Christmas 2014

Michel DeVerteuil
General Comments

This well-known story is very rich so we will focus on some aspects only, staying with Mary’s perspective, especially in verses 6 to 7, and 16 to 20.

In verses 6 and 7 Luke tells us that Mary gave birth “when the time came for her to have her child.” Contrary to the popular interpretation, he indicates no regret that there was no room in the inn. All happened as was foretold.

To understand the significance of verse 19, it is important to note that the Greek word which we translate as “things” is rhema, means both “word” and “event”. Mary, through her interior attitude of respectful listening, turns the event into a sacred word.

Christmas - Homilies and Stories

 Socrates taught for forty years, Plato for fifty, Aristotle for forty, and Jesus for only three. Yet the influence of Christ's three-year ministry infinitely transcends the im­pact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet, some of the finest paintings of Raphel, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their in­spiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfec­tion of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble carpenter of Nazareth. 

"His unique contribution to the human race  is the salvation of the soul. Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin and Satan. He alone can speak peace to the human heart, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead." 

Christmas Eve Sermons

From Sermons.now: Only Partly; the rest when you sign up

 

1. Christmas Eve: What Was Seen At Bethlehem - Luke 2:8-20

2. Candle Lighting Service & Sermon: A Great Light - Matthew 4:16
3. Christmas Sermon: No Room In The Inn - Luke 2:1-7
4. Advent Sermon: Surprise, It's Christmas  -  Luke 1:26-38
5. First Person Skit: "A Personal Testimony" - Luke 2:1-7 

==================================

    1st SERMON FOR LUKE 2:8-20

==================================

Sermon Opener 

Christmas Spirit: Care, share...Video

The WORD became FLESH

Every day Christmas

Christmas - Dec 24

I wonder what I would have heard had I been there that night. It is a question that annually haunts me. Would I have heard the choirs of angels singing or simply the sounds of barnyard animals shifting around? Would I have seen the star in the sky that night or simply two poor and very frightened kids? Would I have understood the hushed silence of the divine presence, or simply the chill of a cold east wind. Would I have understood the message of Emmanuel, God with us, or would the cosmic implications of that evening have passed me by?

Christmas Videos

Christmas Videos-1

CHRISTMAS - Illustrations

Consider Again Christmas When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today. When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today. It is a long time since 1832, longer still from 353, longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization which surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate. Brian L. Harbour, James W. Cox, The Minister's Manual: 1994, San Fransico: Harper Collins, 1993, p. 254. There is a stage in a child's life at which it cannot separate the religious from the merely festal character of Christmas or Easter. I have been told of a very small and very devout boy who was heard murmuring to himself on Easter morning a poem of his own composition which began 'Chocolate eggs and Jesus risen.' This seems to me, for his age, both admirable poetry and admirable piety. But of course the time will soon come when such a child can no longer effortlessly and spontaneously enjoy that unity. He will become able to distinguish the spiritual from the ritual and festal aspect of Easter; chocolate eggs will no longer seem sacramental. And once he has distinguished he must put one or the other first. If he puts the spiritual first he can still taste something of Easter in the chocolate eggs; if he puts the eggs first they will soon be no more than any other sweetmeat. They will have taken on an independent, and therefore a soon withering, life. C. S. Lewis

Every Day Christmas - Flash

Prayers: New Year, Christmas, etc

Holiday Prayer Guide1

Nativity - Dec 25

25 December 2012: the Nativity of the Lord

At the outset let me express my sincere and prayerful wishes of the Nativity of the Lord. May the promises of hope, joy, peace, love of his birth be fulfilled in each of us now and always.
it happened during the carol service. A young lad dressed like a Santa Claus and accompanied us. When the carols are sung he would dance and entertain the household and finally would distribute sweets to all. It so happened that in a house he was dancing very well. A little child who was looking at the Santa Claus was smiling and trying to imitate the steps. When we were about to leave the Santa Claus asked for a glass of water. The mother of the house extended a glass. The boy removed his Santa mask to drink water. As soon as he removed the mask, the little child, who was smiling and dancing started crying and went to hide behind its mother. The mask made him laugh. The unmasking made him cry. It happens in our relationships too. People tend to like us or we tend to like them not for what they are but for the masks they were. The humble birth of Jesus brings to us the face of God. In Jesus there was no mask. That is why people were afraid to take him in – in their inn and in their hearts.

Christmas 2012 - Homilies and Stories

Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Year C

John Littleton

Gospel Reflection

Christmas has finally Come. We rejoice that the Word has become flesh, that God the Son has become human while remaining divine. There is no more waiting because the Messiah has arrived and now is the time liberation from our enslavement to sin. But this is n surprising since, in the Hebrew Scriptures ( Christians call the Old Testament), this arrival had b prophesied for many centuries before the birth of Christ.

