Christmas Eve, Sabbath Sunday, LifeGroups
Merry Christmas Stillmeadow Family,
If I don’t get to see you at our Christmas Eve Candlelight services tomorrow, please know how grateful I am for you and for the year that God has given us. I am looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2025 and am praying that he will renew your vision and strength as you follow him in his plans.
As we wrap up our advent devotional, I encourage you to join in our 2025 daily readings plan that you can pick up online or at the Welcome Desk. In the meantime, be encouraged by Chastity Frederick’s reflection on Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:39-55.
Mary and Elizabeth, two women, unlikely to be celebrated in their culture, unlikely to carry a child – one because of her age and infertility and one because of her marital status and young age. Both loved and chosen by God.
How many times in our world do we believe lies of not enough or “unlikely”: not rich enough, wise enough, young enough, old enough, strong enough, educated enough, ____________. God is not bound by “not enough,” in fact, it is where we see the glory of His work.
Pregnant at the time we enter these verses – Mary greets Elizabeth and the baby in her womb “leaps for joy” as she was filled with the Holy Spirit. This not by accident as we read earlier in Luke that John was going to be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born (I am still processing this truth!) It dawned on me the power in this moment – Mary sings to God the Father, while Jesus, God-incarnate grows in her womb, and the Spirit fills Elizabeth.
The word baby here is brephos, the same word used later in Scripture to describe Jesus as a newborn and the children being brought to Jesus.
Mary and Elizabeth humbly recognize the holy calling on their lives – Both fully aware of their circumstances and fully confident in their God. “His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.” #JTAG
Today, would you reflect on the glory of this Word?
God, Thank you for sending the Savior of the world in the most-humble of ways and for reminding me that you are not bound by the world’s “not enoughs.” Make me confidently aware of your presence & humbly aware of my circumstances. Extend your mercy, LORD, from generation to generation.
In your Mighty Name, Amen!
In His Hands and In His Time,
Pastor Josh
The Main Announcements
Christmas Eve Services
Sabbath Sunday
2025 Reading Plan
LifeGroups in 2025
Chili/Soup Cook-Off
Christmas Eve Services
Join us for one of our candlelight services on December 24. At 4PM we’ll gather at York City Campus and at 9PM we’ll gather at our Stillmeadow Lane Campus. Let us celebrate the Reason for the season.
Sabbath Sunday
Between December 25 and January 1, we are giving our volunteers and staff a sabbath, including Sunday December 29th. Our offices will be closed and our service will be online at 10AM. So join us online from wherever you are on December 29th!
Take the 2025 Reading Challenge
In 2025 Stillmeadow will go on a journey from Genesis to Revelation to see how the entire story proclaims Jesus! Beginning January 1, we will follow the “One Story that Leads to Jesus” BibleProject reading plan for daily readings.
Printed versions available on December 22 at the Welcome Center.
Click here for the YouVersion Plan.
Click here for printable plan from Bible Project, complete with all kinds of links to videos and articles.
Click here for the Stillmeadow Printable Plan with space for sermon notes.
Life Groups
We are all on a discipleship pathway here at Stillmeadow and we believe we can't do it alone. We have lifegroups of all kinds to deeper our walk as we learn to intentionally share faith and life together in community while practicing the mission of Jesus through conversation, fellowship, prayer, service, and intimacy. You can find a list of our lifegroups HERE.
Annual Chili/Soup Cook-off!
Sunday, January 26th at 4:30PM. Bring a crock-pot of your favorite soup or chili and enjoy a time of fellowship and hear how God is working in the ministries at Stillmeadow. Sign-up here.
Serve with us
You have been gifted and we’d be honored to serve with you. We’d love to have you partner with us. Click the “Serve” button below for more opportunities.
Café
Serve coffee and snacks with a smile and warm welcome at our Café on Sunday morning! You can signup at the serve button below.
Pray with us
You can find a guide to prayer and submit a prayer request at www.stillnaz.com/prayerrequest. This week, let us pray for the Thursday Prayer Request focus on our prayer guide.
The daily prayer: All who work in banks and finance; all making financial decisions for York City and County. York County Prison: prisoners and staff and Good News Jail and Prison Ministries. All who are unemployed or underemployed. All public servants. All immigrants.
And let us pray for the requests on our Missions Card.
Give with us
During our Just Mercy Series we highlighted three ministries with which we partner. Habitat for Humanity, Keystone Family Alliance and Good News Global. Find out more about each of the ministries at www.stillnaz.com/justmercy.
If you would like to join in Jesus’ mission and give to any of these, please write the name of the ministry in the memo line of your check or select the name of the ministry in our online giving platform.
Journey House-A non profit for those who need sober living in a community of believers. The Christmas Eve offering will be for Journey House or you can give at the button below.
Missionary Carlos Gordon
Carlos is from Jamaica and is presently based in the Nairobi Hub of the Africa Regional Office in Kenya . He serves the Africa Region as the Regional Finance Coordinator. Pray for Carlos as he trusts in God’s provisions, his protection and his direction in seeking to fulfill God’s call upon his life. You can give to Carlos Gordon HERE.
Condolences to…
Mary and Phil Miller, whose husband and father Bob Miller passed away November 29.