Let it Be Christmas :: Joyeux Noel December 30, 2008

This final night of our Christmas series was spent watching most of the movie, Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas) – based on the true story of what happened on Christmas Eve in the trenches of a World War I front line.  It is a phenomenal story of love and brotherhood and Christmas miracles.  We ate popcorn and watched the film, followed that with a brief discussion and a prayer – that was our night.  It was a very relaxing moment in the midst of a busy and hectic holiday. 

This Sunday (Jan 4th) – we’ll be using prayer stations to walk through the Covenant Service that John Wesley first initiated back in the 1800’s!  This will be one of our most interactive worship experiences yet!!  An awesome way to start your new year on the right track – join us!!

Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:

:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer.  So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead - keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!

:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – her surgery went well - pray for quick recovery.  Her sister-in-law also just had emergency surgery for cancer – her name is Susan.

:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she might have to have a full hip replacement if what they did before continues to not be enough – she’s 88!

:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.

great video! December 23, 2008

Thanks for passing this on, Keith!

Let it Be Christmas :: Family Craft Night December 22, 2008

This was a fun night – we set up tables and chairs in our space – I got tons of craft supplies together.  Michele (most amazing office manager ever) helped me gather a list of 35 or so names of church families that could use some love.  We kept everyone together – so people had their kids with them.  Each person/family got a name (along with an address and phone number).  Their task for the night was to make a Christmas Card and a Christmas Tree Ornament of a Nativity scene for their person(s), and then sometime in the next few days to go hand deliver the gift. 

So we started out with a video - just to remind us of the meaning behind the madness that can be Christmas prep – a great one called “He Came to Get Messy” and then we jumped into the mess!  We had very Christmassy snacks – cookies and milk, hot chocolate and cider – we listened to some classic Christmas carols and everyone had a blast!  I was sure to work in a tune from the best Christmas album EVER: John Denver and the Muppets!  It’s funny how neat it is to get back to the basics.

Following the crafty time, we watched a slideshow of all the folks who had worked the Children’s Celebration of Christmas last weekend – it went along with Come Together by the Beatles.  Then we sang “O Come all ye Faithful” together in closing before calling it a night.  Very simple – very sweet.   

Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:

:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer.  So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead - keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!

:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – her surgery went well - pray for quick recovery.  Also, her sister-in-law, Susan Kelly discovered she had very advance cancer after a routine colonoscopy – they started immediate, aggressive treatment – keep her and her family in your prayers!

:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she might have to have a full hip replacement if what they did before continues to not be enough – she’s 88!

:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.

Let it be Christmas :: I believe in Yesterday December 15, 2008

Last night we looked into our history – our yesterdays – to explore their impact on today.  We also thought about our willingness to share – about our attitude toward charity and giving - how our yesterdays affect that, especially at Christmas time.  I said this in closing:

“So we all have these images of yesterday – some good, some bad.  They shape us.  Some of us are busy striving to make our today as different as possible.  Others are trying to perfectly recreate their yesterday for their families.  Those experiences and memories impact how we live, the decisions we make, who we love and how.

 

Our challenge this Christmas season is to hand the power of our past over to God.

That he would help us to learn from our history, and be willing to let go and instead claim HIS story.  When I think back to my Christmas history, I realize most of my “yesterday joy” came from the anticipation and receiving of presents – so the older I got the more that joy slipped away – less presents – Christmas seemed to lose it’s excitement - in many ways it died for me.  BUT there was this one thing we did that was deeper than presents.  My dad and I would get to go BY OURSELVES to Midnight Mass at our church – just him and I – no little brothers!  And it was a very holy experience.  It was beautiful and touching and sitting there in that pew I knew Christmas was much bigger than the items that laid beneath our tree at home. 

 

If more of my history had been based on HIS story, maybe Christmas wouldn’t have died after all.  Just imagine what our holidays (our holy-days) might be like if we replaced some of our tradition with his traditions.  Imagine taking the energy we put into our recreation of yesterday – and instead, putting it into living the way Jesus did. 

Loving the way Jesus did.  Giving the way Jesus did.

 

As I considered what Jesus’ history was, what his traditions were, I flipped through this topical reference I have.  I found these things listed there about Jesus’ traditions:

-         Jesus fed the hungry

-         he had compassion for those who were lonely

-         he healed the sick

-         he understood people’s weakness

-         he forgave and forgot

-         he restored the dignity of the broken

-         he brought light to dark places

-         he ate with sinners

-         he led in humility

-         he washed feet

-         he raised the dead

-         he rescued the captive

-         he taught a new way of living

-         he explained it to those who didn’t get it

-         he amazed all with miracles

-         he came to do God’s will

-         he honored those who surrounded him

-         he obeyed his heavenly Father

-         he sacrificed himself on the cross

-         he gave the ultimate gift, even though he knew it would be rejected by so many

I mean, holy cow!  What if this was what a typical Christmas looked like in our homes?  Within our spheres of influence?!   

