Volume 2 Issue 25

Advent is a season of four weeks including four Sundays. ‘Advent’ derives from the Latin ‘adventus,’ which means “coming.” The season proclaims the comings of the Christ—whose birth we prepare to celebrate once again, who comes continually in Word and Spirit, and whose return in final victory we anticipate. Each year Advent calls the community of faith to prepare for these comings; historically, the season was marked by fasts for preparation. Each Sunday of Advent has its distinctive theme: Christ’s coming in final victory (First Sunday), John the Baptist (Second and Third Sunday), and the events immediately preceding the birth of Jesus Christ (Fourth Sunday). (The United Methodist Book of Worship, 1992, The United Methodist Publishing House, Nashville)
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The above provides a traditional explanation for the season that starts today for those of the Christian faith. Those of you who are being so kind as to invite this ministry into your life once again know that one of its goals is to go beyond mere tradition by employing a dynamic combination of scripture, reason and experience as well. Therefore, even though the focus of this first Sunday of Advent is the Christ as our Hope, I pray that today’s sermon may shed new light on where such hope is to be discovered. My thanks to those of you who continue to share this ministry with others, and I remind those who may be visiting for the first time that hard copies of the weekly newsletter and sermon can be sent to those without Internet access; just e-mail the name and address for the recipient to me: RevMAH@aol.com
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I can only hope that your Thanksgiving holiday was as happy and wonderful as was ours; a most appropriate prelude to the coming season of Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All People. I’m looking forward to reading the beautiful and inspirational sentiments related to this time of year that many of you will be posting to the Bulletin Board. Join with me in the weeks to come as we prepare together for the birth of Christ anew into our world.
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Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 24

The stench of life’s sordidness can never blot out
the fragrance of God’s pardon.
The weeping of human betrayals and the tears of broken hearts are
arrested again and again by the tender mercy of God
who is ready to forgive every returning prodigal
and forgive every repentant sinner.
--Peter Marshall, “The Robe, the Ring, and the Fatted Calf”
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It is both an honor and a privilege to be invited into this moment of your life by way of this cyber-ministry. Thank you! I pray that your time spent here will be a source of meaning and inspiration. If such is the case, I hope that you will remember to share this site with others who will also benefit from the experience. I am happy to mail hard copies of each week’s newsletter and sermon to those who do not have access to the Internet; I just need to be provided with the address. My thanks once again to those who have chosen to financially support this aspect of the Growing in Christ ministry.
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At long last, the Bulletin Board is catching on! Just this month there have been a variety of opinions posted, not to mention thoughts of inspiration and courage. There are also links to some other powerfully beautiful sites. More than the sermons, this form of sharing by the members of this virtual congregation is what Growing in Christ is all about. Thank you to those who have chosen to take the time to share with the rest of us who are invited to partake of the enrichment made available there. I look forward to “approving” many more future submissions.
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This coming Tuesday, November 25, will mark the “after-Ramadan celebration known as the ‘Eid ul Fitr’ (Festival of the Fast Breaking) [which] is the most popular holiday in Islam. For obvious reasons, being released from monthlong dawn-to-dusk fasting can make people quite happy. The first day of the ‘Eid’ begins in the mosque with a special morning prayer service, which consists of a short congregational prayer followed by a two-part sermon reminding people of the lessons they should remember from Ramadan for the rest of the year. The ‘Eid’ festivities officially last for three days, and Muslims hold parties on each of the days. In some places carnivals are held. Special ‘Eid’ sweets are prepared, and children are given gifts.” (Yahiya (.J.A.) Emerick, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Understanding Islam”, 2002, Alpha Books, Indianapolis)
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Before we jump to judgment about how fanaticism has corrupted the above celebration for our Moslem brothers and sisters, let’s be sure to take the time to examine how we Americans of all faiths will be observing Thanksgiving Day only two days later. As the whole people of God, we will do well to remember that we have so much more in common than we have differences.
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Finally, our daughter Rebecca will turn seventeen on November 28. She may happily receive your birthday wishes at: beccascreename@aol.com
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Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 23

