e-news for week of 11/30 - 12/6

I’m sure my voice hadn’t changed. I’m sure I had zero coordination. I’m sure that these are the things that precious memories are made of – but somewhere around 10 or 11 I was assigned the Christmas solo “The Little Drummer Boy” for one of our churches Christmas programs complete with plastic drum. Psychologists would call what I’ve done with the memory “blocked,” “repressed,” or “denial.” When I learned, as a young adult, that there was no drummer there that day – frankly – I was pretty ticked. Why was I in that bathrobe, with that drum, singing that song when there was no drummer boy there that day? What’s up with that? Really?

I went to one of our Adult Life Group/Bible Study class parties tonight and Mark Wilson (one of Forum’s drummer boys) shared some excellent ideas about Christ coming into the world. How the gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the word…” and how “word” in the Greek is “logos” from which we get the word “logic.” The word denotes purpose and reason. Purpose and reason entered the world embodied in Jesus. So, as I sat and listened to our drummer boy share this great thought it made me smile deep inside because he hit (get it – drummer – hit?) upon the center both of Christmas and our need: the need for purpose and that life make sense. Jesus within your life and heart does that.

For years and years my grandma would remind me every Christmas, “Scotty (she’s the only one I let get away with that), do you remember when you sang little drummer boy?” “Grandma, I’ll never forget.” From this point forward, at Christmas I’m intending to say something like this to Mark Wilson, “Marky (if he’ll let me get away with it just at Christmas), do you remember when you shared the thoughts about Jesus as the word and “word” denotes reason and purpose? It was inspiring. It helped to kick off the Christmas season in a great way for me in 2008.” The essence of “The Little Drummer Boy” is a boy giving to Jesus what he could. That’s what I did at 10 or 11, that’s what Mark did, and that’s what I’d encourage you to do in many ways this Christmas season. Christmas is all about sharing life together, sharing family time, sharing joy, and even sharing and shouldering some burdens. It’s a season of purpose and goodwill.

Here’s some of the great things that are going over the next weeks designed to enhance your Christmas season:

December 7 - 4:30 p.m. in room 104/106 - "Pizza With the Pastors" - Come learn more about Forum and Who we believe. Childcare provided.

December 7 - 6 p.m. in the auditorium - "Signs of Christmas" - Presented by the Preschool and Children's Choirs and the Bridge Band.

December 14 - 6 p.m. in the auditorium - "Born a Savior, Born a King" - Presented by the Adult Choir

December 24 – 5 and 6:30 p.m. Christmas Eve Services

Teachers Meeting for training on new curriculum for K - 5th grade - December 7 at 5 p.m., December 9 at 7 p.m., and December 14 at 5 p.m.

We’ll finish out the “Bridges” series this Sunday – come prepared to worship Christ to the fullest.

See you then. -- Scott