When I think of God's promise of JOY, I can't help but think of laughter. There is just nothing like a good laugh. When was the last time you had a good laugh? I think of the prototype of a good laugh in the story of Abraham and Sarah. If you will reminisce with me....God promised Abraham and Sarah a son as a part of a covenant between God and Abraham. Surely this was not possible! I mean, Abraham and Sarah were 100 and 90 years old respectively. Can you imagine the laugh that they had over this? But this was not a laughter of joy; instead, it was a laughter of disbelief as the Hebrew word so interprets. The Genesis story unfolds to tell us that God delivered God's promise. Abraham and Sarah had a child, Isaac, meaning "he laughs"...this time of JOY!
I wonder how many times our laughter of disbelief of God's working in our own lives has ironically turned to laughter of joy? God makes us promises: providing for our needs if we trust, using us in the advancement of God's kingdom if we are willing. God promises, but we must believe and participate. When we do these things, watch out for much laughter of joy!
Take a few moments to read the passages above to be reminded of the amazing works of God in the lives of Abraham and Sarah. After reading, take time to reflect upon the times of JOY God has fulfilled in your own life.
O God of Joy, help me to see your desire to work in my life; to recognize your promises; to believe and participate. Thank you for your love. Thank you for laughter. Thank you for the peace that results from the presence of joy. Amen.
Anita Roper
Take an elderly person who cannot drive Christmas shopping
Remember: Gerald McNeely (Retired, Spain--SBC)
There she was! I was walking along my favorite route at Sacred Heart campus thinking about how my current class of eager and energetic first graders were shaping up. When I turned the corner I noticed a group of 6 and 7 year olds out in the field having their football practice. There in the middle of them all was a little girl wearing pink leotards, a lacy tutu, sneakers, and her dark green football helmet, kicking that football with all of her might. Surely this was a Kodak moment, but unfortunately no camera was in sight.
It was a joyful and unexpected event—I laughed right out loud at the incongruity and beauty of it all. Many thoughts came to mind—among them that this little girl will not be stopped by anything. She intends to do it all. God will not be stopped by anything either, especially by forms and expectations and rules. I am reminded of just a few of God's unexpected promises—become as a little child if you want to enter the kingdom of heaven, blessed are the hungry for they shall be filled, the first shall be last and the last shall be first, let anyone who would be great among you be the servant of all.
I finished my walk with a smile on my face and plenty to think about. Why not pink tights and a football helmet? Why not God's incongruous promises? Why not, indeed?
God of Joy, keep our hearts and minds open to your glad surprising. Amen.
Bobbie Thomason
Meditate upon the words of "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
Remember: Roger Capps (Bulgaria--SBC)
"We celebrate Christmas and Jesus."
"We do an Advent wreath. I can blow out the candles. The candles reminds of Jesus."
"I have a Manger scene in my room. I pick up the donkey first, then the child, then the sheep. After I play with them I put them back in the right spot. Some in the back and some in the front."
"I help decorate the tree with Charlie Brown ornaments."
"The song Baby Jesus in a Manger."
"Snow"
"Ornaments for Hanging of the Greens."
"Making Christmas cookies with Mom--Gingerbread cookies."
"It's Jesus birthday—we should sing Happy Birthday but I like to sing Little Gray Donkey."
Lord, thank you for all the joys and pleasures of Advent and Christmas. Amen.
The Class of 2010
Enjoy a quiet game or reading with your family
Remember: Ira Winstead (China--CBF)
December 25, 1996 was a day I will never forget. Having been invited "to the farm" with my dearest friend, we watched the family, complete with food and gifts, begin arriving around 4 p.m. on the 24th. Each was greeted with a hug, given by a woman with a festive apron, who smelled as good as all she was baking. To those who grew up at the farm, and to those invited to celebrate there, she is affectionately known as "the Woman who makes the rules."
The presents stacked in the living room, and those under the tree could be peeked at, but that was all. By noon on Christmas Day, 29 relatives and me were assembled, the meal was prepared and a large happy circle of family held hands in a prayer of thanks.
Photos of accomplishments, stories of feats and fun, plans for the future, and lots of philosophizing filled the afternoon. There were games for the kids, and games for the adults. There were family pictures to be made and stories to be told. And there was laughter!
Still, not a present had been opened. Looking around I was aware of limited seating space in certain areas, as the packages continued to be unloaded from what had begun to look like a parking lot. Everyone, kids included, continued through the laughter and the fun, more attentive to each other than to a single wrapped gift.
And the presents were fun...but this day was about family. The warmth, the comfort, and the peace that fills your soul, at a depth that is only experienced with family. That was the gift from the "Woman who makes the rules." As it is the gift from the God who created Family.
Lord, thank you for family--whatever shape or size, inherited, chosen or borrowed. Amen.
