ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 26, 2021For many households, the Christmas decorations are headed back to the attic or closet today. Christmas is done, the radio stations have moved to their usual formats, and we need to remember that Easter is just a few short months away. For many people, Christmas is complete, but in fact, the church doesn’t begin celebrating Christmas until Christmas Eve. The culture and economic system have
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 25, 2021On that first Christmas, the angel announced: “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” We have here an individual gift with an universal application. The Good News is given to a small band of shepherds
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 24, 2021When I’m on the stationary bike in the mornings, and I’m not in the mood to read, I will watch National Geographic programs. I am a big fan of a guy named Albert Lin. He uses a lot of high tech scanning in his archeological work to uncover what might be hidden by trees or thick underbrush. One of the things that has caught my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 23, 2021One of the great characters of old TV was Barney Fife. Just recently I was watching an old episode of the Andy Griffith Show. In it, Barney was the only tenor in the choir, and by default, he was given the tenor solo. Barney’s ego was pretty puffed up, especially because of the encouragement from his voice teacher, Miss Poulitice. The choir director was looking
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 22, 2021I guess I missed the announcement prior to the first Sunday of Advent. The Regional Ministers of our Denomination, including our General Minister and President, put together a devotional (https://cdn.disciplesmissionfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/19104910/College-of-Regional-Ministers-Advent-Devotional-2021.pdf). I have been playing catch-up since last week when I first came across these writing. In one devotional written by our General Minister and President, Rev. Terri Hord Owens, I was drawn to these words:
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 21, 2021We know the stories of those who came to see the child. Shepherds and Magi were the best known, but there were probably others who came upon these new parents and their baby. I was riding in the elevator a few weeks back with a mother carrying a tiny baby in a sling across her chest. In the 35 seconds we were on the elevator,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 20, 2021Prayer for the Week:EmmanuelLiving Word EnfleshedSplendor of Eternal LightO Wisdom from on HighSo many names pointing to your one true message, so many ways of guiding our holy quest toward an experience of you. It is nearly Christmas, yet the journey is far from over. The Advent of your grace, the appearance of your love tucked into a feeding trough with an exhausted mother and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 19, 2021I love the words of James G. Kirk (not to be confused with James T. Kirk) who wrote about the concept of Emmanuel: “Your footsteps shall accompany us, your breath shall give us new life, your arms will console us, and your hands will be there to welcome us home” (from the book, “We Gather”). God is often described in grandiose style, so over the
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 18, 2021Yesterday, Cypress Creek Christian Church hosted an Advent Service for the Coastal Plains Area of our denomination. The Rev. Peggy Edge preached what I would describe as her retirement sermon, though I’m certain she will still preach. The service concluded with a reception to honor her. For many, and I include myself among them, her specific work in the Regional Church and the gifts she
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGDecember 17, 2021I was teaching a Bible Study a number of years ago and asked the group a question: When was the last time someone said to you, “I love you”? Some of the folks were quick to give examples from earlier that day or a few days before. But one older woman, a bit of a quiet recluse, said she could not remember the last time