Thankfulness!

This week we will NOT be having bible study…but mark your calendars for some of these great events coming up!

John Erickson’s CD release concert: Thursday, Dec. 7 pm.  As I said in worship, I got a sneak peep and listened to the CD last week…and it’s really great.  This evening will be a wonderful break from the hustle and bustle that distracts us from the true meaning of the Advent season.  Come and hear some amazing music!

 

Advent Retreat: Saturday, December 6th from 10 am -3 pm.  Joy and Jennie are busily working on the first banner which will be up this coming Sunday (since it is the first Sunday of Advent, of course).  I must say that it looks amazing!  Come to take part in this art project that will result in the remaining three Advent banners.  I bet you will have fun meeting new people (or getting to know some other better) as well.  The day will conclude with a Blue Christmas service; a reflective service that recognizes that this season may not be full of all joyful moments.

 

Game Night:  Saturday, Dec. 13th from 7 pm-????  I attended the last game night in October and it was a blast!  Bring your favorite game, a snack, or just bring yourself.  If you are competitive or not, it will be fun for all!

 

Caroling: Tuesday, Dec. 16th at 6 pm.  Are you looking to give your vocal chords some exercise?!?!  Well, come to sing on the steps of the church at 6 pm followed by some goodies!

 

Christmas Eve service: Wednesday, Dec. 24th at 7 pm.

 

Christmas Presence: Thursday, Dec. 25 from 4-7 pm.  If you don’t have a place to go for Christmas or are looking for an alternative, come to be with your LVPC community!  There will be plenty of “stations” to write letters, cook, decorate cookies, and fellowship to get to know one another.  If you have any questions or would like to help, contact Rachael Albers.

Starting on a new road…

This week we will begin our journey toward Advent.  Yes, it is a bit early (it’s not even Thanksgiving yet), but we will take time to reflect, think, and wait in anticipation for Jesus.  In a culture that is all about instant gratification, we may need to take some time to re-train ourselves to sit in peaceful reflection. In order to prepare, we will read a text from the lectionary for Christ the King Sunday, the Sunday that marks the end of the ordinary season and the final Sunday before Advent.  Tomorrow’s study will include a study of 1 Peter 3: 13-22 and a reading of this poem:

In each heart lies a Bethlehem,

an inn where we must ultimately answer

whether there is room or not.

When we are Bethlehem-bound

we can no longer look the other way

conveniently not seeing stars

not hearing angel voices.

We can no longer excuse ourselves by busily

tending our sheep or our kingdoms.

This Advent let’s go to Bethlehem

and see this thing that the Lord has made known to us.

In the midst of shopping sprees

let’s ponder in our hearts the Gift of Gifts.

Through the tinsel

let’s look for the gold of the Christmas Star.

In the excitement and confusion, in the merry chaos,

let’s listen for the brush of angel wings.

This Advent, let’s go to Bethlehem

and find our kneeling places.

Ann Weems, “In Search of Our Kneeling Places”

The end of one chapter…off to another!

Tonight’s discussion about Ecclesiastes was bittersweet…and a bit warm (which leads to some sleepiness in the chapel, myself included)!  Here are some links that came up in discussion.  Maybe they will lead to more conversation online or in church on Sunday before we meet again next Wednesday.

First, we talked about the belief in a higher power.  About 90% of Americans believe in God or a supreme being.  What are some of the stereotypes of believing in God?  What is the difference when people say that they are spiritual and not religious?  What does this mean for us as people of faith?

Second, an article in Newsweek talked about the new ability to take communion in the comfort of your home with a presiding pastor/minister online.  In the Reformed tradition, and our denomination (Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.), being a part of a worshipping community is an important part of living out our faith.  This article takes a much different approach to this sense of community as we come to the Lord’s Table.  Is community important to your journey?  How would this change your practice and beliefs?

Finally, we will begin talking about Advent next week.  Share the questions you may have about this season in the Christian calendar through this blog or e-mail.  This will help us have a more fruitful conversation about the things that are of interest to you!  So, we have closed just one book in the Bible as we move on to a time of expectation for the coming of Christ.

The Winding Road

Here we are, at the end of our journey in Ecclesiastes.  Maybe it was full of insight for you.  Maybe it filled you with frustration.  Maybe you had no idea what was going on in the text.  Maybe you are still not sure what to make of our journey in Ecclesiastes.  Wherever you may be with this book, I hope that you will join us as we conclude our study of Qohelet’s advice and writing for future generations.  This week we will be reading Ecclesiastes 10-12.  It’s a HUGE chunk of text but we are going to go out with a bang!  Come ready to talk about the relevance of this book, put together the puzzle of his message to God’s people, and have a good time with fellow young adults.

The following week we will start our journey to Advent.  Who knew that the Christmas season would creep up on us so soon (or at least the commercial part of Christmas)?  I have been walking in stores already looking at Christmas decorations and sales for holiday gifts.  All of this can keep us from preparing for the coming of Christ, the focal point of Christmas.  We will begin with a discussion about the history and importance of Advent.  Then, in the weeks before Christmas, we will experience various ways that we can prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ child.  I hope that you will look forward this time of exploration!

Almost there!!!

Paul tells us to run the race set before us…and it certainly does feel like a marathon reading through Ecclesiastes.  We continue our journey this week with Ecclesiastes 9: 1-10.  Our writer continues to compare the people that he sees around him: is he just wailing incessantly?  should he just get over himself?  is there any deeper insight he can offer?

Tomorrow may tell…