Announcements;

Advent Guide is available digitally or for you to print out here or under the home page if you need to access it during the week. This is a great way to dig into the true meaning of the season.

We encourage you to light the candles each night in your home as journey through the teachings.

*Lectio Divina journals are back

Lasting Change Haiti Stories

https://lastingchangehaiti.org/stories

“SIMPLE CHURCH” is our theme for this season of Grace and Peace Church. We are trying to simplify our setup and breakdown in order to lighten the demand on volunteers each week and focus on the core elements of what it means to gather and be the church.

Pray for Baylee;

I would love your prayers as I navigate these exciting times. Here’s what I’d ask you to join me in lifting up: 

 • The continuing rehabilitation and recovery from the flooding here, as the people continue to rebuild

 • For peace in Myanmar as the war continues and worsens.Please continue to pray for God’s wisdom over the leaders and an end to this civil war and destruction.

 • Continual growth for our church and youth ministry, and blessings over the English center. 

 • Good health, wisdom, and discernment as I continue to teach, learn Thai, attend college courses, and train my dogs. 

 • For the students at school and those in the English club, along with their families to sense the love of the Lord 

 • No more exploding pipes, loss of pressure, and other plumbing issues .

 • Provision, especially in finances, for the Victory ministry as well as myself.

• the upcoming women’s conference happening in India in June. 

 • the upcoming women’s conference happening in Bangkok in January I can’t wait to catch up with many of you over the holidays. 

Thank you for your continued prayers and support—it means the world to me. God bless!

 With love and sincerity,

Baylee

Lasting Change Haiti

Pray for Absolu and his leadership team as they serve.

Pray for the witness of love as they serve the community.

Pray for the small business loan to help Kecheline and that she is able to help others in the process.

Weekly Bible Study Guide and Q’s connected to the sermon;

Spend time reframing what God says about your new identity this week.

What the Lord says about you;

• I am a valuable person. — Luke 12:6-7

• I can have a positive outlook on life, even if my circumstances are difficult. - Romans 5: 1-5

• I can have a healthy self-image because God made me. — Genesis 1:27

• I have the ability to love others unconditionally and accept them for who they are. — 1 Peter 4:8

• I can be sensitive and caring to others. — Philippians 2:3

• I can treat others fairly and unselfishly. — Micah 6:8

• I have many talents that I can use effectively. — Ephesians 2:10

• I am grateful for this opportunity to grow and become a better person. - 2 Peter 3:18

• I can forgive those who have wronged me. - Colossians 3:12-14; Ephesians 1: 3-9

• I can learn to be patient and sensitive to those who are not. - 1 Corinthians 13:4

• I can learn not to take myself so seriously. — Proverbs 17:22

• I can begin to see life with more hope because I have the power to change. - Ephesians 3:20

• I can be a competent, prepared and enthusiastic worker. - Colossians 3:23

• I can learn to be more open-minded and flexible. — Proverbs 14:30

• I can be more attentive to the needs of others. — Galatians 5:14

• I can be a confident and self-assured person because I know who lam. - Hebrews 4:16

• I don't have to be in control of my circumstances and other people because God is in control. — Jeremiah 32:17

Sunday Gathering Liturgy

A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!  I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God      than live the good life in the homes of the wicked.  For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory.  The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.  O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, what joy for those who trust in you.  — Psalm 84:10–12

Instrument of Your Peace – St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith,
Where there is despair, hope,
Where there is darkness, light,
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much
seek to be consoled as to console,
not so much to be understood as to understand,
not so much to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

The Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Luke 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus

that the whole world should be enrolled.

This was the first enrollment,

when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth

to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,

because he was of the house and family of David,

to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

While they were there,

the time came for her to have her child,

and she gave birth to her firstborn son.

She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,

because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields

and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them

and the glory of the Lord shone around them,

and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them,

"Do not be afraid;

for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David

a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.

And this will be a sign for you:

you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes

and lying in a manger."

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,

praising God and saying:

"Glory to God in the highest

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Offering Prayer

Compassionate Father, thank you that you are our strength and our song, you fill our hearts with joy. May we give our offerings to you with gladness and joy. Everything we have belongs to you and we rejoice to give some of your abundant gifts back to you. Bless the tithes and offerings we give today. Let the majesty of the Father be the light that guides us, the compassion of the Son be the love that inspires us and the presence of the Spirit be the power that empowers us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.

THE LORDS PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, 

hallowed be thy Name,

thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our trespasses, 

as we forgive those 

who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil. 

For thine is the kingdom, 

and the power, and the glory, 

for ever and ever. Amen. 

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Offer Prayers of Intercessions, Petitions, or Thanksgivings to the Lord either silently or aloud. After each person shares we simply acknowledge by saying “Lord hear our prayer.”

THE GENERAL THANKSGIVING

Let us give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely bestowed upon us:

For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky and sea,
We thank you, Lord.

For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our friends,
We thank you, Lord.

For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
We thank you, Lord.

For health and strength to work, and time to rest and worship,
We thank you, Lord.

For all who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
We thank you, Lord.

For all who earnestly seek after truth, and all who labor for justice,
We thank you, Lord.

For all that is good and gracious in the lives of men and women, revealing the image of Christ,
We thank you, Lord.

For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
We thank you, Lord.

Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord;
To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father,
and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever.  Amen