Woodlawn CC

Woodlawn CC

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Sermon December 27th 2015



Below please find the video of my sermon from this past Sunday.  It was the first Sunday after Christmas and this Sunday I did use the Lectionary for the sermon.  The Scripture covered was Colossians 3:12-21.

Colossians 3:12-21 (NRSV)
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord[f] has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ[g] dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.[h] 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is your acceptable duty in the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, or they may lose heart.

I am planning, beginning this coming Sunday pursuing a path through the Epistle of James.  James is one of my favorite letters and one that I personally believe is one of the earliest bits of scripture in the New Testament.  I'm one of those that is of the opinion that the letter was very likely penned by no other than James the Just, the brother of Christ himself.

It should be a good Sermon series though I'm not sure how many Sundays it will take to get through the letter.  We'll give it as many weeks as it needs, it has much to benefit us as followers of Christ.

Please stop back and watch the videos of the James series, until then I hope you enjoy the sermon from this past Sunday.

God's Love & Grace!
Roy







Thursday, December 24, 2015

Remembrance Celebration - Lampe's Funeral Home



Last week on Tuesday evening (Dec 15th), we hosted here at Woodlawn Christian Church the Annual Remembrance Celebration for the local funeral home, Lampe Funeral Home.  This is a celebration of life but also a time to come together and comfort one another concerning our losses this past year. (Everyone in the community is welcome and some attend that lost loved ones years ago, after all there is no time limit nor expiration date on grief and loss)

It is an ecumenical gathering with Pastors participating from the local Catholic Church as well as from the Union Church (mixed Methodist & Presbyterian), other nearby Methodist Churches and of course our congregation the Disciples of Christ.  This year I was asked to also do the message for the service.  I didn't have the sermon video taped, but it was very well received and I have been given nothing but good feedback concerning it.  One lady told me today that they were still talking about the message at the coffee shop today and how it had helped several individuals in dealing with their grief.  I praise God that he was able to use me to aid anyone in their time of suffering.


The sermon included two bits of scripture:

First Scripture referenced: Matthew 5:4 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Second Scripture referenced: Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

We will be comforted if we reach out to God for our comfort. Though in the referenced translation it doesn't specify that God is doing the comforting, other translations go farther and say that we will be comforted by God.  This though, being a part of the beatitudes would imply that it is God doing the comforting.  Again some translations want to make this more specific and do so.

Of course a great deal of God's comfort is provided by His people, this is one of the great advantages of having a close and loving Church family.  Also, we lean on our friends and our family.


One of the things that I hit upon in the sermon was that we will never be 'normal' again.  Rather we have to search for a 'new normal'.  We aren't (or shouldn't be) looking to completely forget and get over the loss of our loved one.  Rather we are seeking to rebuild our life around our loss and to continue on with our lives in spite of it all.

I shared with those gathered about how even now over 20 years later, I still grieve for our son that passed away shortly after birth.  How even now the day of his birth and death haunt both Gail and I.  Often I see that day looming ahead of me, sometimes a month or more in advance, and it weighs heavily on me.  We never fully recover from such a loss and as Elizabeth Kubler-Ross implies, why should I want to.  Grief is a product of loving and losing, it's impossible to avoid.  During the sermon I also shared how losing my grandmother ultimately changed everything in my life... how I did not react to the loss well and how destructive my reaction was to me, and to those who loved me.

The worst part of the loss of my grandmother Karlen was the loss of a dream, and I shared with everyone how deeply this kind of loss affects us all.  I advised them to understand that this is a major part of losing a loved one.  In fact I shared with them that just a few days prior I had been to the funeral of a friend who passed away suddenly, a woman of only 58 years of age.  I laid out how not only had her husband lost his wife, his best friend, his lover, his care taker and the mother of his child, but that he had also lost all those dreams that they had of a retirement together.  Just a little more than a hand full of years separated them from this dream and now 'poof' it's gone.  Never, ever underestimate the intense power of grief related to a lost dream.




