Vol 2 No 5 - Light-Up Night

Thank you all for making the Fourth Sunday of Advent & Christmas Eve such memorable worship services! Even with the foul weather we had Sunday morning, our spirits were high as we came to worship on the Sunday of Love, and it was a joy to see all of you. Christmas Eve, with the radiance of the light emanating from your faces (as well as your candles), was a time that I am still inspired by just remembering the occasion.

The challenge for us in the weeks after Christmas Eve is to not let the light be put out or dimmed in our lives. As we go through this week of transition from the holidays to a new calendar year, let us remember to constantly be allowing Christ's light to shine through us in all that we say, do, think, and are.


See you Sunday!
Lamar

Vol 2 No 4 - Christmas Eve Opportunity

One of the most explicit expectations that Christ has for those of us who follow him is to spread the Gospel. Unfortunately, we were given this task to do in a world that is hostile to the light of Christ penetrating the darkness of a world apart from God. However, there are a few times in life that a majority of people are receptive to being invited to worship. December 24 is one of those days. We are going to be celebrating two distinct Christian holy days this Sunday - the Forth Sunday of Advent at our 8:30AM & 11:00AM services, and Christmas Eve at 6:00PM & 11:00 PM. I am especially excited about the 11:00PM Christmas Eve service, as Rev. Erin Oliver will join me in officiating this service.

As you go into this weekend, getting all the last-minute things together, be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to bring your friends and family (especially those who would otherwise be resistant) to come hear again the Good News of Christ.


See you Sunday!
Lamar

Vol 2 No 3 - What a Fellowship!

One of the most overlooked things about Scripture in today's culture is that the Good Book was not written to each of us as individuals, but to the people of God as a community. We also overlook that Christ's life was lived not for each of us, but for all the world. It is very easy to fall into the trap of "It's all about Jesus and me" and the most important thing in life is my personal relationship with Christ. Yes, it is true that no one gets to the Father except through the Son. However, as a part of taking on the Christian life, we must be cognizant of the fact that we are not lone rangers. The Christian life cannot be lived as it is intended apart from the community of saints. One of the main tasks that I see the church needing to take more seriously is the idea of being in community with one another. This weekend, we have several opportunities to be in community with one another, and I hope you will take advantage of all of these.

The first is this Saturday, when Erin and I will be hosting our annual Open House at the Parsonage from 4:00-8:00PM. We look forward to this every year - the opportunity to welcome you into our home and to visit with people from all the churches we serve. This is truly a community event for us, as the Pharr Chapel, Franklin, and Jeanerette people are all invited. We understand there are so many holiday parties to be at, and so many things pushing for your time, and with that in mind want to remind you again this is a come-and-go event - we will be happy to see you for five minutes or fifty. (In addition, y'all come get the spread - I don't need all those sweets left over).

Secondly, we will be having what is usually (and will be again next year) Thanksgiving Potluck Dinner after 11:00 worship this Sunday. We will be providing roast - bring the rest! This is a great time of fellowship and fun for us to be as one over the table.

In addition, we will be delivering food baskets for the elderly and those in need on Sunday afternoon. There are few times we are presented as a church to become community as when engaged in the work of the Lord. I know you will want to be a part of this special time together.

12 days until Christmas. How exciting!


See you Sunday!
Lamar

Vol 2 No 2 - The Resistable Force

July 18-31, 2007.

It is kinda funny, isn't it, that the man who has for the past few weeks been preaching and writing about the need to not hurry the arrival of Christmas, to be intentional about soaking up the richness of the season of Advent, to throw dates over six months away into this week's message. However, I firmly believe the two are related.

I have been given the honor of leading our conference's Volunteers in Mission Summer 2007 trip to Cambodia. Many of you will remember meeting my friend Esther who was with us in early October. Through the people of the United Methodist Church, many great things are being done in this country that, only a couple of decades ago, was thought to have no future. We will be working with our missionaries on the ground there in several light construction projects and in holding a Vacation Bible School in one of the local ministry settings. My hope and prayer is that you will prayerfully consider going. There are several of you who I have already visited with about this mission, and I firmly believe that God is calling the people of Pharr Chapel to be involved in this ministry. The main concerns people express to me are about vacation time, family matters, and cost. Let me be the first to tell you that, believe it or not, if you are called to go on this trip, God will provide a solution to all your concerns. Please let me know if you are even remotely interested so that we can start planning now.

What's this have to do with Advent? Well, the first time I went to Cambodia, I was full of some of the same concerns as you all. However, God took all those away. Look more closely at the story of Mary and Joseph. They, too, had concerns about this call that God had put on their lives. They chose to put their trust in the Lord, even though it did not necessarily make sense to them at the time.

What is it that God is calling you to that you keep resisting for one reason or another? When are you going to stop resisting and allow God's will to be done within you?


See you Sunday!
Lamar