Matthew 1:23

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

At Christmas time when we hear the name Emmanuel, we often miss the power and beauty this name holds.

The name Emmanuel means “God with us.” God is literally with us. In the Old Testament, God was “contained” to the temple in the Holy of Holies. But when Jesus showed up, everything changed. 

John captures the meaning of Emmanuel without actually using the word.

John 1:14

¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God is with us, right beside us and He will never leave us or forsake us. It can be hard for us to grasp that

God, the creator of the universe, is with us. On our best days, on our worst days, in every moment of our lives, He is Emmanuel, GOD WITH US!

That's what Christmas is all about!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

• Christmas is the only time of year in which one can sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of socks. Enjoy!
• A Christmas reminder: Don’t try to borrow any money from elves ... they're always a little short.
• Have a Merry Christmas — may all your tangled lights unravel with ease.

WOMEN'S MINISTRY

The women's ministry has been to the "Dollar Store" buying items to make "Christmas Lanterns". These beautiful lanterns were easy and fun to make and are sure to make a nice Christmas gift.

The Ladies also surprised the 1st Lady with a birthday party.

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day, Their old, familiar carols play, And wild and sweet, The words repeat, Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

GUEST EVANGELIST

• In the late 17th century, people used fruits like apples, pears, and oranges to decorate Christmas trees. In fact, edible ornaments were so popular that many began to call Christmas trees "sugar trees."

• In 1670, a German choir master asked a local confectioner to shape the candy into its traditional form, resembling a shepherd's hook. In the Christmas story, shepherds traveled from far and wide to visit the infant Jesus. The symbolic candy cane helped keep his choir boys content during long practices.

• The average Christmas tree is 6 to 7 feet tall, but it can take as many as 15 years to reach that height. So, the next time you buy your year's tree, take a moment to appreciate nature's handywork.

• In 1836, Alabama became the first state to recognize Christmas as a state holiday, with Arkansas and Louisiana following suit. But it wasn't until 1870 that President Grant declared Christmas a national holiday.

• It is rumored that Teddy Roosevelt outlawed Christmas trees in the White House during his term, given that he was a staunch environmentalist. Instead, he celebrated the holiday with a church service and family meal.

• While White Christmas and Miracle on 24th Street might be the most popular Christmas movies, Home Alone holds the title as the highest-grossing holiday film ever.

• Although Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, it doesn’t actually mention December 25 anywhere in the bible. In fact, some historians think Jesus was born in the spring, not the winter at all! Christmas on December 25th wasn't celebrated until about 336 AD.

• The beloved reindeer was created by a copywriter for the Montgomery Ward department store in 1939. He wrote Rudolph into a children’s story that could be given out to promote the store. It was a huge hit, with more than 2.4 million copies distributed in its first year! In 1949 Gene Autry recorded the famous song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and in 1964 came the movie featuring the island of misfit toys.

• The custom of bringing evergreens into the home began in the 16th century among northern and eastern Europeans, primarily Germans, as a means of cleaning up the Christmas tree and making it more uniform. Instead of throwing out cut-off greens, people wove the excess into wreaths.

• However, the religious significance is that the circular shape and evergreen material of the wreath represent eternal life. The circle, which has no beginning or end, "symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of the soul and the everlasting life we find in Christ."

• Turns out, we first started dashing through the snow for an entirely different holiday. James Lord Pierpont wrote the song called "One Horse Open Sleigh" for his church's Thanksgiving concert in the mid-19th century. Then in 1857, the song was re-released under the title we all know and love and it's still among the most popular Christmas songs today.

• We all know the same few handfuls of Christmas songs play at stores and on the radio in a loop all season long. But one of them has been adapted more than others. "Silent Night" is actually the most-recorded Christmas song in history. It's had more than 733 different versions copyrighted since 1978.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission's most recent news release estimates that 14,700 people visit hospital emergency rooms each November and December from holiday-related decorating accidents — which is about 240 injuries per day. The most common accidents involve falling, lacerations and back strains.

• The holiday decoration of mistletoe isn't just pretty; it's also an ancient symbol of fertility and virility — and the Druids considered it an aphrodisiac. Mistle thrush birds eat the plant's berries, digest the seed and then help the plant germinate with their droppings. The Germanic word for mistletoe literally means "dung on a twig." Really makes you want to pucker up, doesn't it?

 "A Church with open arms, a smiling face and a loving heart for all people."