Coming to the Still Waters

  Another manger (feeding trough) made for the purpose of assisting the church through the Advent season.  Not made by me but a long time member of WCC who has such a heart for God.  The manger starts out empty and bare but each Sunday it transforms into so much more.  The children come into the sanctuary and check out the manger each Sunday to see what has changed.  It is front and center so I can refer to it often in the sermons of Advent.   The first sermon of Advent is one I have done before a couple of times.  The passage is Galatians 4:1-7 and we hear the Christmas event in verses 4 and 5,  "But when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."   It is great to read from the 1st century writers how they tied salvation to the manger scene.  Really, it is incomplete unless we tell why...

  "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."  at Weymouth Community Church.  But not before a great all-church Thanksgiving meal and service.  God's family gathered here to share a meal; have some table fellowship; and then top it off with the worship of God and an opportunity to share our gratefulness to be a part of God's family at Weymouth.  This is when you stand back and observe why God set up His plan the way He did with His discipleship "pods" all over the world.   Before I forget, here is a great article on Thanksgiving!  Read about a regional day, a national day, a heavy day, a happy day, and a thankful day.   https://www.reformation21.org/blog/thanksgiving-400-years-later The white board session of the "3 circles of Weymouth" produced a 57 minute sermon.  It is a message that will be reproduced again with refinements because churches are similar because we are following the same book.  This is not the only str...

  I love whiteboards!  I love drawing out graphics and when I can use them to help explain a Biblical principle, it is a bonus.  This is what I will forever refer to as the 3 Circles of WCC.  There is so much going on here.  3 circles, x's, checks, arrows, options, abbreviations, Scriptural references, symbols, and number values.  The communicator uses all of this to make a point and it is an additional bonus if the observer will duplicate it and then share it with another.  So...this Sunday will have me with my Bible open and a dry erase marker in my hand.   Malachi ends with a great 3 point sermon. Point #1 - remember with obedience God's words As the Israelites enter 400 years of silence from God.  God, who has spoken through His prophets, pauses before speaking again through the coming of a messenger (Elijah-like, John the Baptist) and him, the coming messenger, pointing to a coming of the Messiah (Jesus).  While in this ti...

  A big "woohoo" from me!  2 years of around the clock classes and papers but very worth it to me personally.  I did my best to take the lessons from the classroom (ZOOM style) and to purposefully bring them into the church building and among the people of God.  Some of my sermon last Sunday was enhanced by these classes.  Thanks be given to all of you who prayed for me while I was filling my time and mind beyond its capacity at times. This is sometimes my hangout on Monday mornings to read my Bible and think about the next passage of Scripture to cover.  Sometimes when I have finished this initial stage of studying the passage I just sit back and sip my caffe latte made with oatmilk (no flavorings please) and let my mind wonder back to all that God has brought me and us (Stephanie and the kids) through.  Music has been a big part of our lives because it is one way to express worship of God.  We read His word; we pray to Him; we fellowship with H...