Today, we begin our journey to the manger on this first Sunday of Advent. This Sunday we welcome HOPE into our hearts, as we prepare once again for the birth of Jesus.

• Advent proclaims in the darkness, "We need God! Now!"

• Advent cries for the light offered on this dark day "O Come O Come Emmanuel!"

• Advent forces us to step out from our hiding places, to emerge from the dark forest and step into the light that is Jesus the Christ.

A special thank you to Colin Anderson who read the scriptures, Rick Boyle who read the intercessions and Jose Cueto who recorded this video.

The second Sunday was a festival of music: our Service of Lessons and Carols featuring our Choir, a beautiful duet and the Phoenix International concert band. So grateful to all who participated, especially our Choir Master Robert Wilson and organist Jeanie Cooper.

A special thank you to all the members of the Crescendo Choir for providing beautiful Christmas music for our community here in La Siesta. We can see that much work went into the concert and it showed in the beautiful singing. Thank you also to Jose Cueto, for recording the concert for us all.

Today, we continue our journey to the manger on this third Sunday of Advent. This Sunday we welcome JOY into our hearts, as we prepare once again for the birth of Jesus. We experience joy when we take our eyes off our own situation and focus on blessing, building up, encouraging, or serving others…When we take our eyes off ourselves and focus on someone else, we open ourselves to a different way of seeing and being. We become someone’s angel, a messenger of God’s good news, a gift during a time of need. So, on this Joy Sunday or any other day, “my hope is that you will remind yourself that almost all your most exciting, life-giving, and joy-filled experiences have come because” like Mary “you took a risk, stepped outside your comfort zone, and said yes to God’s call, in spite of your fears.” Thank You to Davy Young who read our Scriptures, Rick Boyle who lit the Advent Candle and did our Intercessions, and Jose Cueto who recorded the service.

Today, we continue our journey to the manger on this Fourth Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve. This Sunday we welcome LOVE into our world and we add our voices to the choirs of angels who proclaim the birth of Jesus! May the promise of LOVE seen in the light of Christ illuminate the darkness of our world! God is born to us in the mess of life and we, ordinary people in an ordinary world, are the recipients of an extraordinary gift. This gift is for US! This baby is for US! This salvation is for US! May we receive this gift with love in our hearts. Ready or not. Now and always!

A special thank you to Alan James who read our Scriptures, and lit the Advent Candle, Uli Doerr our guest organist, Pastora Krista for a Beautiful and Meaningful Christmas Sermon, Rick Boyle for special music, and Jose Cueto who recorded the service.

Today, we examine baby Jesus being presented at the Temple. We see how Simeon and Anna waited for years to see the promised Messiah. God’s promises do come to pass, and as the saying goes. Good things come to those who wait patiently. It takes Faith to recognize a Blessing from God. It takes Faith to wait and hear “Well done my good and faithful servant, enter now into the kingdom prepared for you." As we say goodbye to the year 2023, and we welcome the new year 2024 may we have the faith to realize that God hears us and will be with us through both our good and bad days. A special thank you to Pastor Keith Brown for leading our service, Dot Colling who read our Scriptures, Uli Doerr our guest organist, and Jose Cueto who recorded the service.