Katie Bond When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28 CEB We hear the word angel used all the time. “Oh, you’re an angel!” “Whew, that was close. I think I have a guardian angel looking after me!” or some variation of those statements. But what do we really know about angels? Angels act as God’s messengers. We know that for sure. One story we focus on around this time of year is the angel Gabriel delivering good news to Mary. I’d like to think that I would have the courage Mary had if God ever sent an angel to deliver a message to me. I picture myself smiling up and saying “Yes, Lord! Whatever you need!”. In reality, I think it would be more like “Ahhh!”, faint, end scene. And although Mary was frightened at first, Gabriel put her at ease and assured her of her purpose. He was not only communicating something important to her but was also watching over her as a protector. It is comforting to know that God knows exactly what we need and when we need it. - - - Lord, we thank you for your angels who communicate your truth and protect us. Open our hearts to receive whatever message you have for us and bless us as we try to live in a way that glorifies you. Give us the courage to do what you ask, for you know exactly what need. Amen. Katie grew up at Peachtree Christian Church and was actively involved in the youth program from grades 7-12. Her time in CAST, Peachtree’s Christian Acting and Singing Troupe, developed her love of theatre, which lead to a BA in Theatre (cum laude) from Samford University. Now, she’s back as the Youth Director with the goal of providing Peachtree’s youth with the same atmosphere of acceptance and love she experienced as a youth while encouraging them to follow Christ’s path. She is intensely grateful for her husband Jeff and her 7 month old daughter, Hannah. All time favorite things… spending time with her family at their lake cabin, quoting movies with her brothers and eating food. Because man, it’s good. I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Daphne Reiley "I have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your joy will be complete." John 15:11 CEB I remember this song from Vacation Bible School when I was about 6 years old. It meant something different to me then – it simply meant happiness. Now, at 53 finding myself a wife and a mother of two teens, I experience joy in different ways. Joy in Christ. Joy in the Lord. Yes, these can be very happy feelings; however, I experience this sort of joy more deeply, more seriously, more serenely. This joy is calming, reassuring. I crave THIS joy! This joy is the joy I feel when I see and hear my daughter laughing and speaking with confidence and lightness of heart; this joy is the joy I feel when I see and hear my son speaking of his future with confidence and hope. This joy is the joy that I have prayed for unceasingly as I have mothered my children through crises this last year. - - - Joyful Lord, hear my prayer. Lift up my whole heart to see and feel the Joy of your Heart, of your hope for my family. Your love is steadfast and your mercy endures forever. Amen. Daphne is a modern mystic who finds herself in the midst of caregivers who are seeking emotional and spiritual support. Daphne enjoys facilitating support groups, threshold gatherings, and prayer circles. She is also available as an anam chara, or spiritual friend, to caregivers. In 2013, Daphne co-authored A Tapestry of Love, the Spirituality of Caregiving with Joseph V. LaGuardia. Tapestry provides caregivers with inspiration and hope. Support is offered through the explanation and introduction of a number of spiritual practices. The book is available through www.atapestryoflove.com and through Amazon I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Daphne Reiley Jesus spoke to the people again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me won’t walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 CEB How is it possible to feel so infinitely full yet empty of so much? Those times when we get out of the way and let the Light shine out of our souls and fill our hearts and minds are just a taste of the Kingdom. Those times when we recognize that we are being used as a conduit of Christ’s Light in the world are times filled with awe and not a little fear. The star that led the Wise Men to the manger was a source of confusion and awe to those Wise Men, yet they followed. Sometimes, when I struggle with a decision, with choosing which way to go in my journey, the miracle, the warmth, the love, the “WAAAAAAA” that comes when I make a decision in the Light is beautiful, beyond description – and a little scary. Setting my ego aside and allowing that very Light to lead me is difficult and I rarely succeed in allowing it to do so. Yet, if I could set my ego aside, I know I could more easily – and regularly – be a part of that glorious light, allowing my soul to be healed, allowing the joy that comes with being a part of the Light fill and expand within me. - - - Lord, as I prepare for that Holy Birth of the Light of the World, instill in me the willingness to follow that Light and let the Light shine through! Amen. Daphne is a modern mystic who finds herself in the midst of caregivers who are seeking emotional and spiritual support. Daphne enjoys facilitating support groups, threshold gatherings, and prayer circles. She is also available as an anam chara, or spiritual friend, to caregivers. In 2013, Daphne co-authored A Tapestry of Love, the Spirituality of Caregiving with Joseph V. LaGuardia. Tapestry provides caregivers with inspiration and hope. Support is offered through the explanation and introduction