Love Has No End
Posted December 22, 2024 by Dolores Rader in Advent
On July 21, 1998 the entire world changed. The color of the sky was no longer the same hue. The ticking of a clock no longer measured time the same way. The din of traffic was distorted, and the smell of air was different. The fundamental state of the planet had been altered.
The Christmas Story
Posted December 21, 2024 by Olivia Stenoien in Advent
Traveling far and wide Searching for a safe haven Being turned away from shelter Finally being accepted, thinking their work is done
The Joy of Christmas
Posted December 20, 2024 by Chairein Jackson in Advent
The joy of Christmas during the Advent season is an amazing experience that goes beyond festivities and touches the heart of faith and anticipation. Christmas has always been my favorite time of year, and I mean always. I have realized it’s not necessarily the day of Christmas that excites me, but the magical days leading up to it. Advent can be a season of waiting and preparation, and this…
Don't Blink
Posted December 19, 2024 by Angie Durand in Advent
We wanted two children and lo and behold, God blessed us with two amazing daughters a mere fifteen months apart. Raising two girls that close in age was lots of fun but also very challenging at times. Their birthdays were such that they were only one grade apart in school, so for most of Sally’s life, she was literally just one step behind Amy…or you could say, Amy was literally just one step…
And Can It Be
Posted December 18, 2024 by SMBC in Advent
As a musician, when asked to consider “How Can This Be?” and the wonder of Advent, the first thing that came to mind were the lyrics to one of my favorite choir anthems. This anthem is Dan Forrest’s And Can It Be. The lyrics to And Can It Be were originally penned by Charles Wesley in 1739 and have appeared in many hymnals since then. In 2014, Forrest wrote a new setting of this text, and it has…
Happy 20th Anniversary, Jennifer Gribble!
Posted December 17, 2024 by Susan Moore in Discipleship
Jennifer Gribble has served SMBC as our Wedding Coordinator, Marketing Coordinator, and most recently, our Community Outreach Director. Jennifer has a heart for outreach as evidenced by the different jobs she has held. From a grateful church family, thank you, Jennifer, and congratulations on 20 years of service!
Joy
Posted December 17, 2024 by MainKids in Advent
We asked some of our MainKids what Joy means to them.
Monday Over Coffee: "Victory"
Posted December 16, 2024 by Greg Funderburk in Monday Over Coffee
Around this time of year while preparing for Christmas, I think a good deal about my mother’s passing eleven years ago on December 8, 2013. Of course, many of us in this season are not only celebrating but remembering those who are no longer with us. It’s a peculiar feeling when celebration and sorrow converge.
A Moment of Awe, a Lifetime of Awesome
Posted December 16, 2024 by Ted Doolittle in Advent
Eighteen steps stretch from the ground to a smooth cement landing where three wooden doors stand at attention below a wide pointed expanse filled with a beautiful rose stained glass window—a majestic view from the Houston Metro red line during a downtown commute.
Euphoric
Posted December 15, 2024 by Greg Funderburk in Advent
A highlight of 2024 for me was a trip to Nevada to see U2 in the Sphere. Perhaps these words mean nothing to you, but the Sphere is a massive new entertainment venue in Las Vegas and U2 is a band I’ve been a big fan of since they first came on the scene in the early 1980s. The venue was mind-blowing; the music awe-inspiring; the crowd, the lights, the whole evening was incredible. What I find…
Finding Peace in War
Posted December 14, 2024 by Bill Moore in Advent
As a recently-commissioned officer in the Air Force, I reported to my first duty station at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in November 1987. My plan was a full military career with a start as a Missile Launch Officer. To a young military officer in the late 1980s, the absence of war meant peace. Fast forward four years, two promotions, and a series of roles that saw a progression from…
The Peace of God's Plan
Posted December 13, 2024 by Steve Carlson in Advent
Longing for something you wholeheartedly believe is coming. Waiting for an event you know will change your life forever, and it’s largely out of your control. What could compare with preparing for the celebration of the newborn King? This Advent message is one that has been imprinted in my heart over the years at South Main.
Christmas Eve Performance
Posted December 12, 2024 by Kyle Barsch in Advent
Anyone who knows me would probably be shocked to learn I was a budding thespian at an early age. Well, more of a forced budding thespian. Every Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ ranch outside of Brady, TX, my sister, cousin, and I were “encouraged” to put on a Christmas program. Unfortunately, it was the highlight of my grandmother’s Christmas experience and thus unavoidable. Based on the actual…
The Beauty of the Heavens
Posted December 11, 2024 by Jude Goodman in Advent
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him.” Matthew 2:10-11a
Monday Over Coffee: "The Other Kind of Peace"
Posted December 9, 2024 by Greg Funderburk in Monday Over Coffee
Some time ago, I handled a legal matter in which a property owner hired my client—a sand company—to dredge sand from his riverside property. The owner would then get a percentage of the profits from the sand that the sand company sold. The contract envisioned the sand company selling “all saleable materials” dredged. However, during the term of the contract a dispute arose about what this meant,…
His Presence in All Situations
Posted December 9, 2024 by David Knapp in Advent
While I can’t explain why bad things sometimes happen, I do know that God works all things together for the good and the furtherance of his Kingdom (Romans 8:28). In August of last year, I was involved in a very serious car accident that, as a result, required a three-week stay in the hospital, four significant surgeries, and months of physical rehabilitation. And I can say without a doubt, the…
The Waters of Shalom
Posted December 8, 2024 by J Hill in Advent
Biblical peace, often referred to by the Hebrew word "shalom," transcends the mere absence of conflict or war. It encompasses a profound sense of well-being, wholeness, and harmony that permeates every aspect of life. Peace is a gift from God, and it’s integral to our connection to God. It is not just an external state but an internal reality that reflects a restored relationship with God, others…
A Great Light
Posted December 7, 2024 by Charles Williams in Advent
Light has always been a character in the Advent story. The shepherds saw a great light when they were told the Good News. The wise men were guided toward Bethlehem by a light in the sky. Each year we hold hope for the coming of the light, anticipating its arrival with hope and joy. And no greater time is this exemplified for me than when we pass the light each Christmas Eve night.
"Harold" the Angel
Posted December 6, 2024 by Andres Salas in Advent
Standing at over ten feet tall, he has mostly been stationed at the same general spot on the corner between the Chapel and the playground. In the early years, “Harold” would read from his scroll, proclaiming the good news. In recent years, you could hear him trumpet, “HARK!” followed by, “Don’t be afraid!” to passersby on their way to see the Baby. If you stood there long enough, you could hear…
Hope
Posted December 5, 2024 by MainKids in Advent
We asked some of our MainKids, what Hope means to them.
