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Home , Christ Child, Light of the World, Liken

The Light of the World

2019 BOOK LAKESIDE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

All Scripture English Standard Version Advent

Advent is a season of anticipation and hope. The season is a celebration of the birth of .

Advent reflects the spiritual journey of individuals as they confirm that has come and is in their lives.

Every Christian has something to say about his faith. The thoughts in this book come from the hearts of each writer.

The Advent Wreath

The use of the Advent wreath in homes and churches originated during the (14th to 16th century).

The circle is the symbol of eternity and the evergreen the symbol of eternal life.

The purple candles are a symbol of humility and penitence.

The rose-colored candle signifies joy and happiness and is a symbol of hope, love and the gifts of God’s love.

The white candle symbolizes the Christ Child.

Red candles symbolize great joy.

Our faith is not in symbols, but the symbols serve to remind us of the gifts given to us through the miracle of God’s love and the birth of His Son. Be Still and Know Sunday, December 1, 2019 First Sunday of Advent

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” I usually don’t find these qualities difficult. Except one. Patience. I don’t like to be still. I don’t like to rely on others for things. And I certainly don’t like to sit and wait. I like to be on the go, and I want others to be right there, ready to go with me. If you Google “ verses about patience,” you get over eleven million results: “29 Timeless Bible Verses About Patience,” “25 Important Bible Verses About Patience (Must- Read Today),” and so on. I’m not even patient enough to sit and read all of them. But I do know this one from Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that God.” That’s a tough one for me. It means I need to stop everything and trust that God knows. I may not need to know right now what happens next week or next year (even if I think I do), but God does. And God has used His people throughout history to illustrate patience. One of these people is Mary. One day, out of nowhere, an appears. He tells Mary that she has been blessed by God and will carry His Son. And then he just leaves. Mary gets one quick question in before he goes, but I can’t believe that she didn’t have a million more running through her head. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Mary’s pregnancy, but if I had to guess, she had to be really patient. She had to deal with whispers about her virtue, questions about the birth and what would come next, and a journey to an unfamiliar town. If that didn’t take patience, I don’t know what would. But she said that she was ’s servant and would do as He commanded. If we all had that attitude, I think our world would be a much more pleasant place. So this season, amidst all of the hustle and bustle, take some time to be patient. Listen to God and His will. Be patient with family, friends, and the insanity of Christmas shopping. And above all, be still and know that He is God.

Kaye Stucky

17 Years at Lakeside Joy Monday, December 2, 2019 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, and and .” :10-11 Joy, noun - 1. a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. I have to admit, since becoming a responsible adult (the age of that still debatable), joy for me describes an extreme emotion. John Piper, in his article “How do you define joy?” states, “Definitions are simply descriptions of the way people use words. Words don’t have intrinsic definitions. They are given definitions by the way people use them.” Joy is a word like that for me. I am deeply content and happy on a regular basis but being joyful is a cautiously rare emotion to describe and define. This is especially true around the Christmas season. The Advent season is meaningful and reverent, but it is also filled with obligations, self-imposed and world imposed. Obligations of Christmas cards and lists, presents, parties, school presentations and more fill my time around the Christmas season until all I want to do is cover my head with a blanket and refuse to come out. But Piper also says in the same article, “Christian joy is a good feeling in the , produced by the , as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.” Over two thousand years ago, Magi who only had known a world without Christ, looked into the sky and saw a bright star proclaiming the birth of a King. They were compelled to search for Him and when they found Him, they were OVERJOYED and they fell down and worshipped Him. They were face to face with the beauty of Christ in the world. Have you searched for the beauty of Christ in Christmas or have you put Him behind the Christmas card lists, school plays, and obligations? Have you let this world rob your memory of the Joy of the Messiah? Strive to hear that Christian joy in your soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, because He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world. Seek Him, find Him, be overjoyed and worship Him. May this Advent season be one of recognizing your Christian joy, and intentionally abandoning the things that rob your memory of the joy of Christ in this world. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-do-you-define-joy Cammy Taylor 3 Years at Lakeside An Anchor for Your Soul Tuesday, December 3, 2019 Eleven years ago I said goodbye to the man I called Daddy. He taught me to parallel park, hang sheetrock, make biscuits and tell awful puns, but most of all, He loved me.

When he died, I wanted nothing more than to preserve in myself the things I held so dear about him. Maybe he could live on somehow in me.

Grief fades, but the desire to identify with and live out the character of one greater than I calls me onward to find its ultimate goal in Christ. That He lives in me and calls me His own gives me substance, anchors my days, and gives me hope for all my days to come.

Though He has always existed, His advent into this world that first Christmas morning became the anchor of all eternity; when the One who made us, who truly gives meaning to our , put on flesh and lived among us.

May life and hope and an anchor for your soul be yours this Christmas in Christ.

Margaret Webb

28 Years at Lakeside Celebrate with Service Wednesday, December 4, 2019 Every year we celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus Christ. This brings up the question, how do we celebrate? Are we only to celebrate during December as tradition dictates or should it be something we do daily? If it is something we should do daily, what does that look like? Mathew 20:28 says “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus not only humiliated himself by becoming a man, he served his people. 1 Peter 4:10 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:”

I would like to suggest that we celebrate Jesus everyday all year round by serving him. How do we serve him? By serving each other and his church. Mathew 22:37-39 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Gavin Clark

3 Years at Lakeside Shine His Light Thursday, December 5, 2019 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a , because there was no place for them in the inn. :7 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. :12 As a child, Christmas was celebrated in two different places with my family. In Oil City, PA where we lived, it was spent with my paternal grandmother and grandfather, and took place at the big house on the hill. It was filled with antiques – horsehair chairs, crystal chandeliers, china plates, silver utensils that all matched- and when I went there my mother kept saying “Be quiet! Don’t touch!” Everything was formal but I loved the hustle, the smells in the kitchen, the chatter of the grownups, and the table full of food. I ate until I couldn’t eat anymore. Other years, we drove to Wilkinsburg, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, where my grandma Enos on my mother’s side lived. Her husband left her with two small girls to raise; so, she ran a boarding house for iron workers. The furniture was hodge podge, kitchen was huge, and dining table was set with an assortment of chipped dishes and surrounded by burly iron workers, family, and food that never ended. I could play with dolls in a closet underneath the 3 story stairs. I was given chores in the kitchen and joined in the chatter and laughter. After dinner, we all crowded into a candle lit sitting room around an old piano with the only lit light. The iron workers brought their banjos and harmonicas, and we listened to the Christmas story and sang Christmas songs as I moved from one big lap to another, enjoying the warmth and love that surrounded me. One Christmas, I snuck a candle from the sitting room and opened the closet door under the stairs. As I walked in, the wee light lit the whole closet and shown sweetly upon my baby doll in the wicker buggy. As I observed the beauty and peace before me, I knew in my heart that it is in humble beginnings, in humility, that Jesus fills us with His love and it only takes a wee bit of His light of love to bring beautiful sweet life to a whole room.

Be a star and shine His light wherever you go to brighten this world of darkness with His glory. Jan Steele 7 Years at lakeside Indescribable Gift Friday, December 6, 2019 Growing up, my husband and I didn’t really live in Christian families. Jason and I went to church here and there and even graduated from a Catholic school, so we did have some Christian influences. We knew about God but not in the way we have now grown to learn about Him. After 9 years of dating my high school sweetheart, we decided to get married. Then we bought our first house and later decided to start having children. We were so happy and excited about our first child, Blake, but after a few years just felt like we were not making right choices in our life and we felt like we were missing something. Then one day our good friend, Jim, asked us to go to church with him, so we did. When we were sitting in church we both looked at each other and knew we finally found what was missing in our life. I technically grew up only knowing Greek Orthodox and Catholic churches and my husband Baptist and Catholic so we decided to try a few different churches to see which one God was calling us to. The day came when we attended Lakeside Presbyterian Church. We walked out knowing that God wanted us to make Lakeside our home. Since then, we have had a second child, Zoe. Blake and Zoe have been growing up knowing the true meaning of Christmas and both have a relationship with God. The true gift is that my husband and myself get to share this with our children. We spend Christmas like most people and have the Christmas tree, decorations and gifts. But, unlike how we grew up, we also talk about the true meaning of Christmas! “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15

Toni Condon

10 Years at lakeside The Star Saturday, December 7, 2019 Most people have a star to put on top of their Christmas tree. The star on a Christmas tree represents the bright star that was above Jesus when he was born in . This star in Bethlehem lit up the dark night and led the wise men to Jesus. For us, Jesus is the light that shows us the path to rightousness and forgiveness. Just as the the star directed the wise men to Jesus, we, as Christians, are called to direct others to Jesus. :14-16 says, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” The light of Jesus is supposed to shine through us; through our actions, words, and attitudes towards others. The star was a shining light that represented hope for humanity in the darkest times. The people looked to the star and found hope for a Savior. We look to Jesus to find hope of being forgiven and new life.

