A Giving Church

Hello Emmanuel,

Be a giving church.

I once heard it said (and I’ve relayed the message on several occasions), that if you want to know what is important to someone, don’t listen to what they say.  Look at their checkbook and calendar.  This may seem a bit overly simplistic, but not much so.  The bottom line is that, given the choice, we will spend our time and our money in whatever ways are most important to us.  

This is my 5th Christmas at Emmanuel and I am blessed every year to see such a giving church.  The time and resources spent to share Good News at Christmas shows the commitment that people have with their walk with God.  This year is going to be no different.  Examples have already been made known and I feel it is important that we recognize the impact that such giving has.  So let me share a couple of examples.

First, the United Methodist Women’s effort in organizing another Breakfast With Santa event went as well as ever.  So many people put forth the effort to spend their time and energy so that the community continues to hear the message that Emmanuel has something great to share.  It’s good to know that the hard work that the UMW puts forth in raising funds for missions and outreach is able to be shown in how the UMW also gives back.  

Be a giving church.

Second, if the church is able to make a significant impact on an individual---and if that individual has the means---that individual will, in turn, impact the church even after he or she goes home to the Lord.  Such is the case with Ethel Jett.  Ethel is an example of how the wonderful cycle of disciple-making can continue when the church makes intentional efforts to show the love of God.  Two years after her passing, Ethel provided a significant gift to the church much like many did before her.  The cycle continues.

Be a giving church.

Once again this Christmas Eve, we will be taking up a special offering to help support Inter Parish Ministry and the Free Food Bank in their traveling food pantry.  The pantry includes stops at Emmanuel where well over 100 families are given food at each stop (next year it will be about once a month).  In addition, a cooking class has been offered to help educate others on how to prepare the food that is handed out.  Finally, agencies across the county have used Emmanuel to network with one another in order to improve the efficiency by which food and other help is handed out.

Be a giving church.

These are only a couple of immediate examples.  There are many others.  The questions is, ‘How do you give?’.  My guess is that you give in ways that are important to you.  I hope your walk with Christ includes a church home that both nurtures you and encourages you to be more like Christ…… a Christ who gave all to those he cared about most, including you.

If you are involved at Emmanuel, but don’t feel the impact of a God who loves you, please come talk to me.  I can help get that changed.  If you do not have a church home, come try us out.  We aren’t perfect, but we do like to give the kind of effort that pleases God.

Merry Christmas…..

….because God is good all the time,

Pastor Joe

Come To The Barn

Hello Emmanuel,

Now I am finally starting to get revved up for Christmas.  Yes, I know, it’s still a whole 10 days away, but I am now needing to focus on the Christmas messages as I prepare for, not 1, not 2, but 3 Christmas services.

Blue Christmas – this Saturday at 6:30

This will be the 3^rd year that we’ve provided a Blue Christmas service.  I admit that I’ve had moments in my life when I walked away from a cheery Christmas event only to feel sad (and sometimes not even knowing why).  And then there were times that I was confused and even irritated that I felt sad.  And then there were times that I was irritated that others were so happy.  What a mess!

So this Saturday will be a time to celebrate Christmas on the longest night of the year without the pressure of being all cheerful.   Cheer should come natural and, when it doesn’t, you shouldn’t have to feel the need to look cheerful just because it’s expected this time of year.  And yet Jesus is still born in the barn and all will be ok with the world.  Come and be at peace with us, even if you don’t feel like smiling.

Children’s Program – Sunday, 9:00 and 10:30

As usual, the 4^th Sunday of Advent allows the kids of the church to tell the Christmas story in their own unique way.  This year is going to look rather different, but will also bring a fresh look at the birth story (and you don’t have to… er.. get to hear Pastor Joe preach so long).  I’m looking forward to seeing how this goes. 

Christmas Eve – 7:00

Bring on the kids.  I take the early service as a personal challenge.  Can I lead a congregation full of people in a meaningful worship service while including the unpredictable nature of children?  Yes!!!  Yes, I can!!!  Last year the children illustrated the importance of candles at Christmas and it was a fun time of joy.  Emmanuel has attempted to make the 7:00 service a true family time of worship.  There is no childcare available because we want the children present (after all, Jesus was a baby.. possibly crying and being a distraction to everything in that barn).  So expect 7:00 to be fun and watch the kids as they learn, listen and interact amidst the miracle of Christmas.

Christmas Eve – 10:00

Traditional candlelight services present opportunity to reflect.  This later service will be quieter.  You will be invited to think and ponder and meditate on why God has invited you to a barn.  If you listen closely, you might hear a message that can send you into 2014 with a different perspective… and more encouragement to listen more often.

I invite you to participate in worship over the next 10 days.  As you can see, there is plenty of opportunity.  God has invited you to the barn.  We’ve done you a favor and heated the barn and called it the sanctuary.  As you’ll find out, Christ will still be present.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

The Word is 'Sensationalism'

Hello Emmanuel,

The word for the day is:  sensationalism.

I hope you made it through the ‘white death’ this past weekend.  I did.  And while my wife and I huddled at home in fear of those dreaded white flakes, we took time to giggle at the tv.  We understand that the weather people have a job to do.  They are to warn us when conditions outside worsen.  They are to allow us the opportunity to prepare to stay safer than we would otherwise be. 

The word for the day is:  sensationalism.

