The Story of Christmas Begins in a Garden

December 25, 2022

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Scripture referenced

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Isaiah 9 quoted at length as a prophecy of the coming savior, including the virgin birth and names of the coming child

1 But there shall be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali; but in the latter time he has made it glorious, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Those who lived in the land of the shadow of death, on them the light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation. You have increased their joy. They rejoice before you according to the joy in harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as in the day of Midian.
5 For all the armor of the armed man in the noisy battle, and the garments rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born. To us a son is given; and the government will be on his shoulders. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, on David’s throne, and on his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from that time on, even forever. The zeal of Yahweh of Armies will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it falls on Israel.
9 All the people will know, including Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, who say in pride and in arrogance of heart,
10 “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with cut stone. The sycamore fig trees have been cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.”
11 Therefore Yahweh will set up on high against him the adversaries of Rezin, and will stir up his enemies,
12 The Syrians in front, and the Philistines behind; and they will devour Israel with open mouth. For all this, his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
13 Yet the people have not turned to him who struck them, neither have they sought Yahweh of Armies.
14 Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm branch and reed, in one day.
15 The elder and the honorable man is the head, and the prophet who teaches lies is the tail.
16 For those who lead this people lead them astray; and those who are led by them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men, neither will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows; for everyone is profane and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
18 For wickedness burns like a fire. It devours the briers and thorns; yes, it kindles in the thickets of the forest, and they roll upward in a column of smoke.
19 Through Yahweh of Armies’ wrath, the land is burned up; and the people are the fuel for the fire. No one spares his brother.
20 One will devour on the right hand, and be hungry; and he will eat on the left hand, and they will not be satisfied. Everyone will eat the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation
Keep this verse

Luke 2 (paraphrase)

the nativity narrative read aloud, covering the census, birth in Bethlehem, and the angels appearing to the shepherds

1 Now in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

2 This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

4 Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;

5 to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as wife, being pregnant.

6 While they were there, the day had come for her to give birth.

7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn.

8 There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock.

9 Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

11 For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.”

13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.”

15 When the angels went away from them into the sky, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough.

17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.

18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.

19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

22 When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord

23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”),

24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”

25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to the custom of the law,

28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 “Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace;

30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”

33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were spoken concerning him,

34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which is spoken against.

35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity,

37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who didn’t depart from the temple, worshiping with fastings and petitions night and day.

38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.

40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.

42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast,

43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother didn’t know it,

44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day’s journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

45 When they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking for him.

46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, both listening to them, and asking them questions.

47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father and I were anxiously looking for you.”

49 He said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

50 They didn’t understand the saying which he spoke to them.

51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

John 3:16

quoted to make the point that the gift of a savior was given to the whole world, not Israel alone

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

World English Bible · Read it in another translation

Keep this verse

Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

Christmas Eve 2022 was held outdoors in Jackson's town square, and Brian Hunter brought a message centered on one question: where does the story of Christmas actually begin? His answer traced the whole arc from the garden to Bethlehem and pointed everyone present, locals and visitors alike, toward the gift that was waiting for them.

What was said

Brian opened by pushing back on the familiar starting points. Christmas does not begin with Saint Nicholas in third-century Europe, and it does not begin in a barn in Bethlehem. It begins in a garden, a place the Bible describes as a meeting point between heaven and earth, where God walked with Adam and Eve.

In that garden, God gave mankind the gift of free will. That gift was misused. Humanity chose independence from God, and the result was sin infecting the whole human race. Brian named the obvious signs, war, murder, injustice, sickness, but also the ones easier to overlook: the selfishness, pride, envy, and rebellion that live inside every person. The condition is terminal, he said, resulting in death and permanent separation from God.

But God already had the story of Christmas on his heart before any of that happened. In the garden itself, God promised that from Adam would come one whose heel would crush the head of evil. He then built a nation through whom that promise would arrive, and for generations the people of Israel cried out and waited, their prophets catching only glimpses of what was coming.

Brian read from Isaiah 9, the prophecy of a child born for us, a son given, the wonderful one, the mighty God, the father of eternity, the prince of peace. Then he read the Nativity account directly, the census, the journey to Bethlehem, Mary giving birth and laying the child in a feeding trough, the angels appearing to the shepherds in the field with the announcement that a rescuer had been born, and the shepherds rushing to see for themselves and returning ecstatic, praising God for everything they had heard and seen.

Brian then made the move he said is one of the wonderful things about God: he always goes one step further than you expect. The savior was promised to Israel, but the gift was given to the whole world. Two thousand years ago, God sent his son to live as one of us, die a criminal's death, and pay the price for sin. His death and resurrection destroyed the power of the curse and opened the way for God and humanity to be reunited as family.

