{"id":4918,"date":"2014-12-06T00:13:32","date_gmt":"2014-12-06T04:13:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=4918"},"modified":"2015-12-11T16:38:08","modified_gmt":"2015-12-11T20:38:08","slug":"a-green-christmas-113014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=4918","title":{"rendered":"A Green Christmas (11\/30\/14)"},"content":{"rendered":"<address><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Today was the first Sunday of Advent, and Pastor Jim began a new sermon series looking at the &#8220;Colors of\u00a0 Christmas&#8221;- tools we use to Look Up and to keep our focus on Christ during this busy season.<\/span><\/address>\n<address><span style=\"color: #000080;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/address>\n<address><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Click the &#8220;Play&#8221; button on the following player to listen to the\u00a0 sermon, then scroll down and follow\u00a0 along.<\/span><\/address>\n<address>\u00a0<\/address>\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-4918-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Sermon-2014-11-30b-A-Green-Christmas-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-stereo.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Sermon-2014-11-30b-A-Green-Christmas-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-stereo.mp3\">https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Sermon-2014-11-30b-A-Green-Christmas-by-Pastor-Jim-Bolton-6kbs-stereo.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The scripture reading was from portions of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=luke+21&amp;version=TLB\" target=\"_blank\">Luke 21<\/a>.\u00a0 Open the drop down box to follow along.\u00a0 Pastor Jim read from the Living Bible (or &#8220;Life Application Bible&#8221;)&#8230;<\/p>\n<div class='et-learn-more clearfix'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class='heading-more'>Luke 21 <span class='et_learnmore_arrow'><span><\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='learn-more-content'><h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Verses 8-11&#8230;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span id=\"en-TLB-23023\" class=\"text Luke-21-8\"><sup class=\"versenum\">8\u00a0<\/sup>He replied, <span class=\"woj\">\u201cDon\u2019t let anyone mislead you. For many will come announcing themselves as the Messiah,<\/span><sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-TLB-23023a\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-TLB-23023a&quot; title=&quot;See footnote a&quot;&gt;a&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=luke+21&amp;version=TLB&amp;interface=print#fen-TLB-23023a\">a<\/a>]<\/sup> <span class=\"woj\">and saying, \u2018The time has come.\u2019 But don\u2019t believe them!<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23024\" class=\"text Luke-21-9\"><sup class=\"versenum\">9\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">And when you hear of wars and insurrections beginning, don\u2019t panic. True, wars must come, but the end won\u2019t follow immediately\u2014<\/span><\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23025\" class=\"text Luke-21-10\"><sup class=\"versenum\">10\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">for nation shall rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom,<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23026\" class=\"text Luke-21-11\"><sup class=\"versenum\">11\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">and there will be great earthquakes, and famines in many lands, and epidemics, and terrifying things happening in the heavens.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Verses 25-28&#8230;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span id=\"en-TLB-23040\" class=\"text Luke-21-25\"><sup class=\"versenum\">25\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">\u201cThen there will be strange events in the skies\u2014warnings, evil omens and portents in the sun, moon and stars; and down here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23041\" class=\"text Luke-21-26\"><sup class=\"versenum\">26\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">The courage of many people will falter because of the fearful fate they see coming upon the earth, for the stability of the very heavens will be broken up.<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23042\" class=\"text Luke-21-27\"><sup class=\"versenum\">27\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">Then the peoples of the earth shall see me, the Messiah,<\/span><sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-TLB-23042e\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-TLB-23042e&quot; title=&quot;See footnote e&quot;&gt;e&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote e\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=luke+21&amp;version=TLB&amp;interface=print#fen-TLB-23042e\">e<\/a>]<\/sup> <span class=\"woj\">coming in a cloud with power and great glory.