21-Dec-25 (Matthew 1:18-25)

We don't often have the benefit of an angelic visit to help us figure out how we should spend our lives. We have to pick up on God's more subtle clues. Now, when I say "subtle", I don't mean hard to see. In fact, if you look in scripture for God's commands to feed the poor, care for the strangers and outcasts and the sick and dying, you'll find them all over scripture, throughout both testaments.
So, at least one way that we're to invest our time, our abilities, and our resources should be well known. It should come as no surprise then, that the work of the Church focuses on these very things. Alongside sharing the Good News of God's love for all in our words, we share that love in much of what we do as a church.
One opportunity to be a part of that is coming up right now.
As the deacons come to collect our offering for today, consider giving generously to this important work.

Prayer:

Please join me now in a spirit of prayer.
God help us to hear you when you call us to care for your world and the people in it. Help us to be kind and generous to those in need. Help us to give freely of what you have so freely given to us.
Bless these offerings, that they will be put to use in just such ways.
We pray in the name of Jesus, our Risen Lord, Amen.