Announcements and Lesson - 14 December 2014

Announcements:

Sunday 21st December 6.30pm - 8.00pm we have our Ward Music and the Spoken Word (with carols and readings) and is a great opportunity to bring along friends and family to celebrate the Christmas season together.

Christmas Day - we have a Christmas service from 10-11am.  All are welcome to attend.

Tuesday 30th December - the Youth are having a temple trip to perform baptisms - more details to follow.

Also sisters, the Stake Relief Society have now started a blog for all Sisters in the Stake.  This is a chance for us to unite as a Stake and to learn and love one another. It will over the coming months include messages from the Stake RS Presidency, news of events and service projects we can work on together.   The web address is as follows, if you wish to receive an email each time an update is added please go to the blog and add your email address:

http://ipswichstakereliefsociety.blogspot.co.uk/


Lesson:

Today's lesson was given by Sister Graca Serra, Chapter 25 of The Teachings of President Smith 'The Birth of Jesus Christ: Good Tidings of Great Joy.

President Smith said 'Christmas is a time for families...I now pray that as this Christmas season, we may centre our faith in the Son of God and gain for ourselves that peace which passeth understanding.'

Graca asked what Christmas traditions we have as families?  One many of us have done is to dress up and perform the nativity.  President Smith stated that our Christmas traditions should centre on the story of the Saviour's birth as there is no story quite so beautiful.

A discussion was held about the challenges that Christ had to face growing up on the earth and how He chose to deal with these.  Jesus although born the Son of God, like us had to learn line upon line - he chose to study and learn, and he chose to do those things that brought him closer to His Father.  Could this be a lesson in how we handle the challenges in our own lives and how we progress to be more like Him?

The question was posed: what was the main reason Christ came to the earth?   President Smith explained it this way 'the true reason for the coming of Jesus Christ into the world...was first to redeem all men from the physical or mortal death, which Adam brought into the world, and second, to redeem all men from spiritual death or banishment from the presence of the Lord on conditions of their repentance and remission of sins and endurance to the end of the mortal probation.'

When the Saviour has given so much to us Sisters, what are we doing in our lives to show our heartfelt gratitude to Him?  Are we attending church devotedly each week?  Are we willing to spread the joy of this wonderful message?  Are we willing to do the difficult things He asks of us?

Think about these questions as you watch this short video clip 'Good tidings of Great Joy'  HERE

President Smith asked of us: 'How can anyone read this touching story of the

birth of Jesus Christ without wishing to forsake his sins?  At this season of the year it is well for one and all - the king in his palace, the peasant in his humble cottage, the rich and the poor alike - to bow the knee and pay honour to Him who was without sin, whose like was spent in sacrifice and sorrow for the benefits of his fellow man, whose blood was shed as a sacrifice for sin...

'...What of this wonderful story?  Have we permitted it to permeate and influence our lives?  Have we accepted it in its full meaning without reservations?  Do we believe that this babe was in very deed the only begotten Son of God in the flesh?  Do we have abiding faith in His mission and are we willing to obediently follow Him?'

Sisters, this Christmas season, how will you celebrate the birth of Christ?  How will you show the Saviour your gratitude for all He has done?  May we all lay before Him the gift of a broken heart and contrite spirit.