Reflections on God's Presence and Love as Shared in Matthew 1:23
Fourth Sunday in Advent
December 23rd, 2007
The Christmas Fund expresses love to those
who have given their presence, their care and
their creativity to churches in the United
Church of Christ by means of pension
supplements.
The gospel of Matthew tells us –
Look the virgin shall conceive and bear
a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
We light again the Candle of Hope and
remember the hopeful ones around us.
The Candle of Hope
The Christmas Fund offers hope to active
and retired clergy and active and retired lay
employees because they can receive emergency
assistance in time of need.
We light again the Candle of Peace
and remember peacemakers and
peacekeepers.
The Candle of Peace
The Christmas Fund’s health supplementation
brings peace of mind and spirit to many retired
pastors, musicians, sextons and administrators.
We light again the Candle of Joy and
celebrate that our church is a place of
festivity, tenderness and justice.
The Candle of Joy
The Christmas Fund sends Christmas gift checks
that bring joy to retired clergy and lay workers –
this year more than ____ of whom are one
hundred years old or older.
God is with us. This is the Candle of Love.
God has loved us so deeply, so wisely, so
intimately that Christ came to us in a
human baby who lay in a manger under
starlight. In the presence of this story,
each one of us finds ourselves loved by
God and able to love one another.
The Candle of Love
The Christmas Fund expresses love to those who
have given their presence, their care and their
creativity to churches in the United Church of
Christ by means of pension supplements.
This is our response to the virgin who
conceives a child – we love one another.
Somebody is hoping for room in the inn of
our heart; somebody is waiting for the song
of peace; somebody needs a gift of golden
joy. Please pause to remember those who
need hope, peace, joy or the assurance that
they are worthy of love.
(Silence, In some churches people may feel free to softly
voice names for intercessory prayer.)
(Let us pray)
Emmanuel, God with us, as Advent
waiting comes to an end and we
anticipate the birth of Christ, shine on
the spirits of all who brought us the
story – shepherds who watched over us,
angels who sang to us, wise people who
pointed us to the Star of your love.
Amen.
Diving into the message of hope, peace, joy, and love found in Matthew 1:23, this reflection encapsulates the essence of the Christmas Fund. Through images and scriptures, it highlights the support offered to those who have dedicated themselves to churches, emphasizing the presence of God in our lives and the importance of sharing love and care with one another during the holiday season.
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Presentation Transcript
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 Fourth Sunday in Advent December 23rd, 2007 The Christmas Fund expresses love to those who have given their presence, their care and their creativity to churches in the United Church of Christ by means of pension supplements.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 The gospel of Matthew tells us Look the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God is with us.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 We light again the Candle of Hope and remember the hopeful ones around us.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 The Candle of Hope The Christmas Fund offers hope to active and retired clergy and active and retired lay employees because they can receive emergency assistance in time of need.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 We light again the Candle of Peace and remember peacemakers and peacekeepers.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 The Candle of Peace The Christmas Fund s health supplementation brings peace of mind and spirit to many retired pastors, musicians, sextons and administrators.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 We light again the Candle of Joy and celebrate that our church is a place of festivity, tenderness and justice.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 The Candle of Joy The Christmas Fund sends Christmas gift checks that bring joy to retired clergy and lay workers this year more than ____ of whom are one hundred years old or older.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 God is with us. This is the Candle of Love. God has loved us so deeply, so wisely, so intimately that Christ came to us in a human baby who lay in a manger under starlight. In the presence of this story, each one of us finds ourselves loved by God and able to love one another.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 The Candle of Love The Christmas Fund expresses love to those who have given their presence, their care and their creativity to churches in the United Church of Christ by means of pension supplements.
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 This is our response to the virgin who conceives a child we love one another. Somebody is hoping for room in the inn of our heart; somebody is waiting for the song of peace; somebody needs a gift of golden joy. Please pause to remember those who need hope, peace, joy or the assurance that they are worthy of love. (Silence, In some churches people may feel free to softly voice names for intercessory prayer.)
GOD IS WITH US -Matthew 1:23 (Let us pray) Emmanuel, God with us, as Advent waiting comes to an end and we anticipate the birth of Christ, shine on the spirits of all who brought us the story shepherds who watched over us, angels who sang to us, wise people who pointed us to the Star of your love. Amen.
