2022/Sunday Worship - December 11, 2022_transcript.txt

[0.00 --> 13.64]  In the bleak midwinter, all creation groans
[13.64 --> 20.16]  For a world in darkness, frozen like a stone
[20.16 --> 26.56]  Light is breaking, in a stable for a throne
[26.56 --> 33.70]  If I were a wise man, I would travel far
[33.70 --> 40.48]  If I were a shepherd, I would do my part
[40.48 --> 46.82]  For as I am, I would give to Him my heart
[46.82 --> 53.60]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[53.60 --> 60.74]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[60.74 --> 67.88]  Unto us, a child is born, the King of kings, the Lord of lords
[67.88 --> 75.02]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[75.02 --> 78.02]  Here within the manger lies
[78.02 --> 81.52]  The one who builds the starry skies
[81.52 --> 85.02]  This baby born for sacrifice
[85.02 --> 88.02]  Christ our Messiah
[88.02 --> 91.16]  To our hopes and to our fears
[91.16 --> 94.16]  The Savior of the world appears
[94.16 --> 98.16]  The promise of eternal years
[98.16 --> 101.16]  Christ our Messiah
[101.16 --> 107.30]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[107.30 --> 114.30]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[114.30 --> 127.44]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[127.44 --> 129.44]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[129.44 --> 133.44]  A child is born, the King of kings, the Lord of lords
[133.44 --> 140.58]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[140.58 --> 146.58]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[146.58 --> 155.72]  He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[155.72 --> 159.72]  And He shall reign forevermore, forevermore
[159.72 --> 160.86]  And He shall reign forever, forevermore
[160.86 --> 161.86]  And He shall reign forever, forevermore
[161.86 --> 166.86]  And He shall reign forever, forevermore
[166.86 --> 186.02]  From highest height of heaven's throne
[186.02 --> 191.16]  And perfect light of majesty
[191.16 --> 196.16]  This broken world became your home
[196.16 --> 201.16]  Our broken lives you came to heal
[201.16 --> 206.16]  Salvation in your name
[206.16 --> 210.16]  And in your heart our freedom
[210.16 --> 215.30]  How could we not adore
[215.30 --> 217.30]  How could we not adore
[217.30 --> 220.30]  To us you have been born
[220.30 --> 224.30]  To us you have been given
[224.30 --> 230.30]  Glory to you in the highest
[230.30 --> 233.98]  The hope of all the earth
[233.98 --> 237.72]  The highest name of heaven
[237.72 --> 243.86]  Glory to you in the highest
[243.86 --> 247.86]  Glory to you
[247.86 --> 248.86]  Glory to you
[248.86 --> 252.86]  Glory in the highest
[252.86 --> 258.86]  Into the night
[258.86 --> 262.16]  Into the fray
[262.16 --> 264.74]  Struggle and war
[264.74 --> 266.88]  On every side
[266.88 --> 269.88]  Into a world
[269.88 --> 271.88]  Of sin and shame
[271.88 --> 274.88]  You came to bridge
[274.88 --> 276.88]  The great divide
[276.88 --> 279.88]  The prince of peace
[279.88 --> 282.88]  And lord of life
[282.88 --> 287.88]  A day of grace has come
[287.88 --> 290.88]  The dawn of our redemption
[290.88 --> 295.02]  Oh let every heart
[295.02 --> 296.02]  And Lord
[296.02 --> 301.02]  To us you have been born
[301.02 --> 305.02]  To us you have been given
[305.02 --> 311.02]  Glory to you in the highest
[311.02 --> 315.02]  The hope of all the earth
[315.02 --> 319.16]  The highest name of heaven
[319.16 --> 325.16]  Glory to you in the highest
[325.16 --> 329.16]  Glory to you
[329.16 --> 334.16]  Glory in the highest
[334.16 --> 339.30]  Salvation in your name
[339.30 --> 343.30]  And in your heart our freedom
[343.30 --> 346.50]  Sing hallelujah
[346.50 --> 349.30]  Hallelujah
[349.30 --> 353.30]  A day of grace has come
[353.30 --> 356.36]  The dawn of our redemption
[356.36 --> 360.16]  Sing hallelujah
[360.16 --> 364.30]  Glory to us you have been born
[364.30 --> 366.30]  To us you have been born
[366.30 --> 370.30]  To us you have been given
[370.30 --> 376.30]  Glory to you in the highest
[376.30 --> 380.30]  The hope of all the earth
[380.30 --> 384.30]  And the highest name of heaven
[384.30 --> 388.30]  Glory to you in the highest
[388.30 --> 392.44]  Glory to you in the highest
[392.44 --> 396.04]  Glory to you in the highest
[396.04 --> 398.04]  Glory to you in the highest
[398.04 --> 401.14]  Glory to your...
[401.14 --> 406.50]  Glory in the highest
[406.50 --> 414.44]  Oh, come let us adore you
[414.44 --> 421.40]  Oh, come let us adore Him.
[421.70 --> 425.54]  Oh, come let us adore Him.
[444.44 --> 454.66]  We are grateful that you are here and that we can get together.
[455.16 --> 457.72]  My name is Chris. I'm one of the pastors here.
[457.72 --> 464.60]  And it's my privilege, along with a few others, to lead in our shared worship together this morning.
[465.36 --> 469.92]  God is good, and we have a lot going on in our worship this morning,
[469.92 --> 474.58]  from Lord's Supper and baptism and celebrations of individual service.
[475.14 --> 482.10]  And so we're grateful for the chance to see God at work in so many ways in our midst
[482.10 --> 492.66]  and to participate in that and to long for Him to do more among us, with us, and through us to the world.
[493.48 --> 497.36]  Before we begin our worship in earnest, there's just a couple announcements.
[497.36 --> 500.48]  Kevin has two, so I'm going to invite him to the front.
[500.58 --> 501.64]  The microphone's over here.
[502.28 --> 508.92]  He can get ready, and while he's on his way over, just a reminder that next week, Sunday evening,
[509.40 --> 521.00]  so December 18 at 6 p.m., we are hosting a choir performance and traditional hymn-sing and caroling here at Emanuel.
[521.00 --> 527.10]  And so we encourage you to come to invite your family, friends, or neighbors and join us for that.
[527.10 --> 527.88]  We'll have choirs.
[528.02 --> 528.82]  We have kids' choirs.
[528.98 --> 535.80]  We have hymns and carols to sing, and it should be a beautiful evening together, December 18 at 6 p.m.
[536.94 --> 539.88]  A reminder, there's practices for that this coming week.
[540.00 --> 542.18]  You know the schedule if you are involved in that.
[542.72 --> 550.50]  And you may have seen in the e-bulletin that went out that Mark, who is the director, is looking for a page-turner.
[551.18 --> 556.10]  And so that's someone who can read music and turn the pages as they move through.
[556.28 --> 560.16]  So the stipulation there is that you know how to read music at least decently well.
[561.44 --> 565.32]  Otherwise, it'll devolve into chaos very quickly, I imagine.
[566.80 --> 568.22]  Oh, you don't even have to read music.
[568.54 --> 570.06]  You just have to listen to Mark when he says, now.
[570.06 --> 570.12]  Now.
[574.12 --> 575.22]  Ken will nod his head.
[575.22 --> 575.50]  See?
[575.76 --> 578.02]  There's a system for everything that I know nothing about.
[579.26 --> 592.34]  Anyways, if you are willing to be a page-turner, which apparently takes no skill now, please talk to Mark following our worship together this morning, and he will give you those details.
[593.16 --> 593.52]  Go ahead.
[593.52 --> 598.10]  I have two brief announcements, and this microphone's really loud.
[598.54 --> 606.88]  The first is for anyone who wants to join the Spring Mexico team to head down to Tijuana on a missions trip in March.
[606.94 --> 611.22]  It'll happen over spring break, and this trip is open to anybody grades 10 and up.
[611.60 --> 612.66]  Not to grades 12.
[612.92 --> 615.34]  Grades 10 to, like, ever.
[615.68 --> 619.34]  So if you want to go on this trip, you can sign up in the back.
[619.34 --> 622.12]  I think it's around the Connect booth or on the table back there.
[622.12 --> 623.72]  Please find that sheet.
[623.78 --> 626.34]  We would love to get a number of people out for that.
[626.94 --> 631.24]  And same thing, high school students, your grade 10 and older, you're welcome to join that trip as well.
[631.30 --> 632.50]  So please consider doing that.
[633.00 --> 638.80]  If you want more information, you can chat with me after the service or find Brandon Muller, who's not here today, which is why I'm doing this announcement.
[638.92 --> 642.10]  But you can talk to Brandon Muller as well, and he can give you more information on that too.
[642.60 --> 646.00]  Second announcement is for all of those participating in Dressember.
[646.18 --> 651.44]  If you're wearing a tie or a dress today, oh, I got my nice old school hockey tie on.
[651.44 --> 652.70]  Pastor Chris has his on here.
[652.74 --> 653.30]  He looks sharp.
[653.84 --> 656.50]  If you're doing that tomorrow, we're doing another fundraising blast.
[656.66 --> 660.52]  So whoever raises the most money tomorrow, if you're on that team, you get a $10 gift card.
[660.98 --> 662.62]  We're going to be doing those every Monday as well.
[662.78 --> 665.88]  If you don't know what Dressember is, it's because you're not on social media.
[666.04 --> 668.22]  So you should join that and follow along with that.
[668.44 --> 674.28]  Again, you can come talk to me or Samara Isenga or Pastor Chris or anybody who's on that team to hear more about that.
[674.56 --> 678.50]  So if you see someone wearing a tie or a dress today, give them an ask and see what's going on.
[678.74 --> 678.98]  Thanks.
[681.44 --> 685.32]  A bunch of people wearing dresses just went, uh-oh.
[688.58 --> 690.10]  One last announcement.
[690.42 --> 696.46]  You may have seen it in the e-bulletin that goes out, but we have a really unique opportunity this year
[696.46 --> 702.12]  to partner with Trinity Western University and their global education program
[702.12 --> 707.52]  and many of their international students who are not able to go home during the Christmas holidays.
[707.52 --> 711.22]  And so a number of them have chosen to stay on campus.
[711.34 --> 714.46]  In fact, the list of students staying on campus is about 130.
[715.70 --> 720.24]  And they have been invited to join us for Christmas Day worship.
[720.24 --> 727.50]  And then our hope in prayer is to provide a family-style meal for them after our worship on Christmas Day
[727.50 --> 732.02]  so that they can have a bit of experience of home and family and hear the gospel,
[732.18 --> 736.16]  maybe even for the first time, proclaimed in a church community.
[736.16 --> 740.92]  And so if that's something that you are interested in or able to help with,
[740.92 --> 747.54]  we will be looking for people to help make a meal, to help serve and share that meal on Christmas Day
[747.54 --> 748.98]  after our worship together.
[749.68 --> 752.70]  And we will be looking for transportation solutions.
[753.22 --> 754.72]  We want to get our hands on a shuttle.
[754.72 --> 759.96]  And so if you either know of a shuttle, have a shuttle, or are licensed to drive a shuttle,
[760.18 --> 764.42]  I am particularly interested in hearing from you this morning to solve that problem.
[764.86 --> 771.20]  So this is a really neat opportunity, and I'm grateful that TWU reached out to us for that
[771.20 --> 774.82]  and that we can serve that community in this way.
[775.36 --> 779.00]  If that's something you're interested in, grab me after service together.
[779.00 --> 786.30]  Let's stand, and we will come to God in worship, song, prayer, and word together.
[791.08 --> 796.22]  Immediately following God's greeting, I'm going to invite those who are coming up to do the candles
[796.22 --> 797.66]  to do that on their own.
[798.72 --> 802.88]  In the presence of God, open your heart to receive his greeting.
[804.20 --> 807.74]  Grace, mercy, and peace to you.
[807.74 --> 812.38]  From God our Father, from the Lord Jesus Christ, Son, and our Savior,
[812.80 --> 817.82]  whose coming we await through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
[818.78 --> 819.18]  Amen.
[837.74 --> 846.22]  Advent is a season of waiting, waiting for the light and darkness, waiting to be filled while empty,
[846.46 --> 847.62]  waiting for the return of the King.
[849.92 --> 853.76]  The question has always been, who or what will you love most?
[854.16 --> 857.62]  This world is full of competing affections that demand our attentions.
[858.14 --> 860.48]  From the very beginning, it has always been this way.
[860.48 --> 866.52]  And yet God, who is love, has shown us true love and is calling us to a better living in love.
[867.02 --> 869.68]  There are so many voices saying, this is love.
[869.90 --> 875.46]  But we submit our hearts and minds to God, the creator and sustainer, who alone can tell us.
[875.46 --> 883.14]  Living in anticipation of the return of the King invites us to be a people of patient endurance and faith,
[883.40 --> 888.16]  who can live rejoicing in the world to come, and with deep joy in the world that is,
[888.74 --> 892.16]  holding on to the love that holds on to us, living it boldly.
[892.72 --> 896.30]  We light this candle as a reminder of the love of God for his people,
[896.64 --> 899.30]  and the love we share that changes the world as we wait.
[899.30 --> 911.58]  The voice of the world is loud, the darkness is deep.
[911.72 --> 915.00]  Into the chaos and confusion, Jesus speaks the clarin call.
[915.42 --> 917.88]  I am the light of the world, you will be a light to the world.
[929.30 --> 959.28]  I am the light of the world, you will be a light to the world.
[959.28 --> 989.26]  I am the light of the world, you will be a light to the world.
[989.28 --> 1019.26]  I am the light of the world.
[1019.26 --> 1029.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1029.36 --> 1059.34]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1059.36 --> 1072.36]  He rules the world with love and peace, and makes the nations prove.
[1073.86 --> 1087.36]  My glory is love, is not just a sense, and my mercy is love, and my mercy is love.
[1087.36 --> 1105.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1105.36 --> 1111.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1111.36 --> 1117.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1117.36 --> 1123.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1123.36 --> 1137.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1137.36 --> 1143.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1143.36 --> 1157.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1157.36 --> 1163.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1163.36 --> 1169.36]  May you the sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1170.36 --> 1171.36]  May you will receive drop the sound of joy.
[1171.36 --> 1173.36]  May you have a sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1173.36 --> 1175.36]  May you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1175.36 --> 1177.36]  May you see yourOLLine sound of joy, may you live beneath the sound of joy.
[1177.36 --> 1178.36]  May yousafe hathеничесvel day倒, assume a sign of joy.
[1178.36 --> 1183.54]  God gave this song to win
[1183.54 --> 1187.36]  His erring trust He runs down
[1188.00 --> 1192.40]  And find it how He's saved
[1192.40 --> 1196.36]  O Lord and God, how it shall come
[1196.88 --> 1201.36]  How measureless and strong
[1201.36 --> 1205.04]  It shall forever, forever
[1205.04 --> 1209.36]  Be saints and angels
[1209.36 --> 1216.94]  When dreams of time shall pass your way
[1216.94 --> 1221.38]  And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall
[1221.38 --> 1225.84]  When man who yearly fears to break
[1225.84 --> 1230.24]  On rocks and hills and mountains fall
[1230.24 --> 1234.32]  God's cause of truth shall still endure
[1234.32 --> 1238.32]  All measureless and strong
[1238.64 --> 1243.42]  Redeeming grace to Adam's grace
[1243.42 --> 1247.32]  The saints and angels sing
[1247.32 --> 1251.32]  O Lord and God, how rich and pure
[1251.70 --> 1256.32]  How measureless and strong
[1256.32 --> 1260.64]  It shall forever, forevermore endure
[1260.64 --> 1262.64]  The saints and angels sing
[1262.64 --> 1267.64]  The saints and angels sing
[1267.64 --> 1271.64]  Could we with thee the ocean fill
[1271.64 --> 1275.64]  And were the skies of parchment paint
[1275.64 --> 1279.64]  Were every stalk on earth a quill
[1279.64 --> 1283.64]  And every man ascribed thy trade
[1283.64 --> 1287.96]  To let the love of God
[1287.96 --> 1292.64]  Would drain the ocean dry
[1292.64 --> 1296.64]  Nor could the scroll contain the hope
[1296.64 --> 1300.64]  Who spread from sky to sky
[1300.64 --> 1301.64]  To time
[1301.64 --> 1302.64]  O Lord and God, how rich and pure
[1302.64 --> 1305.64]  O Lord and God, how rich and pure
[1305.64 --> 1307.64]  How measureless and strong
[1307.64 --> 1309.64]  It shall forever, forevermore endure
[1309.64 --> 1310.64]  Than saints and angels sing
[1310.64 --> 1314.64]  It shall forever, forevermore endure
[1314.64 --> 1319.64]  The saints and angels sing
[1319.64 --> 1322.64]  O Lord and God, how rich and pure
[1322.64 --> 1323.64]  How measureless and strong
[1323.64 --> 1328.64]  It shall forever, forevermore endure
[1328.64 --> 1338.08]  Now forevermore endure the saints and angels are.
