Newspaper Page Text
Page 10A
The Braselton News
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Church N e ws
Joseph was right choice
as father for Jesus
In the Eyes of
the Father
Parrish Myers
eotf@comcast.net
Over the last couple of
weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot
about Joseph. We don’t know
much about him, really. He
was there during the events
surrounding the birth of Jesus.
He isn’t mentioned again until
Jesus is 12. After that, nothing.
He was a carpenter by trade.
He was the husband of Mary. And he
was the earthly father of Jesus Christ.
Talk about pressure! To know that
God has chosen you to raise his child!
But Joseph, it seems, was exactly the
right choice.
As I’ve already said, we don’t know
much about Joseph. But consider the
following description of him, found
in Matthew 1:18-19: “When [Jesus']
mother Mary had been betrothed to
Joseph, before they came together she
was found to be with child by the Holy
Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being
a righteous man and not wanting to
disgrace her, planned to send her away
secretly.”
Such a short selection tells us so
much about this man. The Scripture
says he was a righteous man. You can
tell that from his actions.
In Jewish society, betrothal was a
serious commitment. It was similar
to an engagement, but more legally
binding. In fact, someone who was
betrothed, even if they were not offi
cially married, would have to go
through divorce proceedings if they
decided to end the relationship.
One of the few legal reasons for end
ing such a relationship was adultery.
Finding out that Mary was with child,
and knowing that the child was not his
because they had not yet come togeth
er, the only sensible conclusion was
that Mary had committed adultery.
Jewish law stated that an adulterous
woman was to be stoned. But Joseph
couldn't let that happen to Mary. He
couldn't allow her to be humiliated,
and ultimately killed. So he decided to
keep his mouth shut about her alleged
indiscretion. He planned to send her
away secretly, so no one would ever
discover what she had apparently
done.
Even though Mary had seemed to
betray him, Joseph loved her too much
to let her come to harm. This, I believe,
is one of the reasons Joseph was such
a good choice to be the father of God’s
son. He had the same kind of love for
Mary that God has for us.
As human beings, we have wronged
God by our sinful actions. It's not an
alleged wrongdoing, like with Mary.
We are guilty. Because of that, God
has every right to deal with us harshly.
But like Joseph, he loves us too much
to let harm come to us. Instead of
allowing us to receive the punishment
we deserve, he makes a way for us to
receive forgiveness for our sins.
That way is through his son, Jesus
Christ. During this Christmas, why not
reflect on the love that an earthly father
had for his wife, and the love that a
Heavenly Father has for you?
Parrish Myers is a resident of
Braselton, and is pastor of Pine Crest
Baptist Church. You can e-mail him at
eotf@comcast.net. His website is www.
eyesofthefather. com.
Hope Crossings
plans Christmas
celebration
Hope Crossings Assembly of God
will host a “Taste of the Nations”
Christmas celebration Sunday,
December 23, at 5 p.m. at the
Jefferson Civic Center.
“Everyone is invited to enjoy a
wonderful dinner from nations like
Puerto Rico, Columbia, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Mexico and America,”
organizers said.
A children’s nativity play will
be presented and Christmas carols
will be sung in both English and
Spanish.
For more information, call the
church at 706-654-HOPE.
Chris Stephens is pastor.
Hoschton Baptist
to hold service by
candlelight Monday
Hoschton First Baptist Church
will hold its annual candlelight ser
vice at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve,
Monday, December 24.
Everyone is invited.
The church is located at 99 East
Jefferson Street in Hoschton.
For more information, contact the
church office at 706-654-2938.
Candlelight
service planned
at Chateau Elan
The second annual Chateau Elan
Christmas Eve Candlelight service
will be Monday, December 24, at
6 p.m.
The event will be held in the golf
pavilion. The service is sponsored by
The Vine, a new United Methodist
community in the Braselton area.
“Come be a part of this exciting
worship experience where you will
enjoy classic Christmas songs and
a message from David Walters, lead
pastor of The Vine,” church leaders
said.
Children and adults of all ages are
welcome and refreshments will be
served before and after the service.
