Greetings from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia!

I’m in the midst of the third class (The Testimony of Preaching Women) of my Doctorate of Ministry program.  This is a four year program and I am at the beginning of the second year of study.  In the year to come I will take another class in the summer plus begin work on my practicum.  The practicum will be a practical application of my studies to my ministry at New Life.  I am grateful for your support of my studies!  I will be home this weekend and then the class concludes on Friday, January 22^nd.  In the meantime, you can reach me on my cell phone or by e-mail or by contacting Shawna, our secretary, or Rocky Harnen, our lay leader.  They both know how to reach me.

We have several important meetings together over the next few weeks.  Please mark your calendars for the following dates:

Tuesday, Jan. 26         7 p.m.              Church Council

Saturday, Jan.30        9:30-12            Church Leader Training

We will vote on our budget for 2010 at the Church Council meeting so if you are a member of the Council, please make every effort to be there.  However, everyone is invited to attend and to ask questions.  Also, if you are one of our elected church leaders, you will receive a letter (and e-mail) late this week or early next week with more details about the training.  But please plan to be there.

Also, please keep our youth in your prayers.  Our youth director, Milanda Taylor, and three other adults as well as 22 of our youth will be at Sumatanga this weekend for the Behold retreat.  They will leave on Saturday and return on Monday.  Pray for travel safety, for fun and fellowship, but please pray especially for God to touch each life in a special way this weekend!

This week, we hear the beautiful words of the prophet, Isaiah:

For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a burning torch. ²The nations shall see your vindication, and all the kings your glory; and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. ³You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. ⁴You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate; but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married. ⁵For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your builder marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.  Isaiah 62:1-5

Old Testament scholar, Walter Brueggemann, points out in many of his writings that we learn about God in the Old Testament (and New for that matter) by what God does rather than by descriptions of the characteristics of God.  If that is true, then we learn about God by looking at the verbs used to describe God’s actions on behalf of Israel, the nations, and even all creation.  One of the things you discover is that we worship an active God.  A God who breaks into our histories and situations and acts on our behalf.  What I especially like about this passage is that there is no if, ands, or maybes in the passage! God SHALL do these things. 

·         What is Isaiah compelled to do? And why?

·         What does Isaiah fully expect God to do?

·         Women usually take a new name when they marry. But others are given nicknames and other endearing names by people who respect and/or love them.

o   Why is it important that Jerusalem and the land be renamed?

o   Have you ever been given a new name? 

§  What is the value of a new name?

§  What difference does it make to the one being renamed?

·         Think about those things that bring you joy and delight. 

o   How does it feel to be delighted?

o   How does it feel to know that God is delighted with us?

o   What difference does that or can that make in your relationship with God?

Just a few of the questions floating around in my mind this week.

I know it has been cold, but we’ve missed many of you in worship!  We hope to see you on Sunday!

Hope your holidays were blessed for everyone and I hope 2010 will be a great new year!  I am very excited about what I believe God has in store for New Life in the coming year as we begin to live out the vision God has given us! 

Beginning January 11^th through the 22^nd, I will be in Atlanta during the week as I continue my doctorate studies.  I will be home that weekend and will be present in worship with you.   If you need me, you can reach me at my cell or by e-mail while I am away.  Our secretary, Shawna, and our lay leader, Rocky Harnen, also know how to reach me as well as the pastor on call for me in case of any emergencies.

This Sunday is the 2^nd Sunday of Epiphany also known as the Baptism of the Lord Sunday, so we will focus on the meaning of baptism in the life of a Christian.  Our scripture this week comes from the book of Acts. As a result of persecution, Philip fled to Samaria where he continued to preach the gospel to very responsive Samaritans.

¹⁴Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. ¹⁵The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit ¹⁶(for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). ¹⁷Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.  Acts 8:14-17

·         This is one of many descriptions of baptism within the book of Acts—each of which is unique. Some receive the Holy Spirit prior to baptism (Acts 10:44-48), some at baptism (Acts 2:37-38) and in this case after baptism.  Given all these passages, what can we learn about the connection between baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit?

·         What do you think was the problem with being baptized only in the name of Jesus?

o   What did Peter and John do to fix the problem?

·         Why do you think baptism is such an important event in the life of a Christian?

o   If you are baptized, what does your baptism mean to you?

o   If you are not baptized, have you ever considered baptism? Is so, why have you chosen to remain unbaptized?  If not, why not?

Hope you are having a blessed 6^th day of Christmas!  This Sunday, we will conclude our Christmas celebrations as we hear the good news from the letter to the Ephesians:

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. ⁵He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. ⁷In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight ⁹he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, ¹⁰as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. ¹¹In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, ¹²so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. ¹³In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; ¹⁴this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.  Ephesians 1:3-14

As we conclude the Christmas season, we are reminded of the blessings we have received in Christ:  spiritual blessings, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, knowledge of the mystery of God’s will, an inheritance . . .  all this and more lavished upon us!  Makes most of our gift giving at Christmas seem pretty puny!

·         How would you describe the spiritual blessings you receive from your relationship with Christ?

