PASTOR'S PEN
Are You Ready?
“And suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude of the heavenly host…”
(Luke 2:13)
I don’t know about you, but December came up too
soon for me this year. I remember that it was the end of summer…then all
the sudden, BOOM! It was the last month of the year! In fact,
December seems to creep up on me more and more quickly every year.
Despite the fact that I had all those autumn
months to ‘prepare’ for the holiday season, it took me by surprise
nonetheless. School starting for our daughters, a couple of short trips
here and there, the busy daily grind…I became so engrossed in these things that
‘preparing’ for the busiest month of the year was nearly non-existent.
Next thing, I find myself wondering how I’m going to find enough time to get
everything done for Christmas and New Year’s.
Maybe that’s like how the shepherd felt when the
angels ‘suddenly’ appeared out of the sky (as we see in the Bible verse above)
and told them of the birth of their Savior. They had probably heard of a
promise of a savior, the Messiah, for generations. But as much as they
were taught to ‘prepare the way’ for this Messiah (as in the words of the
prophet Isaiah), they were still probably taken by surprise when the angels
‘suddenly’ appeared and told them that the promise had been fulfilled.
Actually, if you really think about it, the
entire Christmas story is about things ‘suddenly’ happening. Although it
doesn’t say explicitly, the angel ‘suddenly’ came to the elderly priest
Zechariah and told him of the birth of his son (John the Baptizer, the one who
introduced Jesus). Another angel ‘suddenly’ came to Mary and told her
that she was going to bear a child (Jesus, the Messiah). The star that
leads the wisemen ‘suddenly’ appeared in the sky to tell of Jesus’ birth.
Now we, that live over 2000 years after this
first Christmas, KNOW that Christmas is coming every year. And so, in
that sense, we are not surprised by the coming of Christmas and the celebration
of the Savior’s birth. In fact, we observe Advent as a time to
intentionally wait and prepare for that day.
But even as we may ‘know’ when Christmas is
coming, God’s work is rarely ‘on the clock’, so to speak. The way God
works in and among us continues to ‘just happen suddenly’ and surprises us
constantly. So in a way, the only way to be ‘prepared’ is to be prepared
to be surprised!
I’m not sure how ‘prepared’ the shepherds,
Zechariah, Mary and the wisemen were, but we do know that when God’s ‘surprise’
suddenly happened, they were open and flexible enough to accept it and let
God’s work happen (with a bit of initial resistance from Zechariah, though).
And so, the shepherds went and saw the baby Jesus, Zechariah became John the
Baptizer’s father, Mary became the mother of Christ and the wisemen followed
the star to find the newborn King. They went along with God’s plan,
however sudden it seemed – and they were blessed by it.
So this Christmas season, are you prepared?
Are you prepared to be surprised by God’s sudden appearance and work in
and among you? Like the other servants of God in the Christmas story, may
we be flexible and open, so that when it does come, we can go along with
God’s plan and be blessed and bless others by it. Let us prepare to be
surprised suddenly!
Praying for a blessed and wonderfully surprising
Christmas.
Pastor Grace Kaori Suzuki
DEACONS' REPORT
I hope you all had a very happy
Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful time to be with family and friends and to
take time to reflect on our many blessings we’ve had throughout the year.
It is also time to think about and reach out to those less fortunate than us.
CUPC held its annual Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, Nov.18th. The
Deacon’s hosted it and provided a delicious feast for just about 200
people. It was wonderful to see old friends and as well as many new
ones. Proceeds from the dinner will be donated to The Network Ministries
in the Tenderloin and to the Covenant Presbyterian Church Food Pantry in the
Sunset District. The Deacons felt both these organizations continue to do
God’s work in providing food and shelter to those in need. Thanks to all
who came out on Saturday and Sunday to help with the dinner preparation.
A special thank you goes to the….
Turkey chef, who smoked 8 turkeys to perfection
Turkey
carvers
Gravy maker
Rice cooker
MCs
Entertainers
Table decorations
makers
Cashier
Table set uppers
Thanksgiving dinner co-chairs
BBQ pit
breakdown helpers
And to all those who contributed pies and
Jello Also, thanks to the Saturday food preparation helpers and setting
up barbecue pit helpers.
The Deacons have been busy preparing for the 2nd
annual Deacon-Led Worship Service on Dec 9th. Under the direction our
Moderator, we are planning a fun and meaningful service. Please plan on
joining us.
Please be in prayer for the following:
All
the volunteers helping to clean the oils spill in the SF bay.
Victims
of the southern California fires.
If you have any prayer requests or needs, please
contact the church office.
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP:
The Deacons would like to thank the individuals
who contributed to the coffee fellowship in November.
Irene Woo, Vice Moderator
Handy Little Chart
YOU SAY - GOD SAYS - BIBLE VERSES
“It’s impossible” - All things are possible - Luke 18:27
"I'm too tired" - I will give you rest - Matthew 11:28-30
"Nobody really loves me" - I love you - John 3:16 & John 3:34
"I can't go on" - My grace is sufficient - 2 Corinthians 12:9 Psalm 91:15
"I can't figure things out" - I will direct your steps - Proverbs 3:5-6
"I can't do it" - You can do all things - Philippians 4:13
"I'm unable" - I am able - 2 Corinthians 9:8
"It's not worth it" - It will be worth it - Romans 8:28
"I can't forgive myself" - I forgive you - I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1
"I can't manage" - I will supply all your needs - 2 Timothy 1:7
"I'm afraid" - I have not given you a spirit of fear - 2 Timothy 1:7
"I'm always worried and frustrated" - Cast all your cares on me - 1 Peter 5:7
"I'm not smart enough" - I give you wisdom - I Corinthians 1:30
"I feel all alone" - I will never leave you or forsake you - Hebrew 13:5
Taken from “Pioneer Ocean View Newsletter”
