Experience the Joy of Christ at The Well                      December 17, 2014
From Our Pastor . . .   

Earlier this week a couple of folks emailed me asking about the order of our Advent candles--Peace, Hope, Love, and Joy.  One member noticed that we had been lighting the candles using a different order than the traditional church--Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy.  I will say it's never a bad day in the kingdom when someone recognizes liturgical details!  Some days it makes sense for Peace to precede Hope.  Hope is a luxury war cannot afford.  Other days it makes sense for Hope to come before Peace because it is difficult to imagine an end to violence unless our hopeful imagination offers a new story.   Regardless if our hope gives birth to peace or our peace paves the way for hope, the Advent season moves through Love and points to Joy.

Joy is not about being happy.  For many, this time of year is quite sad. Memories of loss and hardship seem amplified through the ringing sleigh bells and twinkling lights. Christmas is a time when the good often seems better and the bad seems terribly worse.  This is why our Advent expectation points us to Joy.  Joy goes beyond being happy or sad.  Jesus said, "Blessed are you when people revile you and hate you.  Leap for joy on that day for great is your reward" (Luke 6:22).  The only other time in Luke where "Leap for joy" occurs is when John the Baptist, one who knew persecution, leaped inside Elizabeth's womb at the sound of Mary's greeting.  Persecution certainly doesn't lead to happiness, but it does lead to Joy.

Joy is an expression of Passion, a suffering love.  Joy is the miracle of assurance that no matter what life offers, be it blessing or hardship, God is with us and we are not alone!  Joy remains through emotion's fading much like God's eternal love for us is steadfast through good and bad.  So this Sunday we will light the candle of Joy to remind us that when God was born in the person of Jesus the angels sang "Rejoice!  Rejoice!" for God's love remains steadfast forever.  


See you Sunday,

Matt 

 

  

What's Happening at The Well

Important -- A copy of the proposed 2015 budget will be available by Friday, December 19th for review upon request (email Matt Rawle for a copy).  Our Finance Team will present our stewardship vision between services this Sunday, December 21st.  All members are welcome to attend.  The brief meeting will begin promptly at 10:05 in the sanctuary.  The meeting will conclude with Well leaders adopting  our 2015 Stewardship Vision.

 

  
 
December 4-23 - "In the Neighborhood" Advent Carafes Begin:
12/4-12/18 - Thursdays at the church, 6:30 pm, childcare provided
12/4-12/18 - Thursdays at the church for youth, 6:30 pm
12/8-12/22 - Mondays at the Hobgoods' home, 6:30 pm
12/9-12/23 - Tuesdays at the church, noon
12/9-12/23 - Tuesdays at the Teagues' home, 6:00 pm

Sunday, December 21 - Christmas Caroling, 3:30 pm
Meet at the church for a Christmas caroling hayride around our neighborhood.  We will sing and invite people to worship with us on Christmas Eve, and then enjoy some hot chocolate!


Wednesday, December 24 - Christmas Eve at The Well
4:00 Christmas Eve Service
5:00 Birthday Party for Jesus
6:00 Christmas Eve Service

Sunday, December 28 - Carols & Cocoa Service, 10:00 am
We will have one service at 10:00. Wear your pajamas and bring your favorite Christmas toy! We will sing acoustic Christmas carols and enjoy some hot cocoa.

          

Invite a friend to join us on Christmas Eve (4:00 or 6:00 pm).  Share our facebook event or grab a few invitation postcards from the connections table in the lobby of the church.


 


 

   

We are looking for a few small group leaders for the Revival: Faith as Wesley Live It series by Adam Hamilton that our congregation will experience in January.  If you are interested, plan to attend our Small Group Leaders 101 session between services on January 4, and talk to Heather Sullivan, formation director, for more information. 

 

  

Current Worship Series

    
During the Advent Season the church often talks about Jesus as "The Incarnation" or "The Messiah" or "Prince of Peace, King of King, Lord of Lords."  All of these titles certainly point to the Christ child and his saving work, and these titles certainly warrant a heavenly host of herald angels singing "Gloria in excelsis Deo!"  However sometimes these titles make Jesus distant and separate and far more "other" than the Christmas story intends.  The Message translation says, "The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the  neighborhood"  (John 1:14).  Would our holiday traditions look any different if Jesus set up shop next door?  If Jesus moved next door would you even know it?  Would the gifts we buy look different if Jesus saw the trash cans outside the house on Christmas morning?  Join us for "In the Neighborhood," the new Advent worship series at The Well United Methodist Church.
 
 
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at The Well
Each Sunday at 
 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.   
21400 S I 12 Service Road Ponchatoula LA
985 542 1911
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The Well is a United Methodist Faith Community dedicated to connecting persons to the joy of Jesus Christ and the Body of Christ through worship, study, fellowship, and service.