Christmas is in full swing in the Atlantic community. During his sermon two weeks ago, my pastor, the Reverend David Bell, said the message of Advent is comfort. I think that’s why Christmas creates joy. Paul writes, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV).
God is the source of comfort, and Christmas brings comfort to many. I realize some people struggle at Christmas, but Jesus can comfort us if he’s invited into the situation.
So how can we comfort others? Here are a few things we can do this Christmas season.
Fallowfield United Methodist Church members will be singing Christmas carols at the homes of shut-ins and the sick on Monday, December 22, at 6:00 p.m. You are welcome to join us. We typically sing at ten homes and give baskets of cookies and fruit.
Fallowfield United Methodist is presenting a Christmas dinner theater on Saturday, December 20, at 6:30 p.m. It is titled, “The Perfect Christmas.” Your reporter wrote the script, along with Allen Jacobs. The play is about a family coming together at Christmas and sharing God’s love with others. There will be a talent show during the play.
The menu is ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, apple sauce, popcorn, brownies, and ice cream. Punch, tea, and coffee will accompany the meal. If you’d like to attend, please call Allen Jacobs at (814) 382-3124. The dinner theater is free, but a love offering will be taken to benefit a local needy family.
Christmas Eve service will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Fallowfield United Methodist. If you don’t have a home church, please join us. There is no holier night in the year in my opinion. I’m looking forward to it, especially to the hymns and Advent candle lighting.
Have you bought stamps this Christmas? I’m encouraged to see three different Christian stamps offered by the United States Postal Service, a secular business if there ever were one. You can choose between a scene depicting Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem, the magi riding camels, and Mary holding baby Jesus. How great is that?
So you have the opportunity to sing to shut-ins, give money to a needy family, and include a Christian Christmas stamp on your cards and bills. Something as simple as seeing a picture of the real purpose of Christmas could comfort someone.
Fallowfield United Methodist gathered 105 shoe boxes for the annual Samaritan’s Purse collection. These boxes will be shipped around the world and given to children, many of whom have never received a gift. We also collected cookies and gift items for our military. Service members requested items, including simple things such as ChapStick.
The Atlantic community’s 4-H group, Make, Bake and Create, won the scrapbook competition held by Meadville’s Penn State extension office. This is the group’s first year. It’s so great to see these children work together and win an award.
All God’s blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.