- Reader 1: Life was
hard for the Jewish people. Captives in their own land, virtual slaves to the
whims of their despised Roman conquerors.
- Reader 2: Devout
Jews held on to the promise that a Messiah, a Savior, would be sent by God, to
lead them to victory, and release them from their Roman masters.
- Reader 1: Through
hundreds of years of waiting, many had given up hope. But some believed that
what God had promised, God would deliver, in His time.
- Reader 4: In 1956,
this church family began worshipping in the Plaza Theater in Lexington Park.
- Reader 5: They
called themselves The First Presbyterian Church of St. Mary’s County, and their
first pastor was Charles Campbell.
- Reader 2: You
Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, are by no means least among the rulers of
Judea, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people
Israel.
- Reader1: He will be
great and will be called the Son of the most high. The Lord God will give Him
the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob
forever; His kingdom will never end.
- Reader 2: Praise be
to the Lord, the God of Israel, because He will come and redeem His people.
- Reader 5: Understand
that establishing a new church is far more than finding a plot of land. It is
more than identifying leaders and finding a pastor.
- Reader 4: It is more
than wood and steel and concrete, more than beams and walls and shingles.
- Reader 5: The
building of a Christian church is, by nature, building on the life, the
instruction, and the very fundamentals of Jesus Christ, the Son of the true
God.
- Reader 1: In those
days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the
entire Roman world, and everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph
also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the
town of David, because he belonged to the house and the line of David.
- Reader 2: Joseph
went to Bethlehem to register, with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him
and was expecting a child.
- Reader 1: While
Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem the time came for the baby to be born, and
Mary gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
- Reader 4: In the
beginning there was the work of assembling the essentials: the finances, the
plans, the people for specific jobs and functions.
- Reader 5: We can
only guess the many struggles those initial church builders faced as they moved
from concepts to actualities.
- Reader 4: Struggles,
problems, setbacks, disappointments…yet they carried on until slowly, steadily,
from the dreams and plans came a visible presence, and an emotional awakening
in the hearts of all who were involved.
- Reader 2: And there
were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their
flocks.
- Reader 1: An angel
of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and
they were terrified.
- Reader 2: But the
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people.
- Reader 1: Today in
the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
- Reader 2: This will
be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
- Reader 1: Suddenly a
great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and
saying,
- Readers 1 & 2, in unison: Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.
- Reader 5: Pastor
Campbell reminded all of the people that, essential as were the logistics of
planning and construction, the sole purpose for the building of their church
was the worshipping of their God.
- Reader 4: When the
new church building on Town Creek Drive was dedicated in 1959, Pastor Campbell’s
remarks included the following words: “Dearly beloved: Forasmuch as it pleased Almighty God to put
it into the heart of His servants to build this house of worship, let us now
fulfill the godly purpose for which we are assembled of dedicating it to the
honor of God’s most holy name. God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Reader 2: When the
angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s
go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told
us about.”
- Reader 4: Simply
being part of the church is meaningless if there is no “going” and no “seeing”,
first-hand and on-going, what God is doing through His people.
- Reader 1: So they
hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the
Manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what they had
been told about this child.
- Reader 5: A church
can only be relevant if it carries Christ’s message out into the community,
telling all who will listen about God’s love for all mankind.
- Reader 2: And all
who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
- Reader 1: The
shepherds returned,
- Reader 2: glorifying
and praising God.
- Reader 1: For all
the things they had heard and seen.
- Reader 4: And the
church grew.
- Reader 5: And the
impact of God’s message spread throughout the community.
- Reader 4: And souls
were saved. And lives were changed.
- Reader 1: After
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, magi came from the east.
- Reader 2: And they
asked: “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?”
