12/13/2020 Sunday’s Sermon by Nick Perez
Mary’s Christmas; Away In A Manger
And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7, ESV
***Join us at the church for a Drive-In Service 10:45, OR streaming on YouTube.
12 Days of Christmas
By: Nick Perez
Annually someone somewhere tallies the total for the gifts a certain “true love” gives to his special someone in the Christmas carol “The 12 Days of Christmas.” This year PNC Wealth Management compiled the Christmas Pricing Index for 2020 and crunched the numbers for the 36 item Christmas
shopping list found in the song, factoring in the cancelation of live performances due to the global pandemic. If you have the cash, the price for 8 maids-a-milking, 7 swans-a-swimming, 6 geese-alaying, 5 gold rings, 4 calling birds, 3 French hens, 2 turtle doves, and 1 partridge in a pear tree is $16,168
(Down from $38,993 last year, a hefty decrease of over 53 percent). All the drummers drumming, pipers
piping, lords-a-leaping, and ladies dancing have been canceled due to COVID-19.
Now you will probably be making purchases this Christmas season though I doubt milking maids or swimming swans is on your list of gifts to buy. But this list does serve as a reminder that life is not about
how much stuff you can accumulate or how many presents you have under the tree this year. Tragically,
the true “reason for the season” will be missed, lost in an avalanche of trees, lights, gifts, and stuff. Let
us keep in mind the words of our Lord during this shopping season: “Take care, and be on your guard
against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”. (Luke 12.15, ESV).
Especially during a holiday season which promotes the accumulation of stuff we may or may not need, we must continue to walk before God in a manner pleasing to Him. No amount of chocolates, peppermint cocoa, candy canes, gifts, fruit cake, Yule logs, or decorated trees will bring peace. For that
matter, no amount of laying geese, gold rings, and the rest of the gifts listed in the song will bring peace. Only the Savior, who is Christ the Lord, can bring peace to cluttered hearts.
Online Resources
Fairmont Park Church of Christ (Midland, TX)
Live Streaming & Recorded Sermons & Bible Classes
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FPCOFC/
Website: https://www.fmpchurch.com/
App: (Apple & Android) Fairmont Park Church of Christ
*Children’s resources now available
The Christian Chronicle
The Christian Chronicle has compiled a list of Churches of
Christ nationwide who offer live streaming services.
https://christianchronicle.org/churches-of-christ-offeringlivestream-worship/
“Let the Bible Speak” – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/LetTheBibleSpeak
Coronavirus Response
We are complying with state and county guidelines- Sunday morning worship is now open, and still online
- Sunday Bible classes canceled until further notice
- Junior Worship canceled until further notice
- Wednesday Bible classes canceled until further notice
- Potlucks canceled until further notice
- Food Pantry by appointment only
- Travelers Motel – food service only
- Shower Shuttle canceled until further notice
- Recommendations – Those who are over 60 or have underlying health conditions are encouraged to stay home.
- Guidelines – If you are sick, stay home. Wash your hands. Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow.
Contact Info for our Shut-Ins
- Jewel Cherry, 2117 Bridgewood Way, Modesto, CA 95355
- Nadine Greff, Vintage Faire, 3620 Dale Rd, Rm. 25, Modesto, CA 95356
- Betty McGoldrick, 13754 Jasper St., Lathrop, CA 95330
- Russ Ortloff, 511 East D Street, Oakdale, CA 95361
- Evelyn Wood, Bethel Assisted Living, 2345 Scenic Ave., Apt. 323, Modesto 95355
***Please submit additions, corrections & updates to the office.
NOTE: Our Shut-ins are not allowed visitors at this time. Please take the time to send them a card or note of encouragement if you can.
Mourning the loss of loved ones
Rios Family – Calvin Watson
Robles/Magaña/Jetton Family – Clementina Robles
Recovering from Surgery
Betty Bussey – doing better
COVID-19
Kim Perez – uncle Mike Mercer
Jody Thompson – hospitalized with COVID, pneumonia & high blood pressure
Eddie Vargas – mom Tina, sister Serena, Vicki’s brother Andrew
Allegria Rice – Ashlee is home but still on ventilator & IV antibiotics
Yuri Gomez – Sylvester & his family in Hughson
Lynn Albro – friend, Lynn Barlowe hospitalized (also had kidney stones removed); niece, Katia Lundell
Joan Quinn – recovering at home
Traci McEnery – uncle Ronnie
Linda Teixeira – son-in-law, Jay
John & Patty Ford – daughter Christie is an RN working with COVID patients
Battling Cancer
Julie Vergara – 2 yr old grandson Bryce has a rare form of cancer
Eddie Vargas – Dora Manuel is in the final stages of cancer
Lyn Brocco – lung cancer
Jacqui Coulter – father, Gene Fisher diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer
Patton Family – assistant high school basketball coach Leo Griggs
Mason – teenager in Ripon
Sheila Walls
Grace Whited – 6 year-old at Murphys Church of Christ
Other Requests
John Ford – friend Johnny Grissom struggling with alcoholism
Eddie Vargas – sister’s boyfriend Aaron has digestive issues
Sharon Corley – uncle Neil Williams hospitalized with pneumonia
Paula Meler – right knee swollen, difficulty walking
Nick Perez – grandmother Ruth Lehnick has congestive heart failure
Wayne Coulter – step-dad John Henry has a mass under his arm
Melissa Shook – friend Tami having family issues & husband’s aunt Glenda hospitalized
Helen Potterf – Hospice care
Tonya Barnard – waiting for surgery to be scheduled
Kari Laguna – leg not healing correctly
Carolyn Hairston – vision problems
Leadership / Essential Workers / Unemployed
