Thanksgiving Conundrum

This is the time of year that the holiday themes all run together. There is hardly a breath between Halloween and Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving and Advent/ Christmas. So I hope I can be forgiven if I approached a Thanksgiving conundrum this year with a Christmas thought.

Though it never really made the pantheon of Christmas classics, “The Little Drummer Boy” with its primitive stop- action animation still holds a tender spot in my holiday memory. And as an adult, I recall the dilemma: when the drummer boy finds himself before the manger that holds the Infant King, he wonders what gift he can bring. He has nothing to offer... no gold, no frankincense, no myrrh. Nothing, even exclaiming to one of the wise men, “I have no gift to bring! ” No gift except... himself and his drumming talent. (If you want to see the scene, click here.)

So, in this Thanksgiving week, I find myself, seemingly drum-less, with nothing to return to God as a worthy sign of gratitude for what he has done for me. Indeed, what can I offer to the One who has given me a beating heart and lungs that breathe, a family that loves and accepts me, a home where we are warm and dry, a circle of friends that encourages me? Yet, there is me... just me. No gilded boxes, no expensive nick- nacks... just me as he has made me. But perhaps this is a worthy gift to the one whose great gift to me is... himself.

Little baby,
pa rum pa pum pum
I am a poor boy too,
pa rum pa pum pum
I have no gift to bring,
pa rum pa pum pum
That's fit to give our King,
pa rum pa pum pum,
Rum pa pum pum,
rum pa pum pum
Shall I play for You,
pa rum pa pum pum
On my drum
On my drum
I play my drum for Him
So to honor Him

Worship

This coming Sunday begins the traditional season of Advent, the time of spiritual preparation before the birth of the Christ Child on Christmas. Even with the hectic weeks preceding it, this most sacred of Christian holidays is actually about a single moment in Bethlehem. This moment is marked by a baby’s cry that signals the meeting of heaven and earth, as well as the pivot point of human history. And in the midst of singing the old familiar songs, revisiting the ancient stories, and enjoying each others’ company, we will observe Advent with a worship theme, “Waiting for the Moment.” The Scripture passages are those found in the Revised Common Lectionary and will be used by congregations across the globe.

•November 28, 10:15 a.m.- Matthew 24:36-44, the day and hour of Jesus’ return is unknown...are we ready?

•December 5, 10:15 a.m.- Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist prepares the way

•December 12, 10:15 a.m.- Matthew 11:2-11, John wonders about Jesus...is he the one?

•December 19, 10:15 a.m.- Matthew 1:18-25, Joseph accepts Jesus as his son

•December 24, 5:30 p.m.- Luke 2, This is the moment.

Linn Park

I cannot adequately express how much it meant to me to see so many of you at Linn Park yesterday, engaging the sometimes messy and chaotic opportunity to help our friends there. You may not have always received a thank you, but there is no doubt that God saw you leave your comfort zones and reach out to the “least of these” in a way that gave them food for the moment and warmth for the future. We make our next sojourn to Linn Park in December. Please watch for details and make plans to join us as we share time and gloves, and scarves.

We have been invited to join Mountainview Baptist Church (Chelsea) on December 11, 11am-1pm, under the viaduct as they have a Christmas Party for the folks on the street with whom they have been in ministry. This is a group with which we connected when we ordered the blankets, and it is good to make the connection!

Blankets

Blankets to distribute to those in need have arrived! With one side that is vinyl (for weather resistance) and the other, fleece (for warmth), these blankets are also very portable and will be at least a temporary help to those who find themselves spending cold times on the streets.

Incarnational

for your meditation:

• Every week, the website www.explorefaith.org will send you a guide for living with gratitude. We each realize that Thanksgiving is more a lifestyle than a holiday, and I encourage you to sign up for these free emails that will help you incorporate gratitude into your life, especially during the upcoming Holidays.