Wesley Word – December 7, 2022
To go along with service on: Sunday, December 11, 2022
Experiencing Grace
- Contemporary Song: What Child Is This
- Traditional Hymn: #220 Angels from the Realms of Glory
Exploring Truth – It’s Time to Be Patient
James 5:7-10 & Matthew 11:2-11
Advent is a time to get ready and it is also a time to wait. We can all remember how long December used to seem when we were children waiting for Christmas. As adults, however, who are often busy with activities and preparations, December now seems quite short.
In the Gospel reading this week, we run into John the Baptist again. Jesus has already been baptized by John and begun his ministry. John has been imprisoned and will soon be executed because he called out the king’s sin.
John is beginning to have some doubts about Jesus. Jesus was not the kind of military and political Messiah John had hoped for. John is wondering if Jesus was really the one he had been looking for.
We can sympathize with John. We are waiting for Jesus’ return and the world certainly needs it. It is easy to sink into uncertainty. James reminds us to be patient like a farmer or like the prophets of old.
Advent is a time of waiting. It is time to be patient.
New Testament in a Year: https://wesleyonline.org/biblereading/
- December 7 3 John 1:1-15
- December 8 Jude 1:1-25
- December 9 Revelation 1:1-20
- December 10 Revelation 2:1-17
- December 11 Revelation 2:18-3:6
- December 12 Revelation 3:7-22
- December 13 Revelation 4:1-11
- December 14 Revelation 5:1-14
Expressing Love: Family/Mission Activity
Reading the scriptures this week is teaching us about patience. After reading the scriptures this week a song popped in my head, a song referencing Ecclesiastes 3, a song that I feel wholeheartedly is speaking of patience, everything has a season. I have a confession: I have to actively work on being a patient person. Patience is so very hard, to use a saying I still use with my children today, “A watched pot will never boil”. This is so hard, especially in this day and age of electronic everything. If patience does not come naturally to you, and you have to learn the skill, it’s a daunting task. Parents must teach their children to be patient, and those of you who have done that, I know how hard it is!
Just like waiting for your pot to boil, waiting for Jesus to come can feel like it will take forever, BUT if you do other tasks while you wait (discipleship, mission work, switching laundry) the time will be here before we know it.
So, this week, carve out some time to sit quietly, be still and know that He is coming, even if you only have the “X” amount of time to do this while your pot is waiting to boil.
Announcements
- Kids Holiday Shoppe is Saturday, December 10th starting at 9:00 am until noon.
- A Festival of Lessons and Carols – Sunday, December 11 at 2:30 pm.
- WOW is done until after the first of the year. Please join us on Wednesday, December 14th at 6:00 pm for a showing of “The Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis”
- Sign-up is now going on for All-Church Caroling, Sunday, December 18. Contact Dan or Jessica with questions.
- Senior Resources Giving Tree – Please take one or more of the slips on the tree in the chapel entrance. Be sure to include the slip when you return your donation, so we know who is to receive it.
Holiday Worship Schedule
Christmas Eve – Saturday, December 24
6:00 pm Contemporary Candlelight Communion Service
9:30 pm Organ Recital by Sally Potter
10:00 pm Traditional Candlelight Communion Service
Christmas Day -Sunday, December 25
One Service at 10:00 am
New Year’s Day, Sunday, January 1, 2023
One Service at 10:00 am
The church office will be closed December 23, 26 and January 2.