Worship Preview 12.15.24 "Love is More Than a Feeling"

FIRST UNITED  METHODIST 

This Sunday: 10:30am – Advent 3: Love is More Than a Feeling. Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching. Scriptures: John 3:16-17; John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:16; Psalm 136:1-26 and Exodus 34:1-9

“For God so loved the world…” “this is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you.” “God is love.”  Over the past few months, each of these texts has been one of our readings. The proclamation of God’s love is at the center of Christian faith and experience. This is more than a feeling. Both the New and Old Testament (Greek and Hebrew) have multiple words that are translated to English as “love” – we can talk about romantic love, brotherly love, enjoyment – but the most common words used are “hesed” in Hebrew and “agape” in Greek – this is more than a feeling. This is God’s love for us, and God’s call for how we are to love God, neighbor, and even enemy. This is steadfast love – actively working for the best for the other.

Sunday we continue our journey through Advent and our preparation to celebrate Christmas. We celebrate God’s act of incarnation – Jesus is born of a woman, grows up gaining strength and wisdom, just as we do. Incarnation proclaims Jesus as fully human – and fully God. A living embodiment of God’s steadfast love and God’s fulfillment of God’s covenant with humanity, even as we continue to fall short. As we consider this mystery, we will also look at ways that we distort that. We humans tend to fall into legalism and coercive forms of control.  We will focus on two texts from the Old Testament that proclaim God’s “hesed” and the interactions of Charlie Brown, Lucy, Schroeder and Snoopy will help us explore these themes and prepare ourselves to recognize and respond to God’s steadfast love in our lives. 

If you do not have a church home, or if it’s time for a change, we invite you to take this Advent journey with us. We meet each Sunday at 10:30am at 301 S. National. Come as you are, wear what you have, and join with others as we sing, pray, and seek to to find our path and share our journey! Blessings in this holy season. 

Upcoming Events: 

Wednesday, December 18, 5:30–6:30pm: Feeding Families in His Name – this free meal is available to everyone without obligation. A “to-go” meal is distributed under the portico at 301 S. National. A reminder: Please do not block nearby driveways while waiting. Thank you. If you would like to support this ministry, you can make donations online at: www.firstumcfortscott.org/onlinegiving. 

(Note – to give our volunteers a break and time with their families, there will not be a meal served on Dec. 25th, Christmas Day and Jan 1st, New Years Day since they each fall on Wednesday this year.)

Christmas Eve Candlelight and Communion – 7pm, Tuesday, Dec. 24th the beloved traditional service with real candles, Christ’s table, carols and of course, Silent Night. Invite a friend!