FBCD Symphony of Keyboards 2013

W * E * L * C * O * M * E !

You and your guests are cordially invited

to attend our annual Christmas event

in the Worship Center at

First Baptist Church of Duluth.

*  2908 Duluth Highway 120, Duluth, Georgia  *

The Symphony of Keyboards

will take place on 

December 15th at 6:00 p.m.

Please arrive early, and enjoy the evening!

 
Eight FBCD Keyboard Artists will play Carols and Christmas songs on four grand pianos.  The beautiful decorations, media, and special lighting will create a lovely setting for the instruments.  This festive and enjoyable program of music will include many well-loved Christmas carols and songs. We hope that you will invite neighbors, friends, co-workers, and relatives to attend this evening of musical delight and worshipful inspiration.  Sharing their talents this year are: Karen Johnson, Kimberly Hawkins, Travis Boyd, Becky Akana, Donna Babb, Paul Carey, Margaret Murdock, and Asa Williams.

You can view our photo album for Symphony of Keyboards 2013 at the link below, and you do not have to be on facebook to see it.  Our FBC Duluth Worship Ministries facebook page has a public setting and can be seen by everyone on the internet  This photo album is also public @  https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.555677571179086.1073741830.125249750888539&type=1

The Heart of Christmas, our “Joy of Every Longing Heart” ~ 2013

The 2013 First Baptist Church Duluth Adult Choir and Orchestra Christmas musical,
“Joy of Every Longing Heart”,
has become very meaningful to all of those who have spent time with the music and lyrics.

Because it is a worship musical, written and arranged by Beth Moore’s Worship Leader (and Worship Pastor) Travis Cottrell, the focus is on more than just telling the story of Christmas. It is about worshipping the Lord through the recognition of the eternal significance of the story of Christmas. As the meaning and the majesty of God’s great love is shared through the music, it has made a spiritual impact in our lives.

That’s what true worship does.
It changes us.

*  As we see our God for who He really is and grasp the significance of His burning desire that we come to know Him even as we are known by Him…
*  As we glimpse the beauty and majesty of Christ’s sacrificial love…
not just on the cross but in every moment of His life,
as He chose God’s redemptive plan and lived to bring glory to God through the fulfillment of His promise of salvation…
*  As we are reminded of the ultimate humility of leaving Heaven and being born in human flesh into the humblest of circumstances…
*  As we marvel at the ordinary human beings whom God chose to be part of the story of His great gift of grace for the whole world… Jesus… and then realize that we are part of the story, too!

We can also seek to live to bring Him glory, and in so doing we worship Him with our very lives!

And so, we worship.
We give God praise and blessing.
We adore our Savior.
We honor and exalt our Creator.
We are alive in awe and thanksgiving and wonder.
We are blessed by the presence of God as He inhabits our praise.
And… as we go about the tasks of each day, we worship.

Our prayer as a Worship Ministry Team is that all who come to hear the message of Christmas through “Joy of Every Longing Heart” will worship the Lord through this music, [and through the media (videos), Scripture, and narrations] and will experience the spiritual impact of God’s greatest gift, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in a deeper and more profound way than ever before.  We also pray that God will use this message to draw His people closer to Him and to draw those who don’t know Him as Savior and Lord to make the decision to come to Him in faith and repentance.

Your worship ministry team is always aware that we are dealing with and sharing truths that are eternal and life-changing, and we never want to take for granted the opportunity that we have as lead worshippers. It is our responsibility and our joy to be worshippers first, so that we then may lead in worship. It is our privelege to share incredible messages of hope and joy and love and mercy. It is our joy to spend time learning great songs of faith and worshipping as we learn. It is our blessing to have internalized the scriptures and truths and messages of faith contained in the lyrics and melodies of these songs so that they have become a part of our faith journey. Most of all, it is our incredible joy and blessing and hope to know the One about whom and for whom and through whom we sing. Through our worship, may we share the joy!

