The Meaning of the Season

The first weekend of December is when our community kicks off the Christmas season!  Friday night and Saturday till 8 pm is a very festive time in our downtown area. People are walking through the shops, viewing live mannequins in the store windows, warming themselves with hot chocolate and getting in the "holiday" spirit!  It is a special time, but it is truly about the "holiday" season, the hustle and bustle of Christmas Shopping and holiday celebration.  My church decided to put a new spin on the festivities. We asked the churches that line the main streets to join us in putting together Live Scripture Scenes of the Christmas Story in from of their buildings. There was only one other church that joined us in doing this, the catholic church down the street and they set-up a wonderful display. Our church had the birth of Jesus to set-up. With the help of many people a stable was built, hay was brought in, a star was hung, spotlights were shining, Mary, Joseph and Shepherds filled the stable and a choir of Christmas Carols were sung.  The real meaning of Christmas became very clear. For 2 hours we stayed out in the cold, but our hearts were warmed with the spirit.  Cars drove by and honked, some stopped to watch and listen and other people walked over to see our display and join in conversation.  We felt the festive mood of the "holiday", but the spirit of what Christmas is really about, the birth of our Lord and Savior, warmed our hearts and touched the lives of those who passed by!

Faith Moments

What unexpected faith moments have you witnessed lately? Being a faithful servant not only means going to church, reading the Bible, studying, praying and meditating, but it means wearing your faith on your body. It means demonstrating through your actions and words that you are a child of God.  A child of God, who like Jesus, wants to share what it means to love, hope, understand, pray and live the wonder and joy of God's Word.  To be like Jesus and walk the talk . . .  how wonderful is that?!

I would love to hear your stories, the unexpected faith moments that you have witnessed. if you are interested in sharing them please respond to this blog

God Moments

As people begin to discover who they are as faithful Christians, I am witnessing those "God Moments" or "unexpected faith moments".  Times when the Bible comes off the shelf and lays open on the coffee table, stirring questions and conversation amongst  its visitors, times when a parent and child walk through the woods, shuffling the fallen leaves with their feet, and talk about God's creation and the beauty seen, times when someone sad and lonely feels the presence of others surrounding them in comfort and prayer, times when a child is the first one in a group to break the silence and offer to say the prayer, times when you feel the presence of God and you know He is on this journey with you . . . God Moments!
 

Book of Faith Emphasis

I am so excited about the "Book of Faith" emphasis that is spreading throughout the ELCA! As I have attended conferences, talked and shared stories with my colleagues, and organized workshops for the congregations in my synod, I am delighted to see the type of conversations and excitement taking place.  To watch a group of people opening and using their Bibles in meetings, study groups, councils, worship, and in fellowship is awesome. To have adults and youth actually bringing their Bibles to church and meetings is wonderful.  I am witnessing congregational members highlighting Bibles for 3rd graders before they receive them, conversations on scripture happening in everyday settings and Bibles coming off the shelves in homes and onto the coffee tables open and accessible. The conversations are definitely taking place and people are begininng to dig deeper into God's Word.  People are hungry for God's Word and hungry for its meaning in their own lives. How awesome is that?!