Twenty-five middle and high schoolers at the youth Christmas Party Wednesday night. Thanks to Jami Champagne and all organizers!!!

First Sunday of Advent, Lighting of the Prophecy Candle which symbolizes hope.

We live in a death-defying age. We’ve found ways to push death back with our emphasis on safety and healthy living. We restrict it to days of loss. We only talk about it for a few moments at a time. We’ve even found ways to profit from that fear. There is a cell phone app designed to periodically remind people that one day they will die.  Perhaps instead we are a death denying age, always trying to numb the sting. 

All individual histories will end, regardless of whether we’re there when all history ends. There are many things we can point to, signs of the end, but God has not left us orphans. There are also signs that God is constantly working. Ms. Rebecca Thornton likes to talk about “Godwinks” (see the series by Squire Rushnell) which are things that remind us that He’s still at work. These winks are our hope, our signs. Every day, like waves on the shore, God winks, telling us, I am still redeeming, I am still bringing life in the midst of all this death. God surprises us with hope (see NT Wright, Surprised by Hope). 

1 Peter 3:15 asks us to be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks the reason for our hope. We must remember people who have given us hope and always ask ourselves what we can do to give it to others. How can you surprise someone with hope? It can be as simple as a text, a call, a note; any  reminder that today is not all there is.  

Stand up and lift up your heads. Your redemption is near.—Luke 21:28
Rev. John Norman; Sermon 1 of Advent Series, December 2, 2018

For more inspiration, consider Rev. Don Follis' article 10 Great Ways to Give People Hope.

Saw some familiar folks at the Four Oaks Christmas festival.

All First Baptist Four Oaks preschool classes ages 2 through 4 sang Christmas carols at 5pm yesterday, before the Four Oaks tree lighting in Barbour's Grove. If Santa takes adorableness into account, these kids are guaranteed some stuffed stockings. 

After a soup and sandwich lunch, Johnnie Sue Lee and Celeste Byrd led the decorating of the sanctuary and fellowship hall for Christmas. Thank you so much to the men who put up and lit the trees; and to the ladies who hung the greens! Poinsettias coming soon...

Behold how good it is when God's people dwell in unity. Psalm 133:1

All WMU circles stocked and assembled bags of sweets and necessities for shut-ins in the congregation. They will be delivered throughout the holidays. Thanks to all the ladies who provided the gifts and helped put together the bags. 

The Young at Heart senior adult group had Thanksgiving lunch yesterday, catered by White Swan. 

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100:3-5