Spirit of Peace Missional Community is proud to support this Hooper Chain of Friends Christmas Extravaganza event!
Pastors Cathy and Michael enjoyed a brief conversation with a friendly Santa while they took a short break from Story-time, Sing-along, Cocoa and Cookies at the Hooper Chain of Friends Christmas Extravaganza event.
Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus and the Spirit of Peace Missional Community, 303 W Maple St. Hooper NE 68031.
Find us at: SpiritOfPeace.us Contact us at: 4025417019
Spirit of Peace Missional Community Invites All Interested People of All Ages to Celebrate a Joyful Merry Christmas this Year!
The Spirit Missional Community Engages in many Focused Spiritual Religious Christmas Spirit Activities throughout the Christmas Season.
Two of These Activities Are Faith Hope Love Joy Peace and Twelve Days of Christmas.
All Are Welcome to Join Our Missional Community in the Presentation of Faith Hope Love Joy Peace FHLJP which discusses and assists in preparing for the Grand Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.
All Are Welcome to Join Our Missional Community in the Presentation of Twelve Days of Christmas which May Surprise You the First Time You Experience this Activity which Walks Us from Christmas Day through Epiphany. Hint: One item Discussed is a well-known Christmas Season song!
Peace and Joy! Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus and the Spirit of Peace Missional Community.
Celebration of Joy
for the Community.
Modern Song Focus on Contemporary Church Artists
performing hymns of traditional foundation.
Everyone is Welcome!
Introduction:
Faith, Hope, Love, Joy in our pursuit of Advent preparation for the birth of our Savior Christ. Today’s focus is Joy.
In today’s Gospel reading, Matthew tells us that it is the Lord that appeared to Joseph in a dream to inform him that her child is conceived of the Holy Spirit, and he should not fear taking her as his wife. He goes on to describe the important details of their new arrival. The child will fulfill Biblical prophecy. Joseph awoke and took Mary as his wife.
In our Old Testament reading today, the prophet Isaiah tells us the story of the interaction with trusting Ahaz. A young woman will bear a son and name Him Immanuel, or God with Us! Trust in God! Isaiah foretells that Ahaz will see two fearful kings deserted. Unfortunately for Ahaz, he failed to embrace the proclamation, sought alliances instead of the seed the Lord wanted planted, and his kingdom as he knew it became one of the fallen to Assyria. The Lord did not forget His people. He brought them the prophecy fulfilled, The Lord is with You!
In Psalm 80, David orchestrates our emotional Christmas Birth of the Savior prophecy fulfillment. David is crying out for Salvation. So much time passing, so many sinful behaviors engaged, yet David trusts in the forgiving and promise fulfilling Lord. We have much to learn from this example today.
Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Romans draws a straight line from prophecy to the Savior, Son of God, descended from David. Paul tells the Romans and us that we are the Lords beloved, called by Him to be saints, blessing us with grace and peace. Joyful, Joyful our response to this proclamation!
Opening Hymn:
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
John Mason Neale (1851).
https://youtu.be/utpZAIycWFU
Scripture:
Old Testament: Isaiah 7:10-16.
Psalm: Psalm 80:1-7; Psalm 80:17-19.
New Testament: Romans 1:1-7.
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25.
Prayer:
O God of Elizabeth and Mary, you visited your servants with news of the world’s redemption in the coming of the Savior.
Make our hearts leap with joy, and fill our mouths with songs of praise, that we may announce glad tidings of peace, and welcome the Christ in our midst. Amen.
Prayer Intentions:
Brothers and sisters, as we joyfully await the glorious coming of the Christ, let us pray for the needs of the church, our community, and the world.
Prayers of the People;
God of promise, you have given us a sign of your love through the gift of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who was promised from ages past. We believe as Joseph did the message of your presence whispered by an angel,
and offer our prayers for your world, confident of your care and mercy for all creation. Amen.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen. (Book of Concord).
Our Father
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Book of Concord). (Matthew 6:9-13).
Liturgy of the Eucharist
Messiah
Francesca Battistelli
https://youtu.be/D14wX0K9XJQ
Handshake of Peace
Confession The Apostle John proclaims, If we confess our sins He who is faithful and just will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Communion Hymn:
Do You Hear What I Hear
Carrie Underwood
https://youtu.be/ZiR6WRpg0Ug
Institution of the Lord’s Supper
Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” He took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. – Matthew 26:26-28 (ESV).
Communion
Prayer: Shepherd of Israel, may Jesus, Emmanuel and son of Mary, be more than just a dream in our hearts. With the apostles, prophets, and saints, save us, restore us, and lead us in the way of grace and peace, that we may bear your promise into the world. Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26.
The Service has ended. Go in Peace.
Thanks be to God.
Spirit of Peace Missional Community Invites All Interested People of All Ages to Celebrate a Joyful Merry Christmas this Year!
The Spirit Missional Community Engages in many Focused Spiritual Religious Christmas Spirit Activities throughout the Christmas Season.
Two of These Activities Are Faith Hope Love Joy Peace and Twelve Days of Christmas.
All Are Welcome to Join Our Missional Community in the Presentation of Faith Hope Love Joy Peace FHLJP which discusses and assists in preparing for the Grand Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.
All Are Welcome to Join Our Missional Community in the Presentation of Twelve Days of Christmas which May Surprise You the First Time You Experience this Activity which Walks Us from Christmas Day through Epiphany. Hint: One item Discussed is a well-known Christmas Season song!
Peace and Joy! Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus and the Spirit of Peace Missional Community.
Come join Spirit of Peace Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus in the Free Faith Hope Love Joy Peace Series Presentation
Preparing for Christmas 2018
In this liturgical life change presentation series, we focus on five qualities of character: Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace.
All Are Welcome to join us in this presentation. If you are so inclined, we accept invitations to come to your location for presentation and discussion.
We justify these qualities of character by reading and applying Scripture.
But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22.
Faith
We exercise our quality of Faith by trusting in Jesus Christ and reliance in His Word.
We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7.
Hope
We experience Hope through expectation of good in our lives.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13.
Love
We practice Love through our readiness to assist the good of others.
So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10.
Joy
We engage Joy as an experience in goodness.
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:10-11.
Peace
We come to know Peace as assurance that aspirations turn out well.
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.
Advent
Advent, derived from Latin, defined, is the arrival of a notable person.
We await the coming of Jesus Christ in the Nativity on Christmas Day and His Return in the Second Coming of Christ. In our case, this and every Liturgical Season of Advent will bring us the celebratory arrival of the Christ Child on Christmas Day.
Church Celebration Services
Every week of these four weeks of Advent we will reflect upon, and practice in our lives, building one upon the next, Faith, Hope, Love and Joy. In formal prayer and reflection, we will cover each one of these qualities of character in our liturgical services as we progress through Advent and become prepared on Christmas Day for the Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guarding our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7.
Pastor Michael Hanus, Spirit of Peace Missional Community