By Fran Bunn
The members of Peachtree Baptist Church would like to wish everyone a very blessed Merry Christmas and a New Year so full of hope and faith.
At Peachtree Baptist Church on Sunday, the congregation listened as Pastor Gene Whitehouse spoke of the many friends and neighbors with COVID-19 and the destruction it’s causing.
“All we hear these days is talk about the virus, but we don’t think about all the people with other diseases like cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s and so many more,” he said. “We need to keep in mind all those who are ill. We need to thank God and praise Him for making it possible to have a cure for the COVID-19 virus. For the wonderful good news that the COVID-19 vaccine is now being shipped out across the country. God is always listening to our prayers. We continue to pray for the new and old leadership of our country, for new beginnings and that the people of this country will unite. We pray for all those sick and in need. That all will soon have the vaccine for the COVID-19 virus.”
Special music: Jane May performed a piano solo. David Griffin whistled and sang “Go Tell It On The Mountain.” David was accompanied by Jane May on the piano. David read John 3:16 before singing. Marta Whitehouse sang “Heaven’s Child.”
Bible verse of the week: John 8:12.
Sunday’s large sanctuary poinsettia arrangement was presented to glorify God by Bobby Bunn and I in celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Pastor’s message: “Christmas Sermon,” with scripture from John 1: 14-18.
DEVOTIONAL
This week’s devotional on the fourth week of Advent is “The Candle of Love and the Christ Candle,” by Hope Bolinger.
“In the final week of Advent, churches will light two candles. The fourth and fifth Advent candles are the candles of love and the Christ candle.
“What is the candle of love? We should keep in mind some church traditions vary on which candle goes on which Sunday. Some may light the ‘love candle’ on the second Sunday of Advent instead of the fourth. Others have lit the candle of peace on the fourth week of Advent instead of the candle of love. Or, some churches will light a candle of faith on the second Sunday instead of a candle of peace.
“No matter what the church tradition, we can assuredly know that virtues such as love, hope, peace, joy and faith are important in the Christmas story as well as in our daily walk with Christ. Whichever we celebrate on whatever Sunday of Advent, we know all of them are important hallmarks of the Christian faith and journey.
“The symbolism of the love candle, otherwise known as the angel candle, can represent purity.
“Love plays a vital role in the Christmas story. Because of Joseph’s love for Mary, he didn’t stone her when he found out she was pregnant with what he thought was a child out of wedlock with another man (Matthew 1:18-19).
“Mary has a natural motherly love for Jesus, and ultimately, we see God’s love for everyone by sending his son for us (John 3:16).
“Jesus focused on preaching love throughout his ministry. Two of his greatest commands involve love: Love God, love your neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40).
“Love is the greatest of all the virtues on the Advent wreath and encompasses Jesus’ entire purpose for being on earth (1 Corinthians 13:13).
“Not surprisingly, the Bible has a lot to say about love. Depending on your translation, the word appears 100-300 times throughout Scripture.
“It makes sense. God is love (1 John 4). They know we are Christians by our love (1 Corinthians 13:1). Love sacrificed God’s son for our sins.
“1 Corinthians 13:4-7 alone tallies off a number of characteristics of love: it’s patient, kind, it does not envy, etc. We cannot walk with Christ without it, and we cannot have the Christmas story without it. As Linus says in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas,’ ‘That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.’
“Some churches, on Christmas or the Sunday after Christmas, will remove the other candles and leave the Christ candle, showing that the old has passed away and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17). In other words, the law the Jews followed in the Old Testament, the sinful nature of man, all of it has passed away and Christ has brought the new covenant, a new promise of salvation. Often, churches will make the Christ candle larger than the rest to show that Christ is the reason for the hope, the peace, the joy and the love that we have. Jesus is the reason for the season.
“In addition to the love candle, churches will light the white candle at the center of the wreath on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.
“The white tends to symbolize Christ’s purity, showing Christ’s blamelessness. Churches can vary on candle colors, and not everyone chooses to light a white candle for Christ.
“Not surprisingly, the Christ candle represents Christ and the role he plays in the Christmas story. Jesus brought light into the world through his arrival on earth as a baby.
“Why does this matter? We cannot be Christians without Christ and without love. Otherwise, our works and our purpose on earth are for nothing. We need Christ and Christ’s love to share the Good News of salvation throughout the earth.
“Christ connects all the Advent candles. Through him, we can have hope, peace, joy and love. Without him, why have any of those things? Christ steps down into darkness to light the world (John 8:12). Because of him, we can be a light unto others, showing them the true meaning of Christmas.”
CHURCH BUSINESS
• You may pick up your poinsettias on Sunday.
• Flower calendar sign-up sheets for 2021 are in the narthex. Please get one, fill it out and return it.
COMMUNITY NEWS
• Cameron Carver, son-in-law to Susan and Lawrence Edwards, is home from the Middle East. He has been away for more than a year. His wife, Amy, and son, Lincoln, are so happy to have him home. They will enjoy Christmas with Susan and Lawrence before moving. They will move to Hawaii in January.
PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS
• To all those sick and in need. Please keep them all in your prayers.
• Maxine Whitley, Barbara Privette, Beverly Wilson, Linwood May, Kathy Farmer, Cheryl Hayes, Joan Eason, Mac Bennett, Rudy and Gail Brantley, Jake Robertson, Mother Rose and Jerry Little.
• Allen Greer, Beth Edwards, Faye Vick, John Privette and Janice Sykes are all recovering from surgery.
• Ronnie Matthews, Frances Hedgepath, Eddie Tomlinson, Beth, Lana Ezzell’s sister-in-law, Al and Carol Ann Bell, Delcie Wakefield and Pastor Bill and Danny Manning are recovering at home.
• Billy Bunn, Doug Hayes, Dorothy Nelson, Ginny Beddingfield, Seth and Eric Hicks, Oza Thomlinson, Doug Hayes’s sister, Pat and Wes Bass, Leon Bass, Cheryl Hayes, Sue and Bill Lamm need prayers.
• Janie Joyner, Bill Nelson. Joyce Brinkley and Eula Gupton are undergoing treatment.
• Wallace Edwards had surgery Monday and needs prayers.
• Steele McGrady, grandson of Susan and Lawrence Edwards and son of Kiley and Andrew McGrady, had surgery Monday.
• Norman Whitley is awaiting surgery in January.
• Audrey Farmer is recovering at home and will enter Wake Med for surgery on Jan. 5.
• Randell Whitley is in Nash General Hospital.
• Timmy Clifton is in the hospital.
• Irene Page is preparing for knee surgery.
• Birthday blessings to Thomas Griffin and Kristi Bunn (Dec. 15), David Bryant (Dec. 17), Kenneth Edwards (Dec. 18) and Rosetta Bunn (Dec. 31).
If you have news, please call or email me. My email address is mfpbun@aol.com. My phone number is 252-478-2846. I will need your news no later than 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Fran Bunn is a member of Peachtree Baptist Church.
"love" - Google News
December 21, 2020 at 03:14PM
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Final Advent candles represent Christ and love - Spring Hope Enterprise
"love" - Google News
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