FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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2020 Advent Devotional

Friday, December 25, 2020

We Need a Little Christmas

Read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
Devotional by Pastor John H. Stanley

Indeed, we live in a most uncertain time and in a broken world. We do not know how much longer our fellow Americans will continue to battle in Afghanistan and Iraq. We remain uncertain as to when a vaccination to counter the Coronavirus will be available. There are fights and violence in the streets. We worry over our health and we worry over our finances.

YES, WE DO NEED A LITTLE CHRISTMAS.

We need Christmas because we absolutely must be reminded of a word. And, that word is Emmanuel.  Emmanuel is the grandest name of all. Emmanuel, a name from which means “God with us.”

Regardless of what is going on in our world, we have promises that God is and will be with us. Jesus made arrangements for us. We are not alone. We are strengthened every day through the power and presence of God’s Holy Spirit. In the book of John at the Last Supper, Jesus tells the Disciples (and us!), “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16).  FOREVER!

Before Jesus ascended into Heaven, he left us with a Great Commission and a great promise. Jesus’ last words while on the earth, the great promise: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

Our God is an awesome God who is present everywhere, especially in those uncertain places of wars and disease where we least expect to find God.  And our challenge as Christians is to see God in all those places we least expect to find God.

During Christmas and well into the New Year, let us allow God’s light to shine through us as we love our neighbors. Remember Emmanuel: God is with us.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Prayer Holy Lord and gracious God, you are the giver of all good gifts and of grace. We come to you thanking you that in our strife and in our uncertainty and in our brokenness, you are with us always—even to the end of the age. Whenever the world seems confusing and bleak, you pierce the darkness with light, bringing hope and vision for the way ahead. This has been a difficult and confusing year of pandemic, and so we thank you for lessons learned and changes of heart, for new discoveries and hope restored. O Love Come Down at Christmas, you call us to live in communion with you and one another. You form us into families, circles of friendship, and communities. Today we pray for our family members, whether we’re close or estranged, for our friends, whether near or far away, and for neighbors who share our community, like minded or not. Inspire us to express both our love and concern in gentle words and kind actions. O God, reach out to all of us in Christ, and strengthen our love for you and for one another. AMEN.

Read Daily Devotionals by clicking on the links below.
November 29, 2020: Great Expectations by Beth Silver
November 30, 2020: A New Beginning by Roger Rizk
​December 1, 2020: Walk in his Paths by Helen Rogers
​December 2, 2020: Exhortation to Watch by Davidson Hobson
​December 3, 2020: He will Revive Us by Sarah Sumner
December 4, 2020: Still Small Voice by Coleman Efird
December 5, 2020: The Authority of Jesus Challenged by Grady Kennington
December 6, 2020: John the Baptist Prepares the Way by Bobby Sumner
December 7, 2020: Earnestly Seeking You by Mallory and William Trogdon
December 8, 2020: The Branch of the Lord by Craig Whitley
December 9, 2020: Oh! The Difference a Child Makes by Lee DuBois
​December 10, 2020: God Does Great Things by Jim Brown
December 11, 2020: A Personal Relationship with God by Kelly and Rick Hovis
​December 12, 2020: Abide with Us by Stuart Euliss
​December 13, 2020: Sharing the Good News by Sally and Gwin Hilton
​December 14, 2020: What is Joy? by Tyler Bullock
December 15, 2020: Repent and Turn to God by Betty Davenport
December 16, 2020: Preparing for Change by Mary Ann Aycock
December 17, 2020: God Allows U-Turns by Donna Atkins
December 18, 2020: God is Faithful Still by Barbara Voorhees
December 19, 2020: Trust and Believe by Matt Miller
December 20, 2020: A House of Cedar by Charles Grissom
December 21, 2020: Mary's Song of Praise by Baity 
Ferguson
December 22, 2020: Give Until It Feels Good by Barbara Yarbrough
December 23, 2020: Room at the Inn by Lillian Osei-Boateng
​December 24, 2020: The Gift by Leslie Wallace
December 25, 2020: We Need a Little Christmas by Pastor John H. Stanley

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Download a PDF copy of The Audacity of Advent
​by clicking here.

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First Presbyterian Church

Contact Us

Address
​1621 E. Garrison Blvd.
​Gastonia, N.C. 28054
Phone
(704) 864-2651
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Affiliated with: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Presbytery of Western North Carolina
Copyright © 2020 First Presbyterian Church, Gastonia, N.C.
  • Home
  • About
    • Visitors
    • What We Believe
    • Our Staff
    • Pastoral Search
  • Worship
    • Services
    • Livestream
    • Music
  • Faith Formation
    • Adults
    • Presbyterian Women
    • Youth
    • Children
  • Outreach
    • Local Missions
    • Global Missions
    • Pastoral Care
    • Parish Nurse Ministry
  • Giving
    • Giving
    • Planned Giving
    • Stewardship
  • Connect
    • Calendar
    • Videos
    • Weekly Announcements
    • Resources
  • More
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Presbyterian Weekday School
    • Mother's Morning Out