[1342.42 --> 1346.44]  God, your love is so rich and pure.
[1347.20 --> 1349.34]  It is measureless and strong.
[1349.74 --> 1354.06]  Our words, they fall short of describing the wonders of your love, O Lord.
[1355.60 --> 1357.70]  And yet we turn away.
[1358.64 --> 1361.12]  How could we leave a love so rich?
[1361.52 --> 1366.30]  How could we walk away from a God who gives of his only son to reconcile our sin?
[1367.04 --> 1368.42]  We are here, aren't we?
[1368.42 --> 1370.20]  We are here worshiping you, God.
[1370.54 --> 1374.14]  We do the rhythms of church and worship and studying your word.
[1374.86 --> 1378.60]  But the eyes of our heart land on other loves that are not you, God.
[1379.54 --> 1383.04]  Sometimes we don't even notice until we are far from you.
[1383.04 --> 1392.18]  As we celebrate Advent and Christmas and remembering your birth, Jesus, we sit in the tension of awaiting your second coming.
[1392.86 --> 1394.84]  That tension is hard and messy.
[1395.76 --> 1400.22]  Some of us embrace the festivities and live for the all-familiar Christmas carols.
[1400.84 --> 1404.08]  Some of us turn to happy faces and only have tears in return.
[1404.08 --> 1407.42]  Some of us don't bat an eye at the changing seasons.
[1408.10 --> 1417.70]  All of us struggle to hold you first in our lives, above every other thing and person and life circumstance, during Christmas and year-round.
[1417.70 --> 1421.00]  Captivate our hearts, God.
[1421.60 --> 1428.78]  That when we come to you and see what you have done, we can do nothing but sing of the story of amazing love.
[1429.42 --> 1438.98]  For you did give of your one and only Son, love incarnate, the Savior of humanity, born to suffer and to save, to raise us from our graves.
[1439.72 --> 1441.34]  You shall reign forevermore.
[1441.84 --> 1444.48]  To you be all praise, glory, and honor.
[1447.70 --> 1477.68]  To you be all praise, glory, and honor.
[1477.70 --> 1479.98]  Cleveland, and honor.
[1483.26 --> 1483.42]  Vizep emo days to lodge the Lord.
[1483.42 --> 1487.34]  O, the incarnate love divine.
[1488.92 --> 1493.16]  Storm and angels gave the song.
[1495.28 --> 1499.26]  Move to babe on bend anything.
[1500.98 --> 1504.56]  My Savior of humanity.
[1504.56 --> 1512.62]  To us a child is born
[1512.62 --> 1518.06]  We shall be forever free
[1518.06 --> 1523.62]  Noel, Noel
[1523.62 --> 1531.18]  Come and see what God has done
[1531.18 --> 1536.24]  Noel, Noel
[1536.24 --> 1543.22]  The story of amazing love
[1543.22 --> 1546.68]  The light of the world
[1546.68 --> 1550.22]  Given for us
[1550.22 --> 1552.06]  Noel
[1552.06 --> 1562.06]  Son of God and Son of Man
[1562.58 --> 1568.06]  There before the world began
[1568.06 --> 1574.06]  Born to suffer, born to save
[1574.06 --> 1580.06]  Born to raise us from the grave
[1580.06 --> 1586.06]  Christ the everlasting Lord
[1586.06 --> 1592.06]  He shall be forevermore
[1592.06 --> 1599.12]  Noel, Noel
[1599.12 --> 1605.06]  Come and see what God has done
[1605.06 --> 1611.06]  Noel, Noel
[1611.06 --> 1617.06]  A story of amazing love
[1617.06 --> 1620.06]  The light of the world
[1620.06 --> 1623.06]  Given for us
[1623.06 --> 1625.06]  Noel
[1625.06 --> 1629.06]  Come and see what God has done
[1629.06 --> 1631.06]  Come and see what God has done
[1631.06 --> 1633.06]  Come and see what God has done
[1633.06 --> 1635.06]  From the world
[1635.06 --> 1636.06]  And the light of the world
[1636.06 --> 1637.06]  Will be forever
[1637.06 --> 1639.06]  You will be forever
[1639.06 --> 1646.06]  edo
[1657.08 --> 1662.46]  no
[1662.46 --> 1662.96]  in
[1662.96 --> 1670.70]  Noel, come and see what God has done.
[1670.70 --> 1688.60]  Noel, Noel, the story of amazing love, the light of the world given for God.
[1688.60 --> 1700.74]  Noel, Noel, come and see what God has done.
[1700.74 --> 1717.74]  Noel, Noel, the story of amazing love, the light of the world given for us.
[1718.60 --> 1725.60]  Noel, the story of amazing love, the light of the world given for us.
[1725.60 --> 1733.60]  Noel, the story of amazing love, the light of the world given for us.
[1733.60 --> 1735.60]  Amen.
[1735.60 --> 1736.60]  Amen.
[1736.60 --> 1738.60]  Amen.
[1738.60 --> 1740.60]  Amen.
[1740.60 --> 1742.60]  Amen.
[1742.60 --> 1743.60]  Amen.
[1743.60 --> 1744.60]  Amen.
[1744.60 --> 1746.60]  Amen.
[1746.60 --> 1747.60]  Amen.
[1747.60 --> 1748.60]  Amen.
[1748.60 --> 1749.60]  Amen.
[1749.60 --> 1750.60]  Amen.
[1750.60 --> 1752.10]  Amen.
[1752.60 --> 1753.60]  Amen.
[1753.60 --> 1754.60]  Amen.
[1754.60 --> 1756.60]  Amen.
[1756.60 --> 1757.60]  Amen.
[1757.60 --> 1758.60]  Amen.
[1758.60 --> 1760.60]  Amen.
[1760.60 --> 1763.60]  Amen.
[1763.60 --> 1764.60]  Amen.
[1764.60 --> 1767.60]  Amen.
[1767.60 --> 1768.60]  Amen.
[1768.60 --> 1769.60]  Amen.
[1769.60 --> 1770.60]  Amen.
[1770.60 --> 1771.60]  Amen.
[1771.60 --> 1771.90]  Amen.
[1771.96 --> 1772.60]  OnsingOOD.
[1772.60 --> 1780.20]  From a single anchor we're almost home
[1780.20 --> 1786.02]  Through every door of danger we're almost home
[1786.02 --> 1791.76]  I'm thinking through saints now before us home
[1791.76 --> 1796.52]  Stopping now we're almost home
[1796.52 --> 1803.32]  This land is falling we're almost home
[1803.32 --> 1809.00]  And lives here so grow that we're almost home
[1809.00 --> 1814.78]  They crack in the other souls for the kingdom come
[1814.78 --> 1819.08]  They turn in love we're almost home
[1819.08 --> 1825.68]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1825.68 --> 1829.12]  So place on forth and bless you
[1829.12 --> 1834.48]  Sure, praise the Lord we're almost home
[1834.48 --> 1843.86]  This journey ours together we're almost home
[1843.86 --> 1849.60]  And to that grave forever we're almost home
[1849.60 --> 1855.04]  But sun will sink down and cloud be thrown
[1855.04 --> 1859.60]  Can fade to heart we're almost home
[1859.60 --> 1866.32]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1866.32 --> 1871.76]  So place on earth and bless you sure oh praise the Lord
[1871.76 --> 1879.20]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1879.20 --> 1884.48]  This land is just a paper we're almost home
[1884.48 --> 1889.92]  The sun is standing yonder we're almost home
[1889.92 --> 1895.92]  Take courage for this darkness shall break to dawn
[1895.92 --> 1897.36]  Oh, lift your eyes we're almost home
[1897.36 --> 1899.36]  Oh, lift your eyes we're almost home
[1899.36 --> 1903.36]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1903.36 --> 1907.36]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1907.36 --> 1911.36]  So place on tour and the blessed shore oh praise the Lord
[1911.36 --> 1924.80]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1924.80 --> 1936.24]  We're almost home, we're almost home
[1936.24 --> 1937.28]  Please be seated
[1937.28 --> 1959.52]  Our great pleasure this morning in worship to administer and participate in the sacrament of baptism for one of our little children among us
[1959.52 --> 1970.48]  Now we don't believe that there's anything inherently magical about the water that we apply to the child, right?
[1970.48 --> 1974.00]  The water does not wash away original sin or save the child
[1974.00 --> 1980.40]  We believe and know that only Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and exaltation will do that
[1980.40 --> 1988.80]  And we believe that this child and the parents will profess is sinful by nature and from birth
[1988.80 --> 1999.28]  And yet we believe that the promises of God for the forgiveness of sins and for life lived in the Holy Spirit are offered to him
[1999.28 --> 2008.08]  And so we baptize infants not out of superstition or just because of tradition
[2008.08 --> 2012.16]  Or really just because we like cute babies, although he is adorable
[2012.16 --> 2021.76]  Right? We baptize infants because they are covenant children and therefore should receive the sign of the covenant
[2021.76 --> 2029.60]  In Genesis 15, God made a covenant that is a special relationship of promise with Abraham
[2029.60 --> 2035.28]  This covenant was sealed with the sign of circumcision in Genesis 17
[2035.28 --> 2037.84]  And God promised to bless Abraham
[2037.84 --> 2041.60]  And for Abraham this meant two things in particular
[2041.60 --> 2045.92]  It meant offspring, children, and it meant land
[2045.92 --> 2048.96]  But at the heart of the covenant
[2048.96 --> 2055.60]  Was God's promise that he would be a god to Abraham and his children
[2055.60 --> 2063.10]  And so God cut a covenant into Israel's flesh carving out a people for himself
[2063.10 --> 2069.82]  And he gave them a purpose to be a light on the path home for all humanity
[2069.82 --> 2073.74]  Now fast forward through the drama of scripture
[2073.74 --> 2080.22]  And in the fullness of time, God sent his son, Jesus, to be our savior
[2080.22 --> 2085.42]  And in his death on the cross, our old self is dead and buried
[2085.42 --> 2092.46]  And in his resurrection, we rise to a new life and we look forward to the new creation
[2092.46 --> 2098.78]  And so when we baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
[2098.78 --> 2103.34]  The triune God seals our adoption as his children
[2103.34 --> 2108.62]  And he writes his name invisibly on our foreheads
[2108.62 --> 2116.46]  He says, you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God
[2116.46 --> 2122.06]  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God
[2123.34 --> 2128.46]  By baptism, we have a new identity in Christ
[2128.46 --> 2136.22]  And so as a church, we come to administer the sacrament of baptism to Theo today
[2136.22 --> 2140.22]  With the weight of church history to encourage us
[2140.22 --> 2144.78]  The example of redemptive history to confirm our practice
[2144.78 --> 2149.50]  We baptize in obedience to Christ's command
[2149.50 --> 2155.82]  As we are about to administer the sacrament
[2155.82 --> 2160.54]  And as the sign of inclusion in the covenant community as circumcision was
[2160.54 --> 2166.06]  The water that we are about to sprinkle is a sign of cleansing from sin
[2166.06 --> 2170.54]  As the sprinkled blood of bulls and goats in the Old Testament was
[2171.58 --> 2176.46]  And we pray that Theo will take advantage of his covenant privileges
[2176.46 --> 2180.30]  Acknowledging his Lord all the days of his life
[2180.30 --> 2184.70]  And that one day, by faith, will make these promises his own
[2187.34 --> 2189.10]  He already knows it's going to be a hard journey
[2191.90 --> 2195.58]  Nathan and Maria, since you are presenting Theo for baptism
[2196.30 --> 2197.82]  We ask you the following questions
[2197.82 --> 2200.06]  I'm going to invite you to come with your family up to the front
[2200.38 --> 2202.14]  And just find a space here
[2206.46 --> 2216.22]  Just right here guys
[2220.78 --> 2224.54]  So I'm going to ask you two questions and then at the end you can respond
[2224.54 --> 2226.22]  We do with God's help
[2227.58 --> 2228.54]  If in fact you do
[2229.34 --> 2229.74]  You too
[2229.74 --> 2244.46]  Do you believe that your children though sinful by nature are received by God in Christ as members of the covenant and therefore ought to be baptized?
[2245.82 --> 2251.82]  And do you promise in reliance on the Holy Spirit and with the help of the Christians in this community gathered here
[2251.82 --> 2257.42]  To do all in your power to instruct Theo and all your children in the Christian faith
[2257.66 --> 2263.18]  And to lead them by your example into the life of Christian discipleship
[2263.66 --> 2265.18]  Nathan and Maria, what is your answer?
[2267.10 --> 2267.50]  Amen
[2269.18 --> 2276.14]  Our Lord said let the little children come to him and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these
[2276.14 --> 2282.22]  And so if you are a little child or if you are young at heart and you want to come up close to see what's going on
[2282.54 --> 2285.18]  We want to invite you to come here to the front
[2288.38 --> 2289.34]  Ruby lead the way
[2290.78 --> 2291.90]  Yeah, very good
[2292.86 --> 2293.82]  Thanks Malachi
[2294.54 --> 2295.98]  Not too close
[2295.98 --> 2297.98]  Otherwise, you're gonna be in a splash zone
[2297.98 --> 2312.22]  Guys in just a minute. We're gonna baptize Theo with this water. We will take it
[2312.78 --> 2314.70]  And we will pour it over his head
[2316.78 --> 2319.26]  We'll sprinkle it over his head I promise it won't be that much
[2321.34 --> 2327.66]  We will take and this water is a picture for us of how jesus makes us clean
[2328.30 --> 2334.06]  So just like sometimes hopefully recently you guys have showers or baths and that makes you clean
[2334.46 --> 2337.02]  Right. This is a picture for us of what
[2337.58 --> 2344.62]  Jesus does in his life and in his death and in his resurrection and we're going to take this picture and put it on theo
[2345.34 --> 2345.66]  today
[2349.02 --> 2351.02]  Bring him forward
[2353.98 --> 2356.38]  Theo William John
[2356.38 --> 2356.86]  John
[2356.86 --> 2357.66]  Klein Geltink
[2357.66 --> 2360.62]  I baptize you in the name of the father
[2362.70 --> 2363.58]  In the name of the son
[2365.82 --> 2367.34]  And in the name of the holy spirit
[2367.34 --> 2369.42]  Amen
[2369.42 --> 2372.46]  Amen
[2376.30 --> 2377.18]  You like that part
[2383.10 --> 2384.14]  Take that and help your mom
[2384.14 --> 2389.10]  As we have baptized
[2389.10 --> 2393.82]  Theo and heard the promises of god as we have heard his parents make promises
[2393.82 --> 2399.26]  We as a church family also have opportunity to make promises
[2400.22 --> 2404.22]  And so i'm going to invite you congregation here gathered to stand
[2404.22 --> 2407.26]  I'm, going to ask you a question
[2409.26 --> 2416.70]  And then following the question I invite you to respond by saying we do with god's help kids if you want to go back to your seats
[2416.70 --> 2418.22]  You can thank you for being up here
[2418.22 --> 2426.30]  Do you church family of langley emmanuel friends and visitors all who believe in the lord jesus do you promise
[2426.30 --> 2429.58]  To love encourage and support nathan
[2429.58 --> 2433.42]  Maria kezia marcus julia joel anna and now
[2433.90 --> 2435.58]  Theo did I get them all
[2435.58 --> 2436.54]  Good
[2436.54 --> 2442.54]  Do you promise to love and support them by teaching the gospel of god's love
[2443.18 --> 2453.02]  By being an example of christian faith and character and by giving the strong support of god's family in fellowship prayer and service
[2453.26 --> 2457.82]  And maybe once in a while by babysitting so that mom and dad can go out on a date
[2457.82 --> 2460.94]  Congregation what is your answer?
[2463.90 --> 2464.30]  Amen
[2465.10 --> 2465.90]  You may be seated
[2470.54 --> 2471.50]  Do you mind if I take him?
