Escape to
Dale
Tucker
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and
remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy
him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his
mother by night, and went to
Matthew 2:13-15 (NRSV)
This is the account of how Joseph, Mary and Jesus
fled to
What must have gone through Joseph's mind as he
weighed the route and what he would need to take to survive? He could not even
take the tools of his trade as they had to travel light and quickly. How would
they live once they arrived in
What should US faith communities do to help these
Syrian refugees? The
Our Father who protected
Joseph, Mary and Jesus in their refugee journey and helped them accomplish our
purpose, we pray for protection and guidance for the thousands who flee
Generation to Generation
Anne-Britton
Arnett
Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words
of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a
parable;
I will utter dark sayings
from of old,
things that we have heard
and known,
that our ancestors have told
us.
We will not hide them from
their children;
we will tell to the coming
generation
the glorious deeds of
the Lord, and his might,
and the wonders that he has
done.
Psalm 78:1-4 (NRSV)
A few weeks ago, I was
talking to my Aunt Lizzie, who is the sister of my mom and Aunt Peggy. We were chatting
about churches, and she gave me an idea to sit down with my kids to get their
perspective on our church. What a fantastic idea! We never really
do an “inventory” on what we love about church, and it has been a fun
task. It was incredibly heartwarming, and their responses amazed
me. The church they are growing up in is a very different CHBC than I
grew up in, during the 1970s and 1980s. This advent season, we are so
grateful for our church family. Their responses are here:
· We love the diversity, in race and
in age (Asian, American, young, old).
· The people we know and love in our
church are caring, wise, influential, and kind to us.
· We have so many opportunities to
do so many things together, as a church family.
· Our youth group is amazing.
We have great friends, and do so many awesome things together (trips like
Passport and retreats, and we get to serve our community together).
· The AMOUNT of people in our church
is amazing….there are so many people that we get to look up to and call FAMILY.
· Youth group Passport is amazing,
I’ve gotten close with our entire youth group, and many of them are my best
friends.
· I love our retreats. We get
time to enjoy campfires, and sit quietly with our friends.
· We have grown up with the family
of God in our church, so they know the good and bad that has happened in our
lives.
· Cultures have united at CHBC, so I
have had the opportunity to learn so much about a culture that I had no clue
about, without CHBC.
· I have been given the opportunity
to learn to include people, and get outside of my comfort zone.
It was so fascinating to me to get
their perspective. And I have to say, their reflections are not so
dissimilar from those that I would have had when I went to In-The-Oaks, looking
up to the Schnur kids, with Darrell still leading campfire, and Louie still
striking up the piano.
God is Good. Generation
after generation. Whether that generation be American or Karen, we have
all loved the same God. And, ironically, have done so at the same place…
Thank you God, for loving us and
helping us love each other from generation to generation. Amen.
Hope Is All Around
Margaret Graves
His mother held these things
dearly deep within herself. And Jesus matured, growing up in both body and
spirit, blessed by both God and people.
Luke 2:51b-52 (MSG)
I
was moved to tears last year during Advent when I heard the song “Mary Did You
Know?”. The words to the first verse are:
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one
day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save
our sons and daughters?
Did you know,
That your baby boy has come
to make you new?
This child that you've
delivered,
Will soon deliver you.
I
was moved by the realization that each child that is born in our world is a
mystery of hope. Each child has the possibility of giving in his or her own way
much to make our world a better place. We need to be attentive and take notice
of ways that our children bring hope in what they do and how they live. Mary
must have watched as Jesus grew and became her adult child. His actions and his
words made such a difference in the lives of those around him.
I
have experienced hope by reading the insight of Erin Woggon in her school
newspaper piece, “Muslim Students Facing Discrimination in School”; in the work
of Eh Nay Thaw as he learns about peacemaking; in our church youth and their
willingness to help others with mission projects, especially during Passport;
in the kindness of our youth as the older ones help the younger ones; and in
the young adults who have given of their summers to intern in our church’s
ministry to children.
I
find hope in our adult children who are making career choices that make for a
more sustainable world: James and Laura with their farming, Sarah Garland with
her writing, John and Jennie with their teaching of science and art, Thomas and
Daniel with their activism. Hope in Andrea’s preaching, Brittani’s praying and
Jason’s modeling inclusive love. The list could go on and on.
Pay
attention. The possibility of experiencing hope is all around. Hold it dearly.
