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Sunday, December 23, 2018

sermon, A Piece of Peace, by Pastor Ruth Foss, December 23, 2018, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Stertson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, Maine



December 23, 2018
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Sunday of Peace Worship Theme:
The Peace of the coming Messiah
Sermon Series:
“The “Advent”ure:
Where Hope Begins”
Isaiah 9:6-7 (King James)
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
Romans 15:13 (KJV)
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV)

“A Piece of Peace…”

The Lord be with you…
Let us pray…

A reading from the Prophet Isaiah…found in chapter 9 verses 6-7. Listen to the Good News that brings great joy to all humankind…

Isaiah 9:6-7 King James Version (KJV)
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Good Morning. How many of you feel pretty hectic around this time of year? There is just not enough hours in a day for me to get done everything I want to get done. I am running here and there…this store or that store…this Christmas season to that season event. It’s crazy.

You may feel you have no peace at all. Peace on earth…how about a little peace in my life? Just a piece of peace would be nice about now. But even though we are running around…we can still have peace in the chaos of our preparation. You and I can even have peace in the storms of life…all because of that peaceful, silent…well not so silent…night that was invaded by angel song…

Today we continue on a most excellent “Advent”ure…as we will travel to the place where hope begins…the hope of all people… Advent is one of my favorite seasons only overshadowed by the season of Lent. This is where Lent began…in a manger. This is where God’s plan of restoration began. Our destination…the manger…is the pivotal place for God’s promise to humanity.

So, this is the 4th Sunday in Advent, The Sunday of “Peace”. What peace have you found in this season? How can you have peace not only in this season but into the “Advent”ure of Faith?

I think one way of having peace during the crazy and chaotic moments in…and we will all have those moments…is to find peace in our Divine purpose. So, what stops us from doing that? Fear. It is one of the favorite tactics of the enemy to use against Gods people to immobilize them and keep them from finding peace in their Divine purpose.

Let me explain, you see, within the Advent story, there could have been much fear and immobilization. Let’s look at a few of the key characters in the story…
©    Mary
©    Joseph
©    The Shepherds
And that’s to just name a few..

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us:

Philippians 4:6-7 King James Version (KJV)
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As we trust in God and His Divine purpose for our lives we may have some fear but we are not immobilized. We take all of that fear captive and bring it to God. As we do, we re given peace in knowing that our God is a faithful God and that He equips us for our purpose and we don’t have to fear.

Fear not only steals our peace and immobilizes us. God want us to have the peace that surpasses all understanding. If that were not so, would Jesus have been called… The Prince of Peace? On that not so silent night, Hope, Love, Joy and Peace came down and is for all who believe if we only would open the present of that first Advent and embrace it in the present life we live.

God offers humanity the same peace that He offered, and continues to offer us, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds. We need to not let fear, uncertainty, even what others speak over us immobilize us from our divine purpose. And beloved…we have a divine purpose.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit. And may the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

AMEN










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December 23, 2018


December 23, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Fourth Sunday in Advent
Sunday of Peace
Worship Theme -
“The Peace of the Messiah”
Sermon Series:
“The Advent”ure…
Where Hope Begins”
Praise Team Special Music
Isaiah 9:6-7 (King James)
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
Romans 15:13 (KJV)
2 Thessalonians 3:16 (KJV)
and sermon, “A Piece of Peace”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message


by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 23, 2018
&

edited December 23, 2018
Love Became Flesh – 2 – v2
edited December 22, 2018
Love became a person – v2
December 21, 2018
Luke 2:19
Mary pondered
Pastor Ruth’s 8AM Live
December 21, 2018
&
edited December 21, 2018
may we believe like Joseph – v2
edited December 21, 2018
Go and Share the Good News – v2
(adding capitalization and punctuation)
December 21, 2018
Go and Share the Good News
Luke 2:15-20
Pastor Ruth’s 8AM Live
December 20, 2018
&
December 16, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Third Sunday in Advent
Sunday of Joy
Worship Theme -
“The Joy of the coming Messiah”
Sermon Series:
“The Advent”ure…
Where Hope Begins”
Psalm 63
Isaiah 12
Isaiah 9:6
Communion
and sermon, “That Christmas Joy
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message

