Thoughts From the Pastor, December 2009

"Giving and Getting"

As a kid I did most of my Christmas shopping on Main Street, Nora Springs, Iowa. (Actually our main street is named Hawkeye Ave but that would only infu- riate our Gopher fans.) There was Arvella’s gift store that had all kinds of knick knacks and cards. There was Tatum’s Hardware which pretty much was just a hard- ware store with some comic books to keep the kids at bay. The place I was most likely to shop was the Gamble’s store. They had everything anybody could want (unless you wanted to go through the Sears catalog.)

I would find cookie cutters for my mom and grandma (neither of which liked making sugar cookies.) I got a raincoat in a pouch for my grandpa. Dad was harder to buy for but Gamble’s had different tools or a pair of work gloves. I got my mom wooden spoons even though she would occasionally use them on children who were a little too “stirred up.” Gambles had plenty of toys to select for my sisters too. It was a one stop shop.

After carefully selecting and purchasing my gifts, I would take them home and wrap them, store them un- der my bed or in my dirty clothes hamper in the closet and wait for closer to Christmas to put them under the tree. I don’t recall a lot of the gifts that I received those Christmas’ of my youth. But I do remember how ex- cited I was to give the gifts and to await the reactions of my family as they opened them. I remember the giving more than the getting.

Christmas is the season of giving. It all began when God gave us Jesus on that first Christmas morning. Fully knowing that God would not get an equal gift ex- change- God was excited to give us Jesus. The angel choir burst with song “glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to all on whom God’s favor rests.” (Luke 2:14) When God the Father gave us Jesus the Son we had primary access to forgiveness and eternal life. What a gift! What a giver! 

During this past year we have attempted to Reach New People for Christ and Cultivate Spiritual Vitality. The goal being that each person in the congregation be intentional about praying for, inviting, praying, cajoling, get down on our knees just one person that would connect, or connect in a stronger way, to God. One measurement of that would be for that person to begin to worship on a regular basis in some church by December 31st. God has chosen us to extend the gift of his son Jesus Christ. We will all do this in unique ways - the wrappings may be different. It may be that the person you have prayed for have yet to accept the gift. Don’t be discouraged - keep on reaching new people for Christ.

Christmas is also a season of getting. The angels announced that humans could receive peace. On Christmas we received the greatest gift - that the God of all creation intimately cares for each one of us. We come to understand this gift in a number of ways with reading God’s Word being of great importance. Our goal to cultivate spiritual vitality is that half the congregation would have read through the New Testament by the end of the year. I am aware that at least 74 people (not quite half- but very close) will have read through the New Testa- ment in 2009. Reading through the Bible helps us to “get” more of how God works in our lives and in the lives of others.

It is my prayer that as you enter into this season of Christmas you will enjoy the gifts of giving and getting.

Merry Christmas! Pastor Randy