Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas!

Sorry for the late post this week!
I have been celebrating Christmas with family and Tuesday "snuck up" on me but I wanted to share the following.  I think it is a great way to look at each of the 12 days of Christmas.

One popular theory about the lyrics of  "The 12 Days of Christmas" is that they are a coded reference to Christianity and the song was written to help Christians learn and pass on the tenets of their faith while avoiding persecution. Under that theory, the various gifts break down as follows:

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens = Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds = the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings = The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch," which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying = the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming = the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking = the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing = the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping = the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping = the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming = the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed

The partridge in the pear tree, of course, represents Jesus Christ.
I am thinking it might be fun to make a Jesse Tree of sorts for the 12 Days of Christmas.

Please join us Friday January 8th to celebrate Epiphany.  The Epiphany service will begin at 6:00 in the Cathedral followed by the burning of the greens in the parking lot. Oysters, chili and kid friendly food will be served. Epiphany falls on our traditional 1st Friday Kid's movie night.  All children are invited to room 222 for our usual supper and movie 6:00-8:00.  Hope to see you then!

How are you entertaining the kiddos today?

Trust me, I remember these days of Christmas holidays.  It's not easy!  Trying to get those last minute items checked off, parties, the sniffles.  I thought this might fill a rainy afternoon with a great object lesson as to why Jesus is the best gift.
Don't forget the Pageant Rehearsal TODAY! 10:00 in the Cathedral, but don't worry if you miss it there is always space for everyone.
Suggested reading: The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado

Bible point: Jesus is the best gift ever!
Key verse: Luke 2:1-7
Supplies:

• tall glass
• large clear plastic cups, one for every four kids
• 4 smaller cups per four kids
• honey
• milk
• dish soap
• vegetable oil

Easy Prep

• Pour a little bit of each liquid into four separate cups. You’ll need one set of four cups per four kids.

Mix It Up

• Say: Jesus is the best gift ever. Sometimes other gifts might seem better.
• Ask: What’s a gift someone might think is better than Jesus?
• Say: But Jesus will always come out on top, because Jesus is the best gift ever.

Have kids form groups of four. Distribute supplies to each group. Hold up the vegetable oil and say: Let’s pretend this liquid represents Jesus. Pour it into a clear cup. Have one child in each group pour the vegetable oil into their cup.

• Ask: What do you think will happen if we pour another liquid in the cup?

Have another child in each group choose a second cup to pour into the cup. The vegetable oil will rise to the top. (It may take a few seconds.)
Continue until everyone has poured one of the liquids in the cup. Regardless of the order you pour things in, it will end up in four distinct layers in this order (from top to bottom): vegetable oil, dish soap, milk, honey.

• Ask: What do you think will happen if we combine all of our cups?

Have groups each pour their cups into the tall glass. Within a few seconds, the oil will create its own layer on top. (The other layers may combine a bit, but the oil will remain separate.)
Talk About It

• Ask:
  • Why do you think the vegetable oil always stayed on top?
  • How can other people see that you think Jesus is the top gift?
• Say: Sometimes people make Christmas wish lists, starting with the things they want the most. Those are probably really awesome gifts! But we’ve already gotten the best gift ever—Jesus! Any other gift will sink below him because he’s the best gift ever!

---

No matter how they mix the ingredients, the vegetable oil always rises to the top. In the same way, no matter what happens, Jesus always rises to the top! He is above all else! He is the best gift ever!
After the kids have seen this on a small scale in their groups, they get a real big wow at the end when all the groups combine their already mixed ingredients into one big clear container and still, all the vegetable oil rises to the top! This is a great object lesson for kids as they learn to trust Jesus, rely on Him, and truly believe that He is above all else!

1Corinthians13: A Christmas Version

A friend shared this with me years ago and it is always such a good reminder for me right about now in this season of Advent....Enjoy!

 

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.
If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.
If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.
If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.
Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.
Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?

 

I get tickled every Advent when we light the candles there always seems to be a "breeze" in the room that did not exist before the candles were lit.  The flames begin to dance and often the candles need to be re-lit.  The children just can't stand it!  They can't wait to see the flame extinguished!  I wonder what flame in our lives are being snuffed out too soon? Opportunities to experience a blessing but we get bored or simply give up.  This week's Gospel lesson takes us into the doubts of John the Baptist as he sat imprisoned and he began to question if Jesus truly was the Messiah or was there someone else to come?  He needed his flame fueled and that is just what Jesus does.  He sends the disciples back to John to tell him about those who were lame but now walk; the deaf who now hear; the dead who now live!    

As much as the children love to see the light snuffed out, they also thrill in the smoke which encircles the candle.  We compare this to death of Jesus and to His resurrection.  Although we may not see the bright glow of the flame, we know he encircles us just as the smoke does.  Kindling the Christmas flame in the next generation; laying out the truth of salvation and then to kindle and tend this flame that no "breeze" will ever extinguish that is our Advent calling.  And not just in our children.  Who do you know who might need their flame fanned with a word of encouragement this Advent?  

