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wings
Just like Christmas –
It's not over yet
In my fourth year as a pastor, a Baptist clergy friend asked me to serve as the revival preacher for his church, Hurricane Branch Church. I was flattered by the offer and accepted.
The revival, I thought, went rather well. The Lord added to the church about 10 people during the week. On the next-to-last night, during my closing sermon to the congregation, I repeated an expression I had heard from more seasoned preachers: "Tomorrow is the last night of the revival, so you all come on back and help me take down the tent." But the pastor interrupted me, saying to the congregation, "Tomorrow night is not the last night of the revival. In fact, the real revival begins tomorrow."
I will never forget his words. The words are even more appropriate as we look toward Christmas. So many of us are guilty of thinking and acting as if Christmas is a one-day-a-year event. We forget that even in the Christian calendar year, Christmas is a season. Even beyond that, the real gift of Jesus keeps on giving and giving throughout the year, because there are still so many who have not heard that "Love Came Down at Christmas" and remains with us today.
I realize that we have short attention spans today, but the Holy Spirit bids us not to let down our efforts because some places still need our attention. One of those places is the hurricane-ravaged communities of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and a small portion of Texas.
The Council of Bishops has established a new initiative: "The Bishops' Appeal for Hurricane Response." The appeal will provide support to hurricaneimpacted annual conferences for clergy compensation, reconstruction of property, and other related needs.
This appeal is being handled outside the Advance Special channels under the authority of "818 of the Book of Discipline (2004). In this type of special appeal, contributions are channeled directly through the General Council on Finance and Administration. While similar to special appeals of the past, this is a new venture. Many are not aware that UMCOR contributions can not be used to rebuild churches, parsonages, or homes nor can we use those contributions to pay salaries or to help children enjoy Christmas.
Members can make donations through local church offerings. Make checks to your local church or to "Holston Conference," marking "Bishops' Appeal #818- 001" on the memo line. Donations may be placed in church offering plates or sent to: Holston Conference Treasurer, P.O. Box 32939, Knoxville, TN 37930- 2939. (Church treasurers should designate "Project #532, Bishops' Appeal" on their remittance forms.)
This year has been filled with needs, and the people of Holston have responded to every need. For your tremendous response to tsunami relief and the initial needs brought on by the hurricanes, I thank you. But I need you to do it again. So I ask you not to "take down the tent" just yet. People are still homeless, Christian communities still need to reestablish places of service and worship, and children still need a place for learning about and experiencing Jesus.
Christmas is the gift that keeps on giving. The world is in need of God's love.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
James, Delphine, JaNaÈ
and Joshua Swanson
Your Episcopal Family
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Bishop James Swanson
Resident Bishop
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