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Barbara Hoover
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SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30AM/10:30AM January 3: Rev. Dan Flynn of Living Word Lutheran returns as our guest pastor. January 10-31: Join us for a great Sermon Series.

WEDNESDAYS STARTING JANUARY 6: FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY 6:30PM (Dinner 5:45PM) Within the first 90 days of Dave Ramsey s most popular class, the average family pays off

..one step at a time. Register for the class and find the materials link at www.bloomfieldcross.org/financialpeace.

SPIRITUAL GIFTS CLASS 6:30PM (Dinner 5:45PM) Are you unsure how to put your talents to use? Are you entangled in doing what others think you should do?

1 SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICES 8:30AM/10:30AM January 3: Rev. Dan Flynn of Living Word Lutheran returns as our guest pastor. January 10-31: Join us for a great Sermon Series. Watch for details. WEDNESDAYS STARTING JANUARY 6: FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY 6:30PM (Dinner 5:45PM) Within the first 90 days of Dave Ramsey s most popular class, the average family pays off $5,300 in debt and saves $2,700. These lessons, led by an experienced Cross of Christ facilitator, will teach you to get out of debt the same way you learned to walk...one step at a time. Register for the class and find the materials link at Class materials that retail at $199 are only $93 and include books, audio CDs, envelope system, online tools and resources, and more. SPIRITUAL GIFTS CLASS 6:30PM (Dinner 5:45PM) Are you unsure how to put your talents to use? Are you entangled in doing what others think you should do? Are you stuck and not sure how or where to serve? Gain clarity and better align who you are with what you do. Contact Pastor Randy for more information. Register at WEDNESDAYS from FEBRUARY 10-MARCH 16: SPECIAL LENTEN SERVICES 6:30PM (Dinner 5:45PM) Mark your calendars for Ash Wednesday on February 10 (ashes all day), followed by special mid-week services on Wednesday evenings all the way through Lent. Please plan to join us!

C ELEBRATING the ADVENTURE The days that lead up to Christmas are called Advent. Advent is a season of preparation to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

From the moment we take our first steps as an infant, every step matters. Whether we are walking or running, each step takes us from one place to another.

2 C ELEBRATING the ADVENTURE The days that lead up to Christmas are called Advent. Advent is a season of preparation to help us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We want to take a look at the Christmas story from a different perspective. This story can become so familiar that we forget to stop and think about. From the moment we take our first steps as an infant, every step matters. Whether we are walking or running, each step takes us from one place to another. As we place one foot in front of the other, we move from one destination to the next. In this series, we trace the steps of key Christmas characters. As we follow their steps from their home to the crib of Jesus and then return back home, we discover how they were changed. We will see the extraordinary steps Jesus took to give us the gift of salvation. This booklet contains seven lessons, one for every week leading up to Christmas, plus a lesson each for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I would encourage you to walk through this packet in your small group, with your family, or as your own private devotions. It is my prayer this Advent season that you stand in the shoes of the people from first Christmas story so you can take intentional steps to enter into Christ s presence and experience change in your life. Pastor Randy SPECIAL WORSHIP & HOLIDAY EVENTS Thanksgiving Eve Worship Wednesday, November 25, at 7PM Hush: Christmas Concert December 10 & 11 at 7PM; December 12 at 4PM and 7PM Children s Nativity Pageant Sunday, December 20, at 10:30AM Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship Thursday, December 24, at 5PM & 8PM Christmas Day Worship Friday, December 25, at 10AM New Year s Eve Worship Thursday, December 31, at 5PM Information and details at or

J ESUS Christmas Christmas Day G o d s p r o m i s e i s f i n a l l y fulfilled. Jesus is born!

How is this Christmas different for you after working through this guide? Over the past weeks, you ve lit candles, read Scripture, and answered questions.

Remind me of your love, joy, and strength every day. Amen.

3 J ESUS Christmas Christmas Day G o d s p r o m i s e i s f i n a l l y fulfilled. Jesus is born! No matter how you feel about this day (joy, excitement, sadness, or loss), Jesus brings us hope and peace every day. John 3:16-21 {light just the Christ Candle} What is Christmas Day like for you? How is this Christmas different for you after working through this guide? Over the past weeks, you ve lit candles, read Scripture, and answered questions. As you think back, what was the most meaningful moment? What does it mean to you that Jesus is the light of the world? Jesus, thank you for being born in my heart. Remind me of your love, joy, and strength every day. Amen. S UPPLIES NEEDED 1 Bible, 5 Candles (with holders of any style, if needed), Matches or Lighter If you already have an Advent wreath, you may use it, but there is no right or wrong way to set up the candles and candle arrangement for these devotions. Feel free to use colors that you see fit and whatever arrangement you would like. Get out your best crystal candle holders and add elegant tapers, or pick up some tiny electric votive candles. If you love nature, use a hollowed out log as a holder. Or, don t use a candle holder at all; you or someone in your family/group can hold the candle(s) during the devotion. Be creative and make this experience unique. Below are the traditional meanings of the colors of the candles. If one color is more meaningful to you than another, use the candles of that color. Or, if you want to use a different color or an assortment of colors, you can do that instead. Make it personal. Purple: This symbolizes repentance and fasting. Purple is the color of royalty which helps us anticipate the coming of our King, Jesus Christ. Blue: This represents hope and waiting. Pink: This symbolizes joy and is typically used on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. This candles represents a shift away from repentance and toward celebration. White: This is the color of the center candle also known as the Christ Candle. This symbolizes the purity, sinless, and spotless Savior, Jesus Christ.

T HE ANGELS advent preparation week This was the moment they had been waiting for; this was the moment they were created for! Imagine the excitement and anticipation.

