Advent

This past Sunday was the first Sunday in Advent and the first Sunday in the Christian Year.

Advent comes from the Latin "adventus" meaning "Coming". In this season we celebrate Christ's first coming to us in the Nativity, and anticipate his coming in final victory when he brings the Kingdom of God to its fullness in the end of this age. As such, it is a season of tension, a season of "already" but "not yet".

The season is made up of the four Sundays prior to Christmas. The central character is John the Baptist, and the liturgical color is purple. During these Sundays we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. I like to think of it as a sister season to Lent. In Lent we prepare ourselves for the joy and celebration of the Resurrection, in Advent we prepare ourselves for the joy and celebration of Christmas. Both seasons are seasons of preparation, not celebration.

Loving God, we give you thanks for these days of preparation. Cleanse our minds and hearts. Help us to prepare in the desert of our lives a highway for the Savior. Enable us to remain faithful disciples as we live in the "in-between" times of your first advent and your coming in final victory. This we ask in the name of Christ. Amen.

Song for a Winter's Night

What you may not know about me is that I am an incurable romantic. Tonight is an unseasonably cold night for October in Atlanta; the lows are supposed to hover around freezing. I made a big pot of homemade soup and lit a fire. As I was laying the fire I thought of some words from a Gordon Lightfoot song from long ago - one of the greatest love songs around as far as I am concerned.

The lamp is burnin' low upon my table top
The snow is softly falling
The air is still within the silence of my room
I hear your voice softly calling

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you

The smoke is rising in the shadows overhead
My glass is almost empty
I read again between the lines upon each page
The words of love you sent me

If I could know within my heart
That you were lonely too
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you

The fire is dying now, my lamp is growing dim
The shades of night are liftin'
The morning light steals across my windowpane
Where webs of snow are driftin'

If I could only have you near
To breathe a sigh or two
I would be happy just to hold the hands I love
Upon this winter night with you
And to be once again with with you

To view the video click Song for a Winter's Night

Jim & Jeff's Big Adventure

This afternoon about 4:40, Lord willing, Jeff and I will take off from Atlanta-Hartsfield on our way to the Czech Republic. We have a two hour layover in Amsterdam and should land at Prague Ruzyne Airport tomorrow morning at 10:45 local time. The Czech Republic is at GMT +4 which puts it six hours ahead of Eastern US time. I'll post when I can, but I am not sure when that will be right now. Higgins and Jernigan traveling together - pray for the Czech Republic!

I'm Back!

I have been remiss in updating this blog recently, but that will soon change. This Friday afternoon Jeff Jernigan and I leave for the Czech Republic. We will be visiting our sister congregation in Jihlava where I will preach on Sunday, then we will both be teaching for the International Leadership Institute Central Europe National Conference. I will be posting about our travels and experiences.

What I'm Reading

I love to read. I usually have several books going at a time - some for work, some for professional growth, some for fun. So, here's what I'm reading now:

12 Keys to an Effective Church. This is actually a "re-read". I used Ken Callahan's material when I was the pastor at Haygood to get our visioning kick-started. It was great for that church, so now we're using it at McEachern. We are also reading 12 Keys to an Effective Church Leaders Guide.

5 Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert Schnase. You've heard me mention this book in my sermons and the Senior Pastor letter. Allen and I will be preaching from this book next Fall. The five practices are Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-taking Mission and Service and Extravagant generosity. I encourage you to pick up a copy and read it yourself.

The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. Yes, I'm a Dave Ramsey freak. I read his Financial Peace Revisited last Fall. My kids hate riding in the car with me during the afternoons when his show is on because it's all I'll listen to. We'll be starting Financial Peace University at the church this Fall.

RealLivePreacher.com. Yes, that's the name of a book, as well as a website. Gordon Atkinson began writing (and writing well) on his personal blog. The essays have been collected and published. This book was a gift from my friend and colleague, Dr. Phil Schroeder. It's a great read.

What are you reading?

James A. Hayes

Pam's Dad, James Hayes, died this past week. We spent most of the week in North Carolina with the family. I was honored to be asked to participate in his service. I thought I would share his obituary with you. As usual, this obit barely skims the surface of who he was, and all he accomplished.

Mr. James Addison Hayes, Jr., 87, of Rockwell, NC left his infirmities behind and was given a new body with Christ on Tuesday, April 29, 2008. James was born August 16, 1920 in Guilford County, NC the son of the late James Addison Hayes, Sr. and Ila Black Hayes. James was educated in the Thomasville City schools, a Veteran of World War II serving in the US Army Air Force. James had worked for Carolina Underwear, Inc. in Davidson County, then transferred to Rowan Industries as Plant Manager and retired in 1986 with 50 years of service. He was a member of the Rockwell United Methodist Church, former Sunday School Teacher, Lay Leader and President of the Men's Club. James was past President of the Rockwell Civitans and a former member of the Rockwell Town Board, and a former member of Peeler Livengood Wood American Legion Post # 448.

Survivors; wife, Bernice Wood Hayes, married in 1943, sons; Jim Hayes, and wife Susan, of Concord, NC, Joe Hayes and wife Jackie of Marietta, Georgia, Ken Hayes and wife Debbie of Granite Quarry, NC, daughter; Pam Higgins and husband Jim of Powder Springs, Georgia, brother; Frank Hayes and wife Judy of Charlotte, sisters; Marian Yarbrough and Helen Bray of Thomasville, NC, grandchildren; Mike Hayes and wife Kelly, Chris Hayes and wife Summer, Scott Hayes, Allison Hayes, Bo Higgins, Chris Higgins, Carley Higgins, great grandchildren; Trey Hayes, Davis Hayes, Addison Hayes, Jack Hayes and Parker Hayes.

Visitation: 6:00-8:00 PM Thursday at Powles Funeral Home, Rockwell, NC and the remainder of the time the family will be at the home of a son, Ken Hayes of Granite Quarry, NC.

Funeral Services: 2:00 PM Friday at Rockwell United Methodist Church, conducted by Rev. John Blalock, Pastor and assisting will be Rev. Bill Curry of Winston Salem and Dr. Jim Higgins. Burial will follow at Brookhill Memorial Gardens, Rockwell, NC with Military Graveside Rites by the North Carolina Army National Guard and the Rowan County Military Honor Guard.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Rockwell United Methodist Church, PO Box 337, Rockwell, NC 28138 or to East Cobb United Methodist Church, 2325 Roswell Road, Marietta, Georgia 30062

Powles Funeral Home is assisting the Hayes family.

New Hymnal

Over the past few months I have been talking with you about the possibility of General Conference beginning the process of a new hymnal for The United Methodist Church. I gave you the opportunity a while back to be part of that process by participating in a survey. Nearly 20,000 responded to that survey and according to The United Methodist News Service the following was discovered:


The surveys revealed that the top three favorites in the UM Hymnal are “Amazing Grace,” “Here I Am, Lord” and “How Great Thou Art.” The top three favorite hymns from The Faith We Sing are “The Summons,” “I’ll Fly Away” and “As the Deer.” The top hymn (currently in the hymnal) requested to include in a new hymnal is “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” Seventy-five percent of respondents would like to have healing services in the hymnal. Forty-three percent want more praise choruses in the hymnal; 34% do not. 28% prefer to sing lyrics on a screen; 70% prefer to use a hymnal or songbook. Seventy percent are comfortable using male-only language for God, while 25% are comfortable using female language for God and 42% are comfortable using male or female language for God.



General Conference is meeting for the next week and a half. I'll let you know if they decided to go ahead and start work on a new hymnal. If they do, do not expect to see it for another 5-10 years.