Newspaper Page Text
December 10, 2008
^Reporter
PAGE 11A
Pastor’s Column
Stay alert: Advent incarnation coming
T he church has its
own calendar of
seasons. Nov. 30
was the first
Sunday
of Advent and the
beginning of a new
liturgical year.
Advent comes from
the Latin ‘adven-
tus,’ meaning the
“coming of the
Savior,” is a
holy season of
the Christian
Church, the
period of
preparation for the celebra
tion of the nativity of Christ,
or Christmas.
Advent is also the begin
ning of a new year. A new
church year. But with a
beginning there is also an
ending. An ending of a year.
And for some, if not for
many, the past year has
been a difficult year: wars
have continued, bank clo
sures on family homes have
left people with shattered
dreams, the gap between
rich and poor continues to
rise. Closer to home in
Monroe County: Loved ones
got ill. Some moved away
from our county, or died.
Others became
unemployed. And all
of us continued to
struggle with “the
vicissitudes of time”.
So, where’s the ‘good
news’? The answer
to that question is:
exactly where it has
1 i always been -
■ k-i&Xi n an d among
us.
For me part
of that ‘good news’ this
Advent is to become more
aware of, more sensitive to,
the God-given moments in
our ordinary daily events,
despite all the seasonal
advertising over-load.
Especially as these
moments sneak up on us,
almost incognito, in the
landscape of our living - in
all its diversity. In the
gospels Jesus reminds us to
‘Stay alert!’ To keep our
ears tuned, eyes open,
aware of, and sensitive to
His coming. Not just to
some supposed terrorist
threat or ‘heavenly’ future
event or time. But to now,
the present moment, in this
place, among this people.
Engaging meaningfully in
life. Another, the Buddhist
monk, Thich Nhat Hanh,
says: “Waking up this morn
ing, I smile. Twenty four
brand new hours are before
me. I vow to live fully in
each moment and to look at
all beings with eyes of com
passion’. Advent - rooted in
our everyday experiences.
And in the landscape and
world around us.
Incarnation, with an incog
nito God. Let’s dare to stay
alert and celebrate that!
Celebrate God with hon
esty and openness to His
presentness in all things.
Like the four year old boy
who was asked to return
thanks at a family dinner.
The family members bowed
their heads in expectation.
He began his prayer, thank
ing God for all his friends,
naming them one by one.
Then he thanked God for
Mommy, Daddy, brother, sis
ter, Grandma, Grandpa and
all his aunts and uncles.
Then he began to thank
God for the food. He gave
thanks for the turkey, the
dressing, the fruit salad, the
cranberry sauce, the pies,
the cakes, even the whipped
cream. Then he paused,
and everyone waited and
waited. After a long silence,
the young fellow looked up
at his mother and asked, “If
I thank God for the broccoli,
won’t he know that I’m
lying?”
May this advent be for
each one of you, like the
Advent bulletin blooper
said: “The Word made flesh
and swelling among us.”
May the Word swell in your
life this Advent season.
The Rev. Rick Elrod is pas
tor of Forsyth Presbyterian
Church. The pastor’s column
is sponsored each week by
the Monroe County
Ministerial Association.
Church Calendar
Dec. 14
First Baptist
children’s program
and youth party
First Baptist Church will
host the Children’s Music
and Missions Christmas
Program at 6 p.m. Dec 14
The youth Christmas par
ties are at 7 p.m.
Zion Hill Baptist
Christmas program
Zion Hill Baptist Church
will be hosting its annual
Christmas program right
after the 11:30 regular
services on Dec. 14. The
theme for this year's pro
gram is “Happy Birthday
Jesus.” The program will
include a Christmas wish
list, a sing -a-long and
Christmas caroling, gift
giving and food box give-a
ways. Everyone invited
Union Hill pre-
Christmas service
Union Hill Missionary
Baptist Church will have a
Pre-Christmas service at 7
p.m. Dec. 16.
Dec. 17
Forsyth UMC hosts
children’s musical
Forsyth United Methodist
Church will have its chil
dren's Christmas musical
at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec.
17.
Maynard Baptist to
show Charlie Brown
Maynard Baptist
Church’s college and career
classes present "Merry
Christmas, Charlie Brown”
Dec 17 at 7 p.m.
First Baptist
children’s parties
First Baptist Church will
have the children’s
Christmas party at 5:30
p.m. Dec 17. All children
are invited to a special car
oling and birthday celebra
tion for the birth of Jesus.
Dec. 21
New Providence pres
ents “Breath of Heaven”
The Adult Praise Choir
of New Providence Baptist
Church presents "Breath of
Heaven" at 6 p.m. Sunday,
Dec. 21. Everyone is wel
come.
