“Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday”
Advent Worship Series
Rev. Pamela Kurtz
What Do You Give Jesus on His Birthday?
Scripture
Worship Music Links
Like A Child
November 17th – Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday!
November 24th – Expect a Miracle!
December 1st – Giving Up on Perfect
December 8th – A Scandalous Love
December 15th – What Do You Give Jesus on His Birthday?
We put so much time and energy into finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones—but what about the things the real Birthday Boy wants from us? Jesus made it clear that we give to him by giving to others—feeding the poor, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned.
December 22 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 29th – TBD
January 5th – By A Different Road
Last Sunday’s Gratitude Times
“I have gratitude for Laurel Williams co-chairing the Annual Children’s Craft Faire with Kathleen Bell.”
“I have gratitude for the wonderful Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir’s beautiful annual Holiday Concert.”
“I am grateful for this church.”
Fellowship Snacks are provided by members of the congregation.
Last name Family Groupings for Fellowship Snacks:
Group 1: A-C will provide snacks for Fellowship this week.
Group 2: D-H
Group 3: I-Q
Group 4: R-Z
Save Space for our Guests!
Please park off-site if you are able, to allow our guests to park in our Guest Parking Lot (First Avenue). If you would like access to the garage, please contact our Church Administrator at office@lakemerrittumc.org
Check out our weekly calendar and upcoming events here. This week’s graphics can be found here.
“Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday”
Advent Worship Series
Rev. Pamela Kurtz
“A Scandalous Love”
Scripture
Worship Music Links
November 17th – Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday!
November 24th – Expect a Miracle!
December 1st – Giving Up on Perfect
December 8th – A Scandalous Love
We often fail to understand just how scandalous God’s love for us is, and how radical it is that God would show that love by lowering himself to be born in human form. Using the story of Hosea, this week’s sermon emphasizes how determinedly God pursues us, in spite of our unfaithfulness.
December 15th – Jesus’ Wish List
December 22 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 29th – TBD
January 5th – By A Different Road
Last Sunday’s Gratitude Times
“I am grateful that my sister, her husband and my daughter and her husband were all visiting for Thanksgiving.”
“I have gratitude for being able to spend Thanksgiving unexpectedly with old family friends.”
“I am grateful that I had a girl cousin day with my 3 granddaughters and then unexpectedly joined via FaceTime with my grandson from New York.”
Fellowship Snacks are provided by members of the congregation.
Last name Family Groupings for Fellowship Snacks:
Group 1: A-C will provide snacks for Fellowship this week.
Group 2: D-H
Group 3: I-Q
Group 4: R-Z
Save Space for our Guests!
Please park off-site if you are able, to allow our guests to park in our Guest Parking Lot (First Avenue). If you would like access to the garage, please contact our Church Administrator at office@lakemerrittumc.org
Check out our weekly calendar and upcoming events here. This week’s graphics can be found here.
“Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday”
Advent Worship Series
Rev. Pamela Kurtz
“Giving Up On Perfect”
Scripture
Worship Music Links
November 17th – Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday!
November 24th – Expect a Miracle!
December 1st – Giving Up on Perfect
This week’s sermon examines our unrealistic expectations for the “perfect” Christmas. How much money, time, and energy go into chasing this unattainable ideal set for us by Norman Rockwell? The first Christmas was pretty messy, and life today is pretty messy—but God shows up in the middle of the mess to bring us a message of hope.
December 8th – Scandalous Love
December 15th – Jesus’ Wish List
December 22 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 29th – TBD
January 5th – By A Different Road
Last Sunday’s Gratitude Times
“I have gratitude that Audrey’s Moroccan Malik was able to walk without casts for the first time in her 9-year-old life.”
“I have gratitude that my grandson Elijah made the honor roll with a 3.0 GPA after struggling through elementary school.”
“I am grateful that the Cal Bears won their big game on Sunday.”
Fellowship Snacks are provided by members of the congregation.
Last name Family Groupings for Fellowship Snacks:
Group 1: A-C
Group 2: D-H
Group 3: I-Q
Group 4: R-Z will provide snacks for Fellowship this week.
Save Space for our Guests!
Please park off-site if you are able, to allow our guests to park in our Guest Parking Lot (First Avenue). If you would like access to the garage, please contact our Church Administrator at office@lakemerrittumc.org
Check out our weekly calendar and upcoming events here. This week’s graphics can be found here.
“Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday”
Advent Worship Series
Rev. Pamela Kurtz
“Expect A Miracle!”
Scripture
Worship Music Links
November 17th – Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday!
November 24th – Expect a Miracle!
Who gets top billing in our Christmas celebrations? Santa Claus or Jesus? Too often, the two morph together into a magical Santa Claus deity that comes just to grant our wishes. We tend to confuse magic and miracle, craving a magical, holly-jolly holiday rather than an experience of the miracle that God came to earth in such a humble form.
December 1st – Giving Up on Perfect
December 8th – Scandalous Love
December 15th – Jesus’ Wish List
December 22 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 29th – TBD
January 5th – By A Different Road
Last Sunday’s Gratitudes
“I have gratitude for being able to travel to see our son commissioned as captain of USS Fort McHenry”
“I have gratitude for the 40 turkeys that Safeway has donated for our Community Thanksgiving Dinner”
“I have gratitude for this church and the way it continually challenges us to think differently”
Save Space for our Guests!
Please park off-site if you are able, to allow our guests to park in our Guest Parking Lot (First Avenue). If you would like access to the garage, please contact our Church Administrator at office@lakemerrittumc.org
Check out our weekly calendar and upcoming events here. This week’s graphics can be found here.
“Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday”
Rev. Pamela Kurtz
Advent Worship Series
Scripture
Worship Music Links
November 17th – Christmas, It’s Not Your Birthday!
Christmas has become a consumer-centered business of materialism and self-indulgence and we need to refocus on Jesus, his purpose in coming, and the birthday gifts he truly desires.
November 24th – Expect a Miracle!
December 1st – Giving Up on Perfect
December 8th – Scandalous Love
December 15th – Jesus’ Wish List
December 22 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
December 29th – TBD
January 5th – By A Different Road
Last Sunday’s Gratitudes
“I have gratitude for taxes and the wonderful things that vome from them.”
“I have gratitude for the IRS and the Department of Education about FAFSA.”
“I am grateful that everyone is alive and well – and that folks are comign from all around to celebrate Mickey’s 100th birthday!”
Save Space for our Guests!
Please park off-site if you are able, to allow our guests to park in our Guest Parking Lot (First Avenue). If you would like access to the garage, please contact our Church Administrator at office@lakemerrittumc.org
Check out our weekly calendar and upcoming events here. This week’s graphics can be found here.
