From the Interim Pastor

December 2010

Christmas Comes
A poem by Ann Weems

Christmas comes every time we see God in other persons.
The human and the holy meet in Bethlehem
                                                            or in Times Square,
For Christmas comes like a golden storm on its way
          to Jerusalem—
          Determinedly, inevitably…
Even now it comes
In the face of hatred and warring—
No atrocity too terrible to stop it,
No Herod strong enough,
No hurt deep enough,
No curse shocking enough,
No disaster shattering enough—
          For someone on earth will see the star,
          Someone will hear the angel voices,
          Someone will run to Bethlehem,
          Someone will know peace and goodwill:
          The Christ will be born!

Ah, Christmas comes again.

I cannot explain or contain Christmas in a single message, box, hymn, service, or experience. Christmas describes something far bigger and grander than anything I can imagine: God entering human life and human history to affect a new created order. Sometimes I forget, and either lower or raise my expectations missing the action of God altogether, substituting something less fulfilling where I want spiritual fulfillment. So I turn back to the Scriptures read, hymns and carols sung, the prayers prayed, and the conversations of those who celebrate Christ’s birth to reorient myself. As we begin the church season of Advent that leads into Christmas, know everything God began is still unfolding around us. So we pray and act:

God:
          Open my eyes that I may see…
          Open my mind that I may know…
          Open my heart that I may believe…
          Open my hands that I may receive and give…
          …Immanuel--God with us.

God bless you as you celebrate Christ’s birth. If you are able, join us at Church on the Green this season.

The Rev. Robert Foltz-Morrison
Interim Pastor
Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on the Green

Past messages from the Interim Pastor:
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
Summer 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009