conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

tuesday at the office

Though it hardly seems possible now, we cling to the hope that God’s City will be established in the gift of the new heavens and the new earth. Our work is to live by the customs of the new City before it has fully come to be. In this way, the church draws the world to God. We hold forth not a condemning, but a welcoming word. All nations are invited to come to this City. And the quality of our interactions as a community will be a stronger witness than our words. The vibrancy of our worship will be a beacon of light that draws people home from the long darkness they have endured.
- Gerrit Scott Dawson
Called by a New Name

Hello there. I am in the office working through my weekly schedule. I have a ton of "bulletin work" before me. I am preparing the bulletin for this Sunday, Christmas Eve, and the following Sunday. I will be away from the church for a week or so. We'll have a guest preacher on the first Sunday of Christmas. So, I'll have the bulletin ready as soon as possible. That way all we have to do is throw something in the blanks for scripture and sermon title.

The Christmas Eve service is the bear, however. We are working on a new bulletin format for that service. We have a lot of visitors...family, old friends etc...who come in for the service. And last year I sat up in the pulpit and marveled at how difficult it was for many to manage even just the one hymnal. You know, if you come to church once a year, even Christmas Carols are hard to find. It's just how it is. So, this year we are scanning all the hymns into the bulletin and crafting a "booklet" in lieu of a little bulletin. All that the attendees will need will be right there in the larger bulletin format...scripture readings, everything. I hope it helps and does not simply overwhelm.

Christmas is a stressful time to me. I mean, it's good and all, but this is the time of year (along with Easter) when the worship life of the church becomes the most public. Theoretically, it is always the public face of the church. But in practice, it is at Christmas and Easter that this is most true. So, I just want things to speak well. I want to make as much room for people, to be as hospitable as I can be. And I want people to hear The Gospel. The quotation this morning sums up the whole experience for me.

I want to say it like this: "This is the City of God. Did you know? And you are welcome in it. Did you know? Here it is for you. We offer it to you. God offers it to you. Come. Enter. You are welcome."

Well, that's where I have been living lately.

How go your holiday preparations?

Posted by tripp at December 18, 2007 08:40 AM