Message from Pastor Leo
November 16, 2009

To catch the real meaning of the "Spirit of Christmas," we need only to drop the last syllable of the word, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ." It calls us to follow Him, and become worthy of the blessedness which He promised to the most unlikely people—the poor in spirit, the sorrowful, the meek, the seekers after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted and the oppressed.

As you and I celebrate Christmas time this year there are five things we should know!

First, there was Joseph. He was contracted to marry Mary, and in that time, being engaged was about the same as being married. I think that we give too little attention to Joseph. He is called "a just man," which means that he obeyed the will of God, and includes the meaning of sympathy and kindness; it indicates his devotion to God and to Mary.

When Joseph found that his wife-to-be was with child, he could have called her ugly names. He could have exposed her to the public. She might have been stoned. But he didn't because the angel had come to him in a dream, telling him, "Fear not! This Child that Mary will have is to be the Son of the Most High." What faith it took on Joseph's part to believe and to trust!

Second, there was Mary. She was a young woman probably no older than age 16, and she had tremendous faith. Gabriel, the herald of God, announced to her, "Blessed art thou among women … Thou hast found favor with God." What kind of favor did she find? What were the results of it?

Many of us today would be reluctant to claim it. Mary would go on a long and wearing journey to a small town. The pains of childbirth would come upon her in a stable. There would be the long trip to Egypt and the return to Nazareth. There would be the long years of obscurity and poverty. And her Son would be crucified on a Roman cross. That was the favor of God upon Mary. Mary also bore a burdensome cross because she followed the Savior, her Son.

And to follow Him we too must carry a cross. Maybe you are suffering the loss of a loved one, or the ending of a courtship that broke your heart, or financial reverses, or something in school. Whatever it is, it might be the favor of God on your life, because God is sovereign, and nothing happens to believers by accident.

When disappointments and heartbreaks come, they could be the favor of God -- a stepping-stone to a greater involvement with Christ and a greater surrender to Him. God's favor for a person may be bestowed not by affluence but by a great challenge when faith is put to a costly test.

May The Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!
Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti

Message from Pastor Leo
December 15, 2009

To catch the real meaning of the "Spirit of Christmas," we need only to drop the last syllable of the word, and it becomes the "Spirit of Christ." It calls us to follow Him, and become worthy of the blessedness which He promised to the most unlikely people—the poor in spirit, the sorrowful, the meek, the seekers after righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and even the persecuted and the oppressed.

As you and I celebrate Christmas time this year there are five things we should know!

First, there was Joseph. He was contracted to marry Mary, and in that time, being engaged was about the same as being married. I think that we give too little attention to Joseph. He is called "a just man," which means that he obeyed the will of God, and includes the meaning of sympathy and kindness; it indicates his devotion to God and to Mary.

When Joseph found that his wife-to-be was with child, he could have called her ugly names. He could have exposed her to the public. She might have been stoned. But he didn't because the angel had come to him in a dream, telling him, "Fear not! This Child that Mary will have is to be the Son of the Most High." What faith it took on Joseph's part to believe and to trust!

Second, there was Mary. She was a young woman probably no older than age 16, and she had tremendous faith. Gabriel, the herald of God, announced to her, "Blessed art thou among women … Thou hast found favor with God." What kind of favor did she find? What were the results of it?

Many of us today would be reluctant to claim it. Mary would go on a long and wearing journey to a small town. The pains of childbirth would come upon her in a stable. There would be the long trip to Egypt and the return to Nazareth. There would be the long years of obscurity and poverty. And her Son would be crucified on a Roman cross. That was the favor of God upon Mary. Mary also bore a burdensome cross because she followed the Savior, her Son.

And to follow Him we too must carry a cross. Maybe you are suffering the loss of a loved one, or the ending of a courtship that broke your heart, or financial reverses, or something in school. Whatever it is, it might be the favor of God on your life, because God is sovereign, and nothing happens to believers by accident.

When disappointments and heartbreaks come, they could be the favor of God -- a stepping-stone to a greater involvement with Christ and a greater surrender to Him. God's favor for a person may be bestowed not by affluence but by a great challenge when faith is put to a costly test.

May The Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!
Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti