December 5 - by: our very own Michael Mastronicola

When my godson Dawson Ditta was baptized as a newborn in 1998, the pastor held him up after pouring water upon his forehead and proclaimed, with her arms extended outward, “Dawson Ditta—child of God!” Child of God. What a beautiful phrase, I thought. In the film, Dead Man Walking, the main character is based upon a real-life nun, Sister Helen Prajean, who counsels a convicted murderer on death row. Just before he is to be lethally injected as punishment for his crime, Sister Prajean desperately counsels him in an effort to have him take responsibility for his awful crimes and realize the agony he has caused so many others. “You are a son of God,” she tells him. He responds, visibly moved, that no one ever called him that before. Child of God. I like that phrase. I am a child of God. We are all “children of God.”
Jesus mentions children in the Gospels: “Let the children come to me,” he says. (Mt: 19) And also: “Become like children and you will enter the Kingdom of God.” (Mt: 18) I imagine it wasn’t easy being a child in the time of Jesus. Throughout our world, so many children today still suffer terribly. It all seems so needless and awful. During a friendly discussion I had with friends awhile ago, one person remarked, “The Old Testament always seems to be about such an angry, vengeful God. It’s hard for me to read it and understand what it’s all about.” Another friend responded, “Look at it this way: the New Testament happened when the world of the Old Testament became so foul, so messed up. Things weren’t working any more. So God’s son was sent to be among us, to show us another way: a way not of vengeance and anger, but of justice and peace.”

Jesus was also a child of God. Like us, but of course very different. And Jesus came to us with little fanfare. Take away the angel Gabriel that heralded Jesus’ birth to Mary in the Gospel of Luke, and you basically have one very surprised and very young woman. No earthquakes or parties. No Christmas lights and endlessly repeating carols. There was no earthly crown or feast that celebrated Jesus’ arrival. No trumpet fanfare. The Son of God born in a stable? Born among the animals? Whatever the details may be, Jesus was not born amidst wealth and power.

During this time of year, I realize how lucky I am to be a musician. There is so much wonderful music I get to play year after year—in worship and concerts throughout the month of December. One of my favorite Christmas texts often set to music is “O Greatest of Mysteries.”* The text, in Latin, has been sung by choirs for centuries in churches and on stages throughout the world. The choir sings, “O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in a manger.” Animals glimpse the newborn Christ! Ox and ass. I imagine them bowing their heads to sniff the newborn. Composers have set these words not to loud and triumphant harmonies, but to hushed whispers that draw the listener in. I wonder about this sometimes to myself on cold, clear December nights as I drive home from work and look up at a starry sky. Animals get to see this child of God? Animals?! In a manger?! What an extraordinary mystery that we get to ponder year after year after year. God sends His son to be born among the animals. A child of God. Born to us. Born for all people.

Michael Mastronicola, Director of Music

“God has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; God has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” –Luke 1: 52-53, “Mary’s Song”


*To hear a choir sing one composer’s setting of this ancient text, “O Magnum Mysterium,” visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iss5a8BqYw0&feature=related.

December 4- by: Judy Wallace

I remember one particular Christmas. My brothers were in college which would have made me about 10 yrs old. Christmas was my favorite time of year. The birth of Jesus, Christmas carols, special goodies to eat and family. My mom and I were decorating the house. We were putting our snow stencils on the bottom window and the lights around the top window. How I loved all the sparkling colors, just the right touch. Of course, living in North Dakota in December it was about zero degrees or so outside and lots of snow so the lights danced off the mantle of white. The last thing we decorated was our Christmas tree, the smell of fresh pine was the best. The finishing touch was standing back and throwing the tinsel on-oh the joy of simple things. I had been asking my mom when my brothers would be home for Christmas and she said the day after we finished decorating so I knew they would be home soon and then shortly after that Christmas Eve would arrive.

A friend of my mom’s came over so I decided it was time to get my portable phonograph out and I began playing Christmas records. I was lying on the floor listening to the carols and thinking about Christmas when I heard my mom’s friend say to her in German; Judy misses her brothers but my mom said no, she is just READY for Christmas. What I was feeling was that Christmas was a time for family and as soon as my brothers arrived ours would be complete.

Today my parents are gone and my brothers and I live in different parts of the country so it is hard for us to be together every year, but no matter where we are we are still READY to celebrate Christmas and rejoice in the birth of our Savior.

R U RDY?
Judy Wallace

December 3- by: George Munro

Is Christ still with us? I was struck this past week by the generosity of a Weld County farmer who opened his fields to what turned out to be 40,000 people who were in need of the farmer’s potatoes, onions, and carrots. The overwhelming level of the turnout really spoke to the extremely serious level of our economic predicament. Like most serious setbacks, the current economy provides an impetus for spiritual growth.