God, Help us to pay
attention. Thank you for all we see to wonder about. May we experience hope in
these gifts. Amen.
Small Star of Light
Beth Wade
Light ,space, zest -- that`s
God. So, with him on my side I`m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.
Psalm 27:1 (MSG)
When the world tumbles in chaos
and I`m confused, sad and lonely;
When nothing seems to work and I`m lost
And everything is dark and bleak and
no one knows what to do-
There is a small star of light shining in the dark sky
lighting the way
AND
I know his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.
He cares for me and for all.
Dear God, help me to see the
light and not loose hope. Amen.
Reminder of
Hope
Marianne Taylor
If for this life only we
have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
I Corinthians 15:19
(NRSV)
My cousin's only child had been
tragically killed on his motorcycle by a motorist who just didn't see
him, 4 days after his 20th birthday. He had been one of my Mother's pall
bearers 3 months to the day before his own death. His friends had organized
a little concert and silent auction in his memory to benefit a new
library in the struggling small town, just outside
Dear Father, Thank you for messengers such as this young man
who, in all kinds of ways, remind us, through Jesus Christ, we can and must
hope. Amen.
I’ll Dance Instead
Eugina Robertson
This is why I speak to them
in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not
hear or understand."
Matthew 13:13 (NIV)
I
saw an episode called, "God Help Us", of a seven part miniseries called
Belief. There was an account of a
Catholic woman who had a horrible accident and had been clinically dead for two
minutes. During that time she kept hearing the words of a poem by the Sufi
Muslim Rumi, which she had read twenty years earlier.
I have lived
on the edge of insanity.
Wanting to
know reasons.
Knocking on a
door.
It opens.
I've been
knocking from the inside.
When
she awoke from a coma, the doctors told her she would never walk again. She
then thought to her self, that's OK, I'll dance in stead! She had
remembered that Rumi had developed a unique meditation called twirling, which
became known as the whirling dervish. After three years of training, she became
the only Catholic official whirling dervish.
"Know
that personal power is not about changing the world around you. It is about the
power to change the world within you." Deepak Chopra
"One
person with a belief is equal to ninety-nine who have only interests."
John Stuart Mill
"For behold, The Kingdom of Heaven is in your
midst." Luke 17:21
God, Help us
to change our world through our beliefs. Amen.
Hope
Sara Jo Hooper
What you have done for the
least of these, you have done to me.
Matthew 25:45 (paraphrase)
Hope is as essential to my living and thriving as
the very air I breathe.
Where
do I find hope in a world rife with hopelessness – the refusal of the majority
of Kentuckians to even bother to vote; economic disparity that has locked many
in poverty; fear stalking our neighborhoods; our nation providing poorer health
care and educational achievement than most developed countries, yet outranking
those countries in the numbers of people incarcerated and those killed by other
citizens’ guns?
Hope
is the essence of my faith – belief and confidence in the “not yet.” Father
William Inge: “Hope sees that which is possible, but is not yet.”
When
my mind reels at the horrors in the news and discouragement threatens, I think
of the confidence (faith) shown in Malala’s determination to fight for girls’
right to get an education; her insistence that she, a teen shot and terribly
wounded by the Taliban, could accomplish something toward that end, has
resulted in schools being built, a book being published, and her being awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize. Hope personified.
I
think of the
I
think of Gisela, who throws herself, every day, into the challenge of helping
the 8,000+ children in Jefferson County Public Schools who are homeless. Her
work spills into evenings and weekends as she meets families wherever they are.
Where,
oh where, is hope? Look! It’s in the persons who spend their lives doing what
one person can do to make a difference in our world.
God, forgive us when our
fatigue and impatience threaten our hope. Help us to remember that we don’t
know everything and cannot always predict outcomes. Help us to focus our
energies on doing one thing at a time to lift someone’s spirits or meet a
material need – with no fear that this is not enough. Amen.
Surrounded by Peace
Virginia Johnston
For the mountains may depart
and the hills may be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has
compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 (NRSV)
When
I think of the peace of Christ, I am reminded of times in our lives when
nothing seems right. Then in some
unexpected way we come face to face with the reality that God is with us and
His peace surrounds us.
One
such event comes to mind: At the time of
my Mother’s death she had been in a nursing home for almost six years. Very early in the morning prior to her death
I was suddenly awakened and something seemed to say to me, “Today she will live
but tomorrow she will die”. I told this
to one of the head nurses. She asked how
I could possibly know or even think that.