Below, you will find a link to our photo album filled with pictures from our times of worship and preparation to share the messages from “Joy of Every Longing Heart”. It would be wonderful if it was possible to so easily share all of the blessings of the hope and joy and love and wonder your worship ministry team has experienced… as worshippers who have once again been profoundly impacted by the message of God’s incredible, loving, and sacrificial gift in sending His precious Son.

Remember that photos can only tell part of the story, because it is impossible to see our hearts. Every year, we enjoy the process of worship and preparation involved in sharing the message of Christmas, but this year has been special. It’s hard to put into words… we’re more comfortable with singing and playing for God’s glory.  We hope that you will come and experience the joy and wonder for yourself, through this time of worship, as God reaches out to your heart through this message of His love and grace.

Please read the prayer below, and pray for us to be vessels of God’s love and that God would be glorified as we share “Joy of Every Longing Heart” on Sunday evening, December 8th, at 6:00 p.m.

We hope that you will come… and see… and hear… and experience… and worship.

“Joy of Every Longing Heart” photo album

A  PRAYER:

Our Eternal God, you are the giver of all good things. Everything that we have ever had and ever will have has come from your hand. You give because You love us. You give in ways that we don’t even see. You give because You are love. Before You made the world, you chose to give Your only Son. In the fullness of time, He came. Your divine life walked the face of this planet. Your love and compassion healed and brought hope. Your truth illuminated the darkness. Your mercy said “yes” to the pain of sacrifice. Your grace was revealed in your concern for the sons and daughters of Adam. Your love held you to the cross. You chose relationship with us when You momentarily forsook Your Son’s spirit so that He could experience a desolation you never wanted us to know. You have made a way for us to know You, to love You, and to worship You. You are with us in every moment. May we worship You in Spirit and in truth as we share and experience Your great love through the message of “Joy of Every Longing Heart”.

In the name of our Redeemer… Jesus, Savior, Emmanuel,

Amen

“More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.”  ~ Romans 5:11

EPILOGUE:

“I come before you in complete abandon…

take my life and let it be… all to Jesus!”

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Thank you, thank you, thank you!
To everyone who was part of “Joy of Every Longing Heart”,

Thank you so much!

*  Thank you for you investment of time during all of the months of preparation.

*  Thank you for your prayers during the process and during the musical presentation itself.
*  Thank you for putting your heart and soul into what you do and serving in Jesus’ name and for His glory.
*  Thank you for all of those Wednesday and Sunday rehearsals, in addition to all the time you spent working on your own.
*  Thank you for desire to worship the Lord and to lead others in worship.
*  Thank you for being there and for making a difference!

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Only the Lord knows how He spoke to hearts through the messages you shared last night.  Some experienced the joy of Christmas in a new way.  Some were profoundly impacted by the fervency of God’s love for them.  Some were blessed by God’s peace and comforted by His presence.  Some worshipped along with every note played and sung and every word spoken.  Some are still singing along in their hearts.

Thank you, Adult Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm Section, Tech Team, Narrators, and all those who supported this ministry through your prayers, through inviting others, and through your presence.

“All the glory… all to  Jesus!”

Worthy of Praise!

No one else can bring MY praise but ME !

– quoted from a worship song
published by Prism Music

WHAT IS PRAISE?

Here’s a definition:

1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of personal worth or actions.

2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works.

3. To express gratitude for personal favors.

4. To give honor; to commend and display the excellence of

THE NATURE OF PRAISE

Praise, according to the Scriptures, is an act of our will that flows out of an awe and reverence for our Creator. Praise is an expression of the truth about who God is and what He has done. Praise expresses truth about Jesus, our wonderful Savior. We are essentially coming into agreement with the truth when we praise the Lord. Praise gives glory to God and opens us up to a deeper union with Him. It turns our attention off of our problems and on the nature and character of God Himself. As we focus our minds on God and proclaim His goodness, we reflect His glory back to Him. The results can fill you with peace and contentment ( Isaiah 26:3) and transform your outlook on life. Our God is worthy of praise, and statements of praise are found throughout Scripture.