of a number of spiritual practices. The book is available through www.atapestryoflove.com and through Amazon I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Rev. Kris Light [The shepherds] went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Luke 2:16 CEB Eyes set on our barn’s changing hues, my hands dive blindly for sudsy spoons while evening rays repaint the farmyard. The remains of an ample table encircle the sink, aromas of sautéed onions mix with green apple dish soap, and I am content. I love our kitchen. I love our home. I love our barn. Dreams of what we might do with the stately structure outside the sink window encourage recurring conversation. Decades have passed since it sheltered livestock, but that can be fixed. The cattle of yesterday may give way to goats or llamas or a dozen other possibilities. For today, a solitary fox keeps company with barn swallows, bats and nativity scenery. Soon the manger and other props in the barn will appear at road’s edge. For one cold night youth and adults will create a living Christmas card addressed to all in the community who venture into darkness to behold the sights, smells and sounds of sacred story retold. Ever so briefly, real barn animals will repopulate this farm as old words become flesh. Tonight, I am grateful for the comforts of home on this side of frosty glass, and glad to peer through gathering darkness at brighter promises still unfolding. - - - Divine painter of the setting sun, Draw on our hearts, and enlighten our Godly desires. Meet us where the sacred story is retold. Amen. Kris is pastor of UniPlace Christian Church on the corner of the University of Illinois campus in Urbana - Champaign. Married to Ed Taylor she enjoys their combined total of 6 young adult children and 4 precious grandchildren. Previously serving Disciples congregations in Nebraska, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Kansas and Georgia, she is now putting down deep roots in Champaign and Ford counties in Illinois. Gardening, home restoration projects, sewing, writing and crafting are her idea of a really good time. I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Jessica Nettles While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Luke 2:6-7 CEB Jesus’s birth story has long been a part of my personal stream of narrative. I know all the players---Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, and, of course, the innkeeper, who is often interpreted in a bad light. There are a few things we need to understand about the innkeeper. In Luke 2:7, we read-“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Nowhere in the sentence does it say, “The innkeeper, being a complete and total jerk, told Mary, Joseph, and Little Baby Jesus to get off his lawn.” We make the mental leap that the innkeeper was a bad guy because he “turned away” these sacred people. I’ve never understood the need to make him evil. The innkeeper was honest when he said my inn is full in a time when there are lots of people looking for shelter. He had no ill intent, and yet we want to interpret his honesty as villainous and rude. Perhaps it is our culture. I am from the South. Hospitality is a big deal in Southern culture. We take care of each other, open our homes, make sure no one is without when they are with us. At Christmas, I have heard lots of disdain heaped on the proverbial (because he’s only implied) innkeeper. He doesn’t do his duty. He gives the Holy Family sloppy seconds by putting them in the stable. That’s the easy interpretation of this situation. By thinking of him as a villain, we miss a strong point. The innkeeper is not a villain, but someone who has limited resources that have been used up. We’ve all been there. I’m sure the innkeeper wanted to do his job, just like we want to do our jobs, and yet he had nothing left to give. At Christmas time, women most especially, face having no more room. We have to make those costumes, bake dozens of cookies, attend five or six different parties, bake more cookies, green the church, sing in the choir Christmas cantata and volunteer in dozens of ways during this four or five week period all while wearing a smile and a seasonal appropriate outfit. We want to do all those things, but we have nothing left to give at times. That’s okay. Sometimes we have to be the innkeeper and say, honestly, we have no more room. This is not turning Jesus away or giving him sloppy seconds. We do not fail Jesus or the church at all when we say “no more room.” Take a look at the story. Jesus and his family ended up with a roof over their heads for the night. They ended up being visited by shepherds. They were safe and well. Things worked out. There should be no shame for the innkeeper, and there should be no shame for you. Know when to be honest and say, “no more room.” - - - Dear Lord, Please remind me to acknowledge when I have nothing left to give, and grant me the honesty to speak out in these times. Also remind me that you love me even when I can only do so much. People judge. You just love. Amen. Jessica is a writer, an English instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College in Marietta, Georgia, and a burgeoning karaoke singer. She earned a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Professional Writing at Kennesaw State University. Her journey as a follower of Christ is ongoing. Her children are both adults, and she is having all sorts of new adventures that she couldn't have when her kids were young. She currently resides in a small 60s ranch style house in Cobb County, Georgia, and hopes to one day have a sponsor so that she can spend her days as a writer and possible