On the Second Day of Christmas

On this second day of Christmas, my true love gives me to an amazing gift of grace that never stops giving. The light has come into the world, and darkness shall not, shall not, shall not overcome it! I say that with confidence even in the moments that I do not feel it. Thank goodness God’s mercy does not rely upon my emotions, but upon God’s own goodness.

In Sunday’s sermon, I quoted from something I had read: “The mystery of incarnation is itself a sign, pointing us toward resurrection. To stop the story at the manger mistakes the sign for the final destination.”¹ God becomes one of us in Jesus to bring us more than a birthday celebration. Jesus is God-with-us in order to bring us into full relationship, unbound and set free, with God and with each other.

Also on this second day of Christmas, I get to see my family in Texas, and meet my great-nephew for the first time. As Max and I fly, I offer hopes that we can see all the blessings in our lives, and offering blessing to others.

Joyeux Noël

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth.

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¹ MELINDA A. QUIVIK & MARTHA E. STORTZ (2013-01-01). Abingdon Theological Companion to the Lectionary (Year A): Preaching Year A (Kindle Location 558-559). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.

A Sense of Loss at Christmas

Several years ago, before our boys arrived on the scene, I would find myself somewhat disappointed on Christmas morning. My parents would be with us for Christmas Eve and morning, and they always had a slew of gifts for each other—especially Daddy who loved surprising my mother with gifts. [I think that actually came from the year he gave her a popcorn popper as her Christmas gift, when he was the one who really liked popcorn. He learned his lesson well.]

I thought maybe I felt disappointed because they were still opening gifts long after Jeff and I were done. So one year, we decided to concentrate on small gifts in order to extend the joy of opening presents. Even though we delighted each other with thoughtful and fun gifts, I still felt disappointed. Doesn’t that sound crass and ungrateful?

As I reflected on my feelings, I realized that there was always a sense of loss for me at Christmas, and I discovered what it was. The one year my family had driven to Alabama for Christmas rather than my mother’s parents coming to us was the year Granddaddy had a heart attack in late summer and was not supposed to drive long distances. We had Christmas morning between their house and my cousins’ house three doors down. Christmas dinner was midday at their house. For the evening meal, we all drove in separate cars to my cousins’ other grandparents. Dinner was delayed as we kept waiting for Granddaddy and Grary to arrive. They never arrived. As they drove, a car ran a stop sign and hit their car, throwing them from their vehicle. Granddaddy died the next day. Grary was not hurt as badly.

From that time on, Christmas has always had a bit of a feeling of loss. Now that both my parents are gone and Jeff has died, that is a reality not only for me, but for my boys as well. I do not really get into the gifts as much. It is far more important for me to be with the people I love. It is there that I experience Emmanuel—God with us.

My hope for each of you this Christmas is that you allow God’s Spirit to abide in you so that even in moments of disappointment and loss, you will find the deep joy that is God’s gift for you.

Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness— on them light has shined.

O Come, Emmanuel!

On Wednesday evenings at our small group we have been watching some short videos of people talking about Advent. Tonight, it was Bill Young who wrote The Shack. He started off by saying it’s about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit opening their circle to include a 14 year-old girl, asking her if she would be a part of their plan.

Then he talked a bit about why God came among us, and said something about wrath, that it is not what most people think it is. God’s wrath is not punitive, but saving. He told a story about a friend of his who was in the woods when wasps started stinging him. He began yelling for his mom. When he saw her running towards him, if he had not known her he would have said she was angry enough to kill him. Her anger was about his situation and pain, and she came to find him and save him. What a different take on wrath!

Think about that this Advent. God has come to find us. Emmanuel—God with us—has come to be with us. Not only has God come, but God continues to come, and continues to be with us in the Spirit.

Oh what joy, deep—not bouncing up-and-down—but deep, deep joy! This is what my spirit needs. O come, O come, Emmanuel!

Matthew 1.23:

“Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

My Narrative Report

Each year, a United Methodist pastor is to make a "narrative" report of their year in ministry. The following is my report to the Charge Conference this past Sunday.

As I look back over 2013 thus far in my ministry with Christ Crossman UMC, I find that I have learned even more about adaptability and flexibility in serving an ever-changing congregation.

Personally, I participated in a Courage to Lead series of five discernment retreats. My stated goal for participation was to make discernments in questions about my ministry, education and possible retirement in the coming years. Along with these retreats, I applied to Wesley Theological Seminary in DC for admission to the 2013 Doctorate of Ministry program in Church Leadership Excellence. When I initially applied, I thought this might help me in determining an avenue of service after retirement from active pastoral ministry. Through the discernment retreats and participating in the first three courses of the D.Min program, I have come to the understanding that I still have a lot to learn and to offer in the active pastoral ministry, particularly here at C2UMC.

Last Spring, in reflections around C2's leadership and staff tables, I had a strong sense that we had made significant strides in turning around a decades-long decline but that we had reached a plateau. It felt as though we had paused to take a breath after a hard run, and then forgotten to start running again.  It is important to take a pause to reflect, to catch our breath, to see where we need to head next. In looking at my particular part of this pause, I know that when a leader's attention becomes diffused or focused elsewhere, then a congregation can feel distracted. Over the last couple of years, I have worked hard to keep my focus up, but I do know that dealing with grief and illness sometimes blur sight. In particular, I feel as though I lost a significant portion of September and October of this year due to an ongoing health issue that has now resolved. Details became harder to manage. For this I apologize that I realized too late to make other arrangements to make sure that administrative oversight details could be more adequately covered.

While administration suffered some, I have continued to visit and provide pastoral care, while serving as the primary worship planner, leader and preacher. Even in the midst of loss and anticipated illness of beloved members, I find great joy in being present with them in the journey.

In my D.Min class this Fall, I have realized a couple of areas I need to strengthen in my leadership. The first area is that I have a tendency to hold back from setting forth hard invitations to people, partially because I am aware of how much they have going on in their lives outside of church. In this reluctance, I do not allow them the privilege of deciding for themselves how much they can commit in time or resources. The second area has to do with emphasizing calls enough by repeating them in different ways. Too often I assume that people will get bored or annoyed with a continuing emphasis. I neglect the reality that it usually takes a minimum of encountering a new idea five times before it really begins to sink in.

I have followed through on the authorization by the Church Council to work with the City of Falls Church on our proposal to redevelop the Miller House property next door to the church. The city's planning and housing departments were excited to deal with this proposal. Two meetings of a focus group were held here in this Chapel with members of city staff, neighboring congregations, community organizations and potential developers. The focus group made a recommendation that the extant house be razed and a new residence built for adults with disabilities, particularly intellectual disabilities. The city has now issued an RFI, request for information, to possible developers and groups to be received back in early January.

I find joy in working with our current seminary intern, Jeremy Koontz, and continuing to serve as a co-facilitator of PM&M colloquies at the seminary. Engaging in reflection with those who are currently studying and preparing for ministry helps keep me, and our congregation, better honed for our own ministry here.

I am excited about our new children's music ministry, and working with our lay leaders on a five-year plan that will help C2UMC put our ministry on the line.

I give thanks for the people and leaders of Christ Crossman who have offered me loving support and gracious challenge in serving together. Here's to being a part of what God wants to bless in the year to come.

Jeremiah 29:11

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 

 

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