Stepping into 2018 ~ Happy New Year:

I'm thankful that the LORD is always with us. I finished out the old year while making ready for the new. Happy New Year! 2017 is history. Some things I use to do had expired. New things have sprung up.

On New Year's Eve, I woke up to my daily dos. And I did something different. Indeed, it was a bit nippy outside. I bundled up for sure. I had on 4 layers. I always wear a hat. I try not to complain about the weather.

Arrival at the gathering:
As I got out of the car, I began to sing all the way to the church coffee shop and book store. I had to wait for the person completed some orders. It was a long wait. So, I made my way to put my belongs down where I sat.  I came back there were 4 people in front of me. I waited...

I was going to treat myself to a strawberry banana smoothie. It was a gift from a friend for Christmas. However, there was another friend who asked me what I wanted. She got it for me. It was worth the wait in getting.

As unusual, I made my way into the Upper Room. I stayed a while. And later returned before the gathering began. I chatted with some friends. I was a wonderful gathering and beautiful day. I was happy.

Prayer for the Week of Dec 31, 2017
Scripture of the Week ~  Luke 2:22 - 35

A baby was dedicated to the Lord after we received the offering.

The Message:  Christmas Saves the World by Pastor Brian Zahnd

“Jesus saves the world by drawing us into a new orbit, a new arrangement, not built around lust, greed, pride. Jesus draws humanity into a saving orbit, a new arrangement called the kingdom of God.”  Brian Zahnd

“When we really learn to sing the new song that Christmas brings, we belong to the world saved by Christ.”  Brian Zahnd

“God loves, and we’re to love, God’s good creation and the goodness of human flourishing. We’re not to love the world distorted by lust, greed, and pride.”   Brian Zahnd

We received Holy Communion,
We heard some final words.
We had a blessing spoken over our lives.

After the gathering:
I chatted with some friends. I had another Christmas present. Yes, we're still in the Christmas Season. Merry Christmas!

Once I was home, that was my final place to go. I did some things I had to do. I made myself at home. I finished out the year at home.  I welcome in the New Year.  I stay up for about 15 minutes into the day. Say my prayers and off to dreamland. The New Day has begun. Day 1...

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.

Happy 2018!
S. A. Blakley

Merry Christmas! Enter Into The Season

In the Season of Christmas...
Happy Birthday, Jesus!

The Christmas Eve gathering was a beautiful snowy day!
I awaken and did my morning dos. I took some photos of the snowy view. There was about an inch or less of snow on the ground.

I asked a friend to take my photo by the Christmas Tree. And another friend took my picture with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause in from of the Christmas Tree. I think, I'll make this a tradition. with the Clauses.

The message was "If This Is God..." by Pastor Brian Zahnd.
Here's Pastor Brian's blog

"When we look at Jesus born in a cave in Bethlehem fleeing a maniacal despot into Egypt toiling as a laborer in Nazareth, we have to say-If this is God-thus is God. And that forces us to rethink our assumptions about power, greatness, and the way the world is arranged. " BZ

“Emmanuel, God with us, joined humanity, not by swooping down from the celestial heavens in a golden chariot, but by being born in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger.”  BZ

The gathering was short and about an hour long.
We sung some Christmas songs, heard scriptures, Confessed the Lord's Prayer and the Apostle's Creed. We  received communion and had a blessing spoken over us. We went our way. Some got there picture taken by the tree with Mr. and Mrs. Clause.  And others on the other side with family and friends.

May we have something to give Jesus for His birthday.
May we enter into the Christmas Season in awe and wonder of the God's gift to the world.
May we continue on the journey with Jesus. 
Amen!

 Christmas Eve gathering during the evening.
I also attended the evening gatherings. The Christmas Eve Candlelight Gathering. We heard the story of Jesus, His birth. It's always a beautiful sight to see the story.

The Scripture for the Week: Luke 2:1-16
Prayer For The Week:

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
Merry Christmas!

S. A. Blakley

In the Advent Season.

It's been a wonderful 3rd Sunday in the Advent Season. It's the last Sunday in the Autumn Season. We had some rain.

I waken on time and was wondering what I would wear for the gathering. I normally would know what I would wear the night before.  I need to get with the program. Lol

I did decide what to wear. I did my morn dos and made my way to the gathering. Each Sunday is different. I try to do things that way.

I had to deliver some Christmas cards to some friends. I did more walking this Sunday. It wasn't my time to greet the people. But, I did. I was there. And  I received a Christmas card myself.

I spent some time in the Upper Room.  I love it in there. I go there just about every time we gather as the church on Sunday.

The Gathering began at 10PM ~
We make our confession why we gather as the church for worship.

The following is via WOLC
"On Sunday mornings we make the following Confession
of Worship as a way to remind ourselves why we gather.

We have gathered in the name of Jesus Christ.
We have come to this house to worship God.
We have come to confess that Jesus is Lord.
We are not here to be entertained,
We are here to encounter the sacred.
We are not consumers,
We are worshipers.
We praise and adore the living God,
Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen."
Then we enter into our gathering singing, worshiping, hearing scriptures,

From the Church bulletin.
Prayer for the week: 3rd Sunday of Advent
Psalm for the Day Psalms 51
Scripture for the Week Luke 1:26 -38

The Message by Pastor Brian Zahnd  Enfleshing the Holy

"Mary is known as the Theotokos, the God-bearer. But we are all to enflesh the holy. You too are supposed to give birth to something holy (authentically other/ not typical) which will come no other way but through you." BZ

"The Incarnation is the sacred mystery of how through a cooperation of the Spirit and humankind the holy becomes enfleshed.” BZ

"The Holy Spirit is the attitude of God." BZ

We receive communion.
Final remarks and received a blessing spoken over us.
We were dismissed and went our way.
Some wanted their photo taken by the tree.

May we not be afraid.
May we believe God as we journey on.
May we give birth to what God has in us to come forth.
Amen!

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Be Prepared to Move On From The Old Into What's New

 It was a beautiful Lord's day! Yes, the 2nd Sunday of Advent was a good day.  It got up in the 50's.  We has some snow flakes last week.

O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old: ~ Psalm 44:1

Scripture for the Week Luke 1: 5- 17  And the  Prayer for the Week of December 10 - 16, 2017

It was a wonderful gathering. I had the honor to greet some of the people. I had a fun time.  I asked a friend to take my picture by the Christmas tree. It was my last time to greet for this year.  I gathered with the church late. I entered in about 10:15 am.

It was a good message  "A Burning and Shining Lamp" by led Pastor Brian Zahnd.

"There are seasons in life when the old order—which wasn’t bad, it was necessary—must give way to the arrival of the new thing that God is doing." Brian Zahnd

John was the burning and shining lamp, the supernova of an old galaxy. But the coming of Jesus is the birth of a new galaxy, a galaxy of grace.” Brian Zahnd

At the end of the message, we received communion. We heard more announcements. We departed with a blessing that was spoken over us. We may over way to the doors.

After the gathering we had an opportunity to get my photo taken by the Christmas tree by one of the members of the church. I went for it. It's an tradition. Santa and Mrs. Claus  came to church on Christmas Day last year. I heard they are coming on Christmas Eve this year.

May we be continue to shine before others so that they can see the light of God in us.
May we be prepared to move on from the old into what's new in our lives.
Amen!

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley

Sacred Time: Enter Into This Holy Time.

Happy New Year Day, Church! It's the First Day of Advent and the start of the Christian New Year. We're in sacred time! Enter into this Holy Time.

It's a new day. The first day on the journey of the Advent Season. We're awaiting  the Christmas season. We have the honor to hear the Christmas story of God becoming flesh. His name is Jesus.

My Sunday:
I began this day with a new hope.  The old Christian year was from Nov 27, 2016 to Dec 2, 2017. Now, we're heading into this New Year: Dec 3, 2017 - Dec 1, 2018. May we believe for the good of what's to come.

I went about my morning routine.
I enjoyed the Christmas decorations the came on my way.
The Spirit of God is surrounding us.
It was so beautiful to see.

The Prayer for the Week:
The First Sunday of Advent
via Word Of Life Church

The Scripture for the Week. Malachi 4:1-6

The Message by Pastor Brian Zahnd
Advent sermon Anticipating the Day (When God Will Act)

We received communion. And was dismissed with a blessing.
Some After Thoughts:
It was unusual day. I didn't have the opportunity to gather with the Church on the First Sunday of Advent in 2016. Today, it was different. I'm thankful that  I was at the gathering.

I'm doing some things in a new way.
It's different this New Year.

PBZ:
What should we do... during this Advent Season?
This is about 25:15 minutes into the message.

Four weeks before the Christmas Season begins:
Use Advent as to rule out any arrogant in our own hearts. Go down in our own hearts.... as we say....is there any arrogant? Am I carrying around in me a sense of superiority to those area me, some how I desire more? Some how the world is arranged for my benefit that seems right ...Go down and find that and dig it out. Get rid of it.

We should settle deeply and humbly into the lame brokenness areas of our lives. Broken areas in our lives, Some area in our life where we are Lame and weak, we stumble and it's hard. Blind and can't see it, we don't get it. Identify that area in your life and sit there... until God comes.

Pray the Song of  Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat. (Luke 1:46-55 )
Pray this song everyday for the next four weeks, believing something will happen.
(I hope to memorize this song.) May this prayer form us.

May we enter into the Holy Days.
May the LORD come and help us.
May we be humble before God.
May we long for the coming of Jesus.
Amen!

Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
S.A. Blakley