December 23, 2013

A Charlie Brown Christmas  quotes the Gospel of Luke in giving the real meaning of Christmas.  This is how the quote appears on IMDb:

 

[shouting in desperation]

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.

[moves toward the center of the stage]

Linus Van Pelt: Lights, please.

[a spotlight shines on Linus]

Linus Van Pelt: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'”

[Linus picks up his blanket and walks back towards Charlie Brown]

Linus Van Pelt: That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

 

Today’s box finds the expression of the real meaning of Christmas as inspired by Matthew’s Gospel.

 

She will bear a son,

and you are to name him Jesus,

for he shall save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

 

Here’s the photo:  

 

 

The real meaning of Christmas is the gift of the child, not the gifts under the tree.  The real meaning of Christmas is in love shared, and time spent with family and friends, and in service to others.  The real meaning of Christmas is found in living out the Gospel message of hope, peace, joy and love.

 

That’s the gift.  That’s why we wait.

 

Just one more day…

December 22, 2013

Today is the last Sunday of Advent, and the last candle in the circle of the Advent wreath, the candle of love, was lit early in the worship service.

And then it was time.  Eager hands flew up in anticipation of helping to open the box.  We actually opened two boxes together.  We opened yesterday’s ‘Let there be light…’ so we could see the power of the lit box.  And, we opened the box for today.

The wolf shall live with the lamb, 

the leopard shall lie down with the kid,

the calf, and the lion and the fatling together,

and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 11:6

Here’s what we found:

It is the words of the passage, doodled with care.  It is the spiritual practice of reflecting on a passage of scripture while writing.  It is a glimpse into our own connection with the words, and our own creativity.

The wolf shall live with the lamb…a statement of hope that the world can indeed be a different place.  ‘…and a little child shall lead them’.  It is a message that this world can be open to a new experience of God.  We can celebrate the love that is around us.  We can feed the hungry, and work for justice.  We can be instruments of peace and joy.  We can, because we are loved, and we believe that the world is not yet as God intends.

As we work for today and for the future, let us do so with in the light of the Advent candles of hope, peace, joy, and love!

Two boxes await!

December 21, 2013

There were a few of us gathered around the advent boxes when it was time to open this one.  It came with instructions, in small letters of the top of the box.  ‘Turn on switch before opening’.  The anticipation built as we turned on the switch, and opened the shining box.

Lights, and shining paper.  It glowed before us!

The scripture reading:  And God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light.  Genesis 1:3

The lights of the box shone forth in glory.  But wait, if you look closely you can see a word in the lights.  ‘Faith’.  There at the back of the box, suing in the lights was the call to faith.

Faith, that God is with us.

Faith, that we are loved.

Faith, that we can make a difference in the world.

Faith, that hope, peace, joy, and love will come together in the birth of a baby in Bethlehem.

Faith.

The lights shine and take our hearts on a journey to Christmas.

 

December 18, 2013

It is a small verse of scripture today, with, perhaps, a big meaning, and a big challenge for us.

He will feed his flock like a shepherd. 

Isaiah 40:11a

Today’s box came with a note from the creator:

My first thoughts when thinking about this scripture was food banks, especially because I volunteer weekly at the Nine Circles Community Health Centre food bank.  I had also distributed a list of all the place to eat for free in Winnipeg to some of the clients there and I knew that this would be a great list to start with.  The names glued throughout the box are the names of places where you can either get a free meal, or access to a food hamper.

I then wanted to represent people in all their colours and nationalities.  I was going to glue these forms to the bottom of the box, but then thought of the Last Supper.  So I glued these forms to a table being shared with Jesus.

Here’s the box:

Here’s a photo of the list at the bottom of the box:

Sharing food is sharing life.  And, sharing life is sharing food.  No one should be hungry.  We are called to be people who care for one another.

We journey together.

December 13, 2013

There is a sign on the tiny church in today’s box ‘Welcome All’.  There is a sign on the TMUC building in Winnipeg, ‘Welcome’.  There are signs in other places carrying a similar message, ‘All Welcome’, or ‘Come On In’.  Is it true that the church can be a place of welcome for people?  Can we open our doors and dare to say that anyone and everyone can find a place of grace?

Here’s today’s scripture and box:

I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

Psalm 122:1

The box reminds us that as much as the church should and could be welcoming, so should and could other places!  The beauty of nature welcomes us.  There are other places where people can gather and find shelter from the cold.  The newspaper clippings at the front of the box show just a few.  They give glimpses of ‘a good place to be’, or ‘I have a place to play with my friends and just be a kid’, to a house built to be a home.  

