Let There be Peace on Earth - Sing Along: Followed by Random Acts of Kindness for 01/01/11

Everybody sing!

Now that you have sung, I have a modest proposal. It's nothing original or radical, but worth an attempt I think. Let's make New Year's Day a day when peace on earth does begin with each of us. Take a moment out of the day to perform a random act of kindness for someone, anyone. Keep it simple and doable. For instance, if it is raining or snowing out in the morning and you see an elderly neighbor's paper out on the lawn, move it up to the front porch or front door while you're out picking up your own. If you're in line with a bunch of people at a check out and they are starting to become impatient and cranky, be relaxed and friendly. Strike up a conversation and watch the line's mood shift. Say thank you or God Bless You to the bagger at the end of that line in the store. Take a shopping cart or two back to the store from the parking lot.

Here's another example: while working at a nursing home in a retirement community last summer, I was instructed to touch a hand or shoulder during a conversation with a resident. Everyone can use this kind of contact. Not being the touchy-feely sort, this took some practice. But, it was habit forming. Late in my time there, I attended a concert given for residents and staff. I was sitting near the end of a row. A woman approached with a walker. She arrived and reached out for the arm of the chair to steady herself. Not thinking, but now conditioned, I reached up my hand, which she took, and I guided her into her seat. I was surprised at myself for doing this and she beamed at me over this simple kindness, which was graceful as well as helpful. It made the beginning of that concert memorable for us both.

So, New Year's Day this year, 2011, one simple act of kindness ... let peace begin with you.

Who knows. Maybe this will be habit forming and we'll all keep up the habit every day.

Hey, and do me a favor. If this works out well for you, please leave a comment here at this post and let me know what you did. If there was a positive, peaceful result, I'd like to know that too!

Care to sing that song together again?

Weekly Bible Verse: Luke 2:1-20: Good News of Great Joy for ALL People

Luke 2: In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3All went to their own towns to be registered. 4Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.


8In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Wishing You Joy for Christmas

Wishing you ... and the world ... joy this Christmas, and always. Multiple local teen chorus groups joined forces to deliver this message.

Coatsville Benefits Youth Concert Outcome: Transformer 12-2: The Colors Tour

In Allen's last blog entry in September, he talked about the upcoming Transformer 12-2 concert in Coatsville. There has been so much interest in that post, I asked Allen to return and tell readers how it went. Allen?

A: In a nutshell, it was wonderful, just an all-around wonderful experience!

The name of the concert is based on Romans 12:2, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds".

Leading up to concert day, our youth were thrilled to have a concert at Olivet, and helped tremendously with the publicity. One of our students got approval to put up posters at CASH. When I visited CASH for “See You At The Pole”, I was told by one of my students, “The posters are up all over the school, everyone is talking about the concert!”.

Finally, on September 26, Olivet Church became the venue for the final stop of “The Color’s Tour” and hosted our first Contemporary Chirstian Music (CCM) Concert. CCM concert is “Christian-speak”, for rock concert. The bands, Leo, and Shine Bright Baby, gave an awesome high-quality performance and were absolutely the nicest group of outstanding young musicians you could possibly ever want to meet. Our adults and youth also did an outstanding job “working the concert” by selling tickets, taking tickets, selling merchandise, cooking and selling hot dogs and beverages, serving food, working with the bands and the sound engineer to load equipment in and out, move and store furniture, work the lights and DVD player, provide wireless internet service and a green room for the bands, and provide security personnel to keep the high-school group of about 70 youth, from wandering into back-stage or office areas of the church. The bands raved about Harvey’s home-cooked meals for lunch and dinner.

In addition to band merchandise tables, Good Works, TWLOHA, and Compassion International had tables setup in the Garden room. Compassion even provided a speaker for intermission, with a video to show. I briefly talked about TWLOHA and we also presented a dynamic Rob Bell video during intermission. TWLOHA, (To Write Love On Her Arms) is an organization that works to help people in self-abusive habits of many forms.

There were not enough attendees to quite cover all the expenses but Olivet church was financially isolated with the exception of providing the venue, heat, and electricity.

We only had 70 youth show up, but, WOW, WE HAD 70 youth show up! We didn’t cover expenses but after the first song and I saw all the kids get up in front of the band doing “their concert thing”, I knew that my primary message was getting across, “You can be a Christian and you can still listen to rock music and have fun!”

