Call and Answer

As I am preparing to preach on Jesus' call to the first disciples as told to us in Mark's gospel, I found this lovely poem. 

Blessings, Emma.

Jesus called
Simon and Andrew.

No questions,
they dropped their nets.

James and John left their boats
and left their father
sitting in
one.

Jesus,
we hear you calling us.

We want to leave our boats
and drop our nets.
Help us let
go.

— written by Anne Osdieck.  Posted on The Center for Liturgy at Saint Louis University website.

The real work of Christmas

We have been taking down the Christmas decorations at home and at the church and it struck me that this is when the real work of Christmas begins.  How can we take the peace, hope, joy, and love of the Christ child and incorporate it into our daily lives? 

Here is a beautiful poem written by Howard Thurman that captures this sentiment much better than I will ever be able to do!

"When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,...
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…
And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins. 

Amen! 

Blessings, Emma. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7.

 

Merry Christmas

On behalf on my family, I would like to wish you all a blessed Christmas! 

May you experience our God and the joy, peace, hope, and hope that only He can give! 

Yours in Christ, Emma.

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Luke 2:16-20