ps from ps: I’m like a kid in a candy store….on Christmas Eve…waiting for Santa…with bells on (I don’t even know what this last phase means or why someone would have “bells on” but it’s always said by people who are excited about something so I included it). Snow is coming! Wahoo!
I love snow. I live in Buffalo. I expect it and want it during Biegner Winter. I don’t want it to be this cold without snow. Bills games in 39 degrees and rain are the worst. Running outside on ice is terrible. 6 inches of snow is always awesome and beautiful and fresh…until Bill the Dog goes outside and turns it yellow that is.
If you’re not living in the 716, you might not realize that we are scheduled to get a lake effect snow storm tonight. That means you could get somewhere in between 2 inches and 2 feet. And if the TV meteorologists, bless their hearts, tell you that they know exactly who will get exactly how much, they are lying and have absolutely no idea.
We haven’t had much snow at all this winter (36 days into Biegner Winter) so I’m super excited.
(Now Steve, there might be people reading this that actually hate snow. Be sensitive you dope!!)
I know there might be people reading this that actually don’t like snow. I get it. Shoveling. Driving. Whatevering outside becomes move challenging. I’m sorry if I was over the top. Be careful and stay inside and safe!
( Nice going pastor. Now you’re telling people not to come to church?! That’s the second time you’ve done that recently. How are you going to turn St. Paul’s into the Crystal Cathedral if everyone stays home?? And also, how will they stay connected to God??)
Please remember while you might be at home a bit more often in the super-amazing-beautiful-skiing allowing snow, you can still stay connected to God! Prayer still works in the snow. Bibles still open as books or as apps in the snow. TV Church still turns on in the snow. The YouTube has every worship service we’ve done at St. Paul’s during Covid and through WNY Church Unleashed in the snow. And don’t get me started on the Facebook…or Meta…or whatever it is. There’s good stuff there too in the snow.
(So wait, if it snows, we’re not instantly disconnected from God?)
In other words, if it snows, you are not disconnected from God. In fact as Paul said to the Roman Church, “nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus; no heights (of snow) nor depths (of snow); no (snow) angels or principalities (that don’t remove snow); not the snow that is present or the snow that is to come.” Nothing.
(Wait, seriously, nothing?)
Nothing.
Enjoy the snow if you can. I will. But even more, enjoy God’s unbreakable connection and love for you!
Lord of the snowstorms, bring it to those who like it. And love both sides of the argument. Amen
ps from ps… It is that time of the year – Children’s Christmas Pageant time!!
The picture with this email is not last year’s pageant. This is from two years ago. There was none last year due to Covid. And I missed it!! I love everything about it – the costumes, the music, the chaos, the stuff-that-goes-wrong-that-you-didn’t-see-coming, and of course the tears/laughter.
But most importantly, the story. The Story!
It’s the same story though right? Everyone gets ready – Jesus arrives – people tell the news – the world is changed. And I DON’T get tired of it. In fact, I crave it. I need it.
I need to be reminded of it day in and day out. The simple story of a complex love, grace, forgiveness and presence for us. Us?! Yes, Us!
As the days get darker, we’ll hear it again Sunday. We’ll sing again Sunday. We’ll laugh again Sunday. We’ll be reminded of the gift again Sunday.
But I also hope you’ll remember today – Emmanuel – God with you – today – now. This Light shines in the darkness and NOOOOOOO darkness will overcome it!
Welcome back to the greatest story ever told – for today. If you want to see a preview of the pageant CLICK HERE. This year’s full pageant has been recorded for the kid’s safety and will be shown as part of worship on Sunday. You’ll also be able to view the whole thing on our YouTube and Facebook pages.
Lord, thanks for the profound story being broken open by the kids. Amen,
But more importantly than that, Happy Chivetta’s Chicken Dinner Day. Well, that’s not actually a “real day” like the start of Biegner Winter, but they are set up on our front lawn cooking chicken. (Side note: this isn’t a fundraiser St. Paul’s is running, they just needed a site because the church across the street cancelled on them. HOWEVER, they are still kicking $.75 from every meal they sell to the Discretionary Fund to help out families around the holidays. So spread the word and grab some grub!)
I love Chivettas mainly because of the smell. You can be driving down the road anywhere in WNY with your windows down and if you smell that particular smell, you know Chivettas is cooking somewhere nearby. The smell points you right to the savory meal!
What smell do you give off? And what does it point to?
Well, maybe there’s a better way to phrase that.
John the Baptist was a pointer. To Jesus! And he probably did actually smell because he moved his road show out into the wilderness to yell, scream, preach and proclaim that God was about to do something awesome that God had been talking about for a long time. And if you were driving by with your windows down, you knew what he was pointing to right away! Jesus.
When people drive by you and me with their windows down, what will they smell? What will it point to?
In this season of Advent, we await the coming of Christ again. We celebrate the first time he arrived and now we “await.” While we’re waiting, who are we pointing to with our words, deeds and actions? When we preach to the world around us, to our friends and family in relationship, what do people hear/see us saying/doing? Are the ways that we live out the grace-filled compassion and redemption that we have received pointing toward God’s love for the world?
When I smell Chivettas, I know it right away. When people smell me, will it be that clear?
John’s a great reminder to us to make the path a little straighter, the voice a little louder and the actions a little clearer. So that as loved children of God, we can clearly point to Jesus.
Lord, help me to prepare your way and point clearly to you. Amen,
ps from ps…Have you counted them? Have you named them? Have you looked around to see what God has done, is doing and will continue to do.
Blessings. Left. Right. And Center.
“Every time I think of you, I thank my God,” the apostle Paul wrote to one of his churches. Every time.
Now Paul’s life wasn’t easy, wasn’t drama-free, wasn’t void of tough times. Heck, he wrote some of his letters from prison!
And our lives aren’t either. They are filled with challenges, with pot holes, with grief, with transitions, with health concerns and more. But it DOES NOT mean that the blessings go away. It only means that it MORE important to search for them, find them, name them, celebrate them and share them.
Tomorrow will be an easy day to do that. Hopefully you will be around a table with friends or family. Notice the food. Notice the warmth. Notice the quiet if you need that. Notice, even in the chairs that are now empty, the stories that you created together. Notice it all….and hopefully notice a Bills win too!
But that’s tomorrow. What about today? “No day like today” they sing out in the musical Rent. How can you channel Paul’s vision and see more of the blessings around you? How can you name them and count them and let them help you overpower the challenges…even for a moment? How can you share them with those that are struggling to see theirs?
No day like today friends! May God’s blessings pour over you, and may they be super easy to see!
ps from ps… How’s your “To-Do” list going today? Did you nail it? Still tons to do? Were you “perfect” in tackling it? Or maybe it’s time for a much needed break. Check out “Devo’s on the Go” by clicking HERE.
Lord, help me to give myself a break today and realize you’ve already done it all. Amen
Recent Comments