Peace Out!

Gonna sign off for a bit... taking a break from the blog till Monday or so! Peace out!

Some Christmas Eve Photos...

First is our new Ministry Center decorated for Christmas Eve. Second is our girls and third is our family.

Christmas Greetings to Community of Joy!

Here are our Christmas greetings to our congregation at Community of Joy Church of the Brethren. 2007 has indeed been a momenteous year!

Christmas 2007

When the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Messiah, she responded by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38).

As we celebrate Christmas this year, we have lots to celebrate as a congregation!

First and foremost, we celebrate the constant presence of God with us… Immanuel! We have seen evidence of this presence most vividly this year as God guided us to our very first Ministry Center. And we see evidence of this as God helps us make new connections in our neighborhood.

And we celebrate being connected to a group of people who like Mary, are willing and eager to be used by God in sharing his love with the world! You constantly bring joy to our lives as we see you eagerly respond to God’s leadings and as you take seriously God’s call and the mission of our congregation to actively reach out with God’s love, hospitality, hope, healing and peace! We rejoice in all that we together have accomplished in this past year and eagerly anticipate all the ways we together will be on mission in the year ahead.

We want to assure you that we love being your pastors and serving God alongside each of you! And we look forward to years of mutual ministry together. You enrich our lives in so many ways and we are forever grateful to God for brining us together in 1999 and for continuing to guide and work among us all these years later.

When Mary got the news that the Messiah would be born to her… surely she had to do much adapting of her plans and life situation. One of the other things we celebrate this Christmas is being part of a group of people who are always willing and eager to adapt. There is not a challenge that you are not willing to rise up and meet. You have proved this over and over again and it never ceases to amaze us! We appreciate the fact that being on mission with and for God is of primary importance to you!

Thanks for all of the ways you bless our lives and help us see God a little more clearly! Looking forward to a Great 2008!

Merry Christmas! Pastors Martin and Sharon, Caroline and Emma

Christmas Eve....

I am really looking forward to our FIRST Christmas Eve worship in our own facility! It should be a beautiful time of worship. The ambiance will be great! The music will be out of this world... our very own string and piano ensemble with a flute later in the order. Lots of time to slow down and reflect on what Christmas is really about! Looking forward to it!

Two observations on this Saturday before Christmas...

Just got back from a trip around Salisbury at 4 p.m. on the Saturday before Christmas (Dec. 22).

Two reflections... we took the Christmas gifts and food basket to the family we were to deliver to. Our church adopted 3 single parent families for Christmas and we bought gifts for the parent and each of the children along with that, we filled a clothes basket with canned and boxed food items and a spiral ham. The mom came out of the house almost in tears saying, "This is such a blessing for us. God will surely bless you for doing this!" And then she saw the food basket and was blown away... she just couldn't believe it! And when she saw the clothes basket that the food was in... she said... "And now I have something to put my clothes in." When we left, she gave us each a hug and said, "God bless you!"

Then we went to the mall to pick up Emma and a friend of hers... the traffic was HORRENDOUS!!!! It was lined up all the way around the mall in both directions! I have never been in that kind of traffic here!

God's Amazing Provision....

We've been having problems with a toilet leaking at the Ministry Center... and nothing seemed to fix it. So, today, I bought and installed a new one. Not being sure how things are running at year end, and feeling that finances are a bit tight, I wondered about doing this... but then when I dropped it by the ministry center, there was a check in the mail box for one and half times what the toilet cost. This check came from a person who long ago was a regular part of our congregation, but in recent years has been attending another. Isn't it amazing how God provides even for such things as a toilet!

A great day with my wife....

Yesterday was our 19th anniversary! Hard to believe it has been that long! And in other ways, it is hard to remember life before we were married! That must mean I am getting old! They have been 19 wonderful years lived in some great places, blessed by two awesome daughters!

Sharon and I both took the day off and enjoyed spending it together. No agenda, just a day together. We shopped and ate lunch at Brew River... Love those seafood skins! And then capped off the day with a wonderful winter concert at Caroline's school. The concert featured the County String Orchestra and the Wi-Hi Concert band and Choirs. It was a fun way to conclude a nice day!

What fun we have....

Tonight's Christmas Party was a lot of fun! The food was DELICIOUS!!!! Love that chocolate cake! Even brought some home. Thanks Karen!

One of the fun things we did was to decorate people as christmas trees... and the townsend family really got into it! Grandson Whit says that the title of this article should say, "Master Chef turns Christmas Tree!"

Kudos to the Fellowship Team for a GREAT night!

