DECEMBER 16TH TO DECEMBER 22ND
REMINDERS —
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH —
TODAY IS 12/12/12 - FIRST LAST AND ALWAYS
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 15
• CHRISTMAS MALL •
• SUPPER AT 6 P.M. •
• WORSHIP AT 6:30 •
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2012
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
COLOR: PURPLE OR BLUE
ZEPHANIAH 3:14-20
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
The prophet offers a new psalm of thanksgiving
in anticipation of God's deliverance from exile,
protection from present and future enemies, and
promise to make the name of this people to be
renowned and praised everywhere on earth.
on peoples of the earth that would leave only a
remnant, "a people humble and lowly". It is to
these people that Zephaniah prophesies God's
rejoicing and the renewal of the nation. When
the hope of returning to the homeland was
fulfilled (beginning in 539 BC), his song was
remembered and sung by those returning.
14 People of Zion, sing!
People of Jerusalem, be glad!
Let your hearts be full of joy.
15 The Lord has stopped punishing you.
He has made your enemies turn away
from you.
The Lord is the King of Israel.
He is with you.
You will never again be afraid
that others will harm you.
16 The time is coming when people will say to
Jerusalem,
"Zion, don't be afraid.
Don't give up.
17 The Lord your God is with you.
He is mighty enough to save you.
He will take great delight in you.
The quietness of his love will calm you
down.
He will sing with joy because of you."
18 The Lord says to his people,
"You used to celebrate my appointed feasts in
Jerusalem.
You are sad because you can't do that
anymore.
So others make fun of those feasts.
That was a heavy load for you to carry.
But I will bring you back to your city.
19 At that time I will punish
all those who crushed you.
I will save those among you who are disabled.
I will gather those who have been scattered.
I will give you praise and honor
in every land where you were put to shame.
20 At that time I will gather you together.
And I will bring you home.
I will give you honor and praise
among all of the nations on earth.
I will bless you with great success again,"
says the Lord.
ISAIAH 12:2-6
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Unlike Zephaniah's Song, which predated the
exile by a few decades, Isaiah's predates even
the Assyrian conquest of Israel (721 B.C.) and the
Babylonian exile by 150 years or more. Perhaps
it had been used by some as a song of hope at
the time of the Babylonian exile as well.
It certainly contains a message of joyous trust
and praise to God.
"Surely it is God who saves me."
Those who have come a long way from being
beset by evil and disaster or committing evil
against others may rejoice with this song.
2 God, you are the one who saves us.
We will trust in you.
Then we won't be afraid.
Lord, you give us strength.
We sing about you.
Lord, you have saved us."
3 People of Israel, he will save you.
That will bring you joy like water that is
brought up from wells.
4 In days to come, the people of Israel will sing,
"Give thanks to the Lord. Worship him.
Tell the nations what he has done.
Announce how honored he is.
5 Sing to the Lord. He has done glorious things.
Let it be known all over the world.
6 People of Zion, give a loud shout!
Sing with joy!
The Holy One of Israel is among you.
And he is great."
PHILIPPIANS 4:4-7
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
Paul has been working out the fearsome
backdrop of what could happen to this
congregation if they don't get their act together
and work diligently at maintaining unity.
After calling for a leader, perhaps the local
bishop named Syzygos, to intervene to help
reconcile a conflict, Paul reminds the
congregation that in and through all challenges
they may face as a community, they can and
should rejoice in Christ who is near and offer
prayers and thanksgivings without anxiety. As
they do these things, they will experience the
peace of God sustaining them. Paul bids them
develop a reputation for gentleness, to let go of
worrying and to offer regular intercessions with
thanksgiving — as follows:
Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful.
5 Let everyone know how gentle you are. The
Lord is coming soon.
6 Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God
about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to
him.
7 Then God's peace will watch over your hearts
and your minds because you belong to Christ
Jesus. God's peace can never be completely
understood.
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LUKE 3:7-18
† New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
An excerpt from the preaching of John the
Baptist. Someone more powerful is coming!
Unquenchable fire awaits! Don't stand there:
Repent! Show that repentance in the way you
live and work in the world.
What we see and hear is the raging, almost
raving address to crowds as a "nest of vipers"
and a warning about the "unquenchable fire"
awaiting those who will inevitably be cut off at
the roots by the ax of God's judgment unless
they bring forth good fruit. The good news is
not only the coming judgment and the changes
to be made, but the real changes in people's
hearts and lives.
• Give extra food and clothing to the poor.
• Tax collectors, collect only what is owed.
• Soldiers, accept your wages, and do not
extort more from the people by threats of
violence. If these three simple actions are
done, Rome's power of fear over all the people
will be utterly destroyed.
We may ask the same kinds of questions of
ourselves that the people asked of John.
baptized by him. He said, "You are like a nest of
poisonous snakes! Who warned you to escape
the coming of God's anger?
8 Produce fruit that shows you have turned
away from your sins. And don't start saying to
yourselves, 'Abraham is our father.' I tell you,
God can raise up children for Abraham even
from these stones.
9 The ax is already lying at the roots of the trees.
All the trees that don't produce good fruit will be
cut down. They will be thrown into the fire."
10 "Then what should we do?" the crowd asked.
11 John answered, "If you have extra clothes,
you should share with those who have none.
These are some donations offered after
Hurricane Sandy demolished parts of the east
coast.
"Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?"
13 "Don't collect any more than you are required
to," John told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what
should we do?"
John replied, "Don't force people to give you
money. Don't bring false charges against people.
Be happy with your pay."
15 The people were waiting. They were expecting
something. They were all wondering in their
hearts if John might be the Christ.
16 John answered them all, "I baptize you with
water. But One who is more powerful than I am
will come. I'm not good enough to untie the
straps of his sandals. He will baptize you with
the Holy Spirit and with fire.
17 His pitchfork is in his hand to toss the straw
away from his threshing floor. He will gather the
wheat into his storeroom. But he will burn up
the husks with fire that can't be put out."
18 John said many other things to warn the
people.
He also preached the good news to them.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 17TH —
The office is closed today
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 24TH —
CHRISTMAS EVE
GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU THIS CHRISTMAS
SEASON AND HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS
Pastor Melodee
