Today is the fourth day of Christmas, just like the old song goes. Christmas is such good news that it takes 12 days to celebrate it fully. No sermon this week as we celebrate our annual Lessons & Carols service, hearing the story of our Savior's birth from its promise in the Old Testament to its fulfillment in the New Testament. 

Next Sunday, January 4, we'll observe our celebration of the Festival of Our Lord's Epiphany, comemorating the historical day that the Wise Men, or Magi, brought the infant Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense, and myhrr. During coffee time we'll have a king cake, and according to the south Texas tradition, whoever finds the baby in their piece of cake gets to bring tamales next week for coffee time. Good luck!
(Yes, we know Epiphany is properly January 6, 13 days after Christmas.)

Study & Share Insert
...#2 Is Jesus God’s Plan A or B for salvation? See Genesis 1:1-5, 18:1-3; John 1:1-4, 14, 8:12; Galatians 4:4-7; Ephesians 1:8b-10   

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12.24 The Promise of Salvation
Matthew 1:18-25 
Saving us from ourselves 

12.25 The Promise of Light and Life
John 1:1-14 
Darkness cannot overcome Light 

Current Series:  
Christmas Promises  
Alas, our promises are disconnected from God’s

Study & Share Insert
...#2 Building on this shorthand explanation (that righteous means "things the way God intends"), how do Matthew 1:18-25 & Luke 1:26-38 (46-55) show Sts. Joseph & Mary to be fitting parents for Jesus? See Romans 3:21-26   

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Playing the Long Game
Isaiah 7:10-17 
All who follow his precepts have good understanding 

Current Series:  
What Are You Waiting for?  
We anticipate eternity by abiding in him & walking in his ways today

Study & Share Insert
...#6 What signs that God is with us would you show to someone new to your congregation?  Hint friendliness, good manners, & “like a family” aren’t signs; see Matthew 18:20, 28:18-20; John 14:15-17, 20:21-23; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13
  

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Awaiting that Glorious Day
Isaiah 11:1-10 
The Lord restores his creation to the way he intended it to be 

Current Series:  
What Are You Waiting for?  
We anticipate eternity by abiding in him & walking in his ways today

Study & Share Insert
...#3 How does your desire to get even, assert your position, demand your rights, take back control, etc. interrupt your experience of the harmony promised by Jesus & his guaranteed return (cf. vv6-7)?   

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