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment’s gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
[Now] Don’t hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won’t another minute buy.
Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind
--Kansas
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In today’s sermon I make brief mention of the above song, “Dust in the Wind” performed by Kansas on their album, “Point of Know Return.” I hope that I’ve successfully refuted their fatalistic point of view (even though I have always really liked the song). I am honored that you have invited me into your life via this cyber-ministry, and I pray that you will find your time at this site both sanctifying and rewarding. It is increasingly apparent to me that those of us who desire to see God’s kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven will have to become actively engaged in that process. Our failure to become involved only empowers the negative and evil forces.
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There are a number of new postings on the Bulletin Board that I think you’ll find interesting, including links to some other sites that have put together powerfully beautiful messages. I continue to hope that one day we’ll begin to “hear” from those of you who visit GiC regularly, because on that day I’ll know that the message has been successfully communicated that what you have to say about theology is just as important as what is put forth by the “experts.”
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Please remember to share this ministry with others. Word of mouth is the only marketing strategy we have, but your suggestion to someone else that s/he might find something of worth here is invaluable. And don’t forget to “join our mailing list” in order to receive this weekly newsletter.
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Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 22

“The essence of all religions is love, compassion, and tolerance. Kindness is my true religion. No matter whether you are learned or not, whether you believe in the next life or not, whether you believe in God or Buddha or some other religion or not, in day-to-day life you must be a kind person. When you are motivated by kindness, it doesn’t matter whether you are a practitioner, a lawyer, an administrator, a worker, or an engineer: whatever your profession or field, deep down you are a kind person.” --His Holiness the Dalai Lama
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Once again I am grateful for the privilege of being invited into your life through this ministry. My prayer is that your time spent here will both enlighten and inspire you. As you share this seed of faith with others, may it grow into a living expression of God’s kingdom becoming as real on Earth as it is in Heaven.
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I thank those of you who continue to provide feedback that is so valuable to the ongoing task of developing a relevant and viable ministry. Thank you, too, to those who choose to be “silent” albeit interested members of this virtual congregation. As we unite our hearts and minds into a force for harmonious peace and goodwill, let our prayer be that the evil of deception and selfishness that seemingly holds sway in so much of today’s world will be diminished.
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Until next week…….Shalom!

Volume 2 Issue 21

Greetings once again from scenic Flagstaff where we have come for Family Weekend at Northern Arizona University. We are being treated to genuine fall colors and weather quite unlike Las Vegas, much of which we witnessed as we drove down Oak Creek Canyon to that mystical vortex that is Sedona. We’ve been having fun recalling the many good times we had in Rebecca’s birthplace, little knowing at the time that this is where Rachel would choose to go to college sixteen years later.
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This is consequently a “newsletter only” weekend, and you are invited to go to the archives at the bottom of the Sermons page to find a weekly meditation of your choosing. Several of you have been sending me your responses for which I am deeply grateful. I really do use your feedback to guide and refine each new message as it is developed, and it is helpful to learn of your insights and interpretations that I would have never thought of on my own. Your responses to archived sermons are certainly welcome, as well.
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It has occurred to me that some of you have changed your e-mail addresses without updating them on the GiC newsletter subscription list. While it’s paradoxical to bring this up in a newsletter that you may not be getting, I thought that it would be worth the effort to encourage everyone to enter their new address whenever it changes. The “list” is totally anonymous, and so I have no way of knowing whose address belongs to whom. You are always free to unsubscribe at any time (don’t worry about hurting my feelings, because I have no way of knowing who’s done that either).
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May the week ahead be filled with the awe and wonder that comes from experiencing at-one-ment with the God of All Creation. Through our prayers may we align our hearts and minds with the One who is the very source of our being so that our lives will be filled with the joyous harmony of becoming what we have been created to become. Until next week…….Shalom!