Christmas Party...

I am looking forward to our first Christmas Party in our new building! It should be lots of fun! It has been so nice to have a place of our own that we can decorate and use as needed, not having to schedule it's use around some other organization's schedule. The Party is a break from past tradition and that should make it fun too.... lots of desserts and appetizers! Two of my favorite parts of any meal! The festivities start tonight @ 5 p.m.!

An Update on the City Situation...

As I said in my earlier post, I emailed Bill Holland my concerns regarding anonymous complaints. He responded and says that every complaint must be investigated. I make no judgment on whether that has happened or not. I just want to be clear that this is the answer I have been given.

I am DEEPLY concerned about this thing as a church leader in Salisbury whose facility is located in the neighborhood in question and shares neighbors with Bethany Lutheran Church.

I think the whole thing has gotten out of hand and I pray can be worked out.

More on the Church/City thing....

I understand that there is much that I don't know about this situation that took place between the city of Salisbury and Bethany Lutheran Church (our neighbors). I also understand that emotions are running high and mistakes surely have been made.

After today's paper article quoting Bill Holland from the City, I decided to write him an email expressing my concern which is not one I have heard yet! My biggest concern in the situation is that the city has given credence to anonymous complaints. In all my years as a leader who is sometimes subject to hearing complaints, I have round filed EVERY anonymous complaint I have ever gotten! That's what the city should do too! And I told them so! Who's to say that the complainer isn't someone with an axe to grind. And who's to say that the "many" anonymous complaints received in this matter aren't a few people or even one person. I think it is a dangerous and unwise leadership practice to do anything other than throw away anonymous complaints!

My biggest fear in the whole deal is that this practice of receiving anonymous complaints will increase the complaints.

If I have a problem with my neighbor, I feel it best to schedule a meeting and talk it out. If that process doesn't work, then by all means contact the city officials responsible, but don't do it anonymously... how can anything be worked out if that's the way it is handled?!

Jesus teaches a similar method of conflict resolution (for brothers and sisters in the church) in Matthew 18... and I think the principle transfers to situations outside the church too!

Unbeleivable!!!!!

I can hardly beleive that right here is Salisbury the city is fining a church (actually it is our neighboring church) $1,000 for using a house they own to host bible studies. Actually with all the crazy stuff of our city government, I can beleive it. I sure hope the churches unite to fight this one! I know I am in on that if it happens! This is ridiculous!

One thing we can do is write letters to the appropriate city officials expressing our displeasure! When I find out who we should address them to, I will post the name and address here!

Enticing....

Today at lunch time, I went to the mall to get a hair cut. While walking to Mastercuts, I saw all the mall kiosks. Believe it or not, this is the first time I have been to the mall this Christmas season! Anyhow, at some of these kiosks, there are sales people who are paid to play! Playing with their remote controlled gadgets is a way of enticing you to look a little longer and to see what fun they are having and thus want one of the toys for yourself.

As I was walking by... I thought, how much this is like what we should be doing with our faith! We should be living it in the market place so that others will see it and be drawn to inquire of Jesus. After all, he is a better companion and adds more to our lives than any toy! Too often we turn people off by the way we live/act in the market place rather than draw them closer to Jesus.

In my devotions this morning, the passages were from I Corinthians 9-11 where Paul is encouraging us to not be stumbling blocks for others.... if people see the fun and fulfillment we find in being a life companion with Jesus, they will be drawn to him not propelled from him!

Available....

Yesterday, I asked one of our retired pastors in our congregation to speak for me on Dec. 30 when I will be on vacation. He got out his calendar and saw that nothing was on it. And then told me how the usual plans for the new year involved going back to PA to visit kin and get a new year's day meal of pork and sauerkraut. Then his lovely wife made a comment about being available to say yes when God calls. A few minutes later, he called me over to say that he was indeed available and would speak on the 30th! I am so touched by this couple's desire to be available to God when he calls! I wish I could say that I always answered God's call with such ease and a desire to ALWAYS be available to him!

Thanks Charles and Marilyn for teaching me about being available to God!

A learning....

It was great to have Becky and Aaron Johnston with us in worship to share about their first year in Guatemala. One thing that I learned from them was the value in relating to others of not projecting ourselves on them.

Aaron shared about the value of not knowing the language during the first few months of their journey there and how that enabled them to watch, listen, and learn. Not knowing the language kept them from projecting themselves on the people.

