1 Timothy 6:15 - "Which He will bring about at the proper time--He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."
"With every ending, there's always a new beginning." - Unknown.
Hello,
The liturgical year is officially in the books and now we are starting all over again... Advent-Christmas-Epiphany-Lent-Easter-Pentecost... and we do it all over again...
It's much like the common year... we start from January and go to December... and we do it all over again, just adding another year.
I call this the "Church's offseason" due to it being the fact that attendance usually drops. Brent Carroll got a hearty laugh out of it when I said: "End of the Church offseason, Brent!"
Today's service was definitely well endowed with "endings" and it was most appropriate. Way back before I became a member, Our administrative councilman of the church told us that CUMC entered into a $1.2 million loan agreement to have the elevator tower and after many years, the loan is finally paid off, 8 years ahead of schedule. There's an ending right but it was also the birth of a new notion that the councilman said that we have some problems that need to be addressed within the church itself now that the loan is paid off. The church is 90 years old and many things need repair like the roof, the AC/Heat system, power and water bills.
And I said Ok, fair enough, how can I help?
The 2015 Green Envelopes will now be used as pledge cards to help: "Keep the lights on" and for repair. I said: I might just put $10 aside for the church every Sunday. To date, it just doesn't feel like I am giving enough to the church... I'd say I've given around $250. I give to a WORTHY cause.
Catonsville UMC is in INCREDIBLE fiscal shape for the years ahead. He also established that our church family has grown more than 200% ever since Pastor Mark took over and that right there is just astounding. Attending a church service takes 75 minutes out of your day but it improves your spiritual health and you find your place with god with Prayers of Thanksgiving.
Pastor Mark's sermon on "Dollars and Sense" was definitely one of his masterful speeches. Entitled "Don't ask" was strictly about our finances and why it's not appropriate to ask about them. Should we have been told about the sound fiscal condition of our church? No... but we did anyway because the church is a people.
It really was a moving sermon for us to be a bit more "Fiscally Sound" with ourselves, loved ones, and with our churches. Our church realizes that their money is going to good use by keeping the lights on, water flowing, and smiles on children's faces when they see Sunday School supplies.
As it is the week of Thanksgiving and our foundations of "divine providence" to God and thanks to the Almighty for the bounty of the harvest: we sang "For the Beauty of the Earth." It was probably one of our strongest performances yet. Everyone gave us a round of applause after we sang.
This week: I will be writing entry after entry talking about Thanksgiving and what's to come in the future with Christmas coming.
With Advent approaching, we are encouraged to be in more of a giving mood. Of course, charities see boosts in giving and so do churches. Did you know that the average take for the Advent/Christmas season is more than $12,000 alone? Christmas will usually bring in large numbers of money as well. I usually will contribute a decent sum.
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A bit of background on Christ the King Sunday:
Christ the King Sunday is a fairly new festival to the church calendar. Established by Pius XI in 1925 by Quas Primas letter that a feast should be established as a day to celebrate Jesus's kingly power in heaven. At first there was a lot of misunderstanding about the date and time. Pius XI established that it should always be the final Sunday in November before Advent begins.
This was a huge response to the ever growing secularism and nationalization against the churches and so far, the response has been absolutely astounding.
Pius XI quoted this:
"While nations insult the beloved name of our redeemer by suppressing all mention of it in their conferences and parliaments, we must all loudly proclaim his kingly dignity and power, all the more universally affirm his rights."
By the 1970s, the churches have formally adopted this last Sunday in the church to say good bye the old and welcome the new.
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What a performance:
I would also like to congratulate Institute of Notre Dame on their well-done product of "Auntie Mame," you couldn't have asked for a better play! Joanna's niece Emma did a FANTASTIC job as both Patrick and Michael. Although I did quip to her father Rob after, "now that she said that bad word, you're going to have to wash her mouth out with soap." He laughed it off. It's apart of the play. I'm kind of shocked to even hear that they allowed that kind of a play in a catholic church with nuns watching. But nonetheless, a wonderful performance.
She got a lot of flowers after her performance. I hope her mom had enough vases to get all those flowers in.
I gave her a pat on the back and said: "Great job, Squirt."
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With all that being said: I leave you tonight with some food for thought. Remember to keep yourself in sound condition with everything around you. Life gives you but one chance to live, go out there and live. Enjoy it to maximum intent.
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And now I leave you with this benediction:
"May LORD bless you, keep within you and your family this day and forever. The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you his everlasting and enduring peace, Amen."
~ Joshua
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THANKSGIVING ENTRIES UPCOMING:
Monday, 11/24: America's 251st Thanksgiving: Traditions fail me
How badly are we Americans treading on thin ice when it comes to Thanksgiving? What some journalists say we should really do? Why do the Native Americans believe that we doing the wrong thing? Also, we dive into Thanksgiving foods and dishes common in other parts of the United States.
Tuesday, 11/25: Thanksgiving Buckets of Gratitude III
We send a bucket of gratitude to those of the stupid, ungrateful, and the flat out abysmal. This is my third bucket of gratitude entry.
Wednesday, 11/26: Questions to the Editor VIII: Thanksgiving Edition
I reflect on Thanksgivings of the past which include The Infamous Thanksgiving (1995), The Worst Thanksgiving Ever (2011), and The Best Thanksgiving ever (2013)
Thursday, 11/27: A Happy Thanksgiving: Now why is your TV on?
I release the results of the quorum and survey I took of 50 people. What's the number 1 thing that we take away from Thanksgiving that has become a problem.
Friday, 11/28: The Reds and Blacks of Commerce
I dive into why Black Friday is just such a troubling time for families and why the gift card is a very powerful item nowadays.
Saturday, 11/29: The Storm
Why we need to put a bit more emphasis on small businesses and give them the rightful attention they deserve.
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