Ultimately, the loss of the dream of seeing my grandmother hold and admire my own child, another great grandchild for her, caused me to destroy my first marriage.  Grief can make us irrational at times, and do not disregard the anger that grief can instill in our hearts.  All of us need coping mechanisms in times of grief, do not let anger be your means of coping, I can tell you from first hand knowledge that it will not end well.

Just remember that love is why you're suffering this pain, and love, God's love can help you to get through this time of adjustment to your loss.  If you are having difficulty coping with a loss I urge you to see a caring (sadly not all are) minister or to see a reputable therapist.  If any of you are in the Lake City area and are suffering, please feel free to contact me here at Woodlawn Christian Church.

I have blogged about grief and loss before and due to time constraints, I will just post up some links to these previous blog posts.  As always I highly recommend the little book "All Our Losses/All Our Griefs", and I'll provide a link to it as well.

Previous blog posts of interest:

Sad News
Steve Main Funeral
Doris DeVries Funeral
Blog post about loss and which contains all the rest of the links to my posts on grief and loss

The last link will take you to one of my blog posts which contains more links to blog posts of mine about grief and loss.


Here is the link to Amazon where you can purchase the book "All Our Losses/All our Griefs".


All Our Losses / All Our Griefs - link to Amazon


I did also share with the folks gathered at the Remembrance Service, a poem and an e-mail that I sent to my first wife several years ago after learning of her mother's passing.  She was always very close to her mother, particularly close because her father died when she was very, very young.  Knowing this and knowing that Christmas (especially the first Christmas) is a very difficult time for those grieving loved ones, I sent her this poem and this e-mail.





When I saw this the other day for some reason I immediately thought of your Mother, you, Tom, Deb and all of your families.

Though I'm certain your Mother would very much love to be here with all of you, this year she is celebrating Christmas in Heaven.  How beautiful a thing that must be, and after waiting nearly 45 years she once again gets to spend Christmas with your Father.  Praise God!

On Christmas Eve when we come before God in worship and celebration, perhaps we are just a breath away from Heaven ourselves.  Certainly when I attend midnight Mass at St Cecilia's on Christmas Eve I'm convinced that Heaven is truly there.  It's there all around me, but 'just' beyond my human reach...

Have a wonderful Christmas, filled with all the joy that life brings.  Remember fondly Christmases past, look forward with anticipation to Christmases still to come, but rest assured that someday on some far distant Christmas you will once again feel the tender and caring arms of both your parents around you.  Until then may the loving arms of your husband, children and your Lord carry you to that blessed day.

God's Love & Blessings to you always.



Perhaps, the poem or the words in the e-mail will help some other soul who is suffering at this wonderful, but all too often painful time of year.  I pray with all my heart and soul that you all will have a very blessed and joy filled Christmas this year.  May our loving and grace filled God bless you in abundance this coming year.

In His Joy & Love,
Roy



The Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 20th Sermon


I had to edit my sermon on the 'fly' this last Sunday.  A couple of things were added at the last minute, and I also added a skit to the children's message since Ryan & Emily were back for Christmas and able to help out.  It wasn't a problem and I am happy for the spontaneity that we have at times.  This may rank as one of my shortest messages given in a full-length service.  But, with everything and my 'edit' we only ran over about ten minutes or so, hopefully, no roasts were burned as a result.

This past Sunday was, of course, the 4th Sunday of Advent, and here at Woodlawn Christian, we lit the 'Love' candle.  The first three candles, the hope, the peace and the joy are all predicated upon this fourth and final candle.  Without God's all abiding and unfailing Love, how could we have our faith or hope in God, as a result we would not have any form of peace, and without that faith and peace how would we find joy.  Of course, Love is the basis of this relationship that we have with our Savior.  Without love, we would all be lost.

I have attached the advent reading for this past Sunday as well.

It's Christmas Eve and with that, I will simply wish everyone the very best.  May God bless you in the coming year and may you each feel His genuine hope, peace, joy and love in your hearts.

In His Glory,
Roy



Fourth Sunday in Advent: The candle of 'LOVE' 
December 20, 2015

Reader 1
Listen to the Gospel according to Luke:
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
(Luke 1:26-38)

Reader 2
Advent is about love. Francis Bacon once wrote: “A crowd is not company, faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk is but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.”
We are social beings. That is our blessing and our curse. We long for each other. We long to touch, to share, to bare some part of ourselves, to be understood, to invite others into our lives. We all long to lessen the loneliness that lurks in the background of even our most crowded moments.

