Deacon's Corner:

Deacon Debbie

Pastor's Reflection

I am always glad to be an MCC minister, but never more glad than when we have Annual Congregational Meeting.  Although the pastor and Board of Directors take care of the day to day running of the church, they only do so because they are authorized to do so by the deciding body of the church, which is the Congregational Meeting.  Our meeting this year went well.  To me, it felt like the best one I've been at.  It was my fifth as pastor.  We passed a $99,000 budget with good discussion and questions.  We voted to maintain our tithing to the denomination at 14% instead of reducing it to 13% which we could have done. We reminded ourselves of many of our highlights of the year past and of the good publicity we have received.  We elected two new board members, Anthony Rizzo and Peter Fedele, and are preparing to say goodbye to two board members completing their terms: Terry Kelly and Bess Watts.  We are also expressing our gratitude to Deb Mohr who has served faithfully as confidential secretary to the Board.  We all still think Deb takes the best minutes we've ever seen.

We elected a Lay Delegate, Deb Krusemark and an Alternate Lay Delegate, Bess Watts.

The meeting was conducted with respect and good humor.  There was a strong sense that we are all in this venture together and that we form one united community without factions and in-groups.

I love the way we conduct business at Open Arms and in our Metropolitan Community Churches.  To be a minister in MCC is to have one vote, just like everyone else.  And that's a good thing.

Love,

Rev. Jim
 

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COME, DECORATE THE SANCTUARY

CHRISTMAS TREE THIS FRIDAY DECEMBER 14,

WE WILL MEET AT 6 PM AT CHURCH

Deacon's Corner:

Deacon Debbie

Pastor's Reflection

This can be such a hard time of year for people.  Not only the unpredictable driving and the anxiety that comes from that; and not only the persistent gloomy skies without a glimpse of the sun; and not only the arrival of darkness so early in the afternoon but the late brightening of the days in the morning - if they brighten at all; and not only the craziness of shopping and the depictions of all those model, happy families on television (all hired actors portraying a reality that probably doesn't exist for them); and not only the dread so many have of the holidays as people prepare to enter family situation where some are not accepted in all aspects of their being; and not only the loneliness that so many feel; and not only....

When we let all the difficulties and darknesses pile up, they can be completely overwhelming.  When we let all our personal challenges pile up, we can become paralyzed and want to crawl into our caves and let the world pass us by.

Isn't it a good thing for us that just at this really difficult time of year, we celebrate the birth of Jesus?  Just when we most need a lift, we are reminded of the coming of light and hope - not generic external light and hope but the very personal touch of Christ's love on each of our lives.

The answer to all the gloom and darkness is not to curl up in a ball but to stand up tall, open our faces to the light of God, open our hearts to the world around us and to become Light-Bearers to this dark, gloomy world.   Say "Happy Hanukkah" to our Jewish friends; say "Merry Christmas" proudly.   Do not be sucked into the false correctness of watering down these beautiful religious celebrations in a feeble "Happy Holidays."

This is a time to rejoice, to celebrate and to make this time in our church year a time of wonderful brightness.   And PLEASE plan to join us for our service on Christmas Eve at 8pm.   Let's overflow Open Arms Metropolitan Community Church!

Love,

Rev. Jim
 

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Let's fill the church this weekend to truly make our faith part of Christmas.

Sunday, December 23 at 11am

Christmas Service: Monday, December 24 at 8pm.

Deacon's Corner:

Deacon Debbie

Pastor's Reflection

I wonder if you can imagine how much agonizing went on before we decided to cancel worship service last Sunday.   We went back and forth from Friday night to Sunday morning.  Some places were fine, others were terrible.  The roads were icy and it was sleeting heavily.  The parking lot was icy and very slippery.  We had no doubt that many would make the attempt to come but we were also worried about our people's safety.   I had stayed in Rochester on Saturday night to be ready for anything.  My trip south to Dalton was quite an adventure Sunday morning.

On Monday, I met John White at church late morning to do some church business.  The parking lot was covered with several inches of wet, heavy snow over some ice.  I made the mistake of driving in and around the church to near the exit.  Then I was stuck. When I was ready to leave, I was behind the wheel trying with no success to make it up the small incline to get out.  John and a young man who was passing by were able to give me enough push to make it out.   I asked the young man where he was walking to and he said "to the bus stop."   He had come from a staff meeting at Lifetime Assistance down on Paul Road.  He was going downtown.  I said to him "one good turn deserves another" (and then "shoveled" out the front seat for him) and drove him downtown.   On the way, I found that he has worked in residences for the disabled for the past three years and loves his work.  I found that he gives books as Christmas presents and loves to read.  I heard that he has dreams to travel and to continue his education.    For me, getting stuck in the snow brought me the gift of meeting a young man with dreams of a fulfilling future who had been raised to lend a hand when he sees someone in need.

We join the frenzy of Christmas shopping and focus on the gifts that we are going to give or going to get.   Matthew (that's the young man's name)  reminded me that the true gift is the personal interaction of one person to another.   When we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Christ Child, we celebrate the transformation possible for each of us.   We celebrate the personal growth possible through Jesus that reminds us that the quality of our personal interactions (not wealth, not success, not fame, not possessions) are at the heart of Christian life.   Christmas is about the giving of oneself to others in love and service.  That's the only gift that really matters, in spite of our fondness for loot and bling.

Love,

Rev. Jim
 

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Open Arms MCC

Annual Christmas Party

This Saturday, December 29

5:30 to 9:30pm

Gates Memorial Park

Deacon's Corner:

Pastor's Reflection

Christmas has come and gone.   Those of us who gathered at church on Christmas eve sang and prayed and lifted soft candlelight together as we welcomed the Prince of Peace.  As I watch TV and read the news, I see signs of war and violence and unrest.  I don't see too many stories of peace.   We all pray for peace in the world, but what about the peace in our hearts?

Sometimes, our personal lack of peace causes problems at home and for the ones that we love the most.   Unhappiness and confusion and negativity are contagious.  With the gift of Jesus, with the hand of God always stretched out to us, we never have to live in a dark and negative and violent place.

Some ask why we have annual remembrances of the birth, live, death and resurrection of Jesus.  After all, it was all done 2000 years ago, once and for all.    But we have to remember because we very easily forget.  We forget that it doesn't have to be like this.  We can have peace in our hearts; peace in our relationships.  But Jesus doesn't come against our will.  The holy Spirit of God doesn't force anything on us.   We have to stand in humble adoration, with open hearts, to receive our God.

We are preparing for the New Year.  The sermon title Sunday is "just like the old year?"   It's just too easy for us to fall into old ways that just don't work. 

My fervent wish and prayer for this new year is that we all, at Open Arms MCC, can remember and realize how important our presence at Sunday worship is.

When you see things that are less than desirable in your life, remember that, in Christ, it doesn't have to be like that.

Love,

Rev. Jim
 

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