Christ was born into a weary world. King Herod ruled the land with a legacy of ruthlessness. The Romans treated the people of Israel with contempt, imposing harsh taxes and land seizures that forced many into subsistence farming. Poverty and destitution were pervasive. And yet, Christ was born, bringing good news of great joy for all people.
As Advent comes again to a weary world, we ask, “How does a weary world rejoice?” From the opening chapters of Luke’s Gospel, we have found a few answers: we acknowledge our weariness, we find joy in connection, we allow ourselves to be amazed, we sing stories of hope, we make room, we root ourselves in ritual, and most importantly, we trust our belovedness. In the parallel birth stories of Jesus and John, joy arrives—despite trepidation, fear, or grief. In these stories, we find rhythms for rejoicing. As we move through our series, we hope to create space for acknowledging the weariness of our world while celebrating God’s closeness with great joy.
And so, this Advent, we will hold space for our weariness and our joy. We will seek a “thrill of hope” in our hurting world. We will welcome joy—even if, like the prophet Isaiah, we cry out for comfort (Isaiah 40:1). In this weary world, may we find many ways to rejoice.
Join us this Advent season as we find comfort in community and rejoice in God’s goodness
Tag Archives: December
What Can We Give?
One of the questions often heard in the days following Christmas is “did you get everything you wanted?” First and foremost, it is important to remember that it is not our birthday. We are celebrating the birthday of Christ. While there is significance and importance to demonstrating our love and admiration for friends and family during the holidays, and there is joy in exchanging gifts, it is also good to do so with purpose and intention. What matters are those things you can’t buy – time spent with family and friends; experiences shared; kindness; love; patience; compassion; tolerance; sharing; service to others; making a difference. I encourage you to invest your time and energy in those gifts that don’t break, rust, become outdated or need to be returned – it will pay great dividends to you and your loved ones.
And during this time of the year that can be stressful and overwhelming, gratitude never grows old, and it shouldn’t be tossed out with the turkey leftovers. Before we get drawn into the holiday mindset of “what am I going to get?” let’s take a moment to give thanks for what we have been given, and give thanks to God and the people around you.
• Gratitude helps us stay in the present. When we’re focused on things we can give thanks for today, we’re not living in the past or worried about the future.
• Gratitude helps us avoid negative thinking, which when left unchecked, leads to negative emotions. You can’t be grateful and envious at the same time.
• Gratitude increases our resistance to stress. Grateful people tend to bounce back more quickly from adversity.
• Gratitude increases our sense of self-worth. Grateful people recognize the contributions others have made to their lives, and this transforms the way they see themselves.
• Three ways to cultivate gratitude
• 1. Keep a gratitude journal.
• 2. Count your blessings on a regular basis. Similar to keeping a gratitude journal, without writing everything down. This can be done in the morning, in the evening, and all throughout the day. It’s the application of the “give thanks in everything” verse.
• 3. Use visual reminders. Simple reminders, like putting Scripture verses in places we’ll regularly see them, can prompt us to be grateful. Some people like to drop notes of gratitude in a “gratitude jar.” The point is to do whatever helps us recognize and appreciate our many blessings.
In remembering God’s grace given to us through Christ, may you find much to be thankful for. Wishing you a blessed holiday season and a joyous Christmas.
Karen
A Greeting from FCCG
May the true spirit of Christmas shine in your heart and light your path this holiday season and into the New Year. Wishing you a season that’s merry and bright with the light of God’s love, and may you receive the priceless gift of spending time with loved ones, and sharing in the joys of generosity and gratitude.
Merry Christmas& Happy New Year!
Happy Birthday to all December Birthdays!
8 Deliena Paschal
10 Linda Taylor
11 Ariel Osorio
17 Ryder Bertolette
18 Hannah Majidi
18 Mattea Davis
19 Jerrie Nackos
27 Robert Deering
29 Stacy Velky
“The best gifts come from the heart, not the store.”
For some folks, they spent their Thanksgiving waiting in line to be the first to get the great holiday deals. For others it was capturing the online bargains. And then, there are those who have spent several months strategizing and accumulating their gift list bit by bit. If you haven’t done any of those things, and are wondering what you are going to do, there is good news! There are some things that take zero money, but are priceless. If you are still looking for something to give to those who matter most to you, consider a few of these timeless gifts. These items are within the reach of all of us, and not only do they benefit those around us, but most are a gift to ourselves as well.
-Being on time
-Having passion for what you do
-Being flexible in your approach
-A positive attitude
-Doing something extra
-Being prepared
-Giving your time
-Being kind
-Being patient
-A handwritten note
-Gratitude
-A phone call
-A smile
-A hug
-Random act of kindness
-A listening ear
-Showing compassion
Best of all, no waiting in line, no looking for parking and always available and in stock! And if you are shopping for children, keep this in mind – the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report a few years ago saying that simple toys hold the most benefits for children. They warn parents against filling their toy box with flashing lights and gadgets. The report is called “Selecting Appropriate Toys for Young Children in the Digital Era”. It offers guidance for parents on what toys will most benefit their children’s development. The report focuses on children from birth through school age. “The best toys are those that support parents and children playing, pretending, and interacting together,” stated Alan Mendelsohn, MD, FAAP, in the AAP’s press release. Mendelsohn is a co-author of the report and associate professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Population Health at NYU Langone Health. According to Mendelsohn, digital toys don’t provide the same benefits. Although media-based toys, like videos, computer programs, and books with voice-recorded reading, make claims to be interactive and educationally beneficial, the AAP says that these claims are unsupported. Remember to give your child the best gift of all – your time, love and attention.
Merry Christmas!
Congregational Budget meeting & Election of Officers
Advent is on it’s way…
During the Advent season we re-enact the fact that “love came down” at Christmas and dwelt among us. This year we will be reflecting upon the idea that there is room for every story and each story is important, “From Generation to Generation.” Join us Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. as we weave our story into the Christmas story through music, art and scripture.
Nov. 27
There Is Room For Every Story
Matthew 1:1-17
Dec. 4
God Meets Us in Our Fear
Luke 1: 26-38
Dec. 11
We Can Choose a Better Way
Matthew 1:18-25
Dec. 18
We See God in Each Other
Luke 1:39-56
Dec. 24 – Christmas Eve
We Tell This Story
Luke 2:1-20
Dec. 25 – Christmas Day
God Dwells With Us
John 1:1-14, Luke 2:15-2
Happy Birthday to our December Birthdays!
10 Linda Taylor
17 Ryder Bertolette
18 Hannah Davis
18 Mattea Davis
19 Jerrie Nackos
27 Robert Deering
29 Stacy Velky