2018 Advent Devotional

Anticipating Hope

WORSHIP WITH US THIS ADVENT - SPECIAL SERVICES: (SUN) DECEMBER 2:FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT PRAYER CARDS AVAILABLE ADDITIONAL ADVENT DEVOTIONALS AVAILABLE RECEPTION AREAS MALL TO MANGER CARDS AVAILABLE RECEPTION AREAS (SUN) DECEMBER 9:SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT PEACE SERVICE 4 PM (Adult Reception Hall) (SUN) DECEMBER 16:THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT LESSONS & CAROLS TRADITIONAL WORSHIP 9 & 11:15 AM (SUN) DECEMBER 23:FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (PB SUNDAY) BRASS & BELLS TRADITIONAL WORSHIP 9 &11:15 AM (MON) DECEMBER 24:CHRISTMAS EVE (SANCTUARY) 5:00 PM KIDS SERVICE (NURSERY BABIES - 2K) 7:00 PM FAMILY (NURSERY BABIES - 5K) 9:00 PM CANDLELIGHT COMMUNION (NO CHILDCARE) (TUES) DECEMBER 25:CHRISTMAS DAY 10:30 AM WORSHIP - SANCTUARY 11:30 AM TRANSITIONS CHRISTMAS MEAL (TRANSITIONS) (SUN) DECEMBER 30:REGULAR WORSHIP SCHEDULE: 9:00 AM WORSHIP - SANCTUARY 11:15 AM WORSHIP - SANCTUARY & JUBILEE (*Thompson Hall) CHILDCARE FOR INFANTS - 2K CHILDREN’S CHURCH FOR 3K-5K (3 SERVICES)

ADVENT SERVICE & FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: (SAT) DECEMBER 8: CIRCLE OF GIVING 9 AM-1 PM (*TH) Contact Julie McDaniel at jmcdaniel@eastminsterpres.org. (MON) DECEMBER 10: ST. LAWRENCE PLACE CHRISTMAS SHOP & DINNER 6:30 PM (*TH) Contact Liz Agee at sagee12345@aol.com. (WED) DECEMBER 12: 5:30-7 PM GINGERBREAD HOUSES & PIZZA DROP-IN (GYM) Contact Croskeys Royall to sign-up croyall@eastminsterpres.org. (FRI-SAT) DECEMBER 14 & 15: SANDLAPPER SINGERS CHRISTMAS CONCERTS (Offsite) PEANUT BUTTER COLLECTION FOR HARVEST HOPE Visit sandlappersingers.org.

(SUN) DECEMBER 16:THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 5, 6 & 7 PM LIVING NATIVITY W/CHILI BUFFET & CAROL SING (*TH) Eastminster Courtyard

(TUES) DECEMBER 25:CHRISTMAS DAY 11:30 AM TRANSITIONS CHRISTMAS MEAL (AT TRANSITIONS) Contact Alison McGowan at alisonmcgowan11@gmail.com.

First Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 2, 2018 Immediately!!

“As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’” Mark 1:2-3

These two prophecies—the first from Malachi 3:1 and the second from Isaiah 40:3—emphasize the fact that, at God’s direction, John did prepare the way for Jesus. And the text doesn’t fool around with delays or hesitancy. As we read, we’re told euthus (in Greek, “immediately”) did Jesus come out of the baptismal waters, and euthus was Jesus led into the wilderness to be baptized, and the disciples euthus left their nets and followed Him. Indeed, that word “immediately” appears 42 times throughout Mark’s entire book.

I think that in so many ways Mark’s use of euthus mirrors our own harum-scarum-zippy-doo-dah world with all its hurry-up action and super-fast pace. Yet simply to leave it at that misses the point which Mark wants us to grasp. After all, it’s clear that God Himself has been at work laying the foundation for our hope-in-Christ for centuries. And now, here at John’s side, Jesus indeed does arrive, offering everyone the answers the world’s been seeking, especially those that even we today frantically cry out for during our own troubled hours: when we’ve maybe been struggling, when we’ve been hurting, when we perhaps have felt lost.

Might we all catch this sense of Mark’s immediacy ourselves, and may it totally en-ergize our faithfulness and our devotion to the One who comes afresh this Advent season, who walks with us, who offers us hope, who embraces us in His unfailing love.

“Come thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us; let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

“Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal Spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit raise us to thy glorious throne.”*

Let that be your song this Advent. And may God’s love surround you always!

We do thank You for your gracious care, O God. And we boldly ask You to bring us renewed hope--immediately. In Christ’s name we do boldly pray. Amen.

- Rev. Dr. James I. St. John *Wesley, Charles. “Come Thou Almighty King,” Public Domain, 1707-1788.

Nativity Scene Lessons

“When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one an-other, ‘Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby, as He lay in the manger.” Luke 2:15-16

My daughter and I have a tradition of spending Christmas in New York City. No gifts, just memories – that’s our goal. Last year, visiting the nativity scene at the Metropolitan Museum of Art was at the top of our list. It was not at all what I expected. First of all, it’s huge. Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the wise men and the shepherds take center stage at the bottom of the 20-foot spruce tree. More than 50 angels, each more than a foot tall, are nestled in the tree and appear to be flying over the Bethlehem scene. It is spectacular. Photos do not do it justice.

But the real surprise was that the manger scene and the angels were only part of the display. There were exquisite figures of everyday people in what looked like an ordinary village -- a woman getting water from a well, several ordinary looking little homes, townspeople and peasants going about their day--These Bethlehem residents seemed uninterested or maybe even unaware of what was happening nearby. They were focused on the situation at hand – cows that needed to be milked, babies that needed to be fed, water that needed to be drawn. They were missing the magic just around the way. Maybe things haven’t changed so much in 2,000 years.

We were at the museum the week before Christmas, so the line was very long. Ev-eryone paused at the front to look at the birth of Jesus and then circled around the tree to see the village scene. Most people looked up to admire the angels and then made the circle and left. There were no ropes or guides, but people followed the natural flow.

