Friday, December 22, 2006
From the Lighthouse Keeper 6.28
Advent Greetings, saints and lighthouse keepers all!
Once again we are at the time when we say to one another “Can you believe it’s almost Christmas?”
Like many of you, my thoughts have been whirling recently as I make preparations these last few days. I remember the Christmas cards I haven’t yet sent. I think about the wedding I’m doing later today and the funeral that is taking place in our sanctuary tomorrow morning. I eagerly anticipate our worship services as we light our fourth Advent candle and then the Christ candle in the evening. I think about the precious age of three-and-three-quarters (my daughter) and her Christmas hope. And I think about the thousands of people affected by western snowstorms, thousands who may remember this Christmas as a Christmas that didn’t happen, as things don’t go as planned.
Things didn’t go as planned for Joseph. Not at the beginning. His fiancée Mary takes off after their engagement to visit her aunt, and returns six months later, pregnant. That wasn’t part of the plan.
To add insult to injury, his future wife tells him she hadn’t been with any man, though it was far easier to view the pregnancy as evidence to the contrary.
Even after Joseph heard from an angel that Mary’s child was indeed holy, there were still months of public shame, daily stares and perhaps silent judgements as Joseph and Mary went about their daily lives, grasping for some sense of normalcy. Knowing the truth inside was one thing, facing people on a daily basis was another.
The baby was born after a 100 mile journey to pay taxes. Not as planned.
After the birth the family didn’t return home but traveled several hundred miles more into a foreign land because the king wanted to kill their child.
Sometimes things don’t go as we imagine.
But God can still be glorified in the mess, and in the way we respond to things that don’t go according to plan. We know that there is nothing on earth or in heaven that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Neither snowstorms nor wars, celebrations nor hospital visits, goals achieved nor promises broken. The babe born in a manger leaves us with this promise: “I will be with you always, even to the end of the earth.”
Alleluia!
May you receive that blessing as the preparations roll along. And may you pass that blessing along.
Hope to see you at the lighthouse this weekend. The true light is coming into the world!
If you would remember Mary Jane S in prayer, as her mother Emma died this Tuesday. Emma was a member of this church before moving to Bloomsburg fifteen years ago. Her funeral is in our sanctuary Saturday morning: visitation 9-10am, funeral at 10am, followed by internment at Valley Forge Memorial Garden in King of Prussia.
Pastor Kerry
Once again we are at the time when we say to one another “Can you believe it’s almost Christmas?”
Like many of you, my thoughts have been whirling recently as I make preparations these last few days. I remember the Christmas cards I haven’t yet sent. I think about the wedding I’m doing later today and the funeral that is taking place in our sanctuary tomorrow morning. I eagerly anticipate our worship services as we light our fourth Advent candle and then the Christ candle in the evening. I think about the precious age of three-and-three-quarters (my daughter) and her Christmas hope. And I think about the thousands of people affected by western snowstorms, thousands who may remember this Christmas as a Christmas that didn’t happen, as things don’t go as planned.
Things didn’t go as planned for Joseph. Not at the beginning. His fiancée Mary takes off after their engagement to visit her aunt, and returns six months later, pregnant. That wasn’t part of the plan.
To add insult to injury, his future wife tells him she hadn’t been with any man, though it was far easier to view the pregnancy as evidence to the contrary.
Even after Joseph heard from an angel that Mary’s child was indeed holy, there were still months of public shame, daily stares and perhaps silent judgements as Joseph and Mary went about their daily lives, grasping for some sense of normalcy. Knowing the truth inside was one thing, facing people on a daily basis was another.
The baby was born after a 100 mile journey to pay taxes. Not as planned.
After the birth the family didn’t return home but traveled several hundred miles more into a foreign land because the king wanted to kill their child.
Sometimes things don’t go as we imagine.
But God can still be glorified in the mess, and in the way we respond to things that don’t go according to plan. We know that there is nothing on earth or in heaven that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. Neither snowstorms nor wars, celebrations nor hospital visits, goals achieved nor promises broken. The babe born in a manger leaves us with this promise: “I will be with you always, even to the end of the earth.”
Alleluia!
May you receive that blessing as the preparations roll along. And may you pass that blessing along.
Hope to see you at the lighthouse this weekend. The true light is coming into the world!
If you would remember Mary Jane S in prayer, as her mother Emma died this Tuesday. Emma was a member of this church before moving to Bloomsburg fifteen years ago. Her funeral is in our sanctuary Saturday morning: visitation 9-10am, funeral at 10am, followed by internment at Valley Forge Memorial Garden in King of Prussia.
Pastor Kerry
# posted by Spring City UMC @ 12:29 PM 