karaoke singing beach bum. She's sure God laughs about this hope daily. She can be followed on Tumblr. I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Jessica Nettles Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. Luke 2:4 CEB Today my mind drifts to all of the manger scenes I’ve encountered in my life. My grandmother had a lovely plaster of Paris manger scene when I was a young girl, which was usually surrounded by greenery, ribbon candy, and bubble lights that would burn if you touched them. Animals, including the requisite donkey, stood around the Holy Family, bowing to baby Jesus. I also remember the big plastic manger scene that sat in front of McEachern Methodist Church down from my parents’ house in my hometown of Powder Springs. Once again, there was a donkey and all the other animals. It became a custom amongst the youth to kidnap various members of the manger scene and place those members at different locations. Even when we did the live manger scene at the same church, we managed to find a nice donkey for the Holy Family. Scripturally, however, we aren’t sure if there was a donkey for Mary to ride on. We make the assumption because (a) donkeys were common rides for everyone at the time, (b) Mary and Joseph had to travel a long way to get to Bethlehem and (c) Mary was very pregnant and we would like to assume that Joseph was a stand-up husband (he did stay with her after the minor freak out over her pregnancy), so he most likely got her a donkey to ride. The scripture, however, doesn’t mention a donkey. We know that Jesus would eventually ride a white donkey into Jerusalem, signifying his kingship, but that was thirty-three years yet to come. Why do we want to include a donkey in this story so much that we make up things about him? As a child, I was taught that the donkey was a symbol of humility, but many scholars now believe that the donkey is a symbol of a king (particularly the white donkey). I look at this a mixed sort of metaphor. We want to believe in the humility and simplicity of Jesus’ birth, but we also acknowledge that he is the King of Kings. Jesus is a man of strange dichotomies. He is a man and God. He is our brother and our Father. The donkey is like this as well. We assume that he carried a young, not so wealthy teen mom across the land to a place where she would have her baby. He also is a connection to another donkey, thirty-three years later, who would carry her grown son to the city where he would be labeled king and Messiah and criminal and dead man and risen lord. The donkey gives us access to a birth and a life that we are still trying to completely understand and then he becomes a gateway again to a new life, new covenant and a new view of how we can interact with our deity. While there is no real mention of the creature and the stories we have created about the donkey that might have maybe been present at the birth of Christ, the donkey isn’t the real point anyway. He’s just a symbol to support what we already know about Jesus and how he would ultimately change everything we thought we knew about God and our relationship with Him. The donkey is a harbinger and a reflection of what we understand about Jesus, and no matter how real or not real this creature is, we need this sort of connecter to begin to understand the bigger story. - - - Dear Lord, Thank you for showing us gateways to connect to your son. Allow us to see Him in all his humility and in all his Godship. Amen. Jessica is a writer, an English instructor at Chattahoochee Technical College in Marietta, Georgia, and a burgeoning karaoke singer. She earned a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Professional Writing at Kennesaw State University. Her journey as a follower of Christ is ongoing. Her children are both adults, and she is having all sorts of new adventures that she couldn't have when her kids were young. She currently resides in a small 60s ranch style house in Cobb County, Georgia, and hopes to one day have a sponsor so that she can spend her days as a writer and possible karaoke singing beach bum. She's sure God laughs about this hope daily. She can be followed on Tumblr. I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Kristy Burmeister Jesus told them, “I assure you, it wasn’t Moses who gave the bread from heaven to you, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” John 6:32-33 CEB In ancient Hebrew, Bethlehem means “house of bread”. God used this town as an oven to deliver his bread to the world. On that night in Bethlehem, so long ago, no one fully understood why Jesus had been born. I doubt anyone would have referred to the baby as “bread”. Yet, that’s exactly what he was. Bread that fills your soul instead of your stomach. Bread that grants eternal life. Bread has been a staple for humans since ancient times. We still gather together around the table to break bread with others, especially as we enter the holiday season. For early Christians, bread meant life and community. Let us strive to recapture that meaning this Christmas as we break bread and focus on the eternal bread of Bethlehem and on creating and strengthening connections with others. - - - Dear God, As I sit down to meals over the holiday season, please help me to remember the life giving bread of Jesus. Also, help me find ways to reach out to others. Amen. Kristy is an ex-Mennonite adult PK who blogs about life, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, active pacifism, and wandering through the spiritual wilderness at kristyburmeister.com. She is a wife and mother of two daughters I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Rev Melissa Fain