As I stood in front of that magnificent tree, I wondered how many times I have missed Jesus because I’m following the crowd. How many times have I walked away from a chance to serve Jesus because I had too much going on? I am more like the busy townspeople than I want to admit. Like the Baroque figures, do I forget about the angels flying above, watching over my family and me?

Each moment of each day, we have the choice to either put our attention on Jesus and what He calls us to do, or put our energy and efforts into the everyday busy-ness that hits us even harder during the holidays.

Our visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s nativity scene did not disappoint. I’m thankful that we got to enjoy that amazing work of art. But we got more than just an appreciation of fine art that day. And we got more than a happy mother/daughter memory. We got a lesson, a beautiful Christmas lesson.

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for sending Your Son to be born in a lowly manger. Help us to slow down and keep our focus on the magic of that holy night. There will always be distractions, but help us remember to keep Jesus front and center. And Lord, thank You for making sure the angels are always up above, watching over all of us. We thank You and we praise You. Amen.- Tammy Davis Moshier

Second Day of Advent Monday, December 3, 2018

Third Day of Advent Tuesday, December 4, 2018 Anticipating the Most Wonderful Gift Ever “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” John 1:14 Advent is about waiting. Anticipating the most wonderful gift ever given. God gave His Son to the world so that we may be saved. All we have to do is believe. Believe that Jesus is the Son of God. My hope this season is that I can wait (God, give me some patience). Wait for the coming of the Word. The Word is that God loves us and “although He lingers long, He never comes too late.”* Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to live with us. Help us to live like Him. AMEN. - John Hart *Torrey, Bradford. Excerpt from “Not So In Haste, My Heart,” 1875

Fourth Day of Advent Wednesday, December 5, 2018 Worry Replaced by Hope

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoul-der: and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Although some time has now passed, I recall vividly the emotions I felt when, this past August, we moved my daughter into her dorm room for her to begin the excit-ing adventure called college. I was filled with hope and anticipation of a successful, happy, and healthy college career, just as I was when I shared the same experience with my son a couple of years ago. However, mixed in with the excitement, I also experienced feelings of nostalgia, sadness, and downright fear. Will she take care of herself? Will she remember not to walk alone at night? Will she choose friends and make decisions wisely? Will she remember to pray and to seek God among a campus full of choices?

As I continued to ponder these thoughts, it occurred to me that perhaps I was being somewhat hypocritical. My thoughts were on whether she would remember to trust God, but, was I trusting God and His plans for my children?

I then began to think about Jochebed, who, in an attempt to keep her son safe, placed Moses in a basket and left him at the edge of the Nile. (Exodus 2:3) Jochebed, who I assume was not only filled with worry, but also with hope, entrust-ed her baby to God and watched God’s plan fall into place. (I do acknowledge that leaving a child at college for the first time is incomparable to leaving a baby in a basket at the edge of a river; however, leaving a teenager in a dorm room for the first time on a college campus can feel pretty frightening too!)

Thereafter, my thoughts began to focus more intently on Jesus. The Israelites, I imagine, must have also clung to hope and trust in the expectant words from Isaiah promising the birth of a Savior. God delivers. Thank You, God, for Jesus and the hope and peace He provides. Amen. - ElizabethAnn Carroll

Fifth Day of Advent Thursday, December 6, 2018 What is Advent to You?

“May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in Him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 The modern Church definition of Advent is the season which starts four Sundays before Christmas and peaks on the day we celebrate our Lord’s birth. A new church year begins after Christmas and continues 12 more days until the celebration of Epiphany on January 6. I think that, although this definition is technically correct, there is so much more to this very sacred time of the year.

We light the first two Advent candles to celebrate the anticipated second coming of our Lord and the last two candles to celebrate His incarnation and birth in Bethlehem. The last candle, the Christ candle, is lit as a crescendo to celebrate our gratefulness in salvation and hope for the future in the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The word “Advent,” comes to us from the Latin “adventus.” Scholars believe that during the 4th and 5th centuries after the birth of Jesus, Advent became a season for preparation for the baptism of new Christians at the January Feast of Epiphany. This is the celebration of God’s incarnation and is represented by the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus. Early Christians would spend 40 days in penance, prayer and fasting-- anticipating this coming event. Originally, it is believed there was little connection between this season of Advent and Christmas Day. By the 6th century, the Roman church had tied Advent to the anticipated second coming of Christ. It was not until the middle ages that the Advent season was explicitly tied to Christ-mas. So we celebrate the birth of the Messiah, and we celebrate the hope of the second coming during this Advent season. We hold fast to the beauty and light and tender joy of Christmas. This is the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel of the coming of the Savior of the world, the Messiah foretold by Isaiah. Now we live in humble gratitude for the gift of our salvation through the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, we live in hope of Christ’s return for us as He promised. Even if our lives for the whole year have been challenging, we soothe ourselves with the healing balm of the hope for peace and brotherly love for the world during the Christmas season, as we look forward with confident anticipation to the second coming of our Lord. Heavenly Father, renew our faith and strength during this holy time of Advent. Help us slow down during this precious season and remember to love our families and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.

- Randy Cottrell

Sixth Day of Advent Friday, December 7, 2018

Emphasize Hope, Not “Stuff” This Season

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with every-thing for our enjoyment.” 1 Timothy 6:17

My hope and prayer this Christmas and New Year is to trust in God to provide me with what I need and not with what I want. Wouldn’t it be nice to celebrate the birth of Jesus without being distracted? We spend so much energy finding the per-fect gift, decorating a perfectly shaped tree and lighting up the house just right. It’s exhausting trying to live up to the way the world tells us Christmas should look. I want to be filled with the hope that God will restore, strengthen and provide for my enjoyment this season. The perfect gift is the peace that comes with knowing that God is always with us and always for us.