He closed by speaking directly to everyone standing in the cold. Some had received that gift years ago. Some had received it but left it sitting unopened on a shelf. Some were hearing it reach what he called that critical mass in their heart for the first time. The gift, he said, is a saving relationship with Jesus, and it does not get better than that, except that it does: the one who came once to redeem will come again, and his people will live with him as family forever.

Touch points

Things you could actually do this week.

If you have been holding the gift of a relationship with Jesus at arm's length, take time this week to actually receive it by asking him to forgive your sin and inviting him to be the leader of your life.
If you have already placed your faith in Jesus but that relationship has gone quiet, take it off the shelf this week and let it be what it was meant to be.
Come to the Tuesday night gathering on December 27 at 6:30 PM, where Tribe fam shares a meal together before worship.
If you are ready to go public with your faith, sign up or tell someone you know to sign up for the baptism service on Sunday, January 1.
If you or someone close to you is in financial need this holiday season, find Tim Better, who was pointed out at the service as the person to talk to about Tribe's benevolent giving.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

Brian said the story of Christmas begins not in Bethlehem or in third-century Europe, but in a garden. What does it change for you, if anything, to think about Christmas as part of a story that stretches all the way back to creation?
Brian described the gift of free will as something God gave at great risk, and said mankind used it to pursue independence apart from a relationship with God. Where do you see that same pull toward independence from God showing up in your own life?

and 3 more questions in the guide

Open the study guide

Resumen en español

El mensaje resumido, en español.

El servicio de Nochebuena se llevó a cabo al aire libre en la plaza de Jackson, Wyoming. Brian Hunter comenzó explicando que la historia de la Navidad no empieza con San Nicolás ni siquiera en Belén, sino mucho antes, en el jardín del Edén. Allí Dios creó a la humanidad para estar en relación con él, pero el hombre usó su libre albedrío para alejarse de Dios, y esa separación infectó a toda la raza humana con el pecado y sus consecuencias.

Desde ese momento, dijo Brian, Dios ya tenía en mente el regalo de la Navidad. A través de siglos de espera, los profetas de Israel vislumbraron la llegada de un salvador. Cuando llegó el momento justo, Dios cumplió su promesa: su hijo nació en Belén, vivió sin pecado, murió en la cruz pagando el precio del pecado de toda la humanidad, y resucitó, abriendo el camino para que Dios y los seres humanos volvieran a ser familia.

Brian cerró diciendo que ese regalo, una relación salvadora con Jesús, está disponible para cualquier persona que lo reciba. No basta con tomarlo y dejarlo en un estante sin abrirlo. Hay que abrirlo, creer, pedir perdón e invitar a Jesús a ser el líder de la propia vida. Y el regalo va aún más lejos: él vendrá de nuevo para establecer su reino de manera definitiva, y viviremos con él como familia para siempre.

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Pasajes bíblicos mencionados:

Isaías 9 - sobre los que caminaban en tinieblas y verían una gran luz, y sobre el niño que nacería cuyo nombre sería el Dios Poderoso, Príncipe de Paz
Isaías 7:14 - la virgen concebirá y dará a luz un hijo llamado Emanuel
Lucas 2 - el censo de César Augusto, el nacimiento de Jesús en Belén, los pastores y el anuncio del ángel
Juan 3:16 - "porque tanto amó Dios al mundo que dio a su único Hijo, para que todo el que crea en él no perezca sino que tenga vida eterna"

Read the full transcript 3,358 words

Find in this transcript

Warm, have a seat, and we will get started here in just a couple minutes.

Well, good evening. Merry Christmas. Are you warm enough? It's warm it's warmer in the middle. Scooched together, huddle together.

I saw a family walk up with, like, chairs

from, like, the Four Seasons. I love it. It

was fantastic. They will never know they're missing.

We're gonna start by just singing some carols together. We're so

glad that you joined us, and, we're gonna keep it fast and furious to keep you guys warm. There are hand warmers back there, hot chocolate for you, coffee. Just go help yourself. There's some words being passed around if you want them, but you guys know most of these songs.

Let's sing about the real meaning of Christmas,

the joy to the world. Amen? Amen. Oh, let's see if I can hold on to my pit. Hold on.

I've already broken three. Alright. Over the hills and everywhere go. Tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born. Think about these words about shepherds.

Shepherds fear and tremble, ending. Let's do one more. Let's do, Oh Come All You Faith. Yeah. Let's sing it together.

