Christmas Invitation to Communion

I come to invite you to join us

In Communion.

Our statement of identity says that:

"We are Disciples of Christ

A movement for wholeness

In a fragmented world.

As part of the one body of Christ,

We welcome all to the Lord's Table

As God has welcomed us."

When I think of Christmas,

The baby in the manger,

I am not surprised that we all love this holiday

Despite its commercialization and too often, frantic pace.

We remember that

God came as a baby.

We  can hold a baby.  We could hold God.

I think deep within in each of us
Is the desire to be in control.

God as a baby gives us control

And sets Christmas in a special place.

But Christmas leads us to Easter,

And a Savior who did not conquer by might

But became the Lamb of God,

A living sacrifice,

Out of our control.

When we take the bread and wine,

We follow Jesus' command:
"Do this in remembrance of me."

In Communion,
God is in control.

I feel at peace with myself

When I take the bread and cup

And know that I do God's will.

That now the Christ holds me.

Join us at the Lord's Table.

Let Jesus cradle you.

Christmas Day 2012 - The Word

Photo by bahoootah qtr

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the is Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us..."

The Gospel of John

Speaks the message of Christmas.

Jesus is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

The instrument of salvation.

God shed his majesty to experience

The world

As one of those made in his image.
As human,
He could experience death.

Resurrected,
He could demonstrate everlasting life.

The Christmas Babe:
Fully God and Fully Human.
He comes with promise of
Life Eternal
Embraced in His Love.

A Christmas Babe- The Word at Advent

Photo by bahoootah qtr

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the is Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us..."

The Gospel of John

Speaks the message of Advent.

Christ is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

The instrument of salvation.

God shed his majesty to experience

The world

As one of those made in his image.
As human,
He could experience death.

Resurrected,
He could demonstrate everlasting life.

The Christmas Babe:
Fully God and Fully Human.
He comes with promise of
Life Eternal
Embraced in His Love.

The Word at Advent

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the is Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us..."

These quotes from the Gospel of John

Speak the message of Advent.

Christ is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

The instrument of salvation.

God shed his majesty to experience

The world

As one of those made in his image.
As human,
He could experience death.

Resurrected,
He could demonstrate everlasting life.

The Christmas Babe:
Fully God and Fully Human.
He comes with promise of
Life Eternal
Embraced in His Love.

Photo by bahoootah qtr

Advent 2010

"And the angel said unto them,

Fear not; for behold,

I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day

In the city of David

A Savior,

Who is Christ the Lord"

Luke's gospel echoes through the ages.

In this season,
Do we hear the physician's words?

I fear not.

Carols fill the halls and malls of commerce

Until we no longer comprehend their meaning.

Today,

I will listen with my heart to Luke,

And know Christ excludes no one from his love

For he came "to all people."
No exclusivity,
No unique faith,
Just the manifestation of God
In a baby. 

Great Joy!

The message of Advent.

Photo by aharden

Happy Birthday!

We have much to thank God for:

For a baby born some two thousand years ago,
For the man that baby became,
For the teachings of the Son of Man,
For his sacrifice on the cross,
For the resurrection,
For the Comforter that dwells with us.
Thanks, too, for the food, family and fellowship
We will share this day.
Christmas can be summed in three words:
Happy Birthday Jesus.

Photo by Ardyiii

The Word At Advent

"In the beginning was the Word,

And the is Word was with God,

And the Word was God."

"And the Word was made flesh

And dwelt among us..."

These quotes from the Gospel of John

Speak the message of Advent.

Christ is God in action,

The instrument of creation,

The instrument of salvation.

God shed his majesty to experience

The world

As one of those made in his image.
As human,
He could experience death.

Resurrected,
He demonstrated everlasting life.

What greater gift can there be?

Photo by bahoootah qtr

A Light to the Gentiles

"Simeon was devout and righteous,

Waiting for the consolation of Israel..."

Christ promised to return,

But do we believe He will?
His followers believed
Christ would return within their lifetimes.
Every generation needs to share that belief.

Are we devout and righteous,
As Simeon was?

Do we look forward to the Second Coming
As Simeon looked for the First?
As Christmas approaches let us

Remember the joy of Simeon

As he held the baby Jesus in his hands.

"For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

A light to lighten the Gentiles,

And the glory to thy people, Israel."

These are the words of Advent:

Christ comes for all.

David's Firstborn

Today, I read about David
And his sin with Bathsheba.
The Bible says their first born died
As punishment for David's sin.
Let me understand, Lord,
Why the baby suffered when he had not sinned.
Where were you, Lord, for that child?
I know the answer:
With that unnamed baby,
As you are with us when evil comes.
I know Jesus' answer that bad things happen,
Not because we are good or evil,
But because that is the way of this World.
David's sin did not cause the infant's death.
Even so, David's story is so difficult,
But I must remember that through all his tribulations,
David remained your faithful servant.
Let me remain yours, Lord,
For now and for eternity.

Photo by Raphael Goetter