And all this was possible because he was born of a virgin – Mary – who was chosen by God to be the bearer of all that is good and perfect.  The Greek word used for Mary: Theotokos - means the God (theo) bearer (tokos) or the one who gives birth to God.  And here’s the cool thing: each new morning, God invites us to be Theotokos – to bring heaven down.

 

What if we were to respond to God’s invitation to be Theotokos as Mary did…the angel gives her his incredible news and after clarifying a sticky point or two she says:

“Yes, I see it all now:  I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.  Let it be with me as you have said.”

 

Let it be with me as you have said.  What would God do in us and through us – especially in seasons like Christmas, if we said those words:

 

Yes, God, I see it all now.

I’m your servant and I’m ready.

I’ll be the Theotokos to my family, in my neighborhood, at work.

I’ll be the God-bearer this Christmas

I’ll take the power from my yesterdays and re-route it to your tomorrow.

Let it be with me as you have said.

Let it be with me.

Let it be.

 

And so we land right back in the middle of our Beatles theme…those profound lyrics that have touched so many…

 

When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

 

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is Still a chance that they will see

There will be an answer, let it be.

 

And when the night is cloudy, There is still a light that shines on me,

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

 

May we dare to say to God, “Let it be with me as you have said.”

And then let’s watch as heaven comes down,

as our yesterdays become less important than what God is doing in this present moment,

as our traditions become those of Christ – more His story than our history.

This Christmas, every time you see a nativity – a Mary holding a baby – be reminded that she is the Theotokos – the God Bearer – and that you were made to be one, too.” 

So that was the big idea – our format for the night:  small group discussion.  Everyone grouped into little pods and answered questions on the screen.  Questions about their childhood, Christmas, gifts, and about Jesus’ often unappreciated gift.  We started with a video that went along with ”Can’t Buy Me Love”.  We sang “Everything” by Tomlin (…every perfect gift comes from You…) and “O Praise Him” by Crowder.  As ”Yesterday” hit our ears we saw images of old school sledding footage and contemplative questions as we began to focus in on our theme for the night.  That brought us to our small group discussions.  Following that I shared what I inserted above.  We watched a slide show of pictures (with “Let it Be” as a soundtrack) from the Children’s Celebration of Christmas – a big outreach event our church hosts every year – 76 families in need came to the church – they were served dinner, the gospel, given presents and boxes of food and cleaning supplies.  Awesome images of what Theotokos looks like.  We sang “Unahsamed Love” by Ten Shekel Shirt, which speaks of our need to embrace a childlike faith.  And “Wonderful Maker” by Tomlin.  Our closing was a video that went perfectly with “All You Need is Love”.  It was a good night.

Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:

:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer.  So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead - keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!

:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – her surgery went well - pray for quick recovery.

:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she might have to have a full hip replacement if what they did before continues to not be enough – she’s 88!

:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.

 

Let it Be Christmas :: you say you want a revolution December 8, 2008

Week 2 – awesome!  Last night we focused on the revolutionary way God loves us – he came to earth in a revolutionary way to begin a revolutionary way of living that would revolutionize the world.  The idea is just crazy enough to work – and it all hinges on grace – grace for us to live and breathe in – and that brings us to repentance.

Our Beatles songs for the night: “I Will” with a video backdrop of ”Christmas Nativity Morph” behind it. 
We watched “All to Familiar“  followed by “Revolution” played over “Coming to Earth“.
And we shot a video of two of the folks who were being baptized that night sharing their stories, over “Help”.

There was some singing: “Everything Glorious” by Crowder, “From the Inside Out” by Hillsong United and “Unashamed” by Starfield. 

There was some sharing - John spoke of the call of John the Baptist from the wilderness – a prophet calling for a revolt against the old ways – and a filling of the new.  He called us to repent, to chart a new course, to let go of what holds us down so that we can grab onto the One who will lift us up.  He spoke of the coming King who will give us a new way to live – who will bring a revolution of our heart and spirit.  That’s why we celebrate the birth of the babe – for what the savior of the saints will do – for who the messiah of the masses will become.  Christmas is our invitation to be a part of the revolution, to play a role, to contribute to the redemption – and all of that is made possible by our repentance.