Emily Humphreys Lakeside Youth - 10th Grade Blessed by Giving to Others Sunday, December 8, 2019 Second Sunday of Advent

As I was thinking about the upcoming Christmas season and the Advent Book, I came across the devotion below. I am reminded of how, even as a child my favorite part of Christmas was picking out and giving gifts to others. I was always a little overwhelmed with the receiving of gifts, as I am still today. The blessing of giving to others, especially loved ones, gave me much more pleasure and blessings than any gift I could receive. So, I have to believe that for God to give us his son during this season of giving is the highest blessing ever and gave God the most pleasure. As we get busy with the hustle and bustle of shopping, parties and festivities, let us remember to give not only to our family and friends but to those who do not have the privilege of family and friends, as God has given the best gift of all to ALL of US, each and everyone.

Somehow, not only for Christmas, But all the long year through, The joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, The more your heart’s possessing Returns to you glad.

“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. “ Luke 6:38

Keith and Sheila King 14 Years at Lakeside Who Is Jesus? Monday, December 9, 2019 In :14 we read that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” “Dwelt” could also be translated as “tabernacled” or, more loosely, “pitched a tent and called it home,” and that tells us something really significant about our God. He chose and continues to choose to be with us. Imagine for a moment if Jesus had stayed at a distance and saved his people some other way. He would be a different god. He would not be the God who broke the chains of Egypt so that his people could come to him in the wilderness and worship him. He would not be the God who had his people build him a tent of worship in the middle of the camp, or the God who gave them a way to come to him in that holy place when they were smeared in metaphorical dirt (Leviticus). He would not be the God who gave comfort to Hagar in the desert and Elijah in his despair. He would not be the God who saw the heartbreak of Mary and and wept at it. But, that is who Jesus is! He has come and made friends with sinners and married himself to the church so that he could call her his own, bearing her sin and feeling her joy and pain with her. The of Matthew concludes with the words of Jesus, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” What joy that we have a Savior like that!

Will Webb

15 Years at Lakeside Oh Glorious Day! Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Thoughts of the Christmas season are influenced by movies and television shows that always bring to mind cold weather and snow, a warm fire glowing in a fireplace, family and friends enjoying food and laughter, along with decorations, lights and, of course, gifts. Christians, however, ponder deeper thoughts of the season because of the birth of our Savior. We still enjoy the fun of the holiday season, but it all becomes just another party season without the life-changing impact of Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection. Music plays an important part in celebrating Christmas, and a song that sums it up for us is “One Day!” by John Wilbur Chapman. He wrote the words in 1908, during a sad time of his life. He was an evangelist in the late 1800s and early 1900s, and his second wife had passed away. In his search for answers in his own life for the heartache he felt, it appears he reflected on the life of Christ....not just on his birth, but the sacrifice of the Father in sending his Son, Christ’s life, and the glory to come on his return. Look at the words of the first verse and the chorus:

One day when heaven was filled with his praises One day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin Dwelt among men, my example is he. (Chorus) Living he loved me, dying he saved me Buried he carried my sins far away. Rising he justified, freely forever. One day he’s coming, oh glorious day! What a Christmas song of blessing, and what words to celebrate all year long. Merry Christmas to our church family! Charles & Sharon Ross 29 Years at Lakeside Don't Let Santa Hijack Christmas Wednesday, December 11, 2019 I’d like to talk to the couples with younger children for a moment. Okay, grandparents can look on (and FYI, there are no spoilers in here). You know, we’re living in a culture today where the name of Jesus, and the title Christ, are often deemed offensive. As Jim B. has pointed out to me, sometimes fares best in a hostile environment, but the take away here is that we can no longer assume children will learn anything about the real reason for Christmas from public institutions. They will learn, in spades, that Christmas is about Santa. I’m not here to throw rocks at Santa – he embodies the charitable giving that we are all called to do, even if he does inspire the annual raucous bacchanalia of ripping open an excessive mass of cool toys in neatly wrapped packages. I’m here to say that we can’t let Santa overshadow the reason we have this celebration in the first place. We adults understand the reason, but the children need to be taught what this is about, and that responsibility is largely going to fall on you parents (and grandparents). And believe me when I say you don’t have long to get this done. The days will be gone before you can turn around (see Harry Chapin, Cat’s in the Cradle.).