WHO SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD?

Angels. “Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.” Ps 103:20

The saints. “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.” Ps 30:4

The Nations. “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people.” Ps 117:1

The Children. “And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them,” Yea; have ye never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise’?”” Mt 21:16

People of every station in life, young and old. “Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth! Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above Earth and Heaven. Ps 148:11 – 13

All of Creation. “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD!” Ps 150:6

NO one is without excuse. Praising the Lord is a command. It is our purpose. God created us with the capacity to recognize His majesty and supremacy, to respond to His love and mercy, and to praise Him for all that He is and for all that He has done.

REASONS TO PRAISE

Very simply, we praise God because He is worthy of our praise (1 Chron. 16:25; Rev. 5:11-14). He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is our Creator, Provider, Healer, Redeemer, Judge, Defender and much more.

Another foundational reason to praise God is simple obedience. The Bible says God is a “jealous” God who demands and desires our praise. “You shall have no other gods before Me,” says the first commandment (Deut. 6:7). As the psalmist said, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6).

As we praise God, we will discover incredible benefits for our lives. That’s because human beings were created by God to praise Him (Isa. 43:7, Matt. 21:16). Due to man’s original sin, however, this relationship was disrupted. Praising God helps restore us to that right relationship, for God actually dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). As we draw near to the Father in praise, He draws near to us (James 4:8).

Praise is also our ultimate destiny. When the Lord Jesus Christ returns again to earth, all creation — including prideful mankind — will recognize His glory and praise Him. (Phil. 2:9-11)

HOW ARE WE TO PRAISE THE LORD?

WITH UNDERSTANDING “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” Ps 47:7

WITH THE SOUL “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Ps 103:1

WITH THE WHOLE HEART “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all Thy marvellous works.” Ps 9:1

WITH THE LIPS “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee.” Ps 63:3

WITH THE MOUTH “O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth Thy praise.” Ps 51:15

WITH JOY “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips.” Ps 63:5

WITH GLADNESS “Moreover, Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.” 2 Chron 29:30

WITH THANKFULNESS “Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God.” Ps 147:7

CONTINUALLY “By Thee have I been held up from the womb: Thou art He that took me out of my mother’s body: my praise shall be continually of thee.” Ps 71:6

TO THE END OF LIFE “I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” Ps 104:33

MORE AND MORE “But I will hope continually, and will yet praise Thee more and more.” Ps 71:14

Our God plans and does all things well! Praise the Lord!

WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC ACTS AND ATTRIBUTES FOR WHICH WE CAN PRAISE THE LORD?

Praise Him for Who He is!

1. For His comfort…Isaiah 12:1; 2 Corinthians 1:3

2. For His compassion…Psalm 28-6; 2, Corinthians 1:3

3. For His enduring faithfulness…Psalm 117:1-2

“O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” Isaiah 25:1

4. For His enduring love…Psalm 106:1

5. Because He is eternal…Nehemiah 9:5

6. Because of God’s excellency…Ps 148:13
“Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.”

7. Because of God’s Glory…Ps 138:5
“Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.”

8. Because of God’s goodness…Ps 107:8,15,21, & 31
“Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”

9. Because of God’s greatness…Ps 145:3
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.”

10. Because He is holy…Psalm 99:3,
“Who is like unto Thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Ex 15:11

11. Because He is in control…Ezra 7:27

12. Because of God’s loving-kindness and truth…Ps 138:2
“I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name.”

13. Because of God’s mercy…2Ch 20:21
“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, that they should praise the beauty of His holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, ‘Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever’.”

14. Because He is powerful and mighty…Psalm 21:13
“Be Thou exalted, LORD, in Thine own strength: so will we sing and praise Thy power.”

15. Because of His righteousness…Psalm 48:10

16. Because He is sovereign..Psalm 47:7; 66:4

17. Because of His splendor and majesty…Psalm 104:1

“They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the LORD, they shall cry aloud from the sea.” Isa 24:14

18. Because of His wisdom…Daniel 2:20

“Daniel answered and said, ‘Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His.'”