Oh, you don't even have clumps on? Okay.

Let's sing these singers together. Sing choirs of angels. Sing with

the angels tonight around the throne in heaven.

Let's just sing this together. Let's sing, for

you alone are worthy. Let's just for just one moment, just close your eyes, and we're just gonna remind ourselves why we're here, why we're celebrating Christmas, because he is worthy. Because Jesus came, he was born in a manger, born here on this earth, and lived a perfect sinless life so that we could be forgiven of our sins. Let's just sing this together. For you alone are worthy.

Just pray with me. Lord, we go from this time of worship to the next of honoring your word as we hear about the true story of Christmas as Brian comes, just open our hearts, open our minds. Just come meet us in this place. You know, every heart that's gathered here that nobody in this place right now in this town square is here by accident. You see them and you long to meet them in this place.

Let us leave here changed because we met you, the God of the universe, Jesus the savior. Amen. Turn to somebody, rub them like this really hard, and say Merry Christmas.

Everybody looks so cozy and bundled up. You doing alright out there? Woo hoo. This is great. This is so good.

Thank you so much for coming out. My name is Brian Hunter. I'm the lead pastor here at Tribe. This is my wife, Lissa, in her van. Oh, there she is.

Sneaking around like a little Christmas elf. Didn't they do great? Yeah. Guys look so good out there. Alright.

I'm Who's here? And I really need to hear you. Who's here from the East Coast? Okay. Okay.

Alright. How about Midwest? Alright. Alright. And West Coast.

Let me hear you. Oh, West Coast. I would have thought. Maybe you're just so cold. Okay.

How about international? Europe? Yeah. From Europe? Yes.

Okay. Alright. South America, Central America? Amigas, they don't yeah. Yeah.

Where are my amigas from? South America. Oh, what am I forgetting?

Texas. Okay.

Fine. We have to do this every year. E, is there anybody here from the Lone Star State Of Texas? Alright. I know.

I know. You're here. You're here. Man, I'm so glad that all of you are here with us tonight. If you if you feel warm enough, go ahead and have a seat.

I'm not gonna take a long time, but I wanna talk to you about the story of Christmas. Interestingly enough, I don't know what comes to your mind when you hear the story of Christmas, probably a broad spectrum of things. But the story of Christmas, it doesn't begin in third century Europe with a guy named Saint Nicholas. The story of Christmas doesn't begin in a barn in a little Judean town called Bethlehem. The story of Christmas actually begins all the way back in a garden.

This garden was much warmer than where we are tonight, but there is something about this place here in the town square in Jackson. I forgot to even check-in with my locals. Let me ask, who's here from Jackson Hole, Wyoming? Represent Wyoming, the great state of Wyoming. The garden that I'm talking about was a place of beauty, of magic, and it was a blending of two realms.

Not quite heaven, not quite earth, but this combined place where the Bible says that God would come down and walk in the garden with Adam and Eve. God, the creator of the universe, he created mankind, including you, for his enjoyment and for us to enjoy him. He placed man in that garden, and he gave him a very special gift, the gift of free will. Regrettably, man abused that gift. He did not take the gift for what it was intended for.

But when God took a great risk, he gave man that gift. But regrettably, man used that gift to eat from the tree of independence apart from a relationship with God, resulting in the human race being infected with sin. We see things like war and murder and theft, injustice, persecution, oppression, sickness, and disease. And if those seem like afflictions removed from you, you can still not escape the lineage of your family. In your own hearts, lurk things like selfishness, pride, envy, jealousy, and rebellion to your creator.

The condition of sin has infected all of us, and it's terminal resulting in death forever eternal separation from God's family. But God already had the story of Christmas on his heart. In the garden, God told Adam that from him would come a present, a gift, one whose heel would crush the head of evil. With this plan set in motion, God created a nation of people out of whom would come the present promised in the garden. This nation of people were sovereignly chosen by God to bring forth the promise.

For generations, they cried out for the savior of their people, but their prophets only caught glimpses of this coming savior.

Isaiah nine says, though who those who walked in darkness will see a radiant light shining upon them. They once lived in in the shadows of death, but now a glorious light will dawn. Lord, you have multiplied the nations and given them overwhelming joy. They are ecstatic in your presence and rejoice like those who bring a great harvest and those who divide up the spoils of victory. For you will break the chains that have bound your people and will lift the heaven the heavy bars across their shoulders, the rod of oppression used against them, and you will shatter all their bondage.

The Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will will conceive and give birth to a son and name and will name him Emmanuel, God among us. A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The responsibility of complete dominion will rest on his shoulders, and his name will be the wonderful one, the extraordinary Stredges, the mighty God, the father of eternity, the prince of peace.

