CJ' s REFLECTIONS

CJ'S REFLECTIONS

The Christmas season is in full swing. Bright colors are bountiful in all the stores. Go shopping just about anywhere and you will hear bells ringing. People smile more and laugh more and greet you in a cheerful way. I love the Christmas season. Its cold outside and I have seen faint whispers of snow in the air but little on the ground. Children look at the flyers in the paper with longing eyes and parents are hiding gifts away from seeking eyes and hands. It’s Christmas and it’s special to us all. Plans for family gatherings are being made, grocery lists are being written and baking of cookies, cakes, pies and Christmas candies is in full swing. Trees with bright decorations have sprung up in living rooms and wreathes hang on the doors, for some there are bright lights shining from the eves of houses. Presents are being wrapped and placed under those trees and I promise each present will be shaken as soon as Mom or Dad turns their back. Cards are being written and mailed and received, all of which adds to the specialness of the season.
But is this really what makes this season so special? Last night I sat at home and read the Christmas story again from the Bible, something that I do each year. It’s a story I have told youth groups with out reading and then dared them to find out if I missed anything. The kids then read the story aloud taking turns. This is what happened the last time I did this. At the end of their reading of the story I asked, “Did I miss anything”. Dead silence from otherwise noisy kids. After a few minutes one young boy said I don’t know. I got into the story so much as we read it I forgot what you said or didn’t say. Another said “you talked about the shepherds and the wise men but did you say anything about the angel.” A young lady answered him by saying “Ya, she had the angel in there but she didn’t say what the shepherds gave Jesus.” “They didn’t give him gifts” replied the first boy. “I think she got it all in there.” “But I want to know something else. It’s Jesus’ birthday right? Why do we get the gifts instead of Him?”
What is it they say… “out of the mouths of Babies.” The Christmas season is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and we run around like chickens with our heads cut off trying to out give one another with Christmas gifts. No, I’m not trying to be Scrooge here, but how many of us ever stop and think about giving a gift to Jesus? How might we go about giving a birthday gift to Jesus? I’ve done this for years. Each year I pick out one person I know who is not going to have much for Christmas. I give them something unexpected. One year it was to a single mom with three kids. I bought a small toy for each of the kids and a knit scarf for the Mom. I put the gifts out side the kitchen door with a note which read “to the Jesus that is in each of you.” Their names were on the gifts but not my name. The gift was to Jesus from me and Jesus knows who gave it, not the people who received them.
Another year I gave a wall hanging of Jesus which I had made, to a church that had helped me through some personally hard times. The note read “To the Jesus that shines through you all”. The gifts are not big but I hope they have made an impression on those who have received them. One of the impressions I hope that has come through is for these people to realize that because of something they did or said, I caught a glimpse of Jesus in them. I also hope that they realize that this very special season isn’t so much about what we get or give. Rather it is about Jesus, the one who gave us Himself, the biggest and best gift of all.


Marry Christmas
and Happy New Year
to you all!
Pastor C. J. Latham



CLUSTER TEN EVENTS


There are no Cluster Ten Events planned for December or January. Some winter events are being planned, we will let you know when what and where as soon as they are planned. So keep watching for up coming events.

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL FRONT

The Rev. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches (NCC), is stepping down for health-related reasons. Michael Kinnamon, who is native of Iowa has had a large impact on the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and has been a leader in the Ecumenical movement for many years. He is a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) clergyman and a long-time educator and ecumenical leader, Kinnamon brought a long record of ecumenical activity to his office. He was General Secretary of the Consultation on Church Union, which became Churches Uniting in Christ, from 1999 to 2002.
He also served as executive secretary of the WCC's Commission on Faith and Order from 1980 to 1983 and had a major role in drafting the World Council of Churches' major planning document, "Toward a Common Understanding and Vision of the WCC."
He has been the Allen and Dottie Miller Professor of Mission, Peace and Ecumenical Studies at Eden Theological Seminary since 2000. He was professor of Theology and Ecumenical Studies at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky, from 1988 to 2000 and was dean of the seminary from 1988 to 1998.
Kinnamon was also Assistant Professor of Theology at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, from 1983 to 1988 and Acting Dean from 1986 to 1988. He was a visiting professor at United Theological College and South Asian Theological Institute, Bangalore, India, in 1987 and 1997.

NOTES FROM THE PARISH NURSE

Is it a Cold or the Flu? Good question! If your temperature spikes to 100 degrees or higher, it is most likely the flu! In either case the treatment is basically the same “Stay home and drink a lot of fluids. Do not ignore chest!! It can develop into more serious problems in a hurry! This may sound like old news to many, but reminders are never out of date!
May God continue to bless you and yours with a very Happy holiday Season.
You are always in my prayers Barbra Riley

THE HISTORY BOOKS ARE READY

Bonnie Cox, Mary Ruth Pierschbacher, and Mary Louise Reeves have been working very diligently on compiling a comprehensive history of the Chariton Christian Church Disciples of Christ. We are happy to announce that the compiling stage is complete as is the copying and binding. The books are now available to the congregation. 55 copies have been made available and a donation of $7.00 is requested to off set the cost of ink and paper. This history covers the church from the time of its conception to the 40th celebration of being in the present building. There are many pictures and a complete list of ministers who have served the congregation to date. We ask that you take one copy per member only at this time. If you want extra copies you may put your name on a list for extras or for the second printing if needed. We thank the ladies who have worked so had to compile this histor