THE WEEKLY WORD | December 29, 2025

An additional devotional as we continue to celebrate the first week of Christmas:

“...because there was no place for them in the inn.”  Luke 2.7

At what point in the journey did it begin to dawn on Joseph he should have made reservations?

Was it as he began to pack their belongings for the long journey?  Was it somewhere along the way?  Did it not even occur to him until they entered “O little town of Bethlehem” now busting at the seams with everyone returning for Caesar’s census?  Whenever it was, it was too late to make a reservation.

Caesar Augustus had issued a decree for a census, requiring everyone to return to their ancestral home to register.  The census served many purposes, accounting for population, determining resources, calculating taxes, and assessing military strategy.  Every mother and father who had a couple of kids who married and moved and had children of their own were now converging back to the home of their childhood - think of our houses overflowing with three and four generations all home for Christmas - this was Bethlehem.  Joseph needed reservations.

And how did he explain to Mary, his pregnant fiancée, said to be carrying the hope of the world in her womb, that he had not considered calling ahead to get a reservation for his bride-to-be and her soon-to-be-born Messiah?  Perhaps after being turned away from the second or third hotel, he began shuffling through his saddle bags pretending to look for the confirmation he supposedly misplaced.

Joseph did not have a reservation, and yet Christ came.

Christ does not make a reservation.  Prophetic proclamation, yes.  Glorious announcement, yes.  Angelic invitation, yes.  But not a reservation.  In the dark of night, in an obscure little town outside of Jerusalem, in a distant corner of the vast Roman Empire, Christ invades our world.  Heaven comes to earth.  Righteousness overcomes evil.  Light swallows darkness.  Love pierces hate. No reservation needed.

God, thank you for not waiting for everything to be perfect in order to begin the Christmas story.  May we also begin today.  May we allow you to use us as you used Joseph, without reservation, without hesitation.

Amen.

-- Emily Ross and Trey Arnette

CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED DEC. 24 - JAN 2

The church office will be closed Wednesday, December 24 through Friday, January 2. We will reopen with regular office hours on Monday, January 5. Please note that Pastor Courtney will be in and out during this time as her schedule allows. If you have any meetings scheduled at the church during the closure period, please contact Courtney (706-717-1698) or Nicki (706-319-0402) before the office closes. Thank you!

The 2026 Flower Calendar is now open! Use the link below to sign up to place flowers in the sanctuary in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a special event. We appreciate your help in enhancing the beauty of our worship space throughout the year. Thank you for helping make our sanctuary a place of grace and remembrance.

Great news - our journey has begun and we're rolling! Thanks to your generosity, we received 51 pledges totaling  $340,625! But the adventure isn't over yet. To reach our 2026 goal, we still need $291,769 in additional pledges. Together, we can get there! Let's keep the momentum going - help us reach our goal and fuel the mission of MPC! If you have misplaced your pledge card, additional pledge cards are available in the narthex and church office.

Year-End Giving Reminder: As the year comes to a close, we kindly ask that all donations intended for 2025 be submitted  by December 31. Thank you for your generosity and for supporting the life and ministries of Madison Presbyterian Church. 

Mondays:

• Prayer group - 12:30 PM in the church library

Tuesdays:

• Men’s breakfast - 7:30 AM in the fellowship hall round table room
• Lectio Divina- 10 AM in the church library. will return in 2026

Wednesdays:

• Morning Bible Study - 10:30 AM in the church library. Will return on Jan. 14.
• Evening Bible Study- will return in 2026
• Choir Practice - 7 - 8 PM in the choir room

Sundays:

• Adult Sunday School - 10 AM in the church library
• Worship - 11 AM in the sanctuary

Christmas Joy Offering:

The Christmas Joy Offering continues through December 31.

The Christmas Joy Offering provides assistance to current and retired church workers and their families in their time of need, and develops our future leaders at Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color.

Offering envelopes are available in the church bulletin and church office.

Local Benevolence Giving:
Perhaps in the business of the year you have missed giving to some local agencies. Now is the time to help meet the needs of people in our community who can use a little extra help. Please consider a contribution to some of the charities listed within this Benevolence Giving handout.