[2480.86 --> 2486.70]  Congregation of the lord jesus christ today this child begins a journey of faith
[2487.90 --> 2495.42]  A journey of faith that he will walk with us lord willing straight unto the day where he stands in front of us
[2495.66 --> 2498.14]  professing his shared faith
[2498.62 --> 2504.38]  Together and so as you have promised to receive him. I urge you
[2505.66 --> 2509.10]  Be god's presence in his life
[2511.42 --> 2517.50]  Be the one and the way through whom he sees the love of jesus and takes that
[2517.98 --> 2518.62]  For himself
[2521.02 --> 2524.38]  Be in his life a source of god's peace
[2525.66 --> 2527.42]  And a source of god's grace
[2528.62 --> 2532.38]  And be for this family and all of these children the same
[2534.22 --> 2540.94]  The blood of jesus unites us all and by baptism you have a new family and he
[2540.94 --> 2545.34]  Is part of that family amen
[2546.70 --> 2547.02]  Amen
[2547.02 --> 2548.54]  We're going to pray together
[2548.54 --> 2552.62]  Holy god
[2553.58 --> 2554.38]  Heavenly father
[2554.38 --> 2554.62]  Heavenly father
[2555.42 --> 2559.82]  We thank you for who you are and for your promise to us in baptism
[2559.82 --> 2563.58]  We thank you for that promise now extended to theo
[2563.58 --> 2571.74]  We pray that you would move in power by grace so that faith grows in him strong and sure
[2571.74 --> 2577.82]  So that he may be like a tree planted by streams of living water that can endure
[2577.82 --> 2583.82]  The wind that fears not the fire that can stand when pushed against
[2585.74 --> 2587.58]  Roots your love in him
[2588.14 --> 2588.70]  We pray
[2589.82 --> 2597.74]  And may we all together cling to the promises that you have spoken over theo and over each of us who believe
[2597.74 --> 2601.66]  We pray this in the name of jesus christ our savior
[2602.30 --> 2602.78]  amen
[2606.38 --> 2607.74]  One more hold on
[2608.62 --> 2608.94]  Sorry
[2609.82 --> 2611.18]  I appreciate your eagerness
[2612.54 --> 2614.86]  We have just a gift to mark this occasion
[2614.86 --> 2618.86]  So i'm going to invite john skipper who's your district elder to come forward just a
[2619.18 --> 2624.30]  A gift that a reminder a children's book about what happened here today and a certificate
[2625.02 --> 2627.02]  To commemorate that together
[2629.10 --> 2629.58]  Thank you
[2630.62 --> 2632.62]  All right now you can go
[2648.86 --> 2661.02]  How deep the father's love for us
[2661.02 --> 2665.02]  How God's beyond your measure
[2665.02 --> 2669.02]  That he should give his only son
[2669.02 --> 2671.02]  To pay the registry
[2671.02 --> 2685.18]  How great the pain of searing cause
[2685.18 --> 2689.18]  O father has his face away
[2689.18 --> 2693.18]  As wounds which guard the troubled heart
[2693.18 --> 2695.18]  Amen
[2695.18 --> 2699.34]  Such guard the chosen one
[2699.34 --> 2705.34]  I can give his only son's to glory
[2715.34 --> 2721.34]  Behold the man upon the cross
[2721.34 --> 2727.50]  My sin upon his shoulders
[2727.50 --> 2733.50]  Ashamed I hear my walking voice
[2733.50 --> 2737.50]  Call out among the scoffers
[2737.50 --> 2743.50]  It was my sin that held him there
[2743.50 --> 2747.50]  Until it was accomplished
[2748.14 --> 2751.66]  His time
[2753.34 --> 2755.10]  Has pode於愛
[2755.98 --> 2758.30]  Zevence
[2759.26 --> 2761.50]  Rec noite
[2761.50 --> 2777.04]  I will not boast in anything
[2777.04 --> 2783.06]  No gifts, no power, no wisdom
[2783.06 --> 2790.28]  But I will boast in Jesus Christ
[2790.28 --> 2795.10]  His death and resurrection
[2795.10 --> 2801.58]  Why should I gain from His reward?
[2801.58 --> 2807.58]  I cannot give an answer
[2807.58 --> 2814.08]  But gifts I know with all my heart
[2814.08 --> 2819.06]  His words that live my ransom
[2819.06 --> 2826.26]  Why should I gain from His reward?
[2826.26 --> 2832.26]  I cannot give an answer
[2832.26 --> 2839.60]  But gifts I know with all my heart
[2839.60 --> 2845.92]  His wounds have made my ransom
[2845.92 --> 2862.64]  Good morning.
[2863.12 --> 2869.90]  Today's offering, or today, instead of our regular offering, we have a reverse offering.
[2869.90 --> 2876.70]  The purpose of this is to directly bless people in our community who may be struggling this Christmas season.
[2877.02 --> 2884.32]  So as the deacons pass around the gift cards, please feel free to take what you need and help Emmanuel CRC give back to the community.
[2884.32 --> 2892.04]  Thank you
[2892.04 --> 2896.14]  Thank you
[2896.14 --> 2923.78]  The child is raised to lay to rest
[2923.78 --> 2929.32]  On Mary's lavish sleeping
[2929.32 --> 2936.00]  Whom angels greet with anthem sweet
[2936.00 --> 2941.54]  While shepherds watch our King
[2941.54 --> 2948.24]  This, this is Christ our King
[2948.24 --> 2954.42]  Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
[2954.42 --> 2960.38]  Haste, haste to bring Him all
[2960.38 --> 2966.08]  The faith, the Son of Mary
[2966.08 --> 2984.94]  Thy lives be in such cleanest state
[2984.94 --> 2990.30]  Where ox and ass are feeding
[2990.30 --> 2996.64]  Good Christian, dear, for sinners here
[2996.64 --> 3002.30]  The silent word is pleading
[3002.30 --> 3008.52]  Death's fear shall pierce Him through
[3008.52 --> 3014.30]  The cross be born for me, for you
[3014.30 --> 3020.80]  Hail, hail, for one may flesh
[3020.80 --> 3026.30]  The faith, the Son of Mary
[3026.30 --> 3044.44]  So bring Him intense gold and fur
[3044.44 --> 3050.38]  Come, peasant King to own Him
[3050.38 --> 3056.38]  The King of kings salvation brings
[3056.38 --> 3062.62]  Let loving hearts enthrone Him
[3062.62 --> 3068.20]  Praise, praise the song on heart
[3068.20 --> 3073.38]  The Virgin sings her lullaby
[3073.38 --> 3079.76]  Joy, joy, joy for Christ is born
[3079.76 --> 3085.38]  The faith, the Son of Mary
[3085.38 --> 3091.38]  This, this is Christ the King
[3091.38 --> 3097.12]  Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
[3097.12 --> 3102.88]  He sings to bring Him all
[3102.88 --> 3108.12]  The greater Son of Mary
[3108.12 --> 3127.10]  He sings to bring Him all
[3127.10 --> 3130.20]  Okay, I'd like to invite all the kids up front
[3130.20 --> 3131.08]  For Kids Corner
[3131.08 --> 3138.20]  Yeah, you guys can pull up a little closer
[3138.20 --> 3142.82]  Alright, how's everyone doing this morning?
[3143.20 --> 3143.50]  Good
[3143.50 --> 3145.38]  Louder, how's everybody doing?
[3145.70 --> 3146.22]  Good
[3146.22 --> 3147.90]  Ah, it's good, that's better
[3147.90 --> 3151.52]  The last few weeks in children's worship time
[3151.52 --> 3153.72]  I've learned and noticed that we're talking about
[3153.72 --> 3155.54]  Hearing, listening
[3155.54 --> 3156.84]  Hmm
[3156.84 --> 3157.76]  About God?
[3158.32 --> 3160.44]  Yes, what God's been telling us
[3160.44 --> 3161.58]  Or will be teaching us
[3161.58 --> 3163.84]  I got a question for you
[3163.84 --> 3165.32]  When you guys are at home sometimes
[3165.32 --> 3166.12]  And you're around the house
[3166.12 --> 3167.26]  Does your mom ever say to you
[3167.26 --> 3168.72]  Or dad, are you hearing me?
[3168.80 --> 3170.18]  Or are you, can you hear me?
[3170.24 --> 3171.04]  Or are you listening?
[3171.22 --> 3172.54]  Does that ever happen in your house?
[3172.72 --> 3174.10]  Yeah, sometimes, yeah?
[3175.64 --> 3177.48]  Like when your mom asks you to clean your room
[3177.48 --> 3178.78]  And you're like, and you don't
[3178.78 --> 3180.76]  And then she says, did you hear what I said?
[3180.76 --> 3183.38]  So guess what?
[3184.10 --> 3185.20]  I did some research
[3185.20 --> 3187.10]  Humans are not very good listeners
[3187.10 --> 3188.78]  We don't, well we're good listeners
[3188.78 --> 3190.12]  But we don't hear very well
[3190.12 --> 3192.76]  In terms of, in relation to all other animals
[3192.76 --> 3193.72]  On this planet
[3193.72 --> 3195.44]  There's some that hear better than us
[3195.44 --> 3196.12]  Did you know that?
[3196.52 --> 3196.96]  Bunnies?
[3197.52 --> 3198.88]  Anybody got any other ideas?
[3199.34 --> 3199.60]  Yeah
[3199.60 --> 3202.58]  Anyway, I've got five of the top
[3202.58 --> 3205.78]  Listening animals in the world
[3205.78 --> 3207.44]  Does anybody know what that is?
[3207.44 --> 3208.44]  The ass
[3208.44 --> 3209.66]  Yes, that's number one
[3209.66 --> 3210.56]  What's the second one?
[3210.80 --> 3211.34]  What's that?
[3212.22 --> 3212.66]  Dolphins
[3212.66 --> 3212.68]  Dolphins
[3212.68 --> 3212.70]  Dolphins
[3212.70 --> 3213.56]  What about the next?
[3214.76 --> 3216.72]  That was a little surprising to me
[3216.72 --> 3217.50]  What's that?
[3218.40 --> 3219.82]  That's a moth, actually
[3219.82 --> 3221.92]  And the last one is?
[3223.66 --> 3224.26]  Owl
[3224.26 --> 3224.54]  Owl
[3224.54 --> 3227.20]  So today we're going to go in the back
[3227.20 --> 3228.52]  And we're going to learn more about
[3228.52 --> 3230.52]  Hearing and listening to God's word
[3230.52 --> 3234.34]  Should we pray together first before we go?
[3235.30 --> 3236.78]  Hold your hands, close your eyes
[3236.78 --> 3237.82]  Heavenly Father
[3237.82 --> 3238.80]  Thank you for this day
[3238.80 --> 3241.30]  Thank you for all the many blessings you've given us
[3241.30 --> 3243.02]  Thank you for the teachers
[3243.02 --> 3244.52]  That are teaching your word
[3244.52 --> 3246.16]  In children's worship time
[3246.16 --> 3248.00]  I pray that we have a good time this morning
[3248.00 --> 3249.84]  And learning about you
[3249.84 --> 3251.16]  For Jesus' sake, amen
[3251.16 --> 3252.20]  Alright
[3252.20 --> 3253.36]  Stand up
[3253.36 --> 3258.20]  Thank you for being free
[3258.20 --> 3259.06]  To be a good timeING
[3259.06 --> 3259.68]  And begin with your great information
[3259.68 --> 3260.50]  Thank you
[3260.50 --> 3260.80]  Amen
[3260.80 --> 3261.58]  Thank you
[3261.58 --> 3263.38]  Amen
[3263.38 --> 3293.36]  Thank you.
[3293.38 --> 3303.72]  Good morning.
[3303.88 --> 3308.58]  My name is Sam, and I'm a member here at Emanuel, and it's my privilege to lead you in prayer
[3308.58 --> 3309.14]  this morning.
[3309.88 --> 3311.46]  I do have one announcement.
[3311.46 --> 3326.10]  David and Leanne Harris are first-time grandparents, and they wanted us to know about that.
[3326.64 --> 3333.02]  Lucy Peach Stunenberg, the first child of Megan and Dylan, born late yesterday.
[3333.02 --> 3335.04]  So we are grateful with them.
[3340.56 --> 3341.72]  Please pray with me.
[3341.72 --> 3345.96]  Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
[3347.00 --> 3354.18]  We read in Isaiah, it says, for unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government
[3354.18 --> 3361.22]  will be upon his shoulders, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
[3361.60 --> 3364.28]  Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[3364.28 --> 3369.46]  As we journey in this Advent season, we are mindful of your love.
[3370.52 --> 3372.48]  How deep the Father's love for us!
[3373.26 --> 3374.92]  How vast beyond all measure!
[3375.50 --> 3379.38]  That he should give his only son to make a wretch his treasure.
[3379.38 --> 3388.28]  Jesus came into this world, not in a palace which could never match his glory, but in a cattle
[3388.28 --> 3395.92]  shed, born to a peasant girl and a humble carpenter, with means that would be considered under the
[3395.92 --> 3397.30]  poverty line today.
[3398.48 --> 3401.22]  We pray for a world which does not acknowledge him.
[3402.14 --> 3405.74]  We think of the war in Ukraine, where thousands are suffering.
[3405.74 --> 3410.06]  Unrest in Iran, and many other areas of this world.
[3410.92 --> 3413.34]  For a struggle to gain power and greed.
[3414.74 --> 3418.54]  May this season be a time when many will seek you as the King of Kings.
[3419.64 --> 3423.56]  Bless the efforts of many organizations that try to make a difference.
[3424.64 --> 3427.70]  The ones that are your hands and feet to bring the good news of the gospel.
[3428.88 --> 3433.60]  We are grateful for the many mission thrift stores which provide means for the Bible League
[3433.60 --> 3441.10]  of Canada to provide scriptures, training for new believers in over 43 countries in our world.
[3442.04 --> 3443.00]  You are faithful.
[3444.12 --> 3447.72]  We also pray for those that find this time a difficult one.
[3448.54 --> 3452.06]  Loved ones that may be missing as we gather to celebrate Christmas.
[3452.82 --> 3455.66]  Those unable to connect with a strange family and friends.
[3455.66 --> 3462.58]  We pray that you will bring restoration to marriages, to strain relationships, and allow healing to take place.
[3463.46 --> 3468.62]  Give a measure of your goodness to them, and pass the peace that transcends all understanding.
[3469.98 --> 3475.98]  We are also grateful for the successful surgery for Trudy DeVries, and pray for a quick recovery in the weeks ahead.
[3475.98 --> 3483.04]  We pray for continued healing for John Philpott, Harry Baumann, who are recovering from recent surgeries.
[3483.82 --> 3488.50]  Give them your peace as they take small steps to forward to more normalized life.
[3489.26 --> 3491.78]  We pray for Rika Ammons as she waits for hip surgery.
[3492.52 --> 3496.92]  Give patient understanding and endurance to this time of pain.
[3496.92 --> 3506.56]  We also bring the unspoken request for those who suffer in silence, and are not specifically named, but you know them all.
[3507.76 --> 3511.42]  We celebrate with the Klang-Elding family and the baptism of Theo today.
[3512.08 --> 3516.80]  We pray that Nathan and Maria will receive the wisdom to nurture him in the knowledge of you.
[3518.28 --> 3524.58]  Anoint Pastor Chris this morning as he brings your word, that his words will be focusing on Revelations 2.
[3524.58 --> 3528.12]  Speak to us and encourage our walk in the week to come.
[3529.10 --> 3535.12]  As we break bread together today, remind us of the incredible gift in the death and resurrection of your Son,
[3535.66 --> 3539.50]  who sits at your right hand, interceding for us continuously.
[3540.42 --> 3542.44]  Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly.
[3544.04 --> 3553.18]  Behold the man upon the cross, my sin upon his shoulders, ashamed to hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
[3553.18 --> 3557.88]  It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished.
[3558.54 --> 3561.12]  His dying breath has brought me life.
[3561.70 --> 3563.26]  I know that it is finished.
[3564.30 --> 3566.36]  Why should I gain from his reward?
[3567.00 --> 3568.54]  I cannot give an answer.
[3569.30 --> 3571.06]  But this I know with all my heart.
[3571.76 --> 3573.56]  His wounds have paid my ransom.
[3574.48 --> 3575.44]  In Christ alone.
