​God put a star in the night sky to guide the wise men to where the Christ child lay. God still puts stars in the sky to light our night and guide our way.    On that first Christmas challenges had to be overcome, long distances had to be traveled and a king tried to deceive and misguide them, but through it all God guided the ancient magi with a star.  The star was a sign of God's love to all people in all places that God's love was reaching out to them.  Through darkness and adversity, God will guide you, too.  In your darkest night, through your greatest trial, God will never leave you alone.  God will put a star in the night to break through the darkness and guide your way. Your star may take on different forms, but take hope and know that God will shine through the darkest night to show you love and life. How can we trust God's love for us? -Simple, because God cared enough to share all of our life with us in Christ born in a humble manger, and then in Christ to show us the way of love and new life. 
Whatever challenge you face, however dark your night, take heart!  Follow the star, and kneel before the Christ child, and know the peace and hope and love that only He gives.  Know that in the greatest darkness God's love shines brightest, and God loves you!
 
(scripture of the week)
The wise men went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was.  When they saw the star they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.  (Matthew 2.9-11 NIV)
 
Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, open your heart to God's amazing love . . . and the miracle of Christmas!  And then let the miracle last the whole year long—Pastor TJ
 
(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, I open my heart to your amazing love, let the light of your love shine into my life.  Forgive me of failures of the past, and give me new life through the miracle of Christ.  Fill my life with the true gifts of Christmas--your hope, peace, love and joy.  May I find a new purpose in life and a new promise for the future, through your grace and to your glory.  Amen. 
 
(quote of the week)
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childhood days, recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the traveler back to his own fireside and quiet home!--Charles Dickens

starry night
 
Perhaps the shepherds were staring into the starry night sky, marveling at the beauty and wonder of creation.  Staring up into the inky black heavens one can see stars that spread farther than we can even possibly imagine.  Each star is formed and fashioned as works of engineering and art beyond which we can possibly comprehend.  “The heavens proclaim the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands.”
 
And then suddenly the night sky was broken by the message of an angel sent to tell these ordinary shepherds that the Lord of all creation, the one who formed and fashioned these works of wonder and awe had come to love and redeem us.  For a moment creation stood still to watch the creator of all the universe humbly come into the world as a tiny baby born in a manger.  God was not just a creator far removed from us, but a savior who had come to love us, to share life, and give his life that we might have forgiveness and new life.  God had truly become-Immanuel, God with us!  “Tidings of great joy for all people!”  And with that joyful note the heavens broke forth with the sings of heavenly choirs who could not help but sing glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all people who seek this savior.
 
So the shepherds left their flocks and their work and their worries, and journeyed to see this miracle. . .They came and knelt down in quiet wonder before the Lord of the universe in a manger.  Won’t YOU come!  Set aside your work and worry for a moment and kneel in quiet hush before this Lord of all creation and see in his face the face of God’s love.  Kneel before him and feel your heart touched as only the Creator of life and giver of new life can touch a heart.  For the Creator of the universe has come to love you to give you new life!   Shhhh listen for a moment and you can hear angels sing. . .and like Mary treasure this message and open your heart to God’s amazing love. . .
 
(Verse of the week)
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
            “Glory to God in the highest,
            and on earth peace to all on whom his favor rests.”
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.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  (Luke 2.8-19)
 
(Prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, I open my heart to your amazing love, forgive me of failures of the past, and give me new life through the miracle of Christ.  Fill my life with the true gifts of Christmas . . .your love and hope and peace and joy.  May I find a new purpose in life and a new promise for the future, through your grace and to your glory.  Amen.
Amid the hustle and bustle of Christmas, open your heart to God’s amazing love…and the miracle of Christmas!
Merry Christmas!—Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach!”--Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Stars light up the sky in beautiful ways that guide and inspire us.  Ancient sailors navigated the seas by the stars.  Travelers on land also were guided by the stars.  Stars have captivated our imagination and inspired our stories.  But God also gave a promise about a star that would change the world and guide us toward God, the Creator of all the stars.  Take a moment and allow your life to be guided by the light that shines in the darkest night, our Lord Jesus.
 
(scripture of the week)
"A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel"--Numbers 24.17
 
(prayer of the week)
Loving Creator, you created all the universe and you created me.  Help me to see and be guided by the light of your love sent in Christ.  In Christ, let me find true hope, peace, love and joy, and share those great gifts with others near and far, amen.
 
(quote of the week)
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas--Calvin Coolidge

​This time of the year there is plenty of anxiety and stress over the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and to-do lists and lots of other good things.  Sometimes we forget the reason for the season.   Amid the busyness, we rejoice knowing that God loves us.  And whether we are a lowly shepherd or a person bearing costly gifts, we find our savior in Bethlehem.  Let us take time to experience anew the wonder of God’s love come in Christ and share the gifts only he can bring—hope, peace, love and joy.
 
(scripture of the week)
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
On them a light has shone –Isaiah 9.2
 
(prayer of the week)
Loving Heavenly Father, help me to push back the busyness and lean into your grace and love.  Renew my heart with the true gifts of Christmas found only in Christ the Lord—hope, peace, love and joy.  amen
 
Blessings –Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
God never gives someone a gift they are not capable of receiving. If he gives us the gift of Christmas, it is because we all have the ability to understand and receive it. Pope Francis

​One of the Christmas traditions in Pennsylvania where I grew up was to put a single candle in each window of a home.  On a dark night, you could see the candles glowing far away.  It always made me feel like there was hope shining in the night.  No matter how cold and snowy outside, those candles glowing in the windows made you feel there was a special warmth in the home.
 
I think that’s the way our lives often reflect the love of Christ.   We may feel we are only one candle glowing in the night.  But often times people may look across the darkness and find that our lives glow with the love of Christ in a special way that gives them hope. 
 
(scripture of the week)
Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8.12).
 
(prayer of the week)
Lord, touch my life with the light of your love.  May all I do reflect your love.  And may I be a candle in the night, shining hope to others near and far, through Christ, the Light of the World, amen. 

Blessings!--Pastor TJ
 
(quote of the week)
I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year –Charles Dickens