So this night we took part in the revolution – 3 people were baptised – by full emersion, no less!  By request we borrowed a portable baptistry (Thanks to The Springs Community Church!) and put it right in the middle of our worship space.  The United Methodist Church believes that water is a symbol for an inward and spiritual grace – we don’t care how much of it we use!  We cheered and teared as these three people were filled with the Spirit and then we moved right into Communion – both sacraments in one night!  We listened to David Crowder sing “Oh the Glory of it All” (one of my favorite songs ever) with a great video backdrop as people were served and then turned around and served the next person in line – a beautiful image of the body of Christ!!  Then we played “From the Inside Out” which takes the idea behind the baptism that just happened and puts it to song.

After a few moments of prayer we closed with Unashamed – again – the lyrics bringing home the idea that being a part of this revolution requires only that we repent and turn to God’s grace and that in his love we can stand unashamed by the side of the manger, ready to take the light of life to a dark world.  It was a good night!

We have yet to successfully watch the “Advent Conspiracy“ video – so click that link to watch it yourself!  Closed-circuit transmission to the Advent Conspiracy people – I need this file in A DIFFERENT FORMAT PLEASE!!!

Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:

:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer.  So far, so good, but she still has LOTS of treatment ahead - keep praying for her and her family (husband and two kids)!

:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – her surgery went well - pray for quick recovery.

:: Pray for Britta Alton’s grandmother (Louise Kirby) – she might have to have a full hip replacement if what they did before continues to not be enough – she’s 88!

:: Jackie Anderson has an injured foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.

Let it be Christmas :: All the Lonely People December 1, 2008

New series started tonight!!
We began exploring a Christmas story told by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George and Ringo.  And it was a great night!!  Beatles album covers and nativities lined the shelves in our space – a couple strings of Christmas lights illuminating the art on the back walls.  The night began with a video montage that accompanied ”The Long and Winding Road.”  Then after some announcements we watched (almost) the Advent Conspiracy video and told everybody about our awesome cards they can buy – see the info on our site: http://www.watersedgeringgold.org/Advent%20Conspiracy.htm 

After the mission statement (non-video – yeah, technology is not always my friend!), McKenzie D did a short drama.  We pre-recorded her thoughts and then I added some images of what she might be thinking about, and so she brought us face to face with some of the loneliness we all deal with.  It was a cute way to introduce tonight’s topic – the struggle of loneiness and the reality that the advent of Jesus is the only true fix for it.  We sang “I Will Lift My Eyes” by Bebo Norman, and then segued to our speaker with a video that combined “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” with “Elanor Rigby” over imagery of a seasonal Santa getting ready for his day at the mall.  Very cool.

Eric Pinkston (pretty much my favorite person on the planet) was our speaker for the night.  He shared from his story about loneliness - very touching – and he opened up the scriptures.  We wanted to set the scene into which Jesus was about to be born.  So we looked at Zechariah’s story in Luke 1.  We talked about the 400 years of silence from God which had preceeded his interaction with the angel in the temple that day (yep, he last spoke to Malachi at the end of the Old Testament – that was generations before the story picks back up in the Gospels.)  We imagined how lonely the Jews must have felt as generations came and went without hearing from their previously vocal God.  We thought about Zechariah and Elizabeth’s loneliness in not having had children.  We worked through their story – a really great one that you should read! – and landed on the other side with a better understanding of our need (like Zechariah and later the voice of his son John from the wilderness) to be waiting and watching – expectantly hoping for heaven to come down - for the advent of the Christ – our Messiah.  And that as we wait we should do our best to take comfort from our loneliness and to share that hope with others.  The answer, the coming joy, that all of us lonely people can find peace in, is that he did come.  That night God came down to bridge a gap, to fill a void, to restore a people.  Advent is us getting ready to celebrate his arrival.  We watched a video with “Here Comes the Sun” behind it – that reiterated WHY he came.  That Son came to our rescue = so we sang that song (“Came to My Rescue” by Hillsong United) and then followed it with a birth announcement song = “Here is Our King” by David Crowder.  

We went a little long – had a great crowd inspite of it being a holiday weekend – it was a good night.

Here are our prayer requests this week:
Anyone can ask for prayer, just let me know! You can talk to me or drop one of our prayer request cards in the worship space Drop Boxes. Please keep these things lifted up:

:: Louise & Keith Kenney’s daughter in law – Michelle Kenney - in treatment for breast cancer.  Her surgery on Tuesday went well!  She still has LOTS of treatment ahead though – keep praying!

:: Pray for Lynn Kelly – she is having more surgery – Dec 3rd in Atlanta – pray for the doctors and her quick recovery.

:: Holly & Betsy’s mom – Barbara – is home from rehab and doing well.

:: Jackie Anderson has an injurred foot and is still struggling through some funk – please pray that she can continue to fight for healing and wholeness.