So, I have a few ideas for you and your kids. I’m sure there are plenty of others. 1. Put up a manger scene (crèche) in a prominent place in your house. Get one that the kids can touch and play with – I’m not talking here about a $3,000 Swarovski set. Help them set it up, and tell them who’s in it, what it’s about, and why we’re putting it up now. 2. Read Christmas stories to them. Christian bookstores have plenty of those, to compete with Frosty and Rudolph. 3. Do they like coloring books? Find books with themes. Be sure to get the silver Crayola for the star! (I’d say glitter and glue, but have you ever tried to get it out of the carpet?) (Continued on next page)

4. Play Christmas music on the stereo. Go download some Christmas carols, and play those, a lot. Ones with the lyrics. Sing along, if that’s not asking too much. 5. Ask them questions about what they know about Jesus and Christmas. This can be a lot of fun, and you get a teachable moment when you hear a completely unorthodox answer. 6. Find a time to read Luke 2:1-20 with the children, when you can capture their attention for the 4 minutes that takes . . . maybe not just before the ripping open of the presents. 7. Don’t fail to bring them to Sunday School and Church services. That’s easy, and someone else will help you teach them about Jesus and why God sent Him to earth. 8. And that Church service thing surely includes the candlelight Christmas service we do at Lakeside (complete with glow sticks for the kids). Will they get the major (or even minor) point of what the pastors say? Nah. But they will see that you got yourself up to go honor Jesus for the celebration of His birthday, and that will mean more than you might think. You know Proverbs 22:6 – “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” It’s probably the biggest part of your job as a parent, and I’m telling you, the clock is ticking. If you don’t do it, someone else will, and that will look like this whole deal is about Santa. Nope, it’s about Jesus Christ.

Jager Smith

23 Years at Lakeside Making Memories Thursday, December 12, 2019 “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Psalm 127:3-4

Every year I get the privilege of talking to Lakeside’s teenagers after their Christmas activities. One question that I ask is, “What was your favorite part of Christmas?” I always expect an answer that includes a list of their favorite gifts. I expect to hear “Xbox, Playstation, Wii, a car, an iPhone, etc.” But, instead of rattling off lists of presents, the students usually share something surprising: stories about their time with family. I hear about how far they traveled, and how annoying their siblings were. I hear about going hunting with their grandfather, or cooking with grandma. What I hear from our students is that the most special memories of Christmas are the ones where they spend time with their family. How are you investing in the memories of your kids this Advent season? The stuff we buy them will break, be outgrown, and be forgotten. But, the memories that they make will be how they remember their holidays with you. Are you willing to invest less in gifts and put more into making memories with your family this Christmas?

Weston Blaha Director of Youth & Family Ministries Happy Birthday, Jesus Friday, December 13, 2019 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11 Reflections from Lakeside Kidz:

“It’s not about the stuff you get. It’s about the best gift God gave us, which is Jesus. It’s about Jesus and our family and our soul.” Hayden Jackson, 9

“My favorite part of the Christmas story is thinking about how the day He was born, everyone in the whole city knew. And they all came to see Him.” Ben Brooks, 9

“Christmas is the birth of Jesus. He was born in a stable in the city of Bethlehem.” Duncan Wilkaitis, 6

“So the shepherds saw a big star and the told them what happened. Then the wise men. Then a LOT of angels came and everyone came to see the baby in a stable. They had enough money for a hotel, but all the hotels were full. Even the animals knew who the baby was!” Lily Coker, 9