19. Because He is trustworthy…Psalm 56:4

20. Because He is worthy of praise…2 Samuel 22:4; 1 Chronicles 16:25; Psalm 48:1

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Praise Him for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do!

*

1. For bearing our burdens…Psalm 68:19

2. For forgiving our sins…Hosea 14:2; Ephesians 1:7

3. For giving us salvation…Psalm 96:2; 1 Peter 1:3-6
“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath visited and redeemed His people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David.” Luke 1:68 & 69

4. For giving us his strength…Psalm 59:17;68-35

5. For His creation…

6. For His guidance…Psalm 16:7

7. For hearing our prayers…Psalm 66:20

8. Because He keeps his promises…1 Kings 8:15, 56

9. Because He made us…

For His marvelous deeds…Psalms 9:1 and 72:18

10. Because He is preparing a glorious future for us…Isaiah 61:11; 62:7-9; Revelation, chapters 21-22

11. For his spritual blessings…Ephesians 1:3-6

12. Because of God’s wonderful works: Ps 150:2 Psalms 107:8, 15, 21

*

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Our God never tires as we do, and He never gives up as we are tempted to do. He loves us with an everlasting love, and His mersies are new every morning! What a wonderful God we have!

*

“Praise Him for His mighty acts: Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.” Ps 150:2

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NOTE: This post was compiled and edited, with the addition of a minimal amount of original content, from these three sources:

http://rosebudquilting.blogspot.com/2011/03/25-reasons-for-praising-god-hebrews.html

*

http://www.momof9splace.com/praise1.html

*

http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/cbnteachingsheets/keys-praise.aspx

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Do you know Jesus?

The decision to ask Jesus to come into your heart and life as your Lord and Savior is the best decision you could ever make! The one true God is ready to give you forgiveness and eternal life as soon as you understand your need for Him and believe on the name of His only Son, Jesus, for your salvation.

Click on this link to help you find the answers to your questions about Jesus.  http://www.duluthfbcworship.com/do-you-know-jesus/

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* Worship Ministry Events * for December, 2013

At First Baptist Church of Duluth, December is filled with opportunities to worship the Lord and to enjoy the story of Christmas and God’s greatest gift, shared through Sunday morning worship services and several special Worship Ministry events.

Here is a calendar of Christmas Worship Services and Worship Ministry Events
*  “Events Only” calendar for church family and guests
*  (followed by) Events and Rehearsals calendar for Worship Ministry personnel

May God be lifted up and glorified through all that takes place as our congregation and worship ministry personnel praise and thank Him for the gift of our Savior, Jesus, during these special times of corporate worship.

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***  DECEMBER WORSHIP MINISTRY CALENDAR  ***

For our Church Family and Guests, AN “EVENTS ONLY” CALENDAR

Sunday, December 8th
*** Morning worship – Youth Choir Christmas music ***
Our Power Up (Student) Choir will sing 2 songs, and our Adult Choir and Orchestra will share one of the songs from “Joy of Every Longing Heart”.

*** “Joy of Every Longing Heart” ***
Christmas worship musical, 6:00 p.m.
Featuring our FBCD Adult Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm Section, Narrators, and Tech Team

Guest information:
Located in our Worship Center
FREE ADMISSION
Doors open at 5:30. Arrive early to allow time for parking and seating.
Childcare is available for ages 4 and under, located in our Preschool Area downstairs.
Note: This area can be accessed by the covered drop off area near our playgrounds or by the elevator in the upstairs hallway near our reception desk and offices.

