Fragile

Up from the basement and down from the attic we haul the curated cartons of Christmas–things to be unpacked, unfurled, and untangled on the way to creating seasonal splendor in the living room. The tree. The lights. (The extension cords. The timers. The 3M Command Adhesive Hooks.)

And then there are all of the precious things wrapped in crumpled tissue paper. The delicate things. The antique mercury glass orb handed down through several generations. The salt-dough-and-glitter candy cane ornament crafted by a beloved kindergartener in 1995. Every individual ceramic sheep, shepherd, Mary, Joseph, and mangerized baby Jesus from the heirloom nativity set. Every angel with fractured and repaired wings. Tenderly, the treasures get installed in their places of honor, the stories of why they’re so dear sometimes being recounted:

“Your great grandfather carved that figurine by hand from the old hickory tree out by the barn…”

“We put that one in your Christmas stocking the year you started playing the clarinet…”

“Oh! Look at that! We got it on our trip to New Mexico. Remember?”

We keep our keepsakes with great care because they are breakable. But even more so, we treat them gingerly because beautiful memories are fragile.

Maybe the reason for Christ Jesus coming to be with us—the whole incarnational thing of Christmas—is that people’s beautiful memories of God have always had a tendency to fade. They dissipate like wispy dreams when a dreamer awakes. As human beings, we seem to require something tangible to keep tabs on the intangible. The person of Jesus—and the baby person of Jesus at that—allows us to comprehend God in particular ways. The representation of Jesus in a putz or a creche or whatever it is you might call a nativity display gives us an annual opportunity to remember at least a snapshot of God—when all that Divine Love broke in on us.

God is not fragile. God’s people sometimes are. At any given moment, a person might be shattered or resilient, vulnerable or secure, burdened or intrepid. It strikes me that the balance shifts back and forth with a fair amount of fluidity. When we are the ones to offer care to anyone who needs it, or to receive care from someone who needs to give it, then we are participating in that whole incarnational thing.

Wouldn’t it be incredibly sad if, after putting up our beloved, splendid, fragile Christmas decorations, we were never moved to reach out to God’s beloved, splendid, fragile people? That would mean that we hadn’t really remembered God at all. That would be a travesty.

Of course, there are as many ways to share God’s love as there are lights on all of the trees in Bethlehem! But if you are looking for suggestions, our congregation has several projects currently underway. Details are outlined in our December newsletter, The Builder , available here:  http://collegehillmoravian.org/the-builder/   You’ll see: opportunities to support orphaned children in Tanzania through the Adopt-A-Village program; ways to encourage children and teachers at the nearby elementary school by purchasing gifts from an Amazon Wish List; chances to help clients who make use of Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering with laundry needs; a way to give a “hug from God” through our new blanket drive on behalf of the transitional housing office of New Bethany Ministries…

Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law.  ~Galatians 6:2, The Message

God Is With Us,

Pastor Chris

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Join us in the parking lot of College Hill Moravian Church every Sunday morning where you may praise God from the safe bubble of your own vehicle. The service, broadcast from the church sanctuary and transmitted through your car’s radio, begins at 10:00 a.m. and lasts approximately 40 minutes. Attendants are on hand to make sure you have worship materials, receive your offerings, and help you find the best place to park. Smile and wave and worship!

Virtual Fellowship Time on Zoom – Sundays at 11:30 a.m.

This casual online gathering has taken root over the last few months and become a wonderful way to keep connected. Whether you’ve become a “regular” at these gatherings, or you’re thinking about dropping by for the very first time, please use the Zoom link and password provided below, or join by phone if you do not use a device with a screen.

And if Zoom is new to you and you’d like to be coached on how to get started, please email me at  moravianpastorchris@gmail.com  or call me at 484-894-9077.

To join by computer, tablet or smart phone, please go to:https://zoom.us/j/99831347702?pwd=Vk1VWDk0RkdlUXJacWtCRGEvNFpnZz09

Passcode: 789162

To join by phone (no video), dial:

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

Meeting ID: 998 3134 7702  

Zoom Prayers–Sundays at 6:30 p.m.

We are also continuing to offer Zoom Prayers on Sunday evenings at 6:30. We come together to share simply in intercessory prayer on behalf of our congregation, community, and world. We usually conclude by 7:00 p.m. All are welcome! 

To join by computer, tablet, or smart phone, please go to: https://zoom.us/j/91961743369?pwd=S3FYVG1NSFBrb1BoaTl0dnV5ZmNFUT09

Passcode: 073131

To join by phone (no video), dial:

+1 301 715 8592 US (Germantown)

  Meeting ID: 919 6174 3369