Month: December 2023

Christmas Communion Service

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 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV

Since our meetings at Watermark are only on the 1st and 3rd weeks each month, this past Sunday was our last service of 2023. What a beautiful time we shared together. If you watch the video, you may notice one of our ladies passing by the camera as she serves communion. Maybe it feels so right to be singing Silent NIght, as we take the bread and the cup, because, in the words we are remembering the birth of Jesus and in the elements, we remember His death. I pray that you also find the peace of our Lord, through the shed blood of Jesus, not only at Christmas time, but even on those moments when you feel betrayed by life. Jesus gave us His example, washed our feet and then laid down His life. At birth, He was laid in the manger, and in death He was laid on the cross. At birth He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and nursed by Mary. In death He was stripped, and while soldiers gambling for His clothing, they gave Him vinegar to drink. These are two silent nights that bring us hope and salvation. The first in Bethlehem, the second at the garden tomb. At Christmas we should remember both of them, as the precious gifts of God’s love that they are, and then fully surrender our hearts and lives to Him.

Joy to the World!

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And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20 KJV

After passing through the halls singing carols one-night last week, it seemed clear that there were many places far more joyful than a nursing home. And yet…the tears that flow, the peace that is evidenced on their faces and by their attitudes, tells me that there is a joy which God once sent to earth, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. I am so glad that He came as a real baby, to a real stable in Bethlehem, and willing lived among us to show us the way to Heaven. He humbled Himself even further and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, and the book of Hebrews tell us that it was all for the joy set before Him. From the cross, Jesus could look out over thousands of years and see the faces of every one of us who have come to Him for forgiveness and Salvation. What could be more joyful message than this? I do hope you enjoy our rendition of Joy to the World – Isaac Watts 1719. As a side note, the lady singing with me is not my dearest, but one of our several volunteers who come to help at the nursing homes where we serve.

Why Did God Choose Mary?

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In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 
Luke 1:26-27 ESV

Now it should be no secret, that we Protestants, neither pray to Mary, nor seek her favors. But, in our zeal to be Biblically correct, we sadly simply skip over the life of the mother of Jesus entirely. Just think of all hundreds of thousands of women who were living in Israel. Why did God choose to come to Mary, and what lessons did He intend for us to learn from her?

Grace – And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30

     I can still remember, sitting on the floor around our teacher’s feet in kindergarten, and listening to her read the Christmas story from second chapter of Luke. Our little faces lit up with wonder as we listened to the story of shepherds, angels and a baby born in a manger. But the Bible’s account of Christmas actually began, not in Bethlehem, but in Nazareth. God sent the angel Gabriel to the small village of Nazareth, to tell Mary about His plan, and God chose Mary by His unmerited favor, which is what we call grace.

Impossibility ‘- And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin? Luke 1:34  

      On hearing the angel’s message, Mary, in a respectful manner, immediately points out something she thinks that the angel may have misunderstood. What He was telling her was impossible. I wonder if she blushed! “Mr. Angel, you might not know this but, I am still a virgin!” But God is not bothered by our impossibilities. In fact, He chooses us, not because of our achievements, but because of His plans.

Miracles – And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. Luke 1:35  

      Mary was God’s choice, first by grace, then because she was a virgin and last because she was the perfect person to show the world the miracle of Immanuel, “God with us.” She was the one with whom this was impossible. But our impossibilities are the perfect canvas upon which God may paint His miracles, and there was no greater miracle than God becoming man, living among us and then giving His life on the cross. Yes, Mary was not only the perfect choice, but she is the perfect example for every believer. We are His by grace. Our impossibilities are God’s opportunities, and there is no greater miracle than the life of Jesus being lived out in our hearts, day by day, to show the world our Christ!

Sometimes you just might stop to ask 

What God wants of you 

What kind of an important task 

Has He called you to do 



The Bible makes it very clear

 That God made us unique 

Just like eyes and nose appear 

Quite different from our feet 



We each by God's own loving grace 

Through faith and humble life 

Are given a way in His design

To show the world our Christ!

To Show the World Our Christ
by Peter Caligiuri
copyright 2023
All rights reserved