Pastor's letter • december 25, 2016

Matthew 1:21 NIV – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.”
 
Salvation has a name and that name is Jesus.  Through that name, our sins are forgiven and we are granted access to the very Throne of God.  We are made whole, complete, and perfected in Christ.  Through the name of Jesus, we have been transformed and our identity is now in Christ Alone!
 
Thus, Christmas is one of the most sacred of all Christian Holy Days.  It is during this precious and unique season that we commemorate that the Promise of the Father, the Hope of Humanity, the Creator of the Universe, the King of the Ages; set foot on the stage of Human history.  The MIGHTY HAND OF GOD that holds entire galaxies in place, and orders the universe…became Human and brought salvation near to each one of us.  Now, today, at this moment, Salvation can be touched because Jesus can be touched!
 
The mighty, merciful, glorious, and…Saving message of Christmas is that God Came Near!  He did not just come near to Joseph and Mary; not just near to the Magi and shepherds; not just near to the Twelve Apostles; not just to Kings and Governors, priests and scribes.  Oh Beloved, God came near to all of us! 
 
Isaiah 9:6 NKJV - “For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given.” 
 

• To the Aged and to the child, He can be touched. 
• To the poor and afflicted, He can be touched. 
• To the outcast and the sinner, He can be touched.
• To the thief and the cheat, He can be touched. 
• To the harassed and the helpless, He can be touched. 
• To the grieving and the suffering, He can be touched. 
• To the rich and to the poor, He can be touched. 
• To the Learned and the simple, He can be touched. 
• To the healthy and the sick, He can be touched. 
• To the strong and the weak, He can be touched. 
• To the Faithful and even to the Skeptic, He can be touched. 
• To you and to me, He can be touched. 

 
Revelation 3:12 NIV - Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.  Never again will he leave it.  I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
 
Merry Christmas!