The gift of the Advent Calendar has proven to be very life-giving. Every day I open a new door and I receive a small gift. I have been absolutely delighted with awaiting each new day. I can't help but wonder if in some small way we are to approach the Advent season with a sense of awe and excitement. Even my husband asks, "What's behind door number 7?" Something so simple yet powerful by how it directs my thoughts to God. While the truffle behind door number 4 was scrumptious, it was the shift in my starting my day with an expectancy that comes with the opening of a new door. What new doors will I encounter in my journey to Jesus?
I have reflected on the questions Mike Slaughter poses in his book, Christmas is Not Your Birthday. I hope they stir up within you the longing for this Christmas to reflect Christ:
1. What is your vision of a perfect Christmas? What imperfect circumstances will you face this year that will challenge your ability to celebrate Christmas fully?
2. How do you think Mary felt in the months and days leading up to Jesus' birth? How does her experience of the first Christmas influence the way you approach the holiday season?
3. How can you celebrate Jesus in the midst of your struggles? How can God use your struggles to help others in Christmas?
I love question number 2. We are far, far away from her experiences of joy, fear, goodness, ridicule and wonder. It's a good question to re-ground us in this most holy season.
Jacqueline Nelson passed on a wonderful website for those of you looking to give a gift with on-going meaning. Look at this website: www.kiva.org. I'm excited to give my children a gift from this website.
On the journey,
Alecia
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
The Church And Sandusky
I read an article online today that I found thought-provoking. The article is about Jerry Sandusky and the local church he attends, St. Paul's United Methodist in College Town, Pennsylvania. You might recall that Sandusky is the former Penn State assistant coach, who is accused of molesting eight boys. Sandusky and his wife have faithfully attended the United Methodist Church for 30 years.
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/11/23/penn-state-scandal-jerry-sandusky-church?tr=y&auid=9926075
I invite you to read the article and respond if you like.
On the journey,
Alecia
http://www.hlntv.com/article/2011/11/23/penn-state-scandal-jerry-sandusky-church?tr=y&auid=9926075
I invite you to read the article and respond if you like.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, November 28, 2011
Jesus Santa Theology
The whole morphing of Jesus and Santa has and continues to be a dilema for me. I know the right words. I know what I believe in my heart, yet I still struggle. I am a product of my generation-- caught in a consumeristic holiday faith. I want the whole ball of wax from the decorated house, the Christmas cookies baking, the gatherings, everything. Trying to balance it doesn't always work. I don't think Jesus is anti enjoying the season, but I do think I get out of balance quickly.
If you were or even if you weren't, here are questions to reflect on this week. They are out of the book, Christmas is Not Your Birthday by Mike Slaughter.
1. How do you picture God? Does this image have more in common with Santa Claus or with Jesus?
2. Think about your family's Christmas traditions. How many of them focus on your own comfort and pleasure? What new traditions can you plan that focus more on presence than presents?
3. What ideas do you have that could be seeds for a mission miracle? What group are you connected to or who are some other people that could help to make it happen.
Over Thanksgiving we deliberately spent a lot more time in the presence of one another rather than the buying of presents. That felt good. I miss the days of reading nightly to the kids. We had Christmas classics that we read at bedtime year after year. What about you?
I put my Advent Wreath together last night. It's not the prettiest one I have had but it will serve the purpose to daily re-center me for the next four weeks. Doug and I plan to light it when we gather around the table at night. I want to invite you to add one in your house. Deliberate small choices make a huge difference-- at least for me.
Journey with me because I struggle with this dilema.
On the journey,
Alecia
If you were or even if you weren't, here are questions to reflect on this week. They are out of the book, Christmas is Not Your Birthday by Mike Slaughter.
1. How do you picture God? Does this image have more in common with Santa Claus or with Jesus?
2. Think about your family's Christmas traditions. How many of them focus on your own comfort and pleasure? What new traditions can you plan that focus more on presence than presents?
