Smart Thoughts
Psalm 100. That Psalm should be familiar to us. “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving.” We are approaching that time of the year that in our country there is a special emphasis on giving thanks to God for all that God has done for us. The Psalmist calls us to offer our praise and give thanks because God is good and his love is not only steadfast, it endures forever. The Lord has been faithful, is faithful and will be faithful. What a reason for us to be thankful!
When we sing off key, the typical response of the church is “that’s o.k., the Bible only asks us to make a joyful noise.” We quote the part about making a joyful noise, but the Psalm goes on to tell us that we are to WORSHIP the Lord with gladness and come into his presence with singing. The Christian faith is not a “solo flight.” We are to gather together as we worship the God who created us and gave us EVERYTHING. The Psalm reminds us that God made us, that we belong to God, and that God cares for us as the good shepherd cares for his flock. No wonder we should be thankful. No wonder we should worship God’s holy name.
On Thursday, November 27, our nation will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. The very next Sunday will be United Methodist Student day. We will recognize our United Methodist universities and the students who attend those universities. You will have the opportunity to contribute to the scholarship fund that allows those students to further their education. In the Early congregation, we have Cody Smith attending Southwestern University in Georgetown and Jordan Ebarb is a student at McMurry University. They both are recipients of scholarships that make their studies possible. United Methodist Student Day is a day of thanksgiving for our outstanding institutions of higher learning.
That same Sunday, November 30th, is also the first Sunday of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin, adventus, which means arrival. It is a time that we consider the arrival of God in the human form of Jesus. We celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. It is also a time that we consider the return of Jesus as he promised. As Christians we believe that there will be a day when Jesus returns and peace on earth will be a part of his holy reign. The good news for Christians is that reign can begin for us as individuals the moment that we accept God’s gracious offer of a relationship through Jesus Christ. We don’t have to wait. It can be ours in this very moment. Now that is something for which to be thankful.
During the Advent season you will have the opportunity to be in Bible study with others. Again the Christian journey is not a “solo flight.” While private study and meditation are important in our faith journey, equally important is a time of study with others. You cannot receive all the blessings that God has in store for you without being a part of a group that studies scripture together. Elsewhere in this newsletter is an interesting story from Bishop Schnase’s book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations, about the importance of serving together and studying together. As he put it, “Learning in community helps people explore possibilities that God may have for them that they never would have considered on their own.” I look forward to being in study with YOU.
See you in worship and study,