Wednesday, December 25

This is how our eastern sky looked on Christmas morning – about 7:00 AM.

We enjoyed coffee and relaxed until it was time to leave for our 9:30 AM church service.

Notes from Christmas Morning Worship

Opening Devotions by Ron Copenhaver – based on Matthew 1 and 2.

“Wise men fell on their knees more than 2,000 years ago, so we should do the same.” He invited us to also be wise men and women – and asked us to kneel in worship and praise.

Minister: Mervin Groff

He opened by reading this poem. (There are a few versions, so this may not be the exact one he read.)

Ready for Christmas
A revised version of the poem by: Alice Hansche Mortenson

“Ready for Christmas,” she said with a sigh
As she gave a last touch to the gifts piled high.
Wearily she rocked for a moment and read
Till soon her eyes closed and she nodded her head.

Then quietly did speak a voice in her dream,
“Ready for Christmas; what ere do you mean?
Ready for Christmas when only last week
You wouldn’t acknowledge your friend on the street?

Ready for Christmas, while holding a grudge?
Perhaps you had better let God be the judge.
Tell me; how can the Saviour come and abide
In a heart that is stubborn and so filled with pride?

Ready for Christmas, when only today
A beggar lad came and you turned him away
Without even a smile to show that you cared?
The little he asked; it could have been spared.

Ready for Christmas, you’ve worked it is true
Doing only the things that you wanted to do.
Ready for Christmas, your efforts are small.
Child, you are not ready for Christmas at all!”.

She awoke with a start and a cry of despair.
“My heart, not my home, is what I need to prepare.
For much more than the giving of gifts, and a tree
Is a heart that’s swept clean by Lord Jesus, I see!

O, Father, forgive me for being so blind.
I should have prepared for the Saviour to find
Clearing doubt from my heart then inviting Him in.
Now I’m ‘Ready for Christmas’, for there’s room at the inn!”
 

What Does Christmas Mean to You?

Galatians 4:4 – Jesus came in the fullness of time.

We may not know the exact day He was born, or some other details concerning the life of Jesus – but we KNOW from scripture that He came in the fullness of time.

In our world today, Christmas is a busy time. Busses, planes, trains and cars are filled with people going somewhere for their Christmas celebration. However, many have no idea of the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas means we can now have Jesus as a companion for life.

A Proper Christmas includes:

Plenty of Room for Jesus

Make sure you don’t have a “no vacancy” sign at your heart’s door for Jesus and His teachings.

Worship of Jesus

God can take a broken life and change it into something beautiful.

Grace of Giving

Is each of us giving our talents, money, and gifts to Him.

Following Merv’s message we knelt and sang the chorus to, “O, Come Let Us Adore Him” before closing prayer.

Next we went to the Fellowship Hall where our five youngest ministers, their wives and children served Moravian Sugar Cake and drink (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water) to everyone. Oh yum!

The six oldest ministers – most retired from the regular preaching schedule – got to enjoy the morning with the rest of us. 🙂

When I finished looking at these pictures I realized that I didn’t have a good picture of Keri Cassel (Jon’s wife). She is serving hot chocolate in the center of this picture – facing the camera in the dark dress. Jon is next to her (partly hidden).

Gloria Martin (Dustin) in the kitchen cutting a cake. Keri Cassel (Jon) and Denise (Glendon) have their backs to the camera while serving those in the fellowship hall.

Moravian Sugar Cake, it is a sweet, yeast-raised coffee cake, which usually includes mashed potatoes. The topping includes brown sugar, butter and cinnamon.

It is extra delicious when served fresh and warm. The scent of this and the coffee traveled through our church halls.

I understand Brenda Copenhaver (Ron) oversaw the Moravian Sugar Cake project. Gloria Martin (Dustin) and Shawn Wenger (Dave) in the background. Dustin, seemed to have evaded my camera except for a glimpse of him behind the poinsettia.

Adults and children enjoyed this special Christmas treat.

Putting goodies in their hot chocolate.

Ron Copenhaver (minister), Dwight Fahnestock, and Glendon Zook (our newest minister).

Jon Cassel (minister) Garth Shenk, Austin Cassel, and Glendon Zook (minister) setting up another row of tables.

Dave Wenger, left, (moderating minister) welcomed everyone into the fellowship hall.

Denise Zook giving Aubrey Cassel a spatula. Glendon is partially hidden behind Denise.

Those who didn’t have any lunch plans had plenty of time to stay and visit.

It was a delightfully, delicious time of fellowship.