Where could I go to get away from your spirit? Where could I go to escape your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there. If I went down to the grave,[a] you would be there too! If I could fly on the wings of dawn, stopping to rest only on the far side of the ocean—even there your hand would guide me; even there your strong hand would hold me tight.  Psalm 139:7-10 CEB

On Monday we got up early to see Hannah off as she left for Illinois to start her internship.  There has been a lot of concern and planning for this trip over the past 10 weeks.  How do you safely move across the country in the time of COVID when numbers in almost every state are spiking?

The surprise blessing for us came through my sister being sick with COVID in November. Stephanie lives about 7 hours from where Hannah will be and is still in the “window of immunity” where she is not likely to get re-infected. Because Stephanie is considered immune she offered to fly out and drive back with Hannah so she would have an extra person for the long ride and could do all the interacting at hotels offering an extra barrier against exposure. Having Stephanie make the trip relieved stress from Hannah who worried that she would be putting us at risk if we traveled with her.  Although she is capable of making the drive on her own, she felt more comfortable making the trip with another person while driving through weather she isn’t accustomed to.  It was also a gift because Stephanie and I haven’t seen each other in over a year.   We only had  8 hours…outside on our porch, with our masks on, and from a distance…but we got to sit in the same space, we got to laugh, reflect on the loss, fear and blessings of the past year and share what we hope we keep as we move forward. It felt as if God had been guiding this trip planning!

Throughout this journey I have found comfort in the lyrics of Stephen Fischbacher’s Song, God Beside. God has been behind Hannah her whole life.  God has been beside Scott and I through the disappointment of not being able to make this trip with her and help her set up her new apartment. God is a passenger beside Hannah and Stephanie in the car. They have already experienced a lot of excitement with the snow and ice they are driving through and I love hearing the laughter and the reports of how they are supporting each other.  I know that God will be there ahead of them when Hannah is dropped off on her own in a new place, learning new skills and handling very difficult situations beside families dealing with life changing experiences.  As Stephen says….“In the sunshine and in the rain, in the laughter and in the pain, God behind, God beside, God ahead.”  Stephen goes on to remind us of God’s presence in our lives singing…“God is with us in the morning, with us in the day, with us in the evening…always, always, always, always.”  

Moving into this new year, may we find comfort in knowing God is behind us, beside us and ahead of us. 

Loving God…thank you for surrounding us with your guidance, love and care as we head into a New Year.  We give thanks for Stephen and his song that reminds us that you are with us always, always, always! Amen.

Leyla 

²² The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. You won’t find any law opposed to fruit like this. 
²⁵ Now since we have chosen to walk with the Spirit, let’s keep each step in perfect sync with God’s Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, 25 The Voice

It has already been three days since we celebrated the birth of Jesus, and I hope and trust that your Christmas, though probably different from years past, was filled with joy, love and kindheartedness. I am very much looking forward to ending this unprecedented and difficult year and beginning with hopefully a renewed freshness of restoration in my heart, mind and spirit. And maybe you are too.

I’ve been thinking a lot of the act of kindness. It’s one of the fruits, or outward expressions of the Spirit living within you. It’s truly a simple act but this year I have felt that kindness or kindheartedness has been lacking in general. Maybe from the stress of everything this year has brought or fear of what tomorrow might bring, but kindheartedness or the act of kindness is simply love made visible.  God showed us true kindness when God kindly showered the world with love as the Christ Child was born to bring restorative healing light into the darkness. 

Kindheartedness or Kindness is simply caring for others, even when it isn’t reciprocated. Seeing and celebrating the beauty in others, even when they don’t find it in themselves. Giving hope to the vulnerable, neglected, and forgotten, even when they are not able to return it back to you. And just like the sun when it melts the ice, kindness can dissolves our differences, mistrusts, and hostility in the world.

Maybe kindness is perhaps our most valuable tool in spreading love, because it’s capable of changing us. It can change humanity, it can change the world, because the love imbedded in kindness shifts our mind from self to the other which offers a place of peace. This peace of mind is not a winning of one side, but a means of peace that comes from a place where there is no longer two sides competing but instead a reconciliation of the two into one.

As I reflect on kindness I am reminded of the words our Methodist founding Father John Wesley left for us and how it rings true to live into as a new year begins. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, to all the people you can, in all the places you can, as long as ever you can.”

So as we lean into the beginning of our journey into a New Year, may we walk together in love, kindheartedness and peace so that we may be the change we wish to see in this world(M.Gandhi).

God of restoration and healing, renew our strength and compassion to be an offering of love and kindheartedness to others. Bring your peace and a renewed sense of joy to our lives, fill us and surround us with Your Spirit to bring restoring light to a hurting and broken world. Amen.

Brenda

Luke 2:9-10 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people.

Last week I spent a lot of hours editing the virtual pageant, Do Not Be Afraid,from Illustrated Ministries. I came away from this experience with two thoughts. The first is I have a much greater appreciation for all those film editors out there.  The second thought was that most every character in the story of Jesus’ birth had some worries and fears. Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi and even king Herod all had concerns. There were fears about what people would think. There were fears about angels just popping out of nowhere in the sky. There were fears about what the king might do and there were fears about who this newborn baby was. The common theme throughout the story was to not be afraid! With the exception of King Herod, each of these people were assured that everything would work out.  All of them relied on their faith in God and said yes in spite of their worries, concerns and fears.

