Sabbath Day 2018

It takes dozens of volunteers to make our Sunday morning Large Group worship celebrations possible each and every week. As a way of showing our appreciation to these amazing individuals, we’re taking a break from holding a worship service this Sunday so that they can continue celebrating Christmas with their families.

We believe it’s important to rest and to spend time abiding in God. So, we’ve assembled the following worship materials for you and your family to use in order to worship God wherever you’re spending this weekend.

We believe “Church Can Happen Anywhere,” so we hope you’ll invite others to join you in reading Scripture, praying, singing, and discussing the Gospel message from Matthew 2:1-12.

Remember to “Check In” to Peace Tree UMC on Facebook and Instagram. Every 5 check-ins will provide a book to a child living in Tanzania thanks to our partnership with Causely and Books for Africa. And be sure to use the hashtag #givebooks so that other people will know about this month’s charitable cause.

Have a safe and happy New Year’s weekend! We’ll see each of you back at the Malco Forest Hill Cinema on January 6th at 10AM as we kick off our new sermon series, “Best Song Ever.” We’ll hear the story behind “It Is Well with My Soul,” and we’ll hear a message based on Philippians 4:4-7.

If you’d like to make donation to Peace Tree this week, you can give HERE, and if you have any prayer requests, then please share them with us HERE. God bless!

+Peace and Love from Pastor Kris


OPEN WITH PRAYER

Almighty God,
  to you all hearts are open
  and from you no secrets are hidden.
Through the power of your Holy Spirit,
  allow us to feel your presence.
As we read your Word
  and worship the newborn King,
  we ask for the forgiveness of sins.
In Christ’s holy name we pray. Amen.


READ SCRIPTURE

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’

When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
   are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
   who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’

When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
(Matthew 2:1-12, New Revised Standard Version)


DISCUSS TOGETHER

1. Has God given you a sign recently? It may not be a star in the sky, but maybe it’s a new opportunity for you and your family, an encouraging conversation from a friend or neighbor, or a text message or passage from a novel that you read at the right moment. What does this sign mean to you? What will you do about it?
2. Messiah is translated as “anointed one.” When Jesus was born, Israel was yearning for a Savior, for someone to deliver them from Roman occupation and the rule of illegitimate kings such as Herod. What hardships do you need to be liberated from on this day? How might you cast your burdens onto Jesus?
3. In Luke’s Gospel account of Jesus’ birth, Jewish shepherds arrived to worship the Christ child. In Matthew’s Gospel, we only see these Gentile magi come to visit the infant Jesus. Why might this detail be important for Matthew to include? What does it mean for us today?
4. As we continue celebrating Christmas this week, how can we live out the hope, love, joy, and peace of Jesus Christ? What are the ways in which God is sending you out into the world?

REFLECT

Watch this music video for “Noel (feat. Lauren Daigle)” by Chris Tomlin. Listen to the lyrics (or sing/read them below) and consider what God is saying to you.​

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VERSE ONE:
Love incarnate, love divine
Star and angels gave the sign
Bow to babe on bended knee
The Savior of humanity
Unto us a Child is born
He shall reign forevermore

CHORUS:
Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

VERSE TWO:
Son of God and Son of man
​There before the world began
Born to suffer, born to save
Born to raise us from the grave
Christ the everlasting Lord
He shall reign forevermore

CHORUS (x2)

(Written by Edmond Martin Cash, Matthew James Redman, Christopher D Tomlin • Copyright © Capitol Christian Music Group, Music Services, Inc.)


CLOSE WITH PRAYER
 
Gracious and loving God,
  we come before you
  with no gifts but ourselves.
Accept and receive our lives
  that we may be manifestations
  of your presence;
let the light of your Spirit
  shine within and among us,
  so that we may share in the mystery of your purpose
  of blessing for all creation,
  through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

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