set them aside and to look at who we really are. He wants people to look at the rougher places, the crooked ways and the gaping holes in our hearts. Ugh, its so much easier to get a mani/pedi and pretend no such yuckiness exists in us. The reality is we all have these places that need to be smoothed out, filled and straightened. When we are more realistic about the ways in which we need Christ, we can be more filled with love for all the wonderful things He does for us and for His willingness to come live in our hearts.
~ Upcoming Events ~
“ANNIE”
Starring Richard Seymour
as Daddy Warbucks
Get your tickets today, not tomorrow for this delightful production of ANNIE presented by the Taylor Performing Arts Center in Monrovia, California! I’ll be performing the role of Daddy Warbucks with the lovely Naomi Stone as Annie and an amazing cast of wonderful performers.
Taylor Performing Arts Center
845 W Colorado Blvd, Monrovia, CA 91016
Friday, December 7 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 8 – 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 9 – 5:00 p.m.
For tickets:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3880040
or call 800-838-3006
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Sunday, December 9
Team 2 Acolyting
Cereal Collection for Foothill Unity
Children’s Liturgy
10 am | Chapel
Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsals
This will be our last rehearsal before the pageant.
Please come and be prepared to wear your costumes.
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms
Service of Lessons & Carols
7:30 pm | Sanctuary
~
Sunday, December 16
Team 3 Acolyting
Christmas Pageant
Please come by at church by 9:15 to get ready for our pageant.
Breakfast will be provided.
~
Sunday, December 23
Team 4 Acolyting
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December 24
Family Service
4:30 pm
We will again be welcoming our favorite guest Mr. Hubert Humphrey
Christmas Eve Service
9 pm
~
December 30
Team 5 Acolyting
Please note there will be no Sunday School December 30
Please feel free to contact Heather if you have questions.
