Good afternoon,
What a joy to read and think together upon the Preacher's conclusion to Ecclesiastes on Sunday. After thinking through where he landed, I pray the rest of the book came into clearer focus. Thanks be to the Lord for the clarity and simplicity of His conclusion. If you missed that sermon, you can read/watch it here: (The Conclusion Is This, Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 I mentioned J. I. Packer's article on Ecclesiastes being his favorite book in the Bible. That article, entitled, "How I Learned to Live Joyfully," can be read at this link: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/september/ji-packer-how-i-learned-to-live-joyfully.html
In Ecclesiastes 12:10, the Preacher sought to find both true words and delightful words to communicate. I think those two descriptors also capture what the choir aims for Sunday night. This year Jim entitled the service "Sing We Now of Christmas." As it has always been, the worship service is full of Scripture readings, congregational singing, and choir anthems helping us to remember the glorious truths of the incarnation. The children will also be singing an arrangement of Galatians 4, "When the Fullness of Time Had Come." Please invite your friends and family to join us. There will be childcare for ages 0-3. After the service, we'll gather for our Christmas Fellowship in the new Fellowship Hall. Please bring appetizers, finger foods, or sweet treats for all to share. Each year this proves to be one of the most worshipful moments of the Advent season.
At the close of the service Sunday, I said that Ecclesiastes wasn't a book about the incarnation. But I might be wrong about that, at least in the sense that it absolutely does communicate to us how deeply we needed the Word to become flesh. Over the next few weeks we'll consider that reality in a brief series entitled, "God Made Known." This Sunday's text is Hebrews 1:1–3. We'll also vote on the proposed budget this weekend.
I just read tomorrow night's chapter(s) in A Bruised Reed. What hope it conveys! We'll look forward to concluding that study, the teenagers concluding This Changes Everything, Wisdom Wednesdays, and Moe's! We'll see many of you then.
Matt
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