Merry ChrisTmas!

I imagine that I have grabbed your attention starting a Christmas newsletter with a picture of a hawk. I promise you, I’ll explain later.

This Christmas season our church’s theme was “Hope”. With all the horrific and sad news on TV this year, hope is something we all need. Hebrews 6:19 tells us that “We have hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  Being a lover of symbolism, I researched the anchor.

Christians of ancient times used secret symbols to identify themselves. Most of us know of the fish and the cross. The anchor was a Christian symbol of hope. Many have been found engraved in the cemeteries of Rome. It is interesting to note that the Greek word ankura for anchor resembled en kurio which meant “in the Lord”. Use of puns was common.  Some believe when Latin was chosen over Greek as their primary language, that the symbol of the anchor disappeared.

This anchor is from Thomas Vautorollier, a French printer and Hueguenot in the late 1500’s. Note the hand above the anchor reaching down from heaven.

I love the idea of an anchor. Who wants to set out on the mercy of the sea--a life adrift? When the seas are calm, we don’t think much about our anchor or where the waves will take us. It’s when the waves swell and the winds blow and the ride gets rough that we turn to our anchor to hold us fast. It was such a great hope and faith that inspired Horatio Spafford to pen that beautiful, touching hymn “It is Well with My Soul” after losing his four daughters. He had the assurance that they were resting in God’s arms and his faith sustained him through many hardships.

Now back to the hawk. One day I looked out my bedroom window and I saw this amazing bird sitting on a birch tree limb in the middle of my backyard. I love to take pictures and I wanted this badly. I had little faith that I would get outside in time and be able to sneak up on this bird. As I approached, I took a couple of pictures in case he flew away. He had his back to me and when I was lined up perfectly for this picture he turned and looked at me. He didn’t fly away startled as other birds do. It was a brief moment of acknowledgement and then spreading out his big wings wide and strong, he flew off into the woods. I was so grateful for this opportunity and I love this picture if I do say so myself.

Every day I look for his return hoping to see him again. This branch is the perfect location to survey the entire backyard for prey. I have never seen him again. I am grateful for the picture he allowed me to take.

 

This reminds me of hope for Christians.  I can hope and surmise that this hawk will return, but it’s a wavering hope. The branch remains empty, just as the cross is empty. As Christians, we have the hope as an anchor, firm and secure. We know that just as we celebrate Jesus birthday on Christmas, that He will return and he is faithful and just in his promise that one day we will not have the worries and pains of this world. So, Christmas is a time to celebrate God’s gift of hope that he gave to us on Christmas day in the form of a Savior, Jesus Christ.  May you know the true meaning of Christmas and your life be one full of hope.

 

 

 

 

The Church in the Wildwood

 
 
 
 

This evening we went to the Church in the Wildwood in North Colebrook, CT. It wasn't our first visit and it won't be our last. Every summer for over 55 years, this historic little church bordered by a stone wall out in the middle of nowhere opens it doors for ecumenical summer vesper services.
A different clergy person mostly from small surrounding towns is the guest speaker every Sunday evening. For a unique back-in-time experience and away from all hustle and bustle and cares of the day, come to the Church in the Wildwood.
Traditionally they always begin with the singing of their namesake hymn. As you can see from one of the pictures they have painstakingly crossed out "brown" church in every hymnal and replaced that with "white" and "morning" has been crossed out and "evening" is inked in. Finally as you sing, "to list to the clear ringing bell", perfectly timed someone rings the church bell. (You can see the rope to the bell in the foyer in one of the pictures). The personalization of these little features makes this a truly unique experience.
This is followed by a traditional hymn sing where anyone can shout out a favorite hymn to sing. There are some wonderful contemporary religious songs out now, but it is so enjoyable to go back to so many of the traditional hymns that many younger people now will never know. "A Mighty Fortress", "Just a closer walk", "It is well", even "Noel" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic", "May the Good Lord bless and keep you". There is something about singing those oldies but goodies.
The scripture lesson, offering and evening message follow next. Each week there is a different "flavor" in the lesson and sermon as a variety of guest ministers from various denominations, backgrounds and ages, present their message.
I recommend that you try this just once for the experience--you can be away from your worldly cares for a little while in a truly unique environment. For an hour you can get away from it all and who now doesn't need that opportunity?

For me this evening I reflected again upon the hymn, "It is Well with my Soul". Written by Horatio Spafford in 1873. Two years prior his only son had died and in 1873 he lost all four of his daughters as the ship they were on sunk. Only his wife survived. As he was on a ship to meet his wife, he wrote this song as he passed near where his daughters had died. Such a strong faith! "Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." I am always saddened when I think of the events that caused him to write that song, but I am reminded that I need to have that faith and that outlook in my life. It was a good reminder tonight. I hope in the week to come whenever I feel the "oh woe is me blues" come along, that I will be reminded and that I can say, "it is well with my soul".