Longings

Advent 2020 finds many Americans longing to attend worship services, but their church doors are closed due to the pandemic. This time last year we couldn't have imagined such a thing. At JCPC we are all grateful for the creative energy our leaders have poured into meeting the practical challenges of the Covid 19 crisis, including providing meaningful on-line and parking lot worship. Yet, we long for our sanctuary. 

We aren't the first to experience this, however. After the French Revolution in 1789, church doors in France were closed, too. Granted it was for political reasons, not a health crisis, but even the midnight mass on Christmas eve and church nativity scenes (crèches) were banned. In an effort to keep their religion and traditions going, people started meeting quietly in their homes and crafting small versions of nativity scenes, particularly in the Provence area in southern France. Soon an industry was born that continues to this day. The artisans who used to make the very large life-sized nativity figures for churches and wealthy chateau owners poured their creative abilities into making "les santons" or "the little saints" of Provence, now in miniature. 

 
As we take our Advent walk to Christmas this year, may we be reminded of the many blessings that surround us daily. May we unpack our nativity scenes and crèches with the same joy we always have, even if our personal gatherings and celebrations might be on a smaller scale. May we be mindful of those families who are dealing with loss this Christmas season and pray for them that they will feel the presence of Christ in their lives, bringing them tidings of comfort and joy. May we all remember that the celebration of the birth of our Savior is about what takes place in our hearts and minds, not our buildings. May we all rejoice!

Prayer for Today

O come, O come, Emmanuel,

And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here,

Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.
 

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,

And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;

Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,

And death's dark shadows put to flight.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

Shall come to thee, O Israel.

"O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear."
-First stanza of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

As we near the second Sunday in Advent and inch closer to Christmas Day, I can't help but feeling like Advent 2020 is the most "Advent-y" of Advents I've ever experienced. We are all waiting for the pandemic to end and waiting for a vaccine. Many of us are waiting for the day when we can see friends and family again that we haven't seen in 8 months. I'm waiting to get back to Japan. I sure wish December 25 marked not only the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus but also the return of normal life.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is such a wonderful hymn. The original melody is found in a 15th century religious manuscript, and the text to this hymn was first documented in a German book in 1710. The pairing of the melody and the text we know today happened in 1851, when it was all the rage to take ancient Christian chant melodies and assign text that fit the "mood" of the chant and liturgical season. The combination of this melody and text is brilliant - the melody is melancholy and evokes a sense of longing and waiting, and the Advent text is full of imagery. Look at some of the other verses.

O come, thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery.

O come, Desire of nations, bind all peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven's peace.

The best part of this hymn is the "refrain" at the end of every verse: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. As Christians, we are filled with hope as we anxiously await the coming of the Infant King. Let us also have hope that a brighter 2021 is on the way. And I hope that you will join us to sing this hymn this week at Drive-in Worship on this second Sunday of Advent.

Prayer for Today

O Emmanuel, as we wait in stillness for you, open our hearts every day to your transformative love. Fill us with hope in our despair and peace in our strife. Open to us the pathway of your peace and help us to truly be peacemakers. Amen.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
-Isaiah 9:2

Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
-The Shawshank Redemption

A part of our shared tradition as believers and Presbyterian is Advent. Each week, we light a new candle. This past Sunday was the first Sunday, so we celebrated Hanging of the Greens, including the Advent Wreath and lit the candle of Hope. It's worth visiting this candle, especially in a year like 2020. If ever there was a year that felt hopeless, this has been it. We have suffered the isolation, fear, and division of a pandemic, racial riots, and selfish politicians of all stripes who have demanded our allegiance without suffering with us or leading us to be better. We could be excused for feeling hopeless or ignoring this candle in the darkness or postponing till 2021.