I told her it was as clear as talking with her. She couldn’t understand and ran out of the
room in tears.
Everything
was OK during that day and night but the next day things changed. My Mother was awake and aware in a
sense. My aunt and I were with her. My aunt pinched Mom’s finger in the bed rail,
for which she was scolded. Shortly after
that Mom told me to move that I was blocking her light. I asked what she saw in
the light, and she said she saw Jesus.
She only lived a couple more hours.
When she passed away I felt a peace for myself and in knowing that she
would no longer be suffering.
The
nurse again asked how I knew. I told her
I felt God was giving me time to prepare for the final moments, and I now felt
everything was going to be OK with me. I
will always miss my Mother but I cherish these last few hours with her and
believe that we were surrounded by God’s love and peace.
Now may the Lord of peace
himself give you peace at all times and in all ways. The Lord be with all of you. Amen.
2 Thess. 3:16
Everyone is Special
Allen Bartlett
And yet not one of them
(sparrows) will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs
of your head are all numbered. Therefore
do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:29b-31 (NRSV)
This
past year has been a challenge for both Eileen and me. I had emergency back
surgery in September, 2014, while on vacation, and within a year required a
more extensive back surgery at the same vertebrae location. Eileen had a
rescheduled shoulder surgery in November, 2014, which had been postponed from
October, and before the sling was discarded, she required an emergency elbow
and kneecap surgery in December, 2014. Fortunately, we were not disabled at the
same time. When one of us completed physical therapy and was able to get around
(particularly driving), then the other could consider surgery.
This
could have been a time of high anxiety and fear about life in general by being
dependent on the other for all things done during a day’s time, and being
independent about getting around (driving) without requiring a chauffeur. I can
only speak for myself, but I did not experience the fear about how life was
affecting our family, even though our celebration of Advent was delayed. Maybe
my self-assurance has been affected by my work career, which included
responding to emergency situations and staying calm during a crisis to make
decisions. However, I firmly believe
that God supports everyone during a stressful time of our lives, and I
particularly felt God’s peace during this past year’s disabilities. I was able
to chauffeur Eileen to meetings, physical therapy, and appointments when it was
required. Eileen was able to do the same
for me when she completed her physical therapy.
Everyone is Special!
Thank you Father for the
peace you offer us during our lifetime, particularly during our crisis times.
We do have greater value than the sparrows. Amen.
The
John Arnett
They found Mary and Joseph,
and the baby lying in the manger.
Luke 2:16 (NRSV)
For where two or three
gather in my name, there am I with them.
Matthew 18:20 (NRSV)
Jesus said to them, ‘Come
and have breakfast.’ He took the bread
and gave it to them and the same with the fish….’Feed my sheep.’
John 21:12, 14, 16
Perhaps
the first church happened in the stable where the shepherds found Mary and
Joseph and bowed down to worship the new born baby Jesus. “Two or three gathered together in His honor”
is the essence of the church whether in a stable, a tent, a rented hardware
store, or a cathedral.
Jesus,
who had “no place to lay his head,” moved around through his brief three years
of ministry meeting with people in their homes and synagogues teaching his
truths and performing acts of kindness and healing. When Peter suggested they build a shrine on
the mountain of transfiguration, God told them instead, “This is my son, Listen
to him.”
Each
morning after sweeping and mopping our office floor, I sit down at my desk with
a cup of coffee and a pastry of some sort and imagine that time long ago on the
shore of Tiberias when Jesus, after his resurrection, met again with some of
his disciples (“two or three together”), fed them breakfast, and gave Peter the
command to “feed my sheep.”
That
command is ours today as well as we continue to gather within or without walls
and “feed the sheep” by loving and praying for our neighbor, teaching the
stories of the Bible, worshiping with one another, glorifying God with art and
technology, and walking in the way of Jesus.
Lord, help us to follow your
simple ways and teach us how to “feed your sheep.” Amen.
The Peaceable Kingdom
Glen Skaggs
The
wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the
calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the
lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isaiah 11:6-7
The scene described in this passage was painted
many times by American folk painter Edward Hicks (1780–1849) as the “
http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/Collection/art-object-page.59908.html
.