[3576.36 --> 3576.88]  Amen.
[3576.88 --> 3577.02]  Amen.
[3583.18 --> 3610.30]  This Advent and Christmas season,
[3610.30 --> 3613.82]  we have been looking in the book of Revelation.
[3614.10 --> 3617.48]  We've been kind of jumping around in different places.
[3617.66 --> 3621.00]  We've seen some pretty strange stories
[3621.00 --> 3625.62]  and lived in the midst of their teachings for a little while.
[3625.74 --> 3631.56]  Today we come to what might be a little bit more familiar of a text to many of you.
[3631.62 --> 3634.94]  We're going to read together from Revelation 7.
[3634.94 --> 3637.92]  I'm going to read the first seven verses,
[3638.92 --> 3645.92]  which is the letter from Jesus through John to the church in Ephesus.
[3646.62 --> 3651.70]  As always, I encourage you to have a Bible open in front of you or turned on and the like.
[3652.08 --> 3656.34]  We're going to spend some time looking closely at Revelation 2, 1 to 7,
[3656.48 --> 3661.30]  but also we're going to spend some time looking at the book of Ephesians.
[3661.30 --> 3664.40]  So we're reading the letter to the church in Ephesus,
[3664.64 --> 3666.68]  and so it's pertinent for us to have Ephesians.
[3666.74 --> 3669.62]  So if you thumb back a couple books and have Ephesians,
[3669.74 --> 3671.68]  kind of put your finger in there or a piece of paper,
[3672.02 --> 3674.46]  you can follow along more quickly.
[3675.64 --> 3679.92]  Let me begin by reading from Revelation 2.
[3681.92 --> 3686.14]  To the angel of the church in Ephesus write,
[3686.14 --> 3692.34]  These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand
[3692.34 --> 3695.32]  and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
[3696.64 --> 3701.76]  I know your deeds, your hard work, and your perseverance.
[3702.52 --> 3705.64]  I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people,
[3705.64 --> 3710.28]  that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not,
[3710.48 --> 3712.66]  and have found them false.
[3712.66 --> 3719.12]  You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name
[3719.12 --> 3721.54]  and have not grown weary.
[3722.80 --> 3726.30]  Yet I hold this against you.
[3727.14 --> 3730.96]  You have forsaken the love you had at first.
[3732.14 --> 3734.36]  Consider how far you have fallen.
[3735.00 --> 3737.72]  Repent and do the things you did at first.
[3737.72 --> 3742.96]  If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
[3744.18 --> 3746.44]  But you have this in your favor.
[3747.30 --> 3752.22]  You hate the practice of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
[3753.52 --> 3758.64]  Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
[3758.64 --> 3764.40]  To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,
[3764.78 --> 3767.78]  which is in the paradise of God.
[3768.52 --> 3770.04]  This is the word of the Lord.
[3770.04 --> 3780.78]  Right now, in our family devotions at home,
[3781.58 --> 3784.94]  which we do after our evening meal together,
[3785.94 --> 3788.22]  because it is the season of Advent,
[3788.44 --> 3793.22]  and because we are currently reading through the book Seeking God's Face,
[3793.76 --> 3796.16]  if you're not familiar with that devotional book,
[3796.16 --> 3800.76]  it's a collection of scriptures and confessional texts
[3800.76 --> 3803.54]  from the Reformed tradition more broadly,
[3804.02 --> 3807.50]  sort of following the structure of the Revised Common Lectionary,
[3808.34 --> 3810.20]  following the liturgical calendar,
[3810.94 --> 3814.12]  and leads through scriptures and prayers.
[3814.94 --> 3818.64]  It's a really interesting book as you move through the year together.
[3819.16 --> 3823.92]  Anyway, as part of our doing that as a family this Advent season,
[3823.92 --> 3827.40]  we also have our Advent wreath out,
[3827.48 --> 3829.64]  where we have candles in that wreath,
[3829.78 --> 3832.28]  and we read the blessing,
[3832.58 --> 3834.42]  which is just a verse from a psalm,
[3834.50 --> 3838.10]  and then one of our kids will light the Advent candle,
[3839.10 --> 3841.78]  and then we'll do the readings and the like,
[3841.88 --> 3845.08]  and then when we have done the concluding prayer,
[3845.42 --> 3849.08]  the same person who lit the candle gets to blow it out at the end.
[3849.08 --> 3854.32]  Now, we go through and do that every day,
[3854.44 --> 3856.90]  so the first week of devotions we light one candle,
[3857.08 --> 3858.98]  and then the second week we light two candles.
[3859.38 --> 3861.72]  Today is the first day of the third week of Advent,
[3861.84 --> 3864.16]  so we'll light three tonight when we do that.
[3865.86 --> 3868.64]  Now, I have to say that as we've been doing this,
[3868.86 --> 3873.02]  my kids are really excited for family devotional time,
[3873.66 --> 3874.94]  or at least that's what I thought,
[3874.94 --> 3877.02]  because really they're excited to light the candle,
[3878.28 --> 3881.28]  to get the lighters flicker switch out of the drawer,
[3881.46 --> 3883.90]  to run over and to light the candle,
[3884.06 --> 3885.98]  and then to play with the burning candle,
[3886.04 --> 3887.76]  but not actually play with the burning candle.
[3887.86 --> 3889.76]  You know how kids like kind of lean forward,
[3889.88 --> 3892.94]  and they talk with a little extra blowing
[3893.64 --> 3895.90]  to see if they can make it flicker or blow out,
[3896.08 --> 3897.96]  and then when we finally finish,
[3898.04 --> 3898.94]  we say amen, and they go.
[3898.94 --> 3902.62]  So there's this excitement that they have,
[3903.02 --> 3905.94]  but it's not for what we wanted them to be excited about,
[3906.34 --> 3909.22]  and yet we are going through the rhythms.
[3909.80 --> 3913.30]  Now, I think that kind of can function for us generally
[3913.30 --> 3917.38]  as a parallel or a parable, maybe,
[3917.74 --> 3922.10]  for our moving through these seasons, right?
[3922.14 --> 3923.36]  We want you to be excited,
[3923.58 --> 3926.28]  but sometimes we get excited about the wrong things,
[3926.28 --> 3927.84]  or we get really excited,
[3928.10 --> 3930.64]  and then it kind of wanes a little bit,
[3930.74 --> 3932.06]  and then we get excited again,
[3932.12 --> 3935.94]  and then it lessens a little bit more, right?
[3935.98 --> 3937.06]  I think for some of us,
[3937.12 --> 3940.76]  that's our experience of Christmas and Advent,
[3940.92 --> 3942.74]  this excitement and it waning,
[3942.88 --> 3943.86]  and then excitement again,
[3943.94 --> 3945.50]  and then back to waning.
[3946.12 --> 3949.06]  Now, maybe for you, it's a different pattern, right?
[3949.08 --> 3952.18]  Maybe it's excitement, but then apathy,
[3952.18 --> 3954.52]  or maybe it's excitement,
[3954.88 --> 3957.10]  but then you remember that thing,
[3957.30 --> 3960.38]  and that, oh man, that guy cut you off,
[3960.46 --> 3964.18]  and then you're back in anger for a little while.
[3965.28 --> 3968.68]  And maybe it's not even moving from one extreme to another,
[3969.10 --> 3970.72]  right, like excitement to apathy.
[3971.12 --> 3974.28]  Maybe this is just a season of grief for you,
[3974.30 --> 3976.10]  or you're under a shadow of doubt,
[3976.10 --> 3978.94]  or your faith is just full of despair,
[3978.94 --> 3983.54]  or, and so this Advent and Christmas is hard.
[3985.34 --> 3987.74]  Now, in our Advent series here,
[3988.14 --> 3992.12]  we have been adding another layer to that,
[3992.68 --> 3996.42]  because not only is Advent a season of looking back
[3996.42 --> 3999.44]  and of waiting for the Christ child,
[3999.74 --> 4003.80]  it is also a season of anticipating his return,
[4004.36 --> 4007.60]  a season where we look into the future
[4007.60 --> 4009.80]  to look forward to the day
[4009.80 --> 4014.68]  where Christ will come again in glory, right?
[4014.72 --> 4017.28]  And so to all of that excitement and waning,
[4017.52 --> 4019.46]  to all that excitement and apathy,
[4019.76 --> 4023.40]  to all of that grief and groaning or doubt,
[4023.62 --> 4028.48]  we are adding the layer of a future anticipation.
[4028.48 --> 4032.74]  And it has been our contention,
[4032.86 --> 4033.94]  our point here,
[4033.94 --> 4037.94]  that it is precisely this future anticipation
[4037.94 --> 4042.06]  that allows us or fuels us
[4042.06 --> 4046.52]  to live in the midst of grief with hope,
[4046.56 --> 4049.88]  or to live in the midst of despair with rejoicing,
[4050.08 --> 4052.36]  properly defined and understood, of course, right?
[4052.52 --> 4054.94]  And so looking at the book of Revelation,
[4054.94 --> 4057.86]  we have been allowing God's Spirit
[4057.86 --> 4061.32]  to fill our lives with patient endurance,
[4061.68 --> 4063.58]  with a particular meaning,
[4064.58 --> 4067.44]  and to fill our faith with a unique purpose.
[4068.58 --> 4071.00]  We've reiterated that in our candle lighting.
[4071.42 --> 4073.86]  We've said it over and over again each week here,
[4074.00 --> 4078.42]  but living in anticipation of the return of the King
[4078.42 --> 4083.52]  invites us to be a people of patient endurance and faith,
[4083.52 --> 4087.24]  who can live rejoicing in the world to come
[4087.24 --> 4090.44]  and with joy in the world that is,
[4091.16 --> 4094.90]  holding on to the love that holds on to us
[4094.90 --> 4096.60]  and living it boldly,
[4097.44 --> 4101.72]  longing for the day when all will be made whole.
[4103.88 --> 4108.50]  This morning, we're going to dig into that third part,
[4108.66 --> 4112.22]  holding on to the love that holds on to us,
[4112.22 --> 4114.34]  living it boldly.
[4115.10 --> 4117.50]  Now to do that, we've read from Revelation 2,
[4117.62 --> 4118.66]  this first section here,
[4119.00 --> 4123.40]  and our particular focus is going to come from verse 4,
[4123.54 --> 4125.20]  and so you might have that there,
[4125.66 --> 4129.48]  where Jesus says through John to the church in Ephesus,
[4129.74 --> 4132.10]  yet this I hold against you.
[4132.90 --> 4136.86]  You have forsaken the love you had at first.
[4136.86 --> 4140.50]  Now, just to get everyone caught up
[4140.50 --> 4143.06]  and to make sure that we're all on the same page here,
[4143.42 --> 4147.10]  Revelation sort of has two halves to it,
[4147.14 --> 4149.20]  or two parts, in a sense.
[4149.52 --> 4152.50]  The first part, which is not actually near half the letter,
[4152.80 --> 4155.36]  is the first three chapters, right?
[4155.38 --> 4156.20]  It's the introduction,
[4156.46 --> 4158.46]  and it's the seven letters to the churches
[4158.46 --> 4160.14]  of a particular area.
[4160.32 --> 4161.88]  Now, if you have your Bible open,
[4161.88 --> 4164.30]  you'll see in chapter 1, verse 10,
[4165.10 --> 4166.48]  John writes,
[4166.76 --> 4169.48]  On the Lord's day I was in the Spirit,
[4169.74 --> 4173.72]  and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,
[4174.10 --> 4174.60]  which said,
[4175.28 --> 4177.38]  Write on a scroll what you see,
[4177.54 --> 4179.34]  and send it to the seven churches,
[4179.76 --> 4182.16]  to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum,
[4183.80 --> 4187.20]  Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
[4187.20 --> 4192.50]  Now, you can see, we have an image there,
[4193.08 --> 4195.40]  that the locations of these churches
[4195.40 --> 4199.18]  are in the western part of what we would call
[4199.18 --> 4200.60]  modern-day Turkey.
[4200.74 --> 4202.94]  They're kind of collected there together.
[4204.40 --> 4208.46]  And the first letter is to the church of Ephesus.
[4209.64 --> 4213.96]  And our focus this morning in this letter
[4213.96 --> 4216.34]  actually starts out really strong,
[4216.64 --> 4218.34]  and it's full of lots of praise
[4218.34 --> 4219.76]  for the church there, right?
[4219.82 --> 4221.12]  Like, look at it again.
[4221.20 --> 4223.74]  Jesus says, right, through John's writing,
[4223.82 --> 4224.00]  he says,
[4224.08 --> 4226.00]  I know what you've done, right?
[4226.02 --> 4227.08]  I know your hard work.
[4227.16 --> 4228.56]  I know how you've persevered.
[4228.72 --> 4231.02]  I know that you've tested for the truth,
[4231.18 --> 4233.40]  and that you have challenged those who came in
[4233.40 --> 4234.44]  and claimed to be apostles,
[4234.58 --> 4237.00]  but you've tested it and discerned with them
[4237.00 --> 4238.28]  and found out that they weren't,
[4238.46 --> 4239.60]  and you kicked them out.
[4239.74 --> 4240.96]  I know that you have persevered.
[4241.12 --> 4243.10]  I know that you have endured hardships.
[4243.10 --> 4245.38]  I know that you have faced persecution.
[4246.00 --> 4250.36]  I know that you have not grown weary in doing so.
[4251.72 --> 4253.16]  Now, I don't know about you,
[4253.26 --> 4256.90]  but I, for one, would love to hear Jesus say that to me,
[4257.56 --> 4259.16]  right, that I have done these things,
[4259.26 --> 4260.96]  that I have met these challenges
[4260.96 --> 4262.46]  that have been placed in front of me.
[4264.20 --> 4267.12]  But then there's a shift in tone.
[4267.30 --> 4268.02]  Jesus says,
[4268.02 --> 4270.80]  Yet this I hold against you.
[4271.26 --> 4275.54]  You have forsaken the love you had at first.
[4276.90 --> 4278.10]  Now, as I read that,
[4278.64 --> 4279.76]  that begs a question.
[4280.76 --> 4283.46]  What love have they forsaken?
[4285.00 --> 4285.78]  Now, at first glance,
[4285.92 --> 4288.26]  you might think there's an easy answer to that question.
[4288.36 --> 4290.46]  We might say that the church in Ephesus
[4290.46 --> 4293.68]  allowed secondary things to become primary things,
[4293.98 --> 4294.18]  right,
[4294.18 --> 4297.72]  or that the church in Ephesus forgot the priority of loving Jesus,
[4298.04 --> 4301.02]  that the church in Ephesus forgot to love God
[4301.02 --> 4305.14]  and to love the God who first loved them.
[4305.76 --> 4307.08]  Or, at the very least,
[4307.14 --> 4309.60]  you can argue that they've moved that down
[4309.60 --> 4312.34]  to a secondary or tertiary, right,
[4312.42 --> 4314.18]  level priority.
[4315.14 --> 4316.24]  And to be fair,
[4316.70 --> 4319.12]  I've heard good pastors and theologians
[4319.12 --> 4321.32]  interpret this text that way.
[4321.32 --> 4324.88]  But two things on that.
[4325.66 --> 4325.96]  First,
[4327.28 --> 4330.34]  I don't think that that takes into account
[4330.34 --> 4332.84]  the meaning of the word forsaken,
[4333.62 --> 4334.02]  right,
[4334.06 --> 4335.72]  which is a pretty strong word
[4335.72 --> 4338.86]  for Jesus to speak here, right?
[4338.90 --> 4340.52]  The word that's written in Greek
[4340.52 --> 4343.58]  can mean to send away,
[4343.72 --> 4344.86]  like to force out,
[4345.10 --> 4348.82]  and it's actually sometimes even translated as divorce.
[4350.04 --> 4350.74]  To divorce.
[4350.74 --> 4351.26]  And so,
[4351.38 --> 4353.18]  it's a really strong word
[4353.18 --> 4354.94]  that Jesus is using.
[4355.12 --> 4355.60]  And in fact,
[4355.70 --> 4356.34]  I think,
[4356.68 --> 4358.10]  and we'll get into this in a minute,
[4358.22 --> 4360.32]  I think that the marriage image
[4360.32 --> 4361.54]  of this word
[4361.54 --> 4363.34]  and the broken marriage image
[4363.34 --> 4365.06]  helps us understand
[4365.06 --> 4365.90]  the criticism
[4365.90 --> 4368.28]  that Jesus has for the church in Ephesus.