We are born alone and we will ultimately die alone, but in between we desperately want to be known, to be understood, to belong, to find some kind of acceptance just as we are—some intimacy of soul. And so we reach out with fragile, delicate efforts of love.
But love is dangerous. We can hurt each other. Hearts can be broken. Rejection can come. If you try to belong, you can be excluded, and that can hurt more than being alone.
Love, and the vulnerability that comes with it, can be the riskiest business of all. But there is no love without such risks. Like hunger and thirst, the longing for love is implanted deeply within us, and God offers us many opportunities to care, to reach out, and to love.

(Candle-lighter: Light 4 candles)

 Advent Hymn “One Candle Is Lit” #128 All


Reader 1: 
There is some part of this gift of life that can’t be stored up or locked away. Some part of this spirit that God has placed in us will die if we do not spend it or share it or give it away.
Love is always a risk, but it is a risk upon which the very heart of our life depends. To love is to touch the heart of God. To look into the eyes of another and recognize our common soul is to see the face of God. Even to feel the ache of a heart broken for love is to discover God’s grace.

Reader 2:
Let us pray:
Leader: Your love, O God, is great, and the risks you have taken were supreme.
People: Teach us the way of love, and help us to walk in it.
From the depths of your creating love, you made us male and female.
Leader: Teach us the way of love, and help us to walk in it.
In the goodness of your covenant, you created us a community of your love.
People: Teach us the way of love, and help us to walk in it.
In the fullness of time you sent us Jesus, a man of love that risked all for the sake of the world.
Leader: Teach us the way of love, and help us to walk in it.
In your resurrection power, you have revealed your love to all humanity.
People: Teach us the way of love, and help us to walk in it.
Help us, O God, to reveal your love as we discover anew the tremendous power of the Christmas story and meet again the Christ-child, born anew among us.
Amen.



Thursday, December 17, 2015

The Third Sunday of Advent


(Edit, the video is now added, I hope you enjoy the sermon)

I haven't posted the video of the sermon from this past Sunday yet because, Youtube is having issues.  They are having trouble uploading videos (or at least some users are) and it's not just me because there are comments on the forums concerning the issue.

At any rate, once the video uploads I'll come back and edit this post.  For now I've included at the end of this post the reading for the Candle of "Joy".

We simply can't have 'joy' without already having 'hope' and 'peace' (the peace that God gives us in our hearts).  Joy is a remarkable thing in that true joy goes so very much deeper than just being happy.  Joy goes right down to our very hearts, our very souls.  To know joy is truly one of the most wonderful things we can know in life.  Short only to knowing genuine 'Love' in our lives.

Love of course is the theme for this coming weekends sermon.  Hopefully, Youtube will have their issues remedied soon and I won't have a problem getting that video up before Christmas Eve.

I need to run, may you all be richly blessed today!  And remember to be a blessing to someone today!

Roy 







Third Sunday in Advent: The candle of 'JOY' – December 13, 2015

Reader 1
Listen to the word of God from Isaiah:
The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
“Be strong, fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God.
He will come and save you.”


Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not pass over it,
and fools shall not err therein.

No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
(Isaiah 35:1-10 RSV)

Reader 2:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and return not thither but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
For you shall go out in joy,
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,
for an everlasting sign which shall not be cut off.”
(Isaiah 55: 10-13 RSV)

Candle-lighter: Light 3 candles (two blue and the pink, the pink candle should be the 3rd one lit
then announce the Hymn to be sung and the verses to be performed)



Advent Hymn “One Candle Is Lit” No. 128, verses 1, 2 & 3

Reader 1:
As freedom can only be tasted in all its sweetness by those who know the feel of chains, so joy sings with its most full-throated glory only in spirits enlarged by the weight of despair and softened by the brine of tears. Pleasures float on the surface of life. Happiness flits across a moment or an hour. But joy springs from the depths.