The whole passage of Isaiah 11:1-9 is an outline of
the personal characteristic of the coming messianic king. Verses 6-9 give a poetic description of the
complete harmony and peace of the coming messianic age. Humans and animals would live together in a
paradise-like relationship (see The
Broadman Bible Commentary, vol. 5, Isaiah 11:1-9, pp 231-332). This is a parallel to the Garden of Eden
before sin caused disharmony.
Peace in Hebrew is “shalom.” The root meaning is “well-being.” There are other meanings in the Old
Testament. It can signify bodily health,
a nation enjoying prosperity, and stability in a relationship (see Theological Dictionary of the New Testament,
vol. II, p 402). Shalom is being in
harmony with God and all of God's creation.
Gracious
Lord, calm our human nature, so your Spirit may allow us to live in peace with
all of your creation. Amen.
The
Brittani Bair
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden
in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and
sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew
13:44
When I was in high
school, our youth minister took us on a retreat to French Lick, Indiana where
we stayed in an adorable little lodge with some cottages in a farm-like country
setting. My closest friends came on the trip and we were quickly in love with
our surroundings and enjoying the time together. The first day there, and for
the rest of our time in youth group, we nicknamed that experience “The Best
Retreat Ever.”
As youth minister,
I have recently reintroduced the practice of having a spiritual retreat for our
youth. Often in preparation for a retreat, I have felt like that man who knows
where the treasure is and spares no expense to make it his. There is a certain
amount of marshmallows, firewood, sleeping bags, guitar strings, glow sticks,
shaving cream bottles, hay bales and pizza that will purchase the treasure.
Every year we hide it again and go looking for the treasure that is The
Kingdom. I am never sure whether we will actually find it after all the hours
and expenses that go into our preparation.
This year we
retreated to Cedar Ridge Camp near Fisherville. It rained almost the entire
weekend. We rearranged schedules to fit our outdoor activities in between the
rain showers. The shaving cream fight (a CHBC tradition) was low on my priority
list but we managed to get it going during free time. It was great fun, but
afterwards, there was the mess. Three tired, foamy young people were left with
the task of carrying a cooler full of partially used shaving cream bottles up a
hill to the cabins. Barefoot, constantly dropping the cooler because of the
slippery foam-covered handles, one of the middle school girls who was helping
me stopped, looked up at the cloudy, gray sky and exclaimed, “Ms. Brittani,
this is the best day ever!”
I couldn’t believe
my ears. She’d found the treasure. She discovered it in the most unlikely of
circumstances. One minute she was complaining about the pain and the next
minute she had been overtaken by something bigger. I think that’s how Jesus
must have come to Earth that night in
God of the Best Things Ever, We know the
treasure of Christmas is worth the long wait and sometimes painful preparation.
We know it takes hope, peace, joy, and love to bring your Kingdom into being.
Let us not be afraid to lay down all we have in pursuit of the Christ Child. On
gloomy, gray December days, help us to stop struggling for a moment and
recognize the treasure we are carrying. Amen.
Flowers and Candles
Jason Crosby
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (NRSV)
Even
though a vast ocean separates us, the attacks in
I
was fearful that Friday evening. As I watched what was happening in
A
couple days after the attack, I came across a video online in which a French
father was speaking to his seemingly four or five year old son about the
attack. The father and son stood near where one of the attacks took place. The
son was visibly upset. He asked his father if they would have to leave
Peacemaking
is dangerous, risky work. It demands faith that flowers and candles, love and
grace, hospitality and kindness, are more powerful than guns and hate. Hearts
full of peace and people extending hands of help in the midst of their own
fears, however, is how peace will prevail and we will all know that we are
God’s beloved children.
As we prepare to celebrate
the birth of the Prince of Peace, when fear swells within us, help us to
remember that our world is too small for anything but truth and too dangerous
for anything but love. May our lips speak your truth and our hearts be filled
with your love so that all your children will know peace. Amen.
Upside Down
Eugina Robertson
Jesus said, "Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven
belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14
In Sunday school, we have been reading a book on the Beatitudes. The author
explained how seeing the
Then
I saw the cover for the Children's Sabbath, with upside down printed in a
unique way! I had an epiphany, instead of seeing the world upside down
from the adult perspective of overturned. Suddenly, I imagined a child hanging
upside down on monkey bars, amazed by how different the world looks from that
perspective. Hanging upside down, people are miraculously walking around on
earth but in the sky (heaven) and if you look down you see sky.