A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. Isaiah 11:1 CEB It was the most depressing car ride of my whole life. We were leaving a previous church call, and headed for family in Georgia. My side of the family was only going to be in the state for a month before they were moving away. My husband’s side of the family was dealing with illness. Two family members had been diagnosed with cancer. One would eventually pass away. There was something bleak about the car ride, but looking back, we all needed to get back to our roots: our family. Both Matthew and Luke mention Nazareth. Both versions find Jesus’ family there as displaced or hiding. In Hebrew, Nazareth means ‘branch’: “A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots.” The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem must have been difficult for Mary. She was put in a situation where she had to travel. She was very pregnant. It must have been uncomfortable, painful, exhausting. Back home, there were possibly perceptions made when she mysteriously became pregnant. What was she going to do? Would she ever be invited back? I can imagine it was not mentally an uplifting journey. Yet, because of the situation they were in, they needed to return to their roots. Sometimes, when things appear bleak, we just need family. - - - Holy and loving God, Help me find my roots. Help me find the face of Jesus in family this holiday season. Amen I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Kristy Burmeister Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children. Matthew 5:9 CEB - - - I grew up Mennonite, so peace has always been an important part of my faith. I’ve always known that peacemakers are blessed. But, I haven’t always understood what it means to be a peacemaker. I think the translation used by the Common English Bible makes it easier to understand. It’s not enough to be peace-havers. We are supposed to be “people who make peace”. Being a person who makes peace seems like an overwhelming job. Our world is overflowing with hatred and violence. For a long time, I thought peacemakers were supposed to bring peace to the entire world. What I’ve come to realize is that we’re called to make peace where we are. Are two co-workers battling it out and you could help mediate? Is there a person you’ve been fighting with and you could reconcile? Is someone you know stressed out because they’re struggling to pay utilities and you have a little extra money that could lift that burden? We shouldn’t limit ourselves by thinking too big when it comes to making peace. There are many everyday opportunities for us to be children of God Dear God, Please help me become a maker of peace. Show me ways that I can bring peace to people in my life. Amen. Kristy is an ex-Mennonite adult PK who blogs about life, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, active pacifism, and wandering through the spiritual wilderness at kristyburmeister.com. She is a wife and mother of two daughters I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
Join Fig Tree's Communication Board Join Fig Tree's Subreddit Follow our Pinterest page Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Chaplain Kimberly Russell, MDiv, BCC When Mary and Joseph had completed everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their hometown, Nazareth in Galilee. Luke 2:39 CEB “Where do you call home?” This question is frequently asked on a daily basis. I work in a hospital that treats patients from all over the world and many are required to leave their homes, their communities, and travel to the strange place of Memphis, Tennessee. This journey is not a vacation, but a long treatment journey with many needs and requirements placed upon patients and their caregivers. When the treatment is complete, families return home in hopes of getting back into the normal ins and outs of daily life. Joseph and Mary made the journey to Bethlehem to complete the requirements of the census. It was not a vacation for them; Mary gave birth in a strange place with minimal resources. Even though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, his home was with Mary and Joseph and he was identified as a Nazarene on the census. Joseph completed the governmental requirements by registering his family on the census but the family couldn’t go home quite yet. Since Jesus was born, there were more requirements to fulfill to adhere to their Jewish customs. Once all requirements were met, Joseph, Mary and Jesus returned home in hopes of getting back into the normal ins and outs of daily life. - - - Ever Present God, Despite my pleas, requirements are placed upon me. Be my journey partner, my companion, as I come face to face with the needs of life. Help me endure the tests and trials and give me the strength to make it back to the place I call home. Amen Kimberly works as a pediatric chaplain at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. She provides primary coverage for leukemia/lymphoma patients as well as adolescents and young adults living with HIV. Kimberly earned a Master of Divinity at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas and is ordained and endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She received specialized training at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, Texas and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in Georgia. Kimberly is a board certified chaplain with active memberships with the Association of Professional Chaplains and Pediatric Chaplain Network. I would love to hear from you. There are several ways to communicate and connect:
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