Ocala First Connection

Jesse Tree Symbol #25: Jesus (And finally—after generations—a child is born. The promised branch. The awaited Messiah. The new Adam who would set the world aright. Born. This night.) Luke 2:1-20 Hush Sssh. Can you hear it? An expectant silence, a hushed anticipation, as if the very galaxy is holding its breath. There are some truths even the stars know, like darkness, like loneliness and how the night can be a living thing. And how once, long ago, the night waited in wonder along with the darkness and the loneliness, for the sound of a baby’s cry, for the miraculous to come down to the earth mundane. — written by Lucinda Hynett, in  Alive Now .    ____________________________________________________________________________ Kids Corner This is a talk that focuses on the idea of Jesus being an unexpected gift: You will need: 4 items to wrap as gi...

Jesse Tree Symbol #24: Joseph's Tools (Mary’s fiancé was a carpenter named Joseph—a man who chose to stand faithfully and courageously believe in the impossible) Matthew 1:18-25 (Matthew 13:55 is where we get the notion of Joseph as a carpenter) By Ann Voskamp Joseph being a righteous man—and a carpenter—had a blueprint for a seemingly wise plan. But God pierces a midnight dream with blinding light to tell righteous Joseph that his plan to quietly put Mary a way isn’t a good one. Because he is betrothed to one carrying a baby who is unlike any other baby ever to draw in breath and cry on this planet. This baby is God. Very God with us. Sometimes I too have drafted up what I consider righteous, goodly plans… and Light shatters my night and says that there is another way…a brilliant , stunning way to God with us. As radical and unbelievable as that plan sounds….it’s the plan I choose to wildly embrace. Lord, You come…and take the plans I buil...

Jesse Tree Symbol #23: Mary (And an angel appeared to a woman named Mary—a young prophet who would bear the living Word of God into the world and name him Jesus) Luke 1:26-38, 46-55 The Anunciation by Graham Rogers, age 9 "Mary appeared before an angel, warrior of light. This was not the only time an angel appeared in the bible. After the first sin, an angel with a flaming sword guarded the garden of Eden. An entire angel chorus appeared to the shepherds in the field watching over their flocks by night. There is only one story where an angel is bad; the angel of darkness appeared to kill all the firstborn sons of each family except the Hebrew sons. They followed God’s command and the angel passed them over.  Angels appear in a lot of other stories. but I can’t tell you those for now." Lord God, you choose the very least And raise us up to greatness For nothing is impossible with You You take the weak, the poor and blind And rais...

Monday, December 21st  — Jesse Tree Symbol #22: Elizabeth (Just as Sarah from Genesis was blessed with a miraculous child in her old age, Elizabeth—cousin of Mary—was blessed with a miraculous son. Elizabeth and her son, John, were the first to recognize Christ in their midst—even in the womb.) Luke1:39 – 45 and Mark 1: 1 – 8 *our symbol for Elizabeth is a baptism symbol (a shell)--representing John the Baptist* When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” ~Luke 1:41-42 “The Presence of the Lord.” By Christ Stimel How joyous!  Elizabeth and Mary were cousins, and were both pregnant at the same time.  Elizabeth would give birth to John the Baptist.  How amazing that her child would become excited to know that the Lord was so near to him.  And Elizabeth’s pregnan...

Jesse Tree Symbol #21:  Zechariah's Angel (many generations after the Hebrew prophets, and angel appears to a priest named Zechariah--proclaiming that this old man and his wife will have a son, a prophet named John who would prepare the way for the long awaited Messiah) Luke 1:5-23 and Luke 1:67-80 Reflection by Sue Ross Our church's pastoral assistant The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah and I believe in angels in our day too. Guardians sent from God to care for us.   My story begins one morning when I awoke with a strong sense that something would happen that day and of course I ignored the feeling.  I arrived at work without any issues, worked the entire day without problems and at the end of the work day left the office.  Throughout the day at work though the sense of something happening grew stronger and stronger.   As I got into my car and pulled out of the parking lot to leave the sense of something happening...

Jesse Tree Symbol #20:  Micah's Bethlehem Prophecy Micah 5: 2 – 5 Matthew 2:1-6 Reflection by Austin Holland  First Ocala’s youth minister I’ve always loved the underdog. Give me a good ‘ol David v Goliath battle and my money is always going to be on David. I naturally cheer for the little one, the weaker one, the longshot, probably because that’s how I grew up . As the middle of three brothers, (and the only one not 6 feet tall) I have always known what it was like to be sold short. I am no stranger to being told to give up and let one of my bigger, stronger brothers open the jar,to chop the wood, to push the car out of the ditch my mom ran into. This never stopped me from trying (and failing) at most of these things. When ever I tried to open a jar and it flew from my hands or tried to chop wood for the harsh NC winters and instead just got in trouble for making more of a mess than actually helping, my mom wasn’t able to stay mad at m...