FROM THE
PASTOR’S DESK

I’ve been a fan of the Peanuts gang since childhood and Christmas for me starts when I hear Linus recite Luke 2:8-20.  Charlie Brown was afraid that he never understood the real meaning of Christmas and Linus reminds him that the real holiday doesn’t focus on presents and cards, the perfect tree, or worrying about all the things we are expected to do perfectly. The real meaning of Christmas centers upon a holy baby.

As a pastor, I have heard the angel’s words many times and they often lose their impact. Angels are divine messengers, described as very large beings radiating light from being in God’s presence. None are described as beautiful blonde women in flow-y gowns or little cherubs with wings. Who would be afraid of a message from them? The Christmas angels are not described in detail but those who heard God’s message from their lips were extremely afraid. Were they afraid of what they saw or did they recognize them as beings close to God and feared for their lives? In those days nobody expected to live after experiencing God.

To the shepherds the angel said, “Don’t be afraid! I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.” The long promised Savior has arrived as a helpless infant. Instead of announcing a royal birth to important people, God chose to announce this miracle to the little people working their menial jobs to support their families. Could it be that God actually cares about the lowly as well?

The shepherds now understood that the real meaning of Christmas is God inhabiting a human body so that he could
be with us as a human and experience creation in an intimate way. God wants to be in relationship with us and wants all humanity, all creation to experience God. What could there be better news than that? God desires our companionship, not our trembling fear; God wants to be embraced and loved like an infant in a mother’s arms.

As we move into this holiday season, let’s ask Spirit, How can we dwell with and embrace this awesome God? How can we share that experience with others?   (WS)

Prayer Practice: St. Augustine said “The one who sings prays twice.” Many Christmas hymns inspire awe and praise. Sing or listen to a few of your favorite hymns involving angels, such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Angels, From the Realms of Glory, or Angels We Have Heard on High. If you do not have the music, look up the words on the Internet and read through them slowly. Allow the words to inspire your own praise. (WS)

Creative Prompt:  Spend a few minutes flipping through a magazine, tearing our 10 or 12 images and/or words that call to you as you focus on “messengers from God” and “God’s message”.  Arrange and rearrange those images on a piece of paper, trim as needed until it feels done and you have created a collage that resonates with you.  Paste these pieces down with a glue stick or clear tape and place it somewhere in your home to see and reflect on during this Advent season.  (SH)

PRAYER CLOSET
The Prayer Circle will meet December 1, 2010, January 5 & 19, and February 2 & 16, 2011 at 5:30 PM (weather permitting). Please join us for refreshing and peaceful prayer experiences.

Pastor Wanda would like to announce that the book she co-authored with Suzanne Halstead,  Drawing Nearer: Devotional Workbook of Creative Prayer, is now in print. The Prayer Practice and Creative Prompt above are written in the style featured in the book.

Drawing Nearer is not your typical devotional!  Not your average workbook! For each person, the experience will be unique. Experience this hands-on 8-week journey of personal reflection and creative participation by blending a variety of ancient and new contemplative prayer practices paired with open-ended art activities. Weekly topics include: Search, Plunge, Walk, Dig, Hold, Mine, Tumble & Shine.

This book has been in the making for over 2 years. It’s been a labor of love. If you are interested in seeing a copy, the pastor will have one in her office. Copies are for sale if you desire one. A discounted price is available until December 15th. There is more info on the website www.drawingnearer.com.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Wanda

RELATIONSHIP COVENANT
“HOLY MANNERS”

PURPOSE “The Zion’s Red Church Relationship Covenant” establishes “holy manners” to be used in our life together as God’s people. Let us remind ourselves that Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22: 37-40 (NIV)
 
OUR PROMISES TO GOD
1.  We promise to put God first in our lives. (Philippians 1:9-11)

2.  We promise to listen to God’s direction for us, through prayer, worship, scripture reading, and experience and to seek God’s guidance and wisdom in discerning what’s best for our church. (Hebrews 10:16, 1 Cor. 14:26, Proverbs 1:7)

3. We promise to thank God for all our blessings and the growth that can come from the opportunities in our lives. (Romans 12:15, Philippians 4:4)

OUR PROMISE TO EACH OTHER
 1. We promise to recognize each person as a child of God, and as such we will raise each person up rather than put them down.  Because God loves us unconditionally, we will treat all members and guests with respect, dignity, kindness, and compassion. (James 1:19, Ephesians 4:29)

2.  We promise to share our gifts and talents to serve the church when opportunity and need arises. (Ephesians 4:11-13, Revelation 2:19)

3.  We promise to include our joys as well as our challenges in our prayers, not praying for the triumph of our viewpoint, but seeking God’s grace to listen attentively, to speak clearly, and to remain open to the vision God holds for all of us. (Ephesians 1:16, Colossians 1:9-10)

 4.  We promise to support our church pastor, staff, and leaders so that their efforts can be most productive for the church. (1Timothy 2:1,
2 Cor. 1:11, Romans 15:30)

 5.  We promise to try to discover what is best for our church as a whole, not what may be best for the individual or for some small group within the church. (Romans 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:26)

6.  We promise to acknowledge the existence of our differing opinions. When majority decisions are made, not everyone will agree with the outcome. When that occurs, we promise to refrain from stirring up oppositional support if our views were not chosen. (Philippians 3:15-16)

7.  We promise to honor and respect, but not idolize our history, buildings, or property, and be open to doing new things, or old things in new ways. (Exodus 20:3, Luke 4:8)

8.  We promise to always remember the “Golden Rule”: Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Matthew 7:12, Luke 6:31)