Are we staying alert to daily spiritual lessons through daily activities?

Have you ever taken note as to how the Bible beautifully interweaves the culture and the customs of the times and places in which its events occur. Although the cultural references were well known to the people who lived in those biblical times, many of them are unfamiliar to us in our daily lives.  Many everyday cultural activities are used to teach spiritual lessons.  The threshing floor, the winnowing fork and chaff seem foreign to us today as many of these tools have been replaced by mechanical operations, but the tools for making bread and the bread itself were vital in the Biblical days of John the Baptist.  Let's look at a few of the tools John the Baptist used in this week's Gospel lesson (Mt. 3:1-12) which provides a very effective visual interpretation of God's judgement.
Threshing removes the grain of wheat or barley from the stalk and husk. A common way of threshing was to pile the stalks and husks on the threshing floor where cows or oxen trampled them. Their feet “threshed” the grain from the stalk.
The winnowing fork looked similar to a pitch fork.  The winnowing fork was used to toss the wheat in the air to separate the wheat from its outer coating of chaff.
The chaff would be carried off by the wind or later burned while the heavier grain fell to the floor.  This would have been a very effective visual for the Pharisees and Sadducees of the time.  Although these methods seem foreign to us today I think we can also see just what John the Baptist was trying to convey.  We can see the hand of the Lord in our lives today as the powerful wind of the Holy Spirit blows away the chaff of sin from our lives; separating us from the cares of this life to prepare us for the world to come. God's message hasn't changed since the time of John the Baptist.  He may have used different cultural references today to express His message.  Maybe in the form of computer analogies....the delete key verses the save key?  Who knows, but His message stays true. God expects us to learn spiritual lessons from our daily lives. He wants us to repent, to be active in our obedience, to be productive in resisting temptation, serving others and sharing His word.  Are we staying alert to His daily spiritual lessons in our daily activities?
Come take some time this week to "prepare the way for the Lord" through so many Advent offerings:
Wednesday Night Supper: 5:45 in Satterlee Hall followed by an Advent Hymns program and a children's Advent program.
Friday Night: Kid's Movie Night and a parent's "Stained Glass Along".
Sunday worship followed by Evensong at 4:00 and a children's Evensong program.
 
 

How can I put more Advent into Christmas?

I am only writing this because I am so guilty of setting our "Christmas Machine" to high the day after Thanksgiving and turning it completely off the day after Christmas.  Much of this blog comes from a wonderful book titled Unplug the Christmas Machine.  It traces the history of how the Christmas machine was invented around 1906 with an upsurge of consumer economy, mass production and the nation as a whole was found enjoying a comfortable economic status.  Christmas began to look very different from that which the Cratchit's enjoyed.  The Cratchit's Christmas centered around the table, singing and family.  No wonder Scrooge was in Baa-Humbug mode; he had no way to profit from that!  A 1919 add in the New York Times was just the fuel the Christmas Machine needed: "Don't give your family and friends frivolous gifts that are sure to disappoint, buy them worthy gifts that will let them know how much you care."  UUUGGGHHH!  And so it went, people were totally unaware of how this rise in commercialism would abate the true meaning of the season of Advent and Christmas.  I believe there is an overwhelming desire to start the year (yes, the church calendar year begins with Advent!) with a "festival of renewal that kindles our faith, brings us closer to those we care about and brings light and laughter to the dark days of winter.  We want to ward off the commercial excess of the season and create an authentic, joyful celebration in tune with our unique needs and desires" (Unplug the Christmas Machine)
So how can we slow down and enjoy the golds and browns of Thanksgiving before focusing on the reds and greens of Christmas?  How do we turn December 25th into the beginning of the season and not the end?  How do we desensitize our children and ourselves from thinking all of those brand name toys will bring happiness and fulfill our regret for not meeting unspoken needs during the year?  Throughout the 9 chapters of Unplug the Christmas Machine Jo Robinson and Jean Coppock Staehli offer some great advice. 
* Vow to do one or two of your favorite traditions this year.  Save the others for the next coming years.
* Develop a core list (did you get that? a "core" list) of all of those activities you agree on as a family are essential and then divide the necessary tasks.
* Simplify gift giving.
Let's sit on this last one for a minute...
The list for Santa is fun for everyone.  It can be a time of creativity, a lesson in prioritizing, a good lesson on how to address an envelope; but I also believe it can be an exercise in a child's deep rooted silent desire for something more this season.  Family time, an evenly paced season, reliable family traditions and boundaries for realistic expectations.  Gosh, wouldn't this just be nice in daily life...Yes, in a perfect world it would be nice to accomplish all four of these, but reality exists.  I challenge you and your family to determine how this season of Advent and Christmas will look differently this year while still enjoying those family traditions at an even pace. Robinson and Staeheli suggest even though we are doing those things we have looked forward to and those things that signal it is Christmas, many of us are left with a "spiritual hole".  How will we intentionally and decisively fill this spiritual hole this Advent and Christmas by turning our focus on the waiting and watching for the Christ child and the celebration of His birth?
Unplug and come to Trinity for Advent:
Advent Festival: Sunday, December 18th Lessons and Carols begins at 4:00 followed by a chili cook-off and Advent wreath making in Satterlee Hall.  There will be kid friendly food and children's Advent art projects.
Sunday School in Advent: Come meet the characters of Christmas with Dean Jones during the Sunday school hour.  Children and youth will also be studying these same characters.
Evensong: come to Evensong 4-5 on Sundays during Advent.  Children are also invited to a Children's Evensong during this time in the Storyroom.
Christmas Bags:  Come pack Christmas bags for Transitions and our Sunday morning breakfast guests in Satterlee Hall December 18th during the Sunday school hour.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsal:  Come be part of the Christmas story!  We will rehearse at 10:0am on Tuesday, December 20th and then enjoy brunch and costume fittings.
Christmas Eve Services: 4:00pm, 7:00pm and 11:00pm
Christmas Day Services: 7:45 am and 10:00am with a special "Blessing of the Toys"

