2nd Sunday of Advent - A King Worth Preparing For - First Covenant Church of Willmar

First Covenant Church of Willmar

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2nd Sunday of Advent - A King Worth Preparing For

December 4, 2022 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Matthew 3:1–12, Isaiah 40:1–5

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During Advent, we are contemplating the difference between the kings that we want and the King who came. For 400 years the nation of Israel tried to live with YHWH as their King. Eventually, they demanded that they have an earthly king just like all the other nations around them. Unfortunately, of the 42 kings and queens who would rule over the divided kingdoms, only 5 would be considered righteous according to the Biblical account. Even though people had high hopes that an earthly king would be the answer to all their problems, the opposite ended up happening. In most cases, the kings were the source of the troubles. For God’s chosen people, the king they wanted never came and the King who came they didn’t want. For Jesus there was no earthly throne or golden crown; just a feeding trough and a crown of thorns.

It would be easy to assume that someone must have dropped the ball in preparing for the coming Messiah. Somehow the memo wasn’t received and the necessary preparations were overlooked. But when we read the opening pages of Luke’s account we discover that God was meticulously preparing. Hundreds of years earlier prophets had envisioned the King’s arrival. Two unlikely women, one far too old and one a virgin, were hand-picked by God to prepare in their wombs the Messiah and his herald, John the Baptist. In fact, the Scriptures are clear - God had been preparing the world for the coming Messiah for a very long time! As the time for Jesus’ earthly ministry was drawing near, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the people to receive the King. Repentance was their preparation. The time had come. The Kingdom was near. The Messiah King had arrived! Jesus is a King worth preparing for.

In preparation for this Sunday read Matthew 3:1-12 and Isaiah 40:1-5.

Join us for Communion during the Worship Service.

Christmas Eve Service: Majesty - A King Worth Living For

December 24, 2022

The Season of Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of our King. As the day draws near the wonder and celebration of our glorious King is finally upon us. We have made such a spectacle out of our Christmas celebrations, that unless we consciously stop and remember the story of Christ’s birth, we run the risk of rushing right past the Christ of Christmas. Over the past four weeks, we have contrasted the earthly kings and rulers that we desire but who constantly fall short of expectations, with the Heavenly King who is worthy of your hope, your preparation, and your joyous celebration. This is The King who loves you first. This Saturday we celebrate the Birth of our Savior and LORD, Jesus Christ. On one of the darkest and longest nights of the year we proclaim that light has come into the world. We again turn to the Prophet Isaiah, 8:19-9:7 and consider that Jesus is a King Worth Living For. Join us this Saturday at 4:30 pm for our Christmas Eve Candlelight service with prelude music beginning at 4 pm.

Christmas Day - A King Worthy of Our Praise

December 25, 2022 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Isaiah 8:19–22, Isaiah 9:1–7, Isaiah 12

4th Sunday in Advent - A King Who Loves Us

December 18, 2022 • Pastor Chris Pappenfus • Isaiah 54, John 3:16–21, 1 John 4:7–16

Since the early days of the Christian Church, faithful followers recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecies recorded hundreds of years earlier. God had been preparing his people for a long time. God’s story of redemption -- as recorded in the Scriptures -- can only be described as a labor of love. Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s love. Jesus told a religious leader named Nicodemus that God’s love for the world was so great that he sent his one and only son. Jesus came not to condemn or punish the world, but to save it! This Sunday, we celebrate our fourth Sunday in Advent by declaring that our Heavenly King loves you. While the earthly rulers we crave merely demand affection from you, your Heavenly King loved you first. You have done nothing to earn His affection and you are unable to force Him to retract His love for you. The disciple who was known for being loved by Jesus recognized that the motivating characteristic of our Heavenly Father is love. This Sunday, we celebrate the love the Father has for you and the fulfillment of that love in Jesus the Messiah. In preparation for this Sunday, read Isaiah 54:1-17, John 3:16-21 and 1 John 4:7-16.