The Lutheran Church of Madison, Connecticut
9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT 06443; 203-245-4145
A congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Pastor Volker Heide
LCofMadison@aol.com
OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE:
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 10:00 AM.
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL & BIBLE STUDY, 9:00 AM.
SATURDAY WORSHIP, 5:00 PM.
CURRENT BIBLE STUDIES:
THE BOOK OF REVELATION, SUNDAYS, 9:00 AM.
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY ON THE LECTIONARY, TUESDAYS, 8:00 AM.
9 Britton Lane, Madison, CT 06443; 203-245-4145
A congregation of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Pastor Volker Heide
LCofMadison@aol.com
OUR CURRENT SCHEDULE:
SUNDAY WORSHIP, 10:00 AM.
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL & BIBLE STUDY, 9:00 AM.
SATURDAY WORSHIP, 5:00 PM.
CURRENT BIBLE STUDIES:
THE BOOK OF REVELATION, SUNDAYS, 9:00 AM.
MEN'S BIBLE STUDY ON THE LECTIONARY, TUESDAYS, 8:00 AM.
"CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY": A SERMON ON LUKE 2:1-20
Wouldn’t it be great if every day were like Christmas? Have you ever had a wish like that? What if we could have the spirit of Christmas every day? What if we could live each day in joy and gladness, quietness and peace?
We should realize this is the very reason why the Son of God came into this world. That is why he takes on flesh and blood and is born of Virgin Mary. The Son of God comes to bestow upon us his gift of joy and happiness. He comes to bless us with peace and hope. He comes to bless us with his gifts, not just one day in the year, but every single day of our life.
Every day can be like Christmas, if we trust and believe in Christ as our Savior. And this is especially important to remember in our home and in our family. Just think about how the spirit of Christmas touches our family for at least a moment each year. At least for a little while, we can put aside our problems and heartaches. We can put aside our fighting and quarreling. There may be nagging problems, but somehow we can set them aside for a little while. There may be health problems and sickness to deal with, but somehow we can live with that for a day.
Today, we see how God cares about us and our families. We see how God enters our life through his Son who is born of the Virgin Mary. God cares about our problems and heartaches, and he comes to us in mercy and compassion. He loves us and he takes our burdens and sorrows upon himself.
Consider again the story of Joseph and Mary. It is a story of a family facing problem after problem. Joseph and Mary had to deal with stress and worry. There was first of all, the matter of finances. That is why they had to travel down to Bethlehem, to pay taxes for the census. Scripture tells us that Joseph and Mary were not wealthy. They were common, ordinary people who struggled to get by. They had their money troubles, too.
Then, there was the matter of health. Mary was about eight or nine months pregnant. But she had to make a trip of about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. She would have to travel either by donkey or by foot. Then, there was the matter of housing in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary could find no suitable lodging after their long trip. They had to stay in a stable where they kept the animals for the night. What a dirty, cold place to stay! Yet, it was in this stable filled with straw and animals, that Mary went into labor and gave birth to Jesus. Imagine the stress and worry that Joseph must have felt. Imagine the situation for Mary. How do you think they felt?
Yet, in spite of all these difficulties, a strong and healthy child was born. God was watching over this family. He saw to it that his purposes and plans were achieved. Christmas reminds us how God cared for Joseph and Mary, and how he cares for our families, too.
Today, God wants to touch our life with his mercy and compassion. God wants to bear our burden and help us in our time of need. That is why the Son of God comes into this world. Our Savior left his heavenly home to enter our world and to live our human life. Jesus lived in a family, too, a family that had to deal with worry and stress, endless problems and heartaches, just like we do.
Christ was exposed to all the struggles and strain of family life. Years later, he had brothers and sisters to deal with. They didn’t understand him all the time. Jesus had to deal with work, poverty and hardship, and all the everyday struggles we go through.
Christmas reminds us that we have a Savior who fully understands our situation. He knows what we are going through right now in our life. He has been there, too. He has experienced our life. He has suffered our pain. That is why the Christmas story is so powerful, that is why it touches our hearts in such a profound way. The Son of God enters our flesh and blood existence.
Paul says, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, to be born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under the law.” In other words, the Son of God placed himself under all the requirements of God’s law. He was born under the law to fulfill and complete God’s law on our behalf. He becomes our substitute, and he lived his life for us.