<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23043\" class=\"text Luke-21-28\"><sup class=\"versenum\">28\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">So when all these things begin to happen, stand straight and look up! For your salvation is near.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #000080;\">Verses 34-36&#8230;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span id=\"en-TLB-23049\" class=\"text Luke-21-34-Luke-21-35\"><sup class=\"versenum\">34-35\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">\u201cWatch out! Don\u2019t let my sudden coming catch you unawares; don\u2019t let me find you living in careless ease, carousing and drinking, and occupied with the problems of this life, like all the rest of the world.<\/span> <\/span> <span id=\"en-TLB-23050\" class=\"text Luke-21-36\"><sup class=\"versenum\">36\u00a0<\/sup><span class=\"woj\">Keep a constant watch. And pray that if possible you may arrive in my presence without having to experience these horrors.\u201d<\/span><sup class=\"footnote\" data-fn=\"#fen-TLB-23050g\" data-link=\"[&lt;a href=&quot;#fen-TLB-23050g&quot; title=&quot;See footnote g&quot;&gt;g&lt;\/a&gt;]\">[<a title=\"See footnote g\" href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=luke+21&amp;version=TLB&amp;interface=print#fen-TLB-23050g\">g<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-container et_sliderfx_fade et_sliderauto_false et_sliderauto_speed_5000 et_slidertype_top_tabs'>\n\t\t\t\t<ul class='et-tabs-control'>\n\t\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tHolly\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tRosemary\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\twreath\n\t\t<\/a><\/li> \n\t\t<li><a href='#'>\n\t\t\tMoney\n\t\t<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t<\/ul> <!-- .et-tabs-control --> \n\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content'>\n\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-main-wrap'>\n\t\t\t\t<div class='et-tabs-content-wrapper'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Holly-Berries-_IMG_1344.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4927\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Holly-Berries-_IMG_1344-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas Colors- Green- Holly Berries _IMG_1344\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Holly-Berries-_IMG_1344-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Holly-Berries-_IMG_1344-178x178.jpg 178w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Holly-Berries-_IMG_1344-184x184.jpg 184w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>The green holly leaves remind us of the crown of thorns. The red berries take us to the Garden of Gatheseme and remind us of the drops of blood.<\/p>\n<p>Holly can help prepare us for Christmas&#8230; and for Easter.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rosemary-74365_640.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4929\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rosemary-74365_640-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"rosemary-74365_640\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rosemary-74365_640-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rosemary-74365_640-178x178.jpg 178w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rosemary-74365_640-184x184.jpg 184w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/rosemary-74365_640-430x426.jpg 430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>&#8220;Tradition&#8221; tells us that Mary\u00a0placed rosemary in the manger.\u00a0 The green of rosemary can remind us of the new life available in Jesus.\u00a0 The new life from a Baby.\u00a0 Rosemary is also known as a Friendship plant.\u00a0 Jesus called us His friends in John 15.\u00a0 Abraham was called a friend of God.<\/p>\n<p>Green is soothing.\u00a0 It reminds\u00a0us of Life.\u00a0 Jesus said in John 10:10 that He has come to give us life.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Wreath-_IMG_1341.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4926\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Wreath-_IMG_1341-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Christmas Colors- Green- Wreath _IMG_1341\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Wreath-_IMG_1341-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Wreath-_IMG_1341-178x178.jpg 178w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Christmas-Colors-Green-Wreath-_IMG_1341-184x184.jpg 184w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>The wreaths on our doors remind us that\u00a0 we are always welcome.\u00a0 Contrasted to the Innkeeper in Luke 2:7, when we see the wreath on our door we are reminded that Jesus is welcome here.\u00a0 He is welcome in our hearts.\u00a0 We are prepared and there is room.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class='et_slidecontent'>\n\t\t\t<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/dollars-426026_640.