For more information, contact
questions @ connecttothevine.org.
Early deadlines
given for holiday
The deadlines for The Braselton
News have been moved up due to
the Christmas holiday.
The news and ad deadline for
next week’s issue will be at noon on
Friday, Dec. 21.
The newspaper office in Jefferson
will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 25.
The office will open as scheduled at
8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 26.
Center UMC plans
special services
Center United Methodist Church
announces the following special
services:
•Thursday, December 20, at 11
a.m., a monthly luncheon will
be held for “Super Seniors.” All
senior citizens are invited to come
enjoy fellowship at this very spe
cial gathering.
•Monday, December 24, at 6
p.m., a candlelight communion
service will be held on Christmas
Eve.
“Please come join us as we thank
God for His incredible gift - His
Son Jesus Christ,” organizers said.
Candles will be available to light in
memory of a loved one.
“We invite the community to
these services,” church leaders
said.
The church is located at 7641
Jackson Trail Road in Hoschton.
The interim pastor is Howard
Banks.
Hoschton UMC
announces holiday
event schedule
Hoschton United Methodist Church
announces the following Advent and
holiday season services:
•December 23, church choir
Christmas cantata, at 11 a.m. ser
vice.
•December 24, Christmas Eve
candlelight service, 6-6:30 p.m.
The church is located at 12
Mulberry Street. For more informa
tion, call 706-654-1422.
Local church
services, addresses
The following is a list of address
es and service times of churches in
the Braselton, Hoschton and Mill
Creek area.
•A Call to Salvation Church:
Sunday worship, 8:30 a.m. and
10:45 a.m.; Sunday children’s
church, 8:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.;
Wednesday night Bible study, 7
p.m.; “Demostration Youth” for
ages 13-18, Mondays, at 7 p.m. The
church is located at 1295 Jackson
Trail Road, Jefferson. Arlene Smith
is the senior pastor. For more infor
mation, call 706-367-9612 or visit
www.acalltosalvation.org.
•New Liberty United Methodist
Church: Sunday worship, 11
a.m., with children’s church and
nursery available. The church is
located at 26 Charlie Smith Road,
Braselton. Jamey Prickett is the
pastor. For more information, call
706-654-2406 or visit www.new-
libertyumc.org.
•Mulberry Baptist Church:
Sunday worship, 11 a.m.; Sunday
school, 10 a.m.; singings, second
Sundays, 6 p.m.; youth choir prac
tice, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. The church
is located at 5970 Thompson Mill
Road, Hoschton. The Rev. Ollie V.
Hayes is the pastor.
•Hoschton First Baptist Church:
Sunday worship, 11 a.m. and 6
p.m.; Sunday school, 9:45 a.m.;
Wednesday night worship ser
vice, 7 p.m. The church is locat
ed at 99 East Jefferson Street,
Hoschton. For more information,
call 706-654-2938 or visit www.
hoschtonfirstbaptistchurch.com.
•Hoschton United Methodist
Church: Sunday worship, 11
a.m.; Sunday school, 10 a.m. The
church is located at 12 Mulberry
Street, Hoschton, at the corner of
Bell Avenue and Mulberry Street.
The Rev. Luis Ortiz is the pas
tor. For more information, call
706-654-1422.
•Crossroads Church of Jackson
County: Sunday worship, 10:30
a.m. The church meets at the
Jefferson Recreation Department,
located at 2495 Old Pendergrass
Road, Jefferson. Rod Zwenke is
the pastor. For more information,
call 706-658-0243 or visit www.
check-out-church.com.
•The Church of God of Prophecy
is located at 8187 Pendergrass
Road, Hoschton. Thomas C.
Holmes is pastor. For prayer or
information, call 706-658-2625.
Christmas Eve @ Braselton Park
5:30 PM
The entire community is invited to a candle-lit
Christmas eve service @ Braselton Park. The music
and message will engage everyone who comes.
Before and after the service, hot chocolate and
apple cider will be served. So, bring your family,
head down to the park and let's come together as a
community to celebrate Christmas.
for information and directions visit: www.christmas-in-jackson.com
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