Joy is new life beating in a heart that has been broken. Joy is awakening to a fair morning from a nightmare of reality. Joy is a flight sun-ward on wings you had forgotten you had. Joy is the sound of laughter erupting from a procession of grief. Joy is God’s melody amid the discord of life, a song carrying the rhythm of eternity and touching the chords of longing in our souls.


Reader 2: (read responsively)
Reader: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God.
We give thanks to you, O God,
for the promise of full joy that this season brings to light.
People: Happy are those whose hope is the God of Jacob,
whose HOPE is in the LORD their God.
Reader: For all the troubles life can bring, in you we find peace,
your Love brings amazing possibilities that fill our hearts with joy.
People: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose PEACE is in the LORD their God.
Reader: Renew in us this day your promise of light after darkness,
hope after despair, peace out of chaos, and joy from despair.
People: Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose JOY is in the LORD their God.

Amen.

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Second Sunday of Advent - Lighting the Peace Candle


This past Sunday, December 6th, was the second Sunday of Advent and here at Woodlawn Christian we lit the 'Peace' Candle.  As I stated in the sermon, it almost seems ludicrous to talk of 'peace' with the violence going on all around the globe.  For us here in America this violence was so recently punctuated by the massacre in San Bernardino, CA just a few days ago.

The truth is that the world will always be a violent place and if we search for our 'peace' in the world we shall never find it.  It is only through our unfailing faith in our Lord that our souls will ever know peace on this side of life.  Thankfully, we as Christians have this faith and can find this peace.  We can as long as we don't allow the craziness of daily living get in the way, we can if we don't let the evil of mankind rob us of our belief that God loves not only ourselves but all of humanity.

Please take a listen to the sermon on the video below.  I've also included the text for the reading for the lighting celebration of the 'Peace Candle'.

May this blog post find you all loved, blessed and at peace with your Lord.

In His Love,
Roy


Advent 2 – Candle of Peace, December 6, 2015

Reader 1:
Listen to the Prophet Isaiah:
A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Reader 2:
Advent is about peace. And we do so long for peace. We live in a world of chaos and discord.  The trademark of our time often seems to be turmoil.  For far too many, our streets are dangerous places, with shootings and violence forcing good people to stay away. Our civil dialogue has given way to abusive rhetoric, we have forgotten how to disagree without being disagreeable.  We hate others simply because they carry a different opinion or world view than our own. Our music and entertainment glorify violence and disrespect to others.  Our leaders divide us, rather than unit us in good.  Death, destruction, and terrorism are the topic of far too many stories in the nightly news.  In all of this hatred and violence, we the people of Christ long for peace.

The state of the world often mirrors the state of our minds. We juggle hyperactive schedules, fragmented and broken families, and hypertensive pressures. We worry about our children, we agonize over how to care for our aging parents, about our retirement, about health care, and no job seems secure any longer. Far too many have turned their backs on the church, they grasp for gurus and scan self-help books in spiraling confusion. Stress is the name of our days....  and we so long for peace.

Candle-lighter: Light 2 blue candles

Advent Hymn - "One Candle Is Lit,” Hymn #128 verses 1 & 2


Reader 3:
Surely the peace of our world starts with the peace of our hearts. We are reminded that there is a peace in God which surpasses all understanding. At the core of each of us, if we will only listen, there is a still, small voice which can and will calm our fears, quiet our lives, and dispel our desperation. At the heart of each of us, if we only seek it, there is a spirit that rests in the grace of God. An assurance at the center of our lives that can and will tame the chaos at the edges.

This spirit of God, this spirit found in the human heart, is also the hope of our world. As we await the Bringer of Peace, the peace of God is already with us, it resides in all souls filled with the spirit of our God.

Prepare the way! The promise has come!
The lion shall dwell with the lamb.
Prepare the way! The old with the young!
A child shall teach us to stand.
Prepare the way! Make the paths straight!
The Earth shall fill her deep valleys!
The Way of the Lamb is approaching... and peace is at hand!

Prepare the way! The promise has come!



