(December 31st) Sanctuary Worship - The Last Step Is the First One
December 31, 2023 • Rev. Dr. Craig S. Brown • Matthew 2:13–18
Jesus as refugee! Not too long after the birth of Jesus the forces of evil, power, and corruption are already trying to end his young life. With all of the power of empire set against Him, God finds a way for Jesus to live so that one day he will defeat the greatest enemy of all; sin leading to death. This is story about the extraordinary act of Joseph to save “The Child” so that He might save us all.
10am Christmas Eve 2023
December 24, 2023 • Rev. Dr. Craig S. Brown • Luke 2:8–20
The Christmas story is perhaps the best-known story in all of the Bible. It has been re-enacted time and again by adults and children alike. We warm to the images of Jesus' birth and the wonder of that first Christmas. If we take a closer look, we might find that the story has more wonder than we ever realized. It is a story filled with ordinary people finding themselves in God's great plan of salvation. Maybe that makes it easier to find ourselves in this story.
(December 17th) Sanctuary Worship - Joy in the Unexpected
December 17, 2023 • Rev. Dr. Craig S. Brown • Luke 1:39–56
It is hard to imagine that the cosmos hangs in the balance with two Jewish women in the first century. Elizabeth and Mary have an important moment together when their unborn children meet for the first time. These two women find themselves in a moment when God will use each of them for extraordinary things, one of which, will be savior of the world.
(December 10th) Sanctuary Worship - The Choices We Make
December 10, 2023 • Rev. Dr. Craig S. Brown • Luke 1:18–25
Have you ever been caught between a rock and a hard place? The Bible is filled with stories of people who found themselves in exactly the same place. The story of Joseph, in Matthew's gospel, is a good example. He is faced with a daunting choice about his future. In the midst of that situation, an angel appears and offers him a new and glorious solution which had never crossed his mind.
