Check Out a Bible

Last week my oldest, who is in the 2nd grade, came home with his library book. How suprised I was to find that it was the Bible. First, I was surprised that the elementary school library had the Bible on its shelves. Second, I tried to imagine what the librian was thinking when the pastor's kid checked a Bible out of the library. But check it out he did and carried it to Art & Soul on Wednesday night.

I thought nothing more of this until he brought his library book home again this week. You know where this is going -- it was the Bible (a different one, but I Bible it was)! So I asked him why he kept on checking out Bibles when we have soooo many Bibles at home. He shared that these were his Bibles and that he had been reading it. He proceeded to open it up and told me that this was his favorite verse, "God has always been, before there was anything there was God". (Genesis 1) Then he shut the Bible and began to tell me the story of Noah. As a preacher it was more than a little bit spooky. Maybe he'll become a great Sunday School Teacher or Bible Scholar -- that would be nice.

Thank God for the Art & Soul ministry and all those who teach. Not only has a seed been planted in one who has just begun to read, but it has already sprouted into a love for God's Word. Not only that, but a desire to claim it has his very own and share it with others.

BIT: I believe we'll be going to the store this weekend to buy him his very own Bible. We can't have the library staff thinking that Methodists don't have Bibles! I did notice when I was in a Sunday School class on Wednesday that not a Bible could be found. Hope they have their library card. Of course, if I had brought my Bible I wouldn't have been looking for one.

My Report

What a fantastic time I had on our College/Young Adult mission trip to John's Island, SC.! (yes exclamation points will be a staple for 2008!!!) I felt a little weird being a little outside of my comfort zone (I'm just a little outside of the College/Young Adult classification). As a matter of fact, we left on my "I'm not 40 yet" birthday (that's vastly different from celebrating your 2nd anniversary of your 39th birthday).

Being a little uncomfortable, and seeing that we would occasionally have an "incident of merit" such as Danny Howe hitting a stump and busting the entire entry door on the bus, or Sam Eastridge nearly losing a finger in the wood splitter, or Jarrod Suits lighting the most enormous fire work I have ever seen. I would occasionally tell the offending party that this would be "going in my report". As if there were someone who would care what was in my report!

So for all you who care ... my report is ...

We have the greatest group of college/young adults I've ever met!!! They gave up a large part of their Christmas Break, worked tirelessly through some very cold and windy conditions, ate food prepared by someone trained in the ministerial arts, and slept in conditions that make a dorm room look like a 5 star resort. They worked with insulation (one of my all-time dreads) and got stuck with the pointy ends of rabbit wire. And, I didn't hear one complaint, nor did I see even the suggestion that any of them were going to do anything that looked like something out of a college movie.

They were the best and I was privileged to be included.

BIT: You noticed the pictures mostly have a theme of eating ... out!

"I'm Not Done, Yet!"

No, the Brewster Family will probably not be asked to light the Advent Wreath next year -- or ever for that matter. We practiced so hard. Kile worked on reading his summary sentence about lighting the candles of hope, peace. joy, and love again. Max was going to say, "Let us pray." We had it down!

And, then the time came. It was the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service. Over 400 in attendance. My family makes their way to the Advent Wreath and Lectern. Kile did a perfect job! Gincy read about each candle as I lit them. Then, it was Max's turn. I lifted him to say his line into the microphone. He said it, "Let us pray" as only a 3-year-old can. I start to let him down as the congregation all sighed together ("ohhh..."). It was a Norman Rockwell moment (if Norm included bi-racial families),

And, then if fell apart as Max started screaming (still in range of the microphone), "I'm not done yet. I'm not done yet." The sighs of the congregation turned into laughter. I prayed, but it was already over.

I have no idea what more Max wanted to do. We had not practiced anything else. He WAS done. Practice does not necessarily make perfect.

BIT: After Christmas Day, we get a feeling of being done. The presents are unwrapped. The special worship services are over. The decoration begin to come down. Yet, we know that Christmas is a season -- twelve days -- that leads into Epiphany -- which leads into Lent -- followed by Holy Wee and Easter. Advent is the beginning and Christmas keeps it going. So, as we celebrate this Christmas Season and as we move into Epiphany, my new motto is "I'm not done yet." Maybe Max just had a sense that things were just getting started.

