“And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11)
Recently when Mark and I stopped by a local Starbucks we noticed an interesting phrase advertising their coffee. “Tidings of coffee and joy!” The wording so closely matched the traditional saying we have heard for years that I had a hard time coming up with what the word “coffee” had replaced. But, a quick googling and I realized a very wonderful word with lots of meaning behind it normally belonged in this phrase. Now you probably already recognize this chorus from “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.” but, here you see one of the great verses with the happy tidings attached.
Fear not then, said the Angel
Let nothing you affright
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's pow'r and might
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
Comfort and joy
Oh tidings of comfort and joy
The “tidings of comfort and joy” speak of actually the most amazing and wonderful event in the world—Jesus coming to earth as a tiny baby Who would grow up to give His perfect life in payment for all the wrong things we have done. Talk about “comfort and joy;” this is truly “good news of great joy” as was recorded in Luke 2. Oh that we would not confuse coffee and the beautiful, stabilizing, eternal comfort Jesus came to give to those who would accept it. Nothing in all the world compares to this.
There will be no Ladies Bible Study until January 9th, 2020. But, we have a great event coming up next week. All girls and ladies are invited to come to our Old Fashioned Christmas dinner on Friday, December 13th at 6 pm. This will be a delightful evening with the men serving a delicious chicken dinner, card making for the girls, Christmas music and an interview of our missionaries Rachel Gustafson and Rachel Waldock concerning “old fashioned Christmases” in Ukraine and Cambodia, respectively. Invite your friends to join us and register online, or sign up at church so we can have a good count of the number coming.