More Than A Manger Story

December 2024 

 

 

One of most delightful and frustrating emotions is that of anticipation. 

 

Anticipation is always about a future event or circumstance which promises something really good or a dread of something really bad. 

 

This is the first Sunday in Advent - the very theme of this 4-week season is built upon anticipation. 

The period of Advent is a time of dual reflection. 

 

For believers, we remember the historical significance of Christ's first coming. We couple that with the hopeful anticipation of His eventual return and second coming. 

 

The underlying themes of this season of Advent are the hope from Jesus, the way of Jesus, the joy of Jesus and the peace of Jesus. Today our Advent theme is Hope. Derived from the Latin word adventus, the term advent signifies a sense of "coming" or "arrival," reflecting a feeling of anticipation. 

 

Some churches like ours choose to recognize Advent by lighting candles on an Advent wreath. Over the next four weeks, in our new series “More Than A Manger Story”, we will seek to see with clearer eyes the child born in a manger that changed the course of the universe even before He was born. 

 

So go ahead and decorate your house, shop for your loved ones and enjoy the sweet aromas of the season, but also open your hearts more deeply this year for the Reason for the Season.  

 

 

Join us live and in person or on Facebook Live!

 

Live - Rose Free Methodist Church 9:30am ET

Live - Alton Free Methodist Church 11:00am ET

Facebook Live:

www.facebook.com/mike.cogswell.5  9:30am ET

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Mike

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