- Sunday, December 1, 2013 - Christmas Caroling - Meet at church at 2:30pm to pack the plates, and leave around 3:00pm.
- Sunday, December 22, 2013 - Youth Sunday - Breakfast will be served at 9:30am and the youth will lead the morning worship.
- Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - Christmas Eve Service at 6pm.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Upcoming Events for December
Pastor's Penpoint - "It's a Present, Not a Past" - December 2013
Christmas is the yearly celebration of the birth of Jesus, but it is truly a gift that we must experience each day. I share with you the following thoughts -- based on a meditation by an anonymous author -- which enlighten us during the busy holiday season and sums up the true meaning of what we hope to celebrate as people of faith.
Hoping your Christmas is merry and bright!
~ Pastor Todd
- Christmas is a present, not a past.
- Christmas should not be just a historical date to remember, but a gift to be lived.
- When you decide to love those around you, that day is Christmas.
- When you take the first step to be at peace with a loved one, that day is Christmas.
- When you meet someone who asks for help and you assist them with all your heart, that day is Christmas.
- When you take time to talk to someone who is lonely and sad, that day is Christmas.
- When you understand that resentment can be transformed by forgiveness, that day is Christmas.
- When you let go of something to give to someone who needs it more than you, that day is Christmas.
- When you realize that love, service and authentic concern are the best gifts, that day is Christmas.
- When you decide to live with joy and hope rather than surrender to fear and sadness, that day is Christmas.
Hoping your Christmas is merry and bright!
~ Pastor Todd
Monday, November 18, 2013
Pastor's Penpoint - "A Little Birdie Told Me" - November 2013
He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm46:10)
The office I work in at Bridgewater College is a little off the main campus. It is actually in an old house that sits alongside residential neighbors. As I look out my bay window from time to time, I see the neighbor's cars parked right outside. Something caught my eye this week ... a movement around the cars ... and I sat for a full 10 minutes watching what was happening.
A bird was responsible for the action ... but it was the action itself that was so interesting. The bird would fly to the top of the car, and then systematically move from window to window trying to fly in, or at least I first thought. What I realized is the bird was moving from window to window trying to fight its own reflection. It would take on the fight and then it would catch its reflection in the next window ... constantly moving on to the next fight. I don't know if it was frustration, fear or anger that motivated that bird, but this went on the entire time I was watching. I don't know how the fight ended because I was distracted by a phone call.
I've thought about that bird a lot this week. I think its story is important for us - especially as we enter the rush and chaos that is the holiday season. We too, like that bird wear ourselves out and down by fighting our own reflection (or more to the point what the world convinces us our reflection should be). We move from fight to fight with ourselves from one holiday to the next. Self-imposed deadlines and expectations is our enemy - and we see within ourselves something worth fighting ... but the battle is never ending because expectations and deadlines never cease.
Is it frustration, fear or anger that causes us to fight so hard against ourselves? God tells us ... be still and know that I am God. What a simple message - but one wrapped in so much truth and promise. I know it will be hard to not fight our reflection this holiday season - but God still counsels us ... be still ... and know ...
As the holidays gear up let us look into the reflection of our Lord, and in him find peace for our souls.
~ Pastor Todd
The office I work in at Bridgewater College is a little off the main campus. It is actually in an old house that sits alongside residential neighbors. As I look out my bay window from time to time, I see the neighbor's cars parked right outside. Something caught my eye this week ... a movement around the cars ... and I sat for a full 10 minutes watching what was happening.
A bird was responsible for the action ... but it was the action itself that was so interesting. The bird would fly to the top of the car, and then systematically move from window to window trying to fly in, or at least I first thought. What I realized is the bird was moving from window to window trying to fight its own reflection. It would take on the fight and then it would catch its reflection in the next window ... constantly moving on to the next fight. I don't know if it was frustration, fear or anger that motivated that bird, but this went on the entire time I was watching. I don't know how the fight ended because I was distracted by a phone call.
I've thought about that bird a lot this week. I think its story is important for us - especially as we enter the rush and chaos that is the holiday season. We too, like that bird wear ourselves out and down by fighting our own reflection (or more to the point what the world convinces us our reflection should be). We move from fight to fight with ourselves from one holiday to the next. Self-imposed deadlines and expectations is our enemy - and we see within ourselves something worth fighting ... but the battle is never ending because expectations and deadlines never cease.
Is it frustration, fear or anger that causes us to fight so hard against ourselves? God tells us ... be still and know that I am God. What a simple message - but one wrapped in so much truth and promise. I know it will be hard to not fight our reflection this holiday season - but God still counsels us ... be still ... and know ...
As the holidays gear up let us look into the reflection of our Lord, and in him find peace for our souls.
~ Pastor Todd
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