Friday, December 19, 2025

Here are some words for us from 1 John...
 
                 "Those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him."   ( 1 John 2:5 NLT)
 
The clearest sign of someone living a Christian life is that they live like Jesus did. That boils down to simple obedience to what Jesus called the two greatest commandments: love God with all you are, and love others as yourself. 
   
But neither of them is easy! You can only love really well with God's help --- God's Spirit inside you, drawing you back to God when you want to go your own way instead. And you can only be aware of such love because God loved you first. But because God did, you are now called to love like God does --- sacrificially, with your motivation being the good of others, even over your own.  
   
That's the light that Jesus brought into the world -- the torch that He passed to us as His church, His people, His priesthood. To live in Jesus' light is to love like He did, finding the rhythm of grace and truth. We don't back down from the truth of our desperate need, nor do we back off the good news that God's grace covers all our sin. Anyone living like that can truly lay claim to loving God.
 
                 Jesus, thank you for loving me first. Help me to love God and others like you do, whatever the cost. Amen.  
 
+++ On Sunday, we worship at 8:30am and 10:00am, with both services being held in the beautiful Sanctuary. On this 4th Sunday of Advent, I will continue our sermon series "Our Dear Christ Enters In" and this week I am thinking about "Company Comes". I'll be talking about receiving unexpected company and what that can mean to our carefully laid out plans. Our young people will light the last of our four Advent candles, as we prepare for the arrival of the Christ Child on Christmas. If you can't be in the Sanctuary with us, look for our "live stream" on the church's Faceook page at 10:00am or the recorded worship service that will be "uploaded" to our YouTube channel following the conclusion of the worship.  

+++ The deadline for articles for our January/February newsletter is tomorrow (12/20). Please make sure all articles are in the church office so we can publish the newsletter in a timely fashion. Thanks! 

+++Our Advent Study will meet at 12:30 on Monday instead of 12 noon.

+++  The January/February edition of The Upper Room is available on the back table in the Narthex.   

+++ The floors in the Fellowship Hall will be stripped of wax, cleaned, and then rewaxed on Monday and Tuesday. We will need to stay off the floors until they are completely dry later in the week.  

+++ We will worship on Christmas Eve at both 4:00pm and 7:30pm. Both services include candle lighting and the Sacrament of Holy Communion... so feel free to join us whenever it is convenient for your family on Christmas Eve.  

+++ All donations for 2025 need to be in the church office by Sunday, December 28th.  Donations received after that date will be included in 2026 giving statements. Thanks for all your gifts to support the ministry and mission of Immanuel!

+++ The church office will be closed from 12/25 through 1/4/26. The office will reopen on Monday, January 5th! Emergency numbers are on the answering machine if there is a need for pastoral care.   

+++ Worship on Sunday, December 28th and Sunday, January 4th will be offered at 10:00am ONLY. We will return to two worship services on Sunday, January 11th.   

+++ This CHIMINGS communication will return on Friday, January 9th! May you all have a blessed Christmas celebration!  
 
Make this day a great day and don't be afraid to show how completely you love God each day!   
​Pastor Jack