[4368.88 --> 4369.08]  And so,
[4369.16 --> 4369.78]  hang on to that.
[4369.78 --> 4374.16]  The second thing I think we need to do
[4374.16 --> 4376.78]  is actually go to another source
[4376.78 --> 4379.46]  for what we know about the church in Ephesus.
[4379.46 --> 4381.34]  And I've already alluded to this, right?
[4381.42 --> 4382.24]  Luckily for us,
[4382.24 --> 4384.04]  we have another letter
[4384.04 --> 4385.56]  that has a firsthand account
[4385.56 --> 4388.04]  of exactly what the church in Ephesus
[4388.04 --> 4388.94]  was facing
[4388.94 --> 4390.38]  and dealing with
[4390.38 --> 4391.38]  and struggling with.
[4391.38 --> 4392.70]  And so,
[4392.86 --> 4394.56]  if you have your Bibles
[4394.56 --> 4395.58]  in front of you,
[4395.70 --> 4396.16]  I encourage you,
[4396.22 --> 4398.50]  flip over a few pages back
[4398.50 --> 4400.54]  to the book of Ephesians.
[4400.54 --> 4405.12]  Now, this is a letter
[4405.12 --> 4406.50]  that Paul writes
[4406.50 --> 4408.06]  to the Ephesian church.
[4408.48 --> 4410.14]  The Ephesian church is one,
[4410.38 --> 4412.36]  or gathering of house churches
[4412.36 --> 4414.00]  probably in the city of Ephesus,
[4414.34 --> 4416.00]  is one that he planted,
[4416.14 --> 4416.80]  that he started
[4416.80 --> 4418.32]  on his missionary journey
[4418.32 --> 4419.14]  into the region.
[4419.44 --> 4421.88]  And he continues to engage with them
[4421.88 --> 4423.36]  through letter writing.
[4423.86 --> 4424.96]  He continues to do so
[4424.96 --> 4426.12]  even as he is in prison
[4426.12 --> 4427.14]  in chains for the gospel.
[4427.30 --> 4428.06]  He's writing letters
[4428.06 --> 4429.10]  to these churches.
[4429.10 --> 4431.18]  He's familiar with this church
[4431.18 --> 4432.00]  and with these people.
[4432.14 --> 4433.16]  He knows their structure.
[4433.32 --> 4434.18]  He knows their leadership.
[4434.60 --> 4436.00]  He knows who they are
[4436.00 --> 4437.08]  and the things
[4437.08 --> 4439.42]  that they have endured together.
[4440.68 --> 4442.22]  The letter of Ephesians
[4442.22 --> 4443.50]  is a beautiful book,
[4443.54 --> 4444.52]  and I encourage you,
[4444.56 --> 4445.40]  as you have time,
[4445.56 --> 4446.94]  to read it on your own.
[4447.40 --> 4448.24]  And if you can,
[4448.30 --> 4449.14]  do it in one sitting
[4449.14 --> 4449.76]  so that you can get
[4449.76 --> 4450.68]  the whole scope of it.
[4451.40 --> 4453.52]  It is a beautiful articulation
[4453.52 --> 4454.34]  of the gospel,
[4454.50 --> 4455.02]  what it means
[4455.02 --> 4456.78]  to be made alive in Christ,
[4456.94 --> 4458.72]  and then how we can connect
[4458.72 --> 4459.66]  the gospel
[4459.66 --> 4460.58]  and being made alive
[4460.58 --> 4461.04]  in Jesus
[4461.04 --> 4462.82]  to the everyday stuff of life,
[4462.86 --> 4464.04]  how we are to live,
[4464.38 --> 4465.58]  how we are to understand
[4465.58 --> 4467.36]  and manage our houses
[4467.36 --> 4468.52]  and our businesses
[4468.52 --> 4470.10]  and our marriage relationships,
[4470.10 --> 4471.36]  how we are to endure
[4471.36 --> 4472.56]  testing and trial
[4472.56 --> 4473.70]  by putting on
[4473.70 --> 4474.86]  the armor of God.
[4475.54 --> 4477.12]  There's beautiful depth to it.
[4478.42 --> 4479.40]  But pertinent
[4479.40 --> 4480.94]  to our discussion
[4480.94 --> 4482.12]  this morning,
[4482.68 --> 4484.18]  there is one theme
[4484.18 --> 4485.44]  that runs
[4485.44 --> 4487.08]  through the entire letter
[4487.08 --> 4488.78]  that highlights something
[4488.78 --> 4490.58]  of the Ephesian church
[4490.58 --> 4491.16]  for us.
[4491.86 --> 4492.28]  Again,
[4492.38 --> 4493.20]  if your Bibles are open,
[4493.26 --> 4494.78]  look at verse 15.
[4495.44 --> 4496.24]  Paul has spoken
[4496.24 --> 4497.50]  a word of introduction.
[4498.04 --> 4498.72]  He has beautifully
[4498.72 --> 4499.76]  and succinctly
[4499.76 --> 4500.92]  recapped the gospel
[4500.92 --> 4501.42]  for them
[4501.42 --> 4502.24]  and their inclusion
[4502.24 --> 4504.16]  into this ministry
[4504.16 --> 4504.88]  and the effect
[4504.88 --> 4505.38]  of the gospel
[4505.38 --> 4505.86]  by the work
[4505.86 --> 4506.60]  of the Holy Spirit.
[4506.72 --> 4507.62]  And then in verse 15,
[4507.72 --> 4508.18]  he says,
[4508.18 --> 4510.36]  For this reason,
[4510.88 --> 4511.98]  ever since I heard
[4511.98 --> 4512.78]  about your faith
[4512.78 --> 4513.82]  in the Lord Jesus
[4513.82 --> 4515.82]  and your love
[4515.82 --> 4518.08]  for all God's people,
[4518.66 --> 4520.66]  I have not stopped
[4520.66 --> 4521.80]  giving thanks for you,
[4522.24 --> 4523.08]  remembering you
[4523.08 --> 4524.52]  in all my prayers.
[4525.40 --> 4526.76]  What does Paul note
[4526.76 --> 4527.60]  about this church?
[4528.44 --> 4529.38]  Their love
[4529.38 --> 4530.84]  for all God's people.
[4532.54 --> 4533.14]  Right?
[4533.20 --> 4533.94]  There's a theme
[4533.94 --> 4534.94]  that runs
[4534.94 --> 4535.82]  through the heart
[4535.82 --> 4537.08]  of Ephesians
[4537.08 --> 4537.82]  that is about
[4537.82 --> 4540.18]  loving God's people.
[4540.34 --> 4541.30]  It's about understanding
[4541.30 --> 4542.02]  properly
[4542.02 --> 4543.14]  the miracle
[4543.14 --> 4544.30]  and the majesty
[4544.30 --> 4546.44]  of being the bride
[4546.44 --> 4547.72]  of Christ,
[4548.26 --> 4549.34]  of being the church.
[4550.96 --> 4551.18]  Now,
[4551.32 --> 4551.82]  I'm going to do this
[4551.82 --> 4552.28]  really quick
[4552.28 --> 4553.18]  and so as Kevin
[4553.18 --> 4554.04]  would like to say,
[4554.36 --> 4554.98]  buckle up
[4554.98 --> 4556.24]  because we're going
[4556.24 --> 4556.74]  to dig in.
[4557.72 --> 4558.38]  Bible's open.
[4558.78 --> 4559.40]  Chapter 2,
[4559.50 --> 4559.96]  Ephesians,
[4560.12 --> 4560.60]  verse 11.
[4560.74 --> 4561.28]  Paul begins
[4561.28 --> 4561.90]  this discussion.
[4562.06 --> 4562.32]  He says,
[4562.76 --> 4563.20]  Remember
[4563.20 --> 4565.40]  that formerly
[4565.40 --> 4566.94]  you who are Gentiles,
[4566.94 --> 4568.28]  Gentiles just means
[4568.28 --> 4569.16]  not Jewish.
[4569.82 --> 4569.90]  Right?
[4569.96 --> 4571.76]  And so in the ancient world,
[4571.90 --> 4574.58]  particularly from Christianity
[4574.58 --> 4576.42]  that emerged out of Judaism,
[4577.30 --> 4578.36]  you have the Jewish world
[4578.36 --> 4579.42]  and then everybody else.
[4580.04 --> 4581.62]  That category of everybody else,
[4582.16 --> 4582.62]  Gentiles.
[4582.88 --> 4583.88]  Another way to translate that
[4583.88 --> 4584.58]  is nations.
[4585.38 --> 4586.66]  So the non-Jewish people.
[4589.16 --> 4590.30]  Remember that formerly
[4590.30 --> 4591.44]  you who are Gentiles
[4591.44 --> 4591.96]  by birth
[4591.96 --> 4593.48]  and called uncircumcised
[4593.48 --> 4594.90]  by those who call themselves
[4594.90 --> 4595.66]  the circumcision.
[4595.92 --> 4596.34]  So again,
[4596.72 --> 4597.02]  Jews,
[4597.24 --> 4597.70]  Gentiles.
[4599.22 --> 4599.68]  Remember
[4599.68 --> 4601.08]  that at that time
[4601.08 --> 4602.54]  you were separate
[4602.54 --> 4603.30]  from Christ,
[4603.52 --> 4604.72]  excluded from citizenship
[4604.72 --> 4605.40]  in Israel
[4605.40 --> 4606.24]  and foreigners
[4606.24 --> 4607.16]  to the covenants
[4607.16 --> 4607.94]  of the promise
[4607.94 --> 4609.00]  without hope
[4609.00 --> 4609.84]  and without God
[4609.84 --> 4610.42]  in the world.
[4610.78 --> 4611.38]  But now
[4611.38 --> 4612.78]  in Christ Jesus
[4612.78 --> 4613.80]  you who were
[4613.80 --> 4614.98]  once far away
[4614.98 --> 4616.16]  have been brought near
[4616.16 --> 4617.36]  by the blood
[4617.36 --> 4618.40]  of Christ.
[4619.30 --> 4620.14]  And then he goes on,
[4620.46 --> 4621.00]  14,
[4621.00 --> 4622.58]  for he himself
[4622.58 --> 4623.62]  is our peace
[4623.62 --> 4624.54]  who has made
[4624.54 --> 4625.52]  the two groups
[4625.52 --> 4626.04]  one
[4626.04 --> 4627.26]  and has destroyed
[4627.26 --> 4627.94]  the barrier,
[4628.12 --> 4629.20]  the dividing wall
[4629.20 --> 4630.40]  of hostility.
[4630.52 --> 4631.54]  Just a little further down,
[4631.76 --> 4632.36]  his purpose
[4632.36 --> 4633.44]  was to create
[4633.44 --> 4634.16]  in himself
[4634.16 --> 4635.78]  one new humanity
[4635.78 --> 4636.90]  out of the two
[4636.90 --> 4638.38]  thus making peace
[4638.38 --> 4639.96]  and in one body
[4639.96 --> 4640.88]  to reconcile
[4640.88 --> 4642.82]  both of them
[4642.82 --> 4643.50]  to God
[4643.50 --> 4645.16]  through the cross.
[4645.82 --> 4646.56]  And then he carries
[4646.56 --> 4647.04]  this line
[4647.04 --> 4647.88]  of argument forward
[4647.88 --> 4648.62]  and he concludes
[4648.62 --> 4649.92]  in verse 19,
[4651.02 --> 4651.78]  Consequently,
[4652.14 --> 4653.14]  you are no longer
[4653.14 --> 4654.48]  foreigners and strangers
[4654.48 --> 4655.86]  but fellow citizens
[4655.86 --> 4656.98]  with God's people
[4656.98 --> 4658.20]  and members
[4658.20 --> 4660.52]  of his household.
[4662.10 --> 4663.40]  This is the theological
[4663.40 --> 4664.24]  foundation
[4664.24 --> 4665.74]  of church unity.
[4666.74 --> 4667.88]  This is the theological
[4667.88 --> 4669.22]  and spiritual foundation
[4669.22 --> 4670.86]  of what unites us,
[4671.00 --> 4671.72]  even us,
[4671.78 --> 4672.44]  all together.
[4673.58 --> 4674.86]  In the early church
[4674.86 --> 4676.70]  it was Gentiles,
[4676.84 --> 4677.68]  non-Jewish people
[4677.68 --> 4678.62]  being included
[4678.62 --> 4679.82]  into the lineage
[4679.82 --> 4681.94]  of Abraham's heirs.
[4683.84 --> 4685.50]  And I suggest to you,
[4686.20 --> 4689.92]  I suggest to you
[4689.92 --> 4691.94]  that in the modern church,
[4692.62 --> 4692.90]  right,
[4693.38 --> 4693.78]  today,
[4694.02 --> 4695.10]  because most of us,
[4695.42 --> 4696.34]  probably all of us,
[4696.38 --> 4697.10]  I think actually,
[4697.46 --> 4698.32]  are Gentiles,
[4698.42 --> 4699.70]  that is we're not Jewish,
[4699.84 --> 4701.36]  ethnically or religiously,
[4702.08 --> 4702.30]  right,
[4702.70 --> 4703.84]  in the modern church
[4703.84 --> 4705.04]  what this unity
[4705.04 --> 4706.12]  looks like
[4706.12 --> 4709.18]  is the transcendence
[4709.18 --> 4710.12]  that Revelation
[4710.12 --> 4711.06]  will talk about
[4711.06 --> 4711.96]  as the church
[4711.96 --> 4712.66]  being made up
[4712.66 --> 4713.52]  of every nation,
[4714.00 --> 4714.40]  tribe,
[4714.58 --> 4715.16]  and tongue.
[4716.06 --> 4716.28]  Right,
[4716.32 --> 4717.36]  the church of Jesus
[4717.36 --> 4719.38]  is out of necessity
[4719.38 --> 4720.68]  and by consequence
[4720.68 --> 4721.68]  of the gospel
[4721.68 --> 4722.64]  diverse
[4722.64 --> 4724.00]  and multi-ethnic
[4724.00 --> 4725.08]  and multi-culture.
[4725.08 --> 4727.58]  to be a Christian
[4727.58 --> 4728.52]  transcends
[4728.52 --> 4729.82]  national identity,
[4730.18 --> 4731.02]  to be a Christian
[4731.02 --> 4731.70]  transcends
[4731.70 --> 4733.00]  racial identity,
[4733.20 --> 4733.96]  to be a Christian
[4733.96 --> 4734.76]  transcends
[4734.76 --> 4735.80]  to include
[4735.80 --> 4736.40]  any
[4736.40 --> 4737.50]  who believe
[4737.50 --> 4738.42]  and therefore
[4738.42 --> 4739.28]  have a heavenly
[4739.28 --> 4740.32]  citizenship.
[4741.60 --> 4742.52]  And so,
[4742.74 --> 4743.32]  Paul
[4743.32 --> 4744.72]  prays.
[4745.52 --> 4746.52]  He prays,
[4747.06 --> 4747.36]  right,
[4747.36 --> 4749.14]  for this reason
[4749.14 --> 4750.02]  I kneel
[4750.02 --> 4751.94]  before the Father
[4751.94 --> 4752.96]  from whom
[4752.96 --> 4753.86]  every family
[4753.86 --> 4754.48]  in heaven
[4754.48 --> 4755.44]  and on earth
[4755.44 --> 4756.44]  derives its name.
[4757.12 --> 4758.00]  And then you can jump
[4758.00 --> 4758.80]  in chapter 3,
[4758.86 --> 4759.54]  verse 17,
[4760.34 --> 4760.58]  right,
[4760.62 --> 4760.96]  he says,
[4761.46 --> 4762.38]  and I pray that you
[4762.38 --> 4763.26]  being rooted
[4763.26 --> 4763.96]  and established
[4763.96 --> 4764.50]  in love
[4764.50 --> 4765.42]  may have power
[4765.42 --> 4766.28]  together with all
[4766.28 --> 4767.42]  the Lord's holy people
[4767.42 --> 4768.64]  to grasp how wide
[4768.64 --> 4769.40]  and long
[4769.40 --> 4769.92]  and high
[4769.92 --> 4770.56]  and deep
[4770.56 --> 4771.22]  is the love
[4771.22 --> 4771.78]  of Christ
[4771.78 --> 4772.72]  and to know
[4772.72 --> 4773.80]  that this love
[4773.80 --> 4775.08]  that surpasses
[4775.08 --> 4775.42]  knowledge
[4775.42 --> 4776.32]  that you may be
[4776.32 --> 4776.88]  filled
[4776.88 --> 4777.76]  to the measure
[4777.76 --> 4778.38]  of all
[4778.38 --> 4779.16]  the fullness
[4779.16 --> 4780.56]  of God.
