December 22, 2024
You can find the order of worship and songs here.
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When I was an undergraduate student at UCLA, I regularly saw the streets of Westwood blocked off for movie premiers. Fences were set up to keep the plebs away from the movie stars, who would exit their limousines to make their grand entrance on the red carpet. The message was clear. They are the glorious ones and we the mere mortals had better adore them from a distance. They are the holy ones and we cannot approach them!
But when God came into this world, his arrival was nothing like the arrival of our culture’s icons. Consider Micah 5:2–5. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah…” Jesus would not be born in a palace. Nor would his coming be welcomed with the red carpet. God chose Bethlehem, an obscure and insignificant town. The One who is truly glorious came to lowly people to befriend them and to be counted as one of them. The truly holy One did not set up a barrier to keep people away. Jesus — can you picture it? — played with neighborhood children, spoke to their parents with respect, and rubbed shoulders with them throughout his life. And, no doubt, Jesus worked as an apprentice carpenter under Joseph. He swept the shop floor, and patiently sat at the grinding wheel and sharpened his tools. And when he put a most fair price on his most excellent (it had to be!) wood work, some people probably complained and said his workmanship wasn’t worth the asking price. Jesus, in other words, was intimately familiar with the real life that you and I live.
But why? Movie stars only want to be adored from a distance. But a shepherd loves the sheep and lives with them. “And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.” We lay our crowns at his feet because he laid down his crown first. The King became a shepherd. His hands held the shepherd’s staff rather than a king’s scepter. He wore the crown of thorns, not of gold and jewels. But through his poverty we have become rich. Through his humility we are lifted up. So we worship Jesus Christ our King.
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Growth Resources
This year: Please see the full list of 2024 books as well as Bible reading plans on our church webpage.
This month: We are reading “Orthodoxy” by G.K. Chesterton.
Upcoming Events and Notices
Wednesday evening study and Sunday school lessons will resume in January.
We have sent the following gifts: Servant Church $2,475; The Stoddards (MTW) $2,000; Geneva Benefits $1,000. Please take a look at the Servant Church's year-end thank you video. We encourage you to also read Stoddard Ministry December 2024 update.
Thank you for your continued support of Grace Fallbrook (PCA). Your loving support makes the proclamation of the gospel and the building up of the saints possible. Please visit gracefallbrook.church/give and click on "Give Online Now." You will be directed to the PCA Foundation where you can give towards Grace Fallbrook (PCA).