Here we are in the middle of the Advent Season between Peace & Joy Sunday! I hope and pray that the weekly devotional and theme have been meaningful for you as we go on this advent journey of waiting and expectation. I personally was moved this week by a devotion (below) that was sent out by the Christian Church in Ohio. The author talked about Peace and how there are many things in the world today trying to STEAL our peace. As we approach this Sunday of Joy…what are the joy-stealers in your life? Perhaps they are thoughts or ideas that keep weighing you down? Perhaps the joy-stealers are people in our lives that take energy or put you down? Perhaps it is a constant barrage of social media, news, and talking heads? What are the joy-stealers in your life? And perhaps even more importantly…what brings you JOY and keeps you going? 

This Sunday we will explore the story of Joseph and consider how his choices made a difference for the generations after him. What choices do we make today that affect future generations?  What are things we want to pass on and what are things better left behind?  

Advent/Christmas Events and Worship coming up!

Saturday, Dec 10 – 1-4pm TOMORROW Christmas Party at the church building. Bring a wrapped homemade gift for the gift exchange and a dish to pass. (The gift doesn’t have to be made by you!). Child-care provided

Sunday, Dec 18 – 9:30am Love Sunday Worship and the Children’s Pageant. Come one and all to join in the multi-generational Children’s Pageant this year. Also, the Delaneys’ Merry Christmas Cookie Sunday is back! 

Wednesday, Dec 21 – Longest Night (Blue Christmas) Service at 7:00pm. This service is to make a worshipful and prayerful space for those who want to express sadness and grief during the holidays. The holidays are not “joy-filled” for everyone and this is an important part of our ministry at MCCC to offer this time for folks. If you know someone that could benefit from this kind of service please let them know and reach out to them. 

Saturday, Dec 24 – 7:00pm Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Mantua Center

Sunday, Dec 25th – 9:30am Christmas Morning Service. Feel free to wear your pajamas! 🙂 

Sunday, Jan 1st – 9:30am New Years Day service. Come ring in the new year with your church family.  

Looking forward to being with you in worship on Sunday! God’s blessing of Peace and Joy be with you! 

In Christ,

Chad

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Peace – Psalm 146:5-10

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God… Psalm 146:5

Peace has of recent become more of a wish than a reality! Something so elusive, almost unattainable. When was the last time we thought we could be in a state of “completeness, wholeness, or safety?” We talk about the realities of our times: covid (and its strains), monkey pox, inflation, Russia and Ukraine. It almost feels like the world is accepting and learning to live with the way things are rather than hoping for the unattainable.

I recently read an article about seven habits that slowly take away one’s peace. These included things like checking social media first thing in the morning, having ears plugged with earphones all the time, taking pictures of everything, leaving messes uncleaned, overworking or obsessive thinking, and being pessimistic. These seven things were PEACE STEALERS!

This got me thinking about what my own list of things that steal my peace would look like. What does peace mean to me, as an individual, in my life, in my career, in my plans? How does God’s definition for peace differ from mine? There is no peace for the wicked, is one scripture that came to mind (Isa.48:22). Can I have peace without God being the source of my peace?

In Psalm 146:5-10, we are called upon to put our trust in God. Our hope (or our Peace) is to be found only in God. Isaiah in chapter 9:6 calls Jesus the Prince of Peace, and as we go through this Advent season, let us seek Jesus as the source of true peace that we can depend on!

Judith R. Nakibuuka
Financial Accountant
Phillips Theological Seminary