Living through a pandemic can bring about fears, but we don’t need a pandemic to have had fears and worries weave in and out of our lives. As a parent, I have worried about whether I have taught my boys, now young adults, values that are important to their dad and I; and I worried about the decisions they would make. While recently going and getting our Christmas tree with one of my kids, he shared with us a conversation he and his brothers recently had.  Through that conversation it was apparent that they too shared the same values as their parents. What a great feeling and relief. For me, I don’t think God talks to me through angeIs. I feel that God talks to me through my gut; so as a parent going through uncharted territory, I relied many times on my gut.

As we move through a pandemic, parenting, work and just everyday life and fear and worries begin to creep in. Remember the words of the angel Gabriel so long ago, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news”. Remind yourself that God is always with you and that is good news.

Gracious and loving God, fear can be so powerful and can take over our thoughts. Help us to remember that when we are fearful that you are with us and we don’t need to be afraid. Thank you for all the different ways that you come to us whether it be through angels, guts, words or…. May we always feel your comfort. 
Amen

Christmas Blessings to all of you,
Marty

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

As we all are experiencing this Advent/Christmas season is different, however different doesn’t have to be bad.  Different is simply different, and different can be good.  This Thanksgiving my mom became ill with Shingles. If you haven’t had the new 2-part vaccine, please get it. She has been in a lot of pain and dealing with the rash.  It all came to a head last Sunday; the pain was excruciating. When I was finally able to get an additional prescription for her to make her skin not feel like it was burning, life was better. We watched the tape of our online virtual Christmas concert on my phone while laying on her bed.  She loved it.  She loved the music and how the sanctuary was decorated.  That concert was the only Christmas event that she has seen this year. While lying there with her, I made a mental picture in my heart and mind to remember that moment, so I will always have that peaceful memory of watching our Christmas concert on my phone while lying there with my mom on her bed.  I don’t think that event would have happened if this whole COVID/lockdown thing happened. In fact, I know it wouldn’t because I would have been singing in the concert that night, if this was a normal Christmas season.

Yes, there is a lot of trouble going on in the world this year, and we are a long way of being out of it. However, at Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus who overcame the world. Jesus knew that there would always be trouble in this world, but having him as our friend, teacher and redeemer gives us peace and hope and that is what we celebrate this this season.

This Christmas may you be able to take the time that we have been given of this quieter Christmas to relish those special moments with our family and friends. May the peace of Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate this, and every Christmas be with you now and always.

Gracious and loving God, while we are missing many things this year, don’t let us miss you.  Help us to see you in all the ways people help and care for one another.  Help us to remember that you came into this world in a dark time to be the light of the world.  Help us to share the light that you give us with others, the light of love and hope. Amen 

Stay well, stay safe and be the hope you wish to see in the world.
Hugs, Suzanne

“And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will callme blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’”

— Luke 1:46-55

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary what God had designed to have happen, her response was an immediate yes: “Here I am the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” It isn’t clear if God was seeking her consent, but Mary chose to give it. She chose to allow God to work through her to transform the world.

By the time she gets to the home of Elizabeth, she has had the opportunity to think about things. And yet here she still says yes!  Whatever plans or dreams she might have had for her life, she could not have imagined that it would involve directly participating in providing the means by which salvation, justice, and equity would come to all. I have always marveled at her understanding. The language she uses here is not that God WILL do these things, but that God HAS DONE these things. She isn’t just reflecting on what God has done in the past, but that in this child, that work finds fruition. Mary knows that when God promises, it is already as good as accomplished.

Of course it isn’t all good news. Some people don’t want the hungry to be fed, nor the forgotten to be remembered. Some who are well off believe that equity and justice will threaten their position. Some who feel that they are gods don’t want to be reminded that they are, actually, not.  Mary isn’t saying that God punishes the rich and powerful (though God might burst their bubble); she just observes that God’s focus is on, well, people like her. God favors the lowly.

I was reminded of Mary’s words here as I listened to the church answering machine today. First up was a saved message from earlier in the week, from a gentleman who was castigating us for “drawing in homeless filth to Huntington Beach.” He was “angry and disturbed” that we “cater to the riff-raff when thy just need to get a job… they are making it unlivable here…” his rant reached a crescendo with “I do not want to have to drive by and see them all…!” 

Of course the next two messages were from young women in the community who wanted to know when they could bring donations to the food closet.

I am afraid that through you, the members of this congregation, God has sent that young man away empty, filled the young women with good things like charity and grace, and has looked down with favor upon the lowly.

O God, in this season of magnificence and glory, let us remember the humble and the lowly. May we understand again that you change the world through the simple faithful working folk like Mary and Joseph. Move through us to favor the forgotten. And when we are either too full of ourselves or empty of all hope, broaden our view, so that we may know that you equip us and send us to be your servants in the world. Through Jesus, Your beloved and begotten, we pray. Amen.

2020 is almost over!  Thanks be to God!
You all have been amazing in your faithful giving. We are on track to meet 100% of our budgeted giving for this year. Thank you so very much!
Some giving notes:
– Congress has passed a special rule for this year only, allowing you to deduct up to $300 in charitable donations, even if you don’t itemize deductions!
– To be counted for 2020 giving, we must receive your gifts by December 31, 2020. Anything received after this date will be reported in your 2021 statement.
– To date we have received over 100 pledges for 2021. We know that there are a great many questions about the year to come. If you are unable to make a pledge at this time, we humbly ask that you share a tentative estimate of your giving for the coming year, which you can change as conditions allow or require. This will help us to set a plan for expenditures.