Weekly Devotions By First Frisco Staff and Laity

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2017 Celebrate the Season of Advent Weekly Devotions By First Frisco Staff and Laity I N T HI S I SS UE : THE MEANING OF ADVENT P1 WEEK ONE DEVOTION P2 WEEK TWO DEVOTION P3 WEEK THREE DEVOTION P4 WEEK FOUR DEVOTION P5 CHRISTMAS EVE DEVOTION P6 CHRISTMAS DAY DEVOTION P7 Sunday Worship Services 9:30 am Contemporary Service 11:00 am Traditional Service 7659 Preston Road Frisco, TX 75034 friscofumc.org 972-335-4380 EPIPHANY SUNDAY / NEW YEAR S EVE DEVOTION P8 NEW YEAR S DAY DEVOTION P9 UPCOMING EVENTS & SERVICES P10

Symbol of Advent The Advent symbol is the evergreen wreath/log which represents eternal life and four candles which remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. Purple candles are used for the royalty of Christ (or for Hope). The pink candle represents Joy. The white candle is placed in the center of the wreath/log on Christmas Eve/Day. This is the Christ Candle - it represents the birth of Jesus. The Meaning of Advent Advent is celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas. Since Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday, we ll begin Advent on November 26th. Advent is the season that celebrates the coming of Christ. Christ has come as the baby Jesus long ago. Christ will come again in the future and Christ is waiting to come into our hearts. 1 THE GIFT OF Christmas breakfast with santa December 2nd, 8:00 AM - Noon Pancakes, picture with Santa, crafts, vendors and more! christmas cantata Week One 2 Advent: A Time of Anticipation Week Two 3 Week Three 4 Week Four 5 Christmas Eve/Day We wait and prepare our hearts for Christ to be born in us anew. Find an unhurried time and a special place to gather and light the candles of the wreath/log. One candle is lit the first week, two candles the second, three candles the third week, all four candles the fourth week. Then all four, along with the Christ candle in the center is lit on Christmas Eve/day. This successive lighting reminds us that the light of Christ is growing stronger the closer we get to Christmas and the birth. Set up your nativity scene nearby and each week add a person to the nativity animals, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, angels, then the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve/Day. Keep the wise men out of sight and wait to add them on January 6th, the day of Epiphany when we celebrate the coming of the wise men and the light God revealed to the world through Jesus. 1 December 10th 9:30 & 11:00 AM A musical celebration featuring our Chancel Choir and orchestra night in bethlehem December 17th, 5:00-7:00 PM Live nativity, petting zoo, family photo and stroll through old Bethlehem christmas eve Morning Services 9:30 & 11:00 AM Candlelight & Carols Services 5:00, 7:00 & 9:00 PM 10

New Year s Day Devotion By Rev. Steve Robertson Scripture: Ephesians 4:15-16 We must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body s growth in building itself up in love. Devotion: Do you remember being challenged with these pointed words, Oh, just grow up!? Growing is not hard. As children, we just naturally got taller and bigger. But, growing up is different, and at times, a lot more difficult. While growing takes very little effort, growing up takes considerable effort, commitment, and discipline. Growing up requires maturity and the willingness to grow. In our Scripture for today, Paul says, We must grow up in every way At First Frisco, our new Discipleship Path asks all of us to consider intentional growth in five areas of faith: 1. Worship 2. Grow (Spiritual Development) 3. Serve 4. Give 5. Go (Witness in the Community) As you begin this New Year, I hope that you will prayerfully consider your continued growth as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Prayer: O God, only you know what is in store in this new year. But I trust in your love and in your goodness. Help me to grow in grace and in faith. Encourage me to grow in knowledge and love of you, so that I may love more perfectly and experience the joy of fruitful living. In Christ s name. Amen. Week One Devotion By Rev. Bill Meek Light the first purple candle. Scripture: Psalm 42; Rev 21: 3,4; Rev 22:17 As a deer longs for flowing streams, so longs my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, Where is your God? The psalmist is in exile when he writes these words of anguish. But he remembers what it was like to be present in worship with the God of his soul. And in remembering, he is lifted up: Why are you cast down o my soul and why are you disquieted within me. Hope in God, for I shall again praise him, my help and my God. The candle we light during week one of Advent is the candle of hope, hope for Christ s coming. Yes, He has come in that silent night of beauty and mystery, God with us. Yet during advent and throughout the year we continue to hope for that day, like the morning when we, with Mary Magdalene, greet the risen Christ, when all of humanity will rise from pain and suffering and death, like Christ rose from the cross and grave. Yet we are healed through the same cross. We long for the permanence of the peace we feel at Christmas, long for the whole world to know that peace, a peace experienced when God will wipe away every tear, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away, for God s dwelling will be here with humankind. Rev 21: 3,4 That peace of Christ is our sure hope. The object of that hope deep within us, Christ will come. His Spirit has come and remains in all of us as the dove descended and remained on Jesus, as God has come to us and will come. The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let the one who hears say, Come! Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life. Come Lord Jesus Rev 22:17 Prayer: Lord of hope. We wait in hope for the fullness of your Kingdom. Give us strength that we may bring your Kingdom closer within our souls, with each person we meet, within the community of your creation. Thy Kingdom come! 9 2