When you are an Interior Designer for a living, it is very easy to get caught up in how things should look. I appreciate a beautiful home. I know it is a gift that helps my clients have warm and comfortable surroundings. Occasionally the demands of building or decorating can become too much for people. When a client gets stressed or I get bogged down with material things, I share and pray this prayer printed below. This was written by Edie Wadsworth. She is the author of the blog “Life in Grace,” where she shares her journey of losing all of her possessions in a fire. It reminds me to not put too much emphasis on the “stuff” we fill our homes with this Christmas season.

“Remake me, Lord. Rebuild me with the multitude of your tender mercies. May Christ be the chief cornerstone of this house. And when I fill it with the idols of this world, I ask You to tear it down again and start anew. Strengthen me in the waiting. Comfort the aches of body and soul. Feed me with the bread of heaven and for the sake of Christ, forgive my ingratitude. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Remove this heart of stone and make it new again. Amen.”*

- Marcy Swan

*Wadsworth, Edie. Excerpt from “Life in Grace.” [Blog Post] Retrieved from www.lifeingraceblog.com.

Seventh Day of Advent Saturday, December 8, 2018

In Christ My Hope is Found

“The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” Psalm 147:11

When approached about writing this devotional, I was immediately drawn to Eastminster’s theme this Advent season, “Anticipating Hope.” How appropriate and reassuring! If you have read any of my devotionals in the past, then you know I like to reference Christian music and the peace and joy it brings me from spending most of my day behind the wheel. Kristian Stanfill’s, “In Christ Alone”* is definitely in my personal Top 5 favorite list, one that I have listened to multiple times lately, with no coincidence considering the theme for this devotional. Here is an excerpt:

“In Christ alone my hope is found.He is my light, my strength, my songThis cornerstone, this solid groundFirm through the fiercest drought and storm.”

My former self was always looking for “hope” in all the wrong places: my career, my family, and if I’m being true to myself, even my Tigers. The new me, and I would argue a much better version of myself, holds tightly to Stanfill’s lyrics, bringing me so much peace: “I find my strength, I find my hope.....Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.”

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that “hope” comes only from the LORD. My friends, I encourage each of you to put your hope, faith, and trust “In Christ Alone.”

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for providing each of us with a hope and a future. Please keep us ever mindful that this hope comes from You and You alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

- Gabriel DiBiase

*Getty, Keith and Stuart Townend. Kingsway Music. “In Christ Alone,” [Recorded by Kris-tian Stanfill]. ADM Worldwide, 2001.

Second Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 9, 2018 Love is… “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:16-17 Love requires vulnerability. Have you ever thought about that? To truly love someone, you need to make yourself vulnerable. With all the joy, anticipation, and exhilaration that love can produce, disappointment, heartbreak, and rejec-tion are also very real possibilities. How many of you have been crushed by a first love, devastated by a loved one’s decision, or defeated by a lack of love being reciprocated?

Now, consider that the God of the universe has invited and encouraged this type of vulnerability into our relationship with Him. “For God so loved… that He GAVE.” It’s incredible if you sit and think about it, isn’t it? The Bible does not say, “For God so loved that He controlled,” or, “For God so loved that He manip-ulated.” No, “For God so loved…that He GAVE.” In God’s pursuit of you, the God of the universe became vulnerable, taking the form of a baby, living life in the way you and I live, opening Himself up to rejec-tion, humiliation, and even death… for YOU and for ME. We throw around this idea of love so much in our culture that I wonder if at times we forget the vulnerability that comes with truly loving another. Whether it is our spouse, our children, family and friends, or even God, we too need to be vulnerable. This Advent season, I challenge us all to allow others, and especially God into the challenges and joys, the struggles and celebrations we find in our lives. Dear Lord, Thank You for the gift of Your Son. Thank You for being willing to enter into this life for me. Help me to love You as You have loved me. Help me to be vulnerable, to open up my whole life to You. Amen. - Rev. Brian Marsh

Ninth Day of Advent Monday, December 10, 2018 Be a Star

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

How do you shine for Jesus? A star from the east twinkled and shone brightly, thus leading the wisemen to their Savior. What about your life twinkles to catch the attention of others? I’m not talking about sparkling jewelry or a brand new, shiny car. Jesus said that we are to let our light shine before others leading them to praise God. What do people think of God from watching you? Might they be led to Jesus by your actions or demeanor, your words, or by the way you are living your life?

We live in a world full of stress and jealousy; a world where people yearn for ma-terial wealth and strive to outdo their neighbors. Politicians sling insults both true and untrue, and people are murdered every day because of greed. The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2:15 that in a crooked and depraved generation, we are “to shine like stars in the universe.” A smile to a stranger, an unexpected compliment to a coworker, the bounce in your step and sense of calm as you walk assured knowing that God has your minutes, days, and life in His hands and that He is using it for His good and perfect purpose.

Let your light shine, my friends! Let’s let God’s love radiate from us, thus leading others to His promises of hope and eternal life.

Dear God, thank You for loving us! Please help us to feel so overwhelmed with Your love that we let it radiate from us, guiding others to the cross and eternal life with You. Amen.

- Elizabeth Balthazor

Tenth Day of Advent Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Who Will You Bless This Christmas?

“But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.” Psalm 9:18

Test yourself on this, “What is the most anticipated day of the year?” Your birthday, starting a new job or the first day of school? How about the birth of a baby? Well in our family, the most anticipated day each year is Christmas Day. Both my wife and I had mothers who loved doing Christmas. They were the original Secret Santas. Gift buying, decorating the whole house inside and out, cooking/baking, and mak-ing certain that there were special surprises for that special day. And of course, the late-night candlelight worship service.

While we were living in Myrtle Beach, my in-laws would come down from North Carolina to celebrate that most magical time of year. One year we were having a rough financial time. I was between jobs. My level of anticipation was low. When my mother-in-law arrived, she asked me to find a needy family that she could bless for Christmas. I thought we were the needy family! Well I called the church and they put me in touch with a social worker who found us a deserving family of four: Mom, Dad, a boy and a girl.

