Red Door Diary: Sunday Advent 2 / Chanukkah 1

Morning

Early am - Mancub's shoes were visited in honor of Saint Nicholas of Myra with some chocolate gold coins and a pair of white "Raybans" (the kid's got style, what can I say).
8am Eucharist with Healing Prayer & Anointing with Oil
Adult Ed Class on the Sermon on the Mount

Preached on the Song of Zechariah (Luke 1:67-79): "When God Draws Near We Are Set Free." Shared how Zechariah says we're "set free...to worship God." And how Paul tells us in Galatians 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ set us free." Therefore, if we've been set free we ought to live like free people, not like we're still in prison.

I shared the tragic story of my father's cousin who struggled with freedom his whole life. He went from high school to serving in the Army during Viet Nam. While in the Army he committed a crime that landed him in prison for roughly a decade. He got out when I was about 10 years old and I remember the only time I met him, he came over to our house for dinner and to visit. Being in prison he worked out a lot and I remeber him being hugely muscular, like a super hero. He was very kind and polite and humble. A few months later my Dad heard that he'd stolen a car and was back in prison. He visited him and asked why. His cousin said he didn't want the car, he just didn't know how to live on the outside. He had been set free, but he didn't know how to live as a free person. So he stole the car in order to go back to prison. Which is where he lived the rest of his life by continuing the cycle. Tragic. I balled all the way through the Creed after preaching.

How do you live like a free person? Walk in the ways of God's commandements. Imagine a four-block radius where no one ever...

Imagine...never locking your doors...never looking over your shoulder...never wondering if they're lying to you...never feeling like you need to walk faster to your car when "they" come around the corner.
That's freedom! When God Draws Near We're Set Free. Free to worship Him without fear. We're set free to live like free people.
Healing & Anointing - one of the most powerful pieces in the life of our congregation. There's an incredible history of healing ministry at the Red Door Church in Delavan. Numerous testimonies of miracles both in days gone by and this last month! I love that our service goes ten minutes longer on "healing sunday" because so many come for prayer, laying on of hands and anoitning with oil. And I love that my hand is drenched in oil by the time it's all done. What a great symbol.

Red Door Kids Training. This is when children practice serving as acolytes, crucifers, altat servers, etc. I'm having so much fun with these kiddoes. (We just started a couple months go). They take such pride in serving Jesus at the altar. And they're getting really "tight." They all know their tasks and are doing them with precision...like the Elves in Lord of the Rings. I'm so proud of them and thank God for them. They are the future of the Church.

Afternoon

Annual Ladies Advent Tea. Hats. Gloves. Tea and cakes and savories. Gentlemen Servers. Loads of fun. The guys had a blast serving our dear sisters and hanging out in the kitchen. And the ladies always have a fun time.
Big kudos to Pat Leverick who organizes this event and gets gift for everyone. Pat is amazing!
Got word that one of our diocesan priests Fr. John Splinter was hit by a car and is in hospital awaiting surgery for a broken hip, prayers ascending.

Evening

Celebrated the first night of Chanukkah with our dear friends the Adams. Jon and I made the traditional latkes...delicious! And with a hat tip to Adam Sandler, drank a "gin-and-tonica." Lit the Menorah and thanked God for His miraculous provision for, and protection of, His people throughout history and today.

Red Door Diary