From
an adult perspective, if you turn a bowl of fruit upside down, fruit will
uncontrollably and chaotically go everywhere. If you look at the bowl of fruit
from an upside down perspective it will amazingly be held in place suspended by
gravity.
Just
as amazingly, the hope of heaven came to us as a little baby, and gave us a new
perspective.
God, help us
to see upside down. Amen.
The Joy of Going Through Home Again
L. Lee Whitlock
I have indeed received much
joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have
been refreshed through you.
Philemon 1:7
“We
shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to
arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” (T.S. Eliot) I
understood Eliot when I returned to CHBC after an absence of almost four
decades. I joined CHBC in 1968 while a student at the SBTS. SBTS was deeply
influential in my intellectual and theological journey, but it was CHBC that
taught to put those elements into practical use.
My
detour from CHBC and SBTS in 1974 took me to three pastorates in
In
February 2012, I took a seat in what has become “my pew” at CHBC. I joined the
full fellowship four months later. In November 2012, I was diagnosed with
Multiple Myeloma, and this fellowship showed me the spirit and joy of Christ
acted out and the joy of fellowship in full bloom. The result of all my
exploration had led me to know this fellowship for the first time.
Dear Lord and Parent of all,
forgive our foolish wanderings and accept our gratitude for the fellowship you have
created through your Son, Jesus Christ. The
Gift Giving
Dale Tucker
When they had heard the
king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen
at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When
they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 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.
Matthew 2:9-11
Those
Magi from the east set a high bar, bringing the Christ child gold, incense and
myrrh! Ever since, gift giving has been
part of the Christmas story. Of course
there is the third century Nicholas who sold his inheritance to assist the
needy and dedicated his life to serving God.
He even threw three bags of gold through a poor family's window to
provide a dowry for three poor girls, thus he was known as a gift giver. Seems we have strayed a bit from this example
and now Christmas is a consumers' frenzy.
Our children write letters to St. Nick underscoring how good they have
been and how they NEED more new toys.
As
a teen I watched a Christmas segment of The
Rifleman in which Mark, the son of Lucas (aka The Rifleman), had been
saving his money for a new rifle. But
then he encountered a family that had nothing and decided to use his money to
buy presents for the children in that family.
He put the presents by their door, knocked and then hid behind a tree to
watch the wonder and happiness of those children. It was a very satisfying (and joyful)
Christmas for Mark.
We
also had a family like that in my town so my younger brother and I took Mark's
lead and pooled our money and bought the two children toys and goodies for
Christmas. We also put their gifts on
the porch, knocked and hid and watched those kids have a good Christmas after
all. I still remember my feelings of
satisfaction and happiness as we watched this unfold. That brought home to me the true meaning of
giving gifts at Christmas--much more significant than trying to find "just
the right gift" for someone who already has too much.
Our Father, source of all
good things, help us to experience the joy of using our blessed abundance to
bring happiness to others. May we gain
perspective between what are "wants" and "needs" and live
our lives and spend our money as disciples of the King who was born in a manger
and who even now teaches us to open our hearts and our wallets. Amen.
What’s in a Name?
Quinn Chipley
And Mary said, “My soul
magnifies the Ruler God,
and my spirit rejoices in
God my Savior,
for God has looked with
favor on the lowliness of God’s servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will
call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done
great things for me,
and holy is God’s name.
God’s mercy is for those who
fear God
from generation to generation.
God has shown strength with
God’s arm;
God has scattered the proud in the thoughts
of their hearts.
God has brought down the
powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
God has filled the hungry
with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
God has helped God’s servant
Israel,
in remembrance of God’s mercy,
according to the promise God
made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Luke 1:46-55
Mary
rejoices, and her joy shocks the socks off of me. She knows that Jesus, literally, is “God my
Savior.” Yet I always found it a name to protect. I grew up first with
not-a-second-thought about calling any kid Joshua, but… the name, Jesus? It was reserved for the long-haired,
strawberry-blond man in the pastel prints. I later matured to laugh at the
exaggerated way unsophisticated preachers elongated the name -- gargling it in
crocodile tears – as “JEE-EZUHS .” I was
still protecting that name, but not realizing that I was really protecting myself
from that name. Now how I hear it makes
all the difference.
Christmas in July
Up on
the housetop, the sweating Mayan man
ducks in the shade of the chimney
stack, slips
the blade of his shingle-shovel under
the curling
asphalt edges bent in the
in December on children’s faces.
