Pastor Hahn's Thoughts...
From our interim pastor, The Reverend Dr. Norbert F. Hahn:
My dear Calvary church family,
I am penning these words on December 12. This day holds two special meanings for me.
First, my late mother would be 100 years old today. I always thought she had a "cool" birth date: 12-12-24. She was generous, kind, and had a deep faith. I miss her, but my and her resurrection faith provides me with great comfort.
Second, we are about half-way through the Advent season. Christmas is getting closer. It might be a good time to take another look at the "meaning of Advent" I shared with you at the beginning of the season.
A = Attend to your spiritual health. For instance, use Advent devotions, (samples are HERE and HERE), attend mid-week Advent worship at a sister church, attend one of the three faith learning opportunities at Calvary, begin reading through the Bible (resource HERE).
D = Deepen your hope. During Advent focus on God's initiative, on God's actions, on God's nearness in past, present, and future. Christ has come, Christ is here, Christ will come again.
V = Volunteer your time. Don't wait to be asked. There are a number of local and area charities that can use help, including your church. If need be, contact the church office or the chair of Calvary's Community Outreach Committee, Ken Glace, or the chair person of any Calvary committee.
E = Extend the Spirit of the season. Enable others to experience Advent and Christmas spiritually. Invite neighbors, co-workers, friends and relatives to worship with you. Offer to pick them up and drive them. Treat them to breakfast before or lunch after worship. And: don't stay home on Christmas Eve. Be in worship!
N = Neutralize the corroding influence of consumer culture. Resist the many commercial messages that Advent is mostly useful for cleaning, shopping, baking, and partying. Push back against the notion that Christmas is about about reindeer and sleighs and a man in a red suit. Remember that Christmas is about a baby boy who would grow up to shed his red blood for you. Remember that Christmas is about giving, not getting.
T = Tithe. Give 10% of your December income. Or, 10% of one paycheck. Tithe your Christmas budget. Tithe on the value of the presents you receive. And, then, on Christmas Eve, before or after worship, (or on Christmas Day), stop by one of the inexpensive 24 hour diners, have a cup of coffee and maybe a pancake or some eggs, and leave a very nice tip (say $50 or $100) for the server who most definitely will need the money since he/she is working on that day. Then watch from outside how the server reacts.
God's Peace,
Pastor Hahn
My dear Calvary church family,
I am penning these words on December 12. This day holds two special meanings for me.
First, my late mother would be 100 years old today. I always thought she had a "cool" birth date: 12-12-24. She was generous, kind, and had a deep faith. I miss her, but my and her resurrection faith provides me with great comfort.
Second, we are about half-way through the Advent season. Christmas is getting closer. It might be a good time to take another look at the "meaning of Advent" I shared with you at the beginning of the season.
A = Attend to your spiritual health. For instance, use Advent devotions, (samples are HERE and HERE), attend mid-week Advent worship at a sister church, attend one of the three faith learning opportunities at Calvary, begin reading through the Bible (resource HERE).
D = Deepen your hope. During Advent focus on God's initiative, on God's actions, on God's nearness in past, present, and future. Christ has come, Christ is here, Christ will come again.
V = Volunteer your time. Don't wait to be asked. There are a number of local and area charities that can use help, including your church. If need be, contact the church office or the chair of Calvary's Community Outreach Committee, Ken Glace, or the chair person of any Calvary committee.
E = Extend the Spirit of the season. Enable others to experience Advent and Christmas spiritually. Invite neighbors, co-workers, friends and relatives to worship with you. Offer to pick them up and drive them. Treat them to breakfast before or lunch after worship. And: don't stay home on Christmas Eve. Be in worship!
N = Neutralize the corroding influence of consumer culture. Resist the many commercial messages that Advent is mostly useful for cleaning, shopping, baking, and partying. Push back against the notion that Christmas is about about reindeer and sleighs and a man in a red suit. Remember that Christmas is about a baby boy who would grow up to shed his red blood for you. Remember that Christmas is about giving, not getting.
T = Tithe. Give 10% of your December income. Or, 10% of one paycheck. Tithe your Christmas budget. Tithe on the value of the presents you receive. And, then, on Christmas Eve, before or after worship, (or on Christmas Day), stop by one of the inexpensive 24 hour diners, have a cup of coffee and maybe a pancake or some eggs, and leave a very nice tip (say $50 or $100) for the server who most definitely will need the money since he/she is working on that day. Then watch from outside how the server reacts.
God's Peace,
Pastor Hahn
