At the heart of the Christmas story is a re-working and re-defining of power, privilege, and priorities. God did not take the expected route of power. Instead, He chose a poor, common, unmarried girl named Mary to give birth to the world’s Savior. Jesus’ supposed father was a day laborer. Even His country, the nation of Israel, was powerless, having been beaten, overrun, humiliated, and subjugated, by Rome.
God did not take the typical route of privilege. He did not reserve the palace for His arrival as king. Instead, a stable, likely filled with animals, and odd smells, served as the delivery room. The new parents paid the poor man’s fee when their son Jesus was dedicated in the Temple.
God upended the priorities of that day, our day too. He did not come into this world to raise an army and claim a throne. He did not seek financial gain. He did not respond to flattery. Instead, He came to serve and save those who had rejected Him. His priorities were always people, relationships, love not fame, fortune, and applause. In the Christmas story we discover we do not need power or privilege. Love is enough. When we understand that our priorities change.
God’s way is the way of Joy. Mary filled with the Holy Spirit of God could not contain her joy and amazement. She broke into song …
“My Soul magnifies the Lord … He has looked on the humble estate of His servant … He has scattered the proud … brought down the mighty … sent away the rich hungry …”
Mary’s heart and mind were so full of Joy that she, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, reminded us in today's Bible passage of God’s priorities which led Him to the cross. It led Him to us.
That’s why Mary sang. That’s why here at Grace we sing too.
Mary's Song of Justice & Joy (11AM)
December 12, 2021 • Curt McFarland • Luke 1:46–56
Living In HISSTORY
January 2, 2022 • Mark Bassett • Romans 8:28, Psalm 105, Genesis 45
Welcome to the New Year! Our prayers for this coming year are similar to our prayers for the past: peace where there is war and hatred, healing for the abused and brokenhearted, an end to the pandemic and strengthening of friendships, families, and face to face relationships, the return of compassion, respect, and civility. We pray, and then we live each day by the grace and power of God to make those prayers a reality. This morning Mark Bassett, a very dear friend of Curt's, will be preaching here at Grace. Mark is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian church in Ephrata WA. Mark and Curt, and three other pastors, meet regularly (most months) to support and challenge each other, and to hold one another accountability in their role as pastor, and in their relationship with Jesus. Mark is a scholar, a compassionate pastor, creative, iconoclastic, and someone who first and foremost has a genuine passion for Jesus. Mark and his wife Carrie (a fabulous teacher for kids in the Hutterite community east of Ephrata) have two amazing kids, and even more amazing grandkids. While Mark is preaching at Grace, Curt is in Ephrata preaching there. From the passages Mark will be preaching on: • Psalm 105 "He brought the people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing." • Romans 8 "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." • Genesis 45 "Don't be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." We do not know what this new year will bring, but we know Jesus. That is enough!
Living In HISSTORY
January 2, 2022 • Mark Bassett • Romans 8:28, Psalm 105, Genesis 45
Welcome to the New Year! Our prayers for this coming year are similar to our prayers for the past: peace where there is war and hatred, healing for the abused and brokenhearted, an end to the pandemic and strengthening of friendships, families, and face to face relationships, the return of compassion, respect, and civility. We pray, and then we live each day by the grace and power of God to make those prayers a reality. This morning Mark Bassett, a very dear friend of Curt's, will be preaching here at Grace. Mark is the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian church in Ephrata WA. Mark and Curt, and three other pastors, meet regularly (most months) to support and challenge each other, and to hold one another accountability in their role as pastor, and in their relationship with Jesus. Mark is a scholar, a compassionate pastor, creative, iconoclastic, and someone who first and foremost has a genuine passion for Jesus. Mark and his wife Carrie (a fabulous teacher for kids in the Hutterite community east of Ephrata) have two amazing kids, and even more amazing grandkids. While Mark is preaching at Grace, Curt is in Ephrata preaching there. From the passages Mark will be preaching on: • Psalm 105 "He brought the people out with joy, His chosen ones with singing." • Romans 8 "We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." • Genesis 45 "Don't be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life." We do not know what this new year will bring, but we know Jesus. That is enough!
Christmas Eve (5PM)
December 25, 2021 • Luke 2:1–20
After a month of waiting, a month of preparing ourselves, the miracle of miracle has now arrived. Tonight, on the eve of Christmas, we celebrate the most unique, the most incredible, the most miraculous event in human history. Think about the impact of this one birth on the course of human history. Think about the impact of this one birth on the course of an individual human life. If the universe is not random but divinely created, as we at Grace of Christ, along with hundreds of millions of others, believe. If the divine force that brought the universe and us into existence is not some indifferent impersonal collection of energy but instead a personal Being who loves us, as we at Grace of Christ, along with hundreds of millions of others, believe. If this personal, loving God cared so deeply about us that He voluntarily entered a broken and painful world to restore a relationship we had broken, as we at Grace of Christ, along with hundreds of millions of others, believe. If His love for us was so great that He was willing to sacrifice Himself and submit to death so that we could live, as we at Grace of Christ, along with hundreds of millions of others, believe. If this is True it changes everything. God had a purpose in mind when He created the universe. That purpose included us. We were on His mind, AND IN HIS HEART, when He made the unexpected and unusual, the miraculous decision to be born among us. That God loves us, that God is with us ... changes the course of history, and the course of our lives. Luke chapter 2, "The angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"