From Advent to Easter....

Advent 1 is 12 days away and Ash Wednesday is 106 days away!  What memories will mark these special times where we wait for that precious baby Jesus and then find ourselves, very shortly thereafter' in 40 days of fasting, service and prayer.  Below you will find several opportunities to fellowship, times for quiet reflection, times for creative fellowship and reflection all at once.

Advent to Easter for Children at Trinity

 

Advent Festival: Come enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship as we begin our watch for the Christ Child.  Chili cook-off, kid friendly food, Crismons, Advent wreaths and children’s Advent art just to name a few of the fun happenings. November 27th 5:00 in Satterlee Hall.

Kid’s Movie Night:  The first Friday of each month 6-8pm children will enjoy supper together followed by a favorite flick in the Edward Room.

Advent Evensong for Children:  Each Sunday in Advent (December 4^th, 11^th and 18^th) 4:00-5:00, children are invited to the Story Room to sing, dance and reflect on the season through Advent hymns.

Wednesday Night Suppers in Advent:  Supper will be served at 5:45 in the Stirling Room followed by a special program in the Story Room to discover the Jesse Tree, holy and ivy and other plants at Christmas. November 30th, December 7th and 14th.

Packing of the Christmas Bags: On December 18th during the Sunday school hour, we will ALL meet in Satterlee Hall for a devotional and then we will pack the Christmas bags for our Sunday morning guests on Christmas morning.

Pageant Rehearsal:  Join us at 10:00am Tuesday, December 20^th in the Cathedral for the Christmas Eve pageant rehearsal followed by brunch and costume fitting.

Blessing of the Toys: At 10:00 Christmas morning, bring a special toy to be blessed during the service.

Wednesday Night Programming: The Gospel according to Ice Cream.  “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” (Ps. 34:8).  Your child will not want to miss one session of this 8-week study! This study will be followed by a look at Lent through the eyes of God’s animals. Stay tuned for more information on both of these exciting studies.

Discovery Place: Meet us in the Cathedral Parking lot Monday, January 16^th at 8:00am to caravan to Discovery Place in Charlotte, NC for a day filled with fun and discovery! 

Kanuga:  A parish weekend full of fun, fellowship with friends and our Father! "Salt and Light" February 3-5, 2017.

Race for the Place: Get your running shoes on and come join us Saturday, February 18^th at 9:00 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church for the Kid’s Fun Run to support St. Lawrence Place.

