Tag: Christmas

Categories
Americana Joy Notes Who Am I

Our manger scene has a history

"A Savior has been born to you."
“A Savior has been born to you.”

Our outdoor manger scene is an integral part of our family Christmas celebration.  JoAnne and I originally made it while pastoring at our first church in Bentley Creek PA.  Our church was having a live nativity that year.   The animals were staying in the little shed/stable we had constructed on the lawn in front of the church and parsonage for a couple days as there were two live performances separated by a few days.  I was the caretaker.   JoAnne and I thought it would be a shame to have the animals there with no representation of the Christmas story, the reason for the celebration.   So we made the manger scene to place in the stable with the animals when the actors were not present.   One corner of one of the figures still shows the marks where I set it a little too close to the donkey and he reached around and chewed on it.

JoAnne found the figures she used for models in a coloring book we had purchased for Keely.    She used projection to transfer the forms to the 4 by 8 exterior plywood sheets that I had purchased.    Then I cut them out with a jigsaw and we painted them.   I  then devised a simple stand system that holds them upright securely but can be dismantled easily with a screwdriver, hopefully an electric one.    The current manger is not the original one.

Since then, every year that they were not being used for their original purpose, we have put them up in our front lawn for our Christmas display.    In Kirkville, we almost never actually put the baby in the manger as there was so often much snow you wouldn’t have been able to tell if the baby was under it all anyway.   Now they are with us at our third parish and still helping us to spread the news of Jesus’ coming; God’s greatest gift to us all.

Categories
Journal Joy Notes Meditations

A child’s Christmas wonder is catching

17 22It happened in the middle of the children’s program at church — the moment that crystalized the essence of the Christmas sermons I have been preparing.   Little Parker, who is barely tall enough to see over the edge of the altar table,  stopped in front of the table and peered into the middle of the white ceramic manger set.  There was wonder written all over his face in that instant.   I was blessed in that moment with an inspiring insight.  Even if I don’t get any more this season, this one will make this Christmas memorable.  It distilled what I have been trying to say in my sermon series too.   I, and probably many of my readers like me, need to recover that sense of wonder at what God has done at Christmas.   Just as Parker in a child’s way was filling with awe at the beauty of the manger scene the children had just put in place as a part of the children’s program; so I need to think about the Christmas story and reflect on the life of Jesus enough to be filled with wonder once again at who Jesus is, how he humbled himself to be born in Bethlehem, what a wonderful life he lived, and how he died and rose again for me.  I need a refill of awe and wonder.  Then there will not be a danger that I am just going through the motions of Christmas; I will be truly able to worship at the manger this year.

Thank you to Nancy Collins for capturing the moment with her camera too.

Categories
Journal

Christmas star

When we think about the historical birth of Jesus, it makes us curious about the star.  Here’s a neat article on the Christmas star recommended by my friend Spencer Soohoo whose hobby is astronomy.

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/24/16115672-that-christmas-star-of-wonder-still-leaves-plenty-to-wonder-about

Categories
Journal Meditations

A devotional for Christmases that are not the same as those in the past

Here is a very thoughtful and personally touching devotion for everyone facing Christmas in different or difficult circumstances this year.  It comes from the insightful mind of Shirley Mullen, President of Houghton College.  I think you’ll be blessed as you read it.

http://www.houghton.edu/president/

Categories
Church Leadership Journal Joy Notes

Not 500, but many good results

Setting a goal encouraged us to invite others

Some of you have asked me already, “Did we make 500?”   I almost don’t want to answer the question because I am so excited about all the great events that happened over our Christmas weekend.   Numerous family groups were here in force and I saw many new faces as well.   The Christmas Eve music was super inspiring and our children and teens put the weekend over the top with their Christmas musical.  But, the answer is, no, we didn’t reach 500 total attendance for our three Christmas weekend services.   In fact, we did not get very close to the number goal.   But having talked to families and friends as they gathered both on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, I am convinced that we had between 60 and 100 more people than we would’ve had if we had not set a big goal and stretched.    The actual total of 370 included many family and friends that had been invited because we had set a goal.   John Abbott  expressed what I heard from many.  He came with a friend that I did not recognize.  Knowing he was from a large family of brothers, I asked, “Is this one of your brothers?”   He replied, “It’s one of the men who works with me; you said bring a friend, so I did.”   That spirit seemed to pervade the congregation both on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as there were many family members and guests who had been invited to celebrate Christ’s birth with us.   Other pastors who had services on Christmas day found their attendance on the low side.  But because of our children’s musical and our efforts to invite friends, our Christmas morning attendance (145) was significantly higher than our average attendance.  It was also a good thing that we had two Christmas Eve services because fitting everyone who came into one would have been extremely cozy (6 PM 160; 8:30 PM  65). 

