Happy Fourth Sunday of Advent and Happy Christmas!
Fourth Sunday of Advent Reflections: Advent is coming to a close and Christmas is at hand. Christmas has twelve days for each one of the Holy Apostles. On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we focus on the Virgin Birth of Jesus. St. Joseph the Guardian of Jesus was probably in his 30's and the Virgin Mary was probably 12, 13, 14, or 15, when Jesus was born. During Roman times, age was not a major consideration, when choosing a spouse. In our modern time, the big age difference between Mary and Joseph would be inappropriate and it would be illegal for them to even date each other. However, Mary and Joseph lived during the time of the Roman Empire and their standards were different from those of our modern times. Plus women and men were more mature back then. Men and women lived hard lives, as men and women do today as well. The two important things, which we have as our two "take-aways," as my pastor, Reverend Mike Phillips, would say, are, that Jesus had to be born of the Virgin Mary to fulfill Bible Prophesy and Jesus was born to save every single person from their sins. We are all sinners and Jesus came to save us. Amen! Glory to Yahweh, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit! Amen!
Let us look at Matthew 1:18-25, "18 Now the Birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as His Mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with Child of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit). 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the Angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for That, Which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit). 21 And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His Name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins.' 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, '23 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.' 24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the Angel of the LORD had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25 And knew her not, till she had brought forth her Firstborn Son: and he called His Name Jesus" (KJV 1611).
Christmas Tree Festival 2019: I will again have my slim Christmas Tree set up at the 2019 Allen County Museum Christmas Tree Festival at the Allen County Museum at 620 W. Market Street in Lima, Ohio. My slim Christmas Tree will again have all green lights on it and it shall also have Irish decorations on it. I plan on standing next to my Christmas Tree singing Christmas Carols in English, German, and Latin at random times during the festival, but I will try to be there once a day. The Christmas Tree Festival is a totally FREE event, but donations to the museum are greatly appreciated. The 2019 Christmas Tree Festival will be celebrated at the Allen County Museum from Wednesday December 4, 2019 to Sunday December 8, 2019. The festival hours will be Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM, Friday 10 AM to 8 PM, and Sunday noon to 5 PM.
Stores Carrying My Books: My books, which I’ve written and published, are also available at the following stores: Brunner News Agency on Flanders Avenue in Lima, Ohio, Jen’s Furniture and Collectibles (JFC) on High Street in St. Marys, Ohio, The Menagerie at 1178 Indiana Avenue in the St. Marys Business Complex in St. Marys, Ohio, Readmore Hallmark Stores out at Eastgate Plaza and on Elm Street in Lima, Ohio, Wagner’s IGA Grocery Store in Minster, Ohio, in the Book Mart section of ohiobookmart.com , and in the Shop section of my website ohioirishlutheranpress.com .
Thank you and Happy Christmas!
James W. O’Flannery, President and Founder of Ohio Irish Lutheran Press (OIL Press)