[4782.02 --> 4782.66]  The love
[4782.66 --> 4783.54]  of Christ
[4783.54 --> 4785.34]  for his bride
[4785.34 --> 4786.58]  connects
[4786.58 --> 4787.32]  intimately
[4787.32 --> 4789.08]  and decidedly
[4789.08 --> 4790.14]  to the love
[4790.14 --> 4791.02]  of his church
[4791.02 --> 4792.84]  as his bride,
[4793.10 --> 4794.08]  as his people.
[4794.46 --> 4795.10]  The love
[4795.10 --> 4795.90]  of Christ
[4795.90 --> 4796.44]  connects
[4796.44 --> 4797.12]  to the love
[4797.12 --> 4797.98]  of unity
[4797.98 --> 4799.58]  within the church,
[4800.46 --> 4800.58]  right,
[4800.62 --> 4801.52]  to the oneness
[4801.52 --> 4802.46]  of the church.
[4803.26 --> 4803.54]  And so,
[4803.62 --> 4804.30]  Paul writes
[4804.30 --> 4805.16]  to Ephesians
[4805.16 --> 4806.32]  in chapter 4,
[4806.32 --> 4807.00]  verse 3,
[4807.44 --> 4808.46]  make every effort
[4808.46 --> 4809.50]  to keep the unity
[4809.50 --> 4810.40]  of the spirit
[4810.40 --> 4811.22]  through the bond
[4811.22 --> 4811.78]  of peace.
[4812.18 --> 4813.42]  There is one body
[4813.42 --> 4814.26]  and one spirit
[4814.26 --> 4815.10]  just as you were
[4815.10 --> 4816.14]  called to one hope
[4816.14 --> 4816.94]  when you were called,
[4817.06 --> 4817.58]  one Lord,
[4817.70 --> 4818.18]  one faith,
[4818.30 --> 4818.94]  one baptism,
[4819.64 --> 4820.20]  one God
[4820.20 --> 4820.76]  and Father
[4820.76 --> 4821.90]  of all
[4821.90 --> 4823.10]  who was over all
[4823.10 --> 4823.94]  and through all
[4823.94 --> 4824.88]  and in all.
[4827.08 --> 4828.32]  The oneness
[4828.32 --> 4830.08]  of our faith
[4830.08 --> 4831.50]  is illustrative
[4831.50 --> 4833.26]  in our unity.
[4833.26 --> 4834.90]  the oneness
[4834.90 --> 4835.48]  of God
[4835.48 --> 4836.10]  himself
[4836.10 --> 4837.60]  is held up
[4837.60 --> 4838.54]  as an example
[4838.54 --> 4839.76]  for the unity
[4839.76 --> 4840.82]  of his church.
[4842.00 --> 4842.66]  And so,
[4842.74 --> 4843.20]  all of this
[4843.20 --> 4843.90]  is to say,
[4845.04 --> 4846.64]  if you love God,
[4847.32 --> 4848.40]  you will
[4848.40 --> 4849.56]  love his church,
[4850.50 --> 4851.64]  his multicultural,
[4852.32 --> 4853.42]  diverse collection
[4853.42 --> 4854.24]  of misfits
[4854.24 --> 4855.20]  and sinners
[4855.20 --> 4856.48]  turned into saints.
[4856.48 --> 4858.72]  And if you say
[4858.72 --> 4859.90]  that you love Jesus,
[4860.42 --> 4861.58]  you will work
[4861.58 --> 4862.86]  then to advance
[4862.86 --> 4863.80]  this diverse
[4863.80 --> 4865.62]  body of believers
[4865.62 --> 4867.08]  in our unified mission
[4867.08 --> 4867.64]  with him,
[4867.78 --> 4868.40]  for him,
[4868.44 --> 4869.26]  and to his glory.
[4869.46 --> 4870.64]  The two realities
[4870.64 --> 4872.20]  cannot be divorced,
[4873.32 --> 4873.88]  the bride
[4873.88 --> 4875.10]  from her bridegroom
[4875.10 --> 4876.44]  who is Jesus.
[4876.44 --> 4878.76]  And so,
[4878.86 --> 4879.54]  let's take that back
[4879.54 --> 4881.26]  now to Revelation.
[4882.20 --> 4883.84]  When John writes,
[4883.90 --> 4884.94]  when Jesus says,
[4885.36 --> 4886.20]  yet this I hold
[4886.20 --> 4886.78]  against you,
[4886.84 --> 4887.28]  that you have
[4887.28 --> 4888.98]  forsaken the love
[4888.98 --> 4890.16]  you had at first,
[4891.02 --> 4891.92]  I believe
[4891.92 --> 4893.16]  that that
[4893.16 --> 4894.36]  is a reference
[4894.36 --> 4895.88]  to the fact
[4895.88 --> 4896.66]  that these
[4896.66 --> 4898.26]  people in Ephesus,
[4898.52 --> 4899.54]  this church in Ephesus,
[4899.76 --> 4900.94]  have divorced
[4900.94 --> 4901.80]  themselves
[4901.80 --> 4903.34]  from the love
[4903.34 --> 4904.24]  of the body
[4904.24 --> 4905.30]  of Christ,
[4905.36 --> 4906.00]  from the love
[4906.00 --> 4906.80]  of the bride
[4906.80 --> 4907.52]  of Christ,
[4907.62 --> 4907.94]  the love
[4907.94 --> 4908.58]  of the church
[4908.58 --> 4909.68]  and her unity.
[4910.40 --> 4911.36]  And her unity
[4911.36 --> 4912.82]  is both internally
[4912.82 --> 4913.70]  and locally
[4913.70 --> 4914.44]  expressed
[4914.44 --> 4915.48]  in emphasis,
[4915.82 --> 4916.62]  but also
[4916.62 --> 4917.82]  her unity
[4917.82 --> 4920.50]  is transcendentally
[4920.50 --> 4921.60]  and universally
[4921.60 --> 4922.36]  expressed
[4922.36 --> 4924.08]  in the church
[4924.08 --> 4924.84]  Catholic
[4924.84 --> 4925.90]  all times
[4925.90 --> 4927.18]  and all places.
[4928.80 --> 4930.08]  They have forgotten
[4930.08 --> 4931.92]  that if you love
[4931.92 --> 4932.32]  Jesus,
[4932.98 --> 4933.80]  you must love
[4933.80 --> 4934.50]  his church.
[4936.00 --> 4937.70]  And so that begs
[4937.70 --> 4938.22]  the question
[4938.22 --> 4938.84]  for us.
[4939.40 --> 4940.18]  Maybe not begs,
[4940.58 --> 4941.38]  but I'm going to ask it.
[4941.82 --> 4942.76]  It asks the question
[4942.76 --> 4943.22]  for us
[4943.22 --> 4943.88]  in application.
[4945.40 --> 4946.10]  If you say
[4946.10 --> 4946.98]  you love Jesus,
[4947.62 --> 4948.72]  but you aren't
[4948.72 --> 4949.70]  actively loving
[4949.70 --> 4950.64]  his church,
[4951.18 --> 4952.14]  now actively loving
[4952.14 --> 4952.50]  his church
[4952.50 --> 4953.36]  might look different
[4953.36 --> 4954.16]  for each of you,
[4954.20 --> 4954.38]  right?
[4954.44 --> 4954.90]  It might mean
[4954.90 --> 4955.64]  supporting its
[4955.64 --> 4956.58]  ministries financially.
[4957.26 --> 4958.06]  It might mean
[4958.06 --> 4958.60]  volunteering
[4958.60 --> 4959.28]  in the things
[4959.28 --> 4960.04]  that we do
[4960.04 --> 4960.58]  here together.
[4960.70 --> 4961.24]  It might mean
[4961.24 --> 4961.76]  participating
[4961.76 --> 4962.74]  in our community
[4962.74 --> 4964.06]  and in community events.
[4964.06 --> 4964.96]  It might mean
[4964.96 --> 4965.48]  volunteering
[4965.48 --> 4966.16]  to serve
[4966.16 --> 4967.00]  in a particular
[4967.00 --> 4967.64]  capacity
[4967.64 --> 4968.54]  that you are
[4968.54 --> 4969.20]  gifted in
[4969.20 --> 4970.04]  or called to.
[4971.66 --> 4972.96]  If you aren't
[4972.96 --> 4974.16]  doing these things,
[4974.54 --> 4975.90]  but you say
[4975.90 --> 4976.72]  you love Jesus,
[4977.48 --> 4978.02]  this letter
[4978.02 --> 4978.70]  is for you.
[4980.36 --> 4980.92]  Or,
[4981.92 --> 4982.70]  maybe this is
[4982.70 --> 4983.84]  even more dangerous,
[4984.40 --> 4985.34]  if seemingly
[4985.34 --> 4986.38]  out of one side
[4986.38 --> 4986.98]  of your mouth
[4986.98 --> 4987.80]  you sing hymns
[4987.80 --> 4988.72]  of praise to God
[4988.72 --> 4989.52]  on Sunday,
[4990.02 --> 4990.30]  right,
[4990.46 --> 4991.64]  in worship together,
[4991.64 --> 4992.52]  but then
[4992.52 --> 4993.40]  on the other
[4993.40 --> 4994.20]  side of your mouth,
[4994.28 --> 4995.12]  maybe even as quickly
[4995.12 --> 4996.46]  as coffee afterwards,
[4996.82 --> 4997.98]  you are slandering
[4997.98 --> 4999.22]  or gossiping
[4999.22 --> 5000.46]  or talking back
[5000.46 --> 5001.18]  or bad
[5001.18 --> 5002.18]  about church members
[5002.18 --> 5003.26]  or church leadership,
[5003.78 --> 5003.94]  right,
[5003.98 --> 5005.60]  or just generally
[5005.60 --> 5006.48]  about church.
[5007.22 --> 5008.06]  But if you are not
[5008.06 --> 5009.38]  actively pursuing
[5009.38 --> 5010.94]  unity in the church,
[5011.12 --> 5012.62]  you are actively
[5012.62 --> 5013.66]  or more dangerously,
[5013.96 --> 5014.60]  passively
[5014.60 --> 5015.46]  contributing
[5015.46 --> 5016.66]  to disunity.
[5016.66 --> 5016.80]  unity.
[5022.42 --> 5023.98]  So hear these words
[5023.98 --> 5026.30]  and be careful
[5026.30 --> 5028.84]  because your love
[5028.84 --> 5029.40]  for Jesus
[5029.40 --> 5031.22]  will manifest
[5031.22 --> 5032.48]  in a love
[5032.48 --> 5033.24]  for his church.
[5035.20 --> 5036.10]  We'll give you this
[5036.10 --> 5037.42]  as a last word
[5037.42 --> 5038.18]  for us
[5038.18 --> 5039.18]  before we come
[5039.18 --> 5039.74]  to the table
[5039.74 --> 5041.22]  where we celebrate
[5041.22 --> 5042.34]  this unity,
[5042.54 --> 5043.40]  where we live it
[5043.40 --> 5043.94]  together.
[5043.94 --> 5048.44]  This also relates
[5048.44 --> 5049.70]  to that last word
[5049.70 --> 5050.32]  of praise
[5050.32 --> 5051.04]  or encouragement
[5051.04 --> 5051.92]  that Jesus has
[5051.92 --> 5052.48]  for the church
[5052.48 --> 5053.74]  in verse 6.
[5054.90 --> 5055.94]  He comes back
[5055.94 --> 5056.36]  and he says,
[5056.46 --> 5057.20]  you have this
[5057.20 --> 5058.04]  in your favor,
[5058.18 --> 5059.34]  you hate the practices
[5059.34 --> 5060.92]  of the Nicolaitans,
[5061.02 --> 5063.02]  which I also hate.
[5064.28 --> 5064.48]  Now,
[5064.52 --> 5065.10]  I'm going to be candid
[5065.10 --> 5065.40]  with you,
[5065.46 --> 5066.12]  Bible scholars
[5066.12 --> 5066.86]  are divided
[5066.86 --> 5068.26]  on exactly who
[5068.26 --> 5068.84]  or what
[5068.84 --> 5070.06]  the Nicolaitans are,
[5070.40 --> 5070.78]  right,
[5070.80 --> 5071.42]  whether they are
[5071.42 --> 5072.42]  a group of people
[5072.42 --> 5073.10]  who followed
[5073.10 --> 5073.68]  the teachings
[5073.68 --> 5074.16]  of someone
[5074.16 --> 5074.94]  named Nicholas
[5074.94 --> 5076.56]  or if they are
[5076.56 --> 5077.28]  a group of people
[5077.28 --> 5077.60]  who have been
[5077.60 --> 5078.10]  called that
[5078.10 --> 5079.08]  because the word
[5079.08 --> 5079.62]  in Greek,
[5079.80 --> 5080.20]  Nikola,
[5080.58 --> 5081.74]  means let us eat,
[5082.82 --> 5082.94]  right,
[5082.98 --> 5083.82]  but what scholars
[5083.82 --> 5084.56]  agree on
[5084.56 --> 5085.88]  is what's happening
[5085.88 --> 5087.02]  in this practice
[5087.02 --> 5087.74]  and in this group,
[5087.82 --> 5088.52]  what they taught.
[5089.08 --> 5089.88]  This group taught
[5089.88 --> 5091.62]  that it was okay
[5091.62 --> 5093.10]  to eat meat
[5093.10 --> 5094.18]  sacrificed
[5094.18 --> 5095.38]  to idols
[5095.38 --> 5097.60]  and then would
[5097.60 --> 5098.52]  take that
[5098.52 --> 5099.50]  as a further
[5099.50 --> 5100.60]  license
[5100.60 --> 5102.10]  into licentious
[5102.10 --> 5102.68]  behavior.
[5102.84 --> 5103.06]  They would
[5103.06 --> 5103.90]  take that
[5103.90 --> 5104.90]  and turn it
[5104.90 --> 5106.58]  into self-indulgent
[5106.58 --> 5107.44]  behavior,
[5107.58 --> 5108.30]  into practices
[5108.30 --> 5109.28]  that participated
[5109.28 --> 5110.64]  in idolatry.
[5111.88 --> 5113.50]  Clement of Alexandria,
[5114.40 --> 5116.52]  who is a second century,
[5116.68 --> 5117.70]  so very early on,
[5117.78 --> 5118.56]  church leader,
[5119.22 --> 5119.88]  he writes
[5119.88 --> 5121.22]  of the Nicolaitans,
[5121.34 --> 5121.76]  he says,
[5122.14 --> 5123.64]  they abandoned themselves
[5123.64 --> 5124.40]  to pleasure
[5124.40 --> 5125.32]  like goats,
[5126.28 --> 5127.28]  leading a life
[5127.28 --> 5128.96]  of self-indulgence.
[5128.96 --> 5129.00]  goats.
[5130.08 --> 5130.96]  I know some of you
[5130.96 --> 5131.64]  have goats
[5131.64 --> 5134.16]  and you know
[5134.16 --> 5135.14]  how easily
[5135.14 --> 5135.80]  they can go
[5135.80 --> 5136.60]  from place to place
[5136.60 --> 5137.08]  just taking
[5137.08 --> 5137.82]  whatever they have.
[5137.98 --> 5138.72]  If they break out
[5138.72 --> 5139.24]  of their pen
[5139.24 --> 5140.00]  into your garden,
[5140.10 --> 5140.50]  they will eat
[5140.50 --> 5141.10]  all the flowers
[5141.10 --> 5142.18]  off of the plants
[5142.18 --> 5142.66]  that you have there.
[5142.72 --> 5143.74]  They're self-indulgent.
[5143.82 --> 5144.34]  They don't care,
[5145.34 --> 5145.48]  right?
[5145.48 --> 5145.94]  If it's there,
[5146.02 --> 5146.64]  they're going to eat it
[5146.64 --> 5147.78]  and not even if it's food,
[5147.94 --> 5148.10]  right?
[5148.18 --> 5149.32]  Goats will eat paper
[5149.32 --> 5150.12]  and garbage
[5150.12 --> 5151.28]  that you leave out.