I wonder if the weather people intend for Kroger to run out of milk and bread in 37 minutes.  At the same time, I wonder if the weather people intend for us to be laughed at by our neighbors up north (or by those who live as close as Cleveland… having lived in Cleveland, I can attest to the fact that lake-effect snow is much more ‘sensational’)

Now before you send me an email about how people get hurt and even killed in weather like we had this weekend, let me assure you that I understand the seriousness by which each of us should decide to be on the roads or not.  I also agree that many should NOT be on the roads in worse-than-normal conditions (and, yes, some should not be on the roads in normal conditions).  My point in this MMP is not to debate how we treat inclement weather.  My point?

The word for the day is:  sensationalism.

Maybe it is because winter throws in a break-up of our normal every day routine.  Maybe that is why we get excited.  But it does seem to me that we over-sensationalize the white stuff.  As soon as someone mentions ‘3 to 5 inches’, places start closing (by the way, if Emmanuel ever cancels events, it will be on channel 12 and on facebook).  But what happens when we don’t get what is talked about?  What happens when the roads are not so dangerously slick?  Do we feel silly?    

I wonder if Christmas is also the victim of ‘sensationalism’.  I get the feeling that some expect something more in December than in July---that there is some sort of higher expectation in what we experience or feel from God.  Maybe it becomes true for some, but let me just speak for myself here.  As a person in the faith, I believe Jesus is proof that God wants me redeemed and to have hope in a better future.  My belief in a savior who loves me is just as true in July as in December.  The only difference is that in December we focus on his birth.  In July we focus on his teachings.

I believe Christmas is sensational!  Indeed, it is just as sensational as any season when I sit and meditate on how much God tries to reach out to me.  I just wonder if we over-sensationalize the season to the detriment of our faith….. that when our experience doesn’t meet our heightened expectation, we can’t help but wonder if we are missing something.

The fact is, God makes Christmas as sensational as it needs to be.  Christmas doesn’t need our help.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go develop a normal Christmas Eve service.  It will be sensational.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe

Inevitably It's Okay

Hello Emmanuel,

What an interesting time of year.

There are about 4 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  The Church calls the time ‘Advent’.  It is supposed to be a time of preparation for the coming of Christ.  I say that there is much more preparation that happens.  It’s a time of year that keeps me busy, some for not all the good reasons.  Consider the following:

First, you have four weeks to prepare for the 2^nd family gathering in … well… 4 weeks.  Depending on how your family Thanksgiving went, you get the chance to prepare for the next family gathering.  I, personally, had a really good Thanksgiving with the family.  A positive Thanksgiving experience lends itself to looking forward to family at Christmas.  However, I know that there are negative family experiences out there on any given Thanksgiving.  Indeed, the dysfunction of family relationships (of which we all have to some degree at some point in time) can create the need to vent to the pastor (it’s why I’m here… so feel free).  In addition, it creates angst as one awaits the follow-up to meeting with the same family in 4 weeks for Christmas.  Ideally, it should be anticipation, not angst.  However, we are human beings.  Ideals aren’t always the reality.

Second, these 4 weeks almost always see an increase in hospital visits and stay-at-home illnesses.  The scientist would say this is a result in climate and bacteria and viruses that get passed from one to another.  I am also in good company when I suggest that these 4 weeks create more stress and stress lends itself to illness.  Lots of reasons for an increase in stress:  Thanksgiving family debacles; pressures of buying the perfect gifts; irritating drivers in heavier-than-usual traffic; remembering happy memories of loved ones who are no longer with us; and my personal favorite, feeling the need to look joyful even when you are not because we are taught that if we don’t, then there must be something wrong.

Third, I believe that we have more sadness to cope with during these 4 weeks.  Thanksgivings/Christmases are triggers for many of our hearts.  We participate in repeated traditions that bring memories of those who we loved dearly.  We remember spending time with relatives and friends during a time when we didn’t realize how good we had it.  This time of year can truly become a month-long memorial service.  (but don’t forget to look joyful… because if you don’t, then there must be something wrong).

So what do we do?  I wish I had a magical answer to solve this polemic problem in December.  I don’t have a magical answer.  I do believe I have a biblical one.  At the risk of sounding too curt:  do you have Jesus in your heart?

Advent is a time to look forward to Jesus.  This doesn’t always solve our immediate problems/stresses during these 4 weeks.  However let me throw out my personal perspective that allows me to keep an even keel to at least to some degree.  I’ve learned over the years that Christmas, for me, is more about peace than about joy.  I can live through these 4 weeks knowing that Jesus is coming.  And Jesus trumps any ups and downs that this month can bring me.  At the end of the 4 weeks, I get to hear and tell the story of the Christ-child.  That particular ending of this season has helped defuse any kind of December we might have.

Anticipating the coming of Christ helps minimize any angst regarding family dysfunction; helps put in perspective what kinds of stress is really worth dealing with; and is a reminder that resurrection is a real part of my faith.  Advent helps me get ready…. Not for a month-long memorial service… but for a birth story.  Celebrating Advent as it is truly intended gives me some peace to balance out the chaos.  I might not feel like it on December 2^nd or 12^th or 19^th…. But on the evening of December 24^th when I escape to worship service, I feel like it… I feel like God found a way to make things ok… if not great.

God is Good,

Pastor Joe