Many of the songs in “Joy of Every Longing Heart” feature Praise Teams and/or Soloists from our choir.  All have unique and beautiful instrumental arrangements, played with excellence by our Orchestra and Rhythm Section.  Songs include:
*  “Good Christian Men, Rejoice!”  (with some lyrics from “Joy to the World!”)
*  “All Glorious”, with soloist Sam Seaborne (medley w/ “Angels From the Realms of Glory” and “Angels We Have Heard on High”
*  “Joy of Every Longing Heart*
*  “Sing a Song of Christmas”
*  “Sleep Now, Little Child”, with soloist Stacy Causey
*  “Awaken Us”, with soloist Travis Boyd
*  “In the Light of Christmas”, with soloist Becky Akana (medley includes portions of “O, Come, All Ye Faithful” and “O, Little Town of Bethlehem”, ending in a duet with Becky Akana and Travis Boyd)
*  “A Star in the Sky”, with soloist Cindy Boyd
*  “All to Jesus”
*  “Live a Merry Christmas”, with soloist Mark La Coursiere

You’ll love the media (videos), our special lighting, and the heart-touching and meaningful lyrics, too!  It’s all to Jesus… all the glory!

Wednesday, December 11th

*** Children’s Music program, 6:30 ***
Presented as Halftime Children’s Ministry’s Christmas program, this brief program will take place following our fellowship meal, in the Family Life Center.

Sunday, December 15th

*** Morning Worship – Senior Adult Choir Musical, “Go, Tell It!” ***

Presented by our own Golden Notes, the songs in this Christmas musical include:
“Christ is Born Today” (medley with “Shout to the North” and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice!”
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
“Once in Royal David’s City”
“Go, Tell it on the Mountain”
“Servant’s Heart, Open Hands”
“Shine, Jesus, Shine!”

*** Symphony of Keyboards, 6:00 p.m. ***
Eight FBCD Keyboard Artists will play Carols and Christmas songs on four grand pianos.
This festive and enjoyable program of music will include many well-loved Christmas carols and songs. Sharing their talents this year are: Karen Johnson, Kimberly Hawkins, Travis Boyd, Becky Akana, Donna Babb, Paul Carey, Margaret Murdock, and Asa Williams.

Sunday, December 22nd

* Morning Worship service

Tuesday, December 24th

*** Christmas Eve Service, 6:00 p.m. ***
The church family and guests will gather for a time of worship, with Carols, special music, a brief message, candle lighting, and the Lord’s supper.
NOTE:  There is no childcare for this event.
Children remain with their families.

*** Merry Christmas! ***

Sunday, December 29th

* Morning Worship service

  ***** HAPPY NEW YEAR! *****

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FOR  WORSHIP  MINISTRY  PERSONNEL,  EVENTS  PLUS  REHEARSALS

Sunday, December 1st

* Early Rehearsal for Travis, Tech Team, Orchestra, and Rhythm Section
* Morning Worship Service, with Ministerial Staff, Tech Team, Adult Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm Section, and Congregation
* Christmas decorating begins in Worship Center, with Decorating Committee
* Symphony of Keyboards rehearsal, 6:00 p.m.
with Travis, Karen, Kimberly, and SOK Keyboard Artists

Wednesday, December 4th

* Golden Notes rehearsal, 3:30 p.m.
* Rhythm Section and sound tech rehearsal for musical, 6:00 p.m.
* Final rehearsal for the “Joy of Every Longing Heart” musical, 7:00 p.m.
with Tech Team, Travis, Adult Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm Section, and Narrators

Friday, December 6th

* Golden Notes, singing for luncheon, Bunten Road Park Activity Center
Sharing their Christmas musical, “Go, Tell It!” and a Christmas Carol sing-along

Sunday, December 8th

* Power Up Choir (Student Choir) rehearsal, 9:15 a.m.
Early service rehearsal, with Travis, Tech Team, Orchestra, and Rhythm Section, 9:00 a.m.

