October 2007

October is shaping up to be a busy month. On Sunday the 7th we will be observing three significant events in the life of the church – one symbolic and two tangible. The first, World Communion Sunday, is a special time for us to celebrate God’s grace and peace, and our unity in Christ with our sisters and brothers around the world, as we break bread and share the cup. In worship you will see visible representations of the gifts of peoples around the world: a cut-work communion cloth from India, a mosaic chalice from Israel, a pottery pitcher from Scotland, a paten (plate) from the United States and colorful woven paraments and stoles from Guatemala. In addition, a variety of communion breads will serve as a reminder of the uniqueness and unity we share as people of God.

The second event, the Peacemaking Offering, reinforces the spirit of World Communion with financial support of many peacemaking efforts around the globe. Twenty-five percent of the Peacemaking Offering will be retained by West Emory Church to support our own peacemaking ministry as designated by the Session. 25 per cent is used to support presbytery and synod peacemaking efforts; and 50 per cent is forwarded to the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program of our denomination. Special offering envelopes will be available in the worship bulletins.

The third event, the Two-Cents-a-Meal Offering, will be received the first Sunday of each month in worship with the help of our children. During the month families and individuals are encouraged to collect a few coins at each meal prayerfully remembering those who are hungry and are in need of our support. Containers are found on the bulletin boards in the hallways at the church.

In addition to these events, we will also welcome back our Pumpkin Patch! What a joyous sight it is to see a sea of orange pumpkins gracing our church’s front lawn. This mission outreach program has not only brought attention to our church and its ministry but also touched the lives of families in our community and beyond who need some support and care. I am looking forward to all the times we will be getting together this fall for worship, fellowship, study and ministry.  I hope you will join me and invite your family and friends, co-workers and acquaintances. Together we are the Body of Christ in ministry and mission.

Peace and Blessings,
Miki

November 2007

It is hard to believe that November is here already which means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner. We have a lot to celebrate and give thanks for this fall. A highlight was certainly our Pumpkin Patch. So many of you shared your time and energy in making this mission project a rousing success. We especially thank Coordinator Linda Strachan for her outstanding shepherding of this endeavor for a second year.

This month we will once more have the opportunity to respond with grateful hearts to all of God’s good gifts to us on Commitment Sunday, November 11. The Stewardship theme for this year is “Give Thanks… Sing Praise… Declare God’s Steadfast Love!”  On Stewardship Sunday, November 4, we celebrated the Lord’s Supper together and were invited to be in prayer as we seek to discern what God is calling us individually and as a congregation to give of our time, talents and treasures for the Lord’s work in the coming year.

As the holidays approach, preparations are already underway for the Annual Thanksgiving Dinner, the Hanging of the Greens festivities, Advent and Christmas activities and worship opportunities. In the midst of all of the busyness of the season, I hope you will make it a priority to be at worship with your church family on Sunday mornings and to participate in as many of the events we will be offering as possible. I hope you will also invite family members, friends and acquaintances to join you as we experience God’s love, mercy and peace at West Emory Church.

May God continue to open our eyes and our hearts to the worship, service and fellowship that we are being called to as faithful disciples of our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ.

Peace and Blessings,
Miki

December 2007

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in,
Be born in us today.

These beautiful words from Phillips Brooks’ beloved carol are my prayer for all of us this Advent and Christmas season. May we all find a new measure of faith, a new commitment to God’s cause in our world, and a deeper sense of God’s peace than ever before.

These days before Christmas are called ADVENT, which means “coming.” For hundreds of years this has been a time of preparation. But let us be careful of that for which we prepare. Let us prepare not so much for “Christmas” which will come and go, but for “Christ” whose love and grace does not pass with the season.

I hope that you will build into these sometimes hurried and harried days times for prayer and quiet moments of peaceful stillness. Read the Christmas story from Matthew and Luke and the words of prophesy from Isaiah. Pray for peace and good will to come alive in all the troubled parts of our world. Pray for new evidences of God’s love to those who are in difficult circumstances.

I hope you will also take advantage of the many opportunities in your church family for worship and service. Be present on Sunday mornings. Come to one of our Christmas Eve services. Provide a gift for someone on the Angel Tree. You will be blessed, and you will be a blessing.

O Christ, be born in each of our lives today.

Miki