I don’t know about you, but this time of the year is way too busy with a wide range of activities. There is all of the “church” stuff. Creating special Advent worship services, besides the administrative duties. On top of that are family, friends and other social gatherings that take time and energy.

Last week I was feeling a bit over-whelmed and took a couple of days to go up to our cabin.

For me, it was the best time ever. No cabin work to do except to keep the wood stove going, and getting water from the well. Other than that, I had time to read, write, and reflect on my life, our church, and what we are doing.

I went for two walks a day around “Timbercrest” (our six lot development) . The temperature was brisk, (single digits to twenties), but the evenings were clear, and the moon was getting full. For me, there is nothing quite like going for a walk through the woods on a clear, crisp night, with a bright moon overhead, and snow that crunches under my feet.

It was what I needed to regain perspective on life, on ministry, and how I view my gifts as well as the spiritual gifts present at RHPC…

Our culture seems to be in a race toward “gift day.” Most people refer to it as “Christmas” but I’m not sure they really understand the great gift that God gave to us in the tiny baby born to Mary and Joseph. And maybe it’s only important for those of us in the church.

Knowing that story certainly doesn’t make us any better than anyone else, but I hope that story, and “the gift” given to humanity that night, helps those of us who are in the church to reflect a bit on why we do what we do. Why we give what we give, and how can we bring real joy to people around us who are hurting, grieving and discouraged.

As I reflect on “getting ready for Christmas” I hope that the joy and wonder experienced by the shepherds that first Christmas shows up in my face, and in my life.

How about you? How are you getting ready for Christmas? Is there a smile on your face, and a song in your heart?  I hope so.

Grace and Peace,

PK

Everyone is invited to join us for dinner on Thanksgiving Day.  Dinner will be served from Noon until 2:30PM  Come and join us for a wonderful time of great food, and fellowship in a setting that will make you feel welcome, no matter who you are.

November is a month when we celebrate Thanksgiving.  It is a national holiday, but I think for us as believers in Jesus Christ, it also needs to be a spiritual celebration.  There are many things for which to give thanks—even when things don’t go as well as we would like them to go.  We may have an illness, our bodies may be changing in ways other than what we would prefer, but if we are alive, we have something for which to be grateful.  We may need to have an “attitude adjustment” as we’ve talked about in our study of Philippians chapter 4, but we can do that, and we can chose joy, we can learn to be content no matter what the circumstances.

I know, it’s easier said than done, especially when present circumstances are dark for whatever reason.

I want to suggest a few things for you to consider.  This questions come from Bill Tenny Britton, editor of “NetResults” on-line magazine.

1.  How have you been surprised or confused by scripture this week?

2.  How have you encouraged someone this week?

3.  How have you heard God’s voice in prayer this week?

4.  How have you shared your faith this week?

5.  How have you touched someone’s life through your witness this week?

These questions come out his Bill’s desire for Christians to see their lives, and faith community as something more than the Lion’s Club; The Rotary Club; the “whatever other good club” one might belong to.  The church is about faith, and growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ.  Our faith is something that is supposed to impact our lives, and our relationships with others.  So how do we do that?  That’s where these questions come in to play.  When we are reading and studying scripture; seeking to encourage others; when we are listening to God speak to us through scripture, others, or nature, we begin to see that we really do have something very special to share, and we have a great deal for which to give thanks.

I want to challenge you this month to make a concerted effort to try to answer at least one of these questions every day.  I am going to work on this too, because there are many weeks when my study of scripture relates to the text on which I am preaching the coming Sunday.

So, together let’s work on these things, so that our life of faith will be enriched, and we will truly discover how much for which we can be grateful.

Grace and Peace

I came across a “Church Talk” webcast from last Christmas time about encouragement. I don’t know why I hadn’t seen it before, but I saw it this afternoon, and thought it worth sharing.

Hebrews 3:13 says “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called TODAY…”

Encouragement comes from the heart, and it demonstrates care an concern for another. It is a way to keep in touch with those who may not have many people in touch with them; it can be a way to keep in touch with people who are going through hard times; it can be a way of connecting with people you see on occasion. The key thing is to ask “How can I pray for you today?” or, “How ARE you doing really?” or, “How have you experienced Christ in your life this week?”

There are many possibilities for what one might say or how. Face to face is best, but a phone call, or a card in the mail–some small thing, a random act of kindness, can make a lot of difference to friends, or strangers.

I am reminded that Barnabas means, “Son of encouragment” and it was Barnabas who took Paul, who was a new believer, under his wing, and walked with him for quite some time, helping him develop relationships in the greater church, as well as he encouraged him in his faith.

Let’s encourage each other this week, and in the weeks ahead.
PK