A wonderful Spirit of worship and a great play

The most touching report that I heard concerning the Christmas services was Kim Ouderkirk’s report of the children’s prayer time as they prepared to perform their Christmas morning play.   One prayed something like this, “Dear Jesus, we have received so many gifts; now please help us give our gift to you.”  That is priceless.  Another prayed that someone would open their heart to Jesus because of the play.   The children’s’ prayers were so moving that some adults left the room to staunch their own tears.   Then they went out and delivered a nearly flawless performance, remembering all their lines and showing that they definitely know how to act a part.  The message of the play that God’s gift to us of his Son Jesus along with the salvation that he brings to us is the greatest gift of all was crystal clear.  Afterward the congregation gave them a standing ovation.   Our thanks go to Kim Ouderkirk for her leadership, to all who helped her, to the teens and children for their hard work, and to the parents who cooperated by adjusting home schedules on Christmas so that we could tell Jesus’ story and honor him in this important way on his birthday.    And they accomplished all this while also working around the 50th anniversary renovations of the sanctuary.  

Categories
Americana Journal

Christmas trains running!

Our annual Christmas display is a highlight of the season.  I’m a little late getting it up since we visited Keely and Mark over Thanksgiving weekend.   However, I finally have three trains in motion again around our tree.  One of them is the new (to me) 1776 bicentennial engine that my brother Phil purchased in a deal and let me buy from him cheaply.  I have since found a caboose and three cars to match.  It’s always just a little different from the year before.  Here’s a rough video of it in motion.   The clunks are because the cameraman got too close to the action and nearly derailed a train.

 

 

Categories
Forward Look Journal

Advent Christmas series titled The Light of the World

Every year as we approach the Christmas season, we automatically focus on Bible passages in Luke chapter 2:1-20 and Matthew chapter 2:1-12 where the Christmas story is found.   As I was thinking about the Advent/Christmas messages for this year I thought about the fact that the gospel of John also introduces the story of Jesus in its own rich way.  It would be different, and enlightening to explore John 1:1-18 during the Christmas season and allow its deep theological themes to weave in and out of the Christmas narratives in our minds and holiday celebrations.   So, after prayer and study, that is how I’ve designed the Advent/Christmas series for this year.  

 

 

Advent/Christmas Series – The Light of the World

A study of Jesus in John 1:1-18

Date

Title/concept

Text

Suggested carol(s)

Nov. 27

Way Before Christmas

John 1:1-3

Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne (169)

Dec. 4

The Word

John 1:1

What Child Is This (180)

Dec. 11

The Light

John 1:4-9

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (181)

O Little Town of Bethlehem (192)

Dec. 18

Not Received Well

John 1:10-13

We Three Kings (197)

I Heard the Bells (196)

Dec. 24

The Word Made Flesh

John 1:14

Gentle Mary Laid Her Child

Angels, from the Realms of Glory (182)

Dec. 25

Gifts of Grace

John 1:15-18

O Come All Ye Faithful (178)

 

Categories
Americana Journal Who Am I

January fun with Christmas trains

I always wondered what went on in those houses where Christmas trees remained visible in the windows many weeks into January.   Well, now we’re one of those houses.   So I can share the secret inside our house that keeps the Christmas tree up so long.  

(Psst!)  I’m a small time railroad hobbyist that sets up multiple O-gauge trains under the tree in a display that takes up half the living room.   I can’t bear to take the whole thing down right away!   It is a three level display that includes a Christmas village, farm scene, bridges and tunnels, and the Christmas tree is built in.  It can’t come down until I move enough train stuff so we can reach the tree.   Thankfully, my wife tolerates, maybe even enjoys just a little, my affection for model trains and associated Christmas villages; so she doesn’t object too much that I take up some floor space for two months of the year.   

