December 12, 2024

News from Isabel Acheson for issue of Dec. 12, 2024

Somerset Bible Chapel 

Between a winter storm moving into the area overnight and people dealing with the seasonal coughs and colds, some of the regulars were missing. 

The music team was Jamie and Brianna Small with Kevin Friesen assisting. Rick Ross led the Prayer Focus. Al Dyck served as usher. Rejean Picard did the announcements.

For the second Sunday of Advent, Carol Picard read a brief commentary on Peace while the second candle of the Advent wreath was lit and the scripture reading from Romans15:4-9.  

The music for the worship service included “God So Loved”, “Joyful, Joyful (You are the one who saves)”, “Joy to the World”, “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and, in closing, “Away In a Manger”. 

The guest speaker was Pastor Myron Friesen from the Macgregor Westend Community Church. His sermon “Gifts of Christmas” from John 1:14 gave an overview of the first chapter of the Gospel of John. 

We celebrate Christmas as the Birthday of Jesus. What did He get? He got humanity, a physical body. “The Word became flesh” the simplest description of the Incarnation. In him all the fullness of God dwelt in bodily form. 

“He dwelt among us.” The word used implies “pitching a tent”. The people of the first century would understand that; in terms of the Tabernacle that was the foreshadowing of the Temple of Jerusalem. A place that represents the presence of God. Jesus was approachable. 

What did Jesus bring with him? “Glory as of the only Son of the Father” Jesus puts the glory in Christmas. He was full of Grace and Truth. Pastor Myron noted that it is hard to live both of those virtues. People tend to lean to one or the other. John’s gospel has many examples of situations where Jesus demonstrated both Grace and Truth. 

The sermon closed with prayer. The Benediction was Ephesians 3:20-21. 

After the usual Sunday Pot Luck Lunch a group from the congregation did a program of Christmas carols at Somerset Manor and at Swan Lake Seniors Home. 

The annual Sunday School Christmas program is set for next Sunday, Dec. 15 at 6:30 at the church with refreshments to follow.   

Monthly bulletins and previous reports are available on the website www.somersetbiblechapel.com.