My mother-in-law got us started with gift selections, gift buying, gift wrapping, shopping for a special Christmas dinner, cooking, baking and loading the car to de-liver this Christmas surprise. As I drove to the family’s home, I wondered to myself, “What was this family anticipating for Christmas?” According to the social worker, this family had been on hard times for many weeks. We knocked on the door and presented our gifts and food. You must understand that when my mother-in-law cooks, we live off the leftovers for days. Our adopted family smiled and accepted our gifts with an attitude of gratitude. Their first comment after “Thank you” was exclaiming how much food there was, and they announced that they would have enough to share with another family in the neighborhood. I was not anticipating that response. This poor family was thinking of others, before themselves. Shouldn’t we all be like that?

But we are blessed to be a blessing. No matter what our situation, we should never give up hope. God knows our needs in every circumstance, and He is always ready to provide. As the Psalmist reminds us,”God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.”

How will God use you to bless someone this Christmas?

Creator of all things, Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor -- be ever present in my life. Instill in me a love for my fellow man before my needs. Allow me to trust Your promises and know that Your love is sufficient in all circumstances. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

- Starr Lawson

Eleventh Day of Advent Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Reach Out Without Reservation

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, ‘Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have it unto Me.’” Matthew 25:40

In the late 1980’s, we were hearing about the AIDS epidemic. All the unknowns of this disease led to fear and an aversion to interacting with the AIDS victims. One can only imagine the isolation felt by those who had contracted the disease when many they encountered shunned them for fear of the disease being casually passed to them.

A women’s service organization to which I belonged at the time planned a Christ-mas time gathering at a facility for indigent male AIDS victims. As the time arrived for the gathering, the service organization’s chair for the event had a last-minute babysitting crisis. She really wanted to be there to be sure that all ran smoothly, so she made the decision to bring along her toddler daughter. We all scurried about at the party serving the refreshments, singing the Christmas carols, and presenting the men with new coats. She realized suddenly that her daughter was not at her side and turned to all of us with the “where is she” look of panic.

Thirty years later, the vision is still indelibly etched in my mind. There was the pre-cious child fast asleep and cradled in the arms of one of the men. He was so gaunt due to the ravages of his illness that the light reflected off the skin of his bald head. He gazed down at her as tears streamed down his cheeks. The body and soul of this man who had been shunned by the world was now touched by this innocent child.

Perhaps in the innocence of this child there is hope. Hope that all of us will follow the example of Jesus Christ and reach out without reservation to those in need.

A prayer of compassion from Mother Teresa: “Lord, open our eyes that we may see You in our brothers and sisters. Lord, open our ears that we may hear the cries of the hungry, the cold, the frightened, the oppressed. Lord, open our hearts that we may love each other as You love us. Renew in us Your Spirit. Lord, free us and makes us one. Amen.”

- Anne Bristow

Twelfth Day of Advent Thursday, December 13, 2018 What Are You Hoping For? “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ....” 1 Peter 1:3 (ESV) Christmas is now only 12 days away! What are you looking forward to? What are you hoping for? Do you have a special gift in mind? Are you anticipating happy times with friends and family, experiencing their joy and gratitude as they open that special gift you have purchased or made just for them? What are you looking “back at”? What are you remembering? Yes, even in this time of preparation and anticipation, I am asking you to reflect for a minute on the past. After all, isn’t a big part of having hope for the future remem-bering the past? How do we know what to hope for if we don’t consider what has brought us joy and what has not? So, as you look back on last Christmas, are you hopeful for this one? Did you get all those perfect gifts you wanted? Did they bring you the satisfaction and contentment you had envisioned? Can you even remember now what they were? Were all your visits peaceful, fulfilling, and happy? Were all your thoughtful gifts received with obvious joy and gratitude? Or was there tension? Was there exhaus-tion? Was there disappointment? Most all of us have had our hopes dashed, to some extent, by the people and cir-cumstances of this world. Things often do not work out as hoped for. This Christmas, don’t base your hope on gifts or other people. Hang your hope on THE gift of Jesus Christ. In Christ, there is no need to wish for what might come. The gift has already been given. In Christ, there is no need to wonder about whether the gift will be reliable—whether it will work as advertised and bring you the satisfaction and contentment you are hoping for. Christ has already completed His gift by dying for our sins and conquering death on our behalf. In Christ, there is no need to be concerned about whether other people are living up to your standards or behaving as you wish they would. They are His children, just as you are, and through His eyes, you can love them (even when they are not very likeable!). Lord, thank You for Your most wonderful gift—the gift of Your Son. This Christmas, help me to build my hope on Him and through Him. Amen.

- Dan Lott

Thirteenth Day of Advent Friday, December 14, 2018 From Creation to Relationship

“And again, Isaiah says, ‘A descendent of Jesse will appear; He will come to rule the Gentiles, and they will put their hope in Him.’” Romans 15:12 Some 13.8 billion years ago, God spoke with six mighty breaths. And from that act of creation, all that is both seen and unseen came into being. Around 4.6 billion years ago, our solar system and its planets and their moons, including our own planet Earth, formed from this initial act of creation and expansion. Although the fossil record tells us that life itself appeared shortly after the formation and cooling of the Earth, Homo Sapiens did not appear until somewhere around 200,000 years ago. The most ancient civilizations are about 10,000 years old. The first languages and the ability to comprehend and contemplate the existential world around us began during this time of modern civilization. It seems that immediately after comprehension and communication skills emerged, God began to reach out to His creation and explain Himself and our relationship to Him as His own created beings. Life is hard and challenging and always has been. But God-- through the Law given to Moses, the direction given to us by the prophets and the comfort of the beauti-ful Psalms -- offered hope for a better future. In the fullness of time, God Himself intervened on our behalf and came to us in the form of a child, Jesus our Lord, so that salvation and redemption might be available to all who believe. Praise be to God for loving us throughout time! Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, You have loved us for more time than we can even conceive. Send the Holy Spirit to enlighten us and empower us to rightly praise You as our God and our Creator. Amen. - Randy Cottrell

Fourteenth Day of Advent Saturday, December 15, 2018 Anticipation, Keepin’ Me Waitin’ “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

I was recently flipping channels and came across an ad for Heinz ketchup. The im-age was the bright, red ketchup coming ever so slowly out of a glass bottle. My first thought was, “Can you even BUY ketchup in a glass bottle anymore?” and then, inevitably, THE SONG came into my head. If you are over 45 or so, you know the song I’m talking about: “Anticipation.”

