Vacation update

I went to see True Grit. Great movie! Here are some highlights...

The movie begins with Proverbs 28:1... The wicked flee when no man pursueth:

The movie also has a musical variation and theme from the hymn, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms". It is throughout the entire movie, and you have to stay during the credits to hear the sung version. Enjoy!

forgiveness.

This week at Tabernacle: Forgiveness.

"If you think that I could be forgiven - I wish you would." Counting Crows.

Below is a quote from Rev. Adam Hamilton, pastor of The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection. He says,

“It is unfortunate that sometimes Christianity is associated with guilt. To many people, we’re known for preaching guilt – but a Christianity obsessed with guilt is no Christianity. We must understand and be clear about our sin. If we are not aware of our sin we go on hurting others, living self-absorbed little lives. But the purpose of preaching about sin is to bring healing. People don’t study medicine so they can tell people that they are sick! Doctors study medicine so that they can heal those who are sick. But they can’t offer healing until the patient understands they are sick.
So it is with Christianity – we speak about the human struggle with sin in an attempt to diagnose the spiritual malady that afflicts us all. But the goal is not to tell you that you are sick, but to offer you the medicine that makes you well. It is not to simply ask the question, but to lead you to the answer! Yes, we’re all sinners and this is a serious issue. But God is a God of grace and mercy!”

A long december.

Beginning on January 2nd.

I invite you to join me at Tabernacle as we begin 2011 with hope. Please have a safe and happy New Year's Eve tonight! The next few weeks are based off of the song 'a long december' by the Counting Crows. Below are the full lyrics to the song. We will be using some of these allusions as we see how the Gospel brings Hope for a new Year.

This week - living hope.

January 9 - passing moments.

January 16 - forgiveness.

January 23 - a new day.

A long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember the last thing that you said as you were leaving
Oh the days go by so fast

And it's one more day up in the canyons
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think that I could be forgiven
I wish you would
(Na na na, etc. yeah)

The smell of hospitals in winter
And the feeling that it's all a lot of oysters, but no pearls
All at once you look across a crowded room
To see the way that light attaches to a girl

And it's one more day up in the canyons
And it's one more night in Hollywood
If you think you might come to California
I think you should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)

Drove up to Hillside Manor sometime after 2 a.m.
And talked a little while about the year
I guess the winter makes you laugh a little slower
Makes you talk a little lower about the things you could not show her

And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass

And it's one more day up in the canyon
And it's one more night in Hollywood
It's been so long since I've seen the ocean
I guess I should
(Na na na, etc. yeah)

Special Events

There are a lot of exciting things happening at TUMC in the next few weeks...

Dec 19th -

Christmas Breakfast - 9 am

Combined Worship Service - Sanctuary - 10:15 am

Special Children's Program - 6 p.m.

Dec 24th - Candlelight Christmas Eve

7 p.m and 11 p.m. Worship

7 p.m. - Traditional Worship led by organ and choir

11 p.m. - relaxed atmosphere with music led by our praise team.

Dec 26th -

No Sunday School

Combined Worship Service - Sanctuary - 10:15 am

January 2nd - A Long December Sermon Series Launches!

We hope you will join us during this beautiful season of hope.

Joy to the World

Isaac Watts, the great hymn writer, who also wrote 'When I survey the Wondrous Cross' penned the famous Christmas Eve hymn. You remember it right....

Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king.

Let every heart prepare him room and heaven and nature sing.

What's interesting about this hymn is that it was not originally intended for Christmas, but more for the Second Coming of Christ. This is what Advent is - a preparing. We not only prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas, but we prepare to receive Him as returning King . Advent is a good season to prepare for both honestly. Is there room in your heart? Jesus said to be ready and to keep watch. Be prepared. He desire to come to you, and He is coming again. When we sing this hymn with lit candles celebrating the birth of Christ, remember the hymn writer wants to turn our attention to when Christ returns. Amen.

Only at Christmas Time

Here are some lyrics from one of my favorite musicians, Sufjan Stevens. He will be on constantly from now through the Christmas Season.

Only at Christmas time

Only a tree to climb

Only at Christmas time

If you can read the sign

Only at Christmas time

Everything lost will find

Only at Christmas time

We remember that, 'cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree'. There is no Calvary without Bethlehem. I love how he puts the line - "only a tree to climb." I want to remember while I am shopping that not only is Jesus the 'reason for the season', or that he was 'born that man no more may die', but that he climbed the cross for me. This is a beautiful song mixed with beautiful and thought provoking lyrics. Merry Christmas.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Community Thanksgiving Service last night! Thank you for those who participated. Here are a few thoughts from John 13:

¹ It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him...

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

As you gather around your table, how are you going to show the full extent of your love? Will you choose to serve rather than being served? Think about those around the table with Christ - Peter the denier, Judas the betrayer, the other deserting disciples. He has set for us an example. When we choose not to serve, we are saying that we are greater than the Master. Do you want God's blessings in your life this Thanksgiving? Serve. You will be blessed if you do these things. Happy Turkey Day.