Week Two Devotion By Rev. Cheryl Jones Light the first & second purple candles. Scripture: Mark 1:1-8 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, (v. 1) THE BEGINNING OF THE GOOD NEWS Have you ever noticed how much attention is given to the biggest gifts under the Christmas tree? How about the ones with the brightest gift wrap and the most elegantly tied bows? These are the gifts that get the most attention as young eyes peruse the abundance under the tree and curious guesses come from others. As gorgeous as these gifts look and as much attention as they receive, the outward decorations are just that ---- decorations. It s what is beyond the packaging that is the gift. In the Gospel of Mark, it is recorded for us that John the Baptist was there to announce the good news to let us know who was coming beyond him. In essence, John is saying that he is not the gift but the decoration to let us know that there is a gift. John came to prepare the way for the Lord. He later shares, The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me (v. 7a). Then, in Mark 1:1, it is recorded that Jesus coming is but the beginning of the Good News. During this Advent Season, let us not get so caught up in the madness and the outward trappings of Christmas that we forget that Jesus is the reason for the season. Let us realize that Jesus birth is but the beginning of the Good News. The greatest gift of His coming is that He came to die for our sins, was buried, rose again, and ascended. And even that is just the beginning of the good news, for Jesus is coming back! Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the greatest gift ever, when You sent Your Son, Jesus, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Remind us that this gift is waiting to be opened every day to reveal Your love. Help us to know that Jesus coming is but the beginning of what makes Christmas good news. Get a glimpse of something better than a really big box with great wrapping paper --and even better than the guess of what could be in it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ral3ui9xdju Epiphany Sunday/ New Year s Eve Devotion By Homer Laird Scripture: Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year's Eve Ball. At 11:59pm, the ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to countdown the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams. The ball is a geodesic sphere, covered with Waterford Crystal triangles of varying sizes. This year s ball consists of 2,688 crystal triangles; each with its own special meaning: The Gift of Kindness - a circle of rosettes, symbolizing unity with the fronds reaching out in an expression of kindness The Gift Of Wonder - a faceted starburst, inspiring our sense of wonder The Gift of Fortitude - diamond cuts on either side of a crystal pillar, to represent the inner attributes of resolve, courage and spirit necessary to triumph over adversity The Gift of Imagination - a series of intricate wedge cuts that are mirrored reflections of each other inspiring our imagination In years past, each of the triangles also had a special designation: Hope for Fellowship, Peace, Wisdom, Unity, Courage, Healing, etc. The name of the ball itself? The Star of Hope! How fitting, because each new year IS a time for hope. It s a time for opportunity. It s a time for us to grasp hold of our future our destiny. And it s a time to renew our faith in God. 3 8

Christmas Day Devotion By Rev. Mark Vowell Light the first four candles and the white Christ candle. Scriptures: John 1:14 and Luke 2:10-11 I love the wonder and delight of a child on Christmas morning. I love to hear the tentative tip toe of little feet, the gasps of joy as hopes are fulfilled, and the shouts of, He came! Of course, I m referring to Santa Claus. I hope you have the opportunity to make new Christmas morning memories today. By the time you get up this morning, I also hope that you and your family have had the opportunity to celebrate the greatest miracle of Christmas - the Incarnation. God became human. God entered into our existence as a baby in a manger as light into our darkness. John s gospel tells it like this, And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of a father s only son, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) The angels in Luke s account declared, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:10-11) Translation: He came! Israel s greatest hopes were fulfilled. And the arrival was not just for Israel, but for the whole world. In his book, Miracles, C.S. Lewis describes the Incarnation as the central event in the history of the Earth---the very thing that the whole story has been about... I hope that you take time to contemplate that central event, to receive it with great joy, and to live the rest of your life in the reality of that fulfilled hope... He came! God has come to our rescue. God is with us. We are not forgotten. We are not abandoned. He has come to claim us as his beloved children. Joy to the world! Merry Christmas. Week Three Devotion By Catherine Fowler Light the first & second purple candles and the pink candle. Scripture: Revelation 19:1 Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God. I have played the part of Mary innumerable times in my life probably because of having long brown hair. From early years at my hometown Methodist church, enactments through junior and senior high pageants, through adult chancel choir Christmas presentations, I have gazed solemnly into the straw-filled manger by the hour, enjoying every moment. Only once was I chided; it was for chewing gum in my junior high days when my sharp-eyed neighbor noticed what was in my mouth as I knelt outdoors in the cold. Oh, and then there was the time as an adult when the choir director assigned me to sing the part of Mary and another soprano blurted out, But she s way too old! I understand better now the reason for His coming His life, death, and resurrection. He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised. II Corinthians 5:15. I understand better that the rubber doll from the church nursery representing the Lord Jesus Christ was rightfully at the center of the whole tableau. How often through the years I wanted to be at the center of things, wanted to make life all about me. I wanted to be prosperous and surrounded by beautiful possessions. I wanted to be encircled by people who admired and respected me. I wanted to be in control. I wanted life to be easy and predictable. I wanted no obstacle or suffering in my path. In ways I was not even conscious of, I reduced life to the size of my own glory. In many ways, sin makes us all glory thieves, trying to steal for ourselves what belongs only to God. In a sense, life is an unending glory battle we could never win on our own, so Jesus came. Aren t we glad our God of infinite goodness looked upon us glory thieves with redeeming love? He appointed His Son to leave His rightful position and become a servant even unto death so that you and I could be freed from the cage of seeking our own glory. And the gift of His glory increasingly turns our hearts away from concentrating on our own glory to live instead for the very thing we were created for : the glory of God. 7 4 May our celebration be deeper than decorations, food, and gifts. May we be struck with the humility and willingness of the Son of Glory. May we, like Mary, trust against all odds such a God. May we join in that song that never ends, that shimmers with praise of a Savior who came to rescue us from sin and to shower His transforming grace on all who believe in this KING OF GLORY.

