Regular Sunday Worship Schedule
8:30 and 11:00 am
1:00 pm in Spanish
View our Advent and Christmas Schedule here.
Join us in person or view the online services below.
Worship at Messiah
Sunday Worship December 14th at 8:30am or later
Join us on YouTube or click the link here:
https://youtube.com/live/R9efiLzly0o?feature=share
In this Advent/Christmas Series we look at the Bible around the birth of Jesus and tie it to Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. This week we looked at Stave 3. Read along with us.
Below are some questions to help you and your household reflect on the sermon:
- The Ghost of Christmas Present invites Scrooge to "Know me better, man," and then shows him joy in poverty (the Cratchits) and horror in neglect (Ignorance and Want). What does "knowing Christmas better" look like for you this year? Is it about finding joy in less, or opening your eyes to those in need?
- The sermon highlighted the Cratchit family dinner: the goose was small, the pudding was small, but the joy was huge. In a season obsessed with "more" and "perfect," how can you cultivate a spirit of abundance and gratitude even when things (finances, health, time) feel scarce?
- Read Luke 1: 46-56. Mary sang that God "fills the hungry with good things" but sends the "rich away empty." Why do you think it is often harder for the "rich" (or self-sufficient) to truly experience the joy of Jesus than it is for the humble or poor?
- Tiny Tim hoped that people seeing his crutch in church would remind them of Jesus, who made the lame walk. Instead of hiding his weakness, he used it to point to God. What is a weakness or struggle in your own life that, if shared openly, could actually point others to God's strength?
Wednesday, December 10th at 7 pm or later
Click play above or view on YouTube here:
https://youtube.com/live/MHL-AACa_2I?feature=share
Sunday, December 7th at 8:30 am or later
Join us on YouTube or click the link here:
https://youtube.com/live/enJVGHqutVo?feature=share
In this Advent/Christmas Series we look at the Bible around the birth of Jesus and tie it to Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. This week we looked at Stave 2. Read along with us.
Below are some questions to help you and your household reflect on the sermon:
- Scrooge was forced to look at his "Golden Idol" (money) that cost him his relationship with Belle. This is similar to Israel’s Golden Calf. What are the "false lights" or “golden idols” that people today chase, thinking they will bring happiness but only bring darkness?
- When the memories became too painful, Scrooge tried to force the "extinguisher cap" over the light to hide it. What are some ways we try to "cap" or snuff out the light when our own past mistakes or regrets get too uncomfortable to face?
- Read Luke 1:5-25, 67-80. Zechariah sang about the "tender mercy of our God" bringing a Sunrise to those in the shadow of death. How does thinking of Jesus as a "Sunrise" change how you feel about the dark parts of your own history?
- Read John 1:1-10. Why is bringing our "past darkness" into the light actually freeing rather than shameful?