[Members] FW: Christmas Eve Messenger

Mon Dec 24 10:10:05 PST 2007

>From Paul, our Executive Presbyter.

From: Paul Reiter [mailto:preiter at glpby.org] 
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2007 11:34 AM
To: 'Paul T Reiter'
Subject: Christmas Eve Messenger

Dear Colleagues:

Tomorrow is Christmas Day and many of you will finally find a bit of respite
from the frantic days of Advent where you have been serving spiritual food
to your congregations each week.  This Advent has been a busier one for me
then I can remember in the pastoral arena.  The diagnoses of major illness
among the spouses of some of our colleagues, the stress of dealing with
anxious congregations struggling with finances or personnel issues, and the
ongoing work of the presbytery have made it more difficult. Last Sunday [Dec
16], I too was snowed in and unable to attend some of the morning
festivities that would have been part of my day. Then this Sunday [Dec 23] I
drove to Sullivan to preach for a congregation in transition, and found the
rest of the day committed to bringing Christmas cheer to several of our
older pastor colleagues. Tonight I will lead worship at the 11:00 p.m.
service at Trinity Presbyterian Church in University City, so that Dan
Anderson-Little can be at home with his wife who has just recently been
released from the hospital. Advent - the days filled with watching and
waiting have also brought with them a confirmation of words shared by George
McLeod, founder of the Iona Community who said, "God is now. We all have an
appointment with life and it is now. If we miss the present, we miss God. My
prayer is that with all of the activities that you have been a part of
during these busy days of Advent that tomorrow - Christmas Day - you will
not miss God. 

Moderator Joan Gray, who writes a weekly email, shared the following last
night in her update:

 "When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, he told her, 'The Holy Spirit will
come upon you, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow you.'  She
answered, 'Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your
work.' It was in this submission that Christ was conceived.  And it is the
laying down of power that is revealed in his birth.  

This pattern of complete abandonment of human strength in total surrender to
God's will is of vital importance for us, both in our lives of activity and
in our spiritual experience.  To believe that by an effort of will we can
mount nearer to God or add one cubit to our stature is as unchristian as the
belief that we have no task as Christians for God in this world.  The
direction to which our wills must be put is in obedience to God's will in
response to the breaking in of the Spirit.  Then something decisive happens
for this earth.  In place of the confusion of injustice, strife, war and
treachery, there is revealed a path of the most lively unity and clarity.  

If decisive and liberating God is to be born on this earth, it must, like in
Mary, find room in humble surrender.  This does not mean a passive life of
inaction.  Far from it.  The service of God makes the most impossible
demands of us, demands which we know our strength cannot carry out, or which
our hearts cannot bear.  But our calling is obedience, even to the hardest
demands; and we must take them up in the faith that our minds and bodies
will be supported by the strength of God.  In following this path we are
released from the servitude of our own desires, our selfish hopes and fears
- we are redeemed, we become free.  "Herein is love: not that we loved God,
but that [God] loved us.""

Joan shared that this quote came from an unpublished address by Philip
Britts , December 12, 1948, Bruderhof Archives, Rifton, New York. As you are
pursued by love once more this Christmas, remember that you are surrounded
with a great cloud of witnesses that say, "Fear not! - Glory to God in the
highest!"

Merry Christmas!

Paul

Prayer Concerns

The family of Rev. William (Bill) Waddell whose service was held last
Tuesday at College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Please keep Mary and the
extended Waddell family in your prayers.

The family of Katherine McGaffin whose service was held last Monday in St.
Charles, MO.

Rev. Linda Anderson-Little, spouse of Rev. Dan Anderson-Little (Trinity,
University City) was re-admitted last week to Missouri Baptist where she was
being treated for a blood clot following her surgery for breast cancer. She
is now at home and is beginning to feel like herself. While her treatment
plans have had a slight delay, she is doing well. For further updates please
go to: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/lindaandersonlittle  Please keep
Linda and Dan and their family members in your prayers.

Debbie Woolverton, spouse of Rev. Art Woolverton (Member at Large) is at
home enjoying her husband and daughters as she awaits the beginning of
chemotherapy.

Rev. Ann Pittman's mother had hip surgery this past week and is now
recovering.  Please keep her and the entire Pittman family in your prayers.

Elder Sarah Mitchell (Bonhomme) has had knee replacement surgery and is
recuperating at home.

Rev. Helen Fabre,  is finally home and writes: "After 12 days in the
hospital, more tests and procedures, I'm back at the apartment in the day
and overnight with Larry and Joan.My condition is not cured by any means,
but improved by the findings of one of the tests.  Had a short bout of
pneumonia on top of all else, but seem to be doing well now. Sorry, you
won't get a Christmas letter from me this year...  maybe by Easter." 

Barbara Olson, spouse of Rev. David Olson, Twelfth Street in Alton, IL has
had a recurrence of cancer. As treatments begin again and as future plans
are made, please keep them both in your prayers.

Rev. Robert Falconer, HR, is recuperating at home following a lengthy
hospitalization. Please keep him in your prayers.

Rev. William Russell is recuperating from a fall on his bicycle which
resulted in four broken ribs.  He now has contusions to deal with as well,
which are slowing his healing. Please pray for Bill and Barbara as recovery
continues.

Rev. Tom Bass continues to face medical challenges. Please keep Tom and Mary
Lou in your prayers.

Rev. Bob Landes is still recovering from eye surgery. Please keep Bob and
Sherry in your prayers.

Rev. Jennifer Horton's father has been diagnosed with renal cancer.  Please
keep Jennifer and her family in your prayers.

Elder Roy Myers (Northminster) has asked for prayers for his son Reginald
Myers, who has had a recurrence of Hodgkin's disease. He is going to have
kidney surgery before they begin further treatment.

Rev. David Holyan's (Kirkwood) mother, Judi is recovering from lung surgery
in Seattle. 

Rev. Chris Keating's (Woodlawn Chapel) mother, Lois Keating continues her
recovery after a fall. 

Elder Barb Lewis (Westminster, St. Louis) is at home still working toward
pain management and has received good news that her application for
disability was approved! Please keep her in your prayers.

Elder Barb Stupp, Glendale, is still in need of prayers as she continues to
have health challenges.

Presbyterian Women would like our prayers as they seek to reach out to
younger women and find creative ways to build fellowship and enrichment in
their Christian service.

Happenings

Partners for Just Trade, our economic development component of Joining Hands
in Peru has a new web site.  It is not too late to do your Christmas
shopping.  Go to www.partnersforjusttrade.org
<http://www.partnersforjusttrade.org/> 

Don't Forget for the Calendar of Presbytery activities go to: www.glpby.org
<http://www.glpby.org/>  and click on CLAENDAR

May the grace, love, joy and peace of Jesus Christ surround you!
Have a Blessed Christmas Day!

Faithfully, 

Paul

Rev. Dr. Paul T. Reiter

Executive Presbyter

Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

2236 Tower Grove Avenue

St, Louis, MO  63110

(314) 772-2395 x 110

"Serving the churches of the Greater St. Louis area, Southeast Missouri, and
West Central Illinois

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