But that is only one-half of the story.  The other reason for the display staying up so long is this.  The most fun comes when I invite children over to play with the trains.  And everyone is far too busy for that to happen in December, so we wait until January.  All during the month, JoAnne and I invite children from church to view and play engineer with the trains.    Well, yes, it is a little dangerous to the train cars and parts and model vehicles because there are wrecks, but it is so much fun to watch the boys and girls having fun that it is definitely worth the risk.   JoAnne bakes cookies and I get down on the floor, give instructions in how to operate things, take pictures, and try to keep the trains running.   It is the best part of the hobby.   

So now you know.  In case you still don’t believe me, here are a few photos for evidence.   But now it’s February tomorrow and I really do have to take down the Christmas tree…

[nggallery id=22]
Categories
Journal Joy Notes Who Am I

Christmas Joys

Christmas at Gramdma's

What brings joy at Christmas?   It’s not just one thing.  It’s a combination of many.

Family get-togethers

We started the season early, heading out to Keely’s and Mark’s  in mid December as they go West for Christmas.    Their large townhouse was elegantly decorated and it was so good to spend time with them; exchanging gifts, playing games and going to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Then there is my annual birthday dinner; always a joyous time with friends from church who come to help me celebrate another year with a big dinner.   We also try to drive down to Bath and Haskinville, NY too.  That way we can touch base with JoAnne’s side of the family and also attend the big extended family Christmas celebration at my Mom’s house.  I think there were just shy of 30 people in Mom’s house this year.    There is always a program at that Christmas celebration, which JoAnne discovered is very Victorian.

Special movies with just the right touch

Continue reading “Christmas Joys”

Categories
Journal Joy Notes

Thanks for giving your gifts!

Gift giving expresses generosity

This last Sunday at Community Wesleyan was a festival of gifts.   In the Nativity Story  (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0762121/),  the old shepherd tells Mary that each one of us has a gift.  This is a biblical truth.   He also tells Mary that her gift is the baby within her.    Later, at the stable, Mary repeats the line to him as he reaches to touch baby Jesus;  then as she holds out the child, she says, “He is for all mankind.”    As with Mary, our gifts are not given us for ourselves but to help others.   That’s what I saw happening this last Sunday at Community Wesleyan.    

To begin, it was the day when many brought the gifts they had purchased for those less fortunate and placed them around the brightly decked Christmas tree on the platform.  It was stacked with gaily wrapped presents.   They represented the generosity of so many, a noble gift to the Christ-child indeed.    The gifts were made more beautiful by the decorations—the result of Leah’s behind-the-scenes touch.

Then there were the gifts of talents.   I am always so appreciative of those who take the time at this busy season to make sure that they give their talent back to God.   So many just bury it or use it only for themselves.    But always there are some faithful ones who will offer their musical and other talents back to God in worship.  We enjoyed two beautiful instrumental pieces.   One was a string trio, a classical sound so fitting for carols and brought to us by Josiah Durfee, Alex Paige and Carmen Hunn.   Another was a contemporary touch – two guitars, drums, and piano playing “Go Tell On the Mountain” (Mark Cloutier, Shaun Harrington, Aaron Wilkinson, and JoAnne Jones).    We reveled in the quiet of the carol, “Silent Night” sung a cappella in a perfect family blend by Licia, Cassie, and Kaitlyn Swain.   Mike Lamb, unofficial poet-in-residence,  read a new, thought-provoking  work he had written and the choir directed by JoAnne Jones inspired us with Vivaldi’s “Gloria”  and the striking “In the First Light.”   

Then there were the personal gifts – probably some I will not know about who gave gifts to a teacher or friends.   I received some.  I helped to collect and give one special one to someone who has helped us so much here at Community Wesleyan, our webmaster.   

It all blended with the theme of the message too – if we, as imperfect as we are, know how to use our gifts for others and give gifts that are appreciated; how much more will our heavenly Father give good gifts to those who love him!