The Messenger - December 9, 2009

"Thanks for Asking"

Every now and then, several people ask me about a story in my sermon or an event here at the church. After sharing the same message two or three times, I usually realize that other folks would like to know this as well, so I thought I'd devote this week's column to 3 recent questions:

1. What's happening with your son, Chris, today? On November 22nd, I shared the story of our older son Chris, who lived in 17 different communities during the 10 years before we adopted him (at the age of 15). Chris learned in those years to keep his head down, but he had trouble, by and large, trusting other people, and he tested our devotion more than once. He also tested our ability to enforce boundaries with some very memorable passive aggressive behavior. But the good news is that we get along fabulously right now, and we really enjoy spending time with Chris. He married a young woman named Liz earlier this year, and he is very devoted to her child, Hailie. He is also completing his 6th year in the United States Army, and he ships out to Iraq (for the 3rd time) next week. We are proud of his accomplishments, and we hope you'll pray for him (and all armed forces personnel).
   
   
2. What are the special events that we've planned between now and Christmas? In addition to Christmas Eve, there are two major events. The first one is the Gospel Gang Musical,"Shepherds, Sheep, and a Savior" which tells the nativity story in a fresh, fun way. This musical will be held in worship this Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m., and it will feature a special "cameo" by the Angel and Cherub Choirs. The second major event is the Family Christmas Festival to be held in our Sanctuary at 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 20. Every single choir in our church will perform that afternoon (including the bell choir), and the Outriggers will host a reception for singers, church members, and friends at the end.
   
   
3. What is the schedule for Christmas Eve? We will offer two worship services that evening. The first one, at 5 p.m., will be geared mainly toward the children, each of whom will be invited to participate in a walk-on Christmas Pageant. And the 3 younger choirs will sing. The second one, at 10 p.m., features music by the older age-group choirs (in addition to the chancel choir), and it concludes with candlelight. Each service will be a bit different from past years, and we pray that each is particularly touching for those who do attend. We also hope that you will bring extended family and friends to share this time of celebration in our church.

I'm glad you asked these questions, and I hope you'll keep on asking whenever some question comes to mind. You never know how many folks are wondering about the same thing.

Teens/Adults: Can you help with logistics that evening? Please let Lesley Sirianni know.

Sermons on the web! Click here to download and listen to the previous sermons from Pastor Neal.
Please contact Keith Headley or Erik Larson if you have any comments or suggestions.

Editor's Corner

The "Living Bible"

~ Shared by Verabelle Baxter

His name is Tim. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of profound and very, very bright. He became a Christian while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They want to develop a ministry to the students but are not sure how to go about it..

One day Tim decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Tim starts down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat.
By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Tim gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Tim. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do...

How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy.

The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane.

All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing.
The minister can't even preach the sermon until the deacon does what he has to do.

And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Tim and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion...

When the minister gains control, he says,"What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget."

The moral of the story:
Be careful on how you live because you may be the only Bible some people will ever read.

Until next time!

           Yesi

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=A92009 - First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro