Home For The Holidays
Christmas 2020
Dec 27 - What's Next?
December 27, 2020 • Curt McFarland • Luke 2:8–14
The question to ask is, what’s next? We celebrated Advent and Christmas. Candles were lit, hymns were sung (or hummed), gifts were exchanged, meals shared … what’s next? The power and significance of Christmas affects not a season, or a year, but a life, a world, all of human history. This single event, celebrated and then promptly forgotten by some, gives meaning to everything that happened before that first Christmas, and everything that followed that Holy night. How does our life reflect the miracle of Christmas on December 26, on January 1, on July 17, each and every day of our life? Because God made the decision, out of His love for us, to enter human history and take on Himself the brunt of all evil (ours included), our relationships, our work, our retirement, how we spend our money, how we view disease, grief, and death, all change. The One with all power loves us. The One with all power made it possible for us to experience forgiveness for our sins, healing for our wounds, joy in our sorrows, and confidence as we take our final breath. So, what’s next?
Carols & Candles Christmas Eve
December 25, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 2
Christ the Savior is born! The 7:30pm service is the usual traditional Carols and Candles service, filled with a variety of music/solos/instruments, as well as passages of Scripture to prepare us all to welcome the birth of Christ. Reservations required for in church or watch on this page, on Facebook or on the Yakima Grace YouTube channel.
A Homestyle Christmas Eve
December 25, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Luke 2
Christ the Savior is born! The 4:30pm service is casual, with lots of fun songs, a live Nativity, and a family bag of activities for children. The Family Lounge will be open during the 4:30 for up to five families to enjoy the livestream service while younger children can enjoy toys & games brought from home. One family per table only. Reservations required for in church or watch on this page, on Facebook or on the Yakima Grace YouTube channel.
Dec 20 - JOY for the Holidays
December 20, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Isaiah 55:12–13
“Then he said to them, ‘Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength.’ So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’” (Nehemiah 8.10-11) This Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Advent. We light the Joy candle. As you join us for worship this Sunday, whether in person or online, let us join our hearts and spirits together, as we: Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! (Psalm 100.4)
Dec 13 - Love For The Holidays
December 13, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Isaiah 54:1–8
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (I John 4.9-11) We are drawing closer and closer to the Christmas. Each Sunday reminds us of how close we are getting. There are four Sundays prior to Christmas, the four Sundays of Advent. This Sunday is the 3rd Sunday of Advent. We have looked at HOPE and Peace the past two Sundays. As we gather together for Worship this week, either in person or across the internet, we will take a look at LOVE. It is difficult to actually say how many times the word “love” is used in the Bible. It depends on which version of the Bible you use, and how you interpret the Hebrew or Greek. Some have said the word "love" appears 310 times in the King James Bible, 348 times in the New American Standard Bible, 551 times in the New International Version and 538 times in the New Revised Standard Version.
Dec 6 - Peace For The Holidays
December 6, 2020 • Bill Williamson • Isaiah 53:1–6
Referring to the time when Jesus would no longer be physically with the disciples, Jesus said to them: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14.27) This Sunday is the 2nd Sunday of Advent when we focus on the Peace of Christ. Because of the birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ, we have been given peace with God and from God. Having been reconciled to our Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ, we have peace with God. When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He sent us the Holy Spirit, who would then give us internal peace – a peace that passes all understanding. This Sunday we also will share in Communion. The meal that Jesus had with the disciples, we now share together, doing so in remembrance of the One who was born to die, in order that all who believe in Him might live. As we continue to prepare ourselves to celebrate the birth of Christ, we will take time to be reminded that He who was born a baby would grow up to be the Suffering Servant, the Lamb of God, who would lay down His life for us. We then, are to do likewise. We are to be Ambassadors for Christ, becoming like Him as we love others through sacrificial acts of service – Drops of Grace.
Nov 29 - Hope For The Holidays - Advent #1
November 29, 2020 • Curt McFarland • Matthew 1:18–25
For many this is the time of year they’ve been looking forward to for 11 long (and this year troubling) months. For others it’s a mixed season that brings both joy and tears. It’s that time of year when we finish off another leftover turkey sandwich and then drag out the Christmas decorations. Even in this unusual year the miracle of Christmas remains wonderful, mysterious, life-changing. Something unexpected happen in a little town not far from Jerusalem. One child was born and everything changed. The birth of Jesus still captivates our world today. It was more than we could have hoped for. Here at Grace we invite you “home for the holidays.” Masks, social distancing, community restrictions cannot keep us apart. Whether in person, by livestream or FM broadcast, our family connection remains strong. WE have HOPE because of the unshakable, unstoppable, unchanging power of God. The four Sundays before Christmas are called Advent Sundays. Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. The theme this first Sunday of Advent is HOPE. Because of the miracle of Christmas we are on an adventure that stretches into eternity.