{"id":3608,"date":"2024-01-02T14:12:50","date_gmt":"2024-01-02T14:12:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/?p=3608"},"modified":"2024-01-02T14:12:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-02T14:12:50","slug":"the-christmas-blessing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/the-christmas-blessing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Christmas Blessing"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve<\/span><\/p>\n

5:30 p.m. Service<\/span><\/p>\n

Luke 2:1-14 and Luke 2:15-20<\/span><\/p>\n

The Christmas Blessing<\/span><\/p>\n

(MILLER\/ROUTSONG FAMILIES)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is such a joy that all of you celebrate with each other and your families and friends at this special time of year here with First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before you arrived here this evening, I\u2019m sure you were enjoying each other\u2019s company, preparing the house with Christmas decorations and Christmas dishes to celebrate the birth of Jesus with friends and families.\u00a0 And, if you know of someone who is going to be alone this Christmas, I hope you are able to invite them to celebrate with you.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We have been enjoying a Storybook Advent this season, and this evening, our book is, \u201cThe Christmas Blessing,\u201d by Erin Guendelsberger<\/span><\/p>\n

(READ)<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Have you ever been awakened in the middle of the night by a bright light?\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t make you too cheerful when your sleep is interrupted, does it?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In our story, the animals are a bit irritable after being awakened by the bright light shining into the stable.\u00a0 They are confused as to what is going on because their bodies tell them it is not yet time to be awakened for day.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 However, Mama Star is shining bright for a good reason this particular night, this very special night, and she needs the help of the animals to prepare the stable and manger for very special guests that are to arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s one thing to be awakened in the middle of the night, and then it is another to be asked to start cleaning!\u00a0 Who wants to do that?\u00a0 Would we be prepared for this work that was required?\u00a0 Are we prepared today for the work required to greet Jesus?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Now the animals, begin to blame each other for exactly whose mess it is that needs to be cleaned up\u2026sounds like humans, doesn\u2019t it.\u00a0 As they begin to argue, they cannot reach a compromise and decide to refuse to do the work that is being required of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Mama Star is persistent and shines even brighter explaining how desperately she needs them to work together.\u00a0 After all, a very special baby will arrive tonight.\u00a0 She reminds them how they have more in common than they think, and if they are capable of love, then surely they can work together to prepare for this special baby.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 They are reminded of the love they have for their children, their families, and their friends, and, after all, \u201cLove is love,\u201d Mama Star tells them.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How simple a word is like love, yet how complicated we can make it.\u00a0 Everyone wants to be loved, so why do we make it so hard?\u00a0 Why can\u2019t we get along with one another?\u00a0 Why do we look more at what we don\u2019t have in common, than the love we do have in common?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Love is love.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 With this, the animals go to work together to prepare the manger, and they do it with acceptance, love and speed.\u00a0 Who knew that love can make us efficient!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Expressing her joy and gratitude, and her own love for the animals and the baby to come, Mama Star praises the animals for embracing each other to work in harmony, and the work was completed just in time as the star shines even brighter to welcome in the Holy family and the animals say hello to the welcomed visitors.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Soon the blessed child arrives, born that special bright night there in the stable and placed in a manger.\u00a0 A humble space filled with love welcomes a Savior full of truth, beauty, goodness, love and grace is received.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What a beautiful story!\u00a0 And it doesn\u2019t end there, it begins there\u2026a new world begins that very special night when the Savior arrives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As we continue the story in the Gospel of Luke, we learn the shepherds were approached by the angel and led by the bright star to greet the Christ child, the Messiah.\u00a0 They are amazed and go out to spread the message of all they had been told.\u00a0 This night, this very special night, a new world began by the one who brings peace to all, Glory to God!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Let us celebrate this most wonderful night!<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As we sing together, Hymn Page 123, \u201cIt Came Upon the Midnight Clear,\u201d please come by the manger here on the communion table and pick up a star to remember that very special night.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m. Service Luke 2:1-14 and Luke 2:15-20 The Christmas Blessing (MILLER\/ROUTSONG FAMILIES) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is such a joy that all of you celebrate with each other and your families and friends at this special time of year here with First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before you arrived […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Christmas Blessing - First Presbyterian Church Valdosta<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/the-christmas-blessing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Christmas Blessing\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve 5:30 p.m. Service Luke 2:1-14 and Luke 2:15-20 The Christmas Blessing (MILLER\/ROUTSONG FAMILIES) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It is such a joy that all of you celebrate with each other and your families and friends at this special time of year here with First Presbyterian Church in Valdosta.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Before you arrived […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/the-christmas-blessing\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"First Presbyterian Church Valdosta\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-01-02T14:12:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Christmas-Eve-530pm-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1786\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"FirstPresValdosta\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"FirstPresValdosta\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/the-christmas-blessing\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.firstpresvaldosta.org\/index.php\/2024\/01\/02\/the-christmas-blessing\/\",\"name\":\"The Christmas Blessing - 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