Back in the late 70’s, Heinz ketchup used the chorus of that Carly Simon song in a hugely successful ad campaign. The ad ran in various forms for years. The images showed hungry kids, patiently waiting for the ketchup to slide out of the bottle onto a perfect burger and a pile of fries.

“Anticipation, anticipation Is makin’ me lateIs keepin’ me waitin.’”*

Well, nowadays, we don’t wait on much of anything, certainly not ketchup, we just grab that bottle and squeeze! In our world of instant gratification, it is nice to have an occasion to train ourselves to anticipate a special event. “Advent” means “arrival,” and in this Advent season, we wait and reflect on the celebration of the arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What a special time it is!

Culturally, we enjoy the run up to Christmas, with 24/7 carols on the radio, Christ-mas specials on TV, and, of course, the shopping!

As Christians, however, we also get to enjoy the true meaning and importance of Jesus’ birth. To us, He is not simply that little baby in the manger scene that gets boxed back up on January 1. Jesus grew up to become our Savior, the One who had been prophesied about for generations. He was God in the flesh, blameless, but He took the sin of the world upon Himself, so we can have our eternal relationship with God.

Let’s all enjoy this Advent season, and celebrate together the arrival of our Savior, and the promise of hope, peace, joy and love that He brings to us. Merry Christmas! With great anticipation, Lord, we wait for You and Your promises. Amen.

- Kit Pound *Carly Simon. Anticipation, Elektra. 1971.

Third Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 16, 2018 The Hope-filled Promise of God“Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgments against you, He has turned away your ene-mies. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more…. Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak. The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in His love; He will exult over you with loud singing….” Zephaniah 3:14-17

We are at the third week of Advent and the incarnation of Jesus is coming into fo-cus, yet we often feel bogged down with all the details of preparing and wondering if all will be ready for Christmas. This song of praise gives us a sense of hope in the midst of stress and struggle.

In Zephaniah’s time, the nation of Israel was under judgment for sin, and they were also being oppressed by foreign nations and life was very unjust. In other words they were suffering. In the midst of suffering, it is often hard to see the glimpses of hope that God gives to us each and every day. We are so focused on what is happening in the moment of pain that we don’t see that God is at work both now and for the future. We desire or demand that the pain of suffering and injustice be taken away so that we might go merrily on our way.

Prophets point us in a direction we don’t want to go. Often no one wants to hear the prophet’s words as they see and hear God where we don’t. It is as true with Zephaniah’s words as it is with any other prophet. The people of Israel have been lamenting, and Zephaniah is calling them to repentance and ultimately praise for what God is going to do in their future.

In the middle of suffering, Zephaniah calls Israel to sing aloud and to shout, to re-joice and exult with all their heart. It is NOT about exulting and rejoicing because of the suffering and the judgment. The rejoicing is about what is happening in the Advent of Jesus, either at His incarnation in Bethlehem or His second coming in victory.

The Lord is in the midst of the nation, and God has taken away the judgment for our sins. That judgment was dealt with in the death of Jesus, and His resurrec-tion gives us new life. Therefore we have every reason to rejoice. Those who have suffered unjustly, those who are lame, and those who are outcasts are saved and gathered into God’s family. Our shame of sin is turned into praise!

I love verse 17, which says, “God will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.” Even in my undeserv-edness, God rejoices over me with gladness and He renews me in His love. That thought overwhelms me, as it should you. The overwhelming love that God has for us should make us sing and rejoice for joy because Hope in the form of Jesus has come to give us life in the midst of struggle.

Gracious and Holy God, thank You that You are always in our midst. Help us to focus on Your presence and Your goodness to us through Jesus who brought about our salvation. May our hope in You shine forth this Advent season that You may be seen. Amen.

- Rev. Lynn Grandsire

Sixteenth Day of Advent Monday, December 17, 2018 This is the Year

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner Jesus has entered on our behalf.” Hebrews 6:19

Advent...the arrival of something or someone awaited. Every Thanksgiving I tell myself, this is the year. This is the year that I will find dai-ly quiet-time during the Advent season to study and pray. After all, Thanksgiving is a wonderful time filled with family, comfort food, and homecomings for which to be thankful. In response and gratitude for those rich blessings, carving out some time each day to spend intentionally with my Savior should be a simple thing. I go about finding a daily Advent devotional or book to read, and keep my Bible and a journal close by to write down my prayers and thoughts, and scripture that speaks to me. I’m ready well before Advent begins. But then it starts. The lists, the shopping, the baking, the parties, the wonderful Christmas programs, the amazing service opportunities. How do I choose? And before I know it, Christmas has come and gone… and I’ve done it all. As many programs and parties and service projects as I can fit in. And there sits my Bible. And right beside it is my devotional book and my journal. Sadly, in a flurry of coming and going and in a sense of hurried helplessness, I have missed experiencing that daily blessing of hope. My prayer is that this year will be different. I will sense the hope that comes from intentionally pondering the miracle of Jesus’ birth, the obedience of His earthly parents, and God’s great love and sacri-fice for us. This is the year. Oh come, oh come, Emmanuel! Dear Lord, slow me down. Calm my busy mind. Help me find rest and hope in spend-ing time with You. Amen. - Melanie DaVega

Seventeenth Day of Advent Tuesday, December 18, 2018 Prepare Him Room

“Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” Mark 6:31

I remember listening to that traditional Christmas carol, “Joy to the World,” as a child. We would be preparing our home for Christmas...decorating the tree, hang-ing the stockings and rolling out the Advent calendar with the little velcro angels with felt wings. Bing or Perry would be belting it out about heaven and nature singing and every heart preparing His heavenly “room” for Christmas. At least that is what I pictured in my mind as a 10-year old...a band of busy, glittering angels changing the sheets and fluffing pillows...even setting out fresh hand towels and Chestnut-scented soap for Jesus to come for Christmas. Kind of like we were doing for Grandma….

