December 2009 ~ The Circumstances of Christmas
As we move into this Advent Season of preparation for Christ’s Birth, we do so
with many around us financially depressed and many unemployed. As the Christmas lists 
come in this year, some will not be able to do for their kids what they did just 12 
months ago. Times are hard financially.

We hear each day that the Markets are still down while the Unemployment Rate is up. 
Though we also hear that the economic pendulum is already turning. Many continue to 
wait to see about the economy, while looking at the reality that bonus’s are 
down and raises at work for January 1 are scarce. Banks and	employers are skittish to 
make any sudden moves.

When the economy goes down or the nation goes through a major crisis, people turn to 
God and come to church. I have been observing in our area that when times get hard, 
people tend to get more worshipful.When money gets gone, people tend to get next to 
their Bibles and more serious about their prayer, devotion and worship.

Our church has not experienced a decline in activity or ministry, even though our 
budget has been strained. We can’t do everything we would like to do and we are 
struggling now to make our Apportionment Giving through the larger ministry of the UMC 
as we want to, and it hurts. But our pews and halls are filled with people on Sunday 
Mornings!

Maybe we are called just to be faithful and do our part, the best we can, in any 
circumstance, and let God’s will do the rest. When we remember that, given time, 
one seed in fertile soil can grow into an oak,we should have hope in the seeds we plant.

My hope is that your Christmas this year is the best ever. Maybe as we are forced to slow 
down with our traveling and spending, we will notice the smell and the venue of the manger.

Remember, Mary and Joseph were with child, but away from home, betrothed, but not married, 
seeking an inn and the comfort of family, but found themselves waiting for the count of the 
census from a room in an overflow stable.

But God broke into this circumstance with Stars and Heavenly Voices, with Shepherds and 
eventually Wise Magi and Mary took these signs and pondered them in her heart. How could 
she have known the future of her boy king? How could she have known that Gabriel was right, 
that John the Baptist would not only jump in the womb in the at the presence of Christ, but 
30 years later, proclaim, “Behold the lamb that takes away the sins of the world?” 
Only through Faith.

From the shadows of the stable, Glory seemed far away, but it wasn’t. Glory was 
right there in the manger, in the form of a baby who would change the world. Don’t 
miss Christmas. As the Grinch, when he finally saw the light about Christmas and said, 
“It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, 
or bags!” May we come to realize the present - and the presence - of the baby, 
Christ Jesus, even in the midst of the “circumstances” of our times, and 
give thanks.

We do invite you, enthusiastically, to join us during December’s Worship
December 6th “A Man on a The Mission!”
December 13th “Peace in Bethlehem”
December 20th 8:50am Worship Special Music and Homily “All Flesh Shall See God”
11am Christmas Cantata “Emmanuel Celebrating Heaven’s Child“ and 
       Homily “All Flesh Shall See God”
December 24th at 5pm Candlelight Communion Service
Message “Making Christmas and Missing Christ”
December 27th The First Sunday of Christmas

Remember that on Christmas Eve our Christmas Gifts will go toward the General Offering to 
try to meet the needs of our 2009 Ministry Year, unless designated toward the Building Fund.

Thanks for your Love and Presence in Christ’s Church at Red Bank Methodist.
Merry Christmas, Joy and Peace ~ Rev. Tommy Wilkes III