Shouts of Joy!
On Thanksgiving, we give thanks for all that we have received, for the many blessings in our lives. Sometimes, the week of Joy during Advent can feel that way as well. After all, we give thanks for those things that bring us joy! For instance:
- Family
- Friends
- Faith Community
- Health
- Love
Those are all pretty generic, and the common answers during Thanksgiving. It’s kind of like shouting “Jesus” during a children’s sermon: It’s bound to be right! But, come on, we can get more specific that that:
- In worship that past Sunday, we had 143 in attendance. That puts us in line with the Pisgah “glory days”. In other words, “we’re back, baby!”
- In children’s church, during the service, there were 18 kids! The directors of the program came to the Christian Education meeting after church to let us know they had outgrown their space. What a problem to have!
- The youth had their cookie-walk fundraiser after worship and raised over $500.00 in cookie sales, which either means they did a great job or we eat way too many sweets at Pisgah!
There are many specific reasons for us to give shouts of joy right now! But, as always, there are also reasons to lament, reasons to worry:
- The Stewardship Campaign is going a little slower that we hoped. As with every other non-profit in America, we are constantly staring at the budget!
The pews are getting full, which means we may have to begin a second service soon. What a joy! But, there is also the concern of what it will do to our congregation. Will we lose some of our intimacy (see the picture to the left)?
- Cancer- Need I say more?
- Aging Parents, illness, fear, Somalia, etc, etc, etc….
There are plenty of things to worry about, things that threaten to bring us down. In my sermon on Sunday, I said that Joy is the least understood of our 4 words for Advent, because people think it is a synonym for “happy”, which it is not. So, as I did with the children during the children’s sermon on Sunday, I’ll do the same to you: Pop Quiz!!!
- If joy is not a synonym for happy, then what is it?
- How do we find joy in our suffering? How does that make us distinctly Christian?
- Think of the darkest hour of your life. Where did joy come from? (hint: If you use the word Emmanuel in the answer, you are on the right track!)
I had lunch with Jud on Friday, and he had a great idea. In the midst of all that he is going through, he said, “wouldn’t it be fun if we all grew beards to raise money for the American Cancer Society, specifically for men’s cancer treatments and support?” Fun. Well, you’re going to see quite a few beards around church in the next few months (read all about it in the January Pisgah Post).
Friends, joy isn’t about being happy. Joy is knowing that John 3:16-17 (don’t leave out verse 17) are true. If these thoughts have provoked thoughts of your own, please share them.
Peace and Grace (and joy!)
Pete
My hair is not working well and I gave up beards long ago anyway. So at the risk of being a pooper…I will agree to grow mine and hope no one is disappointed that it does not grow (due to lack of ability or a sharp razor-I won’t tell which). Muhahaha!!!
Jud & Tavner, this beard is for you !
Joe J
Joe- Does that mean you are number 5 in the starting 5? I’ll explain what that means later:) But, at this point, the starting 5 would be Jim R., Jud, Tavner (assuming he agrees!), Joe, and me. Note: We have to wait until January 1st to begin so that that competition is fair…Woohoo!
Joe Johnson can grow a pretty good winter beard. He says he does it to stay warm, but I think its an excuse not to shave. (I don’t mind it, as long as its gone by Easter-when is Relay again?) With regard to 2nd service- I loved the early service and so did my kids. Problem is: the youth who would like a more relaxed service would rather sleep a few extra hours on Sunday than get to church by 8;45. Would anyone consider having the “traditional” service at 8:45 followed by Sunday School and a more “contemporary” service at 11:00? (And when I say contemporary- I do NOT mean projecting words to songs on a screen and singing the same 5 words 5 times over and over… I just mean “different than the service to which we are accustomed”.)
I have really missed the early service. It was casual and relaxed with some awful singing. I know it will be extra work for Pete, but it is worth it. Wasn’t it great when Peter Damaska would play guitar and sing? And was it Chuck? that could sing like an angel.
I am with Jennifer on the beard thing.
Joy to the World!
Tavner could grow a beard, but interestingly, not a mustache. Chemo has inexplicably done away with hair on his upper lip, but he’s continuing to keep Schick in business to tend to his beard!
As for the possibility of a second service, agree that this is a reason for concern. It always is when we aren’t in the path of seeing those we have become so fond of seeing. It’s a blessing, too. What a problem to have.
“It’s a blessing, too” pertains to a reason to contemplate a second service, not to avoid seeing certain people. Ha!
Part of the “beard” thing is a competition with Maxwell Street Presbyterian. Each church will have a “starting 5″, and I was hoping Tavner would be one of them…
Honestly, my first thought upon reading this was, “Oh, no! Beards!!!” I guess that puts me in the category of being a “Kill Joy.” Where can I donate to stop this?!
NOTE TO HUSBAND: Don’t even think about it!
Now, there’s an interesting twist: donating to stop the beards! Hmm… And, speaking on interesting twists, Ben, we’re expecting big things in the beard department:)