LIFE TOGETHER ON WEST MORRIS STREET
A weekly information and prayer journal by Pastor John Hay, Jr.


December 5, 2007

CONTENTS
- Advent Sleepwalking
- Advent 2007: Living Hope
- Praying
- Gathering- Word Centering
- Incarnating Christ
- Blessing


ADVENT SLEEPWALKING

Advent begins
In a fog of unreadiness.
As if by dull surprise
r in a twilight zone,
We groggily hang the greens.

Hardly with awareness
Much less anticipation
God's people sleepwalk
Through the prophecies
And Annunciation.

We may finally stir
By the time children sing
"Away in a Manger"
The Sunday before Christmas,
Their raised voices spark
A light in our slumbering souls.

Is it only children and prophets
Who grasp the urgency,
Sense the passion;
Whose hearts are rended
And readied by the
Promise of Light shining
In the darkness?

Is it only to them that Advent
Becomes no mere repetition
Of myth-laden past events,
But days of embracing
The living Mystery,
The basis of all hope?

By God's mercy and grace
Children and prophets are
Only the first to hear,
The first to recognize,
To proclaim that
It is indeed Mystery.

The Light ever dawns,
Beaming its rays into the
Eyes of even the groggiest saints,
The hardest sleeper
Among us.

Only those who refuse to rise
Amid many urgent shakings
And light flooding their beds
Sleep through the
Incarnation.

"Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

ADVENT 2007: LIVING HOPE

HOW TO LIVE IN HOPE Join us for a course in Biblical hope. You've never thought about the future like this. Week by week in Morning Worship we will explore how hope changes our past, shapes our future and gives purpose to our present challenges. The Compass is a weekly resource in this exploration.

GET DAILY DOSES OF HOPE In addition, I am preparing Daily Doses of Hope and making them available on our website. Click on "Daily Doses of Hope" to get your daily dose! These are Word-centering Scriptures, reflections and spiritual exercises that build this grace into our daily living.

A DEFINITION OF BIBLICAL HOPE Here's my recently-developed working definition of hope; try it on for size: Hope is a grace that generates within us a knowledge and confidence that our future is secure and full of promise. It draws us forward in the face of sometimes overwhelming circumstances, empowering us to overcome difficulties, stand fast against evil, and live in dynamic witness to the truth. Biblical hope is based on the Word of God, which challenges us to anticipate the future in terms of salvation, restoration, completion, fulfillment, triumph over evil and the ultimate defeat of death itself. More than anticipation, the Bible invites us to participate in this future now by faith, embracing the principles, values, and graces that will be the norm in the Kingdom of God.

A MONTH OF HOPE Here are the weekly areas of focus in "Living Hope" during Advent. Join with us each Sunday of Advent at 10:30 am and then engage with the Word each day to grow hope in your life.
Dec 2: On the Edge of Time
Dec 9: Future Hope, Present Faith
Dec 16: Hope in the Darkness
Dec 23: Drawn by Expectation
Dec 24: Fulfillment Begins (6 pm)
Dec 30: Living In Purpose - Dec 30

PRAYING

PRAY IN INTERCESSION Pray God's comfort, healing touch and answers for the following requested concerns:
-- Pray daily strength and healing grace for Kathy Fryman who is in her third round of chemotherapy this week.
-- Pray healing grace for Mike Leak as he recovers at Methodist Hospital after brain surgery three weeks ago.
-- Pray grace for Jim Strange, who is in hospice care at Methodist Hospital; pray strength for Pat and family members.
-- Pray complete recovery for Pat Strange and Wanda Dunham as they progress in therapy for new knees.
-- Pray healing for Ruby Hill at Westside Village for rehab.
-- Pray healing for Jackie Logue who is improving at Methodist Hospital.
-- Pray continued healing for Betty Duewel.
-- Vance Robbins continues receiving medical care at home.
-- Grace for Joe Black at Lakeview; also for Phyllis who attends to him each day.

PRAY FOR BREAKTHROUGH With thanksgiving, pray for encouragement, wisdom and spiritual breakthrough:
-- Pray wisdom for our governor and the state legislature as they together address issues critical to Indiana residents.
-- Pray breakthrough in relationships in need of reconciliation and grace.
-- Pray daily for our Free Methodist missionaries: Dr. Joel & Janette Miller (Mexico), David & Sheryl Yardy (Asia), Kay Stotts (Chile), and Michael & Maria Long (Greece) Check new prayer requests online at: www.fmwm.org.
-- For spiritual breakthrough during our Advent focus on Biblical hope.
-- For Comunidad Cristiana and Pastor Nicolás Estrella.
-- For special encouragement and grace during holidays for those who are separated from family and home.
-- God's guidance and revival in and through WEMO.
-- God's centering, empowering, breakthrough presence amid your daily challenges and choices.
-- For eyes to see friends, neighbors, and loved ones-"one more soul"-in light of God's saving desire…and then to bear grace to them in practical and prophetic ways.

