OAKLAND IOWA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • HOME
  • ACTIVITIES
  • MONTHLY LIST OF EVENTS
  • FROM THE PASTOR
  • DAILY BIBLE READINGS
  • ANNOUNCEMENTS and BIRTHDAYS
    • ATTENDANCE MATTERS 2019
  • WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS
  • PRAYER CONCERNS
  • RECORDED SERVICES (WARRIOR WORSHIP)
  • NEWSLETTERS and UNITED METHODIST NEWS
  • CONTACT INFO
712-482-5530

THE PASTOR’S CORNER

12/7/2011

0 Comments

 
_Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ,

When you come to church on December 4, you will notice some changes in our church. That is because on November 27, the season of Advent began. While January is the beginning of the secular calendar year, Advent is the beginning of the "church year." Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, which is the Sunday nearest November 30, and ends on Christmas Eve, December 24.

The word "Advent" means "coming" or "arrival." We await the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and we look forward with anticipation to the return of Christ, the Second Advent. Now we live in the presence of our Lord and Savior who has come, is here, and will come again.

You will see in the front of the church the Advent wreath. It is a circular evergreen wreath with five candles, four around the wreath and one in the center. The circle of the wreath reminds us of God himself -our Heavenly Father’s eternity and endless love, which has no beginning or end. The green of the wreath signifies life, the eternal life we have through Jesus the Christ. The candles remind us of the light of God coming to us through the birth of Jesus. The four candles around the wreath represent the four Sundays of Advent and the center candle is called the Christ candle representing Christmas Day, the birthday of God’s Son, the Savior of the world!

As we join together for worship this Advent season, take some time to look around you. Look at the changes in the church. Look also at the person in front of you, the person in back of you, the person to your right and the person to your left. Shake their hands, smile at them ,welcome them in Christ’s love. Enjoy being in the presence of God and worshiping with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Through the Spirit of God, may the love of Christ and the love of one another change us, too, so that we can more and more reflect the light of Christ.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Wishing you a "life changing" Advent Season and a very Blessed Merry Christmas!

And All God’s Children Said,

"―Amen."
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Dennis Hopes

    Picture

    Archives

    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Categories

    All
    April
    Bible
    Blog
    Church
    Corner
    Easter
    From The Pastor
    Graduation
    Hoff
    January
    Karen
    Karen Hoff
    March 2012
    May
    Methodist
    Newsletter
    Oakland
    Oakland United Methodist Church
    Oakland Unted Methodist Church
    Pastor
    Pastor Karen
    Pastor Karen Hoff
    Pastor's
    Pastor's Corner
    School
    United
    Vocation

    RSS Feed

click here to call
church office:
​​712-482-5530
HOME     ACVITIES     CALENDAR     FROM THE PASTOR     DAILY BIBLE READING GUIDE     

ANNOUNCEMENTS    WORSHIP VOLUNTEERS     PRAYER CONCERNS      WARRIOR WORSHIP

NEWSLETTERS/UNITED METHODIST NEWS    CONTACT INFO