Welcome to Lights over Aloma. We are so glad you have come to join us as we celebrate this most wonderful time of the year. While here in Central Florida the snow is most assuredly fake, we hope the laughter and joy you and your family experience this season will be as real as the story you are about to hear. We invite you to roll down your windows, turn up your speakers and follow us on this short journey From the Stars to the Stable to the Streets.

In the beginning, God... By the power of his spoken word, God covered the canvas of space with a canopy of lights that illuminated the darkness. Majesty married to beauty; twinkle, twinkle, little stars these were not. Yet, despite the colossal nature of the stars which have the cosmic capacity to take our breath away today, God included but a brief comment of them in the creation narrative...AND HE MADE THE STARS ALSO.

The focus fell on God’s design of man who was made in the image of God and given command to rule over creation. The first order of this charge came when Adam named the animals there in the garden of Eden. Zebras. Lions. Dogs. While we don’t know what all animals were there, we know that everything was perfect and peaceful...

...until Adam and Eve chose to disobey God. And when sin entered the world, everything took a turn for the worse and the world as they knew it was broken; their relationship with God was fractured. Sin now separated them from the God who loved them. Darkness and death took the place of light and life.

...However, God is light and He had a plan all along to send a Savior into the world. This plan became known to man through the prophets of Old. Isaiah declared... The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. Looking out over 1000 years later the promised Messiah was foretold...

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Then at just the right time, God sent an angel to proclaim the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the World, to a group of shepherds out in a field. Then a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

The depth of darkness that deadened that night was illuminated with life and hope and Mary and Joseph found their place beneath the stars and bedding in a stable with the animals. The Promised Messiah, the Savior of the World, spent his first night on earth lying in a lowly Manger. This humility as his birth marked his mission as we read in Matthew 20...that Jesus came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.

Jesus Christ gave His life as a way to purchase forgiveness for the souls of many. Men and women, boys and girls from all over the world are invited to come to Jesus at the foot of the cross. To bow at His feet and to surrender their lives. Jesus said, I am the Light of the World, he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. The death of Jesus gave way to His resurrection on the third day... and the Light of the world shines forever!

I want to thank you for participating in our very first LIGHTS OVER ALOMA event here at Aloma Church. My name is Wesley Baldwin and I get to serve as the Lead Pastor of the church. Tonight, you have seen the true story of why Christmas is so important. It is all about the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. My prayer is that you and your family would follow Him as Lord!

As you exit the campus, I want to highlight a couple of links on the website that you have been interacting with this evening. First is a prayer link. If you or your family have a prayer need that our church can pray over, please click that link and share it.

Second, is the link to our upcoming Christmas worship events at the church. A night of worship on December 17th and also our candlelight Christmas Eve service on the evening of December 24.

May God bless you and may the light of Jesus shine in your heart and lives.