On the third day of Christmas*...

Yup, it's the 3rd day of Christmas. Three french hens anyone?

In the Ancient tradition of the church,(those still practiced in the Orthodox, Anglican and Roman Catholic traditions)the Christmas season is the twelve days following Christmas daywhich includes several important feast days. Today is the Feast of St. John.

Yesterday was the Feast of St. Stephen, the first recorded martyr of the Church. I suppose it seems odd, that we can feast as a way to commemorate a martyred saint. But then, we also remember all the saints are present in our celebration of the Eucharist. Methodist's prefer to call it The Lord's Table. But the geek in me likes the Greek word Eucharist, which means thanksgiving. I like the term Holy Communion too. It says a lot more to me about what takes place in the ritual. All the Saints, those members faithfully present in worship and those in heaven, united in the Spirit of Christ, coming together, "communing" to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ.

John Wesley was a big fan of "communing" as a means of grace. It is also a mark of United Methodism that we practice an Open Communion. I'm particularly proud of that tradition. In it we acknowledge that only the Lord and the individual receiving the elements really know what is on the person's heart and in their past. No matter where you come from, who baptized you or what other's may think of you. You are welcome to receive the Bread and dip into the Cup. And most importantly, it acknowledges that the Host of the Table, the one on whose behalf the invitation is extended is Christ the Lord.

American Methodism also made it's own history by using unfermented grape juice (and special Thanks to the Welch's Family for a pasteurization process too) when the Women's Christian Temperance Movement raised the hackles of many a distiller. Other traditions have suggested that recovering alcoholics just bypass the cup to prevent a step on the slippery slope. I find that smacks of elitism- or arrogance- or just plan inconsiderateness. Being a United Methodist means we work at finding ways to be inclusive and considerate of the diversity of circumstances of others in our faith community.

Part of my preparation for any Sunday Communion is baking the bread. As the pastor, I could ask someone else to bake the bread. Others have in the past. But, in the past year I began baking the bread. At first it was just to help the person who did it monthly when we inceased the frequency of communion. Now, I just find it a to be a spiritual practice of sorts. I don't think it falls under the list of regularly recommended practices. But for me it has become a time of prayerful meditation. I pray for the members of the church. I also use the kneeding as a time of personal confession. I like the time of preparation...most of the time. Every once in a while it feels like a burden, an obligation of more work that I would like a shortcut through. Come to think of it, that sounds like some objections I hear about coming to worship. When pressed for time, I will break down and purchase a loaf at the bakery. I'm usually not satisfied with taking the shortcut. The time at the breadboard is much for fulfilling. I feel more at peace with Christ, more in touch with the Spirit, more connected to the Holy place in myself.

So, tomorrow morning will be the fourth day of Christmas. It's been snowing# all day. All those "white Christmas" dreams are coming true. That's life in the snowglobe. We remember the most wonderful gift we recieved this year, was unveiled in Bethlehem long time ago and still comes to us each day.

blessings of peace and contentment fall heavily upon you,

Pastor Barbara

*For us liturigally minded church calendar followers Christmas has only just begun. (apologies to Paul Williams, Karen & Richard Carpenter.)
#Snow Diary 5 inches cleared this afternoon; and it's still falling.

Merry Christmas!

Hurray! It's the Christmas season finally!

We slept in this morning. After four winters it still feels odd to be able to sleep past 7AM and still be able to see a sunrise. But this morning, once the sun rose above the horizon all we've been able to see is snow falling. Tim reports the snow is falling at a rate of an inch an hour. We've been keeping a bit of a snow diary this year. It's not always easy to measure accurately. When the Wind comes up everything is in flux. Twice so far this year, we've had our lawn windswept clean of nothing more than a thin layer. But the precipitation has been steady this month.

Later today we will spend our white Christmas in the home of parishioners. But at the present I am waiting the last minutes of cooking of a ham that will be delivered for the inmates dinner our County Jail.

Oh, the timer just went off... must go.
... Back again-

Tim has been on call for EMS today. Thankfully it has been a quiet day. Most people have stayed safe on the roads, and without incident.

The snow has continued to fall all afternoon. By 3:30 we measured 8 inches of new snow, not that we waste time counting such things.

We are blessed to be living in this place, and serving this community. Dinner in the home of members of the Church brings to mind the early church, in that Acts tells us that the believers gathered often sharing all things in common, and "none went without." This Christmas, while we miss being with our own family we have been graciously received and welcomed at the table of a branch of the Atchley clan. We are blessed to have the opportunity to serve and learn about the treasures of living in this region of the Northwest.

We give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ for his example of humble servitude and pray that we will be found worthy of the trust placed in us.

So today we join the angel chorus singing and saying "Gloria in Excelsis Deo!"
Glory to God in the Highest!

Today and last night in our Candlelight Christmas Eve service we have been able to recall just what a wonderful gift we have received. For we know the story of our God, who loving humanity so much, deigned to empty himself of divinity, to submit to human suffering to proclaim the release from bondage and opportunity for new life lived in the spirit. May you too open this gift. You will find the gift will never pinch your waist, it will always offer new insights, and bring peace of mind if you only heed the same message the angels first gave to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds "Fear not."

Stay warm tonight. It's a great night to read. I'll be finishing THE SHACK

Merry Christmas! Emmanuel - God is with Us! That alone is cause for rejoicing!