CCC Gainesville | Blog
Sunday I plan to preach on Zechariah’s Song, the Benedictus, from Luke chapter one.
The old Dutch scholar, William Hendriksen, listened to the music of Zechariah’s song and remarked that his exuberant song has objective and subjective tones to it:
“Objectively it amounts to reconciliation with God through David’s horn, the Rising Sun, the Messiah. Subjectively it is the quiet and comforting assurance of forgiveness and adoption. It is the smile of God reflected in the reconciled sinner’s heart, the shelter from the storm, the hiding-place in the shadow of His wings, the stream that issues from the fountain of grace. To that peace the Rising Sun directs our feet.”
Sunday I plan to preach on Zechariah’s Song, the Benedictus, from Luke chapter one.
“Socrates taught for 40 years, but his life and teaching have made no songs. Plato taught for 50 years, but he did nothing to cause the human soul to blossom with life. Yet, Jesus came and lived for only 33 years on this earth and taught only three years. His teachings, as well as His Person, His Promises, and His Power have inspired the souls of Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo de Vinci to paint glorious scenes; the hearts of Dante and Milton and Donne to erupt in poetic verse; and the Songs—O the greatest music and Songs of the Ages came from those whose lives were touched by Christ: Haydn, Handel, Bach, and Mendelssohn. All of these men composed to the praise of Jesus Christ.
Indeed, it is said that Jesus Christ changed Mendelssohn’s music from a minor key to a major key.This is the picture of what happened to Zechariah. The music of the Lord invaded his soul. It is the music of wonder and joy and freedom when the Word of the God comes in power to announce that salvation is at hand.” –Mike Milton
Isaiah 53:1-5
Theme: A Servant Who Suffers
Jesus is more than just a super-hero. He doesn’t just save us from bad guys – he saves us from the power of our sin. To do that Jesus had to become a human being (what we celebrate at Christmas), but he also had to go to the cross and die, and overcome death through his resurrection (what we celebrate at Easter). Don’t forget about Easter during Christmas! Thank God for all that he has done for us in Jesus – Christmas and Easter.
If you are a volunteer for Children’s Ministry this Year, please stop by the Welcome Station as we have a little thank-you gift waiting for you.
Love,
Holli and Harmony (and all the kids!)
One of the ways Children’s Ministry is trying to help families out this year is by giving you more resources. We have been giving out helpful resources in the Toddler and Preschool rooms so you can bring the monthly topics, memory verses and stories home. This will become available on the blog each month starting in January. We started a Newsletter that comes out monthly to keep you updated as to what is going on at CCC. We have been blogging here to inform you of changes, growth, fun events, and other family related things. And right now we have been offering an Advent Resource table so that families of all ages can find ideas to make this season more meaningful. None of these year long resources we offer are meant to take away from the things you might already be doing together as a family. I know as a mom with small children we don’t have a lot of traditions set in place yet so I have been searching for what might help me communicate more clearly with my children what Christmas is all about.
The following Christmas book might be enjoyable to add to your holiday library:
The author of The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones has a new book that came out this year. The younger classes will get to read it this coming Sunday, your family might enjoy it as well.