Great and vast will be his dominion. He will bring immeasurable peace and prosperity. He will rule on David's throne and over David's kingdom to to establish and uphold it by promoting justice and righteousness from this time forward and forevermore. The Lord sorry. The marvelous passion that the Lord Yahweh, commander of angel armies, has for his people will ensure that it that it is

finished. Amen. Like a woman giving birth, the chosen people of Israel labored in travail for the arrival of their savior. And finally, after generations, as the Bible says, at just the right time, God fulfilled his promise that he made back in the garden.

During those days, the Roman emperor Caesar Augustus ordered that the first census be taken throughout his empire. Everyone had to travel to the hometown of their family to complete the mandatory census. So Joseph and his wife, Mary, left Nazareth, a village in Galilee, and journeyed to their hometown in Judea, to the village of Bethlehem, King David's ancient home. They were required to register there since they were both direct descendants of David. Mary was pregnant and nearly ready to give birth.

When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor, and and there she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped the newborn baby in strips of cloth, and Mary and Joseph laid him in a feeding trough since there was no available space in any upper room in the village. That night in a field near Bethlehem, shepherds were watching over their flocks. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared in radiant splendor before them, lighting up the field with the blazing glory of God, and the shepherds were terrified. But the angel reassured them saying, do not be afraid, for I have come to bring you good news, the most joyous news the world has ever heard, and it is for everyone everywhere.

For today in Bethlehem, a rescuer was born for you. He is the Lord Yahweh, the Messiah. You will recognize him him by this miraculous sign. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in the feeding trough. Then all at once in the night sky, a vast number of glorious angels appeared, the very armies of heaven, and they all praised God singing, glory to God in the highest realms of heaven, for there is peace and a good hope given to the sons of men.

When the choir of angels disappeared and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, let's go, let's hurry and find this word who is born in Bethlehem and see for ourselves what the Lord has revealed to us. So they hurried off and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there the baby lying in a and there was the baby lying in a feeding trough. Upon seeing this miraculous sign, the shepherds recounted what had just happened. Everyone who heard the shepherd's story was astonished by what they were told.

But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and often pondered what they meant. The shepherds returned to their flock ecstatic over what had happened. They praised God and glorified him for all they had heard and seen for themselves, just like the angel had said.

Wow. Master. So good. The story of Christmas is about giving gifts, but not the material gifts that run on batteries and are delivered by Amazon late this year. The story of Christmas is about God giving the present of a savior to the nation of Israel.

And if you don't know this, it's one of the wonderful things about God. He always goes one step further than you expect. The gift of a savior wasn't given exclusively to Israel. The gift of a savior was given to the whole world. Amen.

Two thousand years ago, God sent his son to live as one of us. He lived without sin but died a criminal's death. He paid the price for the sin of Israel and for all of mankind by shedding his perfect blood on the cross. With his death and resurrection, he paid the price for our sin, destroying the power of the curse and providing a way for God and man to be reunited as family once again. This gift is for anyone that will receive it.

The bible says that for God so loved the world, you, that he gave his one and only son so that whoever would believe in him would not perish but have eternal life. Tonight, I know that you might have thought that you were just coming for a Christmas Eve service, and there's probably a good handful of you that thought you were just doing some last minute Christmas shopping and maybe just seeing the lights on the town square while you're here on vacation. But I believe that God brought you all the way to this moment in this place to hear maybe for the time that reaches that critical mass in your heart that God has brought you here regardless of what you think you did to end up here in this place. This is a holy, sacred, divine moment that has been orchestrated by the God of the Bible. He has set you up on a collision course for this moment to possibly soften your heart and encounter the truth, the love, the life changing message of Jesus Christ.

Tonight, there is a present waiting under the tree for you of your heart. That present is a saving relationship with him. Is it really a present if you if somebody hands you a gift, you take the gift and you say, oh, thank you, but then you go and you set it down on a shelf never having opened it. Have you actually even received the gift? And for just a moment, think about the gift giver.

Imagine you've put a lot of time and effort into this gift. My my wife, Lisa, my daughter, Selah, they're two of the best gift givers that I know. They're really good at giving creative, thoughtful gifts. Imagine Yeah. Oh, and then there's my son, Kai too.

He has other talents. But imagine somebody that's put a lot of thought into giving a gift. You hold out your hands. You receive the gift. You go, oh, wow.

Thank you so much. And then you just set it on a shelf, then you walk away. Don't walk away from this gift tonight. I know that there are many of you here with your knees beginning to knock in the frigid temperatures that you've already received that gift. You've ripped open you've ripped open the wrapping paper.

You've invited Jesus into your heart. You've made him the leader and the boss of your life. And isn't it the most incredible gift that you've ever gotten in your whole life? For others of you, maybe you've received that gift and it's been unwrapped, but it's just kinda sitting there on the shelf. Don't hold back.

Cross that line of faith. Invite Jesus into your heart and and receive the gift of Christmas. Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin. Invite him into your heart and make him the leader or the boss of your life. And, guys, the present gets even better.

He came once to redeem us from sin and establish his kingdom in our hearts, and he will come again and establish his physical leadership on planet Earth where we will live together with him as a family forever. That's why we sing this special song at Christmas because God has put the light of Jesus in our hearts and brought us back into his family. It's a song that you're all familiar with, but just listen to the words of this song. Silent night, holy night, son of God, God's pure light, radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord, at thy birth.

Jesus, Lord, at thy birth. And that is the story of Christmas.

Let's help them all sing this. Think about these words. You guys ready? Let's sing this last verse all together. Silent night.

Sing that last line again. Jesus, Lord.

Thanks for singing with us, guys. I'm gonna if you can hang tight with us for a few more moments, I'm gonna give few more announcements. My name is Jay. I am one of the young adults leaders at Tribe. If you're new, thank you guys for joining us.

Thank you to all the volunteers that helped made this possible setting up the stage, shoveling snow, setting up chairs. Thank you guys so much for volunteering and sharing your time with us. And then thank you Town of Jackson for letting us have a church service on the square. That's not too that's pretty awesome. Right?

And thank you guys for coming and with us and hearing the true story of Christmas. And, yeah, if you guys are new with us and you wanna be a part of our tribe fam, we have service every Sunday at 10AM and Tuesday night at 6PM except for tomorrow. Tomorrow, we're gonna take the day off, and we want to encourage you guys to hang out with your families and stay warm and cozy in your jammies. But we'll be back on Tuesday, the twenty seventh at 6PM. We always do a meal, and then we start service and worship at 06:30.

So we'd love to have you guys out with us. On Sunday, if you guys or tomorrow, if you guys aren't doing anything, we do have a meal at the Tribe Ministry Center. We're right across from Whole Foods. You'll probably see our big Tribe bus parked in that lot right there. That's an easy way to find us.

And there'll be a meal there. Darcy and Lanisha, if you guys can raise your hands. Lanisha's right over there. If you wanna eat eat a meal with us tomorrow night, go find Lanisha. She'll get you guys plugged in.

And then on the first Sunday, we are back to our regular Sunday service. And to welcome in the New Year, we're also having baptism. So if you guys are interested in getting baptized, you know somebody that wants to get baptized, or you just wanna celebrate somebody giving their lives to the Lord, we'd love to have you guys there with us on Sunday the first for some baptisms. And then last announcement is Tim Better.

Right.

Tim Better is right here. He's gonna wave his hand. I don't know if you can see him. He's, like, sitting in the front row. He's got an orange beanie.

If you guys he's he's in charge of our tribe's benevolent giving. So if you or someone you know is in financial need this holiday season, go talk to Tim. He's gonna hook you guys up, and we'd love to pray for you. And then last thing is that banner right over there. It says prayer.

If you need prayer, we're gonna have some people stay in late after service, and we'd love to pray with you guys. And that's it. We're gonna welcome PB back up here to pray us on out.

Hey. Hey. Come on, Jake. You did it. You survived.

Toes, TBD. But, again, thank you all so much for making us a part of your Christmas Eve service. Would that be alright if I just prayed a blessing over you really quick before I send you out? Alright. I'll start at the bottom of your toes.

Lord Jesus, we pray for warm toes throughout this gathering all the way up through their knees to the top of their head. Lord Jesus, would you reveal yourself in wonderful, special, unique ways to each and every person that's a part of this service tonight. I command a blessing over those that are here gathered in the town square and our tribe fam that's watching from the livestream. Blessings over each and every person, and may 2023 be an incredible year for all of you in your finances, in your health, in your marriage, in your relationship, in all of the dreams that God has placed in your heart. Or pray these things in Jesus' name, the strong son of God.

And everybody said Amen. Amen. From my family to your family, we wish you the merriest of Christmas and a happy New Year. I love y'all so very much. Have a great evening.

You are dismissed. And remember, you got this. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Topics

Eternal Life Gift Of Salvation Jesus Birth Meaning Of Christmas Sin And Forgiveness