Dear precious Heavenly Father, may we hear you whisper "Today, my precious child, let there be light" and at night may we hear you say "There was light."

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

A "Me attitude" or a Beatitude?

Do you remember the story of Yertle The Turtle?  Yertle, the king of the pond, wants to build a throne in order to see farther and expand his kingdom and so he begins to stack his subjects on each other's backs.  Poor Mack at the bottom of the heap begins to complain, but Yertle only calls for more turtles to to be added to his throne.  I will not give away the ending but I will tell you it is Yertle's "me attitude" which brings about a fall.  In this week's Gospel lesson, Jesus gives the Beatitudes or blessings; standards of conduct; a contrast of kingdom values with worldly values.  These blessings show us what we as followers of Christ can expect from the world verses what God's blessings will be.
I cannot wait to teach the children this lesson on Wednesday night!   
So here is your invitation:
Wednesday, November 2nd, All children are invited to the Story Room ( Rm 205) at 5:50pm to hear the Gospel According to Dr. Seuss through the story of Yertle The Turtle.  Parents will attend the All Souls Day Requiem Service in the Cathedral at 6:00.  Following the service, we will all enjoy a shrimp boil.  There will be "kid friendly food" too.

 

I also want to get a few other dates on your calendar:

Friday, November 4th: Kid's Movie Night 6-8pm in the Edward Room 

Sunday, November 13th: Mad Platter 4-6pm.  Please RSVP to me so that I can let the mad Platter know how many to expect. bbabson@trinitysc.org

Friday, November 18th 3rd Friday Parent's Night (If you would like to host, please let me know.)

Sunday, November 27th: Lessons and Carols 4-5pm in the Cathedral followed by the 2nd Annual Advent Festival and chili cook-off.

Sundays during Advent (December 4,11,18): Children's Program during Evensong 4:00-5:00 in the Story Room.

What has refined you?

Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus he has always intrigued me and delights every child who ever hears his story or sings his song.  What made him so curious about this traveling preacher named Jesus?  What drove him to tuck in his tunic and climb that tree?  Curiosity? A desire to follow the crowd?  I don’t think that was enough to drive this affluent, turncoat, untouchable to climb a tree just to catch a glimpse of someone he had only heard mutterings about.  There was some great need in his life that drove him to scamper up that tree. Something only God could refine within him that caused him to desperately hope that seeing Jesus would make a difference in his life.  Had the thought previously occurred to him he could make things right by giving away half of his possesions to the poor?   Maybe he longed for a new and different life, but he lacked the power to change?  I believe Jesus himself,  our great and perfect refiner, drove him up the tree that day He passed through Jericho.

Jesus then says with absolute urgency, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”   Jesus looked straight at this man in a tree, tunic tucked between his legs, straight at this man who was looking for Him and saw straight to his heart. He could see the sin, but he looked beyond the fithy rags and saw the need. He saw the great potential. This wee little man, although a cheat, could become a great man in the Kingdom of God. Despite the greed that was so apparent in Zacchaeus’ life, Jesus could see his potential for righteousness and the readiness for salvation.  He saw what his Father had worked so hard to refine in this man! 

What is He refining in you?  

He knows your heart. He knows what will set you free. He knows what will move you toward wholeness. He knows what will remove the impurities and bring you out of those tough, rough, hot spots.  He knows how you can become effective for him. Will you allow Him to refine you?  

I absolutely have to share this.  I don't remember where I saw it or how long ago.  It literally took me my entire Saturday afternoon to find it but I was bound and determined to put my hands on it because I felt like it speaks to this Gospel lesson.  You may have read it too, but it is worth a second look.  I hope it speaks to you as it did to me!  

Did you come out smelling like a rose?

Or do you fall into the same trap I find myself in?  I so want to be the one who follows all of the traffic laws; the frugal one who uses coupons; the one who always gives credit where credit is due; the one who comes out smelling like the rose when times get tough as compared to those around me.  In our humanity this is impossible.  We have nothing to claim but our dependence on God's mercy. 
So, how in this world do we not become prideful yet maintain a daily confidence; confident yet humble?
That’s the goal, isn’t it? A holy tension. The struggle you and I face every day in ourselves; humble confidence.  Now there is an oxymoron.  How do we use every strength, talent, and ability for God''s glory and every weakness as an opportunity to demonstrate God's power.  The Pharisee in Luke's Gospel this week announced how "good" he was in his prayers, yet the tax collector announced his sinfulness and begs for mercy unable to even look up to heaven.  Which one comes out smelling like a rose?  Well, the tax collector of course, he is the one who went home justified.

 

We all want to be justified.  I marvel at the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who even thrown into the fiery furnace come out and "there was no smell of fire on them". (Dn. 3:27)  We all want to come through fiery trials smelling like a rose and not of smoke like others do.  We all want to be humble in our daily walk and  be exalted.  We all want to thank God that we are "not like other men" (Lk.18:11), but oh how we are!
When this happens and we forget, if only for a moment our human-constructed divisions, and stand before God aware only of our need, then we, too, are justified by the God of Jesus and invited to return to our homes in mercy, grace, and gratitude.