In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree; in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free! In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see. Natalie A. Sleeth, “Hymn of Promise”
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Each day I am fortunate to be able to design and implement changes to our beautiful world. My occupation is horticulture. Evidently God likes my field of business because he allows us to alter his creative world by growing and planting many species of plants. Not only do they give us the pleasure of aesthetics but they nourish our bodies with fruit and vegetables and provide habitats for wildlife and humans. Preparation is very important!
Our work includes plowing and tilling our fields in late autumn so we can plant the bulbs and seedlings that will produce budding plants in spring. We watch our plants prepare themselves this time of year by dropping their leaves and adding berries for the winter season. Richmond allows us a great location to enjoy and prepare for each season. The fruits of our labor are rewarding. Can’t go wrong doing this each day! Good feelings and smiles rule most days, just as in our Advent season.
Advent is the season of waiting and preparing for celebration. Watching the plants around our beautiful church go through their seasonal changes gives me satisfaction that God prepares and readies us for all, especially his son, Jesus Christ.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
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In the picture I was given, the Church vans are out in the back parking lot, covered with snow. I could safely assume that you couldn’t see anything from the inside, and in turn couldn’t drive the buses.
The scripture states that we must trust God with all our hearts and not rely on our own insight, but I would certainly be very frightened to drive those vans covered in snow. I couldn’t rely on my own sight to help me drive safely. But if I put my faith in God, I can drive that van anywhere I need it to go. And in my life, I can do anything as long as I have faith in God.
The season of Advent is full of blind faith. Mary had to trust the angel Gabriel that Jesus was the son of God, sent as a gift to us all. Joseph had to trust that Mary had been faithful. The shepherds had to trust that the angels’ words would guide them to Jesus on the night of his birth.
Blind faith can be frightening, but when we put our trust fully in God, we can do all things.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
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This tree in our sanctuary is artificial, but if we set that thought aside for a moment, we can see a noble evergreen; hero of winter and symbol of everlasting life. Our tree is dressed in beautiful gold and white Chrismon ornaments lovingly made by Trinity members and tiny white lights that twinkle and shine like the stars in the night sky. I think it is honored to be here to help tell the Christmas story!
Watch the trees in your life and be open to their meaning and message.
During Hurricane Michael, a large lace bark elm toppled over in our backyard. In the dark, while winds and rain were tearing at its branches, we could see it was leaning dangerously close to the ground. When morning came, the sun shone brightly in the clear, blue sky, but our beautiful tree lay across the yard, up-ended in the storm, roots snapped and lifted out of the earth. We had watched this tree grow from a sapling. It provided us with cooling shade and served as a comfort to all the birds and small animals that live in, and regularly visit, our backyard spaces. We will miss it, and we sense that all its furry and feathery friends will too. But with an undeterred sense of hope, we’ve planted a young maple in its place. As the nights lengthen and the temperatures drop, we pray that our new friend can push its roots into the earth and gather the right mix of nurturing water and nutrients to carry it through the cold winter. We admire its bravery and marvel at its unspoken faith and humility as it grabs onto life and seeks to stand strong.
Watch the trees in your life and be open to their meaning and message.
You will find them to be wise and sacred. You will find that each reflects God’s light and love in its own special way.
Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. Psalm 47:6
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A friend of mine looks forward to his late November birthday each year. There’s little excitement about becoming one year older; rather, his birthdate is his “official” start of enjoying favorite Christmas songs. He customizes his playlist and anticipates the beginning of the holiday season. Music is an essential part of his Advent experience.
Singing and musical celebration are vital to our Christian faith. The Old Testament tells us to “Sing praises to our King”—everyone, not just choir members or paid staff. We share our love of music. It energizes us, pulls at our emotions and allows us to appreciate the glorious songs of the season. We participate in congregational singing and impromptu sing-alongs with our favorite recordings. What would Christmas be without music?
Our caroling photograph reflects many of the season’s values. We join as a community, sharing time and voices, giving of ourselves to bring joy to others and allowing our love of the Baby to shine through. There is no expectation of great praise or a recording contract—just a chance to celebrate with all ages and abilities present. It is the heart of the Christmas spirit.
I invite you to take some time this month to notice your special musical experiences. Is it a setting that speaks to you or perhaps hearing familiar words sung in a different arrangement? Listen carefully to the lyrics of a new song that appeals to you. Watch children as they enthusiastically sing a traditional carol. God gave us so much when he bestowed the treasure of music—“Sing Praises”—each and every one!
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands—O prosper the work of our hands! Psalm 90:17
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Service Day is one of the highlights of the year for the Trinity UMW (United Methodist Women). It is a special day we set aside during the busy Advent season to slow down and come together to love and serve others. We spend the morning in Trinity Hall working on projects for Trinity, United Methodist agencies and others in the community. Our projects include centerpieces for UMFS, The Hermitage & Tuckahoe Senior Living (formerly Gayton Terrace); mini pound cakes for children’s hospital staff; trail mix bags for Crossover Health Care Ministry; angel tray favors and care bags for The Hermitage; ornaments for students and mini bread loaves for staff at Oak Grove school; and Advent booklets and cards for homebound Trinity members. We finish the morning with a short program (last year’s program was music by Drew Willson) and then have lunch together. This year’s lunch will be prepared by students in the culinary program at UMFS (United Methodist Family Services).
I have been coming to Service Day for 23 years, and it is always a special day that I look forward to. While we hope that the projects we work on will spread Christmas cheer and be a blessing to others, it is also a blessing for us to be together as United Methodist Women. There is a strong bond of love, support, caring and friendship within this special group of women, and I feel very blessed to be a part of this group.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
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It was like any other night for the shepherds. They were watching their sheep when all of a sudden, an angel appeared and they were terrified.
The first thing the angel said to the shepherds was, “Do not be afraid.” God knew that fear would be the first emotion the shepherds would have felt. He wanted the angel to assure them there was nothing to fear.
Why did this happen? God chose this revelation to the shepherds to show that whether you are rich or poor, his love is for all people.
In the picture above of the Children’s Christmas Pageant, the children are acting out the visit by the shepherds to Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. This is all part of the education process. When children sing and dramatize the scripture, they remember it for a lifetime.
After the shepherds saw the baby, they went and told everyone. These shepherds were the first human evangelists. The first people to tell about Jesus’ birth.
