Advent is the name of this season of the Church’s life; we rarely hear this word in any other context anymore. The word means ‘the arrival’ of someone, something, some happening. And, so, ‘advent’ requires preparation - namely, preparation for the coming of Emmanuel, God with us. We prepare our sanctuaries and homes with rich symbols of the season: garlands and boughs of evergreen reminding us of the promise of eternity, holly, and ivy that tell of Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection. We listen to the prophets again who foretold the saving work of God, we tell the story of how Emmanuel came to be with us, and we light candles to remember how Jesus was, is, and will always be the Light of the World. We decorate our Christmas trees with symbols of Jesus’ life, and we sing the songs of our faith, claiming Emmanuel’s story as our own. And it is.
We invite you to be with us for as much of the season as you can be. Our celebrations this year will focus on the many unique perspectives from which God’s Son, our Savior was welcomed the first ‘Christmas.’ We will find ourselves in the remembrances of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary and Joseph, in the Innkeeper’s wife’s testimony and in that of a shepherd. We will find our own questions and joys, heartbreaks and discoveries in those of an angel, of Simeon, and of Anna. Their story of welcoming Emmanuel is ours.
We look forward to sharing this holy season with you!
Sunday, December 1
Advent 1, Zechariah and Elizabeth
Holy Communion at both worship experiences
Sunday, December 8
Advent 2, Mary
Sunday, December 15
Advent 3, Joseph
Cantata* at 8:45 a.m. in Friendship Hall
Sunday, December 22
Advent 4, The Innkeeper’s Wife and a Shepherd
Light for our Darkness** at 11:00 a.m. in Friendship Hall
Tuesday, December 24 Christmas Eve+ - An Angel
Holy Communion and Candlelight, 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 29
Christmas 1, Simeon and Anna
One Service++ at 10:00 a.m. Brunch and Worship
Friendship Hall
(Sunday School meets at 9:00 a.m.)
* Our Christmas Cantata will be presented in the Friendship Hall by the Cook’s UMC Choir and an orchestra of friends.
** Light for our Darkness, a more contemplative worship experience, reclaiming the promise of Light in Jesus no matter how dark our days seem now. 11:00 a.m. in Friendship Hall
+We will remember the coming of Christ into the world with Holy Communion and Candlelight at 3:00 p.m. (more traditional, held in the Sanctuary) and at 7:00 p.m. (less traditional, held in the Friendship Hall)
++The first Sunday of Christmas is a 5th Sunday, and we will share brunch as a part of our Morning Worship and Fellowship. Sunday School Classes will meet at 9:00 a.m. before we gather for worship at 10:00 a.m.
#2
In Acts’ Chapter 14, Paul and Barnabas find themselves in a precarious position. In his first missionary excursion, Paul meets a man in Lystra who had never walked because of infirmity and with boldness Paul commanded the man to stand up! (Paul recognized the lame man believed he could be healed.) When the man stood on his ‘new legs’ the folks who witnessed this began to speak and shout words of worship toward Paul and Barnabas, thinking they were gods. Paul stopped them immediately - ‘we are just like you!’ he cried out. His words weren’t enough for some of the Lycaonians; they tried to worship Paul and Barnabas anyway. (BUT THE GUY STILL WALKED INTO THE REST OF HIS LIFE!)
There are three categories of folks I want you to take a moment to consider: one, the Pauls of our church; two, the Barnabas’ of our church; and three, the Lycaonions of our church. This is what I mean in naming these three categories.
The Pauls of our congregation are those who so love Jesus and the Church that even with many imperfections and a sense of unpreparedness they are willing to boldly offer what they can for the sake of Christ. These are the folks who have served as committee chairs and team leaders, those who have given hours and hours of prayer, creative thought, elbow grease, and attendance to ensure that ministry in the name and power of Jesus continues from this hill in this community. The Barnabas’ of our congregation are those who undergird and support our Pauls by joining them, praying for them, holding up their tired arms and flagging spirits, working alongside them. These are the folks who serve on teams and committees, on the frontline like the choir and in the background like those cooking breakfast for the hungry and homeless of our community and those who ready the sanctuary for worship. The Lycaonions of our congregation? Those who misunderstand the work of ministry and the power within it. Some of us give no thought for what happens at church or through this congregation as long as worship happens for us the way we want it to happen. Others still are pushing and allowing the Pauls and Barnabas to do it all (so we are released from responsibility). Well, the call of Christ doesn’t work like that, and we will continue to pray for your courage and boldness to let God’s Holy Spirit do in and through you what God dreams.
I want to offer my deepest appreciation and my loudest atta-girls and atta-boys to the Pauls and Barnabas of the Cook’s family for all you do! Statistics show that in most organizations whether secular or faith-based, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. I believe that the percentage is a bit higher for Cook’s. Thank you, Thank YOU, THANK YOU! to all the P’s and B’s of our church family for holding the vision that God prefers for us and for leading the way boldly. For you who will catch the vision for what God longs to do in, for, and through this family, there will always be room for your unique gifts, abilities, and imperfect love for Jesus!
Sandra
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