Maybe it is about being welcome, but maybe it is more than that, maybe we all need a place where we belong; where we are known; where we are accepted and loved.  Maybe that is the message that makes us glad.

December 12, 2913

It’s cold outside in Winnipeg today.  It is something like minus 30 degrees outside.  Did I say that it’s cold????  It’s really cold!  It is no wonder that today’s box is holding up ministries, missions, and programs that try to help people in the cold.

The inspiration is Luke 1:52

God has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly.

The box needed a little assembly today, the poles needed to be taped in place so that the signs would be lifted up.  The signs celebrate 1Hope Winnipeg, the Ladybug Foundation, Winnipeg Harvest, Koats for Kids and more.  People helping people needed to be lifted up.  These are stories that need to be told.  These are images that must find a place in our hearts.  These are the connections to people who live in the cold.  These are the ways in which we must help change the experience of our brothers and sisters in this earth.  We are called to help to lift up those in need.

We can make a difference.  We can live in hope and peace.

December 11, 2013

There is a regular Food Bank at the church, and it always brings around lots of hungry people. There are hungry people in the Transcona community, and we are not alone.  There are hungry people around every corner, they are our neighbours, our friends, ourselves.  It is an age old problem, some have too little, others have too much.  It is an age old song that is quoted in the Advent Box today:  God has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.  Luke 1:53. 

The age old song of hope is for justice and peace, for food and shelter, for love and grace for all.  The dream comes around day after day, moment after moment.  And because we believe that the world might be welcoming for all we keep on singing.  

My soul magnifies the Lord.

Joy to the World.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

God has filled the hungry with good things!

 

December 10, 2013

At The Little Drummer Boy Brunch, a community event held in the spirit of sharing a gift of PRESENCE with one another in order to find time away from the rush of PRESENTS, there was a conversation about Mary’s song.  We held magnifying glasses in our hands and talked about the word magnify.  Does it make things bigger which are almost impossible to see, does it make something big even bigger.  Here’s our box:  

 

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour. — Luke 1:46-47

The image of Mary kneels in front of the images.  There are images of the Annunciation, of the journey to Bethlehem, of the stable birth, and of cross.  Mary, present at all, with her ‘soul magnifying the Lord’.  

Mary lived a gift of presence as a witness to God’s love.  God’s love  is lived out in presence with us in all things, from days of blessing to days of despair and grief.  

Our lives have the ability to magnify God’s love when we care for one another.  We open this box on the day of Nelson Mandela’s funeral. Mandela lived a life that cared for justice and forgiveness and helped to build the rainbow nation of South Africa.  His vision for a peaceful country must have been almost impossible to see from his dark days of prison.  He continued to work and pray.  He continued to believe change was possible.  

Our lives may not have that kind of reach, but we can make a difference.  We can let God’s love be magnified in our living.  We can truly care for others.  We can be people of hope and peace.

We can live presence with one another.

 

December 9, 2013

…and there, ahead of them,

went the star that they had seen at it’s rising,

until it stopped over the place where the child was.

Matthew 2:9b

The star leads travellers to the birth of the Christ child.  In this box is the scene of a moment of gathering.  The star is tucked along the back, proclaiming the glory from afar.  This scene has the angel too, and shepherds and sheep.  It is a coming together moment, a moment of hope and peace.

In much of today’s world it is difficult to see the stars.  You have to be away from a city.  You have to be away from the ‘light pollution’ to really be able to experience the darkness of night in which the stars can shine.  Seeing the stars is a novelty for many, we prefer the safety and security of the nighttime artificial light for our paths.

Maybe that’s part of what we have lost.  By making the cities and beyond safer with night lights, we have lost the mystery and the wonder of the guiding light of the stars.  Maybe the light of a star could invite us to gather and to know the true gift of life.

ahead of them went the star…

December 8, 2013

We were back at church today to open Advent Box 8.  It was the church community in the church building, and there was an air of excitement about this time.  The children took the lead again.  There were many hands to hold the box, many hands to open the box and a young voice to read the scripture.  

When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honour them. Psalm 91:15

 

Threatening clouds in a dark sky.  Big waves.  A small boat.  A lighthouse.  Rocks.  Lightening.  There was lots to see and name.

After the naming was complete, children carried the box through the congregation for all to see.  It was precious cargo in young arms.  It was a message from God.  It was a promise.  It was hope and peace.  It was another step on the advent journey of waiting.