As an adult, I find myself preparing, but for what? The seemingly endless shopping, budgeting, baking and decorating often leave me more spent than spiritual some seasons. How do we get back to the place where we can prepare our hearts for Jesus’ coming despite the rush, haste and stress of the season?

One way to prepare your heart is to find a slice of solitude amidst the chaos. This may have to happen when everyone else is sleeping, but in the quiet stillness you can focus and prepare your heart, even before preparing for whatever this busy day of the Christmas season might hold. Jesus will meet you there, and I’m pretty sure - from what I’ve heard - that He doesn’t care whether or not you remembered to buy that Chestnut-scented hand soap.

Lord, quiet the noise of the hustle, bustle and busyness of the season. In this moment, help me to focus on You. Help me to prepare my heart with kindness and patience as I move through my to-do list today. Please help me remember that this season is not about how much I can accomplish (even though that “doing” is for others) but what You have done for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen. - Kelly Barbrey

Eighteenth Day of Advent Wednesday, December 19, 2018 In The Fullness Of Time“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” Luke 2:14

Years ago we took a two-year course called Bethel Bible Series. When we reached the beginning of the second year, the title was the title above: “In the Fullness of Time.” The New Testament was about to begin. Until we took the course, we had no idea how much the Old Testament plays in the New Testament. In the Old Tes-tament, God tells us His Story with His people...and then in the New Testament, He gets real personal with the prophecies of inclusion of all the peoples of the earth. His earth. His people.

I remember it as though it were yesterday. It began with fear, my fear of something about to happen in my life that would change everything. The fear would come at the same time every morning around 4 am. I would awaken and feel a grip like a vise on my heart. I couldn’t really figure out what I was afraid of at the time. I just knew something was going to happen, and it was not something I wanted to happen. The quiet and stillness of that time of night was a perfect time for God to begin to awaken my heart to listen for His will.

From the outside all looked well. It looked as though we were prospering, but the truth is we were held prisoners in our lifestyle. We were heavily in debt accrued from raising three children and saying yes to most of our physical wants and all of our needs. You know, we were living the good life! But...things were beginning to crumble, because the job that had supported us was about to be taken away. God knew this, but we had been trying to bury our heads in the sand for a couple of years.

The fear that had gripped me, I realized, was my not wanting to let go of our life-style. But God affirmed to me in the wee hours of the morning that His blessings on me were much more than the material things we possessed. He was not leaving us...and actually He was coming into our lives in a more profound way.

After Mary and Joseph had this Holy Child, troubles did not disappear. Actually they multiplied with having to flee to save Jesus from the evil of Herod the king. They were in exile for many years. But God never left them. He went before them and prepared the way.

This Christmas I am remembering how He did the same thing for us. For five long years, we were wandering in our own exile trying to find our way to where God prepared a place for us. During this time, He provided people who loved Him to come alongside us and “love us through” this difficult time. He never left us. We had much growing spiritually to do, and He used our circumstances to nurture us. We came to trust Him.

As we go about our way of doing things this Christmas season, think about how God is looking at our way of celebrating. Are we resting in His favor? Do we feel the true peace that He brings?

Dear Lord, help us to seek Your will in all areas of our lives. Praise and Glory during this celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

- Chris Lawson

Nineteenth Day of Advent Thursday, December 20, 2018 Outward Faith and Everlasting Life “…I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me will live even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 These were the words spoken by Jesus Christ to Martha after the death of her brother, Lazarus. As I pondered December’s devotional theme of hope and the excited-ness of Jesus Christ, John 11:25-26 is a verse that came to my mind over and over again. Everlasting life is something God promises us and that should bring hope and excitement to any Christian. God is giving us the most wonderful gift we could ever be blessed to receive! However, the more time I spent reading this verse, I began to think of another word...assurance. God gives us the assurance of everlasting life, and all we have to do is have faith in Him. Is that all? Is it that simple? I think not. Faith sounds very simple, but the challenge of faith is living it out in my everyday life. I began to ask myself, “How am I showing MY faith?” • Do I pray enough?• Do I serve enough?• Am I spreading joy and love to others in the name of Jesus?• Am I asking for forgiveness of sins that I know I have committed?• Am I asking for forgiveness for the sins that I am not even aware that I have

committed?• Am I living every day the way Jesus would want me to?• Do I put God first?• Do I love my neighbor more than myself? There are so many ways to show our faith in the Lord, but are we really doing it? In the upcoming year, I encourage you to reflect and think about all of the ways you can show your faith in your church, community, and world. The Lord is giving us the opportunity to have everlasting life. If that doesn’t make you excited and hopeful, I am not sure what will! Dear God, thank You for the gift of everlasting life. Guide us to spread and show our faith through the many gifts that You have blessed us with. Help us to see others as we see ourselves...sinners in need of a Savior. Thank You for loving us so much that You can forgive us and provide us with Your love. AMEN. - Harper James

Twentieth Day of Advent Friday, December 21, 2018 Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty

“I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Mark 1:8

I grew up Methodist. When I was very little, five or six years old, my mother sang in the choir and I would sit in the pew with my two sisters and my dad, mesmer-ized by the beauty of their voices in song. One of the hymns that was a favorite of my mother’s is “Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty.”* I can still see my mother singing the hymn with all her heart and soul. She would point out to us (me and my sisters) that the part “Holy, Holy, Holy” made her think of the Trinity -- God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. She did a great job explaining the Trinity to us. As you can imagine, three little girls asking tons of questions must have been frustrating to her, although she never showed frustration.