And yet, the scriptures remind us that it is when we walk in darkness that we are sent a light. Arguably, with us as an ally, Israel has never been more powerful in the world, even as a small nation in its region and the world. If asked, most of my teenagers would name Judaism as a major world religion and people group. Over and over, in my confirmation youth name it as a second or third largest faith group. They're always surprised to learn that with roughly 2 billion Christians, and a combined 3.3 billion Buddhist, Muslim, etc. and only 15 million Jews (0.18%), Judaism isn't the great power or group they think. Even the adults I teach are shocked to learn that roughly 90% of the modern state of Israel is secular, rather than religious. So when we say that the Israel we read about in the time of Christ is FAR LESS powerful, ruled by the Roman Empire, and the faith was besieged by infighting that was not eyes open to the Messiah Jesus came to be, it was a darkness we can scarcely imagine. They didn't want hope. They needed it. We don't want hope. We need it.

The America of 2020 is so deeply in need of hope. We are under the power of a world-wide virus, deeply entrenched racism, and deeply partisan culture. The darkness in which we walk is so similar to the darkness of occupied Israel in which innocents were slaughtered by Herod's order to eliminate his Prince of Peace rival. We need the hope that the great physician and healer will send inspiration and wisdom to our healthcare workers. We need the hope that a brown man who spent his formative years as a refugee in a foreign land can teach us to be welcoming and justice-seeking for our downtrodden neighbors whose families were kicked off their land or killed as natives, brought here as slaves, interred during WWII, or used as canon fodder in every war we've fought for over 200 years, and the hope that he teaches us how to welcome those desperate to find shelter here. And we need the hope that a man who sought to be King of our hearts and lives and not political leader of worldly concerns brings by calling us to living as people of light and not part of the darkness in which we live. Our hope is for a future in 2021 and beyond is within our grasp because Christ has called us to do the work of Hope with him. And I believe our hope is in following that two thousand year old call from darkness to life.

Prayer for Today

Lord, give me hope and call me forward to offer it to others. Amen.

"I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord." - Luke 2:10, NIV

This past Sunday, we began the season of Advent with our Hanging of the Greens service. Even in this pandemic, it was a joy to remember the rituals which remind us of the reason for the season of Advent leading up to Christmas. I am finding that rituals are more important than ever during these changing and unpredictable times. They remind us of the things that last even in the challenging times of life.

The season of Advent is about the good news that God has sent Jesus to save us and the whole world. Today, I have some more good news to share with you. Because of your generosity, we have surpassed our pledge goal for 2021! Our church family stepped up in these challenging times and showed their willingness to trust God by making a pledge so that we can do God's work of sharing the good news with our community and our world. This is so much more than just making our budget. Your giving is how we are able to make a difference in the world through worship and music, through discipleship and fellowship, and through service and mission. Your generous gifts of time, treasure, and talents make that happen. Thank you to everyone who made a pledge to make a difference through God's work at JCPC in 2021.

I also want to ask you to keep your eyes open to sign up for invitations to both the upcoming Zoom Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 13th at noon; as well as for the Drive-In Christmas Eve services at 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM. You will soon have the opportunity to sign up for both. As with our previous Congregational Meeting, we will need a quorum (10% of membership) to attend in order to act on the recommendations for elders and staff.

Prayer for Today

Thank you, God, for the good news of Jesus the Christ who came to save us and the whole world. Thank you for the generosity and the way you have worked through our church family so we can share the good news in 2021. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." Matthew 5:5 (The Message)

These wise words come from my desk calendar. In a season that can often get wrapped up in things, this was a meaningful message for me to hear. These words can keep us grounded. I understand what it means to feel content with who I am, but it has taken time to get there. I can also get derailed and caught up in the messages around me. After reading this, the question came to me, how do you teach this to someone?

I'm not sure how to teach it, but I do think it is learned through modeling and experience. At what point in your life, did you truly understand what it means. Was it a particular life experience? Was it something that someone said or did? Was it a series of situations that worked together to bring you to this revelation?

I think we learn more about being content, when we appreciate what we have and do not long for more. We value relationships and experiences over things. I think it also comes when you put the needs of others before yourself. I saw a glimpse of this on Saturday morning when we began our Advent preparations and traveled as a family to the Christmas tree farm. As we rode in the car, we talked about what kinds of ways we will prepare our home and our hearts for this season. We talked about ways that we can give to others. Will also knew that he would visit Santa while we were there. We asked if he had any ideas about what he might say. Without prompting, he said "First I need to tell him that our dog, Belle, needs a new bed and some treats. Then I'll tell him something I want this year." That's exactly what he did, he introduced Santa to our dog, Belle and then shared about her needs first.