Our Savior takes up our burdens and woes, and he carries them to the cross. On the cross, the Son of God takes upon himself all the brokenness and pain of this world. He takes all of our sin and guilt, all of our mistakes and failures, and he takes them all down into his suffering and death. That is what Christmas is all about: God freely forgives all of our sins and he bestows upon us a new life and a new beginning.
All the mistakes we make in our life are forgiven. All the guilt and bad feelings we have are dealt with. All of the stupid things we have done in our life are taken away. Our Savior has the power to heal a broken life. He has the power to help those who are in trouble.
You know, we sometimes say we would do things differently in our life, if we only had the chance. Our Savior gives us that chance. His forgiveness takes away the past and it removes our guilt. His grace opens up a new life and a new beginning.
In the same way that God helped the struggling family of Joseph and Mary, he helps us. He gives us strength to deal with all of our problems. We can cope with family problems, health issues and financial troubles. We can deal with stress and worry because the Savior enters our life with his mercy and compassion. He bestows his gifts of grace, and they bring renewal and a fresh start.
Every day can become like Christmas. “For I bring you good news of great joy. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord.” It is possible to have the spirit of Christmas every day in our life. We can live in love and forgiveness. We can endure all the stresses and strains of family life. We can work to mend broken and frayed relationships.
Paul says, “Put on the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving others as the Lord has forgiven you. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And above all, put on love, which binds them together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.”
Again, that is the message of Christmas, and that is something we can celebrate and remember every single day of our life. “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity.” “For a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord!”
Today, the incarnate Lord says, “Do not be afraid! I have come to bless and to save, to rescue and to restore, to heal and make new. Just keep on living by faith. Continue to trust in me. Receive my gift and live in forgiveness and love. Be at peace and rejoice that I am with you, both now and forevermore.” Amen!
We should realize this is the very reason why the Son of God came into this world. That is why he takes on flesh and blood and is born of Virgin Mary. The Son of God comes to bestow upon us his gift of joy and happiness. He comes to bless us with peace and hope. He comes to bless us with his gifts, not just one day in the year, but every single day of our life.
Every day can be like Christmas, if we trust and believe in Christ as our Savior. And this is especially important to remember in our home and in our family. Just think about how the spirit of Christmas touches our family for at least a moment each year. At least for a little while, we can put aside our problems and heartaches. We can put aside our fighting and quarreling. There may be nagging problems, but somehow we can set them aside for a little while. There may be health problems and sickness to deal with, but somehow we can live with that for a day.
Today, we see how God cares about us and our families. We see how God enters our life through his Son who is born of the Virgin Mary. God cares about our problems and heartaches, and he comes to us in mercy and compassion. He loves us and he takes our burdens and sorrows upon himself.
Consider again the story of Joseph and Mary. It is a story of a family facing problem after problem. Joseph and Mary had to deal with stress and worry. There was first of all, the matter of finances. That is why they had to travel down to Bethlehem, to pay taxes for the census. Scripture tells us that Joseph and Mary were not wealthy. They were common, ordinary people who struggled to get by. They had their money troubles, too.
Then, there was the matter of health. Mary was about eight or nine months pregnant. But she had to make a trip of about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. She would have to travel either by donkey or by foot. Then, there was the matter of housing in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary could find no suitable lodging after their long trip. They had to stay in a stable where they kept the animals for the night. What a dirty, cold place to stay! Yet, it was in this stable filled with straw and animals, that Mary went into labor and gave birth to Jesus. Imagine the stress and worry that Joseph must have felt. Imagine the situation for Mary. How do you think they felt?
Yet, in spite of all these difficulties, a strong and healthy child was born. God was watching over this family. He saw to it that his purposes and plans were achieved. Christmas reminds us how God cared for Joseph and Mary, and how he cares for our families, too.
Today, God wants to touch our life with his mercy and compassion. God wants to bear our burden and help us in our time of need. That is why the Son of God comes into this world. Our Savior left his heavenly home to enter our world and to live our human life. Jesus lived in a family, too, a family that had to deal with worry and stress, endless problems and heartaches, just like we do.
