HELLO!

I hope to see you on our Second Sunday of Advent, December 7^th at 10 am. Bethe has a drama she, the Sunday School, and the Youth Group, will offer us. It’s also Hidden Gift Sunday (formerly White Gift Sunday). That name change came about upon reflection of how words can sometimes inform intention, “white” being a means of understanding our privilege and “gift” being an act of charity. Imagine thinking, “I have something extra to pass on to you”, the other. Hidden Gift is a more universal term, implying all have gifts, regardless of one’s economic status, the “giver” may well be the “receiver” in another context. Recently I witnessed a woman who came to a church with limited income, who did not look like anyone in the church, befriend a long-time member. As time passed this long-time member became ill, she was surprised and delighted by the gift of presence offered by the one whom our culture might deem in need of “charity”. A Hidden Gift. Our Outreach Team has a list of organizations in need of our gifts. If you can, please offer your Hidden Gift.

I will be preaching on Matthew 3:1-12, John the Baptist in the wilderness, calling out faith leaders, “You Brood of Vipers” and “Bear fruit worthy of repentance”. There is also a reference to fire. Prophets in that time spoke of change like a fire burning away chaff making room for something new and better. Kim and I saw this on June 24^th, John the Baptist Day in Ireland, when locals stacked household items deemed clutter, and burned them in fields. You could see the fires all over the Irish countryside.

John is described as odd. “John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.” Throughout history God seems to choose the odd to lift up the truth hiding in plain site. Julian of Norwich (May 8^th or 13^th) is the Patron Saint of Optimism (Bethe would love Julian). Julian is best known for, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well". Julian of Norwich lived through the devastation of the Black Plague. She wrote the earliest surviving book in the English language written by a woman, Revelations of Divine Love. Julian made a radical decision. She decided to live in a cell located near the church in the city of Norwich. Men and women of every age and condition in need of advice and comfort, would devoutly seek Julian’s guidance. She wrote, "I believe the world is in labour now and that we're giving birth to something new.”

October 4^th is St. Franci of Assisi Day. Many know of Francis because of his famous prayer, “Let me be a channel of your peace” and the Blessing of the Animals, but this story reveals his oddness and truth-telling. After the Spirit spoke to Francis, directing him to rebuild a local church, Francis reached for the most immediate source of funds available: his father’s fabrics. Francis entered a warehouse owned by his wealthy father and helped himself to two bolts of expensive cloth. When Francis’s father returned to Assisi and discovered what his errant son had done now, he predictably exploded. To reveal the irrelevancy of wealth and status to all, Francis stripped off his clothes in front of the entire assembly and handed them to his father and walked naked through his hometown.

December 6^th is St. Nicholas Day. Nicholas has been a recognized protector of women since he rescued three young women from a life of prostitution. When he learned they were to be sold into such a life, he secretly left gold on three occasions to provide money so they could be married. Nicholas is patron saint for victims of human trafficking.

As Flannery O’Connor once wrote, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd” (See John 8:32). See you soon. Peace, Kevin