He
flakes them off and snows them down
to gathering drifts at the
foundation’s ground,
then grabs the new ones from his
broken bundle
to slap upon the deck. Now give him a hammer
and lots of tacks, and let all mortal
flesh keep silence
about Jesús, born to save us from such tasks.
My God, I am rich and proud
and seated on my throne. The rest is
clear. Help me accept in Joy your advent
in a new accent, for by such intrusion you save me from myself. Amen.
Nativities
Gail Tucker
So they went with haste and
found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this,
they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it
were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words
and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been
told them.
Luke 2: 16-20 (NRSV)
At
two, our oldest son Todd would stand on a chair to reach a plastic nativity set
on top of a music case. He would move the figures around for what seemed like
hours. Through the years we probably
added more than 50 sets from around the world to our collection. Our first special set was from
While
I don't have one favorite nativity, I do like the tin Mexican figures who
"sleep" in a tin box until the next Christmas. The set from
It
is interesting how each country portrays Jesus in their own nationality and
dress--so we have the ponchos and dark faces on many. We all seem to want a Jesus who "looks
like us" and therefore can understand our joys and tears.
One
merchant in
When
we lived in
Dear Lord, as we celebrate
the birth of Jesus this Christmas, help us to remember the hope, joy, love and
peace that were all wrapped up in a tiny baby in the manger. Amen.
Advent Gifts
Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See,
darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but
the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears
over you.
Nations will come to your
light,
and kings to the brightness of
your dawn.
Isaiah 60:1-3 (NRSV)
When
my nephews and niece were young, I made advent banners for them. Each 4-foot
felt banner had 25 ribbons sewn to it. I used the ribbons to randomly affix 25
small, wrapped, numbered packages to each banner. On the outside of each
package was a small card with a Bible verse. Inside each package was a small
gift. It might be a piece of candy, a small toy, a dollar, or something as
mundane as a toothbrush or a comb.
My
nephews and niece, now adults, still remember their advent banners. They
reminisce about the pleasure of anticipation. They recall knowing that as the
days on the banner dwindled, the “big day” approached. They remember that
whatever gift the day brought, there was joy in the mystery.
Our
lives are something like those advent banners. Each day is a gift as we
remember the first advent of Jesus the Christ and look forward to the second
one. Sometimes, the blessings are obvious and the pleasures clear. Other times,
we may not immediately understand the purpose of the gift. Whatever each day
brings, we know that “All things work together
for good for those who love God, who are called according to his
purpose,” (Romans 8:28 NRSV). The days, both dark and bright,
are preparing us for the joyous coming of the Lord.
God, I know
you are my loving parent and teacher. Help me to learn, grow, and experience
the joy of mystery. I know that all of it is to prepare me for the brilliant
day when your glory is fully revealed. Amen.
Surprised by Joy
Sharleen Johnson
Birkimer
The angel Gabriel announced
to Mary: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for
you have found favor with God”.
Luke 1:30
I
had heard about the Kentucky Derby as I grew up as a child and adult, but I did
not realize how important it was to
The
Watterson was almost empty that morning and I was afraid that I would get lost
and there would not be someone to help me find my way home. Suddenly, I came up behind four State Trooper
cars and a strange looking trailer. Two cars were ahead of the trailer and two
were behind it; there was a gun sticking out of one of the car windows. I
considered getting off at an exit to avoid a possible crime situation. I later
mentioned it at church and discovered I had seen the
I think Mary felt fear, and then joy, when
Gabriel told her she was to be the mother of the Messiah. I remember this experience when I am afraid
and before joy comes from feeling the relief of God’s presence.
God, thanks for your
presence of joy after the scary experiences of our lives. Amen.
Goodness and Mercy and the Magnificat
Carolyn Arnett
The Lord is my
Shepherd; I shall not want. …
Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me;…
Surely goodness and Mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the
Lord forever.
Psalm 23
Having
been born in a Christian nation, into a Christian home, with a loving and
supportive family, having received a good education, having food on the table
and a warm home, I have never been in true want of anything considered to be
the necessities of life. When I lie down
at night, I am not worried about bombs or rockets entering my home. I lie down in peace to rest.