IT IS CHRISTMAS!

Hodie! Hodie! Hodie! W00t! W00t! W00t!
IT IS CHRISTMAS TIME!
I've completed the grueling schedule of Christmas Eve Services, all of which were fantastic! I know I said "Merry Christmas" 400 times (we were at 908 in attendance before the 10:30 service). I had looked forward to just working two of the services, but somehow ended up working all four (sucker!). But they were glorious! I love Christmas!!! (there's those exclamation points).

BIT: Yes, I know it is nearly 12:30 a.m. but this is the earliest I've gotten in bed in years. This year the Brewster Family is celebrating a "No Assembly Required" Christmas. Hallelujah! So it will be an early to bed Christmas as well. Have a blessed Christmas and I'll be back from John's Island (a mission trip with the college kids) on Epiphany! I know I'll have some more material to work with -- I'm cooking. Pray, Pray Pray!!!

"Dancin' In The Streets"

Well, I don't know about in the streets (it was way too cold to be dancing anywhere but inside!), but there was dancin' in the aisles on Sunday. The Third Sunday of Advent was celebrated with JOY, JOY, JOY in all four morning worship services.

In Contemporary we actually had dancin'! Over a dozen dancers swirling -- dancers & singers inviting us to "Come and Join the Dance". Which got me to thinking ... (but I'll save that for the Bit) If you missed the fantastic liturgical dancers, they will be leading us in worship next Sunday in the 8:30 Super-Sized Combo Service (that's not exactly what we're calling it). And, they will begin our 3-song Processional at the 7:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Service.

BIT: Thinking about the liturgical dancers and the invitations we've been reading about from the prophet Isaiah got me to thinking about Martha & The Vandellas ... especially their song, "Dancin' In The Street" I've changed a few of the words to fit our situation, but you tell me, doesn't in fit?

Callin' out around the world

Are you ready for a brand new beat?

Advent's here and the time is right

For dancin' in the aisles

They're dancin' in Chicago

Down in New Orleans

Up in Kings Port City

All we need is music, contemporary music (sorry)

There'll be music everywhere

There'll be swingin', swayin' and organs playin' (forgiven?)

And dancin' in the aisles

Oh, it doesn't matter what you wear

Just as long as you are there

So come on, every guy grab a girl (but think safe sanctuaries!)

Everywhere around the world

There'll be dancin'

They're dancin' in the aisles.

This is an invitation

Across the nation

A chance for the folks to meet ...

Can't you just see the Prophet Isaiah ... no probably not. Have a JOYOUS Advent.

w00t! It's Christmas Time!

Yes, this past Sunday, to my surprise, the children sang, "Hodie, It's Christmas Time" in the 10:45 Traditional Service. I did notice (or at least I believe it to be true) that the exclamation point was not included in the bulletin as I thought I remember it from the "Hanging of the Green" Service. But, despite the absence of the exclamation point, it was a rousing Introit to our worship service. And, I had to chuckle again ... I just love that word, "Hodie!"

Last night a packed house experienced the Youth Choir's Christmas Presentation. It had spectacular bells, a touching solo, electrifiying presentations by a young men's ensemble "The Broad Street Boys", and of course the exhilarating presentation by the whole youth choir. I was trying to capture the "Spirit" of the whole night -- and yes, I was thinking Hodie! -- but I remembered an article from the Kingsport Times-News announcing Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year. It caught my attention because the word is a "hybrid of letters and numbers". It is "w00t", which according to the article is "used by gamers as an exclamation of happiness or triumph" and according to an online poll is "the word that best sums up 2007."

I know you're grinning! Yes, the Youth Choir Christmas presentation was a w00t!
BIT: W00t! It's Christmas Time! I like exclamation points!!!

Breakthrough!

At least we hope so -- well, there is an actual break through the wall from the old hall into the new hall of the Wesley Wing (formerly known as New Building [and by some by other names]). Hopefully the breakthrough will come as the Certificate of Occupancy tomorrow. Then the Program Staff will begin moving their stuff into their new offices on the bottom floor (I'm sure it has another name).

BIT: I don't think they are finished with the ceiling, or maybe this is a new "modern" architectural feature.