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4930\" src=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/dollars-426026_640-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"dollars-426026_640\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/dollars-426026_640-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/dollars-426026_640-178x178.jpg 178w, https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/dollars-426026_640-184x184.jpg 184w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>But what part in money does God have?\u00a0 Where does our focus on money take us&#8230; towards God or away from Him?<\/p>\n<p>We need to use our money to glorify God.\u00a0 But the world uses money to make more money and to glorify self.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> <!-- .et-tabs-container -->\n<h4><span style=\"color: #003300;\">1:\u00a0 Look Out!<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Watch and pray, always.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t put it on cruise control.\u00a0 All of a sudden Christmas will come upon us and we won&#8217;t be ready.\u00a0 We always need to be prepared to meet the Lord; we never know when God will touch us through the Holy Spirit.\u00a0 So use things as reminders that God is here and that Jesus will come again.\u00a0 Even the hurricanes, storms and earthquakes referenced in this passage can serve as reminders of God&#8217;s power and control.\u00a0 These things continue to happen throughout history.\u00a0 Use events like this as a catalyst to watch and pray.\u00a0 Christmas decorations and yes- even colors- can be used as reminders.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #003300;\">2: Look Up!<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Look Up- when we look down and focus on ourselves we get lost in fear.\u00a0 Many people are lonely and fearful.\u00a0 But we don&#8217;t have to be like that.\u00a0 In John 16 Jesus said that troubles would indeed come, but He also told us to take courage.\u00a0 Take courage because Jesus has overcome.\u00a0 Psalm 121:8 tells us that the Lord will protect you on your journey&#8230; from now until forever.\u00a0 God is faithful.\u00a0 This is the character of our God!\u00a0 Take courage and look up!<\/p>\n<p>In verse 28 Jesus told us to &#8220;lift up our heads.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>Dr. Charles Stanley said, if you&#8217;re flat on your back it isn&#8217;t the worst place to be.\u00a0 Because when you&#8217;re on your back there&#8217;s only one place to look.\u00a0 You look up!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Jesus never went around downcast and grumpy.\u00a0 He was focused on the Father.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #003300;\">3: Look Through Deception!<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>During Christmas, the world bombards us with deception.\u00a0 False ideas about God.\u00a0 False frustrations with gifts and parties.\u00a0 And deceptive ads.\u00a0 They focus on the green of money instead of the green of a fresh life through Christ.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>&#8220;Start your holidays off on the right way&#8221;\u00a0 (<span style=\"color: #008000;\">Christmas starts with Jesus!<\/span>)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Ring in the holidays and save!&#8221;\u00a0 (<span style=\"color: #008000;\">only Jesus saves!<\/span>)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Save on these picture perfect gift ideas&#8230; extended warranty available&#8221;<br \/>\n(<span style=\"color: #008000;\">if it&#8217;s perfect, why do you need a warranty?<\/span>)<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Her Christmas won&#8217;t be complete unless she finds this under the tree.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Every man in the block will have this under his tree.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t let your man be left out&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Always challenge these falsehoods.\u00a0 Ask yourself, &#8220;Where does God fit in?&#8221;\u00a0 Look for God.\u00a0 Don&#8217;t ask &#8220;How can I get this thing?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #003300;\">4: Look at the Real Gift!<\/span><\/h4>\n<p>Think about the characters in the Christmas story.\u00a0 The innkeeper.\u00a0 He didn&#8217;t get it.\u00a0 He was focused on the busyness and on the business.\u00a0 Money.\u00a0 And what about the Romans?\u00a0 They were focused on the census.\u00a0 Without the census they couldn&#8217;t collect taxes.\u00a0 They missed the gift that came into their midst, because they were focused on money instead of Messiah.<\/p>\n<p>But the shepherds, others who were anticipating the messiah- they got it!<\/p>\n<p>This very special Christmas Gift from God relieves fear, provides hope.\u00a0 &#8220;Because He lives I CAN FACE TOMORROW.&#8221;\u00a0 Because Jesus came and dwelt among humans, we don&#8217;t have to be afraid.\u00a0 Peter told us to &#8220;cast all of our fear upon God.