First Baptist to host
singing and eating
Join First Baptist Church
of Forsyth at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21 for an
adult and youth sing with
a "finger food" fellowship
to follow.
Tessie Hall
Christmas musical
Tessie Hall Baptist
Church will combine its
annual Christmas musical
with the morning worship
at 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.
Minister Lesia Atwater
will bring the morning
message. Tessie Hall Mass
Choir and Music Ministry,
under the direction of First
Lady Gwendolyn Sams,
will perform. Tessie Hall
Baptist Church is located
at 320 Boxankle Rd. For
more info call 478-319-
1104.
Rogers UMC to
honor Harrells’
60th anniversary
Rogers United Methodist
Church and the family of
the Rev. Max and Doris
Harrell will be hosting a
reception in honor of the
Harrell’s 60th wedding
anniversary from 12:30 -
3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.
Friends and family are
invited to join the celebra
tion.
First Baptist
choir concert
The First Baptist Church
of Forsyth’s annual adult
and youth choir concert
will be held at 6 p.m. on
Dec 21.
New Harvest
Christmas Cantata
New Harvest Church of
God will be hosting its
Christmas Catata "The
Perfect Tree" at 6 p.m. Dec.
21. Everyone is invited to
come celebrate the birth of
Jesus Christ and the true
meaning of Christmas.
New Harvest Church of
God is located at 12689
Highway 87, Juliette. For
more information call Tina
McMurray at 478-957-
7299.
Maynard Baptist
cantata & communion
Maynard Baptist Church
will present the adult
Cantata at 11 a.m. Dec. 21
"Shine on Us." Drama and
music directed by Steve
Rogers.
At 6 p.m. there will be a
candlelight Communion, a
very meaningful and wor
shipful experience.
Everyone is invited to
attend each one of the
Christmas Events.
Dayspring
Christmas musical
The Dayspring
Presbyterian youth will
present "Another Crazy
Christmas" play and a
short musical at 6 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 21. All fami
lies in the community are
invited. Dayspring is locat
ed at 1045 Hwy 41 South
& Thornton Road.
Christ UMC
caroling and party
On Dec. 21, Christ United
Methodist Church will go
caroling at 4 p.m. Call to
request a visit to your
home. There will also be a
birthday party for Jesus
for all ages at 6 p.m.
Mt. Gilead Baptist
hosts program
Mt. Gilead Baptist
Church will have their
annual Christmas program
at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec.
21. The public is invited to
join in the celebration.
Russellville Baptist
to host Chritmas
musical
The choir of Russellville
Baptist Church is perform
ing its Christmas musical,
"A Christmas Offering," at
11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21.
Everyone is invited. The
church is located at 111
Russellville Rd.
Springhill Baptist
Christmas social
Springhill Baptist
Church will host its third
annual Christmas social at
6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 at
the Monroe County
Clubhouse. Everyone is
invited to attend.
Dec. 23
Rogers UMC
Christmas program
Rogers United Methodist
Church will hold its annu
al Christmas program at 6
p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23. The
musical program, entitled
“Prince of Peace,” is writ
ten and arranged by Marty
Parks. Refreshments will
follow the program.
Dec. 24
Christmas Eve
at Christ UMC
Christ United Methodist
will have a Christmas Eve
candlelight service at 6
p.m. There will be a mid
night communion service
beginning at 11 p.m. on
Christmas Eve.
Mt Zion UMC
Chritmas Eve
service
Mt. Zion United
Methodist Church will
have a Christmas Eve can
dlelight service at 5 p.m.
This will be a short service
and will include commun
ion. Mt. Zion UMC is
located at 40 Rumble Road
in Smarr. For additional
information call 994-8983.
Dayspring to host
music service
Dayspring Presbyterian
Church, located at 1045
Hwy 41 South, invites the
community to join them at
7 p.m. on Christmas Eve
for an evening of special
Christmas music and car
ols.
Mt. Zion Baptist
Communion
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
will host a Christmas Eve
communion service at 6
p.m. Dec. 24.
First Baptist
communion
First Baptist Church of
Forsyth will host a
Christmas Eve
Communion service at 6
p.m. Dec. 24.
St. Peter the Rock
Christmas Eve
pageant and mass
St. Peter the Rock
Catholic Church in
Thomaston will hold its
Children’s pageant at 5:30
pm Dec. 24. The Vigil Mass
will be held at 10 p.m.
Christmas Eve.
Email your church’s
Christmas events to
news@mymcr. net.
Stop by or call the
“Friendly Franklin Folks” today!
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^Reporter
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