"Come Closer"

Happy Thanksgiving! What are you most thankful for this year? Whatever it is, I hope you will pause and find a way to express gratitude for that blessing in your life. No matter what situation you find yourself in today, if you look beyond your circumstances, you will find something for which you can be grateful.

On Sunday we celebrate the season of Advent - the four Sundays before Christmas. We make plans with family and friends. We choose gifts for those we know well and gift cards for those we don't. We have obligations to keep and more parties than we can make. And somewhere along the way Christmas is over again....and the world is about the same.

Jesus came into the world so that the world might be changed. For that to keep happening we must come closer to the manger, close enough that we enter the Christmas story and help change our world. Christmas doesn't have to be what our culture has made it to be. We can stop spending money on ourselves and take that money and give it to others in need....in Jesus name!

We will be joining Advent Conspiracy again this year. Beginning this Sunday and going through Christmas, donations marked "AC" will be given to Living Water International. Our goal is $5,000 so we can dig another well to provide clean drinking water in Jesus name.

Now is the time to think about how you will celebrate the birth of Jesus....my prayer is you will join us in transforming our world. Just thinking about the global water crisis makes me even more grateful this Thanksgiving...for the gift of water.

Join us Sunday at 10:00 as we enter the ongoing story of God's love for all people.

A Note From Rev. Sandy

"My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness."

What comforting words from 2 Corinthians, chapter 12. Not only is grace enough, it's all we need - and through our weaknesses, Divine strength is coming into its own!

The last month has proven to be very stressful for most of us. It's hard to believe so many important things could happen in our church in only 30 days! But they have, and they require us to make some changes as we take stock and regroup.

First, we are discontinuing our Wednesday night service for now. I want to thank those who have been soaking in God's presence during the surrender service. I hope you will continue to do so at home or in nature. It's like prayer, you can do it anywhere!

Secondly, we are returning to one blended Sunday service at 10:00. This will begin November 27th, the first Sunday in Advent. While we could take weeks to announce this to the Worship Team and then the congregation, I think it best to go ahead and begin next Sunday.

These changes will be helpful no matter what the future holds. Regardless of what decisions we make, the church will need a time of healing and rebuilding, not to mention the comfort and joy of being together as one.

Know that I will keep you posted during this critical time. I hope to see you Sunday at either 9:00 or 11:00.

Divine Appointment

One of the ways we manage life is with appointments. We make them for everything from date nights to oil changes. But how much thought do we give to divine appointments? They happen all around us. Some of them we keep and others we miss, but they're placed in our path each and every day.

The beauty of divine appointments is that we do not set, cancel, or reschedule them. They unfold in God's time and way. We do not have to worry about them or try to control them. They are part of the ebb and flow of life that God orchestrates.

Sunday's sermon will focus on those appointments and how important they are to bringing God's dominion to our lives and our world. When we are in the right place, at the right time, we can be a part of bringing forth justice to the oppressed, strength to the weak, and hope to the hopeless.

Are you in the right place at the right time? If so you'll be at Holy Cross MCC this Sunday at 9:00 or 11:00. You have a divine appointment. I hope you'll make it.

A Note From Pastor Sandy

The question of the week has been, "Pastor, are you okay and what can I do to help?" I can't think of anything that will be as helpful as your prayers right now. Suddenly I am overseeing the many things Miriam and Rev. Patrick were doing and well as my usual duties.

In addition to the increase in my work load, I am also spending time with people who are upset because of the changes and those who are fearful that I too am leaving. Until either God or the congregation releases me, I will continue to serve as your Pastor.

While it may appear that I am not concerned about what's going on, just the opposite is true. I am concerned about our church and myself. I was getting used to having more help and these resignations have brought much pain to me and others in our church.

It's unfortunate there has not been an opportunity for you to say goodbye to staff you have grown to love, but it is one of those things we cannot change. Therefore we need to grieve and mourn so we can move to a place of acceptance.

We may handle loss differently; however we are all called to act in ways that put the best interest of our church first. This is not a time to stay away - nor is there any reason to do so. We will get through this together. Let us pray for and encourage one another, knowing that God will cause of this to work together for our good.

Part of whole life stewardship is to share truth. The truth is that I did not terminate, ask, or want anyone to resign. Feel free to share this if you hear otherwise. Misinformation only complicates the situation and damages the church.

I hope to see you at 9:00 or 11:00. We are moving to our new format in the second service so check it out soon....and remember to set your clock back Saturday night.

Peace and blessings

Today is All Saints Day!

Today is the day to pause and remember those saints who have gone before us and who now are cheering us on. Take time to remember the people in your life who nurtured you and fed your spirit. Remember they are still with you spiritually. Find a way to honor their memory today.

• I honor my mother Gerry, who was my spiritual foundation.
• I honor my nanny Hazel, who taught me to love gospel music.
• I honor my Sunday School teachers who taught me the Bible in stories and lessons.
• I honor my grandfather Sam, who showed me you can turn to God at anytime, even in the latter days of life.
• I honor my grandmother Julia, who taught me never to despair but to trust in God.
• I honor the pastors who taught me God's love, mercy and forgiveness.
• I honor the many brothers who died of AIDS as well as the women and children under my case management for HIV/AIDS.
• I honor Charles who sang in the Choir for over 30 years.
• I honor Ralph Cahall who made our beautiful stained glass.
• I honor Pam, who had the voice of an angel.
• I honor each saint who made sacrifices so that there is a place called Holy Cross MCC, where the good news of God's love for all people continues to go forth.

Hebrews 12:1- 3 The Message (MSG)

"Do you see what this means-all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on?

It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running-and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed-that exhilarating finish in and with God-he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.

When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"

Remember, honor and press on! If you get a chance, listen to Amy Grant's version of "I Can Only Imagine" and listen all the way to the end as she adds part of an old familiar hymn.

Peace and blessings