Santa’s message to teach Children

“The True Meaning of Christmas”

This is how it happened…I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house.
I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree.
He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. “What are you doing?” I started to ask.
The words choked up in my throat, and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone.
Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement. I was puzzled; what did he mean? He anticipated my question,
and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said,
“Teach the children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas.
The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. “Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle.
“Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind,
all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man’s thoughts turning toward heaven.
“He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. “Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago.
God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise.”
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. “Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world,
and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.”
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree.
“Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases.
Love is one continuous round of affection.”He then pulled from his bag an Ornament of Himself. “Teach the children that I, Santa Clause symbolize the generosity
and good will we feel during the month of December.”
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. “Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality.
It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly represents the blood shed by Him.”
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, “Teach the children that God so loved the world that HE gave HIS begotten SON…”
“Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift. “Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE and presented
HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men.”
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. “Teach the children that the candy cane
represents the shepherds’ crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock.
The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother’s keeper.”
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. “Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior’s birth.
The angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men.”
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL .
“Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold.
The bell symbolizes guidance and return.”
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes.
He said, “Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center,
for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD.”

Christmas Gifts and Songs - Old and New

Dear Santa,  I don't want much for Christmas, I just want the person reading this to be happy.  Friends are the fruit cake of life - some nutty, some soaked in alcohol, some sweet - but mix them together and they're my friends, MY fruit-cakes !

Here's your personal X'mas Juke-box .... just CLICK & enjoy ! !

Christmas  Songs A Holly Jolly ChristmasBurl Ives Away In A MangerLoretta Lynn Christmas AlphabetThe McGuire Sisters Christmas Country ChristmasThe Statler Brothers Christmas In My HometownSonny James Christmas SongAlvin & The Chipmunks Christmas Times A ComingBill Monroe & The  Boys Christmas WaltzFrank Sinatra Christmas Without YouKenny & Dolly Parton Frosty The SnowmanGene Autry Grandma Got Run Over By A ReindeerElmo & Patsy Hard Rock Candy ChristmasDolly Parton Hark The Herald Angels SingNat King Cole Have Yourself A Very Merry ChristmasRosemary Clooney Home For The HolidaysPerry Como Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas  I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa ClausJimmy Boyd Its a Most Wonderful Time Of The YearJohnny Mathis Jingle Bell RockBobby Helms Jingle Bells Roy S Jingle BellsPerry Como Jingle BellsThe Jingle  Piggie Joy To The WorldNat King Cole Leroy, the Redneck ReindeerJoe Diffie Let It SnowAndy Williams Lets Put Christ Back Into ChristmasTammy Wynette Little Drummer BoyNeil Diamond O Christmas TreeNat King Cole Please Come HomeThe Platters Pretty PaperRoy Orbison Rocking Around The Christmas TreeBrenda Rudolph The Red Nose ReindeerGene Autry Rudolph The Red Nose ReindeerUnknown Group Santa BabyCynthia Basinet Santa Claus Is Coming To TownBing Crosby Santa Claus Is Watching YouRay N S Silver BellsBing Crosby/Peggy Silent NightDean Martin Sleigh RideJohnny Mathis The First NoelAndy Williams Up On The HousetopGene Autry White ChristmasBing Crosby White ChristmasThe Drifters (1954) Winter WonderlandBrenda Christmas with Elvis

‘Mary Did You Know?’

Video; a Christmas Letter From Jesus

Mary Did you know? ( Click on the pic below. Speakers on. )

 

A Christmas Letter From Jesus

Christmas Videos - 3 C's

Video: Christmas with a capital C, Three Stories…

 

Do check the two versions of the song “Christmas with a capital C” by Go Fish and is popularThe first links has the lyrics, but the second one has 17,910,461 hits on YouTube – with speakers on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8vhGYT4gyo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

” Hard Working, God Honoring, Fellowship Building “

Romans 16:12  : Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Some believers treat their faith as a leisure interest.
They go to church if they have time and are not too tired; they get caught up with the enthusiasm of others, but are reluctant to give their time and money - and only give if they think they will have enough to meet all the other responsibilities as well.
They are certainly not the first to offer themselves for hard work.
The three women in today’s verse were not like that at all. They were people who had a reputation for giving everything for the sake of the Lord, His gospel and His people.
They did not work in order to gain God’s favour, but were active because the Lord had put it into their hearts.
And they were careful to put their effort into tasks which pleased the Lord and were for His glory.
In short: they accepted that the Lord was their Master and that it was their responsibility to put all their effort into serving Him, His kingdom and His church.
Their hard work was not to get God to love them more, but to express the joy and privilege of being saved and included in His kingdom.
They worked hard for the Lord because they loved Him very dearly.
‘Loving God’ means putting everything we have into our relationship with Him.
Deuteronomy 6:5 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”
There is something wrong when people who say they love Him are not willing to work hard in the Lord.
Perhaps this is a helpful challenge to lazy, self-centered, de-prioritized Christian faith; and this could be a pivotal thought which will drive us to seek the Lord in a fresh way.

Prayer for the day : -
Almighty God. Thank You for the extraordinary way in which You have loved me, provided for me and sacrificed Christ’s life for me.
I am sorry for the times I have not wanted to work hard to serve You, or to serve others for Your sake.
Please forgive me for such carelessness and laziness.
Please give me a bigger view of what You have done for me so that I will be disciplined, glad and joyful in giving back to You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Advent and Christmas - Meanings

The Meaning of the Manger

Every year there is displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York an eighteenth century painting of the nativity scene. It's traditional in every sense except one. Behind the cradle, in the far distance, we see the ruins of the mighty Roman columns. The artist knew the meaning of the Bethlehem manger. The birth of God's new age means the death of man's old world.

Staff Writers, Sermons.com.