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Watch.\u00a0 Look up.\u00a0 We can do this by reading the scriptures, getting involved, giving back.\u00a0 When we do these things, our focus is taken off of us and drawn to God.\u00a0 Be ready for any opportunity to look at the gift.<\/p>\n<div class='et-box et-info'>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class='et-box-content'><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The story is told of a college student who didn&#8217;t study for a physics test.\u00a0 He thought he had it in the bag.\u00a0 It was just before Christmas break and he was in party mode.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">But all of a sudden the day of the test arrived and he realized he wasn&#8217;t ready.\u00a0 Time was up.\u00a0\u00a0It was time to take the test.\u00a0\u00a0 When the paper was passed out he couldn&#8217;t get any of the questions.\u00a0 Out of fear and frustration, he simply wrote on his paper &#8220;Only God knows these answers.\u00a0 Merry Christmas.&#8221; and handed the paper in.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">The professor graded the test with the remark, &#8220;God gets a 100;\u00a0 You get a zero.\u00a0 Happy New Year.&#8221;<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Just as there are 26 days until Christmas, God has given us a limited time to be prepared for His coming.\u00a0 To be prepared for those moments of grace where God comes to us.\u00a0 Are you ready in your homes?\u00a0 Are you ready in your hearts?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"color: #800000;\">Quiz Time!<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><em><span style=\"color: #000080;\">As you reflect on what you&#8217;ve just heard\/read, give this quiz a try.\u00a0 If you don&#8217;t understand an answer (or if you disagree with the &#8220;correct&#8221; answer, post a comment&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<div id='quizArea'>\n<script type='text\/javascript'>\njQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n$( function($){\nvar quiz = {\ntf:\n[{ ques: 'We are currently in the season of Advent, not the season of Christmas.',\nans: true }],\nmultiList:\n[{ ques: 'Why are we preparing for Christmas?',\nans: 'So we are not left out.',\nansSel: [ 'So we dont get the fruit cake.',  'To get what we want from Santa.' ] },\n{ ques: 'What happens when we go on cruise control and dont take advantage of reminders to be prepared?',\nans: 'We miss out on the joy of Christmas.',\nansSel: [ 'We avoid worry.',  'We spend less money.' ] },\n{ ques: 'Dr. Charles Stanley said that being flat on your back isnt such a bad place to be.\u00a0 Why?',\nans: 'We can only look up.',\nansSel: [ 'It keeps us humble.',  'We all need a good rest.' ] },\n{ ques: 'Why did the college professor give God a 100 and tell the student Happy New Year?',\nans: 'The physics student was not\u00a0ready when the test came.',\nansSel: [ 'He felt guilty.',  'The class had given him fruit cake.' ] }]\n};\nvar options = {\ntitle: 'A Green Christmas',\nhelp: 'Enter or select the answer, then click &#8220;Check&#8221;.\u00a0 Once you&#8217;ve seen the right answer, click &#8220;Next&#8221; to try the next question.\u00a0 When you&#8217;re done, click &#8220;Review&#8221; to see the questions and answers again.',\nshowAns: false,\nshowAnsInfo: false,\nallRandom: false,\nshowFeedback: false,\nrandom: false\n};\nvar lang = {\nquiz : { tfEqual:'' }\n};\n$( '#quizArea' ).jQuizMe( quiz, options, lang );\n$( \".q-innerArea\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EECCAA\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".quiz-el\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#776655\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-ques\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-ansSel\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n$( \".q-result\" ).css( {\"backgroundColor\": \"#EEEEEE\", \"color\": \"#222222\"} );\n});\n}(jQuery))\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #003300;\"><strong>+\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 +<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?cat=50\">Click Here<\/a><\/strong><\/span> to view other sermons.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Today was the first Sunday of Advent, and Pastor Jim began a new sermon series looking at the &#8220;Colors of\u00a0 Christmas&#8221;- tools we use to Look Up and to keep our focus on Christ during this busy season. \u00a0 Click the &#8220;Play&#8221; button on the following player to listen to the\u00a0 sermon, then scroll down [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[123,142,136],"class_list":["post-4918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sermons","tag-christmas","tag-prepare","tag-priority"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4918"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4959,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4918\/revisions\/4959"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}