This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:

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1 Church Office: THE SOLID ROCK CHURCH Mailing Address: 3601 Cypress Gardens Rd Cypress Gardens Rd., Suite Q PO Box 926 Suite C Winter Haven, Fl Winter Haven, Fl Winter Haven, FL (863) Weekly Epistle Sundays: Adult Christian Ed 9:00 a.m / Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m. Wednesdays: Prayer 5:00-5:45 - Service 6:00 p.m. Soaking Prayer: First Wednesday of the month and by appointment Saturdays: Prayer 9:30 10:30 December 18, 2009 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" [b] which means, "God with us." The Rocket 61 1 December 18, 2009

2 The Season is: Advent Sun., 12/13, Advent 3, Zeph 3:14-20; Isa 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 Wed., 12.16, (Wed of Advent 3); Zech 3:1-10; Ps 49; Rev 4:1-8; Mt. 24:45-51 Schedule for Christmas Services Wed, 12/23/09 Holy Eucharist/Taize Service, 6:00 p.m. Thurs, 12/24/09 Christmas Eve Service, 7:00 p.m. Fri, 12/25/09 Christmas Day Service, 10:00 a.m. Sun, 12/27 Christmas Festival of Carols and Lessons with Holy Eucharist, 10:00 a.m. Wed, 12/30/09 NO SERVICE Thurs, 12/31/09 New Year s Eve Service, 7:00 p.m. The Rocket 61 2 December 18, 2009

3 THE CHRIST BELL I KNOW WHO I AM I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 ) I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20) I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8) I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20) I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31-34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 ) I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 ) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 ) I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 ) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 ) I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5) I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10) I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10) I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you; The LORD turn His face toward you And give you peace... Numbers 6:24-26 The Rocket 61 3 December 18, 2009

4 A Teaching Moment: Limits of authority Whenever laws are enacted which contradict God's law, civil disobedience becomes a Christian duty. There are notable examples of it in Scripture. When Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the newborn boys, they refused to obey. 'The midwives... feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live' (Ex. 1:17). When King Nebuchadnezzar issued an edict that all his subjects must fall down and worship his golden image, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refused to obey (Dn. 3). When King Darius made a decree that for thirty days nobody should pray 'to any god or man' except himself, Daniel refused to obey (Dn. 6). And when the Sanhedrin banned preaching in the name of Jesus, the apostles refused to obey (Acts 4:18ff). All these were heroic refusals, in spite of the threats which accompanied the edicts. In each case civil disobedience involved great personal risk, including possible loss of life. In each case its purpose was 'to demonstrate their submissiveness to God, not their defiance of government'.(1) (1) Charles W. Colson, "Kingdoms in Conflict, An Insider's Challenging View of Politics, Power and the Pulpit" (William Morrow/Zondervan, 1987), p From "The Message of Romans" (The Bible Speaks Today series: Leicester: IVP, 1994), p ***** The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little. Thomas Merton The Rocket 61 4 December 18, 2009

5 Cleaning for a Reason If you know any woman currently undergoing Chemo, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - 1 time per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. (Thank you, Maggie Taylor, for bringing this to our attention) ***** January 10 th Bishop Miller January 24 th Annual Parish Meeting, 11:30 a.m. January Winter Conference, Greensboro, North Carolina The Rocket 61 5 December 18, 2009

6 MCDONALD'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK: SEAN HANSON SEAN IS THE GRANDSON OF OUR OWN GLENN HANSON. HE WAS NAMED MCDONALD S ATHTLETE OF THE WEEK DUE TO HIS WRESTLING ABILITIES. PLEASE CONGRATULATE THE PROUD GRANDFATHER. WOW! AND ISN T HE A CUTIE. ***** Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. The Rocket 61 6 December 18, 2009

7 On a busy street in New York City, a man hustles across an intersection and is just about makes it to the other side before he s hit by a bus. He lies dying on the sidewalk as a crowd gathers On a busy street in New York City, a man hustles across a busy intersection and just about makes it to the other side of the street before he s hit by a bus. He lies dying on the sidewalk as a crowd gathers around. A priest, he gasps. Somebody please get me a priest. The policeman checks the crowd, but there is no priest, minister, or man of God in the crowd. The policeman then leans over the man and tells him, I m not a priest, but for 43 years I ve lived behind St. Elizabeth s Church, and I ve heard them recite the Litany every night. Maybe I can help you. The policeman leans even closer to the man and says, B-4; I-19; N-42; G-54; O-60. For the next two Sundays, December 20 and 27, we will be watching the DVD of Bishop Chuck Murphy's address at the 2009 Winter Conference. Yvonne and I had the privilege of being there and I can tell you this address is worth hearing and you will be blessed by it. Find out where we (the Anglican Mission) have been, what we have accomplished, and what is being planned for the future (much of which is being or has been accomplished this year). Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the office building. The Rocket 61 7 December 18, 2009