*** Morning worship – Youth Choir Christmas music ***
Our Power Up (Student) Choir will sing 2 songs during this service,
and Our Adult Choir and Orchestra will share one of the songs from “Joy of Every Longing Heart”
(Worship Service Personnel:  Ministerial Staff, Tech Team, Adult Choir, Orchestra, and Rhythm Section)
* Adult Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm Section, Narrators, Tech Team Rehearsal / Sound Check 4:45 p.m.
Child care is available for the children of people who are in the above groups, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

*** “Joy of Every Longing Heart” ***
Christmas worship musical, 6:00 p.m.
[with Tech Team, Travis, Adult Choir, Orchestra, Rhythm Section, Narrators, Ministerial Staff, Congregation, and Guests]

Guest information:
Located in our Worship Center
FREE ADMISSION
Doors open at 5:30. Arrive early to allow time for parking and seating.
Childcare is available for ages 4 and under, located in our Preschool Area downstairs.
Note: This area can be accessed by the covered drop off area near our playgrounds or by the elevator in the upstairs hallway near our reception desk and offices.

Wednesday, December 11th

* Golden Notes Rehearsal, 3:30
*** Children’s Music program, 6:30 ***
Presented as Halftime Children’s Ministry’s Christmas program, this brief program will take place following our fellowship meal, in the Family Life Center.

Sunday, December 15th

*** Morning Worship – Senior Adult Choir Musical, “Go, Tell It!” ***

Presented by our own Golden Notes, the songs in this Christmas musical include:
“Christ is Born Today” (medley with “Shout to the North” and “Good Christian Men, Rejoice!”
“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
“Once in Royal David’s City”
“Go, Tell it on the Mountain”
“Servant’s Heart, Open Hands”
“Shine, Jesus, Shine!”

*** Symphony of Keyboards, 6:00 p.m. ***
Eight FBCD Keyboard Artists will play Carols and Christmas songs on four grand pianos.
This festive and enjoyable program of music will include many well-loved Christmas carols and songs. Sharing their talents this year are: Karen Johnson, Kimberly Hawkins, Travis Boyd, Becky Akana, Donna Babb, Paul Carey, Margaret Murdock, and Asa Williams.

Sunday, December 22nd

* Worship ministry / Tech rehearsal, 9:00 a.m.
* Morning Worship service

Tuesday, December 24th

*** Christmas Eve Service, 6:00 p.m. ***
The church family and guests will gather for a time of worship, with Carols, special music, a brief message, and candle lighting.
NOTE: There is no childcare for this event.
Children remain with their families.

*** Merry Christmas! ***

Sunday, December 29th

* Worship Ministry / Tech rehearsal, 9:00 a.m.
* Morning Worship service

Happy New Year! 
Thank you for your service to our Lord through Worship Ministry!

Tidings of Great Joy!

This post contains the story of the birth of Christ with the scriptural accounts from Luke’s Gospel and Matthew’s Gospel, illustrated throughout with the most appropriate art or photos of dramatic portrayals that we could find. Following the scriptural story, you will find some information about some of the prophecies that were fulfilled with the birth of Christ. This information about the prophecies and their fulfillment comes from two different sources, which are noted.

THE STORY OF THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
IN SCRIPTURES AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Luke 1

New International Version (NIV)
(Scripture passages are copied from http://www.biblegateway.com )

Introduction

1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled^[a] among us, ² just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³ With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Dramatic portrayal of Zechariah and Elizabeth

⁵ In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. ⁷ But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

Artistic deptiction of the angel Gabriel appearing to Zechariah

¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

¹⁸ Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

¹⁹ The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. ²⁰ And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

²¹ Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. ²² When he came out, he could

Artistic depiction of Zechariah with Elizabeth

not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

²³ When his time of service was completed, he returned home. ²⁴ After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.²⁵ “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Artistic depiction of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Artistic deptiction of Mary as she expressed her desire to serve the Lord

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Mary Visits Elizabeth

Artistic depiction of Elizabeth greeting Mary

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!

⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Artistic depiction of Mary and Elizabeth rejoicing together

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

Artistic depiction of Mary glorifying the Lord

“My soul glorifies the Lord⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, ⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. ⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. ⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. ⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful ⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

The Birth of John the Baptist

Dramatic portrayal of Zechariah and Elizabeth with their miracle baby

⁵⁷ When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

⁵⁹ On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, ⁶⁰ but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

⁶¹ They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Artistic depiction of Zechariah writing on a tablet, “His name is John.”

