December 8, 2013 "A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION"

AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR ADVENT
God is the true beginning, having created from nothingness all that is, moves, breathes and has life. God moves through time and space, ever faithful, ever vigilant, ever present, and ever becoming.
God gave birth to hope in the prince of peace, who arrived without fanfare to heal a hurting and broken world. Jesus lived out the commandment to love, sacrificing himself for our sakes, because he valued us more than his own life.
We believe the promise of life beyond life, because true to his word, and again, without fanfare, God raised Jesus from the dead.
We believe that God’s Grace is further manifested by the Holy Spirit who desires to warm our hearts and revive our spirits with hope, peace, joy and love.
God makes all things new again and again and again. Thanks be to God! (Written by: Amanda Burr)
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING Palm Springs Church
Proof positive that we love a challenge. Thank you to those who responded immediately to last week’s challenge to balance our budget. What many of you may not know is this: The church needs an income of just about $6300 a week to meet our obligations. $3761.00 of that amount goes out immediately to pay the salaries of our organist choir director, secretary, children’s program coordinator, custodian, nursery worker, gardener and me; leaving $2539.00 to cover expenses, like utilities, paper products, toner for the copier, office supplies, janitorial and gardening supplies, light bulbs, plumbers, heating and air-conditioning maintenance folks and contractors making necessary repairs. The food for our feeding ministries is donated and does not come out of the church’s general budget. I am aware that sometimes you just need the bottom line to know what to do.
PREPARING FOR THE OFFERING Desert Hot Springs Church
There is a short hymn in the Chalice Hymnal that is an offertory hymn. It goes like this: “We give thee but thine own; what e’er the gift may be. All that we have is thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from thee.” The words emphasize how God has entrusted to each of us, not just the earth and it’s creatures, but the proper use of what the Bible refers to as mammon. In the ancient Hebrew the word “mammon” refers to money, wealth or possessions. In and of itself mammon is not evil. It is an instrument like any other that when used for good can bring glory to God. However when we worship, adore, covet, hoard, secret away money using it to gratify our own needs, wishes and desires, we have broken trust with our Creator and made mammon our God.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God keep us mindful of your part in our lives. Remind us that these gifts are not controlled by our will, but yours. Bless them O God. Empower these gifts for greater deeds, deeds of kindness, compassion and mercy. We pray in the name of the Christ. Amen.