Christ was exposed to all the struggles and strain of family life. Years later, he had brothers and sisters to deal with. They didn’t understand him all the time. Jesus had to deal with work, poverty and hardship, and all the everyday struggles we go through.
Christmas reminds us that we have a Savior who fully understands our situation. He knows what we are going through right now in our life. He has been there, too. He has experienced our life. He has suffered our pain. That is why the Christmas story is so powerful, that is why it touches our hearts in such a profound way. The Son of God enters our flesh and blood existence.
Paul says, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, to be born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under the law.” In other words, the Son of God placed himself under all the requirements of God’s law. He was born under the law to fulfill and complete God’s law on our behalf. He becomes our substitute, and he lived his life for us.
Our Savior takes up our burdens and woes, and he carries them to the cross. On the cross, the Son of God takes upon himself all the brokenness and pain of this world. He takes all of our sin and guilt, all of our mistakes and failures, and he takes them all down into his suffering and death. That is what Christmas is all about: God freely forgives all of our sins and he bestows upon us a new life and a new beginning.
All the mistakes we make in our life are forgiven. All the guilt and bad feelings we have are dealt with. All of the stupid things we have done in our life are taken away. Our Savior has the power to heal a broken life. He has the power to help those who are in trouble.
You know, we sometimes say we would do things differently in our life, if we only had the chance. Our Savior gives us that chance. His forgiveness takes away the past and it removes our guilt. His grace opens up a new life and a new beginning.
In the same way that God helped the struggling family of Joseph and Mary, he helps us. He gives us strength to deal with all of our problems. We can cope with family problems, health issues and financial troubles. We can deal with stress and worry because the Savior enters our life with his mercy and compassion. He bestows his gifts of grace, and they bring renewal and a fresh start.
Every day can become like Christmas. “For I bring you good news of great joy. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord.” It is possible to have the spirit of Christmas every day in our life. We can live in love and forgiveness. We can endure all the stresses and strains of family life. We can work to mend broken and frayed relationships.
Paul says, “Put on the virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving others as the Lord has forgiven you. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And above all, put on love, which binds them together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.”
Again, that is the message of Christmas, and that is something we can celebrate and remember every single day of our life. “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate Deity.” “For a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord!”
Today, the incarnate Lord says, “Do not be afraid! I have come to bless and to save, to rescue and to restore, to heal and make new. Just keep on living by faith. Continue to trust in me. Receive my gift and live in forgiveness and love. Be at peace and rejoice that I am with you, both now and forevermore.” Amen!
If you have a question about our church or our schedule, please email us.
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OUR CHURCH HOME IS:
- A PLACE FOR WORSHIP: We meet together to worship Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We joyfully give Christ our praise, adoration and thanksgiving. We come to receive his blessing and gifts. Worship is a special time of spiritual refreshment and renewal. Join us this weekend! Receive God's peace in Christ.
- A PLACE FOR LEARNING: Studying the Bible is vital. We believe its message and accept it as God’s Word. The Bible is truthful, alive and relevant to life today. Learning the Scriptures together is a thrilling adventure. We offer several different Bible Studies every week to strengthen your spiritual life.
- A PLACE FOR ENRICHMENT: For every person at every age level, we offer a wealth of opportunities – special programs, service projects and events for children, youth and adults. You can be sure that in this kaleidoscope of activities there’s more than one place where you can be personally enriched.
- A PLACE FOR FRIENDSHIP: Nothing quite compares to the joy of Christian friendship. That’s why we make it a priority to build lasting bonds between the members of our church family – bonds of concern and genuine commitment to one another. Best of all, this circle of care is ever widening. We’d love for it to include you, too!
- A PLACE FOR SERVICE: Just as our Lord Jesus Christ came "not to be served, but to serve," we accept our calling to reach out to others in mercy and compassion. We seek to serve our Lord and our community. We are called to serve all people with love, mercy, and compassion. Join us as we work together to glorify God's name!
Pastor Heide posts Sermons and Bible Studies regularly on his Substack.
Click the link below to check it out.
His blog is called, "Jesus Christ Is Alive."
Click the link below to check it out.
His blog is called, "Jesus Christ Is Alive."
Click the button below to check out Pastor Heide's Podcasts on BlogTalkRadio.Com
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