So what can we as Christians do in these troubled times? First, at a personal level, we can reduce our expectations and consumption. The author, Tony Hillerman, formulated this as a Beatitude: “Blessed are those who expect little….For they are seldom disappointed.” We can pray and dream of a simpler life, with a focus on the essentials: personal attachment and devotion to family and to God. See if you can live with less. If you want to know about your lifestyle, look at your trash. It’s all there!

At a community level we should make it a point to give generously to others, both to organizations and to the people we contact daily. For example, perhaps we could tip the waiter a little bit more, not expecting anything in return. Gifts can also be in the form of time spent listening to the problems of others and showing simple respect for them. Truly now more than ever, we need to be our brother’s keeper.

On a national level we can resolve never again to condone torturing our enemies. (Isn’t that what is supposed to separate us from them in the first place?) We need to demand business and government leaders who put society before themselves.

Lastly, and most importantly, we can rededicate ourselves to Christ who should be our guide in all that we do. Christ was present in ancient Israel and is with us now in our time of need. Perhaps, good can come from the difficult times in which we live by helping us to get back to the love, clarity, strength, and peace offered by Christ.

Merry Christmas!
George Munro

December 2- by: Jan Herrera

R*U*RDY?

R*U*KIDN? I never seem to be ready for Christmas ahead of time. I use the last few hours of preparation as an aerobic workout. I have worked late into the night trying to finish just one more thing. I have always thought that those people who proudly boast that they are all ready, (actually have been since Thanksgiving), just don’t have much of an imagination. Why, I can always think of something else that I could/should do!

So, how do we balance what is on the list with who is in our presence? How do we prepare for the night of “peace on earth” by running around like crazy? OK, so now it’s not enough that I need to tend to all of the activities and tasks to be ready, I am supposed to be ready in my heart?

Have your ever looked at a harried young mother, with a list that is too long, a budget that is too tight, whose time is too short, and whose patience is too thin, and asked, are you ready in your heart? She looks at you and thinks “R*U*CRZY?” But, here’s the thing. It seems to me that God works in us whether we are ready or not. The feeling of Christmas, the sentimental, awe-striking spirit of love and grace, the gift of Jesus’ life, this feeling comes in its own time and its own way.

So, yeah, let’s be ready to hear it, see it, feel it, and reflect it whenever we can, where ever we are, with whoever we are with. Perhaps the joy of Christmas is in the preparation, as much as it the magic moments. Maybe it’s like life, the joy is in the journey, not just the destination. Isn’t it great to know that RDY*O*NOT, Here He Comes!

Jan Herrera

December 1 - by: Gladys Eckman

Am I Ready?
On this first Sunday of Advent, no I am not ready, but I recognize that I want to be. I want to feel the rush of the Christmas season, the story of Christ's birth, the celebration of Jesus coming to us so many years ago so I went to church this morning looking for my own comfort and solace.

And I did recieve the comfort I needed, in the concert of my church family, the love of each of them for me in my unease. I have always liked to enter our church, a building of brick and wood, but above and beyond that there is a peace in this building, a peace made up of the people who have been there- the pastor, workers who have given of thier time and energy to make this building God's home for us, and the many people who just care about each other every day.

On this day, I begin my journey to celebrate with the many others in my family, my church family and those that I do not know but who are still part of my life and who will be part of my preparation. Yes, I want to celebrate Advent, but I want my celebration to continue on beyone the great day of Jesus' birth, on to the rest of the days of the coming year. On this Sunday and the next and the next I will try to prepare myself so that I can answer, am I ready? I want to be able to say, to shout! YEs! I am ready!!! Come be with me during this Advent season so we can celebrate Christmas with a special joy in our hearts while we await the coming of our Lord.

Gladys Eckman

2009 Advent Devotionals

Greetings from First Presbyterian Church,

Christmas is in 23 days. Yeah, I know that wasn't nice, but I felt you needed to know. :)

So are YOU ready? or are you still wondering how the Advent & Christmas season snuck up on us? :)

Let's get ready together! Come back each day to check out the daily posting of our Advent Devotional. We hope to help keep you focused, efficient & calm as we all get ready for this Christmas season. The Advent Devotionals are written/submitted by the members and staff of First Pres. We are still accepting submissions! In fact, we don't have enough to get through the full Advent season. If you'd like to participate email your submission to jennifer@brightonfirstpres.org. Thank you!

In Christ,
Jennifer - Office Administrator