Columbia Children’s Theater: Ms. Nelson is Missing!  Come help find Ms. Nelson at the Columbia Children’s Theater.  Date: Sunday, February 26^th at 3:00pm

Shrove Tuesday: Tuesday, February 28^th join us at 5:45 in Satterlee Hall for a Pancake Supper followed by a bounce house, balloon twister and games for all ages in the gym.

Ash Wednesday: Special Ash Wednesday Liturgy Preparation during the 5:30 pm service.

Columbia Marionette Theater: Saturday, March 25th at 11:00, we will be treated to a lively, toe-tapping adventure of The Wizard of Oz.

Maundy Thursday and Instructional Eucharist Service: Meet us in the Cart Courtyard at 5:00 April 13th for the lesson of Jesus’s greatest example of serving others and children’s foot washing, followed by an instructional Eucharist service in Keenan Chapel and a soup supper in Satterlee Hall.

Holy Saturday: Saturday, April 15^th meet us in the Cart Courtyard to dye Easter eggs.  Please bring 2 dozen hard boiled eggs for dying.

What will tomorrow look like?

I am guessing many of us are wondering that today, Tuesday, November 8,2016, "What will tomorrow look like?" after all of the thousands of balloons and pounds of confetti have been swept away?  This is what I believe. It will be another cool fall day where God's beautiful, perfect sovereignty will reign supreme.  I will sing to the Lord a new song for he has done marvelous things.  With his right hand and his holy arm he has won for himself the victory! (Ps. 98).  

In this week's Gospel (Lk. 21:5-19), some are remarking on the beauty of the temple yet unaware of the political chaos, religious and social rejection this place would experience.  Jesus then warns of days when not one stone will be left on another.  Of course the disciples ask when and what will be the signs?  I absolutely would have asked the same thing!  I don't like surprises, never have, never will.  I love the promise of a new season.  As I watch the leaves turning and falling today, I know it is a signpost of winter and its bare trees, but I also know we will soon see the wonder of God's paintbrush in the spring.  The words of Jesus proclaim these signs.  He tells us clearly what the future will be like; he doesn't pull any punches.  There will be wars, there will be destruction, there will be plagues.  I am sure when the Bubonic Plague hit in 1347-1352 people wondered if not "knew" the end of times was near. There is a place in northern England where dozens of odd, golf ball shaped domes sit.  It's known as Project Echelon.  One of the most secret intelligence operations, largest electronic monitoring stations ever constructed.  It is touted as the world's most advanced global electronic surveillance eavesdropping network.  Some believe it will win the war against terrorism others believe it is the highest level of privacy invasion. ....but one thing Project Echelon will never be able to eavesdrop on is the secret counsel of the Trinity.  The Lord has already revealed to us vital information.  His words are our source of "secret intelligence".  He has taken us into his confidence concerning the future!  He has written the script in the scriptures.  I am beyond grateful our secret intelligence comes from the God of time and eternity.

We don't need to be consumed by the future, but with today and God's provisions.  We are to look to God.  He purposes in all of the turmoil that we will be witnesses to him.  In times of extreme chaos our masks are shed and the true person of God emerges.  When that happens we become powerful witnesses. It is in times like this we need the vision of Christ's return to sustain us.  We are to remember we are followers not pioneers.  We are to lift up our head and expect resurrection, redemption and rescue.  Surely it is God who saves me (Isaiah 65:17-25).  "Endurance will gain your soul" (Luke 21:19).

The words of Jesus proclaim these signs; there will be wars, destruction, plagues, and persecution, but the end will not look like this.  The stage is set for it to be this, for God to establish a new age among us in the quiet of the night with the birth of a baby and a journey through death to new life.  

If you struggle with what Wednesday, November 9,2016 looks like, I offer these verse of encouragement:

The Lord can control a king's mind as he controls a river; he can direct it as he pleases. (Proverbs 21:1)

The kingdom is the Lord's and he rules over the nations. (Ps. 22:28)

Great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

In everything God works for the good of those who love him.(Rm. 8:28)

In God I trust, I will not be afraid.( Ps. 56:11)

Isaiah 65:17-25

Malachi 4:1-2

Psalm 98

Blessed Lord who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning.  Grant us so to hear them, read, mark and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which you have given us in our savior Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen