Pastor's Pen - December 2008

Dear Friends in Christ,

 

One of the carols of the Christmas season begins with the words "In the bleak midwinter, when snow lay on the ground". To be sure we have been quite fortunate with the weather that winter has not yet been too bleak or too snowy. However, in many other arenas of life the bleakness is all too apparent. Economic news continues to dominate the headlines, from bailouts to bankruptcies, from joblessness to falling markets, it seems never ending. Wars and senseless violence seem more an accepted part of life today than the devastating realities that they have always been. Even our own personal lives can seem bleak and dark. Within one week's time, three of my siblings were hospitalized and a niece died. It truly does not take cold and snow to make a time bleak in people's lives.

 

But the carol does not leave us abandoned in the cold and snow. It goes on to speak of the child in the manger that could not be contained by either earth or heaven. God has come to us in that child. God has risked everything to enter in to our lives and our world that we might know the power of God's love and grace and might be assured that no matter how bleak, no matter how cold, we are never alone in this world as the children of God's dominion. To be sure the support of family and friends in times of darkness is crucial. But even that is topped by the assurance of the presence of God, a God who knows and understands and strengthens and sustains no matter what.

 

Much of December will be spent in anticipation, On the one hand anticipating the return of the Savior to claim this world as God's own. On the other hand there will be the anticipation of once again celebrating the Savior's first coming as a child to take upon himself the sins of the whole world. In either case the anticipation calls us beyond the shallow trappings of the commercialized season to the depths of God's love and grace. This anticipation frees us from the bleak midwinter of our lives for the brightness of God's kingdom now and always.

 

As we wait, let us wait in hope and in the promise of God's richest blessings.

 

Across the Pastor's Desk - November 7, 2008

By the time that this is being read, the voting will be all over. Ballots will have been counted, election night gatherings of either celebration or sorrow will have been held, and campaign signs will at least have begun to be collected until the next time that they may be needed. Months upon months of speculation and excitement, of campaigning, of telephoning, of rallying the faithful followers will have come to end. There will have been a collective sigh of relief and a general feeling of "thank goodness, that is all over with for this time". But is it over, can it be over if we would be faithful citizens of the two kingdoms, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God?

 

It would seem that the time for real work, of dedication, and involvement would begin following the day of election. Election Day is much like a wedding day. Certainly much planning and effort goes into the day itself and like this election, the time of planning and preparing may be stretched out over many months if not years. If one's goal is simply the celebration of the wedding, then one's work is done as soon as the last tune is played at the party. However, if one's goal is not just a wedding day but rather a long and healthy marriage, the real effort begins and continues following the wedding ceremony itself. Election Day and its results are really very similar.

 

People who were so involved and excited before must in fact renew and redouble their efforts following the election to help ensure that the good things that were promised in fact become reality. Even if one's candidate was not elected it is important for each individual to stay involved if for no other reason than to remind the victor that they represent all of the people not just those that voted for them. As people of God and one of the principle means by which God's activity is made real and known in the world, we do not have the luxury of being single-issued in our focus nor part-time in our zeal and involvement in the world in which we live.

 

Whoever has been elected of whatever affiliation or persuasion now more then ever needs the involvement of as many voters and citizens in general as possible to work for the very best not only for us but for all of God's children wherever they may be.