Well, good morning, everyone. Happy Sunday. Let's all stand and get started in prayer and scripture reading this morning. Lord, thank you for the day and the opportunity to come into your house and fellowship and worship you this morning and raise your name above all names. I ask that you be with pastor this morning and move him out of the way and that your word may go forth into good soil in everyone's hearts here and may everyone get what you would have them get out of his sermon today. I also ask that you be with those that can't be with us due to sickness and things of that nature and help them and guide them and comfort them. And thank you for Chet being able to come back with us today and join us in fellowship here as well. I ask all this in the name of your son, Jesus, amen. And scripture reading this morning is gonna be Matthew 1, 21 to 25. Let's all read this together, please. And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us. Then Joseph, being raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife, and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son, and he called his name Jesus. Amen. And our first hymn this morning is going to be Emmanuel, and that's hymn 82 in your book if you're following along there. Emmanuel, Emmanuel His name is called God with us, revealed in us His name is God, Emmanuel His name is called Emmanuel God with us Revealed in us His name is called Emmanuel. Amen. Will you please be seated? And our second hymn this morning is going to be, What Child is This? And that's hymn 118 in your book, if you're following along there. What child is this who laid to rest on Mary's lap this evening? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet while shepherds watch are keeping. This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing Haste, haste to bring Him laud The Babe, the Son of Man ♪ Why lies he in such mean a state ♪ ♪ Where ox and ass are feeding? ♪ ♪ Could Christian feeble sinners hear ♪ ♪ The silent word is pleading? ♪ This, this is Christ the King Whom shepherds guard and angels sing Haste, haste to bring Him laud The Babe, the Son of Mary So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh Come, peasant king, to own Him The King of kings salvation brings Let loving hearts enthrone Him This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing. Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary. Amen. Will you please stand for our third hymn this morning? And that's gonna be angels we have heard on high. And that's hymn 100 in your book if you're following along there. ♪ Angels we have heard on high ♪ ♪ Sweetly singing o'er the plains ♪ ♪ And the mountains in reply ♪ ♪ Echoing their joyous strains ♪ ♪ Gloria in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ Shepherds, why this jubilee? ♪ Why your joyous strains prolong? ♪ What the gladsome tidings be? ♪ Which inspire your heavenly song? ♪ Gloria In excelsis Deo Gloria In excelsis Deo ♪ Come to Bethlehem and see ♪ ♪ Christ, whose birth the angels sing ♪ ♪ Come adore on bended knee ♪ ♪ Christ the Lord, the newborn King ♪ ♪ Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ See him in a manger laid ♪ Whom the choirs of angels praise ♪ Mary, Joseph, lend your aid ♪ While our hearts in love we raise ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Gloria ♪ ♪ In excelsis Deo ♪ Amen, will you please be seated? And Mrs. Peace is gonna do a special for us today. She's gonna read a poem. It's Twas the Night Before Christmas, I believe. You got two, okay. It's a bonus. You know how when you go to the store, any store, grocery store, whatever, this happened before Halloween even. They were celebrating Christmas, their version of Christmas, which includes Santa Claus. So I'm going to tell you why Jesus is better than Santa Claus. Santa lives at the North Pole. Jesus is everywhere. Santa rides in a sleigh. Jesus rides on the wind and walks on water. Santa comes once a year. Jesus is an ever-present help. Santa fills your stockings with goodies. Jesus supplies all your needs. Santa comes down your chimney uninvited. Jesus stands at your door and knocks, only entering when invited. You have to wait in line to see Santa. Jesus is as close as the mention of his name. Santa lets you sit on his lap. Jesus lets you rest in his arms. Santa doesn't know your name. All he can say is, hi little boy, girl, what's your name? Jesus knew our names before we did. Not only does he know our name, he knows our address, he knows our history and future, and he even knows how many hairs we have on our head. Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly. Jesus has a heart full of love. All Santa can offer is ho, ho, ho. Jesus offers health, help, and hope. Santa says, you better not cry. Jesus says, cast all your cares on me, for I care for you. Santa's little helpers make toys. Jesus makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds mansions. Santa may make you chuckle. Jesus gives you unspeakable joy words can't adequately describe. The greatness of joy. Santa puts gifts under your tree. Jesus died on the tree to give us the greatest gift of all, his life for ours. It's obvious there's no real comparison. We need to remember whom Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas. He's still the reason for the season. And then, I got the, "'Twas the night before Jesus came. "'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house, "'not a creature was praying, no one in the house. "'Their Bibles were laying on the shelf without care, "'in hopes that Jesus would not come there. "'The children were dressing to crawl into bed, not once ever kneeling or bowing their head. And mom in her rocker with baby on her lap was watching the late show while I took a nap. When out of the east there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. When, what to my wandering eyes should appear, but angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray, I knew in a moment this must be the day. The light of his face made me cover my head. It was Jesus returning, just like he had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw him in spite of myself. In the book of life which he held in his hand was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as he searched for my name. When he said, it's not here, my head hung in shame. The people whose names had been written with love he gathered to take to his father above. With those who were ready, he rose without a sound while the rest of us were left standing around. I fell to my knees, but it was too late. I had waited too long, thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight. Oh, if only I had been ready tonight. In the words of this poem, the meaning is clear. The coming of Jesus is drawing near. There's only one life, and when it comes to the last call, we'll find out that the Bible was true after all. Thank you, Kay. Appreciate it very much. A lot to think about in those words.