Watch Church
|
Whenever or wherever you are, stream the services at First Church
|
The shepherds came from the fields, the Magi came from distant lands all to witness Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus reminds us that all who come will not be cast aside, but will be embraced with the love of God that transforms hearts and minds to be like Christ. Join us as we come together as the Body of Christ worshipping God and celebrating Holy Communion.
The joy that Jesus brought the earth is incomparable with any other joy or feeling of happiness that can be experienced in life. It is a supernatural joy that was brought to the earth in a unique way when God took on human form and became the Savior of the world!
The gift of peace is found in Jesus, enveloping our lives with profound serenity and spiritual assurance. If our desire is to live without conflict among people and lead fruitful lives in the community, it necessitates embracing the teachings of Christ, as it is within His transformative presence that true peace flourishes.
This Sunday is the start to the Advent season, a time to contemplate and remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is through Him that we have hope. What an incredible gift! Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
As we navigate the hustle and bustle of life, it's easy to lose sight of the profound truth—the Lord is coming! The Bible reminds us to be prepared at any moment. Are you ready to welcome His presence? Let's embark on this journey of anticipation together.
On Christmas Day, Lead Pastor Steve Darr told a story about the Fourth Wiseman. His name is Artaban and he comes to us through “The Story of the Other Wise Man,” a book written by Henry Van Dyke and published in 1895. It is a beautiful story grounded in the teachings of Jesus. Through carols and Scripture, the story of the birth of Jesus the Messiah once again was told to remind us that He is God with Us.
We come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ our Savior. Through this service of communion and candlelight, we will hear prophecies spoken and prophecies fulfilled through this child who came to us in a manger. Joy to the World the Lord has come. Light has shown in the darkness of our lives.
There is no other light than Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness.” The fact remains that if we don’t follow Him, we do walk in darkness. And where is that darkness? It is in the world. Those things that are opposite from what Jesus taught, what Jesus brought from God the Father to us here on earth are darkness. Jesus also said, “You are the light of the world.” Our light is not to glorify ourselves, but it is to reflect the desires and will of God to glorify Him. So, who is the Light? Christ Jesus the hope of glory is our light that is reflected through how we live out our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.
You’ve maybe heard it said that “God’s NO is not a rejection. It’s a Redirection.” God’s goal for you is to become more Christlike and often, we take a number of turns that take us off God’s intended purpose and we need redirecting. The thing is, we don’t yet see things clearly, we know things in part, and we struggle perhaps in the wrong direction, but we will, one day, “will know fully, even as we are fully known” by God. Isn’t it amazing that we can hand over all our past, present, and future to a God who knows us and desires the best for us?
As followers of Christ, we are to continue to walk and be focused on Him. When you look at the world, it is easy to become afraid or lose hope. But in Christ, we have hope now until the end when He returns. This hope comes to us as Emmanuel, God with us. It is this blessed hope that came in a cradle that we focus on through the cross that gives us the gift of eternal life.
|
Archives
September 2024
Categories
All
|
WORSHIP GATHERINGS:
Sundays at 9:00 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. 835 Riverside Avenue Torrington, CT 06790 See our regathering info here PHONE (860) 482-4705 OFFICE EMAIL [email protected] |