Happy New (Church) Year!

The Advent mystery is the beginning of the end of all in us  

that is not yet Christ.

Thomas Merton

More than "Back to School" and more than New Year's Day, it is Advent that fills me with a renewed sense of hope. Unlike New Year's Day, which carries with it the burden of failed resolutions from year's past, the fresh start that comes with Advent is born of Christ, not our own feeble efforts. It is not about what we do, but rather about what God can and will do if we dare to let Christ into our hearts and our lives.

There is an old Celtic prayer that encompasses the heart of the Advent call:

            On my heart and on my house, the blessing of God.

            In my coming and my going, the peace of God.

            In my life and in my seeking, the love of God.

            At my end and new beginning,

the arms of God to welcome me and bring me home.

Welcome us and bring us home! Isn't that what all of us yearn for? A sense of belonging; a sense of peace and wholeness; a sense that we are not alone. This Advent, I hope you will come home for Christmas. I hope you that you will open your heart to hear, see, and know Christ's love.

Thomas Merton reminds us "Advent is the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ." This year, allow the light of Christ to shine into the dark parts of your person.   Receive the gift of life from the Light of the world. Dare to experience your own advent-your own coming and new beginning-in his.

Blessings upon your journey to Bethlehem!

Debbie Rundlett

General Presbyter 

Holy Habit: Beginning and End

Carl Jung once noted that the biggest problems in life are rarely solved; rather, they are outgrown. Is there a problem that you've been trying (unsuccessfully) to solve? Perhaps God, in this season, is inviting you instead to "outgrow" it? Advent provides an opportunity for a fresh start as we come to experience "the beginning of the end of all in us that is not yet Christ." What in your life is God calling you to trade out that you might make room for Christ to dwell therein? How might you use this season of Advent to practice a new habit, in place of an old one?

Donna is the chairwoman of the worship and sacraments committee at the Coshocton Presbyterian Church, inventories music for the Coshocton Community Choir and is active with the Janusian Club of West Lafayette, where she lives.

Is your congregation or a congregation in your presbytery doing innovative ministry? Union Presbyterian Seminary (UPSem) offers eight Congregational Leadership Awards annually.   Since 1991, 110 churches in 29 states have received these awards. Each of the eight awards carries a $1,000 prize to support the congregation in its ministry. For more information and to apply for one of the UPSem Congregational Leadership Awards, you may download the brochure and application at  http://www.upsem.edu/leadership_institute/congregational_leadership_awards/  

You may also request an application by sending an e-mail to April Swofford at aswofford@upsem.edu, or calling 1-800-229-2990, ext 231.

The application and instructions are only available electronically. The deadline for the 2015 awards is February 15, 2015.  

COMING SOON!   

Bringing Good News: 40 Stories of Congregations and the Ministries that Transformed Them, compiled by Henry Simmons, Ph.D. and Rita Boyer, M.A.C.E.   A book that celebrates innovative ministry programs around the country.   To order, please check online at amazon.com on December 10, 2014.