“The best part of Christmas is that it’s Jesus’s birthday.” Luke Archer, 7 Biblical Instruction Saturday, December 14, 2019 When we were children, we followed the guidance of our parents. “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” Proverbs: 1:8-10 The enticement of sinners comes in many forms today such as personal, television, and the Internet. Because we live in a wayward world with the temptation of sinners around us, we need to surround ourselves with proper positive instruction. As Proverbs encourages children to follow the instruction of their parents, we as Christians should follow the instruction of our Heavenly Father. We do this by immersing ourselves daily in God’s word, receiving instruction by attending our church services, and taking advantage of various Bible studies offered through our church. “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” Ephesians: 2:18-22 What better way to celebrate and glorify the birth of our Lord and Savior than by reading God’s word and worshipping with fellow believers? As we enter this glorious season of Advent, may we remember that we are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” because God sent his Son to be born, live, and die for us. So, see you in church to receive instruction from our heavenly Father!

Johnny Mardis

13 Years at Lakeside One Door Sunday, December 15, 2019 Third Sunday of Advent I visited the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY, earlier this year, where I was able to go inside a replica of Noah’s ark. The size and scale of the Ark is impressive. However, I was blown away by the intricate details that had never crossed my mind. How was the Ark lighted? How did Noah and his family collect, store, and provide clean water for themselves and the animals? How was food stored and cooked? How was the air filtered? (They were, basically, living in a zoo and zoos aren’t the most pleasant-smelling venues.) The Ark Encounter discusses all these questions and so many more. The most amazing detail that visiting the Ark introduced to me was the door of the Ark. There was only one way to enter the Ark. In Genesis 6:16, the Bible reads, “Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side.” God commanded Noah to build the Ark as a means of salvation from God’s impending judgment. Noah and his family and all the animals would enter the Ark through one door, the same door, the door of their salvation. You and I have also been offered one door to salvation. In :9 Jesus proclaims, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved...”

Just as God saved Noah and his family from the flood, God provided a way of salvation for us in the form of a tiny baby, who we celebrate during the Christmas season. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10-11

The door of the ark replica has a faint white impression of a cross splayed across the center. I stood back in awe and gazed at the cross and wondered how I had missed the symbolism of the one door. The one door of the Ark provided the path for Noah and his family to be saved and the tiny babe in the manger is the one door for us to experience salvation in Christ Jesus. Christie Bennett 2019-20 Women’s Council President 8 Years at Lakeside Great Things in Small Packages Monday, December 16, 2019 Regardless of the commercials showing new cars covered with red bows, Christmas, in many ways, is made special by the small things: throwing your loose change in the Salvation Army kettle, pulling out the one little ornament that has survived being suspended on a pine tree year after year, and the surprise of a card from a long-forgotten friend. One of the small things that we have enjoyed for years as members of the Lakeside family is filling a shoe box with small treats for a child overseas as part of Operation Christmas Child. It has always been our hope as a church that these boxes would make a difference, so I would like to share the story of what happened with one of the thousands of boxes delivered every year by Operation Christmas Child. Liva was tired of being sick. The 10-year-old Madagascar boy had suffered from stomach ailments for years. His parents, who were not wealthy to begin with, had spent lots of money on doctor’s visits and medication. Yet Liva did not get better. Sadly, Liva’s parents were running low on faith too. Their prayers had seemingly gone unanswered. The church they attended offered no satisfactory solutions either. Angry and broke, the parents made a rash decision. They left the church, left the village, and left their son in the care of relatives. Operation Christmas Child delivered shoe boxes to the children in Liva’s village a short time later. The gifts of school supplies and clothes helped meet his needs and brought him much joy. Best of all, the box made the little boy feel special and loved. His relatives contacted the boys parents to tell them the news. “Something wonderful has happened here,” they said “and Liva got a gift too!” The curious parents came to the village to experience the excitement for themselves. When they saw child after child toting the colorful boxes, the couple was moved and convicted. “This is love!” they exclaimed. Even more astonishing was to learn the boxes were gifts from people they had never met. “If strangers can express such kindness, how can we not show love to our own son?” they reasoned. “We must take him back.” Liva’s parents moved back to the village, seeking forgiveness from God and their son. They also returned to church and are now actively involved. And they praised God for people they didn’t know who showed them unconditional love through an Operation Christmas Child shoe box. Over 2,000 years ago, the whole world was impacted by another seemingly small thing: a tiny baby born in a stable who would bring salvation to his people.

