Open doors and hearts!
Union Grove & Sylvester UMC will host its Annual Christmas Program this Saturday, December 14 starting at 5 p.m. at Union Grove UMC in the Steele Community. This event is opened to the public and we pray that you attend. There will also be Family and Friends Day on Sunday, December 29 at Union Grove UMC. This event is open to the public and will start at 11 a.m. Again, we pray that you come out and worship with us and please pass the word along about any service being held at UMC.
Just a friendly reminder, if you are looking for a great place to worship Union Grove/Sylvester UMC has open doors and open hearts. Worship Service is held each Sunday starting at 11 a.m. 1st and 3rd Sunday at Sylvester and 2nd and 4th at Union Grove. Sunday School is held each Sunday at each church starting at 9:30 a.m. Daytime Bible Study is held each 2nd and 4th Wednesday at Sylvester UMC. Bible Study is each Wednesday alternating churches each month. The month of December it will be held at Union Grove UMC. We also offer Health and Wellness Class each Tuesday starting at 6 p.m., this month at Union Grove.
Please remember to be safe at all times but especially during the holiday season. Practice safe precautions such as shopping together in groups, not leaving shopping bags visible in your car and using a crossover bag while shopping. Also, please let’s train our children on safety precautions, the number of youth and young adults that are being abducted is alarming. We should train our children to always be aware of their surroundings and be very cautious of strangers approaching them.
A word from Pastor Marcus Mann:
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” John 10:10. There are three things that I have noticed that the devil tries to steal from us: our joy, our peace and our praise.
He tries to steal our joy because the joy of the Lord is where our strength lies. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) The literal meaning of this verse is, “The joy of the Lord is a well-fortified place.”
If he can steal our joy, then we are left exposed to whatever comes to attack us making us vulnerable and an easy target. He tries to steal our peace. If he can steal our peace, again, we are left vulnerable because peace is like a military base which guards our hearts and minds. Peace protects us mentally, emotionally and spiritually. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
He tries to steal our praise because God Himself — Who is our strength and peace, and all that we need — inhabits the praises of His people. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) Praise draws Him near to us and when He is near there is nothing that we lack.
He is our peace, in His presence is joy, in short, He Himself is our fortified place. He is that safe place to us. In His presence we are not vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy. In His presence we can see more clearly when the enemy comes to attack. In His presence we have no fear. In His presence we have the power that we need to overcome the enemy.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
So when the enemy comes, be on guard and know that his goal is to destroy and kill you. And he does this by trying to steal your joy, peace and praise because without them, you are left vulnerable to his attacks and easier to defeat.
