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The Messenger - December 30, 2009

First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro: Christ for Life

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First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro
December 30, 2009
GreetingSpring.com

The Messenger

"Your Christmas Calling"


Pastor Neal
by Rev. Neal Neuenchwander

Last week, I sent you a very famous text written by a very obscure preacher named James Allen Francis. This week, I am sending another very famous text by a preacher who was far from obscure: Dr. Howard Thurman. You may not remember his name, because Dr. Thurman passed away in 1981. But he was a spiritual pillar of the African-American Community, a classmate of Martin Luther King Sr at Morehouse College, and a mentor to Martin Luther King Jr.

Thurman wrote dozens of books and scores of articles, and, near the end of the "Jim Crow" era, Life Magazine considered him to be one of the 12 most important religious leaders in our country. In 1944, he co-founded America's first racially integrated, intercultural church (the "Fellowship of All Peoples") in San Francisco, California. And in 1953, Thurman became the first African American Chaplain of a majority white college (Boston University) in the United States.
Here is what he wrote about Christmas:

When the song of the angels is stilled,

when the star of the sky is gone,

when the kings and princes are home,

when the shepherds are back with their flock,

the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost,

to heal the broken,

to feed the hungry,

to release the prisoner,

to rebuild the nations,

to bring peace among all people,

to make music in the heart.


Ruth Proctor read this passage during her opening prayer last Sunday morning, and I have received it in the mail several times. Now that we know a bit more about this famous text, may God help each of us to fulfill this Christmas calling, keeping in mind still another great text that Dr. Thurman wrote:

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive.
Then do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."


Happy New Years!

     Neal


Check out the latest multimedia from The church website!

Here's the link to the latest photos from The Family Christmas Music Festival also photos and videos from the Gospel Gang Christmas Musical.


 
Weekly Calendar 
Dec. 31
Thursday   New Year's Eve
9:00 PM   Youth Lock In
Friday   New Year's Day
12:00 AM   Youth Lock In
Saturday 2:00 PM   Fisher Memorial
Sunday  8:30 AM   Adult Sunday School 
9:30 AM   Worship 
11:00 AM   Worship & Music Meeting
Monday  6:30 PM   Youth Praise Band
7:00 PM   Women's Bible Study
7:30 PM   Nar-anon 
Tuesday 7:00 PM   Most Commissions meet
Wednesday  1:00 PM   Women's Bible Study 
4:00 PM   AWANA for Children
4:30 PM   Cherub Choir
4:30 PM   NO Gospel Gang
5:00 PM   Angel Choir
5:30 PM   NO King's Chorus
6:15 PM   AHEPA Meeting
6:30 PM   NO JR High Fellowship 
6:30 PM   Boy Scouts 
6:30 PM   NO SonLight Singers
7:00 PM   Chapel Bells 
7:00 PM   Co-op Meeting
7:00 PM   Prayer Group 

Editor's Corner

Four Boyfriends

This turned out to be so different from what I thought it was going to be. It is a wonderful message. Enjoy!

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends. She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best. She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another. She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl's first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, "I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, will I be a alone."

Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, "I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No way!", replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word. His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, "I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"No!", replied the third boyfriend. "Life is too good! " When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!" Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the second boyfriend, "I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?"
"I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time", replied the second boyfriend.
"At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave." His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out, "I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go."
The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, "I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!"

In truth, you have four boyfriends in your lives:

  • Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.
  • Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth.When you die, it will all go to others.
  • Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.
  • And your first boyfriend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

Pass this on to someone you care about - I just did.

GreetingSpring.com
          Yesi



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