God was ready and the Angels were His messengers. Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:8-15 To whom did the angels bring their messages? What was the good news the angels delivered?

What are some ways you would like to share with someone else the Christmas joy? Jesus, thank you for sending angels to tell the good news. Thank you for being born so that we could have joy every day.

4 T HE ANGELS advent preparation week This was the moment they had been waiting for; this was the moment they were created for! Imagine the excitement and anticipation. This was it, this was the time when God would finally make His move. For thousands of years, the Angels helped the world get ready for Jesus... the one who would bring salvation to all people. God was ready and the Angels were His messengers. Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:8-15 To whom did the angels bring their messages? What was the good news the angels delivered? Have you ever been so excited about something but you couldn t tell anyone else about it? What is it like to share good news with other people? What are some ways you would like to share with someone else the Christmas joy? Jesus, thank you for sending angels to tell the good news. Thank you for being born so that we could have joy every day. Help us to be messengers of good news, just like the angels. Amen. J ESUS Advent Christmas Eve We all love to give and receive gifts during Christmas. As much as we love to give and receive gifts, nobody can out-give God. On the very first Christmas, God gave a special gift that was for everybody. Matthew 1:2-25 {light all 5 candles} Do you have to work or pay to receive a gift? Why do we give gifts? How do you know who the gift is for? What is the best gift you ve ever received? Jesus, thank you for being our perfect gift. Thank you for being born that we can have a relationship with you. You are the best gift ever. Amen.

T HE WISE MEN advent week four Sometime after Jesus was born, some special visitors came to see Him. These visitors were called Magi. Magi were men from Arabia and Persia who studied the stars.

Without a doubt, these men were wise, because they were searching for Jesus in order to worship him and give him gifts.

5 T HE WISE MEN advent week four Sometime after Jesus was born, some special visitors came to see Him. These visitors were called Magi. Magi were men from Arabia and Persia who studied the stars. People thought they had power to tell the meaning of dreams. The are also known by other names, such as wise men, or kings. Without a doubt, these men were wise, because they were searching for Jesus in order to worship him and give him gifts. Matthew 2:1-12 {light 4 candles} What did the Magi see that made them look for Jesus? What gifts did the Magi give to Jesus? Beside giving these gifts, what else did the Magi do when they saw Jesus? What would it have been like for the Magi to travel so far to see a king only to find a baby in a dirty manger? What gifts can we bring to Jesus today? Jesus, like the wise men did so many years ago, we come to worship you as our Lord and Savior. We don t have gifts of gold and expensive spices, but we do have our lives. We give you our lives because you love us and gave your life for us. Amen. Z ECHARIAH advent week one There has always been a strong feeling of anticipation around Christmas. At the same time, Christmas reminds us how we can still trust in God s faithfulness even when we have unanswered prayers and hopes. Zechariah and his wife had unfulfilled hopes and dreams. However, God shared with them a message that would change their lives and lives of everyone around them. {light 1 candle} Luke 1:5-25 Have you ever received news that was too good to be true? What was your reaction? Has there ever been a gift that you wanted but never received? Zechariah didn t believe the good news that Gabriel shared. What did Gabriel say would happen to Zechariah? Read Luke How does the story end? Zechariah was so overwhelmed by God s faithfulness that he burst out in song (Luke ). What is your favorite Christmas song to sing? God, thank you for your faithfulness. Your timing is not my timing but You are always faithful to me. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, at just the right time so that I can hear of your love and grace. Amen.

M ARY AND JOSEPH advent week two Before Jesus was born there was a righteous man who was a descendant of King David. His name was Joseph. Joseph was engaged to Mary, a young woman.

But being a reasonable and honorable man, he decided not to get mad, or let anyone know what was going on because Mary would be in really big trouble. So instead, Joseph quietly planned a divorce her.

6 M ARY AND JOSEPH advent week two Before Jesus was born there was a righteous man who was a descendant of King David. His name was Joseph. Joseph was engaged to Mary, a young woman. It was almost like they were married, except they did not live in the same house. Joseph loved Mary very much, but when he found out she was already pregnant, he was very disappointed. But being a reasonable and honorable man, he decided not to get mad, or let anyone know what was going on because Mary would be in really big trouble. So instead, Joseph quietly planned a divorce her. But God had a different plan. Matthew 1:18-24 {light 2 candles} What happened after Joseph decided to divorce Mary? Why did the angel visit Joseph? Why did God choose Joseph to be Mary s husband? What would it have been like to be Mary? Or Joseph? How would you have reacted? When we are troubled about something, how do we respond? Jesus, thank you for the story of Mary and Joseph that teaches us that You have a great plan. When we follow You, we can trust that Your ways are best. Help us to trust You like Mary and Joseph trusted in You, even in difficult circumstances. Amen. T HE SHEPHERDS advent week three It was like any other night for the shepherds. They were minding their business, watching their sheep, when all of the sudden angels appeared. The shepherds must have been afraid and terrified. One minute it s pitch black, and in the next moment it s blazing bright. Luke 2:8-20 {light 3 candles} Who were the people in this story? What was the response of the shepherds when the angel appeared? How would you feel if you suddenly saw an angel? What did the angels tell the shepherds? Why do you think God chose to announce Jesus birth to dirty, smelly shepherds? Jesus, thank you that you love us for who we are and not what we have done. Thank you for coming to earth for all people. Amen..the shepherds said to one another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.

Day 204. Angels help God s people. They bring messages from God.

Day 204. Angels help God s people. They bring messages from God. The angel said to him, I am Gabriel. I serve God. I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. Luke 1:19 Day 204 Angels help God s people. They bring messages from God. Gabriel was