Welcome!
Thank you so much for joining us at Grace and Peace Church! Below you’ll find song lyrics, scriptures, sermon notes, and information relating to this week’s service! Also take a minute to fill out our connect form. If you are new we have a FREE MUG for you at the welcome table.
We’re so glad you’re here with us!
Grace & Peace to you!
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Announcements;
Sermon Based Study; Thursdays 7-8pm. Wells home. All are welcome just text/email if you're joining us or interested in more details.
Christmas Party ; Dec 6th 11am
Location; Johnson Home (1749 Yourell Avenue, Carlsbad)
Thanks for giving towards our mission to serve our brothers and sisters in Haiti! We have heard some of the progress of the work on the school that is being expanded and teachers are getting paid monthly to continue teaching. God is at work in beautiful ways!
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Liturgical Worship Readings
Daily Prayer
Help me pay attention today.
I want to be so acutely aware of Your presence in every space.
Help me notice beauty that doesn't beg for applause, conversations that carry Your kindness, and the still, small ways You're working beneath the surface.
Let my feet be rooted, not rushed.
Let my heart be soft, not guarded.
And let my soul remember that You waste nothing—not even times of slowing down.
LEADER: As we prepare our house for the coming Christmas season, we would also prepare our hearts for the returning Christ.PEOPLE: You came once for your people, O Lord, and you will come for us again.
Though there was no room at the inn to receive you upon your first arrival,
We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home,
Lord Christ.
As we decorate and celebrate, we do so to mark the memory of your redemptive movement
into our broken world, O God.
Our glittering ornaments and Christmas trees, Our festive carols, our sumptuous feasts—
By these small tokens we affirm that something amazing has happened in time and space— that God, on a particular night, in a particular place, so many years ago, was born to us, an infant King, our Prince of Peace.
Our wreaths and ribbons and colored lights, our giving of gifts, our parties with friends— these have never been ends in themselves.
They are but small ways in which we repeat that sounding joy first proclaimed by angels in the skies near Bethlehem.
In view of such great tidings of love announced to us, and to all people, how can we not be moved to praise and celebration in this Christmas season?
As we decorate our tree, and as we feast and laugh and sing together, we are rehearsing our coming joy!
We are making ready to receive the one who has already, with open arms, received us!
We would prepare you room here in our hearts and here in our home,
Lord Christ.
Now we celebrate your first coming, Immanuel, even as we long for your return.
O Prince of Peace, return soon. We miss you so!
Amen.
Offering PrayerCompassionate 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.
Psalm 71:1-6
In you, O Lord, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me and save me.Be to me a rock of refuge,
a strong fortress, to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel.For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.Upon you I have leaned from my birth;
it was you who took me from my mother’s womb.My praise is continually of you…
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.”
Prayer of Gratitude
Heavenly Father, We come before you today with hearts full of gratitude. Thank you for your countless blessings and your unwavering love. Thank you for the gift of life, for the air we breathe, and for the strength you give us each day. Your grace and mercy sustain us, and we are deeply grateful for your presence in our lifes.
Thank you for our family, friends, and the community you have surrounded us with. Thank you for providing for our needs and for guiding us with your wisdom. Even in times of trial, we thank you for the lessons and the growth that come from trusting in you.
Lord, may we never take your blessings for granted. Help us to remain mindful of your goodness and to share your love and kindness with others. We praise your name and give thanks for all that you are and all that you do.
In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
SERMON NOTES & RESOURCES
We typically preach through the LECTIONARY READINGS — For further reading of all the passages click here https://wordtoworship.com/lectionary/acna
GP Mission; We are a community established on experiencing the life-giving grace and peace found in knowing Christ.
"We participate in God's mission as a people. There's individual actions, there's individual moments, but ultimately, this is a symphony." -- MARK SAYERS
Advent; Hope, PEACE, Joy, Love
Sermon by Nate Wells
FIND PEACE THIS ADVENT SEASON
Advent can be a difficult time of year, especially for those in the deepest and darkest season of waiting for things to get better. Yet we know that the message of Advent is ultimately hope for the hopeless, peace in the chaos, joy for the joyless, and love for the unloved. The darkness has not overcome the light of Christ, so we rejoice even as we wait for all to be restored and made new. Advent reminds us that Jesus is the true Hope of All the Earth.
