Finding Joy

The season of Advent begins this weekend. We will celebrate Thanksgiving this Thursday, and immediately we will jump into the craze that is the Christmas season. But in the church, the season of Advent comes first. Advent means coming. It is a time where spiritually we prepare ourselves for the comings of Christ - in his birth, in his continually coming through Word and Spirit, and in his return. The mystery is this season is found in the waiting and watching. The community of faith is invited into the richness of this season as we hear the voice of the Prophet Jeremiah speak a word of hope to the Hebrew people, as we hear John the Baptist call us to repent, and we finally bear witness to Immanuel, God is with us through the birth of Jesus. Here are Crossroads, we will explore these themes through a series of worship experiences focused on the theme of "finding joy." We being this weekend with the "Joy of Home." Let us prepare to wait, watch and welcome together.

Grace, Gratitude and Generosity

In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul invites the churches in Asia Minor to give to a collection being taken for the church in Jerusalem. Paul doesn't coerce, misrepresent, or guilt the followers of Christ in these areas. He simply invites them to remember the grace that is present at people of God, the generosity that comes from God and flows out from our lives, and the gratitude that we offer one another and to God. What we do with what we have truly becomes a way of life. Let us reflect on what it means for God to "reign" in our lives. What are you doing with what you have been given?

Called to Serve the City

We serve in many ways. One of the opportunities that we have at Metropolitan is through our annual Tyler Rusch Walk for the Homeless. On Sunday, October 18, you will have a chance to walk to raise money for our homeless shelter ministries across the parish. Find out more information about registration on www.nationalchurch.org. Join us Saturday night as we explore how we can continue to serve God and neighbor in our city.

Called to Serve

"We are called to be light for the Kingdom, to live in the freedom of the City of God. We are called to act with justice, we are called to love tenderly. We are called to love on another, to walk humbly with God."

We begin this week with a look at how we can be engaged with people throughout the world. One of the most amazing efforts to stamp out malaria related deaths is to use bed nets. This video provides a taste of what bed nets mean to the people of Africa.

A Little Night Music

Last week I talked about the Power of a Song. This week, we'll get to experience that during and after our Crossroads worship. This week, we present "A Little Night Music" a concert to benefit our music ministries across the Metropolitan Parish. There will be exciting music from In-Process (from Wesley), Dayspring Choir, The Crossroads Band, and various solos from each church. There will be hors d'oeuvres in the garden beginning at 6:30. The concert will get underway at 7:30 followed by dessert and coffee in the garden afterwards. Please make plans to stay for this wonderful night of musical celebration!

The Power of a Song

I like singing in my shower because it is all tile and enclosed with a glass door. That means that the acoustics are fantastic! I just love how a particular song sounds in there! No matter where you find yourself singing (in the car, walking your dogs, or in the shower) there is something about the power of a song.

Songs have long been identified as a portal into the soul. You can reach the heart of a person quicker than anything else when you use music. Music calms fears, helps us through trials, encourages us, and speaks out for justice. Whether it is the singing of a lullaby or the powerful words of "We Shall Overcome," songs speak meaning into our lives.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul writes to the church in Ephesus about certain things to avoid (unwise living, etc). He says to "be filled with the Spirit as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts." A life in the spirit, or a life full of joy is often expressed through the giving of ourselves and our worship. When we sing, we offer praise to God, and we receive peace, comfort, restoration and life!

One of my professors says, "In all the stuff you deal with, where do you find joy!" Many of us find joy in the power of song. In the midst of your day (or your stuff), keep on singing!

Jimmy

The problem of Scripture

I heard someone use the phrase "an eye for an eye" earlier today. Of course, it is a reference of the passage in Exodus 21 when the Hebrew people receive instructions from God through Moses on living as a community, and a nation. I was really upset with the way the person used this. He is a Christian and yet he completely ignores Jesus' call in Matthew 5:38-39 when he says, "You have heard it said, an eye for an eye" but I say (paraphrase) do not resist evil. Turn the other cheek.

Of course this is difficult, but there nothing in scripture that suggest following Jesus is an easy course. We are quick to judge and exact (or wish) for revenge. We often use the Bible as a means of justifying our actions. This is the problem of scripture, er, shall I say the problem with the readers and interpreters?