12/18/2019
We just celebrated the third week of Advent which indicates that Christmas is very near. As it draws closer, sometimes the sense of urgency increases which seems to further shove the reason for the season aside.
I saw this picture of a wreath on a facebook post from a friend. I had never seen it before and think it is very profound. Christmas is the season but Jesus is the reason. It made me stop to ponder…
-With all of the Christmas preparations we seem to impose upon ourselves, do we always remember the truth behind all the trappings? Even as a pastoral staff, this season brings to us additional work and stress in addition to the busy-ness of the season with our own lives. We too are challenged to look beyond all of the deadlines for what is to be accomplished to the real truth and meaning of the season.
-The wreath is divided in half. I had to ask myself, out of everything that I seem to be busy with at this time of the year, does the correct reason get at least ½ of my heart and attention? Or is it getting less than ½?
As we draw nearer to Christmas Day, may we draw nearer to Jesus. May we remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.
Rev. Patti Napier
Archived Posts
The Cars Are Looking for A King
I don’t have a thing to add to Pastor Jessica’s excellent sermon this last Sunday. The fable/parable she shared has been one of my favorites for all the lessons she pulled from it in her message. I was playing around with my friend Chat GPT and after several abortive attempts, we came up with the following modernized version of Judges 9:7-15.
The Lost Benediction
Depending on the length of the sermon, I try to add a little something extra in my benedictions. This week I wrote up a benediction but then realized we’d be singing and waving our umbrellas to some New Orleans jazz.
Change of Focus This Week
Instead of sharing with you about yesterday’s sermon I’d like to invite you to do some background reading for next Sunday’s “Only Murders in the Bible.” Seeing that it is All Saints Day this Sunday, we are going to look at the very first Christian martyr, Stephen.
You Might Be Thinking It’s All About You If…
In working on Sunday’s sermon I asked my computer’s AI if she/he could come up with a few suggestions in answer to the above: "You Might be thinking it’s all about you, if…."
Prayer Changes Things
Here is a transcript of the prayer I prayed at the end of yesterday’s sermon.
Optimism, Faith, and Hope:
Practical Steps For Increasing All Three
Here are some practical, spiritual, and relational ways to grow faith, hope and optimism:
Listening Heart
It’s kind of crazy when you think about it. Wisdom in the Bible is all about listening. Of course it makes sense that wisdom would start with listening to God, to God’s law and commandments, as well as the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit.