Ivory Palaces

Christmas is a beautiful unique time. Last year my preaching theme through the advent season was, “Suddenly, Bethlehem!” Covering prophesies about the little town of Bethlehem and the excitement of the events of that first Christmas. We looked at the Luke story and spent time with Zechariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Mary, Joseph, the inn keeper and, of course, Jesus, we experienced angels, shepherds and wisemen. We intertwined drama and special music with preaching to make it all come alive.

This year I am preaching about the things that Jesus endured and how we are called to endure. It is worth it to hang in there and keep proclaiming why we celebrate Christmas.

This coming Sunday , like last year, , we will have the annual “Christmas SPAW”
(Service of Praise and Worship) in the December 23rd morning service. A wonderful mixture of testimonies and music to make the Christmas story come alive.

A Christmas Hymn:

My Lord has garments so wondrous fine,
And myrrh their texture fills;
Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine
With joy my being thrills.

Out of the ivory palaces,
Into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love
Made my Savior go.

His life had also its sorrows sore,
For aloes had a part;
And when I think of the cross He bore,
My eyes with teardrops start.

Out of the ivory palaces,
Into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love
Made my Savior go.

His garments too were in cassia dipped,
With healing in a touch;
Each time my feet in some sin have slipped,
He took me from its clutch.

Out of the ivory palaces,
Into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love
Made my Savior go.

In garments glorious He will come,
To open wide the door;
And I shall enter my heav’nly home,
To dwell forevermore.
Out of the ivory palaces,
Into a world of woe,
Only His great eternal love
Made my Savior go.

Take your place in the Christmas story today.