3. What ideas do you have that could be seeds for a mission miracle? What group are you connected to or who are some other people that could help to make it happen.
Over Thanksgiving we deliberately spent a lot more time in the presence of one another rather than the buying of presents. That felt good. I miss the days of reading nightly to the kids. We had Christmas classics that we read at bedtime year after year. What about you?
I put my Advent Wreath together last night. It's not the prettiest one I have had but it will serve the purpose to daily re-center me for the next four weeks. Doug and I plan to light it when we gather around the table at night. I want to invite you to add one in your house. Deliberate small choices make a huge difference-- at least for me.
Journey with me because I struggle with this dilema.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, November 21, 2011
New Eyes to See
There is a new Welcome Teaming forming. It's a great group of folks taking on the challenge to help new people make the leap from first time attender to connections within the church. I liked the Mike Slaughter's thoughts on this topic:
What we do and say matters when people walk through the doors for the first time. Try an experiment the next time you walk through our doors on a Sunday morning. See if you can view the experience with new eyes. Sit in a new place. Are you greeted by multiple people? Do you extend out a hand to a new person struggling to understand our worship order? What instructions are clear or which ones are left unspoken?
Why does this matter? People have an innate need to have a relationship with the Holy One. Considering that the Kingdom of God suggests that we are part of making the invisible grace of God visible, it matters a great deal. Just something to ponder.
On the journey,
Alecia
If someone from the neighborhood walked in the back of the church, would this attract him or her to Jesus? Traditions make us feel warm about our history, but do nothing for the person who did not grow up within the tradition. Every action and tradition should be questioned, tested, and abandoned if it does not bring the unfamiliar person from the community to Christ--old songs, worship forms, communication styles, vocabulary, dress, activites--everything!
What we do and say matters when people walk through the doors for the first time. Try an experiment the next time you walk through our doors on a Sunday morning. See if you can view the experience with new eyes. Sit in a new place. Are you greeted by multiple people? Do you extend out a hand to a new person struggling to understand our worship order? What instructions are clear or which ones are left unspoken?
Why does this matter? People have an innate need to have a relationship with the Holy One. Considering that the Kingdom of God suggests that we are part of making the invisible grace of God visible, it matters a great deal. Just something to ponder.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, November 14, 2011
Gratitude
After spending a week in Estes Park, Colorado, I couldn't help but feel grateful for all that God is doing in the world around us. Estes Park without the overwhelming crush of tourists is a place filled with herds of animals, brilliant colors, trails and solitude. It was amazing.
We went on a night hike, without flashlights, with one of the park interpreters during the full moon. After 45 minutes, our eyes had adjusted to the dark. There was a depth to the grey scale in the meadow in Moraine Basin I had not imagined. I saw things-- creatures, stars, paths and trails -- not always visible during the day. I encountered ice and deep badger holes. It had its moments to be sure -- hiking at night. The wind was wild.
I wonder what I miss out on because I don't always allow my eyes to fully adjust to God's presence in the world. Who or what don't I see when I stay in my comfort zone on the safe trails during the daylight in summer. There is a wildness about God that I am not always comfortable confronting. When I do, I stand amazed.
On the journey,
Alecia
We went on a night hike, without flashlights, with one of the park interpreters during the full moon. After 45 minutes, our eyes had adjusted to the dark. There was a depth to the grey scale in the meadow in Moraine Basin I had not imagined. I saw things-- creatures, stars, paths and trails -- not always visible during the day. I encountered ice and deep badger holes. It had its moments to be sure -- hiking at night. The wind was wild.
I wonder what I miss out on because I don't always allow my eyes to fully adjust to God's presence in the world. Who or what don't I see when I stay in my comfort zone on the safe trails during the daylight in summer. There is a wildness about God that I am not always comfortable confronting. When I do, I stand amazed.