As
an adult I have worked with young women who have been rejected by family, have
little education, few job skills, a job which pays poorly (if they even have a
job), little income or a dependence on welfare to provide for themselves and
their children. Many are now touched by
the scourge of drugs, making daily functioning even more difficult. For some, it seems there is too much
“wanting” in their lives, too little education, too little knowledge or belief
in a God to whom they can turn and upon whom they can depend.
In
the Magnificat of Mary, she referenced the Psalms, saying that the Lord has
filled the hungry with good things, and that his mercy is upon generation after
generation. Mary was so young, and while
she was with Elizabeth, she may have had the best of times, but she probably
had no real idea of her future and the difficult circumstances including the
travel prior to the birth, the lack of a room and privacy for the birth, or the
addition of the heavenly hosts, the shepherds, townspeople and eventually the
wise men. I wonder if Mary ever thought
again of the words she had spoken to
Mary’s
emotions ran the gamut from the life of exultation as expressed in the
Magnificat, to her walk through the valley of the shadow of death with her
son. Surely Goodness and Mercy followed
her all the days of her life and she now dwells in the house of the Lord.
Dear Heavenly Father, We
pray for Goodness and Mercy to walk with us and to follow us all the days of
our lives, whether we seem to have a life filled with goodness or a life of
want and despair. We pray for your presence
to guide and encourage us in times and seasons of joy as we realize that not
all are experiencing the same joy that we have.
Amen
Love and Hospitality
John Birkimer
Later, when Jesus was eating
supper at Matthew’s house with his close followers, a lot of disreputable
characters came and joined them.
Matthew 9:10 (MSG)
We
know meals were important to Jesus and his ministry. We often read of his
eating with friends, with Mary and Martha, but also with Simon the Pharisee and
with Zacchaeus, and we find him feeding 5000 (men) then another 4000, and of
course with his disciples at the last supper and, post resurrection, fixing a
breakfast of fish on the shore for disciples who had been fishing. Meals served
a variety of purposes for him, including showing that people were more
important than following rules and ritual. But I am convinced they were partly
about love, love and hospitality.
My
maternal grandmother (Mom Johnson) had two daughters and seven sons. Most had
children, so I grew up surrounded by Mom, my parents, and many uncles, aunts,
and many, many cousins (no truly
disreputable characters, but several who would have been welcomed to the meal).
Drop-in visits were common, along with more formal visits. Food was often
involved; hospitality was second-nature to those good folks, love included
offering food to those who were loved. Johnson family reunions were a wonder
for a growing boy: tables piled with sandwiches of several sorts, fried
chicken, roast beef, potato salad, green beans, deviled eggs and beet-soaked
eggs, more good things long forgotten, and desserts beyond description. Late in
my mother’s life I shared with her my memory of wonderful dinners at our home
following midnight mass on Christmas Eve with uncles, aunts and cousins. “Oh
John,” she exclaimed, “It maybe happened once.”
None-the-less,
each Christmas Eve I recall with great fondness all those reunions and, yes,
all those Christmas Eve dinners. Love and hospitality, friends and family, and
wonderful Christmas memories.
God of Christmas love,
please continue the love and hospitality you have so graciously extended to us
with all your creation and with your gift of Jesus. Amen.
Not Yet
John Arnett
Are you the one who is to
come, or are we to expect someone else?
Matthew 11:3
On
November 1, 2015, Rodney Beck died at age 89.
In the early 60’s he had joined Wayne Craig, Tom & Pat Scott, Clara
McCartt, Betty Cook, Jim & Keyes Tate, Fay Woody (later Leach), and others
in some small group retreats to Spring Mill and Earlham College. Rodney’s daughter, Barbara Sholis, gave me
permission to share this poem that
was
posted at the visitation.
“Not Yet”
Long have I wandered
Searching
for one
Willing
to join in my quest –
This
yearning to know you.
Once,
I anxiously hoped,
“I’m
getting there.”
It
was not so.
Uncounted revolutions
Of
our planet
Persuaded
me,
“Be
patient.”
Finally,
I
found others who,
With
their love
Led
me to know
That
we must
Become
as one.
Let me grow
In
love with you
And
other seekers
As
we continue
Toward
that time beyond
Known
as “Not Yet.”
Rodney Beck
God and Jesus, as we look
toward December 25 during this season of Advent, may be develop the habit of
seeking to know you and your way throughout the remaining years of our lives.
Amen.