8 Only 2 Days Left to Save on Winter Conference Rates... Don't miss the December 20 deadline for early registration savings. REGISTER TODAY HERE! An outline of pre-conference events and the WC schedule are available on the AMiA website. The Incarnation of Our Lord, AD 2009 Clergy of the Emmaus, Gulf Coast and Miletus Networks Beloved in the Lord WHOSE BIRTHDAY IS IT ANYWAY? Have you ever been to a birthday party where all those invited are excitedly assisting the birthday child in opening his or her gifts? Not only are the young guests shredding the gift-wrap, but they re also shamelessly removing the contents of the boxes, so that they can advise the birthday child on how to use this or that new toy. Sometimes a look of puzzlement, or dismay, surfaces on the face of the shy birthday child. However, quite often a bold boy or girl will ask defiantly: Whose birthday is this anyway?! Now I m not a humbug about Christmas tradition. The Millers decorate a tree, surround it with colorful gifts, gather the extended family for a big dinner, and play Christmas carols on the stereo. Yet in spite of my vocation, I am well aware of how easy it is to get so caught up in the seasonal merriment, such that we relegate our time of remembering that it s Jesus birthday to a single Christmas Eve service. After that, it s off to shredding the gift wrap and opening the boxes without giving a second thought to the fact that it s not our birthday unless of course you re one of those unfortunate souls born on December 25! As this Season of Advent comes to an end, and we prepare ourselves spiritually to embrace anew the Christ-child, what preparations are we making to assure that this Christmas we won t forget whose birthday it is? In the midst of frantic decorating, last-minute shopping and elaborate food preparation, can we, as leaders in Anglican mission, take a moment to consider giving a gift to Jesus by helping to The Rocket 61 8 December 18, 2009

9 meet the needs of the least of His brothers and sisters (Matt. 25:40). I believe we can. During my two weeks in Rwanda last month, I was hit head-on by the awareness of how lavishly God has blessed America blessed me! In comparison to the great majority of those I met and worshiped with and preached to and prayed over, I have been blessed well beyond what I have asked for or deserve! Except by choice, I have never had to: wonder where my next meal was coming from, dress in filthy, tattered clothing, sleep on the ground, walk five miles to church in bare feet, beg for a bottle of clean water, or forego medical attention when I needed the care of a doctor. My guess is that most of you can echo the same. I realize that our country is experiencing an on-going economic crisis and that money is tight and budgets are strained. Yet in spite of our financial woes, few of us will go without food, fail to have a roof over our heads or find ourselves sleeping on the streets I am also aware that the needs of the poor in our world seem endless and insoluble. We can t meet everyone s needs, but we can certainly address some of them. Thus I would like to propose that this Christmas the three Anglican Mission Networks I oversee consider taking on a challenge to bless some of our youngest friends in Africa. While in Rwanda, Bishop John Rucyahana asked that I might help him find sponsors for the 120 children in his Sonrise School that do not receive outside assistance. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Sonrise School ( it was started by Bishop John in 2001, in response to the growing number of homeless, Rwandan orphans in the wake of the 1994 genocide. Since its birth, Sonrise School has served hundreds of children in a Christian environment such that they are among the best educated children in the country! Through John s tireless efforts and the dedicated service of a faithful faculty, Sonrise School is literally raising up the next generation of leaders for Rwanda. This is an essential need for the future welfare and prosperity of Rwanda. Yet Bishop John can t do it alone, he and his children need our help. Here s my proposal: Presently I oversee 30 congregations (or emerging congregations) in Emmaus, Gulf Coast, and Miletus Networks. If each congregation sponsors (or partially sponsors) just 4 students, our churches can significantly aid those 120 students that remain without financial assistance. Full sponsorship for elementary students is $75/mo. ($25/mo. for partial sponsorship); full sponsorship for secondary students is $120/mo. ($40/mo. for partial sponsorship). How can you help? This letter is being sent out to all clergy in my AMiA Networks. I am asking that each rector or senior pastor come up with a plan to seek sponsorship (or partial sponsorship) for at least four (4) Sonrise students, by: The Rocket 61 9 December 18, 2009

10 publishing this letter in your parish newsletter or handing it out after Sunday services. approach your vestry, leadership team or missions committee for outreach funding. prayerfully consider sponsoring a child yourself. I am requesting that those who oversee Sonrise School from its stateside office in Ambridge, PA send information and sponsorship forms directly to your parish office. Furthermore, if you plan to attend Winter Conference in Greensboro next month, please visit the Mustard Seed Project/Sonrise School Ministry Booth for additional information. Beloved, together we can make a huge difference in the life of 120 children and the future of a country that has given so much to Anglican Mission. Please join with me in gifting our Lord and his children in Rwanda this Christmas and throughout the New Year. Finally, before the guests arrive, the gift-giving begins, and the turkey is consumed, might we consider placing a birthday card under the tree for Jesus, thanking Him for the gift of Himself? After all, it is His birthday. I m sure He d like to hear from us. May Almighty God, Who sent His only Son, that you might know the depth of His love, fill you with joy and peace as you celebrate our Lord s birth this Christmas. In His grip, Bishop John Til Next Week, The Rocket December 18, 2009