·         Back in the 1970s, there was an evangelism campaign using bumper stickers that read: “I found it,” but this passage reminds us that we haven’t found God rather God has found and chosen us. 

o   What difference does it make in your life to believe that God has chosen you to be a part of his own people?

·         One phrase that is repeated several times in various ways is that all things happen in accordance with God’s will.  What does this passage tell us about God’s will?

·         This passage also reminds us that God’s plan is to gather “all things in him.”  If we are to be a part of God’s plan, what does it mean to our personal evangelism and our corporate ministry to work towards the day when “all things” on heaven and earth are gathered into God?

Have a happy and safe New Year!

See you on Sunday!

“The Bells Of Christmas”

Thursday December 24th at 6:30pm

Come join us as we ring bells, sing carols, celebrate Holy Communion, and hear the story of how and why God sent his son Jesus as a baby in a manger.  Come as you are and bring your family and friends!

 (please note the newsletter had the incorrect time!  The service is at 6:30 p.m.)

Sunday, Dec. 20th

7 a.m.

Hardees

Please join us!

Don’t forget to join us for our Christmas Choir Cantata—this Sunday at 9 a.m.!

Also, don’t forget to read and reflect on our Vision Statement, a copy of the statement can be found by clicking here.

On our final Sunday of Advent, we join Mary, the mother of Jesus, as she visits her cousin, Elizabeth. Both women are pregnant despite all the odds.  As they visit, we hear for the first time (other than from an angel) that the baby Mary is carrying is the Lord!

³⁹In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴²and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” ⁴⁶And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. ⁵⁰His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. ⁵²He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; ⁵³he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. ⁵⁴He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” ⁵⁶And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Luke 1:39-56

·         What’s a good Protestant to do with Mary?  While Mary is well regarded in Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican traditions, we tend to overlook her.  What can we learn from the Mother of Jesus?  What has our tradition lost by not paying attention to her?

·         Why do you think God choose Mary to be the mother of Jesus?

·         Elizabeth blesses Mary and the baby she is carrying. The word translated bless  in this passage is eulogeo which means “to speak well of,” “to praise,” “to bless,” or “to act kindly toward.”  It is the root of our English word Eulogy which generally refers to words said at a funeral (Isn’t it sad that we wait until then to bless, speak well of and praise others?!)  Why is Mary blessed?

·         Verses 46-55 are called The Magnificat from Mary’s opening words in which she declares that her soul “magnifies” the Lord.  What can we learn about God from Mary’s words?  What do these words indicate are the nature of the God revealed in the babe in the manger?

·         Does anything leap for joy within you when you hear these words?

See you on Sunday, when we—like Mary and Elizabeth—break into songs of praise for what God has done in Jesus Christ!

Be sure and join us Sunday, December 20th at 9 a.m. for the Sanctuary Choir’s Christmas Cantata:  “The Promise Fulfilled”!

• We have letter after letter proving that Paul was concerned and engaged with the struggles of his fellow Christians.  What do you think he meant when he said, “Do not worry about anything”?
• In the letter to the Philippians, Paul uses the words “rejoice” and “joy”14 times-Paul wants the Philippians to rejoice. In this translation, Paul says he wants them to rejoice “always.” The Greek word is pantote and it implies an on going activity-something we always do-always-at all times.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul says, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
  o   As those “in Christ Jesus,” why can we rejoice in all circumstances?
  o   How do we rejoice in all circumstances?
  o   What would be different about our lives if we rejoiced in all circumstances?
• What is Paul telling us about the importance of prayer?
• What difference does it make that our faith teaches us not only that Jesus “dwelt among us” 2000 years ago and that he will return again but also that even now he is “near”?
  o   What does it mean to say Jesus is “near”?
  o   What difference does that make to our daily lives?
• What is the good news the word needs to hear in Paul’s words to us this week?

While only two gospels contain the birth narrative of Jesus, all four tell the story of John, the son of Zechariah, and his role in preparing for the coming of Jesus.  So on the second Sunday of Advent each year (and often on the 3^rd Sunday too), John the Baptist shows up.  Nonetheless, John seems a strange addition to our Christmas season.  In a time when we are speaking of peace and goodwill, John comes proclaiming, “Repent! You brood of vipers!”  And somehow you have no doubt why John ended up losing his head!  This year, we hear Luke’s version of the story:

1 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ” 7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” 10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” Luke 3:1-10

·         One might expect the word of God to come to those in power and in powerful places, yet the word of God bypasses the obvious channels and instead comes to a wild man in the wilderness.

o   Why do you think God seems to speak clearest in the wilderness?

o   Why do you think God speaks through unlikely people?

o   Who might God be speaking through today?

·         In other gospels, John’s words of warning are directed toward the religious leaders but in Luke they are clearly directed toward the crowds.

o   What could John be saying to you today?

o   What does it mean to repent?

o   What are the fruits of repentance?  (You may want to read the remainder of the chapter!)

o   What do you need to do to prepare your heart for Christmas?

·         Having John the Baptist show up and disrupt our Christmas celebrations is a bit disconcerting.  Why you think we prefer comfortable holiday distraction to comfort-shattering calls to holiness and discipleship?

Just a few things I am pondering as we prepare our hearts for Christmas!