2016 Christmas Worship Guide

Jesus, the gift of God incarnate
By Chaplain & Director of Volunteer Services The Christian Village Ryan Jay Edgecombe Pastor Broadwell Christian Church

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[December 19, 2016]  I have a simple Christmas Proclamation for you this holiday season: We have a God who is present with us in our pain, and we have a God who can do something about our pain. What a fantastic promise!

As Chaplain at The Christian Village I interact with a lot of men and women who are experiencing pain. What is it like for our residents to live with the pain of arthritis every single day? How do the family members of our residents cope with that deeper pain that forms when they see their mom or dad getting older and weaker and more dependent on others?

When one of our residents passes away, how many realize that our staff are experiencing real pain as they are confronted with the reality of death and that this person they provided care to, and cared for, is gone from their sight?

Pain is part of our reality whether we live in a retirement community or anywhere else. As long as we experience change, we will experience loss and grief and pain… that’s just reality.

But once again I want to remind you of that joyful reality that I mentioned just a few sentences ago: We have a God who is present with us in our pain, and we have a God who can do something about our pain.

Through the incarnation of the Son of God at Christmas, God is WITH US… He is present with us through the good times and the bad times and the in-between times. This baby born of Mary, laughs with us and cries with us, and embraces us and weeps with us, and will not run away from us, but will be and is present with us through it all.

Jesus will not and has never ran away from your pain. I think we need to know that. I also think we need to know that God can do something about our pain and Christmas meets that need too.

This baby grew up and as an adult was nailed to a cross where he took our pain and brokenness and sinfulness upon Himself. He served as the complete sacrifice for the sins of the world. Through his atonement we have assurance that the 'People of God' won’t be in pain forever… healing has come!

On behalf of The Christian Village and Broadwell Christian Church and The Edgecombe Family, I wish you a Merry Christmas! Thanks for being a part of our family.

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Read all the articles in our new
2016 Christmas Worship Guide

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
What would you expect in a Messiah Savior? 4
Finding the good stuff at Christmas 6
Where resides the Christmas spirit 8
A wordLESS Christmas 11
Christmas - God's reminder of miracles and hope! 13
God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven 16
"And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was stirred up saying, "Who is he?" 19
Jesus, the gift of God Incarnate 21
Our 'Worship Guide' 23
Ugly Christmas Sweater 24
A Father's love for his children; a Father's love for you through His Son 26
"Expectations!" 28
Church Worship Schedules 30

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