I believe one message of this Advent season as we wait for the birth of Christ is about contentment with all the gifts we already have been given, putting the needs of others before ourselves, and then sharing the joy and hope that Christ's life offers with the whole world.

How can you do that today?

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, Thank you for the precious gift of the Advent season and the time we can experience contentment with ourselves. Help us to continue to appreciate all of the gifts that you offer to us each day. In Christ's Name, Amen.

We stared at the piles of donated shoes as we entered a local homeless shelter. The director had invited our youth group to help sort through the heaps of used footwear. We spent the morning searching for matches and lining them up in rows across the concrete floor. At the end of the day, we threw away more than half of the shoes because they were too damaged for others to use. Though the shelter couldn't stop people from giving poor quality items, they refused to distribute shoes that were in bad condition.

The Israelites struggled with giving God their damaged goods too. When He spoke through the prophet Malachi, He rebuked the Israelites for sacrificing blind, lame, or diseased animals when they had strong animals to offer (Malachi 1:6-8). He announced His displeasure (v. 10), affirmed His worthiness, and reprimanded the Israelites for keeping the best for themselves (v. 14). But God also promised to send the Messiah, whose love and grace would transform their hearts and ignite their desire to bring offerings that would be pleasing to Him (3:1-4).

At times, it can be tempting to give God our leftovers. We praise Him and expect Him to give us His all, yet we offer Him our crumbs. When we consider all God has done, we can rejoice in celebrating His worthiness and giving Him our very best.

Prayer for Today

Mighty God, please help me place You first and give You my best. Amen.

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

-1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

Do you hear that?  Christmas music!!  And it was on the radio BEFORE Thanksgiving even got here!!  Now we have Black Friday, followed by Cyber Monday, and there are only 28 (?) shopping days until Christmas???

Now just hold on a minute!  I'm already exhausted, and I could stand another day of Thanksgiving... What if Thanksgiving were more than just one day??  What if Thanksgiving were every day?  Not the turkey and stuffing and pie (well, okay on the pie!) and extended family every day...giving thanks every day... reflecting on all the people and things we are thankful for?  Giving thanks where thanks is due, to God, the giver of all good gifts!

The apostle Paul told the Thessalonians to "give thanks in all circumstances..." but is he saying we should thank God for our painful circumstances?  The way I've always heard it explained, Paul is encouraging the readers to thank God not for but in all circumstances.  Surely, God isn't expecting us to say thank you for chronic pain, or a child's illness, or the return of cancer... but I think it helps us, as children of God, to thank him for all he has given us that is wonderful in our lives!

What if every time we felt upset about what was missing from our lives, we immediately started thanking God for all the gifts that we currently enjoy?  Even when we experience tragedy, we usually find that God's gifts abound, and sometimes genuine gratitude for those gifts can begin the healing within us.  Think about how God has blessed you, as you read the words of this hymn of thanksgiving:

Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices, 

Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices; 

Who, from our mothers' arms, hath blessed us on our way 

With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.  

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, 

With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us; 

And keep us in God's grace, and guide us when perplexed, 

And free us from all ills in this world and the next.  

All praise and thanks to God, who reigns in highest heaven, 

To Father and to Son and Spirit now be given; 

The one eternal God, whom heaven and earth adore, 

The God who was, and is, and shall be evermore.

And Sunday, when we are ready to begin Advent (to prepare our hearts and minds for Christmas), join us online or in the parking lot for our annual Hanging of the Greens worship service!!

Prayer for Today

We give you thanks, Lord God, for all the ways that you have blessed us, for your countless gifts of love, for family, friends, and other blessings too numerous to count.  When our vision narrows, and we are consumed by our troubles, open our eyes back up to you, remind us of your love, and move us to share it with others.  In Jesus' holy name we pray.  Amen.

