New Year's Day to Remember

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Forgive me for suggesting it George, but it appears that your biggest “accomplishment” has been the destruction of tens of thousands of lives – of people who just want to live in peace. Where’s the peace?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I can’t get over your majesty; it never ends.
I can’t get over your glory; it knows no bounds.
I can’t get over your wisdom; it’s beyond comprehension.
I can’t get over your love; it astounds me.
I can’t get over you; I hope I never will.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Keep touching my robe, woman, and I’ll give you what for.”

[No, that’s not quite what He said.]

D. Blog: New Year’s Day to Remember

The pastor got word from a homeless friend that all the usual shelters would be closed on New Year’s to allow their employees and volunteers to celebrate the holiday. A cold day was forecast, however, and the woman wondered if she could take shelter in the church building.

Knowing something about the homeless population in the city, Reverend Joe checked around to see whether his friend had the correct information. Yes. Coming off the Christmas season activity rush at the church, he didn’t really want to tackle the problem and take time away from his wife and children. But the story of the Samaritan was in his blood, the parable of the judgment rang in his ears, the concern for his homeless friends made him act.

At 7 am on New Year’s Day, the first church members showed up to open the building to the first people seeking shelter. Other members and guests kept arriving, the members with food and clothing and blankets, with DVDs to entertain and willingness to engage the guests in conversation, the guests with hunger for the food and the warmth both physical and emotional.

By late afternoon, when the guests could return to the re-opened homeless shelters of the city, about 50 church members and 100 homeless friends had engaged in the communion of food and drink, giving and receiving, sharing their lives in countless ways.

Loaves and fishes to begin the year, lasting memories of a miraculous day. Parades and football games were not part of it.