CHRISTMAS

Colossians 1:15-20 says,

He is the image of the invisible o!, the fi"st bo"n of all #"eation$ %o"$ $ $ all things have been #"eate! by Him an! fo" Him$ An! He is befo"e all things, an! in Him all things hol! togethe"$ He is also hea! of the bo!y, the #h&"#h' an! He is the beginning, the fi"st bo"n f"om the !ea!' so that He Himself might #ome to have fi"st (la#e in eve"ything$ %o" it )as the %athe"*s goo! (leas&"e fo" all the f&llness to !)ell in Him, an! th"o&gh Him to "e#on#ile all things to Himself, having ma!e (ea#e th"o&gh the bloo! of His #"oss$

Christmas can be a season of great joy. It is a time of God showing His great love for us. It can be a time of healing and renewed strength. You see, Christmas is when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child. God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to be born. His birth brought great joy to the world. She herds, wise men, and angels all shared in the e!citement of "nowing about this great event. #hey "new this was no ordinary baby. #he ro hets had told of His coming hundreds of years before. #he star sto ed over $ethlehem just to marGrace by Laura Story Intro: Eb Ab Eb Bb V1: Eb Ab My heart is so proud Bb Eb My mind is so unfocused Eb Ab I see the things you do through me Bb Eb As great things I have done Eb Ab But no you gent!y brea" me Bb #m Bb And I !ove it here you ta"e me Ab Eb $ou ho!d me as my %ather Ab Bb And mo!d me as my Ma"er #: And I as" you Eb Ab &o many times i!! you pic" me up Bb Eb 'hen I "eep on !etting you do n Eb Ab And each time I i!! fa!! short of your g!ory #m Bb &o far i!! forgiveness abound( Eb Ab And $ou ans er) *My chi!d) I !ove you #m Bb Ab And as !ong as you+re see"ing My face #m Bb Eb $ou+!! a!" in the po er of my dai!y sufficient grace,V. /#hords same as V10: At times I may gro ea" And fee! a bit discouraged 1no ing that someone some here #ou!d do a better 2ob But ho am I to serve $ou 'hen I "no I don+t deserve $ou

But that+s the part that burns in my heart And "eeps me hanging on Bb #m $ou are so patient ith me) Lord

V3 /#hords same as V10: As I a!" ith you) I+m !earning 'hat your grace rea!!y means 4he price that I cou!d never pay 'as paid at #a!vary So instead of trying to repay you I+m !earning to simp!y obey you by giving up my !ife to you %or a!! that you+ve given to me " the way for those who were loo"ing for this s ecial child.

#he month of January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, which is celebrated on January %. #he first twelve days of January fall during the liturgical season "nown as Christmas which is re resented by the liturgical color white. #he remaining days of January are the beginning of &rdinary #ime. #he liturgical color changes to green ' a symbol of the ho e of rea ing the eternal harvest of heaven, es ecially the ho e of a glorious resurrection.