December 23, 2004
"It's
Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"
I
hope this day, a couple days before Christmas, finds you relaxing at home and
enjoying the season. I pray that you found a way these last couple of
weeks to simplify your Christmas so that it will be less stressful and less
hectic. For the first time in several years, I feel like my jolly old
self - even though it's been an extremely busy time. Usually by now I'm
exhausted, but I'm feeling especially excited about worship tomorrow night and
Christmas day! I hope you plan on joining us tomorrow at 7:00 PM or at
9:00 PM . Both services are going to be awesome.
I
discovered one secret this year: it's about the music. Music has always
been a huge part of my life, but only recently have I understood how truly
important it is. A little music at the beginning of the day sets the
mood for the better part of my day. And Christmas music has really
helped me to "get my head around" Christmas this December. If
you like music, especially Christmas music, get your hands on Kim Hill's
"Real Christmas" or City on a Hill's "It's Christmas
Time".
As
many of you know, I will be taking a Sabbath leave beginning on January 3rd.
I want to assure you that there is pastoral coverage in case of emergency.
You may call the church office during the day or you may call Chris Jarvis or
Kathy House in the evenings and on the weekends. Additionally, Sunday
morning services will be filled with great music and great preachers.
When I return to the office on February 14th, there will be a lot to do: our
building team is making significant progress, adult Sunday school classes will
be in full swing, Easter is right around the corner, and my confirmation class
will be getting back together. I'm looking forward to being back.
I
am also looking forward to my Sabbath. I will be on retreat for at least
one week: a retreat of prayer, spiritual direction, worship, and silence.
I'm betting on the silence being the hard part! God has already begun
preparing my heart for this time and I believe God has much to teach me.
I'll also be doing some reading and praying on my own; not just for myself,
but for the direction of our church. Please be in prayer for me during
this time.
Celebrate
the season of Christmas. May this Christmas last far longer than one
day! In his Book of Days, Malcolm Boyd shares these words on
December 24th:
"The
big mistake we have made is to place it back there. We have made it
ancient history instead of modern life. It concerns angels,
shepherds, Mary, Joseph and an innkeeper, but not us."
"We
have decided, too, to confine Christmas to Christmas. On December
24th, it has not arrived. On December 26th, it is over."
"So
we don't really let Christmas come at all. By its very nature, it
cannot be contained any more than God can be bottled up inside a church
building to be visited once a week for an hour, or Jesus can be invoked in
prayer to act as a convenient magician on call."
"Despite
the fact that we don't let Christmas come at all, it is here all the
time."
Godspeed,
Pastor John
Mid-Week
Musings
An
Occasional bulletin from Christ United Methodist Church