A Perfect Christmas
Dear friends,
Carole and I spent Christmas in Lebanon, Tennessee with family and friends. This was our first real "road trip" since my accident last April. After an open house reception for church members on Thursday and singing in the choir on Christmas Eve, I was pretty well "shot" on Christmas morning. By late afternoon I began feeling better and enjoyed the rest of the day very much. The reality of my injuries became quite pronounced as I needed significant help opening several of my Christmas presents!
As one might expect, Christmas was marked by the sadness associated with knowing that many families are separated because of a war halfway around the world. The fear of possible terrorist attacks and a general uncertainty of the whole situation is enough to keep us on the edge of our seats and glued to the television. As difficult as this is, who could have even imagined the disaster that so disrupted the Eastern Hemisphere of our globe? The thought of 70,000 (and more) killed and missing is more than my mind or heart can take in.
This morning I visited the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s web site and learned that all mission personnel who could be reached were doing well. Some of these people were away from their homes for the Christmas holiday and have not yet been contacted. This number includes 10 Young Adult Volunteers who work in Thailand -- apparently all are safe. Please visit the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance page on our denominational web site for more information, especially what you and your church family can do to help. The address is http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/earthquake-1204.htm
Our prayers go out to the entire world -- rich and poor, young and old! Each of us has been profoundly affected by these catastrophic events. Once again, the world has been drawn together by suffering.
My experience over the past 8 1/2 months has been shaped in large measure both by my suffering and by the suffering of others. For many weeks I have been part of a community that has been powerfully joined by adversity, pain, and tenacious commitment to rehabilitation. During these months I have tried to be faithful to you, my many friends and loved ones, in reflecting on this experience so that you might walk with me. A wonderful byproduct of my sharing with you has been the sharing of your stories with me -- and with us! For many months before the devastating earthquakes of Southeast Asia, countless numbers of us have been drawn together by adversity -- and given strength by the telling of many stories.
Here is a wonderful story that was sent to me in an e-mail by Carrie Scott, pastor for the Ray-Thomas Memorial Church in Marietta. This was in response to my e-mail of last week.
"Times in which being afraid seems the reasonable thing to do!" In the Christmas story, God enters the world through a weak, fragile, insignificant child, born of insignificant parentage in a small town a long way from any seat of power. One can only begin to imagine the fear, wonderment, and anxiety of the Holy Family after the birth of Jesus. Yet, throughout the story they are told, "Do not be afraid." I am sure that this was easier said than done -- I am also sure that understanding Jesus' story from the larger perspective of the Church's preaching, there is no need for fear at all because God is faithful to every promise and every hint of a promise!
Over the past few years we have developed, in our country and even in the Church, a culture of fear. We are afraid because of what has happened, and because of what we think might happen. We have become fearful of our neighbors and especially have we become fearful of strangers. Isn't it ironic that the Son of God came into the world as a little stranger, and we paid him little attention? It is noteworthy that King Herod was so fearful that the "King of the Jews" might take his power that he ordered all Jewish babies killed on sight. The baby of Bethlehem made the wise and powerful ones of his generation cower in fear -- he still does!
The Christmas Day lectionary includes the following verses:
For none of us has this been a perfect Christmas. In truth, it has been a Christmas filled with pain, disappointment, perplexity, and even conflict. And this year is really not any different than all the years that have come before -- we just forget things easily! What is perfect about this Christmas and every Christmas is God's perfect love in Jesus Christ -- and God's perfect love casts out all fear!
As we continue the celebration of Christmas, I want to remind each of us about something that we know -- and that we often fear. As one year leads into the next, from Christmas to Christmas, one thing is certain -- things will change. Perhaps, this is what we fear most of all -- change! We change because we grow a year older or because we get sick or have accidents. We change because of human made disasters and natural disasters. We change because the culture around us changes. Even the Church changes because of all the above!
As I study the Christian community and its culture it is clear that much of our conflict and dis-ease grows from our discomfort with and fear of change. I would like to propose a different outcome based on my experience with a catastrophic injury to my spinal cord over the past eight months. My experience change of has been quite the opposite -- I have welcomed every change with open arms because every change has gotten me closer to going back to work in the Church that I love and honor so much.
For me, change has not been merely a series of unfortunate events. Rather, change has been a sign of God's transforming power, not simply for my own pleasure but for the opportunity to serve God in a fresh ways that I could not have imagined prior to April 14, 2004. If your congregation is to overcome its fearful lethargy in the new year, it must begin the year with a perfect Christmas -- that is a perfect love of God that casts out all fear.
I wish for each of you a very happy, fruitful, and fearless new year! The peace of Christ be with you.
Jim
Carole and I spent Christmas in Lebanon, Tennessee with family and friends. This was our first real "road trip" since my accident last April. After an open house reception for church members on Thursday and singing in the choir on Christmas Eve, I was pretty well "shot" on Christmas morning. By late afternoon I began feeling better and enjoyed the rest of the day very much. The reality of my injuries became quite pronounced as I needed significant help opening several of my Christmas presents!
