Advent Devotional for December 20th

Advent Prayer to Jesus

You are our eternal salvation, the unfailing light of the world. Light everlasting, You are truly our redemption.

Grieving that the human race was perishing through the tempter's power, without leaving the heights You came to the depths in Your loving kindness.

Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will, You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost, restoring joy to the world.

Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ, and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.

By Your first coming, make us righteous; at Your second coming, set us free.

So that, when the world is filled with light and You judge all things, we may be clad in spotless robes and follow in Your steps, O King, into the heavenly hall.

Unknown author, 10th century

Peggy Garner, First UMC - McCamey

"Advent Sunday 4" at FUMC - Iraan (part 2)

Thanks to everyone who participated in our first "Christmas pageant in-a-bag." This will be retold in the community for years and years to come!

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Praise God for "all creatures" here below... Thanks be to God for the faithful who love to serve as a witness to the Light of God!!!

"Advent Sunday 4" at FUMC - Iraan (part 1)

There was so much happening at the First UMC in Iraan this morning that it will take two entries to convey all of the action! There was lively fellowship once more as Belinda & Pastor Charles, Marie Richardson and Ronny Ward -- all brought tasty holiday morsels to sample. Deanna Jordan presented everyone with some home-made jars of various soup, bread and muffin mixes.

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Pastor Charles and Belinda were overwhelmed by the gifts from the congregation: What a blessing it is to be among such generous and loving people!

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There was a lot of energy in the sanctuary as the community gathered for worship and the first-ever "Christmas pageant in-a-bag." James Jordan lit the Advent candle for the fourth Sunday, and the service was underway. And we were very happy to see so many visitors to the church this morning!

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We were especially blessed by the presence of William G. Hartwell who graced us with his amazing accopela rendition of "Star Child!" To hear a portion of what he sang at church, "click here." (This gentleman is the distinguished associate professor emeritus of the Texas Tech School of Music, who holds the record for singing "O, Holy Night" for 23 consecutive years during the university's annual Carol of Lights Ceremony! Click here to hear him sing!)

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Sharing the message of Christmas in this creative way was such fun! Everyone really "hit their marks!"

Devotional for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

The Three Stages of Christmas

Stage 1: Christmas as a child:

My brother, sister and I always looked forward to having Santa Claus come and see us on Christmas Eve. The gifts from Santa were always great, and they were the gifts that I had hoped for. As I grew older, the gifts meant more to me because I now realized that those gifts were a product of hard word. My family did not have a lot of money but my dad worked hard to see that we had a great Christmas. The real gift was the pride that my mom and dad had of seeing their children happy.

Stage 2: Christmas as a parent:

When my wife and I became parents we wanted our children to have memorable Christmas mornings. We would work hard Christmas Eve night to make sure every gift was in its place. We had fun preparing the gifts and we were excited about the thought of watching our children's expressions the next morning. I am so glad that we had four children! I get four times the joy! As I had learned from my parents, the real meaning of Christmas is giving. Our children had given us the greatest gift: Joy!

Stage 3: Christmas as a grandparent:

We have yet to experience this stage. It will come very soon and we will get the opportunity to make someone happy. Maybe our grandchildren will understand the real meaning of Christmas. The joy of giving!

Donny Wiley, First UMC - McCamey

Advent Devotional for December 18th

(Star of Bethlehem quilt, circa 1870)

On a dark, clear night
Under one bright star
A child to us was born.
No one could know what lay ahead
The ecstasy, the sorrow.

On a dark, clear night
Under one bright star
A child began to give HIs life for ours.
In the still and calm we were saved
As the chosen babe arrived.

On a dark, clear night
Under one bright star
Stranger came together.
In whispered faith they proclaimed
The word of God fulfilled.

On a dark, clear night
Under one bright star
The world received a savior.
His name remains among us still
As we sing His praise on this dark, clear night.

Leigh Ayn Scallorn (daughter of Bob & Gwen Scallorn of Iraan), a former member of the FUMC - Iraan as well as being a Facebook friend of the FUMC - Iraan.

Advent Devotional for December 17th

(Silent Night Chapel - Oberndorf, Austria)

Silent Night (by the Rev. Joseph Mohr)

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth

Cleatus Brooks, McCamey Convalescent Center

Advent Devotional for December 16th

This little babe so few days old,
Is come to rifle Satan's fold;
All hell doth at His presence quake,
Though He Himself for cold do shake;
For in this weak unarmèd wise
The gates of hell He will surprise.

With tears He fights and wins the field,
His naked breast stands for a shield,
His battering shot are babish cries,
His arrows, looks of weeping eyes,
His martial ensigns, cold and need,
And feeble flesh His warrior's steed.

His camp is pitchèd in a stall,
His bulwark but a broken wall,
The crib His trench, hay-stalks His stakes,
Of shepherds He His muster makes;
And thus, as sure His foe to wound,
The angels' trumps alarum sound.

My soul, with Christ join thou in fight;
Stick to the tents that He hath pight;
Within His crib is surest ward,
This little babe will be thy guard;
If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy,
Then flit not from this heavenly boy.

-from the poem, "New Heaven, New War," by the Rev. Robert Southwell, (1561-1595)

Rev. Robert Hunter, III - Forest Hill, Maryland
(Rev. Hunter is a friend of Pastor Charles from their time at Wesley Theological Seminary)