⁶² Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. ⁶³ He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” ⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵ All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. ⁶⁶ Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child

going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Zechariah’s Song

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸ “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn^[c] of salvation for us in the house of his servant David ⁷⁰ (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), ⁷¹ salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us— ⁷² to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, ⁷³ the oath he swore to our father Abraham: ⁷⁴ to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear ⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

Artistic portrayal of the prophecy of Zechariah

⁷⁶ And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, ⁷⁷ to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, ⁷⁸ because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven ⁷⁹ to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

⁸⁰ And the child grew and became strong in spirit^[d]; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

Sculptural portrayal of Caesar Augustus

Artistic portrayal of Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.

⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Artistic depiction of Mary caring for Baby Jesus

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”¹

The Heavely Host appear to the shepherds and share the good news of the birth of

⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Shepherds on the way to find baby Jesus

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

The shepherds adore the baby Jesus

¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

²⁰ The shepherds returned [to their flocks}, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Artistic depiction of the shepherds returning to their flocks, glorifying and praising God

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Jesus Presented in the Temple

Dramatic portrayal of Mary and Joseph taking baby Jesus to the temple

²² When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³ (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”^[b]), ²⁴ and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”^[c]

Artistic depiction of Simeon thanking God for baby Jesus

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷ Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss^[d] your servant in peace. ³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. ³⁴ Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, ³⁵ so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶ There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷ and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.^[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. ³⁸ Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹ When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Matthew 1

New International Version (NIV)

The Genealogy of Jesus the Messiah

1 This is the genealogy^[a] of Jesus the Messiah^[b] the son of David, the son of Abraham:

Artistic depiction of Abraham and Isaac

² Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

³ Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar,

Perez the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

⁴ Ram the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

⁵ Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,

Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,

Obed the father of Jesse,

⁶ and Jesse the father of King David.

Artistic depiction of David and Solomon

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

⁷ Solomon the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah,

Abijah the father of Asa,

⁸ Asa the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,

Jehoram the father of Uzziah,

⁹ Uzziah the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

¹⁰ Hezekiah the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah,

¹¹ and Josiah the father of Jeconiah^[c] and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon.

¹² After the exile to Babylon:

Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

¹³ Zerubbabel the father of Abihud,

Abihud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

¹⁴ Azor the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Akim,

Akim the father of Elihud,

¹⁵ Elihud the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob,

¹⁶ and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.

Dramatic portrayal of the betrothed couple, Joseph and Mary

¹⁷ Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about^[d]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet^[e] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

Artistic depiction of Joseph as he slept and the angel appeared to him in a dream

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,^[f] because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”^[g] (which means “God with us”).

Dramatic portrayal of Joseph as he considers the dream and decides to obey and trust God

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Matthew 2

New International Version (NIV)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

Artistic depiction of baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph

Wise men from the east come seeking the baby Jesus

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

The wise men consult with Herod about where the new King might be found

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’^[b]”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

Artistic depiction of the wise men (or Magi) continuing their journey to find Jesus

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

Artistic deptiction of the wise men worshiping the young child Jesus

¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

Artistic depiction of the angel warning Joseph in a dream

¹³ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

¹⁴ So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, ¹⁵ where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”^[c]

Artistic depiction of Mary and Joseph fleeing to Egypt with Jesus following the angel’s warning

¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”^[d]

Artistic depiction of the killing of the innocent children due to Herod’s evil decree.

The Return to Nazareth

¹⁹ After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt ²⁰ and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”

²¹ So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, ²³ and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

This is the city of Nazareth as it appears today.

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This blog post was copied and pasted from Travis and Cindy’s worship blog.  You can see the entire post, including the information on Biblical prophecies fullfilled with the birth of Christ, which does not appear here, at this link:  http://worshipsounds.wordpress.com/2012/12/13/tidings-of-great-joy/

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