12/4 Goode Thoughts

One of my daily practices is to read the email that comes from an organization called The Center for Action and Contemplation.  CAC was founded by Father Richard Rohr and is such a beautiful and powerful voice for the Gospel and for transformative work in the world.  If you want to sign up for their daily email, you can do so here.  

Anyway, this morning (Thursday) was one that spoke so deeply to me because it was not only written by an amazing writer, Rachel Held Evans, but also connected so much to what we focused on in worship this past Sunday - the whole focus of this reflection is on Mary's "Yes" and the way that her yes changed the world.  Here's how it starts:

I am more aware than ever of the startling and profound reality that I am a Christian not because of anything I’ve done but because a teenage girl living in occupied Palestine at one of the most dangerous moments in history said yes—yes to God, yes to a wholehearted call she could not possibly understand, yes to vulnerability in the face of societal judgment, yes to the considerable risk of pregnancy and childbirth… yes to a vision for herself and her little boy of a mission that would bring down rulers and lift up the humble, that would turn away the rich and fill the hungry with good things, that would scatter the proud and gather the lowly [see Luke 1:51–53], yes to a life that came with no guarantee of her safety or her son’s. 

I encourage you to take a few moments and read the rest of the reflection.  

Courageous Vulnerability - Mary's Yes

I hope you are blessed by her wisdom as much as I was this morning.  

Speaking of Advent...

Our Advent Potluck and Carol Sing is this Sunday at 4:30 in Fellowship Hall! We're going to share a great meal together, share some stories behind some well-known Carols, and we're going to be singing them too!

Please wear your most festive attire (can be classy Christmas stuff or could be more on the tacky side) and come open to the spirit of this season!

This would also be a great event to invite someone(s)! hint hint

Please contact Lynn Bradley if you have quesitons!

Saturday December 13 from 10-3, the distribution of the toys collected by Nate's Toy Box will be taking place at White Oak Christian Church. They like to have several people available to pray with people who request prayers when they come for the distribution. If you are able to make it for the whole time or even a part of it, we would be so appreciative. Please reach out to Julie at jlruter@yahoo.com or call her at 513-300-7511 to let her know your availability.

Also, there are several tags still left on the Nate's Toy Box Tree in the Gathering Area so if you haven't picked one(s) up, please do so this week!

Thank you!

In worship on December 14, we will be blessed by the gift of some amazing music. The majority of the service will be a Christmas Cantata entited Sing We Now of Christmas which was crafted by Howard Helvey. It is going to be a beautiful celebration for the third Sunday of Advent.

This would also be a great event to invite someone(s)...hint hint hint.

The Cantata also includes one of my favorite carols of the season - People Look East - such a joy-filled and life-filled carol!

Also just a brief reminder that our Christmas Eve service will be at 5:00pm on December 24 in the Sanctuary. It will be a service structured around our four-fold prayer of await, allow, accept, and attend as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Please make your plans for Christmas Eve to be able to participate in the service and please bring others to join you!