Message: “Expect A Miracle”
Rev K. Anna Shin preaching
Theme: We tend to confuse magic and miracle, craving a magical, holly-jolly holiday rather than an experience of the miracle that God came to earth in such a humble form.
God does miracles through ordinary, simple people like Mary and Joseph—and like you and me. we have the power to do amazing things, if we are willing too sacrifice some of our own comfort for the good of others.
Prayer: God of hope and encouragement, we come in the midst of this season of busyness and preparations:
to find a time and space to slow down,
to reflect on what our true preparations should be.
We need to prepare our hearts to receive the gifts of love and hope.
We need to prepare our minds to focus on your promise that a messiah will come and nothing will be the same.
We need to prepare our spirits: to praise God for prophecy, promises, and preparation; to find hope and encouragement; to find peace and joy.
May we do so now, in our time of worship. Amen.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7; Luke 1: 28b-31
Sunday, December 1 is the beginning of the season of Advent. We await the coming of the birth of Jesus Christ who came to us as a baby in a lowly stable.
This Advent season, Pastor Anna Shin will preach a series of sermons entitled “Christmas is Not Your Birthday.”
Throughout this month we hope to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas-a time not spent rushing from store to store but a time spent welcoming Christ into our hearts. Through this focus on giving and living like Jesus, we wish to “experience “the peace of knowing that God is truly with us, the joy of giving sacrificially, and the love of a Savior who gave everything he had for us.”