{"id":9512,"date":"2015-12-06T14:24:11","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T18:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=9512"},"modified":"2015-12-26T17:26:40","modified_gmt":"2015-12-26T21:26:40","slug":"wonderful-wonderful-112915","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=9512","title":{"rendered":"Wonderful, Wonderful! (11\/29\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The wonder\u00a0 of this Advent season comes in the journey more than the destination.\u00a0 On this First Sunday in Advent, Pastor Jim spoke on John 1:1-14 and led us to consider how Wonderful the gifts of Jesus are, and to challenge us to anticipate and to be amazed by the Wonder of Christmas.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Click the below “Play” button to listen to the recording, then scroll down and follow along…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Our scripture was from John 1:1-14.\u00a0 Pastor Jim read from the Living Bible; the New Living paraphrase is shown below.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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John1:1-14<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.<\/p>\n

2 He existed in the beginning with God.<\/p>\n

3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.<\/p>\n

4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.<\/p>\n

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.<\/p>\n

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,<\/p>\n

7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.<\/p>\n

8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.<\/p>\n

9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.<\/p>\n

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.<\/p>\n

11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.<\/p>\n

12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.<\/p>\n

13 They are reborn\u2014not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.<\/p>\n

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.<\/p>\n

Holy Bible, New Living Translation \u00ae, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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One of the many songs of the season is Amy Grant’s “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” (Click Here<\/a> to hear and to see lyrics).\u00a0 It speaks of parties, traditions, happiness when loved ones are near.<\/span><\/p>\n

But when we look at Jesus, we see something deeper.\u00a0 Christmas isn’t just “wonderful”… it is “wonder filled.”\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

It’s a Wonder-filled TIME of\u00a0 the\u00a0 Year… it isn’t just about that one morning on December 25. Advent is about the Journey.\u00a0 We get the meaning as we go; it doesn’t just suddenly turn on like a string of lights on December 25.<\/p>\n

As we travel this journey of Advent, things are a bit crisper this time of year.\u00a0 There are many wonders.\u00a0 Amidst the hustle and bustle in our preparations,<\/p>\n