You’re Worth Loving
This year St. Peter’s UCC in Grant Park is providing the book A Love Worth Giving to You at Christmas by Max Lucado for our members to distribute to their families, friends, and neighbors as a small gift. Each book includes an invitation to worship with our church family on Christmas Eve.
Throughout Advent we are reminding everyone that they are worth loving! Lucado writes, “(Jesus) went from commanding angels to sleeping in straw. From holding stars to clutching Mary’s finger. The palm that held the universe took the nail of a soldier. Why? Because that’s what love does.”
Each day, during Advent, join us for a journey to see just how much God’s love for you is evidenced in the story of Christmas.
Blue Christmas
Christmas is typically a season of joy!
Gatherings with family and friends, giving and receiving gifts, and sharing in the peace and love of the holidays usually bring happy emotions.
However, the truth is that there are many who don’t view Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year.
Dealing with grief from the loss of a loved one, the splitting up of a family, financial concerns, health related illnesses, or other troubles cause the holidays, and especially Christmas, to be a “blue Christmas.”
Perhaps you, or someone you know, experience grief during the holidays.
If so, know that YOU are WORTH LOVING!
We’ve visited this verse from Matthew 1:23 before, but we are reminded of the Assurance of the presence of God being “with us.”
“They will call the baby Immanuel – which means ‘God with us.’”
Matthew 1:23
So many things can stir up anxious and fearful emotions that cause joy and love to be covered up for periods of time.
During those times, remember that Immanuel is with YOU.
God has always been and always will remain with us.
Prayer: Lord, You have promised that You will never let us go. In the best of days and in the worst of days You remain by our side. Thank you for offering Your peace even in the worst of our days. Amen.