Advent 2008
Advent is coming, the first season of the church year. It comes before Christmas because the church looks towards Christmas to get ready.
From a Christian perspective, mankind's basic problem separated people from God. The problem was sin. God's answer to sin was Jesus Christ, Who would lay down His life to pay the price of sin.
Mankind "bought" into sin in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve chose Satan's way instead of God's. But they could not pay the price, the ramifications of sin. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to accomplish what no man in Adam's line could accomplish. Only Jesus could provide a perfect sacrifice for mankind's sin, a "living sacrifice" whose effect would pay the cost of salvation and restore mankind to its Heavenly Father. Adam was the "first man."
It wasn't so long ago that the ad was all over the place: "I would walk a mile for a camel." Cigarettes are not advertised like that anymore. Here, Mike Johnson sits atop a real one-hump camel in Eilat, Israel. We often associate camels with the three wise men and the Christmas season. Each Wednesday during Advent, Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill will look at God's timing in bringing Christ into the world 2000 years ago. Did you know that camels were not a major transportation animal in the Mid-East until maybe 3200 years ago, perhaps brought into Israel by the Assyrians? Friends and neighbors are invited to Zion to share a light "soup and sandwich supper" at 6 PM followed by Evening Vespers at 7 PM for the next three weeks. Pastor Dave may talk about camels and lots more concerning God's preparation for the first Christmas.
- Click to enlarge.
The Bible teaches that "the wages of sin is death." The wages of sin had to be "covered." We still use that expression, "covering" for another. God by His Holy Spirit became the Father of the Second Adam, a Man capable of being mankind's "propitiation" for sin. Propitiation is "Bible-talk" for that covering of sin by Jesus Christ. The "Atonement" could not come without Jesus, and Advent looks forward to the birth of the only One Who could reconcile a sinful man to a Holy God.
During the Advent Season Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill invites its friends and neighbors in Baldwin to a "light soup and sandwich supper" each Wednesday at 6 PM during the Season followed by a brief Vespers Service. Pastor Dave will explore with the congregation on these evenings, December 3, 10, and 17, how God readied the world for the coming of Jesus Christ and His ministry to us 2000 years ago. The last Wednesday of Advent is technically Christmas Eve, celebrated by many Christians as the beginning of Christmas, which is the practice of Zion Lutheran Church of Silverhill.
2008 Advent Schedule
At Zion Lutheran Church
Sat November 29- Decorate Church 9 AM
Sun November 30 ~ First Sunday in Advent- Sunday School 9 AM
- Sunday Worship 10 AM
- Hanging of the Greens Service
- Lighting the First Advent Candle
Wed December 3 ~ First Midweek in Advent
- Soup/Sandwich Supper 6 PM
- Advent Vespers 7 PM
Fri December 5- Silverhill Christmas Parade and Christmas in the Park 6 PM
- Zion Open House 6 PM
Sun December 7- Sunday School 9 AM
- Sunday Worship 10 AM
- Lighting the Second Advent Candle
- Communion
Tue December 9- Men's 710 Breakfast 7:10 AM
Wed December 10- Soup/Sandwich Supper 6 PM
- Advent Vespers 7 PM
Sat December 13- Women's Christmas Tea 10 AM
- in the Fellowship Hall
Sun December 14- Sunday School 9 AM
- Sunday Worship 10 AM
- Lighting the Third Advent Candle
Wed December 17- Soup/Sandwich Supper 6 PM
- Advent Vespers 7 PM
Sun December 21- Sunday School 9 AM
- Sunday Worship 10 AM
- Lighting the Last Advent Candle
- Communion
Wed December 24 ~ Christmas Eve
- Candle Light Service 6 PM
Thu December 25 ~ Christmas Day
Sun December 28- No Sunday School
- Sunday Worship 10 AM
- Cake and Coffee
Wed December 31- No Service
Church Decorating
Hanging of the Christmas Greens
at Zion Lutheran Church
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