A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

-Isaiah 40:3

I work in the church world. I often have to translate things for others or remind myself that not everyone runs on the same set of assumptions or by the same calendar. Talk to any pastor or musician and they'll remind you that any time from October till mid-December is prep time for Christmas. And the planning starts earlier. It's a surprise to most folks the amount of planning and work and how early we start. It was not a surprise to my wife. She worked retail when we were dating and first married. She managed a children's clothing store and her prep for the holiday season put years of my preparations in Advent to shame. I moved here to begin this call in late August. And it was already too late for my wife's business to transfer her away from her store. It was "the Holidays."

Sometimes, I think the secular world is in desperate need for leadership, direction, and inspiration from the Church. Sometimes, it's the other way around. The cultural practices of many parts of the world have enriched Christian traditions. And maybe so could stores inspire us. Why do they prepare so far in advance for a six-week holiday spending spree? As my wife explained to me, up to 40% or more of her yearly sales fame at this time. With such an abundant and extravagant gift expected to arrive at that time, they can either prepare for it and receive it with thanks and joy, serving others, or take it for granted and miss the fullness of it. What would you do?

Is Christmas the gift we are given that sustains us all year? Do we prepare rather than simply await its arrival? Do we see it as the biggest opportunity of the year or take it for granted? Normally, I'd suggest shopping local, being overly kind to retail workers, and tipping tremendously. As most of us are planning to shop online, I suggest this... Many local businesses have online presence. Buy your gifts and gift cards there. Get them through the tough times. And plan to make a major part of your giving be alternative Christmas gifts. As we have done for several years now, JCPC will offer the chance to support both local and international partners through the Alternative Christmas Market. You can help local families get a meal, support foster families, or help build homes for those most in need, just to name a few. My prayer is you will join us in preparing for Christmas like it's our big season.

Prayer for Today

Lord, prepare my heart and home for your coming, and prepare me to serve. Amen.

Tomorrow most of us will celebrate Thanksgiving. Maybe we will also remember the very first Thanksgiving in this land of ours. Edward Winslow was one of the pilgrims present at that first Thanksgiving. His was the only eyewitness account which was written down. He described that celebration with the Native Americans in this way:

. .. amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, and many of the Indians coming among us, and among the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.

Now, if you know the history between the Native Americans and the pilgrims, it was not always this cordial. Both before and after this first Thanksgiving, there were terrible killings on both sides. But for a few days, people from different cultures who rightly or wrongly had great distrust of each other, sat down at a meal and enjoyed each other's fellowship. Winslow attributes this to "the goodness of God."

What does the coming kingdom of God look like? I think it looks like that! It looks like the first Thanksgiving. That celebration seems to illustrate the words found in scripture that say, "People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God." (Luke 13:29, NIV) Those are also the words we say every time we gather around the communion table. Not only do we remember Jesus whom God sent to this world to save it and all of us, we also believe these words point forward through history to that time when we will all sit around a great table -- feasting in God's kingdom to come!

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, you show your goodness to us in so many ways. Thank you for all your blessings. May our time around the table this Thanksgiving remind us that the best is yet to come. We pray this in the strong name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.

What are some special activities/traditions you do in your family to prepare for Christmas?

All around us, we hear commercials, store advertisements and community events focused around the season of Christmas, but for the Church, we are entering into the season of Advent this Sunday. Advent is a time of waiting before the coming of Jesus. Advent is sort of a short form of the word "adventure." Why might this season be described as an adventure?

A scripture we often share at the start of Advent focuses on John the Baptist who was all about adventure. In fact, he was bold enough to go live by himself out in the desert with just the clothes on his back and eat only locusts and wild honey. He was waiting for something to happen!

What was John up to out in the desert? Read Matthew 3:1-12.

Why was he baptizing people? John knew the Messiah, the one from God, was almost here and he wanted people to get ready. Baptism was a way of showing that they were ready to get rid of things in their lives that would get in the way of experiencing the new thing that God was about to do in the world.

Consider what might be getting in your way of really focusing on God and Jesus in this season where so many of the messages we see and hear are about gift-buying and money-spending. How can you simplify your Advent season and make room for God?

Prayer for Today

Gracious God, Open up our hearts and minds to your message for us during this Advent season. Guide us as we live in a way that is pleasing to you. In Christ's Name, Amen.