Peggy Schmidt
Share the story of an "Angel" you have known with a friend
Kathy Smith (Albania--CBF)
When I sat down to start thinking about Advent, I didn't think for long about gift giving or shopping or even the Christmas story itself. Instead, I found myself thinking about all of the experiences that make the Christmas spirit seem real to me each year and the memories that came unbidden were memories of the Story translated by artists. And nearly all of those were somehow related to Crescent Hill. So when I think of Advent, I hear voices from Crescent Hill.
Whenever I think of Christmas Eve, I think of hundreds of candles and voices from the darkness, joined in singing Silent Night. And the strong voice and guitar in the lead, of course, belong to Darrell Adams.
Whenever I think of Advent, I think of evergreen decorations and Chrismons and children bringing canned goods. I think of the ritual of the Hanging of the Greens. And whenever I hear the ceremony, I hear Bill Leonard's "voice" in the words he wrote. I hear other voices, too, the voices of all those who have participated over the years: Annie Hammon and Laura Chipe and Rick Forest and Deke Slaton and so many more.
At home, Advent always means two pieces of music, the Christmas sections of Celebrate Life and Messiah. Our recording of Celebrate Life brings me the voices of Crescent Hill in Ragan & Cynthia. The Messiah recording reminds me of the Crescent Hill choir and of Louie Bailey (well, his back, anyway) molding the choir into one voice.
O Holy Night has always been one of my favorite Christmas songs. Since last Christmas, every time I hear it I think of the beautiful tenor voice of Ian Hooper. I think of the little boy he was when we first met him and of the fine young man he has become. That makes me think of that Other Little Boy and of the Fine Young Man he became. And somehow, it is Christmas.
Lord, help us to praise you with all our arts and talents. Amen.
M. Christopher Boyer
Make an ornament for your tree
Remember: Thomas Eason (New Mexico--SBC)
The singing of these words never fail to make me dance again, at least in my memory where I return in time to a familiar immediacy.
It is dark and the lights in the sanctuary have been extinguished. The congregation is hushed and a lone male voice accompanied by guitar is singing the words with a soft intensity that fills the room. I am there once more among friends, all of whom have since moved away. Each beloved face is framed in an individual sphere of gentle candlelight.
We begin to move in two concentric circles, one moves clockwise, one counter-clockwise as we weave in, out, passing one another, two beats at a time. Step-in; step-pause. Step-out; step-pause. And with each pause, we meet and hold, for the briefest of moments, the eyes of the partner we are passing. Those tender and intimate gazes have not faded with time; they are as vivid now passing through my visual memory in succession as when we actually danced together a number of years ago:
"...Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth..." and as the choreography is completed I return to the present, mysteriously connected to each of them anew through these transcendent lines.
Eternal God, make all of our faces shine this Advent season with the light of Your redeeming grace. Amen.
Janet G. Tharpe
Become a Big Sister or Brother to a foster child
Bradley Brown (Liberia--SBC)
Nine year old Bo Bradbury was being raised in Suburbia, USA. Bo had plenty of nice clothes and in-style shoes to wear. He attended a great school, had decent parents, a warm house, and good friends. This Christmas young Bo, whose birthday was also on Christmas, was planning to visit his Uncle Bo, for whom he had been named.
He craved a Robby Robot toy more than anything he had ever wanted before. He had promised his parents he would walk the dog every day for a month without complaining if he found a Robby Robot with his name on it under the tree.
On Christmas Eve the family began the three hour trek to Uncle Bob's. Bo was well aware that the presents were packed in the car. Halfway to Uncle Bo's the car stalled. There were no other cars in sight.
About thirty minutes had passed when Bo's family saw a small man walking slowly near their car. The Bradbury's shouted to him and asked him for help. He reluctantly agreed. The Bradburys learned that his name was Jim. He used to be a mechanic at AAMCO and would be able to fix their car in plenty of time.
While Jim worked on the car, young Bo chatted with him. When Bo asked him what his son wanted for Christmas, Bo was not prepared for the answer. Jim explained that it had been a very hard year for his family and they had decided to skip on bought gifts this year.
About this time, the car engine turned over and they were ready to restart their trip. As they were pulling away from Jim's house, Bo asked his Dad to stop the car and open the trunk. Without a word Bo confidently searched the trunk and found the Robby Robot that could have been his. Bo placed it on Jim's front porch and silently jumped back into the car.
Lord, let us realize like Young Bo that Christmas and birthdays are not about the presents you are getting. Help us to know that it is about the giving, and that unselfish giving to others is the best gift we can give to ourselves. Amen.
Joel Williams
Give to Toys for Tots or buy a gift for an Angel Tree child
Remember: Monica Rich (Asia--CBF)
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Crescent Hill Baptist Church
2800 Frankfort Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40206
502/896-4425 Fax 502/896-9855
Last updated November 27, 1997