As I think about the first verse of this song...“Early in the morning, our song shall rise to thee” and “merciful and mighty, God in three persons, blessed Trinity!”...it gives hope that the birth of our Savior, which we are about to celebrate, leads us to the Trinity – God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

What are some ways we can share the Living Trinity with our family and others during this Advent season? We can look for the best in people. We can give a smile to the person in our path who isn’t smiling. We can pray for others who are hurting or sick. We can teach our children about the Advent season, making sure they un-derstand why we celebrate it. We can look for stories of hope and inspiration that fill us with the joy of the Christmas season.

Memories are such a blessing. I’m grateful for the memory of my mother singing in the choir and the warmth this beautiful song gives me. In the next few days, as we move closer to the birth of Jesus, let us be reminded that Jesus is in each of us. We are baptized with the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. And oh, how antici-pating hope stirs within us as we near December 25th.

Lord, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for the blessing of the Trinity. Thank You for this beautiful time of year, where hope is on every corner and we are filled with joy. Help us be mindful of others. Help us to share His birth with those who don’t know Jesus. Help us feel the Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty through all things Christmas. Amen.

- Betty Meadows Heber, Reginald. “Holy, Holy, Holy,” Public Domain Hymns, 1826.

Twenty-first Day of Advent Saturday, December 22, 2018 A Mother’s Eyes

“The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name him Jesus.’ ...And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has looked with favor on the lowliness of His servant. Surely from now on, all generations will call me blessed.’” Luke 1:30-31, 46-48

Those eyes…even more brilliant when she smiled. Everything else was back-ground noise. She was fun and athletic and could talk sports with anyone. I was hooked….Somehow I got her and we were off, far away, on our own. She was my rock, my best friend. We were blessed.

Then she brought us a child….That is when I saw it. Something vaguely familiar. Had I seen it in my childhood? It was a change in those eyes. Not in shape or color, but what was just behind. Fierce, but nurturing and gentle all at once. It was the knowledge that she would die in an instant for that child or any other child. Some may call it maternal instinct or a biochemical change. I call it a gift from God!

Have you ever wondered what Mary was like when Jesus was growing up? Did she worry about His safety and the pressure He was under? Did she want to interfere or rescue Him from troubles?

The Bible tells us she was favored by God and a woman of great faith, but did she ever wrestle with God’s plan for her Son? Surely she would have traded places with Him on the day of His crucifixion. God must have given her great strength that day, which was followed by what must have been the pure joy only a mother can feel after His resurrection.

Dear Lord, thank You for our mothers and wives. They have so many incredible strengths and qualities that can come only through You. Amen.

- Spence Jenkins

Fourth Sunday of Advent Sunday, December 23, 2018 Son of Abraham, Son of David

“An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham….” Matthew 1:1 This is the first sentence of the New Testament. In teaching Matthew’s Gospel this fall I have become more and more impressed with the fact that Matthew included these words as a kind of banner over the whole of his Gospel. And every single word he wrote points backwards and forwards -- back to the first pages of the Bible, back to the purpose of the whole creation, back to the story of Israel as the people of God … and forward to every page of his Gospel where he shows how the life, death and resurrection of Jesus is the crowning culmination of that whole great story.

The words “book of the genealogy” are literally “Genesis book” in Greek, and Mat-thew means that his book is about the reason and purpose of God in making the world itself the “genesis” of our world and our lives. That book, Genesis, is about how God started the world and how it went wrong, and Matthew’s new “Genesis book” is showing us how God is setting it right, putting the world back on the right track.

To say Jesus is the “Christ” is to say He’s the chosen one, God’s special agent for accomplishing that task. And to call him “Son of David” and “Son of Abraham” is to say that He is the “fulfiller” of two seemingly grandiose and unmet hopes. The promise to David was that a son of his own family line would be ruling on the throne before God forever! (2 Sam.7:14) Israel’s history after David was disastrous, and it was hard to see how this promise could be fulfilled. That’s what Matthew says he’s now able to show us, how Jesus Christ is that “forever King, son of David.”

If “son of David” is a promise for the vertical heights, reaching up to God’s throne, “son of Abraham” is a horizontal promise, reaching out far and wide. God told Abraham as He called him, that he would be the source of blessing for every nation upon the earth, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:3) Matthew’s Gospel hints at its glorious ending here in these words, “son of Abra-ham.” Matthew knows that his story will end with the Risen Jesus Christ, sending His disciples out to every corner of the world to spread the blessing of God’s great love and the gift of His salvation and life. That’s the great promise of Christmas!

Bless us, Holy God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and help us carry with us in our hearts the glorious fullness of Your great, far-reaching blessing as we journey through this day and through our lives into the fullness of joy and wonder. Amen. - Rev. Dr. Mark Durrett

Christmas Eve Monday, December 24, 2018 What Gift Will You Give Him?“... and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts….” Matthew 2:11

By Christmas Eve, all our holiday to-do’s have been checked off. Lights have been twinkling, ornaments hanging, manger scene perched, Christmas cards mailed, can-dlelight service attended, cookies baked, and bows tied. And the mounds of gifts for our loved ones have been purchased, wrapped and placed under the tree. All but one….This one needs no box or paper or fancy bow. But it’s the most import-ant gift of all, so it requires some thought. What gift will you give our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, this year?

As usual, a look to Scripture will give us the answers. Matthew 2:11 makes me pause to notice the wise men’s actions as pictured through God-breathed words. When the Magi reached their destination and first laid eyes on the Baby Jesus, they did four things: They bowed down, they worshiped Him, they opened their trea-sures, and they presented Him with gifts.

These wise and highly esteemed men, who I would imagine were praised by other men, showed honest humility in God’s presence. They crouched to a low position in recognition of this Holy Child’s superiority. Recognizing God is greater than I am, recognizing He is greater than any challenge I have, and recognizing His plans are better than mine. This is Gift #1 I can give my Lord this year.