James Pullen Reprinted from 2011 21 Years at Lakeside O Holy Night Tuesday, December 17, 2019

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

When Maddie and I reflect on the Christmas season, this scripture comes to mind. We are filled with joy knowing we are getting closer to celebrating the birth of Jesus. We also think about one of our favorite hymns, O Holy Night.

O Holy Night O holy night the stars are brightly shining He knows our need It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth To our weakness is no stranger Long lay the world in sin and error pining Behold your King Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth Before Him lowly bend A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices Behold your King For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn Before Him lowly bend Fall on your knees Truly He taught us to love one another O hear the angel voices His law is love and His gospel is peace O night divine Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother O night when Christ was born And in His name all oppression shall cease O night O holy night Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we O night divine Let all within us praise His holy name Led by the light of faith serenely beaming Christ is the Lord With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand O praise His name forever So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming His power and glory Here came the wise men from Orient land Evermore proclaim The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger His power and glory In all our trials born to be our Friend Evermore proclaim

Glory to God in the highest and Merry Christmas to all! Angela & Maddie Jackson

5 Years at Lakeside Rejoice with Great Joy Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the people, but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Isaiah 60:1-3

Before there was anything except the perfect harmony of eternal love, God-began as cells divided in a virgin’s womb to form a baby who would hold within himself complete divinity and complete humanity. This baby’s name was Jesus. He had come to rescue us. God hinted at His birth through Moses, David, and the prophets. When the time was close, announcements were made with angelic visitations, dreams, and a certain astronomical event. I want us to think about that event. Let us look forward…perhaps as much as a year and a half after Jesus is born. The little Messiah is babbling his first words or taking his first toddling steps. Meanwhile a peculiar group of observers makes its way from the East to . The Scriptures call these travelers Magi or wise men. The exact timeline is not clear. It’s unlikely that the Magi showed up at the manger on the same night as the shepherds. Matthew lets us know, however, that the still resides in Bethlehem at the time of the Magi’s arrival. The traditional carol inaccurately says, “We three kings of Orient are… bearing gifts we traverse afar…” These men were not royalty. They might have been courtesans or servants to royalty. They certainly had turned their attention to the birth of a king in when they observed the appearance of a new star in the sky. Perhaps this was a supernova or a perfectly timed planetary conjunction. Maybe it was a miracle and God simply added a new light to the sky. The point is that God directed the natural elements of the cosmos to announce the birth of the King of Israel. The Magi got the message loud and clear. Their part in the story is ironic. For it would not be Jewish priests and scholars who would bring the birth announcement to King Herod, but rather these foreign heathens who had more in common with Harry Potter than the clergy. They studied the stars as astrologers. Think horoscope not telescope. We have in our minds that there were three of these wise men, mostly because there are three gifts presented. (And three figurines fit nicely in our nativity scenes when we’re arranging the shepherds, magi, angels, and farm animals around the little ceramic manger.) The reality, though, for traveling such a distance with expensive cargo probably required an entourage. Imagine the surprise of Mary and Joseph at such an arrival! Mary and Joseph are shocked. The Magi are ecstatic. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that “When the Magi saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” Note the repetition here. That’s a lot of joy! At best, these men are philosophers. At worst, they are sorcerers. Why is their emotional response important enough to be canonized in Holy Scripture? Other kings had likely been born in their own lifetimes. But this new star announced not only the birth of a monarch but also the arrival of the King of all kings. With the Magi and their skyward focused observations, we see God leading the nations to Himself. Every tribe. Every tongue. The Gentiles. Us! This is wonderful news, and like the Magi, my brothers and sisters, we must rejoice exceedingly with great joy!

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Corinthians 4:6

Chris Phillips Director of Worship Ministries The Tears of God Thursday, December 19, 2019 “And she gave birth to her first born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

The Advent story is the most familiar, most often told story in the world. Even in the context of biblical prophecy, it is a strange story comprised of unusual events; yet, it speaks to the heart like no other in human history. The baby born under austere circumstances grows into a man who shares with us the brokenness and suffering that is an inevitable reality in a sinful world. Our Heavenly Father knows that suffering is not an intellectual or philosophical exercise. In the lowest and darkest moments of our lives, we need someone, not something, to comfort and reassure us of the Fatherʼs love. As we, in our suffering and despair cry out like the Psalmist, “How long O Lord” He answers by sending the most unexpected Savior. This baby born in a manger never knew sin. He came in love to a hurting world, but yet He was rejected, ridiculed, scorned, and ultimately crucified by those He had come to save. His Father raised Him from the grave and made Him the propitiation for the sins of those who would believe. One writer has described the response of God to the sin and suffering of His people as that of “shedding tears”. This baby,,, lying in a manger was the Tears of God shed for the sin and suffering of mankind. Thanks be to God for this glorious gift of love and reassurance!

