Dear Friends
This was a Christmas of firsts.
My first Christmas Eve leading in worship at EPUMC was a beautiful experience. I am grateful for the 42 people who served in a variety of ways to offer radical hospitality for the guests coming to worship among us. What I found was a group of servants who expressed gratitude in being able to help in some way on Christmas Eve. Your extended family and some folks who were new to the church came to join us for worship and together we remembered that the light of God that is Jesus can shine through us into the world. How have you reflected the light of Jesus in the days surrounding our Christmas celebrations? Drop me a note and let me know (beckyjom@prairiechurch.org). I would love to hear your stories.
It was also a Christmas of firsts with my family. While Chad and I thought we would be alone after worship on Christmas Eve (and we would have been fine with that), my kids blessed us by coming to worship with me and spend the night. We played cards until I couldn’t any more. My children (and their desire to be with us on Christmas Eve) were a reflection of the light of God in Jesus for me.
Christmas Day held its own firsts. With my sister, Brenda, receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic, we brought Christmas to her. We picked her up and went to brunch together. On our way out of the hotel where the brunch was, the bellman watched as my mother made her way slowly to our vehicle. By the time Mom was ready to step off the curb with her walker, the bellman was beside her and offering help. As usual, my mother refused help because she can do it on her own. That’s when this man said to her, “Please allow me to be the gentleman my mother taught me to be!” And she did. And she, in typical fashion for my mother, made a new friend. I think they were both the light of God in Jesus for each other.
I don’t know what firsts your Christmas brought. None of us know what “lasts” our Christmas brought either. All we have for sure is this moment in which we can reflect the light of Jesus for the world around us. Shine bright, my friends. Shine bright!
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Becky Jo Messenbrink
PS
Christmas is a season, not a day! Join us Sunday, Dec. 29, as we sing many of the favorite Christmas Carols of our faith and hear again the coming of the good news of Jesus. Worship is Sunday at 10 a.m. Children and youth will join us so we can sing boldly together. Nursery care will be available. See you Sunday!
This was a Christmas of firsts.
My first Christmas Eve leading in worship at EPUMC was a beautiful experience. I am grateful for the 42 people who served in a variety of ways to offer radical hospitality for the guests coming to worship among us. What I found was a group of servants who expressed gratitude in being able to help in some way on Christmas Eve. Your extended family and some folks who were new to the church came to join us for worship and together we remembered that the light of God that is Jesus can shine through us into the world. How have you reflected the light of Jesus in the days surrounding our Christmas celebrations? Drop me a note and let me know (beckyjom@prairiechurch.org). I would love to hear your stories.
It was also a Christmas of firsts with my family. While Chad and I thought we would be alone after worship on Christmas Eve (and we would have been fine with that), my kids blessed us by coming to worship with me and spend the night. We played cards until I couldn’t any more. My children (and their desire to be with us on Christmas Eve) were a reflection of the light of God in Jesus for me.
Christmas Day held its own firsts. With my sister, Brenda, receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic, we brought Christmas to her. We picked her up and went to brunch together. On our way out of the hotel where the brunch was, the bellman watched as my mother made her way slowly to our vehicle. By the time Mom was ready to step off the curb with her walker, the bellman was beside her and offering help. As usual, my mother refused help because she can do it on her own. That’s when this man said to her, “Please allow me to be the gentleman my mother taught me to be!” And she did. And she, in typical fashion for my mother, made a new friend. I think they were both the light of God in Jesus for each other.
I don’t know what firsts your Christmas brought. None of us know what “lasts” our Christmas brought either. All we have for sure is this moment in which we can reflect the light of Jesus for the world around us. Shine bright, my friends. Shine bright!
Merry Christmas,
Pastor Becky Jo Messenbrink
PS
Christmas is a season, not a day! Join us Sunday, Dec. 29, as we sing many of the favorite Christmas Carols of our faith and hear again the coming of the good news of Jesus. Worship is Sunday at 10 a.m. Children and youth will join us so we can sing boldly together. Nursery care will be available. See you Sunday!
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