CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH
From the
Pastor:
A few weeks ago my roommate from college, George, sent me a CD with a mix of some religious songs that he enjoys, and I thought they were fun and thought provoking. The songs also introduced me to some musicians, who I was unfamiliar with, among which was Iris Dement. Iris wrote and sang a song “Let the Mystery Be”, and it is a charming little song that begins:
“Everybody’s wondering
what and where they
all come from.
Everybody’s worrying
about
where they’er going
when the whole thing’s done.
But no one knows for
certain,
and so it’s all the
same to me,
I think I’ll just let
the mystery be.”
While Iris was singing about the mysteries of creation and the culmination of all life, she might just as well have been singing about this season of Advent because the readings from Genesis and the Revelation of John are commonly found among the Church’s Advent readings. There is also the issue of the mystery of the incarnation that is also very present in this season.
From reading about Iris on the internet, I think she grew up in a large Pentecostal family, but has since become an Agnostic. As she said in her song: “no one knows for certain,” and when it comes to the mysteries of faith, none of us can know… instead we believe, or trust… in God… and in stories about the mysteries. Most Agnostics would probably say why bother with those old, culturally conditioned, stories. We bother with the stories because they remind us that in the beginning, and at the end, and all throughout life, there is God.
At one point in the story Iris sings: “I believe in love, and live my life accordingly, but I choose to let the mystery be.” I find it interesting for her to say that. If there were no mysterious stories about God’s steadfast love, or of God’s love in Jesus… Why would one believe in love or try to live accordingly? Why not just care for one’s self—and the survival of the fittest?
For me the mystery of the incarnation speaks to me about how God would live if found in human flesh, and how I should live as a human being. I may question the historicity of the stories. Was there a star in the sky or angels in the sky… Were there wise men from the East or shepherds? Those parts of the of Christmas story I am willing to simply let be, but the mystery of the incarnation, of how God was in Christ, and God is in me, is something that I turn over in my mind all the time. I hope you do as well—in this Christmas season and every day. Have a Merry Christmas.
December 2nd, 9th
, 16th. There will be no programs
December 23rd due to celebration of
Christmas.
SATURDAY and SUNDAY December 5th and 6th.
Children's play practice 9:45 a.m.
FRIDAY December 11th
3:30 – 7:00 Shelter Meal Preparation
SATURDAY December 12th
9:45 a.m.-11:15 Childrens’ play rehearsal
11:15 a.m. Childrens’ pie making.
SUNDAY December 13th
9:45 - 11:00 a.m. Childrens’ play rehearsal.
11 a.m. Worship & Christmas Pageant, presented by the children.
Christmas Dinner
immediately following Worship Service.
MONDAY December 14th
12 Noon –
SATURDAY December 19th, 9:00 a.m. Decorating the sanctuary.
3:00-6:00 p.m. - Caroling. Supper refreshments at home of Phyllis Cooper. Please let us know if you are attending and what you are bringing to the chili supper.
SUNDAY December
20th
Congregational meeting to approve Budget 2010, immediately following Worship Service.
THURSDAY December 24th
For the program: if you would like to have your child in the Pageant of Lights and if you would like to be a disciple please contact Susan Edwards.
SUNDAY December 27th
Pick-up cakes for Our Daily Bread and return by Saturday.
**********
As a reminder to you of what
we do when it snows after we have gotten back from the store with necessary
provisions:
1. Sunday Morning activities are never canceled. However if you are scheduled to take part in Worship or Sunday School, prayer, reading, music, or teaching, don’t kill yourself getting here! We will get along with whoever shows up, and the service may be abbreviated depending on number of attendees.
2. Wednesday Evening programs follow the schedule for Baltimore County Schools. If they are closed, so are we. If they close early, we are closed.
3. Use your common sense.
During the month of January the Annie Armstrong Circle is collecting the following for OUR DAILY BREAD: Tea bags with strings, Sandwich-size ziplock bags, Brown lunch bags. Please leave your donations in the designated container at the back door. Thank you for your contribution.
Thank you from Joanna Clarke Smith;
What a wonderful surprise when I opened the wall hanging made by Sydeny and Ian Eifert. I had just returned from a cancer treatment and it definitely made my day more enjoyable. I love having their pictures and appreciate them taking the time to think about me. It is comforting to know that I am in peoples’ thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely, Joanna.
Susan Edwards was the teacher and coordinator for this project in the Childrens’ Department. Ruth Kulkarni hand delivered the local gifts, and mailed those out of town We have received a “thank you” from all of the people who received the wall hangings.
Dear
Members and Friends:
It is time once again to make
arrangements for our Christmas flowers.
Would you be interested in purchasing
one or more of the beautiful poinsettia plants to be used for our Christmas Eve
Candlelight Service? The price will be
$8.00 each.
Please make your check payable to
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Ann Coughlin, 4417 Fieldgreen Road, Baltimore,
Yes,
I would like _______red, _______white, _______pink
plant(s)
to , loaned or donated (circle one), in memory of _______________
____________________________________________________________
A
check in the amount of
$______________ .
(Please
mark check “For Christmas Flowers”)
____________________________________
Signature
____________________________________
Address
____________________________________