As one might expect, Christmas was marked by the sadness associated with knowing that many families are separated because of a war halfway around the world. The fear of possible terrorist attacks and a general uncertainty of the whole situation is enough to keep us on the edge of our seats and glued to the television. As difficult as this is, who could have even imagined the disaster that so disrupted the Eastern Hemisphere of our globe? The thought of 70,000 (and more) killed and missing is more than my mind or heart can take in.
This morning I visited the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s web site and learned that all mission personnel who could be reached were doing well. Some of these people were away from their homes for the Christmas holiday and have not yet been contacted. This number includes 10 Young Adult Volunteers who work in Thailand -- apparently all are safe. Please visit the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance page on our denominational web site for more information, especially what you and your church family can do to help. The address is http://www.pcusa.org/pda/response/asia/earthquake-1204.htm
Our prayers go out to the entire world -- rich and poor, young and old! Each of us has been profoundly affected by these catastrophic events. Once again, the world has been drawn together by suffering.
My experience over the past 8 1/2 months has been shaped in large measure both by my suffering and by the suffering of others. For many weeks I have been part of a community that has been powerfully joined by adversity, pain, and tenacious commitment to rehabilitation. During these months I have tried to be faithful to you, my many friends and loved ones, in reflecting on this experience so that you might walk with me. A wonderful byproduct of my sharing with you has been the sharing of your stories with me -- and with us! For many months before the devastating earthquakes of Southeast Asia, countless numbers of us have been drawn together by adversity -- and given strength by the telling of many stories.
Here is a wonderful story that was sent to me in an e-mail by Carrie Scott, pastor for the Ray-Thomas Memorial Church in Marietta. This was in response to my e-mail of last week.
"After reading your last email, I wanted to share with you the real life story of what happened at RTM this Christmas with my mother and the multicultural Christmas musical - Here's the "official" paragraph that describes what happened -
On the night of December 11, Virginia Benz, who was playing the part of the Grandmother in the dramatic musical, In the Fullness of Time, began to feel chest pains as she spoke her lines. She tried to ignore them, hoping they would pass. During an intermission in the music, while the pastor spoke of the power of God, her pain grew in intensity. Feeling faint, and not wanting to pass out in front of an audience, she left the stage area and stood by herself, holding her chest, just outside the sanctuary where no one could see her. The pastor concluded the message and the music began again. She worried how she would continue. But as she prayed to God for guidance, she realized God's answer to her was found in the words of the song she heard being sung in the sanctuary. "Be not afraid," the choir repeated. Her pain suddenly lessened. She returned to the stage and finished the drama. The next day a doctor confirmed that the pain she was had felt was a heart attack. Yet even as she received this news, she knew she need not be afraid. God was with her. He had already performed a miracle.
We rejoice in God-with-us, especially at times in which being afraid seems the reasonable thing to do!"
"Times in which being afraid seems the reasonable thing to do!" In the Christmas story, God enters the world through a weak, fragile, insignificant child, born of insignificant parentage in a small town a long way from any seat of power. One can only begin to imagine the fear, wonderment, and anxiety of the Holy Family after the birth of Jesus. Yet, throughout the story they are told, "Do not be afraid." I am sure that this was easier said than done -- I am also sure that understanding Jesus' story from the larger perspective of the Church's preaching, there is no need for fear at all because God is faithful to every promise and every hint of a promise!
Over the past few years we have developed, in our country and even in the Church, a culture of fear. We are afraid because of what has happened, and because of what we think might happen. We have become fearful of our neighbors and especially have we become fearful of strangers. Isn't it ironic that the Son of God came into the world as a little stranger, and we paid him little attention? It is noteworthy that King Herod was so fearful that the "King of the Jews" might take his power that he ordered all Jewish babies killed on sight. The baby of Bethlehem made the wise and powerful ones of his generation cower in fear -- he still does!
The Christmas Day lectionary includes the following verses:
"God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love."
For none of us has this been a perfect Christmas. In truth, it has been a Christmas filled with pain, disappointment, perplexity, and even conflict. And this year is really not any different than all the years that have come before -- we just forget things easily! What is perfect about this Christmas and every Christmas is God's perfect love in Jesus Christ -- and God's perfect love casts out all fear!
As we continue the celebration of Christmas, I want to remind each of us about something that we know -- and that we often fear. As one year leads into the next, from Christmas to Christmas, one thing is certain -- things will change. Perhaps, this is what we fear most of all -- change! We change because we grow a year older or because we get sick or have accidents. We change because of human made disasters and natural disasters. We change because the culture around us changes. Even the Church changes because of all the above!
As I study the Christian community and its culture it is clear that much of our conflict and dis-ease grows from our discomfort with and fear of change. I would like to propose a different outcome based on my experience with a catastrophic injury to my spinal cord over the past eight months. My experience change of has been quite the opposite -- I have welcomed every change with open arms because every change has gotten me closer to going back to work in the Church that I love and honor so much.
For me, change has not been merely a series of unfortunate events. Rather, change has been a sign of God's transforming power, not simply for my own pleasure but for the opportunity to serve God in a fresh ways that I could not have imagined prior to April 14, 2004. If your congregation is to overcome its fearful lethargy in the new year, it must begin the year with a perfect Christmas -- that is a perfect love of God that casts out all fear.
I wish for each of you a very happy, fruitful, and fearless new year! The peace of Christ be with you.
Jim
posted by Pierce | 12:00 PM
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