[5152.54 --> 5153.46]  That's what these people
[5153.46 --> 5153.98]  were doing,
[5154.20 --> 5155.50]  but their sin
[5155.50 --> 5156.96]  is even greater
[5156.96 --> 5157.88]  because they were
[5157.88 --> 5159.18]  encouraging others
[5159.18 --> 5159.82]  to do the same,
[5160.98 --> 5161.16]  right?
[5161.18 --> 5161.86]  So it's not just
[5161.86 --> 5162.40]  that they were eating
[5162.40 --> 5163.42]  meat sacrificed to idols
[5163.42 --> 5163.88]  because, in fact,
[5164.06 --> 5164.90]  you can go to Romans,
[5165.00 --> 5165.42]  for instance,
[5165.56 --> 5166.50]  and Paul will have
[5166.50 --> 5167.40]  a complicated argument
[5167.40 --> 5167.92]  about that.
[5168.12 --> 5168.84]  It says that in the end,
[5168.90 --> 5170.18]  that doesn't really matter
[5170.18 --> 5171.80]  because what are idols
[5171.80 --> 5172.76]  but wood and stone?
[5173.76 --> 5174.48]  What matters
[5174.48 --> 5175.72]  is that they are
[5175.72 --> 5177.14]  enticing people
[5177.14 --> 5178.62]  away from the truth.
[5178.70 --> 5180.18]  They are driving people
[5180.18 --> 5181.64]  into sin.
[5183.64 --> 5185.62]  That's the disunity
[5185.62 --> 5187.72]  of the Nicolaitans.
[5190.56 --> 5192.56]  That's the celebration.
[5192.76 --> 5193.40]  That's why they are
[5193.40 --> 5194.52]  held up again
[5194.52 --> 5196.70]  and why Jesus says
[5196.70 --> 5197.68]  he hates them
[5197.68 --> 5199.82]  because they're breaking
[5199.82 --> 5202.32]  the unity of his bride.
[5203.58 --> 5205.38]  Self-indulgence divides
[5205.38 --> 5206.34]  the church.
[5208.06 --> 5209.38]  Living in anticipation
[5209.38 --> 5210.68]  of the return of the king
[5210.68 --> 5211.80]  invites us to be
[5211.80 --> 5213.02]  a people of patient
[5213.02 --> 5214.40]  endurance and faith
[5214.40 --> 5215.72]  who can live rejoicing
[5215.72 --> 5217.06]  in the world to come
[5217.06 --> 5218.20]  and with joy
[5218.20 --> 5219.24]  in the world that is
[5219.24 --> 5221.26]  holding on to the love
[5221.26 --> 5222.90]  that holds on to us,
[5223.34 --> 5225.04]  living it boldly.
[5225.66 --> 5228.22]  We live this love boldly
[5228.22 --> 5230.36]  when we desire
[5230.36 --> 5231.96]  and work towards
[5231.96 --> 5233.16]  and maintain
[5233.16 --> 5234.62]  and pursue
[5234.62 --> 5235.60]  the unity
[5235.60 --> 5237.24]  of the church.
[5237.78 --> 5239.78]  We live this love boldly
[5239.78 --> 5240.40]  when we celebrate
[5240.94 --> 5242.20]  our diversity
[5242.20 --> 5243.38]  as a reflection
[5243.38 --> 5245.16]  of the kingdom come
[5245.16 --> 5246.28]  and the kingdom coming
[5246.28 --> 5247.58]  as the new creation
[5247.58 --> 5248.72]  of all nations,
[5248.96 --> 5249.24]  tribes,
[5249.36 --> 5249.78]  and tongues
[5249.78 --> 5251.04]  stand around
[5251.04 --> 5252.72]  the table of our Lord
[5252.72 --> 5254.32]  feasting together
[5254.32 --> 5255.80]  with the Lamb.
[5258.10 --> 5261.14]  This is who
[5261.14 --> 5262.68]  we are called
[5262.68 --> 5263.94]  to be.
[5264.98 --> 5266.06]  And in responding
[5266.06 --> 5266.84]  to that call,
[5266.94 --> 5268.64]  we come to this table now
[5268.64 --> 5270.04]  both in anticipation
[5270.04 --> 5271.22]  of that feast,
[5271.32 --> 5273.04]  but also to feed us
[5273.04 --> 5275.14]  and to fuel us
[5275.14 --> 5276.56]  towards
[5276.56 --> 5278.00]  that feast.
[5278.88 --> 5280.22]  This is the table
[5280.22 --> 5280.98]  around which
[5280.98 --> 5281.72]  we stand
[5281.72 --> 5282.62]  united.
[5283.56 --> 5284.32]  And so,
[5284.50 --> 5285.32]  we are going to come
[5285.32 --> 5286.64]  to this table together,
[5286.76 --> 5287.50]  which is why we've
[5287.50 --> 5289.22]  also invited the kids
[5289.22 --> 5289.86]  to come back
[5289.86 --> 5290.74]  and why we invite them
[5290.74 --> 5291.22]  to come
[5291.22 --> 5292.96]  so that we might come
[5292.96 --> 5293.86]  united
[5293.86 --> 5295.24]  to the table.
[5295.78 --> 5296.98]  So that we might have
[5296.98 --> 5298.32]  heard the promises
[5298.32 --> 5299.64]  of God given in baptism,
[5299.80 --> 5300.74]  we might have seen
[5300.74 --> 5302.02]  the call of God
[5302.02 --> 5303.62]  spoken in the word
[5303.62 --> 5304.88]  and that we might now
[5304.88 --> 5306.30]  live that together
[5306.30 --> 5308.40]  here around his table.
[5308.88 --> 5309.66]  Coming to the table,
[5309.78 --> 5310.70]  we will move through
[5310.70 --> 5312.18]  a liturgy together.
[5312.32 --> 5312.88]  There will be
[5312.88 --> 5314.16]  responsive portions
[5314.16 --> 5315.86]  on the screen behind me.
[5316.00 --> 5316.62]  I encourage you
[5316.62 --> 5317.32]  to speak that
[5317.32 --> 5318.34]  as we come.
[5320.00 --> 5321.32]  Lift up your hearts.
[5322.32 --> 5323.82]  Give the love to the Lord.
[5323.82 --> 5325.34]  Let us give thanks
[5325.34 --> 5326.00]  to the Lord.
[5329.38 --> 5330.44]  Let's pray together.
[5333.50 --> 5334.52]  With joy,
[5334.70 --> 5335.86]  we praise you,
[5336.32 --> 5337.02]  gracious God.
[5337.86 --> 5338.86]  For you have created
[5338.86 --> 5339.52]  heaven and earth,
[5339.60 --> 5340.16]  have made us
[5340.16 --> 5340.86]  in your image,
[5340.94 --> 5341.70]  have kept covenant
[5341.70 --> 5342.20]  with us,
[5342.46 --> 5343.68]  even when we fell
[5343.68 --> 5344.26]  into sin.
[5344.98 --> 5346.34]  We give you thanks
[5346.34 --> 5347.48]  for Jesus Christ,
[5347.90 --> 5349.14]  who by his life,
[5349.30 --> 5349.52]  death,
[5349.60 --> 5350.20]  and resurrection
[5350.20 --> 5351.34]  opened to us
[5351.34 --> 5352.64]  the way of life
[5352.64 --> 5353.70]  everlasting.
[5354.80 --> 5355.20]  Amen.
[5358.72 --> 5359.28]  Jesus,
[5359.74 --> 5361.12]  before he suffered,
[5361.48 --> 5363.20]  gave us this memorial
[5363.20 --> 5364.52]  of his sacrifice
[5364.52 --> 5366.88]  until he comes again.
[5367.88 --> 5368.72]  The Lord Jesus,
[5368.98 --> 5370.44]  on the night he was betrayed,
[5371.08 --> 5371.64]  took bread.
[5372.46 --> 5373.82]  And when he had given thanks,
[5373.98 --> 5375.20]  he broke it and said,
[5375.36 --> 5376.86]  this is my body,
[5377.30 --> 5378.46]  which is for you.
[5379.10 --> 5380.66]  Do this in remembrance
[5380.66 --> 5381.84]  of me.
[5382.64 --> 5384.58]  In the same way,
[5384.80 --> 5385.76]  he took the cup
[5385.76 --> 5386.84]  after supper
[5386.84 --> 5387.80]  and said,
[5388.38 --> 5388.90]  this cup
[5388.90 --> 5390.16]  is the new covenant
[5390.16 --> 5391.58]  in my blood.
[5394.80 --> 5396.08]  Do this
[5396.08 --> 5396.90]  in remembrance
[5396.90 --> 5398.12]  of me.
[5399.28 --> 5400.74]  For whenever we eat
[5400.74 --> 5401.62]  this bread
[5401.62 --> 5402.74]  and drink
[5402.74 --> 5403.66]  this cup,
[5403.78 --> 5404.42]  we proclaim
[5404.42 --> 5405.34]  the Lord's death
[5405.34 --> 5406.20]  and resurrection
[5406.20 --> 5407.68]  until he comes
[5407.68 --> 5408.62]  again.
[5408.62 --> 5412.10]  this is the mystery
[5412.10 --> 5413.82]  of our faith.
[5414.78 --> 5415.78]  For the rest
[5415.78 --> 5416.58]  of your faith,
[5416.58 --> 5416.88]  we affirm
[5416.88 --> 5421.68]  with joy.
[5422.36 --> 5423.00]  Your coming,
[5423.18 --> 5423.68]  we await
[5423.68 --> 5424.28]  with hope.
[5424.94 --> 5426.30]  Glory be to you,
[5426.52 --> 5427.00]  Lord Jesus.
[5428.34 --> 5429.30]  Church family,
[5429.40 --> 5430.74]  the Lord has prepared
[5430.74 --> 5431.66]  his table
[5431.66 --> 5432.78]  for all who
[5432.78 --> 5434.32]  trust in him
[5434.32 --> 5435.08]  and all who
[5435.08 --> 5436.48]  love him.
[5436.48 --> 5437.80]  and so,
[5438.00 --> 5439.04]  come to this
[5439.04 --> 5439.68]  table,
[5440.18 --> 5441.06]  you who have
[5441.06 --> 5441.86]  much faith
[5441.86 --> 5442.56]  and you who
[5442.56 --> 5442.98]  would like
[5442.98 --> 5443.64]  to have more.
[5444.28 --> 5445.16]  Come to this
[5445.16 --> 5445.44]  table,
[5445.58 --> 5446.10]  you who have
[5446.10 --> 5446.74]  been to this
[5446.74 --> 5447.60]  sacrament often
[5447.60 --> 5448.52]  and you who
[5448.52 --> 5449.28]  have not been
[5449.28 --> 5450.34]  for a long time
[5450.34 --> 5451.34]  or you who are
[5451.34 --> 5452.20]  coming in faith
[5452.20 --> 5453.20]  for the first time.
[5453.86 --> 5454.62]  You who have
[5454.62 --> 5455.58]  tried to follow
[5455.58 --> 5456.02]  Jesus
[5456.02 --> 5457.28]  and you who
[5457.28 --> 5458.44]  have failed.
[5458.98 --> 5459.68]  Come to this
[5459.68 --> 5460.40]  table if you are
[5460.40 --> 5461.58]  here with us
[5461.58 --> 5462.30]  or at home
[5462.30 --> 5463.42]  online because
[5463.42 --> 5464.32]  it is Christ
[5464.32 --> 5465.52]  who invites
[5465.52 --> 5467.04]  us here.
[5467.94 --> 5468.64]  The gifts
[5468.64 --> 5469.22]  of God
[5469.22 --> 5470.44]  for the people
[5470.44 --> 5471.52]  of God.
[5472.94 --> 5473.80]  As we come
[5473.80 --> 5474.52]  to this table,
[5475.28 --> 5475.92]  the ushers
[5475.92 --> 5476.82]  are going to
[5476.82 --> 5478.20]  move back
[5478.20 --> 5479.02]  row by row
[5479.02 --> 5479.70]  inviting you
[5479.70 --> 5480.32]  to come to the
[5480.32 --> 5480.56]  front.
[5480.68 --> 5481.06]  We will then
[5481.06 --> 5481.82]  gather in a
[5481.82 --> 5483.12]  circle around
[5483.12 --> 5484.96]  here and we
[5484.96 --> 5486.00]  will pass the
[5486.00 --> 5487.14]  elements around
[5487.14 --> 5487.78]  the circle.
[5488.24 --> 5489.56]  As you receive
[5489.56 --> 5491.14]  the tray of
[5491.14 --> 5492.00]  bread and as
[5492.00 --> 5492.78]  you pass that
[5492.78 --> 5493.36]  to the person
[5493.36 --> 5494.16]  beside you,
[5494.56 --> 5495.14]  we invite you
[5495.14 --> 5495.88]  to say the
[5495.88 --> 5496.78]  body of Christ
[5496.78 --> 5498.06]  given for you
[5498.06 --> 5498.54]  and then as
[5498.54 --> 5499.18]  you pass the
[5499.18 --> 5500.08]  tray of juice,
[5500.22 --> 5500.72]  we invite you
[5500.72 --> 5501.66]  to say the
[5501.66 --> 5502.62]  blood of Christ
[5502.62 --> 5503.78]  shed for you.
[5505.10 --> 5505.54]  We are going
[5505.54 --> 5506.54]  to invite the
[5506.54 --> 5507.44]  worship leaders
[5507.44 --> 5508.94]  and elders to
[5508.94 --> 5509.56]  come up to the
[5509.56 --> 5510.16]  front who are
[5510.16 --> 5510.94]  serving so that
[5510.94 --> 5512.04]  we can serve
[5512.04 --> 5512.62]  them first and
[5512.62 --> 5513.04]  then they will
[5513.04 --> 5514.24]  lead us in song.
[5514.66 --> 5515.22]  As well,
[5515.36 --> 5515.98]  during our
[5515.98 --> 5516.56]  Lord's Supper
[5516.56 --> 5517.44]  service, if you
[5517.44 --> 5518.16]  would like prayer
[5518.16 --> 5518.86]  or if you want
[5518.86 --> 5520.20]  to connect with
[5520.20 --> 5521.16]  someone before
[5521.16 --> 5521.80]  coming up to
[5521.80 --> 5522.22]  the table,
[5522.22 --> 5522.70]  there are
[5522.70 --> 5523.24]  people who
[5523.24 --> 5523.52]  will be
[5523.52 --> 5524.62]  available in
[5524.62 --> 5524.98]  the back
[5524.98 --> 5525.48]  room there.
[5525.68 --> 5526.14]  They have
[5526.14 --> 5526.88]  name tags on,
[5527.04 --> 5527.44]  there should be
[5527.44 --> 5528.08]  a yellow square
[5528.08 --> 5528.58]  on them, you
[5528.58 --> 5529.16]  can grab them,
[5529.54 --> 5530.00]  they will pray
[5530.00 --> 5531.44]  with you and
[5531.44 --> 5532.56]  then you may
[5532.56 --> 5533.76]  come to the
[5533.76 --> 5534.04]  table.
[5534.42 --> 5534.64]  I'm going to
[5534.64 --> 5535.92]  invite the elders
[5535.92 --> 5536.38]  and worship
[5536.38 --> 5537.16]  leaders to come
[5537.16 --> 5538.24]  to the front at
[5538.24 --> 5538.58]  this time.
[5538.58 --> 5538.64]  Thank you.
[5538.64 --> 5540.64]  Thank you.
[5540.64 --> 5542.64]  Thank you.
[5542.64 --> 5544.64]  Thank you.
[5544.64 --> 5545.64]  Thank you.
[5545.64 --> 5546.64]  Thank you.
[5546.64 --> 5547.64]  Thank you.
[5547.64 --> 5548.64]  Thank you.
[5548.64 --> 5549.64]  Thank you.
[5549.64 --> 5550.64]  Thank you.
[5550.64 --> 5551.64]  Thank you.
[5551.64 --> 5552.18]  Thank you.
[5552.22 --> 5553.22]  God.
[5553.22 --> 5553.24]  God.
[5553.24 --> 5553.76]  Body of Christ
[5553.76 --> 5554.50]  given for you.
[5556.50 --> 5557.38]  Body of Christ
[5557.38 --> 5558.00]  given for you.
