CHRISTMAS SHEPHERDS
Last week our gracious editor included a photo of me portraying one of the Bethlehem shepherds, namely Elias bin Abrahim. This dramatization opened our staff Christmas celebration.
Buffet Line!
It was followed by a breakfast buffet and a Christmas movie (quite the tear jerker!). Be sure to ask Lance for your holiday movie selections. These morning events included all the folks who work in or utilize our building (Great Lakes Foundation; Maumee Presbytery; Faith Presbyterian Church) as well as former or retired employees of the General Conference.
Our Breakfast Guests
Afterwards the CGGC staff shared in a holiday dinner and gift exchange. This year the staff luncheon incorporated a mystery play (not to be confused with medieval forms) wherein everybody played a character. Our creative M.C., none other than our own Kris Cupp, strongly encouraged us to costume appropriately. It really was quite fun. I played the world famous chef Lorenzo Guienni. I’ll let the readers identify all others (below).
Midweek I headed back to PA for vacation and our family Christmas celebration. “Junior” Draper traveled with me and provided an ongoing conversation partner. I especially enjoyed his stories and reflections on farm life during years gone by and on his faith journey. The 450 miles to his home in Hagerstown, MD passed quickly. The several days before Christmas also went fast as we had cards to send, shopping to do and decorating the house among other things. Christmas Sunday we attended Plainfield First Church of God where we pastored for fifteen years (1979-1994). It was good to see old friends and worship together.
The children’s choir provided a very special addition to the service. Amy Long directs them as well as the senior choir and has been doing so for over thirty years.
The Plainfield Children's Choir
We also attended the Christmas Eve candle lighting service at Plainfield. Again, it was a joyous celebration but in a more solemn and awesome way than Sunday morning which was full of exuberance. Pastor Don Snyder who is serving Plainfield as interim made it perfectly clear in his two messages that the baby of the manger is the Christ of the cross and that all need to acknowledge Him as Lord. Now is the time to do so, but in the age to come “every knee shall bow.” He also stressed that all true believers need to be like the Bethlehem shepherds and spread the gospel, the good news.
The Adult Choir at Plainfield
In my monologue for the office party I shared that the shepherds of Luke 2 were not just any shepherds. According to Alfred Eidersheim (in his book The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, pp. 186-187), these shepherds kept a very special flock. “That the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem was a settled conviction. Equally so, was the belief, that He was to be revealed from Migdal Eder, 'the tower of the flock.' This Migdal Eder was not the watchtower for the ordinary flocks which pastured on the barren sheep ground beyond Bethlehem, but lay close to the town, on the road to Jerusalem.” Eidersheim makes the point that these shepherds watched over the flock that produced the Passover lambs. The implications (and preaching potential) that these were the first to receive the angelic news, the first to seek and find the babe and the first evangelists is huge! As Eidersheim states, “Of the deep symbolic significance of such a coincidence, it is needless to speak."
By application, we who have seen the light are the contemporary shepherds of the “Migdal Eder.” It’s our task to tell the world that Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Let us never forget in all we do that this is our prime objective, personally and as the Church. So, who will I share the good news with today? Let this be our daily prayer in 2008.
Shepherd Ed (aka Elias bin Abrahim)
NOTE: In our writing there will always be the possibility of errors. I just don’t always remember correctly or have all the facts. I beg your indulgence and ask that you give me a call or email me when a correction is needed.
DON'T FORGET!
Winebrenner Seminary Presents:
DR. SCOT McKNIGHT
at Ritz Lectures 2008
Winebrenner Theological Seminary in Findlay, Ohio proudly presents Dr. Scot McKnight as guest speaker for Ritz Lectures 2008. Join Winebrenner and Dr. McKnight on Wednesday, January 9th as they explore the topic of “Finding Faith – Losing Faith”, a series of lectures based on conversion. Ticket price is $59. Discounts are available for groups of 5 or more. Registration deadline is December 31, 2007. Visit www.winebrenner.edu for more information on this exciting event, or call 800-992-4987 to register today.
