2020

... sitting a while at the manger.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40)

Martha was focused on her “to do” list. Her sister Mary was fully aware of all that had to be done, but she put that aside to spend time with Jesus.

At Christmas time, it’s all too easy to become a Martha, caught up in our long “to do” list. Too often, we start focusing on all we want to get done and start resenting that others don’t help us.

Many hands may make the work lighter, but they won’t solve the underlying problem.

What we need isn’t more human help. What we need is more of Jesus. Only he can give us the peace of mind and heart that we crave.

At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ who came to bring us peace. But he won’t force that peace on you—like Mary, you have to seek it out.

Take time this Christmas to sit a while at the manger. Contemplate what Jesus means to you, and listen to what he has to say. Take time to focus on him instead of on your chores and lists.

Chores are temporary. The peace you get from a relationship with Jesus is everlasting.

—Christine Sackey

 
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... authentic growth & renewal.

... authentic growth & renewal.

Not only do we need each other desperately during these tough times … we need desperately to better understand and learn from each other. Here's your chance—during the months ahead of sitting at home—to read … to think … to really ponder what you can do to be more connected with others. If you want friendships that are true and authentic, you'll find that examining your hidden prejudices (yes, you've got them; everybody does) is the first step.

... waving goodbye to summer and anticipating the beauty of fall.

August is the time to wave goodbye to summer and anticipate the beauty of fall. Vacations end and children prepare for school. The days are still bright and kissed by the Sun but they are getting shorter. Frosty mornings are a long way off but night has lengthened its grip.

This year is different. Our vacations were aborted in March and schooling remains a mystery. Will it take place at the kitchen table or will children file off to school?  Will our homes still be our workplaces and for how long?

As we transition into this quagmire of uncertainty, let use keep the words of Isaiah 26: 3-4 in mind:

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Thou dost keep him in perfect
whose mind is stayed on thee,
because he trusts in thee.

Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.

God is my source of peace. I know that there is a path for me in the most difficult and trying circumstances. This path will help me grow in peace, joy and wisdom. Can these verses help you as we move into the future?

P.S. I set my alarm to this song when I need to awaken to the day in a strong and energetic manner. It is based on Isaiah 26: 3-4. It is called “Perfect Peace” and it is performed by Andre Crouch and the Disciples.

—Jackie Sneed 

… looking ahead.

As we live in this time of the pandemic, with heartache over the many, many people around the world sick and suffering and passing on from this virus, so many emotions fill our hearts and spirits. Yet in the midst of it all, there is beauty and hope and transformation. An inspiring poem by retired Madison, Wisconsin, teacher Kitty O’Meara and the accompanying video so beautifully capture this promise and hope.

— Rev. Janice Kamikawa

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In the Time of Pandemic

And the people stayed home.

And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.

And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. 

Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

—Kitty O’Meara

 WATCH THE VIDEO.

Note: after about 5 seconds, you can click “skip the ads” (lower right corner) to go directly to the video.

... hope and trust in God.

It was roughly a month ago that many were beginning to realize the grave seriousness of this coronavirus pandemic. Just today, the death toll in the U.S. has now surpassed that of China. We are glued to the news, longing to better understand the nature of this disease and how we might all stem the tide of death and devastation. We are hesitant to learn what tomorrow will bring, and we are quite fearful of what may transpire over the next few months.

As people of faith, we know the many Bible stories that speak of substantial challenges faced by the People of God—slavery in Egypt, survival in the Sinai desert for 40 years, warfare, invasion, the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem, dislocation, Roman occupation and persecution. Nearly every biblical character faced his or her share of crises. Most of us are familiar with the stories of our own families that inevitably involve our ancestors facing their own trials and tribulations. Life is all about mountaintop highs and bleak lows in the wilderness. So how do we find our way out of these dark days?

I wish I knew. I wish I could tell everyone that everything will be fine. But we just don’t know what tomorrow holds—only God does. And so, as the faithful of the past have done, we must draw upon the deep well of our faith.

I encourage all of us to read the many Bible stories that teach us about God’s faithfulness. Study the many passages of the four gospels, and the ways in which Jesus teaches us about the nature of God and the living waters of faith in Christ. May we reach out to one another in the spirit of love and grace, rather than fear or judgment. We may be “social distanced,” but we can still call one another and share encouraging words. We can pray for one another, our community, the world, and ourselves, trusting that God hears our prayers and longs for wholeness for all of creation. We can creatively discuss new ways of being the church to minister to so many who will have profound needs.

We are not only in this together, but God is with us, too, and God will see us through this storm.

The old Gospel song declares, “Guide my feet, Lord, while I run this race for I don’t want to run this race in vain!” Yes, indeed, let us trust in God’s guidance as we navigate the uncharted waters of this coronavirus crisis together.

— Rev. Jesse Larson

... growing new beginnings.

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A couple of months ago, the landscapers pruned all the rose bushes on the property where I live. Wow, people were so upset. The guys actually cut the bushes down so it looked like they would not survive.

Well, now the little stumps have new growth on them. It is slow, and I wonder if they will be big enough by late spring to flower. But they are growing.

That is like the scripture that says the tree will be pruned, the dead cut out, and new grafts and new growth. I see our church like that. At first, what is perceived is death, not growth. But we all know that growth comes after pruning.

And now I think we are in the growth of beginnings.

— Sammi Fernandez

... greater love.

Poor little February. Only 28 days in duration, it’s the shortest of all the months. But this little runt of the litter contains one of the most endearing holidays—Valentine’s Day. We get an entire day devoted to the appreciation of love!

AND every four years—Leap Year—we get 366 days (not 365) and Shorty February gets the honor of hosting it. Leap Year asks—no, demands—that we do something meaningful with our extra day.

What will YOU do with your 24 extra hours? You could write overdue letters to family and friends. You could grocery shop for items to give to the food closet. You could visit someone whose health makes it hard to get out of the house. You could learn the name of your mail carrier (coffee barista, gas station attendant, credit union teller, et. al.) and begin greeting him/her personally. You could pray. Oh yes, please do pray. The world, as troubled as ever, desperately needs your prayers.

On February 29, do what you can to bring about understanding, friendship, peace and love.

Take a leap … into greater love.

—CBS

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... forgiving and hoping.

As a child, I remember asking where hate “lived.” I was told it lived in my heart. But—if I kept my heart full of love—there would be no room for hate. That made perfect sense to me then … and now! With the current president and the state of the world, I am finding myself needing to reconnect with those wise words. Please, God, help me to keep my heart full of love and my prayers full of hope.

—Pat Stanfield

PHOTO: JIM GUIDA

PHOTO: JIM GUIDA