Second, the wise men worshiped Him. Worship. It’s something we all need more of. Time set aside on the Sabbath every week to travel the short distance to our beautiful sanctuary and worship alongside our church family: This is a vital spiri-tual discipline that should not be overlooked, even if you also pray or read scripture regularly on your own. This is Gift #2 I can give my Lord this year-- set aside time every Sunday to attend worship with my family.

The last two are closely linked. The Magi opened their treasures and presented gifts. My fist can clinch pretty tightly to “my” treasures, so to give them away can be tough. But God. But God. But God. Thank goodness there’s a “but God” that can turn me from my sinfulness. But God loves me so. But God gives me grace and has shown me His hand over and over again in my life. But God is the One who gave me treasures to begin with. And so. And so Gift #3 is my treasures for use in His kingdom.

Number four is open and deserves some pondering. They’re “gifts” that come from me and only me. A piece of myself, perhaps. Like time? Maybe my heart? Pos-sibly a way to love or serve some of His children who are hurting? More minutes of prayer… more listening in prayer for His direction? Number four is for me to think seriously on, and for you to do the same. What gifts will you give Jesus this year?

Heavenly Father, on this Christmas Eve, help me consider Your wonderful works in our world and in my life. As I remember Your promises, Your truth and Your grace, help me remember every day to give You my heart, my mind, my treasures, my praise. Glory to God in the highest! Amen.

- Caroline Bennett

Christmas Day Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Love Shows Up

“An In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”.... “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”John 1:1-5; 14 Does this Christmas morning find you on the road, visiting with family? Or might friends and family be heading your way even now? Isn’t it wonderful how love shows up? Yes, email and phone calls are nice, but there is nothing quite like eye-to-eye contact and hugs and being together. As a church family, it would be easier, more efficient, even more cost efficient, if we didn’t take any mission trips. It would be nice to not have to make a long drive or deal with airports and airplanes. We could just send a check or wire the mon-ey. Gosh, by not going in person, we could save travel expenses, which would let us send even more money to help. And yet we know, don’t we, the importance of going in person, of being together, of looking one another in the eye? Because love shows up. The same financial logic, of course, could be applied to visits with friends and fam-ily over Christmas. Stay home. Spend less on travel. Send a fancier gift. Except it would defeat the spirit of Christmas, wouldn’t it? Yet, there is something sacred about those conversations in the kitchen and family rituals, something special about walking together through life, because… love shows up. Christmas is about love showing up. Indeed, it’s the ultimate example, the ulti-mate embodiment. That’s why God became flesh in Jesus. Such is God’s love for humanity, for you and for me, that’s why the God of all heaven came to the earth. The incarnation, Jesus born in a manger, is ultimately about God showing up in the flesh. Why? Because love shows up. And nowhere is love showing up more clearly seen and felt and experienced than in Jesus, the Messiah. In Him, love has shown up. Merry Christmas! O Lord our Savior, we are so grateful that You are a God who, even knowing our short-comings and sinfulness, loves us enough to come to us in person. Help us be mindful, and all the more grateful, that in Jesus, Emmanuel, You have become flesh, showing up in love for each of us, and for all humanity. Amen.

- Rev. Dr. Bradley D. Smith

hank you to all members, pastors and staff who contributed to Eastminster’s Advent Devotional in

2018. This collection of thoughts, Christmas memories, prayers and, from some, hopeful resolutions of faith is anticipated and

cherished each year.

We hope you’ll find comfort and warmth in these pages, a gift to you from the Eastminster family, and we wish you and yours a hopeful and happy

Advent Season.

As many of you know, Ellen Scoville’s Christmas Tree Hat was seen for many years at Eastminster on the Sunday morning nearest Christmas Day, but do you know the story behind the icon? According to her daughter, Lucy Scoville (Lucy Verner Scoville), after speaking with Ellen (Ellen Douglas Verner Scoville) to get the “ex-act history,” Lucy tells us that her grandmother, Eliza (Eliza Bellamy Duffie Vern-er) died suddenly in July of 1964....Like other Verner females that you may know, Eliza was a warm, colorful lady, who was loved dearly and in turn missed greatly. “To help the family and friends fight through their sorrow after mother’s death and with the Christmas season approaching,” Ellen recalls, “I found this unusual hat at the downtown Lourie’s Department store and decided to wear it to church on the Sunday before Christmas that year, hoping to bring joy to the hearts of grieving family members and friends....” And it worked and still does, because now, 54 years later, Lucy continues this much-loved Eastminster tradition. Look for the Christmas Tree Hat again this Advent on December 22.

© 2018 Eastminster Communications

“The Christmas Tree Hat”

T

On the Front Cover: Photograph from “The Living Nativity - 2017” The DiBiase Family: Mallie, Bett, Grier & Gabriel DiBiase

Eastminster Presbyterian Church3200 Trenholm Road

Columbia, South Carolina 29204www.eastminsterpres.org *(803) 256-1654

Join Us For Advent!

A Gift From the Eastminster Church Family to Enrich Your Christmas Season!

Eastminster desires to “Share the Hope,” and we hope that you do too. Below are some ways that you can share the hope with others. Please see the list of events on the inside front cover.

SERVE:Transitions, Mall to Manger Challenge and Circle of Giv-ing are specific ways we seek to serve during the Advent season, but other opportunities are available year-round. Check out our website, or Contact *Susie Glenn for more details.

SHARE:Like our Advent devotions? Sign up on our website to receive one via email daily, OR you can even write a devo-tion yourself. Contact *Caroline Bennett for more details.

GROW:We would love for you to join us for Worship Sunday mornings at 9 or 11:15. You can also dig deeper through our Small Group Ministry and Sunday School Class offer-ings. Contact *Rev. Brian Marsh for more details. CONNECT:Join us for The Living Nativity on 12/16, at 5, 6, or 7 PM in the Courtyard. Be sure to stop by Thompson Hall for Chili and a Carol-Sing along afterwards.