December 15th, 2010
By Pastor Bill
December 12
The Real Story
Read: John 1: 1-5
A little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11: 6
Several years ago I was asked to read the Christmas Story to a group of 6 year olds at Bethany School, here in Cincinnati. I chose Julie Vivas’ illustrated children’s book about the birth of Jesus called “The First Christmas.” The illustrations are delightfully funny and wonderfully rendered in watercolors. As I read the story, some of the children became absorbed in the story, others sat quietly lost in their own thoughts. But there were two children who seemed uninterested in the story, they wandered around the library pulling books off the shelves, and talking loudly about what they were going to get from Santa. For them Christmas was about getting gifts from Santa. They had no clue that the real gift of Christmas was given by God in the form of little child born in a stable in Bethlehem. I didn’t relate the story to them very well.
Over the years since then, I have watched other children in the stores, at church, at school, in the neighborhood and I realized that sometimes I too am distracted by the trappings of this world- material
possessions, success. Like the children in the library, I interrupt the telling of the real story many times. I need to learn to relate the events of God’s story to my own life. Maybe we all need a little heads up too, then we too can appreciate the true meaning of Christmas happens each and everyday.
Song: The First Nowell
Prayer: Thank you dear God, for children who often show us your way where we cannot find it for ourselves. Keep us always in your loving care.
Thought of the Day: This year I will be receptive to the real story of Christmas.
December 10th, 2010
By Pastor Bill
The Light of Christ
Read: 2 Corinthians 4: 5-6
Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as Children of light. Ephesians 5: 8
My Grandmother had a beautiful crystal chandelier hanging in her dining room. Every year just before Christmas, she would have someone, usually me, climb up on the dining room table and take all the crystal tear drops off the chandelier, so she could clean them. It was a tedious job and I had to be careful I didn’t drop one and break it.
Once the prisms were down we would take them in the kitchen and fill the sink with warm soapy water and taking each crystal one at a time ( there were over 100) we would wash them carefully and dry them. As we finished each one, we would hang them on a wire strung across the kitchen window. By the time we were done the kitchen would be dancing in hundreds of rainbows as the sun streamed through them.
I always looked forward to that event every year. When she died we brought the chandelier home with us because Granddad wanted to sell the house. When we took it down it was filthy. We put in a plastic bad we sealed in a box. It sat in the box for several years until we had our dining room and family room remodeled. When we were finished, Mom wanted a new light for the dining room. Dad was going to go buy one when I suggested we dig out Granny’s old chandelier and hang it in the dining room. Mom, shook her head NO, saying “Honey, that thing is so old and filthy it would take forever to get all those crystals cleaned.” I said, No it wouldn’t and I would do it. I went out the storage shed and brought the box in and tore the tape we had used to seal it off and opened the bag we had put it in. The silver was tarnished and stained, the crystals dull and lifeless. I carefully took each crystal off and set them aside. I got out the silver polish and rags and spent the next two hours polishing the chandelier base and chain. When I finished, it shown with a glowing luster. I then took the crystals to the sink, filled the sink with warm water, soap and a little vinegar. Taking each crystal one by one, I scrubbed and cleaned the grime of many years off them. I dried each one by hand, and laid them on the table so Dad could fix the wires that were broken. After about 30 minutes of washing and drying all the crystals we were done.
Dad hung the chandelier in the dining room and I hung each crystal tear drop back in its place. I hoped that all the work would pay off and we would have hundreds of rainbows bouncing off the dining room walls.
When we were finished, I flipped the light switch on and the crystals burst into life, rainbows danced on the ceiling and the walls.
Over the years I have thought of those crystals and the beauty and joy they gave each and every time we turned the lights on. Advent is called the season of light. At Advent we await the coming of the light once again into the world. Sometimes we may need to do a little cleaning of our own crystals in order for the light of Christmas to shine through us. What little simple acts can you do to make the light shine brighter? Maybe you can write a letter to a friend, make some cookies or other goodies for a member who is shut in, spend time in prayer, make a commitment to spend less on Christmas, give alternative gifts in someone’s name, spend time with the family doing something fun and creative. The possibilities are endless.
Song: The Star Carol
Prayer: God, take my life and shine through me with you light of love. Let Christ be seen in what I do today. Amen
Thought of the day: Let the light of Christ shine through you today.
December 10th, 2010
By Pastor Bill
The Lonely Angel Fish
Read: Acts 2: 40-47
All the believers were together and had all things in common. Acts 2: 44
When we moved into our new house some 20 years ago, there was a large fish tank built into the wall in the den. It was filled with angel fish, tetra’s and zebra fish. Our son was 2 ½ at the time. He was fascinated by the fish, especially the angel fish. There were two beautiful angel fish that floated back and forth through the tank. About a month after we moved in, Sam came running upstairs in tears. One of the angel fish had died leaving the other one all alone.
For days he watched the remaining fish. It seemed to be sick and sluggish and retreated into the far corner of the tank. Sam thought the fish was lonely. He begged us to get a couple more angel fish to keep the one company.
So we bought two new fish and added them to the tank. As soon as the first fish saw the new ones, he swam straight toward them, became lively and swam around in company with them.
This fish reminded me that we cannot live our Christian lives in isolation. We cannot be solitary Christians. We need fellowship with other believers to help us grow in grace. Regular worship and fellowship reaffirm and strengthen our love for God and our faith and commitment to God’s service. Advent is a time to reconnect ourselves with that community that gathers around a small stable welcoming the Prince of Peace.
Song: “They’ll Know We are Christians By Our Love”
Prayer: Eternal God, we praise you for the beauty of Christian fellowship, especially at Advent and Christmas. Help us to reach out in love to those who are lost, hurting, grieving in this season of hope. Amen
Thought of the Day: “A solitary Christian is like a fish out of water
December 9th, 2010
By Pastor Bill
Christmas Light
Read Matthew 5: 13-16
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2
I had just arrived at the church after driving for 45 minutes through an ice storm. As I walked into the building, I realized we had no power. I looked around outside and realized that there was no power anywhere in the neighborhood. I made my way into the office looking for candles. I found two old candles stubs in the secretary’s desk drawer and a box of matches. And that both candles and walked bravely in the sanctuary. It was pitch dark. And made my way down the aisle with my two little candle stubs and the matches. Set the candles on the table and preceded to light the candles at the front of the sanctuary. I wondered if anyone was going to try and come to the Christmas Eve service that was scheduled for 11:00 p.m. I sat down in the front pew with my two little candles and waited. After about 10 minutes I heard a door open at the back of the sanctuary and two people came in each of them having picked up candles from the tables sitting in the narthex. As they made their way down the aisle, they stopped next to me and lit their candles. They moved to the back of the church and stood beside each of the doors. They held their candles so that others could light theirs as they came into the building. When the service began at a little after 11 instead of the pitch darkness that we had experienced some 30 minutes before, the sanctuary was aglow with golden light, Christmas light.
From one small candle lighting the others we filled that sanctuary with the light of God. That is what Advent is for to help us shine light into the darkness of this world until the world knows that the darkness can no longer overcome the world.
Song: “There’s a Song in the Air”
Prayer: Give us courage dear God, to let the light of fur faith shine where it is needed most by others, In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thought For The Day: Because of Christmas, darkness can no longer prevail.