Richard McClendon

11 Years at Lakeside Christmas Tradition Friday, December 20, 2019 “Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.” Philippians 2:2 More Reflections from Lakeside Kidz: “My favorite Christmas tradition is gathering around the table with our family on Christmas Day. We get to visit with everybody and share special moments.” Ann Minor, 9 “One of my favorite things to do with my family is hide the presents and find them on Christmas morning.” Lily Stewart, 9 “My favorite Christmas tradition is decorating the tree. We spend like 45 minutes putting stuff on it. I love the one (ornament) I made. It’s a reindeer. We get a real live tree.” Levi Archer, 9 “Every , we go to my Mamaw’s house and eat a lot of different foods and exchange gifts. That’s my favorite part.” Maggie Ford, 9 “We go to my Uncle’s house in Clinton. That’s my dad’s twin brother. I get to see all my grandparents. My aunt who lives far away sends presents in the mail to my other aunt’s house and we get to go there and open those!” Sarah Peyton Ware, 9 “The best part of Christmas is when we go to my grandparents’ house to celebrate. I get to unwrap presents with my cousin Jesse. It makes me sad that I don’t get to see my older cousins. They are 18 and 19, teenagers. You know, teenagers just have a lot to do.” Kyle Gaymes, 9 Family Traditions Saturday, December 21, 2019 Family traditions all start with one special day. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, as his birthday at Christmas. This day became the change the world needed to save us all from sin. Mary and Joseph became parents for the first time, and as a parent myself, it’s the best thing in the world. :21 says, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” I am a mom of 5 boys and 1 girl. As a large family, trying to get us all in one place is usually a hard thing to do. Christmas is when we all somehow make it work so we get to see each other and can all be in the same place. It is what we look forward to. We have sons that live here and then in three other states as well and this is the hardest part of trying to get everyone together. To me, Christmas is a time that brings family together. When you know that your family will be together for even this one day, it makes it the best day in the world to a parent. You get to be with each other and not only celebrate as a family but also celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. My family came together as one almost 18 years ago when my husband and I were married. We then brought five boys together as one family. We thought the hardest part of our marriage would be to get all five boys to get along with each other, and to live together under one roof. We were and still to this day are surprised that they are the closest brothers. They look up to each other and truly care about each other. As a parent, having this to happen seems like the hardest thing to do when they are young, with the ages being from the oldest 15 to the youngest 4. Not only did our family became one the day Mike and I were married, but we have never said the word “stepchildren” because in our eyes they are all our children. They have been together for so long now they call each other brothers and to us it means that we did something right raising them. Five years ago, we got a phone call that my great niece needed a place to live due to family problems back home. I looked at my husband and told him what was going on and he immediately asked when should we leave? We told our boys what was going on because this was going to be a change for them as well. They said the same thing, let’s go get her. Now we have a daughter and the boys have enjoyed having her as their sister. As I have said before, getting a large family together is hard to do, but it is also the best thing for us to do as a family. We thank God every day that we are able to take care of 6 kids as a loving, combined family. Sometimes, it’s a Christmas miracle when it happens. I just hope that as we all get ready for Christmas we remember the reason for the season. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 Becky Poole 3 Years at Lakeside I love Christmas Sunday, December 22, 2019 Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas is my most favorite holiday! I love putting up the tree and remembering where each and every ornament came from. Each year we try to get a new ornament for our kids that will represent something special in their life that year. The boys each have an area on the tree that they hang their own ornaments, and I love to hear them as they get them out of the box, “Oh, I remember this.” When our granddaughter comes in the door and sees the decorations, her face lights up and she can spend hours looking at all of the different things. I love the lights and how they can transform a plain house into a thing of beauty. I love to see the joy my kids get in choosing gifts for one another. I love searching for a gift that will bring joy to someone. There is so much joy in Christmas! Well, that is how it is at our house. Have I been sucked into the secularism of Christmas? Are all of the things that I love about Christmas contrary to the real meaning of Christmas? Let’s see. The Christmas tree is an evergreen tree (or a representation of one). All of the greenery used at Christmas is evergreen. This is representative of God. He never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The tree represents the cross that Jesus died on. The ornaments that we “hang” on the tree and the greenery that we “hang” are representative of Jesus hanging on the cross. The red of the poinsettias and holly represent the blood that was shed for us. The lights represent Jesus, the Light of the world. The gifts we give one another represent the gifts the Wise Men brought to Jesus at His birth and the wonderful gift of Jesus that we were given by our Heavenly Father. Is it any wonder that Christmas is my favorite holiday? Without the gift of Christmas, there would never have been a cross. Without the cross, there would be no hope. Thank you, God, for Christmas!

Jackie Burrell Reprinted from 2012

26 Years at Lakeside The Twelve Days of Christmas Monday, December 23, 2019 “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40:8 From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol, “Twelve Days of Christmas,” as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning–the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of the church. Each element in the carol is a code for a religious reality which the children could remember: The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ. The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love. The four calling birds were the four of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The five golden rings recalled the Torah (orLaw ), the first five books of the . The six geese-a-laying stood for the six days of creation. Seven swans a-swimming represented the seven-fold gifts of the Holy Spirit. The eight maids a-milking were the eight . Nine ladies dancing? These were the nine fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5). The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments. Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples. Finally, the twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostle’s Creed. Beth Perry Reprinted from 2017 44 Years at Lakeside Feliz Navidad Tuesday, December 24, 2018 Christmas Eve “Now you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Ahora bien, ustedes son el cuerpo de Cristo, y cada uno individualmente un miembro de el.” 1 Corintios 12:27 Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy (NBLH) Christmas Eve 2017, Rico and I found ourselves home without kids, our grown children off doing other things. My brother, Reeves, was here from his home in Brooklyn, NY, for the holidays and it was just the three of us. Our dear friends Ramiro and Alicia invited us to their home to celebrate and we were excited to go. Alicia is from a very poor, rural area in Mexico and her cooking is AMAZING. I don’t know how she does it, but in her tiny apartment kitchen she turns out handmade tortillas, incredible authentic pollo adobado con chipotle, and huge beautifully decorated tres leches cakes. At every celebration their little home is full of friends and family, everyone speaking Spanish over the others, children everywhere and so much love and laughter. So off we go on Christmas Eve, just the three of us. Little did I know this would be no regular celebration. This was an authentic Mexican Christmas Eve tradition called a “posada.” I couldn’t help but notice the family’s Nativity display. Unlike our American displays, this one looked like a jungle scene, greenery and every type of animal you could imagine, and in the center a large empty space. I wondered where the baby Jesus was. As the clock approached midnight, a hush descended; all the children gathered with the adults and we sat in a large circle. Alicia began to read from a large prayer book and everyone responded. From each family represented, the husband and wife stood and each couple held a baby doll wrapped in special handmade blankets. For almost an hour, Alicia recited prayers and scripture. Everyone present, even the children, responded by memory. I guess you would liken it to a responsive litany. During this time, each couple literally rocked their baby Jesus, the husband holding one end of the blanket and the wife the other. Everything was in Spanish, but I didn’t need to speak the language to understand. This was a solemn, beautiful, reverent experience, thanking God for sending this Hope, the One, the Light, the Christ Child. As the prayers wound down, each husband walked the circle of guests, holding their baby Jesus out to be kissed on the forehead. Then, each baby Jesus was placed gently and lovingly into that jungle nativity surrounded by zebras and lambs, dogs and elephants, giraffes and birds. And then the party started! We ate traditional Christmas foods, tostados with goat, and tamales. There was a piñata that showered treats on the children, goodie bags full of Mexican candy for everyone, and so much joy and laughter. Experiencing the posada was a true gift, a memory I will always cherish. Amy Cardenal Director of Lakeside Preschool & Children’s Ministries Christmas Eve at Lakeside

Tuesday, December 24, 2019 5:00 pm Abr aham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom JESUS was born, who is called CHRIST Matt. 1:1-16