The View from the Pulpit:

Dear “Christmas” People of God,

Once again the spell of the little child born in a manger is falling over the world.  Again you and I are touched by the memories.  Our Savior’s birth is a recurring miracle.  It is amazing that the birth of a child (yes, God’s very own Son, though!), in a distant land, in the midst of farm animals, should stand forth as the most striking and suggestive of all the recorded events of history.  It is strange but true!

All people pause before the manger which was so closely associated with His birth, look upon the scene where angelic choirs sang their message of “glory to God in the highest, and earth peace, good will to men” to a few humble shepherds.  And we know again that we are listening to the world’s greatest love story, which tells of the gift of God, His only begotten Son!

Once more there comes to us the angel’s assurance, “Fear not!” even though our day be a time of stress, tensions, war, and fear.  In this hallowed season, may there be a measure of the peace and a portion of the joy brought into the world by the Christ-Child in your hearts, in the hearts of your loved ones, and in the hearts of believing persons everywhere!

Through Advent we have been reminded that the Child that came into the world carried our sins to the cross and rose triumphantly from the grave.  At Christmas we celebrate “God with us” – His love and gift to us in Jesus, who opened up the kingdom of heaven to all who believe in Him.  Christmas is an exciting time of the year with concerts, parties, special programs, caroling, gifts, cards, baking, shopping, wrapping, and so on … In all this hectic excitement, let us remember that Christmas celebrates the birth of the Savior!  Don’t forget to come to church to worship and praise Him!

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!

A PERSONAL NOTE: Christmas allows us to share God’s gift of love with each other in special ways.  We send cards, give gifts, invite others over for fellowship.  As Christmas, 2018 is upon us, and the year draws to a close, let me express my personal thanks to each of you at Resurrection for your prayers, thoughts and expressions of love for Rita and myself!  May the Christ-Child bring you all Christmas joy and peace – and may His love guide and bless you each day of the New Year!

Your Fellow Servant, in Christ our Lord,

Pastor Hank Hollar

  CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

  CHRISTMAS  EVE  AT  RESURRECTION 

Resurrection Lutheran Church & School offers two Christmas Eve Worship Services on Monday evening, December 24th:

6:00 PMThe “Christmas Eve Family Service,” with Readings, Carols, Communion and special Choir music, along with the traditional carols of Christmas.

9:00 PM – The “Christ-Mass” – a traditional Christmas Eve Service with special Choir & organ music, the Christmas Readings, Carols, Communion and Candles.

  CHRISTMAS  DAY  AT  RESURRECTION

Gather with your parish family on Tuesday morning, December 25th – Christmas Day – at 10:00 AM, as we praise God for the gift of His Son!  Let’s remember the reason for the season – Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!

  THE  FIRST  SUNDAY  AFTER  CHRISTMAS  

The Christmas Celebration continues on Sunday, December 30th!  We have our regular worship schedule: 8 am & 11 am Services.  Please Note: There will be no Sunday School or Adult Growth and Enrichment Classes that Sunday – classes will resume the following Sunday, January 6th, 2019 – the Epiphany of our Lord Sunday.

Invite and bring a friend, relative, neighbor

or co-worker to these special services!