[5563.02 --> 5563.82]  Body of Christ
[5563.82 --> 5564.48]  given for you.
[5565.38 --> 5566.08]  Body of Christ
[5566.08 --> 5566.68]  given for you.
[5566.68 --> 5576.74]  The Body of Christ
[5576.74 --> 5578.74]  given for you.
[5578.74 --> 5591.94]  eat and remember
[5608.74 --> 5611.98]  the blood of Christ shed for you
[5611.98 --> 5615.98]  the blood of Christ shed for you
[5617.56 --> 5625.46]  the blood of Christ shed for you
[5625.46 --> 5627.52]  the blood of Christ shed for you
[5638.74 --> 5668.72]  Thank you.
[5668.74 --> 5698.72]  Thank you.
[5698.74 --> 5728.72]  Thank you.
[5728.74 --> 5758.72]  Thank you.
[5758.74 --> 5760.74]  Thank you.
[5788.74 --> 5793.74]  Oh my soul rejoice.
[5794.74 --> 5798.74]  Take joy my King.
[5798.74 --> 5810.74]  May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.
[5810.74 --> 5822.74]  May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.
[5822.74 --> 5832.74]  May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear.
[5832.74 --> 5834.74]  I exalt thee.
[5862.74 --> 5868.74]  I exalt thee, I exalt thee, I exalt thee.
[5868.74 --> 5878.74]  Oh Lord, I exalt thee.
[5878.74 --> 5888.74]  I exalt thee, I exalt thee.
[5888.74 --> 5898.74]  Oh Lord, I exalt thee.
[5898.74 --> 5902.74]  I exalt thee.
[5902.74 --> 5908.74]  I exalt thee.
[5908.74 --> 5910.74]  Oh Lord.
[5910.74 --> 5912.74]  Oh Lord.
[5912.74 --> 5914.74]  Oh Lord.
[5914.74 --> 5920.74]  Oh Lord.
[5920.74 --> 5930.74]  Come, thou long-expective Jesus, born to set thy people free.
[5930.74 --> 5943.74]  Come, thou long-expective Jesus, born to set thy people free.
[5943.74 --> 5955.74]  From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.
[5955.74 --> 5957.74]  Jesus, O Lord.
[5957.74 --> 5959.74]  Jesus, strength and consolation.
[5959.74 --> 5965.74]  Hope of all the earth, thou art.
[5965.74 --> 5977.74]  Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.
[5977.74 --> 5987.74]  Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a king.
[5987.74 --> 5999.74]  Born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom free.
[5999.74 --> 6010.74]  By thy own eternal spirit, rule in all our hearts alone.
[6010.74 --> 6024.74]  By thine all-sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.
[6040.74 --> 6042.74]  Lord, O Lord.
[6042.74 --> 6043.74]  Lord, O Lord.
[6043.74 --> 6044.74]  Lord, O Lord.
[6044.74 --> 6045.74]  Lord, O Lord.
[6045.74 --> 6046.74]  Lord, O Lord.
[6046.74 --> 6047.74]  Lord, O Lord.
[6047.74 --> 6055.74]  Angels from the crowns of glory, bring your fight for all the earth.
[6055.74 --> 6062.74]  You who sang creation's story, now proclaim the Zion's word.
[6062.74 --> 6069.74]  Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn King.
[6069.74 --> 6071.74]  Lord, o Lord.
[6071.74 --> 6072.74]  Who've seen you from today, come my boy.
[6072.74 --> 6073.74]  You who singでき strong, thank you the alt iten.
[6073.74 --> 6074.74]  Since your cuntic avaient his son, put some law and zwei and onepf.
[6074.74 --> 6075.74]  To belong to whom your own Ezra, hila will know the Murray.
[6075.74 --> 6095.24]  If there's love to save us whereas your eternal truth,miyor us ungly Ci
[6095.24 --> 6097.24]  new born King
[6099.24 --> 6103.24]  know an infant knowing you in me
[6103.24 --> 6107.24]  will share his father's throne
[6107.24 --> 6111.24]  gather all the nations to him
[6111.24 --> 6115.24]  every knee shall then grow down
[6115.24 --> 6119.24]  come and worship, come and worship
[6119.24 --> 6123.24]  worship Christ the new born King
[6123.24 --> 6127.24]  O creation, joy
[6127.24 --> 6129.24]  and praising God the
[6129.24 --> 6131.24]  Father, Spirit, Son
[6131.24 --> 6133.24]  evermore
[6133.24 --> 6135.24]  your voice is
[6135.24 --> 6137.24]  raising to the eternal
[6137.24 --> 6139.24]  free in time
[6139.24 --> 6141.24]  come and worship
[6141.24 --> 6143.24]  come and worship
[6143.24 --> 6145.24]  worship Christ the
[6145.24 --> 6147.24]  new born King
[6147.24 --> 6149.24]  worship Christ the
[6149.24 --> 6151.24]  new born King
[6151.24 --> 6153.24]  home
[6153.24 --> 6155.24]  Amen.
[6183.24 --> 6188.44]  We worship and adore you.
[6188.44 --> 6197.44]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6197.44 --> 6203.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6203.94 --> 6208.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6208.94 --> 6218.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6218.94 --> 6223.94]  Jesus, we love you.
[6223.94 --> 6229.94]  We worship, we adore you.
[6229.94 --> 6237.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6237.94 --> 6243.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6243.94 --> 6247.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6247.94 --> 6259.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6259.94 --> 6265.94]  Spirit, we love you.
[6265.94 --> 6269.94]  We worship and adore you.
[6269.94 --> 6279.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6279.94 --> 6285.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6285.94 --> 6289.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6289.94 --> 6293.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6293.94 --> 6303.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6303.94 --> 6305.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6305.94 --> 6307.94]  Glorify thy name.
[6307.94 --> 6319.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6319.94 --> 6321.94]  Glorify thy name in all the earth.
[6321.94 --> 6327.90]  Glorify thy name.
[6327.94 --> 6335.00]  Glorify thy name.
[6335.00 --> 6361.72]  Rejoice, the Lord is King, your Lord and King adore.
[6361.72 --> 6371.10]  Rejoice, the thanksgiving, triumph nevermore.
[6371.10 --> 6384.90]  Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice again, I say, rejoice.
[6384.90 --> 6393.94]  His kingdom cannot fail, he rules nor have an end.
[6394.36 --> 6402.28]  The keys of death and hell to Christ the Lord are King.
[6402.28 --> 6414.28]  Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice again, I say, rejoice.
[6414.28 --> 6424.28]  Since that God's right hand, till all is first amid,
[6425.50 --> 6433.28]  bow down at his command and fall beneath his feet.
[6433.28 --> 6447.38]  Lift up your heart, lift up your voice, rejoice again, I say, rejoice.
[6447.38 --> 6457.38]  Rejoice in glorious hope, for Christ the judge shall come.
[6457.38 --> 6466.38]  To gather all his saints to their eternal home.
[6466.38 --> 6474.38]  We soon shall hear your angels' voice.
[6474.38 --> 6482.38]  The trumpet of God shall sound with rejoice.
[6482.38 --> 6506.84]  Great is he who's the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he is wonderful.
[6506.84 --> 6522.00]  Great is he who's the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he is wonderful.
[6522.00 --> 6538.00]  Great is he who's the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he is wonderful.
[6538.00 --> 6553.00]  Great is he who's the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he is wonderful.
[6553.00 --> 6582.98]  Great is he who's the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he is wonderful.
[6582.98 --> 6612.96]  Great is he who's the King of kings and the Lord of lords, he is wonderful.
[6612.96 --> 6615.96]  Wonderful.
[6642.96 --> 6672.94]  Thank you.
[6672.96 --> 6702.94]  Thank you.
[6702.96 --> 6732.94]  Thank you.
[6732.96 --> 6762.94]  Thank you.
[6762.96 --> 6792.94]  Thank you.
[6792.96 --> 6794.96]  Thank you.
[6799.60 --> 6803.62]  We're going to end our time at the table with a prayer.
[6804.18 --> 6809.30]  Following that prayer, I'm going to invite Eric Van Heusen, Chair of Council, up to the front one more time.
[6809.30 --> 6839.28]  Let's pray together.
[6839.30 --> 6843.22]  We're going to join us with a mission of your holiness.
[6844.90 --> 6847.42]  United, we come to this table.
[6847.64 --> 6850.22]  United, we go on mission.
[6850.22 --> 6853.46]  In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
[6853.46 --> 6860.56]  Okay.
[6860.56 --> 6875.76]  At this time, we're going to do a little appreciation for Sylvia.
[6875.76 --> 6879.28]  But before I call her up, I have one other announcement from Council for everyone.
[6879.28 --> 6884.00]  As was mentioned, has been mentioned every week, usually in December, as we get close
[6884.00 --> 6885.00]  to the end of the year.
[6885.00 --> 6890.12]  We just want to encourage everyone to make sure that your givings are up and that we
[6890.12 --> 6894.62]  can make sure that we are fulfilling our budget obligations for the year.
[6894.62 --> 6898.80]  So we'd like to give you a reminder for that at this time of the year.
[6898.80 --> 6903.20]  But what we really want to do right now is invite Sylvie up front here for a brief little
[6903.20 --> 6906.26]  moment.
[6906.26 --> 6912.62]  For those of you who don't know, Sylvia is retiring from being our church administrator.
[6912.62 --> 6917.36]  So if you walked in this morning and you're wondering why the cake's out there, we're going
[6917.36 --> 6921.96]  to have a little bit of time of appreciation for Sylvia.
[6921.96 --> 6926.30]  Sylvia, we just want to thank you on behalf of Council and everyone here for your eight
[6926.30 --> 6928.16]  and a half years of service.
[6928.16 --> 6932.20]  Through those times, I'm sure, especially the last couple of years with COVID, I'm sure
[6932.20 --> 6939.52]  it was difficult dealing with changing pastors, changing chairs of council.
[6939.52 --> 6944.26]  The last one's a real piece, but that's okay.
[6944.26 --> 6947.26]  I just want to thank you for your time and your appreciation.
[6947.26 --> 6954.00]  And I brought, we got you this beautiful bouquet of flowers that we want to give to you.
[6954.00 --> 6958.64]  As well, we thought we would get you a gift.
[6958.64 --> 6964.20]  And I did a lot of research and I decided that I would go way out on a limb here and get you
[6964.20 --> 6967.94]  one of these.
[6967.94 --> 6973.94]  But before I give you this, as you can see, I didn't get a vase for the flowers because
[6973.94 --> 6975.26]  I went all out on this.
[6975.26 --> 6977.26]  I blew the budget on this fishing rod here.
[6977.26 --> 6983.50]  But I figured you'd have a vase at home.
[6983.50 --> 6987.98]  I went to the best fishing store in town, McFrugal's.
[6987.98 --> 6990.26]  And I bought this expensive fishing rod.
[6990.26 --> 6991.26]  And I bought this expensive fishing rod.
[6991.26 --> 6995.26]  It comes with a little bit of an oath and vow you have to make to it.
[6995.26 --> 7000.26]  So I would like you to repeat after me if you don't mind.
[7000.26 --> 7007.26]  I, Sylvia, take you this fishing rod as my retirement friend.
[7007.26 --> 7013.26]  I, Sylvia, take you this fishing rod as my retirement friend.
[7013.26 --> 7014.26]  And you don't have.
[7014.26 --> 7015.48]  I will love you.
[7015.48 --> 7016.86]  dép смотреть
[7016.86 --> 7017.98]  I will love you.
[7017.98 --> 7020.92]  I will cherish you.
[7020.92 --> 7022.26]  I will cherish you.
[7022.62 --> 7026.10]  I will take good care of you.
[7026.10 --> 7028.00]  I will take good care of you.
[7028.00 --> 7035.04]  When your time is done fishing rod, I will retire you graciously.
[7035.04 --> 7037.44]  When your time is done near fishing
[7037.44 --> 7040.34]  rod, I will retire you graciously.
[7040.34 --> 7045.74]  I will not lie about any situation that involves this fishing rod.
[7045.74 --> 7050.52]  I will not lie about any situation that involves this fishing rod.
[7050.52 --> 7055.38]  I will not exaggerate any situation that involves this fishing rod.
[7055.38 --> 7060.30]  I will not exaggerate any situation that involves this fishing rod.
[7060.30 --> 7063.52]  Only truth and honesty will be spoken.
[7063.52 --> 7066.86]  Only truth and honesty will be spoken.
[7066.86 --> 7072.54]  And finally, I will be a great partner to my husband who will want me to go fishing more now that I am retired.
[7077.88 --> 7082.30]  I will be a great partner to my husband who will want to go fishing more.
[7083.42 --> 7085.78]  Well done. I present you this fishing rod.
[7086.24 --> 7088.26]  Thank you very much. Round of applause. Thank you.
[7096.86 --> 7097.86]  Thank you.
[7102.86 --> 7108.00]  Does anyone else remember when Homer Simpson gave Marge a bowling ball that said Homer on it?
[7110.22 --> 7111.78]  Frank, did you have a hand in that gift?
[7114.90 --> 7116.02]  It would have been a... Oh.
[7117.52 --> 7119.00]  Eric, he's telling you how to do your job.
[7120.72 --> 7122.78]  We do want to say thank you, Sylvia.
[7123.20 --> 7126.66]  As staff, we have organized a separate time for that,
[7126.66 --> 7129.06]  so I won't take any more of our time this morning,
[7129.26 --> 7135.26]  except to make sure you hear the invitation to stick around for cake and to congratulate Sylvia.
[7135.38 --> 7141.42]  One of the things she loves most is when people queue up to fill her next 45 minutes with personal interaction and time.
[7141.60 --> 7143.28]  So make sure you do that well.
[7144.38 --> 7149.40]  I'm going to invite you as you are able to stand, and we can receive God's blessing today.
[7156.66 --> 7162.04]  We go with God who goes with us, and we go together.
[7163.04 --> 7165.00]  Receive the blessing of God.
[7166.26 --> 7169.00]  God, go before you to prepare a way for you.
[7169.48 --> 7172.02]  God, go behind you to protect you.
[7172.62 --> 7174.68]  God, go beneath you to support you.
[7174.76 --> 7177.64]  And God, go beside you to befriend you.
[7177.64 --> 7179.32]  Do not be afraid.
[7179.76 --> 7181.72]  Let the blessing of God come upon you today.
[7181.84 --> 7188.40]  Do not be afraid, but go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
[7189.40 --> 7190.04]  Amen.
[7190.04 --> 7190.12]  Amen.
[7190.12 --> 7210.38]  Should nothing of our efforts stand,
[7210.38 --> 7216.38]  No legacy survive.
[7216.38 --> 7222.88]  Unless the Lord does raise the house,
[7223.34 --> 7228.62]  In vain its builders strive.
[7229.36 --> 7235.04]  To you who boast tomorrow's game,
[7235.04 --> 7240.66]  Tell me what is your life.
[7241.24 --> 7247.00]  A mist that vanishes at dawn,
[7247.00 --> 7252.68]  All glory be to Christ.
[7252.68 --> 7259.42]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7259.42 --> 7265.32]  All glory be to Christ.
[7265.32 --> 7271.80]  His rule and reign will ever sing.
[7271.80 --> 7278.06]  All glory be to Christ.
[7278.06 --> 7287.64]  Will be done His kingdom come on earth as this of all.
[7287.64 --> 7291.44]  Who is Himself our daily?
[7291.44 --> 7295.78]  We'll praise Him, the Lord of love.
[7296.22 --> 7303.90]  We'll give you water, satisfy the mercy with the Christ.
[7303.90 --> 7307.48]  Will take the cup of life.
[7307.48 --> 7311.80]  We'll give you water, satisfy the mercy with the Lord.
[7311.80 --> 7316.10]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7316.10 --> 7319.86]  All glory be to Christ.
[7319.86 --> 7324.16]  His rule and reign will ever sing.
[7324.16 --> 7328.02]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7328.02 --> 7338.00]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7338.00 --> 7341.32]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7341.32 --> 7349.38]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7349.38 --> 7379.36]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7379.36 --> 7386.36]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7386.36 --> 7392.36]  His rule and reign will ever sing.
[7392.36 --> 7399.36]  All glory be to Christ.
[7399.36 --> 7416.98]  All glory be to Christ our King.
[7416.98 --> 7446.96]  Thank you.
[7446.98 --> 7476.96]  Thank you.