|
Message from Bishop
December 2001
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 (NAS)
|
|
What is Christmas Charlie Brown?
December is the month in which worldwide,
people celebrate the holiday of Christmas. We do this by putting up
Christmas trees and decorating them. We hang stockings and fill them full
of goodies. We decorate our houses by hanging lights on the outside and
placing santas and snowmen on our from yards. We rush out to the latest
sales at the malls. We write notes and mail out cards. We bake, cook
and prepare for parties. We do all of these but do we understand the true
meaning of Christmas?
In 1965, Charles Shulz, Lee Mendelson and Bill
Melendez wrote
and produced, "A Charlie Brown Christmas". In the show, Charlie Brown
was lost about the true meaning of Christmas.
CHARLIE BROWN:
"I think there must be something wrong
with me Linus. Christmas is coming but I'm not happy. I don't feel
the way I'm supposed to feel. I like sending Christmas cards and getting
Christmas presents and decorating trees and all that. But I'm still not
happy. I always end up feeling depressed."
Charlie Brown saw all of the trappings of the holiday
season but was searching for the true meaning of Christmas.
Later in the show, Linus explains to
Charlie Brown about the true meaning of Christmas in one poignant scene with the following soliloquy:
LINUS:
"Lights please.
"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
"That's what's Christmas is all about Charlie
Brown."
Almost forty years ago, a character in an animated show quoted
Luke 2:8-14 and told the nation what was the true meaning of Christmas. We
enjoy the trappings of the holiday but let us not forget the reason for the
season:
The Lord Jesus Christ,
a Saviour for you and me.
From my wife, my family, the members of the
Houston CUP and myself,
Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus!!!
Bishop Vernice Seriale, Sr.
Founder and Senior Pastor
I invite you to send us your comments,
inquires and prayer requests.
You can contact us at 713-645-1474 or write
to us at:
Houston Christian United People's Center
149 Winkler Drive
Houston, Texas 77087
or
click on the following links to the following forms:
Comments and Inquires
Prayer Requests
If you are in the Houston area, the doors to
The CUP are open to you. You may click on the following links for our
worship schedules and directions to The CUP
Worship Schedule
Directions to The CUP
Thank you for visiting our
Website. God Bless You.
Bishop Vernice Seriale, Sr.
Founder and Senior Pastor
Printer
Friendly Version
Click here to read past messages from Bishop Seriale
