December 23, 2019 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. It has turned back to winter with a vengeance. It is Wednesday, December 18th morn and about 25 degrees at my house. My faithful companions, Gunter and Sam, are so ready to go for a walk, but I just can’t make myself bundle up and go. I will get the courage later. Winter doesn’t officially start until December 21st. Sue is getting ready to head to First Baptist Joaquin, as it is the day that children’s Christmas gifts are given to the many families who are being helped out this holiday season. Sue has been busy cooking and baking my mother’s special chocolate chip cupcakes (9 dozen total). The house has smelled aromatic and festive. Sue, Lynn, Delores, and Doug—the four volunteers who keep the Joaquin Senior Center going—are on a two-week Christmas break, but I noticed that the diehard domino players are still meeting every morning!
Last night (Tuesday, December 17th) was the Paxton Christmas Program and Dinner. We had a really nice crowd. Wayne was kind enough to come again this year and lead the congregation in Christmas carols and hymns. He also teamed up with his wife Leona to sing “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.” Sue read “The Ox and the Star,” a sweet tale of the first Christmas through the eyes of an ox. Later in the program she read a children’s book, When I Dream of Christmas. Nora sang that haunting song, “The Call of Christmas.” During the program we could all smell the good food that was brought: After a short intermission, we got down to the serious work of eating. We certainly excelled in that task!
Fannie had a most excellent Sunday School lesson. Gene read the scripture from Matthew 1: 18-25, about Joseph discovering that Mary was pregnant and the angel coming to him in a dream. The lesson was titled “Hope Fulfilled.” The question Fannie asked that created the most discussion was how we square our holiday materialism with our Christmas faith—not an easy question to answer.
We were so pleased to see Lillie, Liz, and Mike come to church this morning. They are up at the farm, where the family will be gathering at Christmas. Carolyn has headed off to Pennsylvania, but the rest of us were present and accounted for. The church looks so beautiful: Last Sunday Sue took pictures of the poinsettias, the Christmas tree, and the manger scene out front of the church, and I used all three when preparing Sunday’s bulletin.
Sunday’s Gospel Lesson was Luke’s telling of Christmas Eve night with the shepherds, the bright star, the stable, the manger, the animals, Mary, Joseph, and of course the newborn baby. This story of the birth of Jesus that we retell every December is about a God so full of love that he comes and joins us in our broken-ness and wounded-ness and shows us how to live despite the problems we face.
I have been completing the “End-of-Year” report for the district and conference offices. This is one of several reports that help make sure we are accountable for what we do. Gene has been our treasurer these last many years, such a help in getting the financial information together. It used to be that the pastor would take his reports and other information and head to the District Office where auditors would go through it all. That day was called Report Day. Now, everything is done online, and the reports are submitted this way. It sure is handy and saves a trip to Lufkin. That wouldn’t be a problem now that I am retired from the school business, but back in the day I would have to take a day off work when we were first returning to school. I always wonder what John Wesley would have thought of all the reports, but he’d probably give them a thumbs up. Last Sunday the church approved the pastor’s evaluation, and it too has been forwarded to the District Office.
All this month we have been collecting cans of soup for Community Christian Services. Starting off in 2020, we will collect cans of tuna. Our Holiday ministry was called off this month. All the nursing centers are all so busy this time of year and have so many activities for the residents. We will catch up in January. We are going to Lakeside Village Assisted Living on New Year’s Eve Day but will still sing some Christmas songs. One can never sing too many Christmas carols.
Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here.” Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, and Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist you can send me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
