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Religion

Dozens of churches work together to make change

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — With key commitments from local leaders, it’s been a victorious year for a religious group that came together with the goal of resolving systemic issues in Manatee County. Stronger Together Reaching Equality Across Manatee (STREAM) made its voice known in 2022, rallying several times over the course of the year to push for more affordable housing and better criminal justice policies. The group, which is made up of more than a dozen local churches and their congregations, has brought hundreds of residents together with a common goal. “You either have money ...

The Jesus of Christmas past, present, future

Nothing can compare with what Jesus gave up when He left heaven to become the sacrifice that takes away our sin. Remembering Jesus’s past, present, and future helps us better appreciate Christmas and the Advent season. As 2 Corinthians 8:9 reminds us: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” Where Was Jesus Before The First Christmas? A moving Christmas card depicted God the Father looking down on tiny planet earth, waving goodbye to His Son. To better ...

Local church briefs

Christmas meal LOCK HAVEN — Great Island Presbyterian Church will offer a free Christmas meal on Sunday, Dec. 25. Eat-in will be offered at noon with delivery and take-out meals starting at 11 a.m. For more information and delivery reservations, please call the church office at 570-748-2810. Bible Discussion MILL HALL —Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church, 111 Main St., Mill Hall, is starting a new Bible discussion group. “Holy Moments in History” will combine history and scripture. This group will meet the first Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the ...

Encouragement: Get it and give it!

This time of year, a pressure or a nagging thought begins to gnaw at us all, the question: what am I going to get people for Christmas this year? The idea of giving gifts centers around the idea of showing someone that we love them that we care about them, and that we were thinking about ...

Local church briefs

Christmas meal LOCK HAVEN — Great Island Presbyterian Church will offer a free Christmas meal on Sunday, Dec. 25. Eat in will be offered at noon with delivery and take-out meals starting at 11 a.m. For more information and delivery reservations, please call the church office at 570-748-2810. Bible Discussion MILL HALL —Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church, 111 Main St., Mill Hall, is starting a new Bible discussion group. “Holy Moments in History” will combine history and scripture. This group will meet the first Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the ...

Anticipation

Just over two weeks from today, we will be celebrating Christmas. Most likely for two weeks now children everywhere have been anticipating this day. Didn’t you when you were a child? I know I sure did. Sometimes the anticipation was more than I could bear and I would find a way to carefully sneak a peek (please don’t tell my mother). Interestingly Jesus’ coming at his incarnation was likewise with a sense of great anticipation. This is demonstrated by Luke in the introduction to his gospel account. Ironically Luke’s gospel account begins with Jesus’ cousin, John. You may ...