Week of January 5, 2025 - Happy New Year

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” ... And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:1-2; 9a-11 (NLT)

Epiphany: This Sunday, January 5, is technically "the second Sunday of Christmas". The church's celebration of the season of Christmas traditionally concludes on January 6 (a Monday this year), known as the Epiphany of Our Lord. It's probably safe to say that you wouldn't be reading this (and I wouldn't be writing it) were it not for Epiphany! Epiphany is when the the Gospel really went global! God's plan was made available to everybody. In Genesis 12:3b God says to Abraham, "All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” (NLT) Epiphany is evidence of the fulfillment of that promise.
Missions Committee Update:  The Missions Committee is pleased to announce an upcoming visit by Adult and Teen Challenge New Hampshire, a Christ-centered program for people struggling with drug and alcohol dependency, on Sunday, January 19, 2025. They will be represented by several men who have completed the program and now are actively engaged in helping others achieve sobriety through the power of Christ. Two members of the committee visited the center in Manchester earlier this year and found the people and the program to be brilliant. We encourage everyone's attendance at this signal event.
Bible Discussion news:  Pastor Chris recently announced his plan for a new Bible discussion opportunity: an in-depth study of Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth (i.e., 1 Corinthians). The study will be an adjunct to his 2025 sermon series on the epistle, giving us a chance to go deep with him as we look at the words, the context, and the meaning of Paul's letter, written to an early, cosmopolitan church facing some challenges. Quoting the ESV Study Bible's introduction to the book, "Paul wants this church, divided because of ... arrogance... to work together for the advancement of the gospel." Final schedule is still to be determined, but will probably be in the early evening on Mondays or Tuesdays. If you're interested or just want to find out more about this unique opportunity, contact Pastor Chris!

Our Sunday morning Bible discussion resumes this Sunday, January 5, at 9 am in Trumbull Hall. We'll be reading and discussing the book of Malachi. Click here for more information.

Pastor Chris's Wednesday morning Bible discussion group resumes on Wednesday, January 8, at 10 am in Trumbull Hall. 
Men’s Breakfast – Saturday, January 18: Join us from 8–10 am on Saturday, January 18, in Trumbull Hall for our first-ever Men’s Breakfast! Enjoy great food, good conversations, and time to connect. All men are welcome—bring a friend!
Attention all committee members and leaders: Please submit all your planned event and meeting dates for 2025 by January 17. This will help us create a comprehensive master calendar for the year, ensuring our events and ministries are well-coordinated. You can email your dates to [email protected]. Thank you for helping us plan a fruitful year of ministry together!

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