{"id":2698,"date":"2015-12-11T22:02:04","date_gmt":"2015-12-11T22:02:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/?p=2698"},"modified":"2015-12-11T22:02:04","modified_gmt":"2015-12-11T22:02:04","slug":"weekly-newsletter-december-11-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/2015\/12\/11\/weekly-newsletter-december-11-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Newsletter: December 11, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en English<\/a>. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.<\/p>

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Thought for today:<\/h1>\n

How did the ox and the donkey enter into the Christmas story?<\/p>\n

Many families follow an old tradition. For Christmas\u00a0time they prepare a nativity scene. Always 3 figures stand together. In the middle of all are Mary and Joseph with the child, and then follow 3 shepherds and 3 kings. We know these characters from the Christmas story. With the shepherds sheep have been added. – But how could enter the ox and the donkey into the Christmas story?<\/p>\n

A legend tells us that the angel Gabriel got the task to choose 2 animals for the nativity scene. Of course everybody got afraid from the lion, the king of the animals. So he couldn’t enter. The monkey made too many stupid things. And so was found an objection in each animal.<\/p>\n

Evening came and Gabriel still hasn’t advanced a single step with his task. Finally the ox and the donkey trotted before the angel. They had worked the whole day on the field.<\/p>\n

\u00abYou two, what are your skills?\u00bb asked Gabriel \u00abWe?\u00bb And the ox and ass looked at each other and said: \u00abWe serve and obey.\u00bb – \u00abCome\u00bb said Gabriel, \u00abYou fit perfectly. This child came to serve and to obey.\u00bb<\/p>\n

How do we want to live, dear friends? The world preaches cleverness and the law of the strongest. Christmas presents us the ox and the donkey close to the center.<\/p>\n

The prophet Isaiah wrote: \u00abThe ox knows its owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.\u00bb Isaiah 1:3<\/p>\n

Ox and donkey know the source of life. – Jesus needs us, our service and our faith.<\/p>\n

I wish you all a merry time of Advent and Christmas.<\/p>\n

Reverend Roland<\/p>\n

THIS SUNDAY AT BALBOA UNION CHURCH<\/h1>\n

Worship Service at 10 a.m. \u2013 ALL ARE WELCOME!<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPEAKER: Joel Guerra<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday School Teachers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
First Testament Readings and\u00a0Psalm<\/td>\nZephaniah 3:14-20;\u00a0Isaiah 12:2-6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Epistle Reading<\/td>\nPhilippians 4:4-7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gospel Reading<\/td>\nLuke 3:7-18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0Prayers Concerns<\/h2>\n

Please Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters from Siria and Iraq<\/p>\n

Lord, please remind the world that we are all brothers and sisters and there should be no violence among us, only love and attempts to understand one another.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We also remember in prayer our former pastors:<\/p>\n