Wednesday, December 2, 2015

November 29, 2015 - First Sunday of Advent, lighting the Hope Candle


This past Sunday (Nov. 29th) was the first Sunday of the Advent Season for 2015.  Here at Woodlawn Christian Church we lit the first of the four Advent Candles, the candle of Hope.  In my Children's Sermon, I discussed how the 'Hope' that we feel at this time of year is the coming celebration on Christmas of the birth of the Christ Child, as well as the awaited second arrival of Christ.  This 'Hope' that we all share isn't a wish or something we'd like to see happen, rather it is something that we are reassured by our faith is, in fact, going to happen.

Ryan Daisy and Emily Winker were home from college, and so I asked them to light our first candle.  The reading they did during the lighting ceremony is attached at the end of this blog post.

I've also attached the video of the sermon, I hope all who take the time to watch and listen enjoy what they hear.  May the all abiding and overwhelming Grace of our God fill your heart with hope, hope for the future, and hope in God's unending and undenied Love for you all.

In His Love, Grace & Hope!
Roy


First Sunday in Advent: The candle of 'Hope'

Reader 1
Listen to the prophet Isaiah:
In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

Reader 2
The poet George Herbert once wrote: “He that believes in hope dances without music.”
This is a good picture for a life of faith. To hope in God’s grace is to move to a rhythm that other people may not hear. It is to act out a drama others cannot imagine. It is to glide through life guided by a tune that plays only in your own heart.
The hopes of our faith make no sense from the outside. It’s a rough world, with forces that try to dominate our lives. But we hope in a God of truth and justice to have the final word.
In a world where violence and force always seem to win the day, we hope in a force of love that is the supreme power. In a world where wealth and status seem to have the upper hand over desperate, needy people, we hope that poverty and innocence have God’s special blessing.

Candle-lighter: Lighting of the candle of 'Hope'




Advent Hymn One Candle Is Lit No. 128 (verse 1)

Reader 1
Having hope means constantly expecting a different kind of future, even when history seems to confirm our fears. Hope is for those who feel the pain of the world. Hope is for those who agonize at human cruelty. Hope is for those who hear the cries of homeless and hungry children, and cry along with them.
In a world where hope seems so far away, we are a people of hope. We listen for the voice of angels in the wind. We stretch to see the first light of a new day on the horizon. We long for a new birth of grace in every human heart. We wait. We listen. We hope.

Reader 2
Christ we sit in darkness, but you are our light. We long for your coming into our hearts, into our lives and into our world.
You are the One for whom all the peoples of the earth wait. Our world has been shaken by fire and earthquake and storm; Our security has been shaken by bombings and wars and uncertainty.
We wait in anticipation expecting God’s light to penetrate our darkness and radiate within us.
In the midst of our doubts and our insecurities we are reminded that you are never shaken. Your faithfulness reaches to the ends of the earth.
We watch and wait expecting new light to shine as the season of joy approaches.
You are our rock and our refuge, an ever present help in trouble. Come down, come in, walk with us so that we trust in you and not be shaken.
We wait in hope attentive to all the signs of Christ’s coming.



Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!!


God's blessings, grace and love to you all in this season of giving thanks to God for all He has provided for us.

In His Joy!
Roy


Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Giving Thanks, for all things. Sermon 11/22/15



This past Sunday my sermon (as many others around the Nation) focused on giving thanks.  There are just so very many things in our lives that we need to give thanks for that we could not possibly even begin to list them all.  Our mighty God provides for and guides us so untiringly and faithfully.

Now by now if you've followed my blog or watched any of my sermons I'm sure you realize that I am not of the persuasion that God causes bad things to happen to anyone.  But what I am a firm believer in is that God can gather up the pieces of all the awful things we and others bring into our world and make something good (or great) out of the wreckage.  This, however, is often predicated on us being open and willing to see and accept this blessing.  One of the things that I think we regularly fail to do is give thanks to a God that is so willing and adept at raising phoenixes out of the ashes of life that we leave behind.

I also believe that we fail all too often to give thanks for a persistent God that never stops tapping us on the shoulder and trying to guide us where we are called to be.  Thank you God Almighty, for never giving up on us who try so hard to ignore you and, in fact, run the other way.

