David Garibaldi: Jesus Painting from Thriving Churches on Vimeo.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
TELLING IT YOUR WAY -- THE NATIVITY-- THE BIRTH OF JESUS
When I did a study of the book Christmas Is Not Your Birthday by Mike Slaughter, I invited all of the participants to take the time to tell the story of the Nativity to someone, their grandchildren perhaps, using a Nativity set as a prop perhaps. This video is a sample of what those grandchildren might do themselves if you told them the story. Terrific. The kid's accents are New Zealand Accents. The story is universal. I love the Sheep!!!
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
December 11, 2011 "WHO'S GETTING THE MESSAGE?"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious God, Our Creator, on this glorious Sabbath day, we come into your presence offering our thanks and praise. Warm our hearts to your presence as we seek to recognize your face in the faces of those around us. We confess a sense of distance from the message of the Advent season, perhaps because waiting has not been our strong suit. And, too, O Lord, we can get so caught up with the dizzying expectations of all-things-Christmas, that your true message for humankind gets lost in the shuffle. O God, while we are busy being here and being there, for this celebration or that benefit, or this concert, or that party, remind us to look up; to search for your promise in the stars, the promise of Emmanuel who will most certainly come to us. Amen.
STEWARDSHIP INVITATION
What is Good News to you? Is it that the Stock Market is booming? Is it news from your Doctor that your blood pressure is under control? Is it the news that your child was accepted to the college of his or her choice? The Good News to be heard, received, embraced and proclaimed throughout the world, is the true manna from heaven. It is not news that caters to your individual wishes, wants and needs, rather it is the Good News of Luxuriant Grace, Infinite Love, and boundless Hope promised, poured out and revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Now, Pass it on.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, pour out your blessing upon the gifts we offer with cheerful hearts. As we continue to ponder the meaning of the Advent Season, we pray that your message of salvation and purpose will be fully revealed to us. Our tithes and offerings are meant to honor you. But equally important are the gifts of our time, participation, prayer, service and witness. We will give the gift of time and presence, this season, to someone in need. We will do this to honor the coming of the Christ Child, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Glorious God, Our Creator, on this glorious Sabbath day, we come into your presence offering our thanks and praise. Warm our hearts to your presence as we seek to recognize your face in the faces of those around us. We confess a sense of distance from the message of the Advent season, perhaps because waiting has not been our strong suit. And, too, O Lord, we can get so caught up with the dizzying expectations of all-things-Christmas, that your true message for humankind gets lost in the shuffle. O God, while we are busy being here and being there, for this celebration or that benefit, or this concert, or that party, remind us to look up; to search for your promise in the stars, the promise of Emmanuel who will most certainly come to us. Amen.
STEWARDSHIP INVITATION
What is Good News to you? Is it that the Stock Market is booming? Is it news from your Doctor that your blood pressure is under control? Is it the news that your child was accepted to the college of his or her choice? The Good News to be heard, received, embraced and proclaimed throughout the world, is the true manna from heaven. It is not news that caters to your individual wishes, wants and needs, rather it is the Good News of Luxuriant Grace, Infinite Love, and boundless Hope promised, poured out and revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. Now, Pass it on.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, pour out your blessing upon the gifts we offer with cheerful hearts. As we continue to ponder the meaning of the Advent Season, we pray that your message of salvation and purpose will be fully revealed to us. Our tithes and offerings are meant to honor you. But equally important are the gifts of our time, participation, prayer, service and witness. We will give the gift of time and presence, this season, to someone in need. We will do this to honor the coming of the Christ Child, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
December 4, 2011 "WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?"
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
To thee, now high Exalted One, we lift our voices in praise. Indeed, it is right and a good and joyful thing, to praise your Holy Name; for there is no one who has known the universe from its beginning, besides you. You are the first, the beginning, the starting spark of all that is; how can we not carry expressions of awe upon our faces? Yet, O Lord, you did more than create us; you loved us. Your willing compassion, mercy and forgiveness are neither, easy to bestow, nor, superficial in scope. We know, by the person and presence of Jesus Christ, that these qualities are real beyond our reckoning, real beyond our understanding, and real beyond our awareness. Wake us up, O God, when we doze off, spiritually; when we let our pride get in the way of fulfilling our commitment to you, and your commandment to love, as you have loved us. We are made glad by the cheerful moods folks share during the holiday season. Let gladness for your presence in our lives, cheer us all the days of our lives. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.
STEWARDSHIP INVITATION
This year’s, Neiman Marcus Fantasy Christmas gifts include: Dancing Fountains for your home, from the company called WET = $1,000,000; a Hacker-Craft Speedboat =$250,000; a Weekend for two at Stone Barns Farm in New York =$20,000; the Dream Folly Backyard Yurt = $75,000; the Tom Burr Table Tennis Table =$45,000 ( Is there a relatives discount?); the Johnny Walker Private Scotch Tasting = $5000.00; a trip to Europe with 9 friends for an International Flower Show tour = $420,000; the Assouline Custom Built Home Library = $125,000; and last, but not least, the Ferrari FF = $395,000. With your purchase of the Dancing Fountains, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to Water.org. If you want to donate to Water.org, please let the church be your middle man.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Most High God, bless these tithes and offerings to do the work of your hands. In this world of consumer distractions, we are working to put you first in our lives. Keep us ever mindful that true blessing comes, not from the accumulation of things or the “pursuit of fleeting joy,” but from the knowledge that we have done something worthwhile for the sake of the world in which we live. Receive these gifts in the name of the Christ. Amen.
To thee, now high Exalted One, we lift our voices in praise. Indeed, it is right and a good and joyful thing, to praise your Holy Name; for there is no one who has known the universe from its beginning, besides you. You are the first, the beginning, the starting spark of all that is; how can we not carry expressions of awe upon our faces? Yet, O Lord, you did more than create us; you loved us. Your willing compassion, mercy and forgiveness are neither, easy to bestow, nor, superficial in scope. We know, by the person and presence of Jesus Christ, that these qualities are real beyond our reckoning, real beyond our understanding, and real beyond our awareness. Wake us up, O God, when we doze off, spiritually; when we let our pride get in the way of fulfilling our commitment to you, and your commandment to love, as you have loved us. We are made glad by the cheerful moods folks share during the holiday season. Let gladness for your presence in our lives, cheer us all the days of our lives. In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen.
STEWARDSHIP INVITATION
This year’s, Neiman Marcus Fantasy Christmas gifts include: Dancing Fountains for your home, from the company called WET = $1,000,000; a Hacker-Craft Speedboat =$250,000; a Weekend for two at Stone Barns Farm in New York =$20,000; the Dream Folly Backyard Yurt = $75,000; the Tom Burr Table Tennis Table =$45,000 ( Is there a relatives discount?); the Johnny Walker Private Scotch Tasting = $5000.00; a trip to Europe with 9 friends for an International Flower Show tour = $420,000; the Assouline Custom Built Home Library = $125,000; and last, but not least, the Ferrari FF = $395,000. With your purchase of the Dancing Fountains, Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 to Water.org. If you want to donate to Water.org, please let the church be your middle man.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Most High God, bless these tithes and offerings to do the work of your hands. In this world of consumer distractions, we are working to put you first in our lives. Keep us ever mindful that true blessing comes, not from the accumulation of things or the “pursuit of fleeting joy,” but from the knowledge that we have done something worthwhile for the sake of the world in which we live. Receive these gifts in the name of the Christ. Amen.
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