Good afternoon,
O for a thousand ears to hear what we heard Sunday night. As I've said prior, there is no higher art form––no greater sound––on the planet than a room full of voices glorying in the coming of Christ. How great our joy! I told Jim afterward how much I appreciated both the approach––a commitment to excellence––and the clear purpose: worship. That commitment to excellence extended to the adult choir, the instrumentalists, those that read the Scriptures, the gifted crew running sound, the children's choir (that song was hard!), and the faithful members setting up for the fellowship. Sometimes a lack of preparation can distract and end up being a hindrance to worship. But whatever their hand found to do, Sunday night they did it with all their might. And, most importantly, it served the purpose of focusing our hearts and minds on worshipping Christ.
Sunday morning's text––Hebrews 1––set us up to think worshipfully Sunday evening. In mercy, He has indeed not been silent. If you missed Chris's faithful and compelling teaching from that text, you can read or watch it here: (God Made Known: He is Not Silent, Hebrews 1:1-3)
We'll plan to gather Saturday night at 5:00 for our Annual Christmas Eve Communion Service. We know you probably have a few things going on Saturday, so we'll keep that service to under an hour. Based on Christ being the image––the visible expression––of the invisible God (Col 1:15), I spent the morning picking particularly vivid scenes from the Gospels that communicate to us who this God is. I'll be brief, but I'm aiming for and praying that the Spirit would use those scenes to open our eyes and help us see God in Christ. Then, appropriate to the Incarnation, we'll taste and see the Lord's goodness in observing the meal He instituted for us.
Then, on Sunday morning we'll consider the Word made flesh––God made known––in John 1:14–18. As is our custom we won't have preschool volunteers Saturday night for the Christmas Eve service, but we will plan to have preschool workers for ages 0–3 Sunday morning. I'm grateful for those that volunteer their time and energy so graciously, especially during this season. Pray as I finish up preparations for both Colossians 1 and John 1 over the next few days. Along with Hebrews 1, these are mountaintop passages in the New Testament about the Son of God.
Chris sent a longer email earlier about tomorrow night's Caroling Christ. I've missed this tradition the past couple years, but eagerly look forward to the Lord using the voices of God's people to herald His praises in our community. Again, there's no greater sound on the planet than the redeemed congregation singing praises to their Redeemer. And if that's the case, why would we not take it to our neighbors that so desperately need peace, hope, forgiveness, and joy?
All of those gifts are found in Christ. May He make Himself evident to us this season––at Saddle Creek, on Saturday night, and on the Lord's Day––as we consider together His advent.
Matt
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