Weekly Update | December 22, 2022
Weekly Newsletter 12/22/2022
Beloved, Merry Christmas!
Gifts. Gifts. And many gifts! Maybe you’re against gifts? Maybe you just like receiving gifts and don’t like gifting them? Do you regift gifts? What are the most memorable gifts you’ve ever received? Maybe you can’t remember a single gift you’ve received and wonder if they’re even worth it? Or maybe you remember the worst gifts, maybe even offensive ones? How much money do you spend on gifts? How useful are the gifts? Do you return gifts back to the store? Gifts are a very important part of Christmas. Discuss your gifts of the past with whomever you’ll be celebrating Christmas.
But these days I want to remind myself and all of us of the most important gift of Christmas, Jesus Christ! He Himself received gifts from the wise men from the East, important and valuable gifts. But this is just a minor part of the true meaning of Christmas. The Messiah became the final and most important gift of Christmas. Christ came as a gift from heaven! God the Father has gifted us the most valuable gift that is incomparable to anything else in the universe!
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6)
The value of this gift is in what the gift brings, namely, Jesus Christ is valuable because He brings eternal salvation (Eph. 2:1-10). This gift is very good; it’s not returned; it’s valued!
May the born Messiah fill your hearts with real joy! Unfortunately, many people who attend church don’t come for the sake of Christ. They’re attracted by programs, participations, busyness, fellowship, friendships, and much, much more. And all this, even though it may be good, doesn’t give Christianity real meaning. Christ Himself is the center of Christmas and the point of life. That’s why, even in this letter, we don’t stop returning to the true meaning of faith in God. Beloved, one more time, seriously check your relationship with God! Do you value Christ in your life? Do you rejoice in Him as your most valuable gift?
Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: https://gfchurch.com/ukraine/
This week we will review the memory text – Psalm 90:1-16
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.
5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.
7 For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
9 For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.
Upcoming events:
- – December 23rd (6:30 PM) – Children’s Christmas Service
- – December 24th (evening) – Youth caroling to our church members
- – December 31st (6:00 PM) – New Year’s Eve Service
- – January 1st (5:00 PM) – Combined worship service
- – January 21st (9:00 AM – 12:30 PM) – All church staff prayer meeting
- – January 22nd (6:00 PM) – Membership meeting
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
Friday (6:30 PM) – Children’s Christmas service
Sunday services:
- – Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- – Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM
On behalf of the elders of GFC