JoyLink Newsletter-December 11, 2016: Advent Three:"Laugh for JOY"

JoyLink December 11, 2016

This Sunday, we continue our Advent Series with a focus on JOY! We can ‘Laugh for Joy” because as lovers of God, REGARDLESS of how messy and burdensome our circumstances are, we can never be undone. Thanks to Christ’s arrival onto our scene, we can experience deep and abiding joy. The Psalmist declared: “Weeping endures for the night, but JOY comes in the morning.” May we find JOY this season as we look to the Christ child born anew in us.

In joy,

Habakkuk 2:1 (VOICE)

I will take my place at the watchtower.

I will stand at my post and watch.

I will watch and see what He says to me.

I need to think about how I should respond to Him

When He gets back to me with His answer.

Habakkuk 3:16-19 (VOICE)

16 I listened and began to feel sick with fear; my insides churned.
    My lips quivered at the sound.
Decay crept into my bones;
    I stood there shaking.
Now I wait quietly for the day of distress;
    I sit and wait for the time when disaster strikes those who attacked my people.
17 Even if the fig tree does not blossom
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
If the olive trees fail to give fruit
    and the fields produce no food,
If the flocks die far from the fold
    and there are no cattle in the stalls;
18 Then I will still rejoice in the Eternal!
    I will rejoice in the God who saves me!
19 The Eternal Lord is my strength!
    He has made my feet like the feet of a deer;
He allows me to walk on high places.

Habacuc 2:1 (DHH)

Estaré atento y vigilante,

como lo está el centinela en su puesto,

para ver qué me dice el Señor

y qué respuesta da a mis quejas.

Habacuc 3:16-19 (DHH)

16 Al oír todo esto tuve miedo.
Mis labios se pusieron a temblar,
mis piernas dejaron de sostenerme
y todo mi cuerpo perdió sus fuerzas.
Aun así, esperaré tranquilo
el día en que Dios ponga en angustia
al ejército de nuestros opresores.

17-18 Entonces me llenaré de alegría
a causa del Señor mi salvador.
Le alabaré aunque no florezcan las higueras
ni den fruto los viñedos y los olivares;
aunque los campos no den su cosecha;
aunque se acaben los rebaños de ovejas
y no haya reses en los establos.
19 Porque el Señor me da fuerzas;
da a mis piernas la ligereza del ciervo
y me lleva a alturas donde estaré a salvo.

Next Spiritual Transformation Class-Wednesday, December 7th @ 7pm:

Unwrap the Full Love Story of Christmas with Ann Voskamp

In The Greatest Gift, New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp celebrates the majesty of God’s greatest gift to us―His son, Jesus Christ― through the timeless Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree.

Now, in this stunning four-week video curriculum, Ann draws viewers even deeper into Scripture as she explores and illuminates the magnificence of God’s Word through the unfurling of the greatest love story ever told―God’s ardent and relentless pursuit of us.

WE CARE, YOU MATTER, YOU COUNT!

You will notice that the attendance sheets will not be up front as you enter the Worship center. Instead, each row will be given a clipboard with blank attendance sheets. Please Help us “Count you In” by filling in your name (First and Last name) and which service(s) you attend. It’s also an opportunity to let us know of any address, phone or email changes. Thank you for your helping us “count you in”!

'Tis the Season...

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To learn more visit the "Donate Page" of our website.

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Donating items to the church can also be added to your contribution statements as a "gift in kind"? Thank you for your gifts and save those receipts!

BE THE CHURCH!
Pull a Post It, Play Your Part

Weekly in the Welcome area, you'll see this board! Check it out and see how YOU can be the church here at JOY and pull a post it and play YOUR part. These are simple things that are needed--places to volunteer, areas to give back, and opportunities to serve! There are 6 categories: Worship, Ministry Teams, Volunteering, Skills, Outdoors and Items. There are a variety of things you can choose and in so doing, you can provide help and hope to those in our community!