On the journey,
Alecia
Monday, October 17, 2011
3 Hours To Make a Difference
How cool to belong to a church that makes Three Hours to Make a Difference a priority. Over 90 participants from three churches. It was wonderful to see the churches working together, with teams comprised of members from First United Methodist, Grace Community and St. Thomas More. Jesus calls us to be the body of Christ. It seems to me I saw Jesus working throughout the city this week-end!
On the journey,
Alecia
On the journey,
Alecia
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Toxic Relationships
It appears that Sunday's sermon is stirring up conversations about toxic relationships. For those of you not in worship, we are continuing in our sermon series in Matthew 10, where Jesus calls his disciples into a relationship and then sends them out on mission. The primary passages were: Matthew 10:11-15, and 10:40-42. When a person is made right before God through Jesus Christ, he/she is called a righteous person. In the text Jesus talks about righteous people and worthy people. Like righteous folks, worthy people are hospitable, open, respectful and view the world as larger than themselves. Worthy people simply do not have the relationship with God. Jesus calls us to be in partnership with and in mission to worthy individuals. Check out verses 40-42 to see how God responds to the worthy person. Jesus does give the warning about staying away from toxic people.
Toxic individuals hinder our relationship with God. If we are around negative friends, then we tend to become negative. If we grew up in a house filled with shame and secrets, we keep parts of our lives hidden from God's healing. If we never heard how much God loves us, then our identity is found in whatever idol presents itself-- work, kids, house, relationships, promotion.
Accordingly this passage seeks to pull from within us those areas which are toxic. When do I laugh at someone elses expense? When do I judge someone else, only to discover on closer examination that very characteristic within me? How often do I blame others because I simply can't cope with another failure?
Matthew's gospel is not for the faint of heart. Remember... this is the Gospel of Jesus. There is good news. I believe John the Baptist said it best: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent. Confess the areas where toxicity resides in you. Let God's forgiveness and grace heal the broken heart.
On a side note. I got into a conversation about how this works in terms of political humor. The question was, "At what point do I become toxic in my humor?" A timely question. In the last election I felt very convicted in this area. I love a good political cartoon. They are concise and speak volumes through art. As I lifted the question to God I heard the following: Stay away from personal attacks against an individual. All people are my (God's) creation. Imagine if you were in that person's shoes. How would you feel if the personal attack was against you and your children heard it? Let that be your guide.
For me that has served as a guide in two ways. First a commitment to not participate or pass on personal attacks--funny or otherwise. Also I heard a call to speak up when someone is targeting a politician in such ways. I have to admit this has not always been very easy for me. I have had to work harder at understanding the issues rather than the soundbites.
On the journey,
Alecia
Toxic individuals hinder our relationship with God. If we are around negative friends, then we tend to become negative. If we grew up in a house filled with shame and secrets, we keep parts of our lives hidden from God's healing. If we never heard how much God loves us, then our identity is found in whatever idol presents itself-- work, kids, house, relationships, promotion.
Accordingly this passage seeks to pull from within us those areas which are toxic. When do I laugh at someone elses expense? When do I judge someone else, only to discover on closer examination that very characteristic within me? How often do I blame others because I simply can't cope with another failure?
Matthew's gospel is not for the faint of heart. Remember... this is the Gospel of Jesus. There is good news. I believe John the Baptist said it best: Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Repent. Confess the areas where toxicity resides in you. Let God's forgiveness and grace heal the broken heart.
On a side note. I got into a conversation about how this works in terms of political humor. The question was, "At what point do I become toxic in my humor?" A timely question. In the last election I felt very convicted in this area. I love a good political cartoon. They are concise and speak volumes through art. As I lifted the question to God I heard the following: Stay away from personal attacks against an individual. All people are my (God's) creation. Imagine if you were in that person's shoes. How would you feel if the personal attack was against you and your children heard it? Let that be your guide.
For me that has served as a guide in two ways. First a commitment to not participate or pass on personal attacks--funny or otherwise. Also I heard a call to speak up when someone is targeting a politician in such ways. I have to admit this has not always been very easy for me. I have had to work harder at understanding the issues rather than the soundbites.
On the journey,
Alecia
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