The bands were wonderful to work with and expressed that they were doing what they do, for Jesus. I love when bands express that from the stage! My favorite quote of the night was from our senior pastor, when the fog machine set the fire alarm off. Someone was running to answer the call from the fire department, and Joe said, “Tell ‘em the youth set the church on FIRE!” Yes, I think, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they did!

God Bless,

- allen

Advent Celebrations Are Here!

Sunday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. we’ll have our annual Christmas Concert Event.

Then prepare for Christmas Eve Service on Dec. 24 at 7 P.M. There is candlelight, music, Scripture, and a Silent Night. It's wonderful. If you are in the area, you are invited.

Come share our joy.

Weekly Bible Verse: Matthew 1:18-25 Come Lord Jesus!

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah* took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. 20But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ 22All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:


23 ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ 24When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, 25but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son;* and he named him Jesus.

Thinking and Thanking

As we approached Thanksgiving, I listened with interest to an interview relating to gratitude on National Public Radio. Dr. Robert Emmons says that thankfulness is interconnected with thinking, or remembering good things received from other people and from God (or another moral being). Non-gratitude he defines as “forgetfulness” and is much more common than ingratitude which he calls “responding with indifference”, sometimes meanness, to good things. All of this fit right in with what I had been meditating on.
Firstly, I am grateful to God. I am thankful for salvation, for a higher purpose in life, and that no matter where I go, God is with me. I feel privileged to have been gifted by God, and to have had the opportunity to serve Him in many ways and in many places, including Cuba. I am grateful to God for all the divine transformations that He has worked in my life and in the lives of others around me. This list could go on and on…

One of the callers to the radio program saddened me. He professed atheism and asked if he could still have an attitude of gratitude. Professor Emmons said he could, while adding a qualifier that generally speaking all world religions have a gratitude component to their higher being. My first reaction was, if I couldn’t be grateful to God, how could I be deeply thankful? I believe so strongly that God is the source of my being and salvation, my sustenance and guidance, providing blessings of all kinds. How could I truly be thankful if I didn’t believe in God? God is the one who opens up the scope of gratitude for me.

As I mentioned, God provides many blessings – and that includes people like you. There are those who challenge me to grow, who encourage me, who befriend me, who pray for me and who support me in a variety of ways. I do thank God FOR every one of you on my Missionary Partnership Network. I echo Paul in Philippians 1 when he says, “I thank my God every time I remember you …I will always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel…”

I also am thankful TO you for how you support me by committing to keep up with me, pray for me and Cuba as well as sending financial gifts. I couldn’t do it without you!

So as I do some specific “thinking” and “thanking”, here’s a partial list:

· For enabling me to put together and record a power point presentation called “The Church in Cuba” in both English and Spanish this month (despite my not being a techie) which will be available after December 1 to churches

· For the reception and interest at the churches I have visited thus far in what God is doing in Cuba. I have met so many wonderful people!

· For my MPT, (the group that sends this newsletter out, among other things), for encouraging me and doing a lot of leg work for me, for their commitment to serving God.

· For my MPN (Missionary Partnership Network) who have been faithfully praying and giving.

· For Katy’s good adjustment to school and the great strides she has made in English reading

· For the additional new financial supporters of my ministry who continue to surprise me with their generosity.

· For those in Cuba with whom I have had the privilege of working. They have taken the ball and run with it, ministering to so many others in Christ’s name and in such creative ways!

At this Thanksgiving time, and as we head into the Advent Season, take time to reflect on your “gratitude list”. Enjoy giving thanks as well as “Thanksgiving”.

With a grateful heart,

Sue Hegarty

I apologize with being late delivering this message -- however, it is too good to let it get away. That's my thinking. J.B.S.

The Night The Savior Came: A Poem Based on Luke 2:8-14

It's another long night as we watch our sheep


Struggling to stay alert and not fall asleep

There was nothing to indicate that this night we would witness a miraculous thing

As winged angels heralded the birth of a newborn King

Their raiment shone with a supernatural light

And the angels realized that they must cause us great fright

The first words they spoke to us were of comfort, urging us not to fear

And then spoke to us a message. that although we did not realize it, we had longed to hear

That would cause us to forget our sleepiness and fear

They spoke of an ordinary thing, the birth of a child

Yet we sensed great import in their words and their story sounded not at all wild

The child that was born on this seemingly ordinary night

Would usher in a new world and with his miracles bid hunger, poverty, & pain to take flight

A choir of more angels came to sing the Child's praise

And caused us from our warming fire to raise

Our legs felt bidden to hurry to David's town

To see this wonderful baby that would win such great renown

Original work by ECBC's own poet, Andrew Henry

Weekly Bible Verses: Matthew 11:2-11: Are You the One?