- Reader 1: “We saw
His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”
- Reader 5: Later came
new pastors…
- Reader 4: Keith
Blake
- Reader 5: Fred
Feldner
- Reader 4: Robert
Wilkie
- Reader 5: Madeline
Foulke
- Reader 4: Dr. Robert
Marsh
- Reader 5: Peg McGowan
- Reader 4: Mike Jones
- Reader 5: Jim Gunn
- Reader 4: Ben Garris
- Reader 5: Robert
Bayley
- Reader 4: And future
pastors yet to be called by God.
- Reader 5: And
countless leaders, teachers, and devoted believers throughout our past, here in
our present, and yet to be called in our future.
- Reader 4: They came
to lead, instruct and guide the congregation.
- Reader 5: But the
essential reason why these newcomers came to the church was…..to worship our
almighty God.
- Reader 2: On coming
to the house where the baby was, they bowed down
- Reader 1: They bowed
down…..and they worshipped Him.
- Reader 2: And they
opened their treasures…..and presented Him with gifts.
- Reader 1: Gold.
- Reader 2: And
incense.
- Reader 1: And myrrh.
- Reader 4: And later
came the construction of another new church at our current location, with its
own set of challenges and struggles….yet again they carried on until slowly,
steadily, another emotional awakening in the hearts of all involved.
- Reader 5: And the subsequent
expansion projects, and potentially more in our future.
- Reader 4: And don’t
forget our time worshipping in the former flooring store in the shopping plaza
in Wildewood. Being next door to a bar
brought some interesting experiences.
- Reader 5: But the
power of God’s presence was not diminished by the lack of stained glass windows
and a steeple.
- Reader 2: They gave
to Jesus the best they had to offer.
- Reader 1: They gave
eagerly.
- Reader 2: They gave
lovingly.
- Reader 4: So it has
been in this church throughout the years.
- Reader 5:
Individuals and families have come seeking the Messiah.
- Reader 4: They have
bowed down.
- Reader 5: Worshipped
Him.
- Reader 4: Taken His
message.
- Reader 5: And left
their gifts.
- Reader 4: Material gifts.
- Reader 5: Gifts of
service.
- Reader 4: And gifts
of love.
- Reader 5: Love for
He who was born a baby in a manger.
- Reader 4: Love for
He who willingly went to the cross for each and every needy soul who has ever
lived, or yet unborn.
- Reader 5: That we
might have life, and have it abundantly.
- Reader 1: And they
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the
breaking of bread and to prayer.
- Reader 2: Everyone
was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the
apostles.
- Reader 1: All the
believers were together and had everything in common.
- Reader 2: Selling
their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.
- Reader 1: Every day they continued to meet together in the
temple courts.
- Reader 2: They broke
bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
- Reader 1: Praising
God and enjoying the favor of all people.
- Reader 2: And the
Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
- Reader 5: Throughout
the many years our loving group of believers in Christ has stood alongside this
community.
- Reader 4: We do so
in order to be a source of physical support for our community.
- Reader 5: We need to
be there for this community when there are needs to be met.
- Reader 4: But
meeting physical needs has never been, and must never be, the primary focus of
this church.
- Reader 5: There are
many organizations and agencies out there who provide physical assistance to
the community, and we must continue to actively,….individually and corporately…..support
these worthy organizations.
- Reader 4: But as
well as providing food for the body in this community we must continue to
realize that our assistance will miss the mark if we neglect our mandate to
provide food for the community’s soul.
- Reader 5: This
church stands to provide daily the Christmas message of the life changing and
soul saving love of God.
- Reader 4: Throughout
this community….
- Reader 5: And
throughout this world.
- Reader 2: For unto
us a child is born
- Reader 1: To us a
son is given,
- Reader 2: And the
government will be on His shoulders.
- Reader 4: And He
will be called
- Reader 5: Wonderful
Counselor
- Reader 4: Mighty God
- Reader 1:
Everlasting Father
- Reader 2: Prince of
Peace.
- Reader 1: Of the
increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
- Reader 5: He will
reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom.
- Reader 4:
Establishing and upholding it
- Reader 5: With
justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
- All, in unison:
Now take this message into our community … And into the world….the
entire world.
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