MERRY CHRISTMASECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 25, 2023Guest Writer: Robert Neunkirch Five years ago, our little Emmalina came into the world facing more challenges than anyone should ever have to endure. Our baby girl was a fighter from Day 1 and had no desire to stay in the hospital any longer than necessary. She was expected to be in the NICU for some time. We were hopeful she could come home by
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 24, 2023Guest Writer: Rev. Paula Gembala I grew up in a large family, there were 6 of us kids, and our parents. When we were younger, our parents used to give each of us a set amount of money for us to go out and buy Christmas gifts for each other. It wasn’t a lot of money so it really took some thinking and searching for just
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 23, 2023Guest Writer: Marilyn Lewellen, Elder It was about 20 Christmas’ ago that I received the most unusual phone call. The tremoring, aged voice in my ear asked for me by name, or at least, SOMEONE with my name. But I didn’t recognize the caller, and I suggested he had the wrong number. Clearly, this unexpected caller was disturbed with my “wrong number” response. He confirmed my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 22, 2023Guest Writer: Paula Byrd, ElderBack in the early 1980s after I had finished college and got my first real “full time” job, I remember how hard it was for me to have to work the week of Christmas. I hadn’t earned any vacation time yet so I had to work a half day on Monday, Christmas Eve, and then be back in the office on
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 21, 2023Guest Writer: Chip Bettis, ElderI was in the US Navy and stationed in Pearl Harbor sub base, and it was my first Christmas away from home. I received a care package from family and that made all the difference in the world. My family sent me a care package that had the things in it that reminded me of Christmas at home. When I think of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 20, 2023Guest Writer: James Seymour, Incoming Elder Chair“For We Need a Little Christmas” From Mame “For I’ve grown a little leaner,Grown a little colder,Grown a little sadder,Grown a little older,And I need a little angelSitting on my shoulder,Need a little Christmas now.” By my reckoning, pretty much every verse from the Bible that involves the Christmas story has become a Christmas carol. We will sing most of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 19, 2023Some of our church Elders agreed to write Etchings for this week, and they were to begin today. But I pushed them back one day because I needed to tell you a story—a sort of Christmas Story. Yesterday, I went by the grocery store to grab a few items and a couple of gift cards (each worth $50) for stocking stuffers. Yes, I am pinch-hitting
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 18, 2023Prayer for the Week: With the candles of hope, peace, and joy already burning in this Advent journey, we turn to the final two candles—the candle of love and the Christ candle. Bring our attention, Merciful God, to the beckoning glow of hope; to the illuminating brilliance of peace; to the dazzling radiance of joy. Through such gifts, our lives are made ready to receive
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 17, 2023I came across these words from the great theologian Paul Tillich: “One cannot be strong without love. For love is not an irrelevant emotion; it is the blood of life.” Love is strong, but I guess the inverse is true. Strength is found in and through love. I think about the relationships of love that I have, from my spouse to my family to my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 16, 2023Once again, Advent is moving way too quickly, though I will admit to having some very special moments these last three weeks. The study that I completed on Thursday, based on the book An Unlikely Advent, was a good read for me, providing some really helpful reflections on the stories associated with this season. It got me out of some of my interpretative ruts around