Week Four Devotion By Steve Garrison Light all the purple candles and the pink candle. Scripture: Isaiah 9:6 For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Who hasn t longed for peace, living in a world that is so often full of strife? Today may hold more headlines of conflict. Your life, at this moment, may feel as if chaos rules the day. This season may not bring you memories of peace. For you, and many others, it may just be a reminder of the missing peace in your heart. I am like many of you during this season. I am caught up in obligations of traditions, checklists, gatherings, trips, and gifts. Have you ever heard the saying the calm before the storm? We create the storm of chaos before the calm. For some, this is the norm, and for others, it s procrastination at its best. This is our chaos. This advent marks some of the most horrific tragedies and natural disasters. If you are like me, you are looking out into the world searching for peace. Anything to bring us hope from such despair. We long for peace in our own lives and for the world. Many of us work daily at bringing peace into the world. We work to make our personal lives less chaotic and more peaceful. The answer is Jesus. The Prince of Peace brings peace to our world. I found peace with Jesus at the most chaotic moment in my life. When I was pinned down by gunfire in an ambush in Iraq, I took a few seconds to say a prayer. Once I was finished, I felt a rush of peace and calm in my heart. I was no longer thinking of the fear holding me back, only the mission at hand to ensure no others got hurt. I have found that when I am in a moment of chaos, I can count on Jesus to bring peace. This Christmas and on this fourth Sunday of advent, I pray you can clear some of the chaos in your life. Make your house and heart ready for the birth of Jesus Christ. It s because of His birth we can look out the window and not only see chaos and tragedy but the love and peace that His presence brings. I hope you take the time to look in the mirror and look at what you can do to bring peace. Put trust in Jesus, and He will bring hope, love, joy, and peace. Here is a simple Prayer workout: (From Ann Spangler) Reflect On: John 20:19-20, 26-27 and Colossians 3:12-15 Praise God: Who is the source of all peace. Offer Thanks: To Christ our peace. Confess: Any failures to forgive. Ask God: To help you live in peace with others. Christmas Eve Devotion By Jeff Bouis Light the first four candles and the white Christ candle. Scripture: Col. 3:14-15a Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. Around the world on this very day, Christians are streaming into churches to hear the story of a little baby who changed the world. Not just any story, but the Story of God made human, coming to walk with us, to save us, and to teach us to love each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Throughout our country, throughout Texas, and throughout Frisco, people will be searching for a church to visit so they, too, can hear this great Story. Even those who don t regularly attend any church will make a special effort to be with us at First Frisco, bringing our community together in ways we rarely get to enjoy. In a world that can feel divided, where a mentality of us versus them has taken hold (and the us group must always be right!), this Holy day tells us we are called to something bigger than the problem of the moment. We are all united by a savior who came to the world with a message of peace and hope, rooted in love for every single person. No matter where we stand on whatever issue, this day of friends and family can remind us we are all part of a larger family, with Jesus as the head. As we sing Silent night, Holy night this evening, let us also pray for peace on earth, goodwill to all. Prayer: O God, on this joyful day we remember the great love you showed to us by sending Jesus, who is true love, to guide our paths and to draw us closer to you. May your great love now shine through us, that we may show love to our neighbors with respect, compassion, understanding, and the peace of Christ in our hearts. In Jesus name. Amen. 5 6