Dear St. Paul’s Family,
Try this on Thursday.
When you are gathered around the Thanksgiving table with family and friends, catching up on old times and sharing poignant stories, wait for a pause in the conversation. Then, look everyone in the eye and say with great gusto:
“Happy New Year, everyone!”
Then watch their faces. You’ll probably get some worried looks from folks wondering if you’ve eaten too much turkey. There will be those who think you’ve slipped into your tryptophan-induced nap a little early. But none of them will realize that you’re actually observing a very timely moment in the calendar.
Not the secular calendar, mind you, but the Christian one. The church’s liturgical year ends this Sunday, a religious “December 31st,” if you will. The long journey that started last December, moved through Lent and Easter, burst into the fire and passion of Pentecost, and ambled through the summer days of Ordinary Time now ends on November 25, with an end-of-the-year celebration known as “Christ the King Sunday.”
Just like our New Year’s Eve, Christ the King Sunday is a transitional time. It is a time of remembering the year we leave behind, to celebrate its joys, name its pain and sadness, and remember a God who, as it turns out, was with us all along. It is also a time to look ahead, with hope and promise, toward a year that will unfold with its own share of triumphs and sorrows, all under the watchful eye of this Jesus who rules and reigns over all creation.
LIFE IN THE IN-BETWEEN
This Sunday, we will hear the story of a man who experienced just that kind of transitional moment. The lectionary offers us the story of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. After emerging from a nine-month sentence of silence from the angel due to his unbelief, he sang a song of great hope for his new son and the dawning arrival of God’s kingdom on earth. His song is both a reminiscing of God’s saving actions, and a claiming of God’s future promise. I hope you will join us for this special Christ the King Sunday celebration, with a sermon titled, “Life in the In-Between.”
And, I would add that it’s not too early to think about what your New (Church) Year’s resolution might be. May it be more than the typical stuff about weighing less, saving more, and cleaning out your closet. Try addressing the deeper, substantive matters of life, faith, and love. You may resolve to be more patient in your dealing with others. You may wish to patch up that broken relationship with a dose of humility and forgiveness. You may decide to be more consistent with your spiritual disciplines of daily prayer and scripture study. You might simply try to make next year more about God and less about you.
That is, after all, what the whole church year is about. It is a 12-month journey with Jesus, from his birth in a lowly Bethlehem manger, to a transformative witness of his teaching and example, into the power of his self-giving sacrifice, through the triumph and glory of his resurrection, and into the ongoing witness to his reign through the Holy Spirit. This is God’s time, and we are invited along for the ride.
I’m glad to share this journey with you!
Grace and Peace,
Magrey
Luke 1:68-79
68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them.
69 He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
72 Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins.
78 By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
REMEMBER! REJOICE! RESPOND!
What a great day we had last Sunday! We had a wonderful turnout to celebrate the conclusion of our stewardship series, as many people made their financial commitments for 2008. We will be eager to share the results of the campaign as they become available. In the meantime, if you have not yet turned in your pledge card, it is not too late to do so. Pledge cards are available in the office throughout the week or in the sanctuary this Sunday and can be dropped off or mailed to the church office. Thank you for your faithful stewardship and commitment to God’s ministries through this church!
And a special thank you to Sherry Held and the whole team of people who provided our Thanksgiving Celebration Dinner. The fellowship hall was packed to overflowing, and the meal was simply delicious. Thanks!
CD PLAYERS FOR SHUT-INS
Thank you for the great response to purchase CD players for our shut-ins. Twelve of you responded, so we are no longer in need of donors. The equipment will be delivered this Wednesday, along with the first batch of CD’s from last Sunday’s service. The recording quality is outstanding, and this will be a great improvement in our ministry to these wonderful folks.
NEW ADVENT STUDY
Starting Sunday, December 2, we will begin a new Advent study based on the book Rejoicing in Hope by Rev. James A. Harnish, Magrey’s former senior pastor at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, FL. It is a four-week study focusing on characters from Luke’s gospel who experienced hope in anticipation of the Messiah. The study takes place on Sundays at 9am in the church library. Books ($6.50) can be purchased at the first class.
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT SALE
We have leftover Christmas ornaments from previous years that would make great stocking stuffers. They are available at a discounted price of $12. If you would like to purchase an ornament, contact Linzi in the church office.
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