COVENANT BLOGS

 

“We are the Light of the World” by Jeffrey DeYoe

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5

This weekend I am going to take down the lights from outside, which have been up since a couple of weeks before Christmas. I love having the lights up for the season and I especially like driving up to the house with the lights shining brightly into the night. For me, to see those lights shining like that always says to my heart: There is somebody home.

I can remember many Christmases in Minnesota when the children were small, and I stood outside for hours, with freezing hands, to make sure the lights got up for the holidays. Then we moved to Palm Coast, and it became quite a bit easier to put the lights up in much warmer weather. I also remember our first Christmas in Columbus when I was back out there in the freezing cold putting lights on the house. But it was always worth the effort because the lights gave a different kind of warmth to the night air. I also remember how sometimes I would drive home and notice that a whole string of lights had suddenly gone out, forcing me to go back out there and try to figure out what went wrong. I have definitely had my Clark Griswold (aka Chevy Chase in the film, Christmas Vacation) moments with my outdoor lights over the
many years.

There is a part of me that always dreads taking the lights down. Sometimes it seems that we should just keep them up all year round. But then maybe that would be an excuse for inaction on our part. Just like the Biblical Christmas story we just finished celebrating, life moves on, there are challenges to meet and journeys to take that pull us away from the lights for awhile. That shining star over Bethlehem wasn’t shining like it did before when the Holy Family had to escape to Egypt for their lives. It wasn’t there when Jesus announced his ministry in Nazareth and almost got thrown off a cliff by his own kinfolk. It wasn’t shining in Gethsemane on that fateful night, or on the day of the cross. But indeed, the light of the world would still shine…for us all.

So as I take down my lights this weekend I do remember that for the rest of the year I am supposed to be the light that shines into the darkened places of this world… Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5) that we all are the light of the world and we cannot hide what God has given under a bushel. My New Year’s prayer is that together we will shine as a faith community, so that the light that is Covenant Presbyterian Church will be seen by all who struggle in the darkness.

Peace and Light, Jeff

“Thinking Outside the Christmas Box” by Rev. Jeff DeYoe

As I look at both my PC(USA) Program Calendar, as well as my United Methodist pocket calendar (which I have been using since 1981—the PCUSA does not make one), I have noticed the following important things about December (besides Advent and Christmas, of course):

December 1: World AIDS Day/PC(USA) HIV/AIDS Awareness. I remember well-being a hospital chaplain in the mid-eighties when AIDS patients were presenting themselves in the ER and doctors and nurses did not know what they were dealing with. It was scary for everyone working there. The hysteria over AIDS was prolonged over years, as opposed to being somewhat short-lived as with the recent Ebola scare. Some preachers, right in my local area and elsewhere, were preaching it as the curse and scourge of God. Some of us knew better and continued to talk about God’s grace, love and healing. I am thankful those days are over and we have come to our senses, understand it, and that in many, many cases (but not all) medical science has turned this into a serious, chronic condition rather than an immediately terminal one. That’s God’s healing that happens through dedicated human servant hood

December 10: Human Rights Day. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I am thankful that Jesus was the first human rights activist of the Christian faith. He followed the examples of the Hebrew prophets who also stood for human rights in the face of corrupt kings who were supposed to do God’s bidding yet failed miserably. I am also thankful for a church that has been observing this day for decades, not only observing but pursuing it through its ongoing witness at every level of human society.

December 16: Hanukkah. During the “Inter-testamental Period” of Biblical history (Israel between the Old and New Testament writings), the Israelites were under the thumb of the Greek Hellenistic Seleucid Empire (until the Roman Empire took control a century before Christ). They struggled mightily for as much autonomy as possible and to re-establish control of the Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, commemorates the success of the Maccabees (led by Mattathias, and then his son Judas) in their revolt against Greek tyranny. An eight day celebration, it celebrates how a small jug of oil sustained the beleaguered Jews and kept their lamps lit until freedom was achieved (and this was a sign of God’s steadfastness and presence in difficult times). It is a powerful story of liberation in the Jewish tradition that has not been co-opted or shared by the Christian tradition, but is important for us to recognize and value because it is a narrative of being faithful to God in the face of ungodly worldly empires.

