As we reflect on what God has done for us in sending Jesus Christ into our world, may we like those Israelites of long ago be full of hope and joy as we worship the King of kings! As we look around our world with all of the challenges, discord, disease, and violence, there does not seem to be much reason to have hope. But that is not what Isaiah says in Isaiah 35. He sees much reason for hope: he sees the redeemed with new and perfect bodies living on a new and perfect earth. Yet, it is so easy to be pessimistic, to grumble and complain, to be depressed about what is going on in the world and in our own lives – and what we don’t have. So, Isaiah urges us to be full of hope.
Perhaps this Christmas season you have heard people say, “Bah humbug or something to that effect! There isn’t much reason for hope. Do you know what Isaiah would say to this? He would say, “Nonsense.” God has come, and God is coming. He has come with salvation, and He is coming with judgment. So, ours is every reason for hope: the hope of salvation and redemption; the hope of knowing one day we will be living on a new and perfect earth with new and perfect bodies.
And to make that hope ours, all that we have to do is walk the Zion road – the “Holy Way.” The road is clearly marked out. Isaiah proclaims in verses 8-9, “A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness (V. 8) . . . the redeemed shall walk there.”
What is this highway (this Way of Holiness) that leads us to salvation? Jesus declares in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It is no accident that in Acts 9:2 Christianity is referred to as the “Way.” In Christ we have the way, the only way, to redemption – to salvation.
When we trust Jesus Christ, we discover salvation. So, this Christmas may our hope be renewed in seeing that we have a Savior who meets us on this road called the Way of Holiness! Are you at a crossroads in your life? All you need to do is respond to this gracious gift of God’s love by admitting you are a sinner in need of God’s grace, and trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior!
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
You’re invited to join us this Friday, December 24th at 5:00 p.m. for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. Please invite friends, neighbors and co-workers, as well as out-of-town family and friends to join you for this exciting service, celebrating Jesus’s birth!!
Poinsettias
Anyone wishing to purchase a poinsettia to beautify our sanctuary during this Advent/Christmas season may purchase them for $9. You may give them in honor of or in memory of someone. Make checks payable to Hope Community Church and reference “poinsettias” in the “For” section of the check.
First Sunday after Christmas
Pastor Glen’s sermon this Sunday will be “Making Resolutions,” based on Matthew 3:1-17. Please read this text in preparation for worship!
Tithes and Offerings
An offering box is available when you enter or exit the sanctuary. Additionally, online giving opportunities are available on the website.
Amazon Smile
Support Hope Community Church by choosing us as your Amazon Smile charity. Simply login to Amazon. In the upper left corner, Click Amazon Smile. If you are supporting a charity already, you will see that name. Click the dropdown arrow. Click “Change Charity”. Search for “Hope Community Church Waynesboro”. Click and select.
Our Weekly Prayer meeting is held at our church facility each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. We invite you to join with us in prayer as, together, we believe God for answers to prayer requests.
Contagious Disease Preparedness Plan
The Session recently adopted a Contagious Disease Preparedness Plan to support our church family, as well as our visitors. We want to be supportive of our entire church family, as well as our community in this season of increased cases of COVID-19, including the new omicron variant. The plan has been sent to our members for reflection and feedback and is available at the church.
This Week’s Birthday
Cliff Scott (12/28)