by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 16, 2018
&
edited/ merged December 15, 2018
may we trust like Mary – v2
December 15, 2018
may we believe like Joseph
December 15, 2018
may we trust like Mary
12/15/18 8AM Live
more on the faith of Mary and Joseph
focus on Matthew 1:18-25
(and Luke 1:26-38)
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
&
12/14/18 8AM Live
on the faith of Mary and Joseph
focus on Luke 1:46-55,
the Magnificat, Mary’s Song
&
December 13, 2018
Love became a person
December 13, 2018
Love Came to Life - 2
December 13, 2018
Love gained form, shape
December 13, 2018
Love descended at Christmas
December 13, 2018
Love Became Flesh – 2
December 11, 2018
When Love Came Down
December 11, 2018
a light to guide us
December 11, 2018
you will prepare the way
December 11, 2018
my little son
&
12/9/18
Pastor Ruth’s 8AM Live
&
December 9, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Second Sunday in Advent
Sunday of Love
Worship Theme -
“God’s Love in sending a Savior…”.
Sermon Series:
“The Advent”ure…
Where Hope Begins”
“Hope for things to be turned “Up-Side Right” again…”
Psalm 103
Luke 1:68-79
and sermon, “When Love Came Down
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 9, 2018
&
December 8, 2018
Breathe Your Peace upon me – 2
John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
 I do not give to you as the world gives.
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Isaiah 9:6
“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
12/8/18
Pastor Ruth’s 8AM Live
&
December 3, 2018
the bread of life - 2
December 3, 2018
The hope of that manger
December 2, 2018
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
First Sunday in Advent
Sunday of Hope
Worship Theme -
“Hope for the world to be turned u-side right again”.
Sermon Series:
“The Advent”ure…
Where Hope Begins”
“Hope for things to be turned “Up-Side Right” again…”
Psalm 25:1-10
Acts 1:1-10
John 14:1-3
John 3:16
Genesis 3:15
Hebrews 6:19a
Isaiah 2:1-4
Jeremiah 33:14-16
and sermon, “A Hope for All Nations”
video
text
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
8AM Live
meditation blog
“God’s Whisper” blog
Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 2, 2018
&
edited December 1, 2018
the baby climbed the cross – v2
December 1, 2018
the baby climbed the cross
day before the First Sunday of Advent
John 1
12/1/18
Pastor Ruth’s 8AM Live

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 48,230 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, poem, communion, bread, cup, prayer, sacrifice, Messiah, manger, cross, Advent, First Sunday of Advent, Immanuel, Christmas,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #thankful #bread #cup #USA #communion #America #table #King #mercy #compassion #sacrifice #cross #Messiah #Advent #manger #cross #FirstSundayofAdvent #Immanuel #Emmanuel #Christmas

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Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, poem, communion, prayer, sacrifice, Messiah, manger, cross, Advent, Second Sunday of Advent, Immanuel, Christmas, peace, joy,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #thankful #USA #communion #America #King #mercy #compassion #sacrifice #Messiah #Advent #manger #cross #Immanuel #Emmanuel #Christmas #joy #peace #Zechariah #JohntheBaptist

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Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, poem, communion, prayer, sacrifice, Messiah, manger, cross, Advent, Third Sunday of Advent, Immanuel, Christmas, peace, joy,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #thankful #USA #communion #America #King #mercy #compassion #sacrifice #Messiah #Advent #manger #cross #Immanuel #Emmanuel #Christmas #joy #peace

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Christ, Spirit, God, Faith, love, grace, Pastor Ruth Foss, poem, communion, prayer, sacrifice, Messiah, manger, cross, Advent, Fourth Sunday of Advent, Immanuel, Christmas, peace, joy,

#Christ #God #Spirit #Faith #love #grace #poem #prayer #hope #communion #King #mercy #compassion #sacrifice #Messiah #Advent #manger #cross #Immanuel #Emmanuel #Christmas #joy #peace #star

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