December 26: Kwanzaa. While serving Trinity Presbyterian Church in Palm Coast, ten percent of my congregation was African American or Jamaican. This is the time when I learned about Kwanzaa and its significance to black culture in our society. Members invited me to attend their Kwanzaa celebration at the African American Cultural Center in town, and it was a great celebration of culture and values. As I listened to the recitation of those values I could not help but think to myself that every human culture on earth could benefit from these seven core principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work/Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith. As we celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth at Christmas, it is important to remember that the joy of humanity is expressed in many cultural ways and that we seek to make it real in how we make a difference for God’s children who are suffering. The important events of December which I have mentioned and which are recognized by mainline Christians as being important in this season help illustrate the Good News about God’s place in human life. Let’s celebrate and give thanks for the birth of our Savior to this world, and at the same time remember that the season calls upon us to be expansive in our understanding of the creation God touched so powerfully by sending Christ into our midst!

In Hope, Peace, Love and Joy!

Jeff

 

“Traditional vs. Contemporary” by Eric Nanz

For many church goers the style of music that is played in worship has a major impact on why they attend the church they do. After all, singing in corporate worship is one of the most enriching parts of being in church. It pleases God, feeds the soul, teaches us theology and puts us in a state of mind that allows the Holy Spirit to enter in.

What has become unfortunate though is that, in regards to style of worship, a lot of churches have developed an ‘either/or’ mentality. “We play traditional style music because the theology is deeper and it’s what we’ve always done” verses the “We play contemporary style music because anything old wouldn’t be relevant and the drums, lights and fog machines attract younger members”. Or perhaps a church does offer both, but they do it in separate services, segmenting their congregations.

Both styles of worship have their value and ability to be impactful though, so it’s a shame more churches don’t try to marry the two together. The few churches I’ve visited that have “blended” the two styles (in a quality and intentional manner of course) seemed to be blessed in very unique ways. It was evident that these churches had fostered more inter-generational relationships and that each generation had been given a healthy challenge. Younger members were learning more about theology and the rich traditions of their church and senior members were embracing change and experiencing worship in vibrant new ways.

It also got me thinking, this must be what it’s going to be like when we get to heaven…all types of people, singing all types of music, praising the God who brought them into eternal life! My hope and prayer is that this can happen everywhere a whole lot sooner than when we finally walk through the gates of heaven.

Now just for a quick laugh here’s story that I stumbled across online:

A Tale of Two Churches

An old farmer went to the city one weekend and attended the big city church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

“Well,” said the farmer. “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns.”

“Praise choruses?” asked the wife. “What are those?”

“Oh, they’re okay. They’re sort of like hymns, only different,” said the farmer.

“Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.

The farmer said, “Well it’s like this … If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a hymn. If, on the other hand, I were to say to you, ‘Martha, Martha, Martha, Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA, the cows, the big cows, the brown cows, the black cows, the white cows, the black and white cows, the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn, are in the corn, are in the corn, in the CORN, CORN, CORN, COOOOORRRRRNNNNN,’ then, if I were to repeat the whole thing two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus.”

As luck would have it, the exact same Sunday a young, new Christian from the city church attended the small town church. He came home and his wife asked him how it was.

“Well,” said the young man, “It was good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular songs.”

“Hymns?” asked the wife. “What are those?”

“They’re okay. They’re sort of like regular songs, only different,” said the young man.

“Well, what’s the difference?” asked the wife.

The young man said, “Well it’s like this … If I were to say to you, ‘Martha, the cows are in the corn,’ well that would be a regular song. If on the other hand, I were to say to you,

Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, glorious truth.

For the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God’s sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they are fenced.

Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and night
They all my mild Chilliwack sweet corn chewed.

So look to that bright shining day by and by,
Where all foul corruptions of earth are reborn
Where no vicious animal makes my soul cry
And I no longer see those foul cows in the corn,

Then, if I were to do only verses one, three and four, and change keys on the last verse, well that would be a hymn.”