"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.'' Matthew 13:31-32

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 Mark and Ginger Lang - Editors                                                                                                                               December  2007

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In 1818 a band of roving actors were performing throughout the little towns and hamlets of the Austrian Alps. One night the players came to the tiny village of Oberndorf , near Salzburg , for their annual presentation of the Christmas story. The play was scheduled for St. Nicholas Church, but the organ bellows had been eaten away by mice and could not be repaired in time. The show was presented in a private home instead, and the church’s assistant pastor, Josef Mohr, attended. So impressed was Mohr with the simplicity of the play and the sincerity of the actors that he began to reflect on the real meaning of the Christmas story. As Mohr walked home that night through the new-fallen snow, his path led him over a small hill. Looking down on the little village below, Mohr was deeply impressed by the beauty of the glowing scene and the majestic silence of the wintry night. His thoughts took him back to the first Christmas—when angels spoke to wandering shepherds on a holy night such as this—and a poem began

to form in Mohr’s mind, “Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!”

Arriving home, the pastor quickly penned the words that would inscribe his poem into history. He sincerely wished his piece could be sung at the church’s upcoming Christmas service, but he had no music. The next day Mohr rushed the verses over to his good friend Franz Gruber, the church organist. It is reported that Gruber composed the musical setting the same day he received Mohr’s poem.

On Christmas Day Gruber and Mohr sang their new song to the congregation gathered in the little church. Since the organ was still in ill repair, Gruber accompanied on his guitar, and “Silent Night” was introduced to the world.  The verses of the carol reflect Josef Mohr's spiritual joy.  Oh, that the real meaning of Christmas would grip us this season as it did him!

As you consider the angel’s proclamation: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11), remember that these words are for you, just as much as they were for the shepherds who first heard them. Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem on that silent night signaled the beginning of His earthly mission to save us from our sins. This mission included His sacrificial death on the cross, His glorious resurrection on Easter morning, and His ascension into heaven forty days later to reign as the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords. And the reason for His coming to earth? Love. He loved us that much!

God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (John 3:16)  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9,10)

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light!
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth!

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

The first time Jesus came,
He came to redeem.
The next time, He is coming to rule and to reign!

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Mustard Seed Outreach is endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the poor some meat and drink and means of warmth.  We choose this time because it is a time, of all others, when want is keenly felt, and Christian charity should be expressed generously.

Multiplication Principle

Mustard Seed Outreach Christmas Wish List

The life that gives multiplies itself; the life that absorbs, destroys itself and others. All nature is built upon the plan of giving. The sun gives its light and its heat, the bird its song, the lilac its odor; the orchard yields its fruits for the good of man, the field its grain for the same Purpose.  If man is not a giver, he is out of harmony with his surroundings. He makes a dead sea of himself, he becomes fatal to anything that seeks life from him. A. M. Burton "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38   Mustard Seed Outreach is a not-profit ministry, supported entirely by donations.  All gifts are tax deductible and should be sent to: Mustard Seed Outreach PO Box 24092 Nashville, TN 37202 Tel. (615) 354-1930 email: mso@integrity.com Visit our website http://www.mustardseedmovies.com/index.htm

We need funds to purchase the following items for the ministry.    Movie Ministry:  VHS movies, DVDs, Shure microphone,  speaker stands, and a HD-DVD player.  We also need a more centrally located place to show our film presentations.  Let us know if your church would be interested in allowing us to use their facility.   Benevolence Ministry:  Food and clothing for those in need, and gift certificates.   Music Ministry:  Pre-recorded Music CDs, Adobe Auditon Computer Software,  and music CD-Rs, and a 22 inch LCD computer screen.    Literature Ministry:  Audio books, Christian paperbacks, Gospel Tracts, and Bibles on compact disc.    Mailing Ministry:  Postcards, envelopes, bubble mailers, postage stamps, and scripture seals.    We need to raise at least $100,000 to operate Mustard Seed Outreach during the year 2008.  For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Deuteronomy 15:11   Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16