“The Way of Peace”
Isaiah 9:6 — For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus teaching his disciples;
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." - John 14:27
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
What is biblical peace?
In Hebrew peace is Shalom. - peace, harmony, wholeness, completeness
In the greek the word peace is Eirene. It means to bring various parts together to form a whole or to set it as one again.
Peace (eirene from verb eiro = to join or bind together that which has been separated) literally pictures the binding or joining together again of that which had been separated or divided and thus setting at one again, peace is the opposite of division or dissension. Peace as a state of concord and harmony is the opposite of war. Peace was used as a greeting or farewell corresponding to the Hebrew word shalom - "peace to you”.
When we place Jesus as king in our lives we submit our lives, plans, expectations, circumstances fully to Jesus, we discover that Gods way brings about Shalom (peace).
Christian peace is something quite independent of outward circumstances.
Freya India interview on Modern Wisdom called “Why Women Feel more Lost than Ever”
Link… https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/modern-wisdom/id1347973549?i=1000699453801
How do we achieve peace in the midst of chaos? Train
Paul in Colossians 3:15 — Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
“Keep your eyes on the Prince of Peace, the one who doesn't cling to His divine power; the One who refuses to turn stones into bread, jump from great heights & rule with great power; the One who says, 'Blessed are the poor, the gentle, those who mourn, & those who hunger & thirst for righteousness; blessed are the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers & those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness, - the One who touches the lame, the crippled, & the blind; the One who speaks words of forgiveness & encouragement; the One who dies alone, rejected & despised. Keep your eyes on Him who becomes poor with the poor, weak with the weak, & who is rejected with the rejected. He is the source of all peace. — Henri Nouwen
Each day inventory your life: relationship with yourself, others and all creation.
ACTION STEP
Prayer
Almighty God, you have invited us to live at peace with you, to live in peace with one another, to make peace in a divided world. We confess how hard it is for us to imagine the lion and the lamb lying down together. That kind of peace is beyond anything we have ever experienced. Teach us to live in faith and not fear. Teach us how to witness to a new creation. Teach us how to make peace. Forgive us for our inability to live in peace. We don't want to simply live in fear of one another. We invite the Prince of Peace to come. Let his peace begin in us. Amen.
From the prayer of examen ask these two questions;
Where in your week did you experience consolation, joy, comfort, peace?
Where in your week did you experience desolation, sadness, frustration or failure?
Blessing…
Rejoice in knowing that we never walk alone.
Know the grace and peace of Christ walking beside us, guiding and protecting us.
Share this comfort with one another and feel his presence each moment of each day.
Amen
The option to give toward the ministry we partner with in Haiti is always available…
God is at work in Haiti, and we’re grateful to share just a few of the wonderful things He allowed our team to accomplish this past week through your support and generosity.
New Savings Group Started (last photo of all women)
The Outreach Mission – A Week of Transformation
Care Packs for families fleeing from violent gangs who currently pushing to gain more control over cities.
Thanks to the funds you sent, the outreach was a huge blessing. We were able to purchase gas, water, and supplies—and most meaningfully, we bought Bibles. With support from LCH and the local church, they are now walking in new obedience and joy.
Number one task of a Christ follower; Stay in that rhythm of receiving nourishment. A tree doesn’t work to receive but we choose what soil and if it’s near water source or in the care of a constant gardener. Here are a few more resources to study further.
We use Lectio Divina Journals as a guide for our daily spiritual formation. If you would like to journey with us you can order a journal here (link below) or pick one up at the welcome table at church.
https://www.lectiodivinajournal.com/buy/lectiojournal-nodates
If you’re looking for a great simple way to study the Bible check out this resource; https://throughtheword.org
Connect
First time visiting Grace&Peace? We would love to send you updates once a week on what’s happening and ways to connect further. If you have questions or prayer requests fill out the bottom form.