In the sermon, I talk about how early in my life (I would have been 23) a minister asked if I had ever considered going to Seminary.  At that time, I certainly seemed to be the least likely candidate for such an endeavor.  But, I now often sit and wonder, was that God whispering in that old minister's ear... was that God trying to whisper into my ear through that minister's questioning?  I am left thanking and praising my God, a God that has never given up on me... even though I certainly wasn't responding.

I hope you enjoy the sermon if you decide to take a listen. Following the video, I have also attached a copy of my meanderings for the December Newsletter.

May this day find you well and richly blessed!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Absolute and Unyielding Grace!
Roy



Pastor's Report – December 2015

Well, what a wonderful weekend we just had!  We all woke up Saturday morning to snow covered sidewalks, a genuine winter wonderland!  I started out scooping the walks in preparation for the God's Portion Sale and eventually Scott DeVries and the Daisy clan showed up to help.  Lonnie started up the new snow blower and we made short work of the clean-up.

As most everyone should know by now the God's Portion Sale was a tremendous success!  With the proceeds from the lunch included we topped $ 9,000 for the event.  What a great turn out!  The meal that Donna Westcott prepared was fantastic especially considering all the stress she'd been through with dealing with Clyde's hip surgery just a few days before and only getting back to Lake City the afternoon before the event.  I was so very impressed with the Sale, and I am only sorry that Gail wasn't able to be with us, unfortunately on top of the weather she also fell ill the day before and wasn't up to traveling.  Thankfully though she will be with us all this coming weekend for the first Sunday of Advent.

I want to thank everyone who donated items to the auction, as well as all those who came and purchased items.  It takes both forms of contributions in order to make this a successful event.  Special thanks go out to Leon & Judy Hendricks and Clyde & Donna Westcott for agreeing to chair and manage the event.  You all did a fabulous job in putting together this wildly successful sale.  Thanks especially to Leon for all the hustling about and acquiring donations from local businesses!  A thanks to Jeff Frank for assembling the shelves and display for the Sale, Jeff came up and did this all by himself late one night.  I still can't believe he was able to pull that off alone, but he did it...

On Sunday, we had a great turn out for both the worship service and Thanksgiving dinner.  Thank you to both Brenda and Barb for preparing such a wonderful meal!  Thank you also to Linda Potts for getting a birthday cake for me, and a thank you to the entire congregation for all your well wishes and cards for my birthday.  You are all the very best and I do so appreciate you all!

The Community Thanksgiving Worship Service was held here at WCC that same afternoon and we had a great attendance there as well.  I'm very proud of the way that our membership turns out for these Community Services, we had a great representation at the event this last summer in the Square and we did so again this last weekend.  Thank you all!  Thank you also to Jodi for setting up snacks for after the service and also for setting up snacks for after the 'Hanging of the Greens' in the Sanctuary.  Which we did after our guests from the Community Service had left the Church.

Watching the Sanctuary being converted from its Fall trappings to its full blown Christmas attire was a magical experience.  Everyone was like a bunch of little bees going about setting up the decorations in the long tradition of Woodlawn Christian Church.  Many of these decorations have been here for many, many years and are a large part of the members experience of this most blessed Holiday Season.  What a wonderful thing to become a part of.  Thank you to all that helped out, though I could see that it was a labor of love and everyone was enjoying themselves tremendously.

This coming weekend is the first Sunday of Advent, the Sunday when we will be lighting the 'Hope' candle.  With all the uncertainty and senseless violence that we see in the World today, perhaps there has been no time in history when we needed to so fully place our 'Hope' in our Lord and Savior.  We place our 'Hope' in Christ, and we know that He will provide and guide us and the World through these perilous times.  Praise be to God!

Ryan Daisy and Emily Winker are back from school at UNI for this coming weekend and will kick off the Advent season for all of us here at WCC by lighting the candle of 'Hope'.  I sincerely, hope that you all will join us in this amazing time in the Church Calendar, the celebration of the Advent season and the expectation of the birth of the Christ-child.

God's Love to you all and remember always to, “be a blessing to someone today!”
Pastor Roy