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Text Box: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14 Dear People of Advent, Preaching on Isaiah 7:14 over a century ago, the great preacher Charles Spurgeon closed his sermon with this flourish:

“God with us.” It is hell's terror. Satan trembles at the sound of it; the black-winged dragon of the pit quails before it. Let him come to you suddenly, and do you but whisper that word, “God with us,” back he falls, confounded and confused. “God with us” is the laborer's strength; how could he preach the gospel, how could he bend his knees in prayer, how could the missionary go into foreign lands, how could the martyr stand at the stake, how could the confessor own his Master, how could men labor, if that one word were taken away? “God with us” is the sufferer's comfort, the balm of his woe, the alleviation of his misery, the sleep which God gives to his beloved, their rest after exertion and toil. “God with us” is eternity's sonnet, heaven's hallelujah, the shout of the glorified, the song of the redeemed, the chorus of angels, the everlasting oratorio of the great orchestra of the sky.

Thanks, Spurgeon, for reminding us all of our deepest resource for life today and the true joy of Christmas: “God with us.” And so, Lycoming Centre, if you see me either moping around or stressed out this Advent, will you please remind me? “God with us.” And would you join me in experiencing the reality of “God with us” this Advent season in corporate worship? We have a whole month of services planned for you, all leading up to our Christmas Eve services. Once again I invite you and encourage you to come to either the 6:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. service. Again, what an opportunity to celebrate and to invite family and friends to worship the Savior whose name is Immanuel, “God with us.” May God grant you a truly joyous and blessed Christmas season! Billy

May you have the Spirit of Christmas, which is Peace,
The Gladness of Christmas, which is Hope,
The Heart of Christmas, which is Love,
The Gift of Christmas, which is Christ.
—Ada Hendricks