top of page

This Week at First

Live Services

9 AM Contemporary

10:30 AM Traditional

January 5th: Shining the Light


    Epiphany Sunday: This Sunday marks both an end and a beginning. It will be the 12th and last day of Christmas, but we will celebrate it as Epiphany and the start of a new season. We will use the day to examine our past and prepare for something new as we once again use the Wesleyan Covenant service and celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion. Our message will be based on Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12 and titled “Shining the Light.”


    See you Sunday.


    Grace and Peace,

    Pastor Jim


     

    Isaiah 60:1-6


    The Ingathering of the Dispersed

    60 Arise, shine; for your light has come,    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.2 For darkness shall cover the earth,    and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you,    and his glory will appear over you.3 Nations shall come to your light,    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

     

    4 Lift up your eyes and look around;    they all gather together, they come to you;your sons shall come from far away,    and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.5 Then you shall see and be radiant;    your heart shall thrill and rejoice,[a]because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,    the wealth of the nations shall come to you.6 A multitude of camels shall cover you,    the young camels of Midian and Ephah;    all those from Sheba shall come.They shall bring gold and frankincense,    and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

     



     

    Matthew 2:1-12


    The Visit of the Wise Men

    2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men[a] from the East came to Jerusalem,  2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,[b] and have come to pay him homage.”  3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him;  4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah[c] was to be born.  5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

     

    6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler    who is to shepherd[d] my people Israel.’”

     

    7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”  9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,[f] until it stopped over the place where the child was.  10 When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy.  11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.



     









    9am Service:



    10:30am Service:





    December 29th: Timeless Lessons


      First Sunday of Christmas: As we continue celebrating the Christmas season, we will read about a 12-year-old boy who was curious about God, the temple, and religion in general. He listened, asked questions, and learned. As we read Colossians 3:12-17 and Luke 2:41-52, we should realize we too should listen, ask questions, and learn about God, the place of worship, and our religion. Our message will be “Timeless Lessons.”


      See you Sunday.


      Grace and Peace,

      Pastor Jim


       

      Colossians 3:12-17


      12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.  13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[a] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.  16 Let the word of Christ[b] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[c]  17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.



       

      Luke 2:41-52


      The Boy Jesus in the Temple

      41 Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover.  42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival.  43 When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.  44 Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends.  45 When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him.  46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.  47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.  48 When his parents[a] saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.”  49 He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”[b]  50 But they did not understand what he said to them.  51 Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

       

      52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years,[c] and in divine and human favor.



       








      9am Service:





      10:30am Service:




      December 24th: Serving Christ, Changing Lives


        Christmas Eve: Once again, we will host two Christmas Eve services. Both will focus on the birth of our Savior using a prophetic reading from Isaiah 9:2-7 and the very familiar Christmas story as told by Luke 2:1-20. For those involved, the first Christmas was life changing. Has the reality of Christmas changed you? Have you offered the news of this life change to your neighbors? Our message will be “Serving Christ, Changing Lives.”


        Our 3:00 PM service will feature traditional music with the organ and the bell choir. The 7:00 PM service will use the keyboard and guitar and some special vocalists.



        Grace and Peace,

        Pastor Jim


         

        Isaiah 9:2-7


        2 [a] The people who walked in darkness    have seen a great light;those who lived in a land of deep darkness—    on them light has shined.3 You have multiplied the nation,    you have increased its joy;they rejoice before you    as with joy at the harvest,    as people exult when dividing plunder.4 For the yoke of their burden,    and the bar across their shoulders,    the rod of their oppressor,    you have broken as on the day of Midian.5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors    and all the garments rolled in blood    shall be burned as fuel for the fire.6 For a child has been born for us,    a son given to us;authority rests upon his shoulders;    and he is namedWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 His authority shall grow continually,    and there shall be endless peacefor the throne of David and his kingdom.    He will establish and uphold itwith justice and with righteousness    from this time onward and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.


         

        Luke 21:25-36


        The Birth of Jesus

        2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3 All went to their own towns to be registered.  4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

         

        The Shepherds and the Angels

        8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord.  12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,[b] praising God and saying,

         

        14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,    and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”[c]

         

        15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;  18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.


         








        3pm Service:



        7pm Service:



        Palmyra First UMC

        717-838-2551

        520 E. Birch St., Palmyra, PA

        admin@palmyrafirst.org

        ©2022 by Palmyra First UMC. Proudly created with Wix.com

        bottom of page