Too often when we are in relationships with others, it is so easy to project our thoughts, opinions, solutions, into the situation -- into the relationship rather than to allow others to live, speak, and interact in their own way. Wouldn't the world be a different place if we could all learn to listen, watch, observe for a while before talking and offering solutions!

That's what friends are for...

A few weeks ago, I helped a friend of mine move. It was a big task and took most of the day. But that's what friends are for!

Yesterday, I was able to get away to hunt on Assateague Island for Sika Deer. Only I got away a little later than I wanted to and was rushed in getting my gear together, so I forgot some important items. First I forgot my sika call.... if only I had it with me, I could have called to the two stags I heard bugle nearby me. They might have come in before it got dark. But it was here at home.

The most important thing I forgot.... I was almost to Berlin, running later than I wanted when I realized I didn't have my boots. The only shoes I had were the ones on my feet, which were docksiders... not a great shoe to traipse around the marshes of Assateague in. So, I called my friend Ted, who is the chief ranger there, who is the one I helped move. And I asked him if he had a spare pair of boots... turns out he did! My friend sure saved the day...

That's what friends are for... to help one another out! I am thankful to have opportunities to be a friend to others and to have friends who help me out!

A simple phone call could have saved hours of frustration...

Got a phone call last night from Tri saying that the gas meter at the Ministry Center was missing and that the gas was turned off and there was NO heat! Somehow, we need gas to have heat with a gas furnace!

After a couple phone calls to Sharp Energy and speaking with their answering service... only to discover that their 24 hour service wouldn't help our situation, there was nothing to do but wait until morning.

8 a.m. I was on the phone calling Sharp Energy, only to find out after about 15 minutes that they aren't in charge of our gas line... I needed to call Chesapeake Utilities... but they didn't open til 9 or so I was told. I tried the number and lo-- someone answered and after 45 minutes of talking and being on hold while Michelle checked things out, we got things worked out! They indeed come by on Monday and disconnect (take) our gas meter. NO phone call, No letter. Just a disconnect. Didn't matter that it is winter and pipes might freeze. Didn't matter that we might show up on Sunday and not have heat!

I know, it is partly our fault.... we should have called to switch the account into our name when we bought the property in May, but who was thinking about heat then. And when we went to turn on the heat, there was no lock on the meter, so we assumed wrongly that everything was okay.... until the meter was taken!

The only way to get things going again...was to take a $350 deposit there and then they would schedule the service tech to install the meter again. So, I took a personal check over, because it would cost an extra fee to use a credit card. If I wanted it turned on today, it would cost an extra $75. Otherwise to turn it on tomorrow it would be free! But the next time we were illegally using the gas, it would cost us $30 to turn on whenever.

Now, I really objected to Michelle's "illegal use" term... it's not like we were trying to get something for nothing! It's a simple mistake on our part that if we had made one phone call, it would have avoided the whole mess... and if they had bothered to call to say, they detected usage on a service that was shut off and locked out in May, we could have solved the whole thing much more simply! It appears that someone cut the lock off...none of us did... or maybe there wasn't one... don't know. I think they were flabbergasted when I asked to speak to the manager to make sure that we would get a bill for the last month... after all we do owe them for whatever gas we used!

Wow, what one simple phone call could have avoided! I am glad this is behind us and that we now have everything set up in our name. And glad that it wouldn't cost us anything to have it re-installed and that after 12 months of good payment record, we will get out $350 back!

What a learning!

Our First Tree Lighting...

Was a wonderful event... Had a great crowd... enjoyed singing carols in the sanctuary (since it was raining outside)... ate some mighty delicious Christmas cookies and candy... went to a few homes to bring some cheer and came away cheered!

Without...

Just spent several hours without electricity. It is definitely something that we take for granted. Everything I went to do, or needed to do, required some kind of electricity to do it. It went off at 11:30 and they said it would be off until 2 p.m. Didn't know what I would do for all that time... not that I didn't have things I could do, but the things I needed to do were impossible without electricity!

Got me thinking about my relationship with God... How sometimes I take him for granted; actually I think we all do! And how so much of what I need to do, requires a connection with God! Today, I am thankful for reminders of the need I have for God and the need I have NOT to take that special relationship I have with him for granted!

I'm back and...

Looking forward to resuming life in a more normal way... which includes blogging. It was a fun week away. Took my nephew hunting several times and didn't see a deer when we were together. But saw deer other times and even got 4... so, butchering the meat continues today. I've given a few away to folks that can use the meat and put 4 in the freezer so far this year. We absolutely love deer meet.

Enough for now... gotta get into the Sunday morning mode... as in less than 3 hours... it will be time for our first worship gathering!