MEN'S PRAYER BREAKFAST All men are invited each Wednesday @ 6:15 am in Ellis Hall. Food, fellowship & prayer. Donations support Dr. Wes Duewel's ministry.

GATHERING

YOUNG FAMILIES CHRISTMAS PARTY It's this Saturday, December 8 at 4:30 pm in the Lower Level. It will be a pitch-in with ham provided. Young families A-L please bring desserts and families M-Z bring side dishes. We'll have games, a white elephant gift exchange, singing, and food. Please contact Denise Bowles with questions or more info.

LOOKING FORWARD Please note the following upcoming gatherings:
- Official Board - Sun, Dec 9, 12:15 pm
- All Teen Paintball - Sat, Dec 15 6:30-9 pm
- WEMO Society Meeting - Sun, Dec 16, 12 pm, front of Sanctuary (to consider 2008 Church Budget)
- Dr. Duewel's Class Christmas Luncheon - Sun, Dec 16, 12:15 pm, Lower Level
- Youth Christmas Party - Dec 19, 6:15-8 pm
- Christmas Eve Service, Dec 24, 5 pm - "A Celebration of Hope!"
- "Sixth Day of Christmas All-Church Pitch-in Dinner," Sun, Dec 30, 12: 15 pm, L L
- Campus Crusade for Christ Neighborhood Outreach - Sun, Dec 30, 1 pm
- New Year's Eve Praise Celebration - Dec 31, 8 pm
- Youth Party in The Underground - Dec 31, 9 pm

WORD CENTERING

EXPLORE BIBLICAL HOPE - Throughout December, we are exploring Biblical hope in Morning Worship and in daily spiritual exercises. What does it mean to live in Biblical hope? How can confidence in what God promises for the future impact our daily living, purposes, choices, and witness? You've never thought about the future like this. Come ready to grasp hope as we explore the Word in Morning Worship, check out The Compass online each week, and access Daily Doses of Hope on our website.

THE WIRED WORD All post-high school and young adults please consider: "The Wired Word" with Mike Conkle on Sundays @ 9:30 in the Lower Level. Not your typical Bible lesson!.

SUNDAY EVENING BIBLE STUDY A chapter-by-chapter open Bible study will not meet on Sunday evenings until January, as Steve & Judy Strange are planning to visit Matt, Susan and their grandchildren in Taiwan until the end of the year.

INCARNATING CHRIST

COLLECTING WINTER ITEMS FOR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS Again this year, we are collecting gloves, scarves, hats, socks, and underwear for our homeless neighbors who are guests of Horizon House. Please place these items in the gift box at Main Foyer Christmas Tree on Sundays through December 16.

SERVING IN THE SEASON Please note the following updated and upcoming opportunities to put hands and feet to your faith. Will you volunteer for one of these?

- Help serve in the Clothing Ministry either by sorting clothing on Mondays at 8:30 am or by staffing the monthly neighborhood meal (5:30 pm) or the clothing pantries (6:30 pm) on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.

- Volunteer to prepare a meal or work with 7-12 grade youth in The Underground - Wednesdays, 6:15 to 8:00 pm. No experience or expertise necessary.

- Guide K-6 children in CLC & CLC+ Wednesdays, 7-8 pm. You can do this!

- Available to disciple/tutor a new Christian? Let me know this week.

- Available to transport children or older adults to and from church (what's it take--an extra 15 minutes?)? Please contact the church office today.

BLESSING

POTS & PANS Thanks for bringing in hot food! You can pick up left-behind pots and pans in the Lower Level through December 9. Please double check! After that, we'll place them in the Clothing Pantry for distribution.

A LINGERING BLESSING "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. Amen" -- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

West Morris Street Free Methodist Church
2302 West Morris Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46221
John Hay, Jr., Senior Pastor
Phone: 317.632.8311
Office e-mail: wmsfmc@juno.com
Website: www.westmorrisfm.org

Return to the top
Go to Index of past Life "Together on West Morris Street" issues
Return to main page