This is our Sunday message for January 10. Question: Could you use some good news? If so, this little video is for you!
So welcome to 2021. Take some time to remember the good news of God’s Kingdom!
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Prayer and Visioning Retreat Postponed – and Other Announcements
Welcome to 2021! Something tells me that we need to continue depending on God!
1) Retreat Postponed Until March: We had planned on gathering at Nicholl’s barn on January 16 and 17 for a day and half of prayer, reflection, and seeking the Lord regarding the future direction of LoveFirst Coast. It seemed wise to me and the rest of the stewards to postpone due to the current surge of Covid-19 cases. We will try again in March.
2) Time of Prayer and Fasting to Begin Sunday, January 10. The original plan was to fast 10 days ahead of the retreat. With the postponement, it seems to make more sense to delay a few days. Kent and Kris are beginning 21 days of fasting on January 10. That would last through the end of the month. It’s often a better experience if we fast alongside one another and encourage one another. I invite you to consider joining in with them for all or part of the time. For any who can make it, let’s do a short Zoom gathering on Sunday night, January 10 at 7:00 to pray for each other.
3) I have created a resource for prayer, reflection, and fasting for ten days. It includes a daily scripture, a devotional, and some questions to help us think about LoveFirst Coast. I’ll print out a fair number to distribute but will also post it online one day at a time beginning January 10. I’ll try to send links to it via text. You can invite others to join in that way. (It may grow! Let me know if you’d like to contribute a devotional!)
4) We serve a generous God who calls us to live generously. With 2020 behind us, I’m happy to report that from the gifts to LoveFirstCoast, we were able to give away over $10,000 to organizations or individuals doing life on mission. Joy characterized the giving and receiving!
5) Stewards – we meet at 1pm on January 24.
Hope to see you next Sunday night at 7:00pm on Zoom!
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Alpha Online Coming January 26
What is Alpha?
Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith. Typically run over eleven weeks, each session looks at a different question that people can have about faith and is designed to create conversation. It’s just an open, informal and honest space to explore and discuss life’s big questions together.
It’s a course that’s been run all over the world. No two Alpha’s look the same! But they always include: hospitality, a talk, and discussion.
Hospitality
Alpha is a welcoming space – even online! It’s a place where people are respected, valued, and heard and where friendships can be developed. Most sessions start with time for just checking in with each other, to build community and get to know each other.
Talk
The talks are designed to engage guests and inspire conversation. Usually around thirty minutes long, they can be given as a live talk or played as a video, all for free. They explore the big issues around faith and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions such as Who is Jesus? and How can I have faith?
Discussion
Probably the most important part of any Alpha: the chance to share thoughts and ideas on the topic, and simply discuss it in a small group. There’s no obligation to say anything and there’s nothing you can’t say (seriously). It’s an opportunity to hear from others and contribute your own perspective in an honest, friendly and open environment
We’ll be running our course on Zoom on Tuesdays nights at 7:15. Want to join us or more information? Contact…
Jesse Alexander (Pastor) 904-599-2889, JesseAlexander@LoveFirstCoast.org
Sara Taber (Pastor) 904-422-7968, SaraTaber@LoveFirstCoast.org
Posted in Discipleship
Tagged Alpha, alpha online, basics of the Christian Faith, the Alpha Course
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A Few Words for Christmas
A ministry colleague of mine, Frank Riley, wrote this reflection on the song “I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day.” A gift of hope for Christmas. Blessings and Merry Christmas!
The year was 1863, a year of ongoing loss as war and disease ravaged a nation. Coming to Christmas, a father fearful for the life of his critically wounded son penned the words —
“I heard the bells on Chrismas Day
Their old familiar carols play
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men”
For that father in that day — the future was unknown. Would his son live? How long would the civil strife continue? Could he endure? But these things in other times and places had occurred before, and people of faith together with the message of Christmas had endured
“I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Yes unbroken……Yes unchanging……and yes still to a broken world the song has moved through the ages never quite realizing what might have been…..
“And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Still through the ages, for all of us in our times of despair, grief or fear, the message of Christmas is still assurance for the future — yours and mine — come what may ……
“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead nor does He sleep
The wrong will fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”
And that is it isn’t it? No matter how dark the days around us. No matter how evil may seek to find its way — from that first Christmas to this — irregardless of time, of race, of status, of national origen or local culture — the proclamation of Christmas rolls along – the unbroken song, in and through our very souls as we bring the story of the ages forwardFear Not! For I bring you tidings of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior, He is Christ the Lord…….And suddenly there as with the angel a multitude of theheavenly hosts, prising God and saying…..
Glory to God in the Highest Peace on earth, good-will to men!
Sunday Message
It can be hard to catch the meaning of the beautiful story of the first Christmas until it finds its place in the context of the larger story. And the same is true for us! Do you know how your story fits?
Had some fun recording this one! (12 minutes)
Merry Christmas!
LoveFirst Coast 