November 28 is the first Sunday of Advent.  We'll be studying texts and topics related to the Advent Season for the next number of weeks.  This serves a number of purposes.  First, it will help us (hopefully) be more aware of and ready for the celebration of Christmas.  Second, it will readjust our minds in the midst of Black Friday madness, family gatherings, trips, baking, shopping and wrapping to what is substantive and eternal.  Third, since we'll be focused on the person and work of Jesus Christ, it will be a good time to invite your friends and family to church to hear the gospel!!  Join us for these helpful reminders during Advent Season.

Okay, I admit it, I get overwhelmed with the effects of "the fall."  Everywhere I look I see broken people, sin, the effects of death, loss and my own failures.  I read the statistics of world needs and a weight develops on my chest that is hard to ignore.  Maybe it is a vocational hazard.  I get letters, emails and phone calls all week that reveal new needs among the nations that I never new about before and when they are added to the ones I know about it sometimes leads to despair.  I think we either have to "look the other way" or "look to God" in the light of world needs to not end up in despair.  The psalmists didn't "look the other way".  They were not optimists nor pessimists philospohically.  They were Theists!  They really believed that in spite of all the visible injustice in the world there was (and is) a just God who knows, sees and acts within the created order.  A lifestyle of worship will help us "get there."  There are real needs in the world but there is a living God in the Heavens who is above it all and in it all with us.  Let's celebrate His goodness and steadfast love, let's recognize His greatness and mighty works, let's submit ourselves to His ways believing they are really best...that is worship and it delivers us from despair without "looking the other way."  Worship is Pastor Vaught's sermon subject November 21, join us and worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness...in spirit and truth!