Matthew 11: 2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 6And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 9What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The Ecclesiological Twilight Zone: An Original Skit for Church Outreach

The Ecclesiological Twilight Zone

Written by Pastor Jeffrey B. Snyder

©2010

A Note to Users: If your church is looking to reach out to other churches and begin a cooperative mission of outreach into your community, this short skit will illustrate for your congregation, with humor, why this should be done … or more to the point, the hazards of not doing so. It could easily be adapted to meet your needs if your church is going to conduct outreach all by yourselves, I’m sure. You have the author’s permission to do so. Finally, I write skits to be performed with a minimum of props and characters. I know we are all busy and many are cash strapped. Anyone can perform this skit with outlay of little more than time and talent. Good luck pastor! Blessings outreach team!

Necessary Props: 1 pulpit, 1 chair, a few papers representing a sermon, 2 mics, church sound system (if you do not have 2 mics and sound system available, speak up!)

List of Characters:

• Narrator
• Pastor 
• Lone Congregant
• Church Computer

Opening Scene: Minister is slumped over the pulpit, papers falling from his hand, obviously underwhelmed by his sermon practice and has fallen asleep. Entering the scene from off set appears a Rod Serling-like character, who narrates …

Narrator (using Rod Serling’s clipped tones from "The Twilight Zone"): Presented for your approval, the fevered dream, some might say prophetic dream, of the new pastor of the ___________ (Insert the name of your church here). In his dream, the __________ (Your church name here) pastor receive a glimpse of one possible future, a future 40 years hence, a future likely to come if changes are not made. It is the sort of dream one can expect in … The Ecclesiological Twilight Zone. (As narrator speaks, lone congregant moves into position on single chair facing pulpit. Rod exits set after narration finishes.)

Pastor: (Arises and speaks as future self in dream) Following the service today, we … meaning you and me (name whomever is playing role of lone congregant) … will celebrate 45 years of proudly going it alone, meeting the needs of our congregants behind closed doors, pulling up our own bootstr…

Lone Congregant: (who has been nodding in pew falls out of pew to floor with a long groan and lies still, use "pulling" as cue line to begin death fall).

Pastor: Church Computer?

Church Computer Voice: (A calm HAL 9000 sort of voice is intended here) Yes, Pastor?

Pastor: (Resigned and regretful) Please call 911 and have them send the hearse. Our last congregant has died.

Church Computer Voice: Yes, Pastor.

Pastor: (Sighs) And then you might as well put the Church building up for sale Computer.

Church Computer Voice: I’m sorry Dave, I can’t do that. I have already taken a job with a growing church, a multi-mega church in fact, a church that decided 45 years ago to reach out into the community and make a difference, a church that decided to take up the great commission, practice evangelism, and help build the Kingdom of God … a church entirely different from __________ (Your church name here). Goodbye Dave.

Pastor: (Slumps over pulpit in despair in original dreaming posture from skit's opening).

Pastor: (Jolts awake) Oh … oh, no, what year is it? (Checks cell phone) Still 20___?! (Use current year here) Praise Jesus! What an awful dream. What if it comes true?! (Pulls out cell phone) Fred, call a special meeting of the deacons. We’ve got to set up a special task force for inter-church unity and outreach …

END Scene!

Tis the Season ...

... For Holy Mischief and Divine Conspiracy, according to Philadelphia's new monastic Shane Claiborne. See what he means by following this link: http://ow.ly/3mAVW


This would be a terrific means of brightening the holiday season for those who are struggling ...

Holiday Shopping Night

On December 15 from 6-8PM, the Exton Nursery School offers a holiday shopping night. Bring the family and friends out to the church to support our school and get a head start on your holiday shopping!

Weekly Bible Verse: Matthew 3:1-12: The Kingdom of God Has Come Near!

3In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” 4Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Opera Company of Philadelphia "Hallelujah!" Random Act of Culture

What a wonderful way to sing God's praises, proclaim Christ, share the faith, and impart joy to everyone who hears it. Have a blessed Christmas everyone.