Grandmother’s Love
Greg Robertson
Love bears all things, believes
all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:7
Due
to the schedule of hours that my parents worked, I stayed with my grandmother
who fed, clothed, sheltered me, and saw I had a good education. She was a widow
at the age of 53 and managed a good size farm near our hometown of Perryville.
She was very active in our church and her homemakers club. Her compassion and
understanding of who I was, made our relationship more of a mother and son. I
truly looked up to her, and respected her love, and devotion to me.
After
trying to help a dear friend who had a alcohol problem I felt that it was best
for us not to be friends. This was hard for him to accept, and in the
process, our story came out to his parents, and his mother felt she needed
to have a conversation with my grandmother. This story, brought me out of
the closet, that I was gay.
She
told me one Sunday after church about their conversation, and how she was an
older lady who couldn't understand our friendship, but, made it very clear that
she loved me unconditionally. I have always been sad to the fact that my
mother tried to have a conversation with me, and I didn't want to at the time,
and she died a few years later.
My
life brought me to
Dear Lord, thank you so much
for your love, and how you have blessed me with family that loves me
unconditionally. May I continue to show your love and grace to others. Amen.
Cooking and Hospitality
Margaret Graves
Let
mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers,
for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Hebrews 13:1-5 (NRSV)
I wish I had bought the platter with that
inscription when I saw it in the gift shop. I don’t usually display
quotes or bible verses decoratively but I hold dear these verses from Hebrews.
Cooking is something that brings me great joy as a
way to show hospitality: when we visit our son James’ farm and I can contribute
to the work project by providing meals for the group of friends and family
workers; when we invite friends for shared meals in our home; family holiday
meals shared with more than just family; and when preparing and taking food to
friends in need. The time of meal planning and food preparation is a time
to reflect on those for whom I am cooking. What do I know about their
likes and dislikes? What brings them joy? What is bringing us
together? That time is prayer.
As a church we enjoy regular meal times together.
Our suppers on Wednesday nights are a time to share the food prepared for
us by Bobbe and also the fellowship of prayer, learning and growing together.
Our Thanksgiving meal is such a wonderful time to “be the Family of God.” Such
care goes into the room preparation and hopefully our efforts speak our welcome
louder than words. We share our favorite dishes and eat some things that
are new to us. We have communion around the tables and include all.
In the words of Carrie Newcomer:
“There is room for us all,
And no gift is too small,
There is room at the table for everyone.
There's enough if we share,
Come on pull up a chair,
There is room at the table for everyone”
Dear
God: Help us welcome and share your love with those around us.
Amen.
Beautiful Fragments
Dorothy Spurr
He told his disciples,
“Gather up the fragments . . . , so that
nothing may be lost.”
John 6:12b
The
Mary Martha and Fishermen class were studying the building of Solomon’s
After
the class, on his way out, Sam Blythe stopped to tell me that his mother,
Louise Dohrman, had indeed come to the church soon afterward to see how it had
weathered the storm. She found shattered
windows in the tower, and further damage to those in the balcony. Mrs. Dohrman set about gathering up fragments
of the stained glass. (In my mind’s eye
I could see her bending down, and
carefully picking up those pieces one by one.)
She took them home, and made them into Christmas ornaments to give to
her friends.
There
are many other stories of Mrs. Dohrman’s love for this sacred place, but none
quite so winsome. I have learned
recently that she was the donor who gave us our carillon, and she also made
possible the repair and refurbishment of the organ in the Chapel. I never met this generous woman who loved her
Lord’s house, but I feel that I know her because she gathered up the fragments,
re-purposed them, and would not let them be lost.
Prayer: Father, we live in a throw-away world where
built-in obsolescence is the norm. Help
us to recognize what should be kept, re-purposed, and used. Amen.
The Gift of Friendship
Peggy Schmidt
I thank my God
in all my remembrances of you…
Philippians 1:3
Peace…..Joy…..Love…..
Which describes my friend
When my day gets tense – I call her for one of her
special prayers, and her encouragement. You see,
When my days seems “blue” – I call her for a gentle
reminder of God’s love and a good laugh, as we plan our heavenly reunion –
which will include roller-skating down the golden streets.
When I just need a “fan” – I call
At
this time of giving, I reflect and thank God for the gift of a special friend
and her gentle influence in my life.
Thank you, God, for the
blessing of your Son and the gift of relationship he modeled for, and gave to,
us. Amen.
CRESCENT HILL BAPTIST CHURCH
2800 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
(502) 896-4425