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Friends of Bill W...
Is anyone here a friend of Bill W's?
--Pastor
He had come to church to find refuge. The courts had said that he could have his daughter for Christmas, but his ex-wife refused to allow him to take her with him. So he came to church hoping to find some peace in the midst of his turmoil, only to have a family with a daughter the same age as his, sit next to him in the pew. It was simply too much. It was his fault, he knew that! He had destroyed his family with his drinking. His life would never be the same again.
He had to get out of the church. What was the point anyway? There was no place for him here. But before he could exit the building, the pastor stopped him. It was obvious that something was very, very wrong. He reluctantly went with the pastor to his study. He didn't want to talk to anyone. He just wanted to get drunk. Stinking drunk! So much for sobriety! It was too late for sobriety.
The pastor tried to call his sponsor. But it was Christmas Eve and no one was home. The sponsor was probably at his church or with family. It was ten minutes to Eleven, there were no meetings at that hour. Yet, the pastor knew that the man should not be left alone. The man needed a meeting. He needed the support of the very community that had kept him sober and given him a second chance. What then to do?
In desperation, the pastor went into the sanctuary. "Is anyone here a friend of Bill W's?" he asked. "If you are, would you please come with me to my study." With that a host of God's angels rose from their pews. So much for anonymity, they were needed. They knew their pastor would not have asked them otherwise. And so, there was an Eleven pm meeting that night, after all. As the congregation sang of God's birth, another birth was taking place; the rebirth of hope in one who had run out of hope as he experienced the love of the Incarnate Christ in the friends of Bill W.
Fourth Advent is upon us. Christmas Eve will be quick to follow--that night when we are reminded that there is a place for hope and peace and joy in our world and in our lives! May we, each one of us, embody that hope, peace and joy in our lives and in our living.
Advent blessings upon you all!
Debbie Rundlett
General Presbyter
Holy Habit: The One Anothers
Print (or write) out the following "one another" verses on index cards. Hand out the cards and ask the first person to read the "one another" command and place it on a table. Then ask a second person to read, and place the card either above or below the previous person's card, depending upon which command they perceive the church obeys more readily.
Continue until all cards have been played. Encourage conversation around the commands as they placed. Note which commands are near the bottom and which are near the top. Why is that? Share your observations with one another and reflect on how the "one anothers" inform our understanding of community.
* Be at peace with one another. -Mark 9:50 * Love one another.-John 13:34; 15:12, 17; I John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; II John 5 * Be devoted to one another and honor one another. -Romans 12:10 * Live in harmony with one another. -Romans 12:16; I Peter 3:8 * Stop passing judgment on one another. -Romans 14:13 * Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you. -Romans 15:7 * Instruct one another. -Romans 15:4 * When you come together to eat, wait for one another. -I Corinthians 11:33 * Have equal concern for each other. -I Corinthians 12:25 * Serve one another in love. -Galatians 5:13 * Be kind and compassionate, patient, bearing with one another. -Ephesians 4:32 * Speak to one another with songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.-Ephesians 5:19 * Forgiving one another. -Ephesians 4:32 * Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. -Ephesians 5:21 * Teach (one another). -Colossians 3:13 * Do not lie to one another. -Colossians 3:9 * Admonish one another. -Colossians 3:16 * Encourage one another... daily. -I Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13 * Spur one another on towards love and good deeds. -Hebrews 10:24 * Do not slander one another. -James 5:16 * Don't grumble against one another. -James 5:9 * Confess your sins to one another. Pray for one another. -James 5:16 * Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. -I Peter 5:5 | 
