The Zebra Church

I have been wrestling with what to do with this pic and finally decided it should stand here. Several years back when Bishop Clarice Fluitt first began visiting our church, she reported back to hers that our church could be known as the "Zebra Church." It's complicated, perhaps a long story, so I won't jump into the reasoning, but one more particular observation you might note is the Menorah. I'd say this pretty much sums up our church at the moment, for even yesterday in our Sunday service we lit the candles for the first day/night of Hanukkah.

Newark Schools Christmas Outreach

It has begun, the Newark schools Christmas outreach, and though the Mission is not involved directly with this school (Hawthorn Ave.), every year I am sent here to fetch dozens and dozens of cupcakes that we will distribute. Therefore, in my mind this is always the beginning of Christmas festivities, the jolliest time of year. Blessing!

Newark 2

Hello she whispers, I want to play. Newark wants to play but the ground is upset by the violence. Say not a bad word about the Brick City, I can hear someone saying, but if we are honest, we can hear the pain of innocence targeted. Who shall speak for the voiceless? I shall, for their voice cries out for justice and I can not be silent. I will not be silent. I shall speak for the voiceless, they whom violence has silenced. They want to be heard—there is hope though, and it is found in Jesus. He died so we could live. Justice can be found by all who embrace the King of kings: He will respond.

Newark

Wild, crazy, a city on edge:

This is the city I know.

Dancing, singing, ignoring the ledge;

Go, low, foe, they all rhyme with know,

But to force a rhyme

Stymies the flow.

Not In Our Town

For service today we watched this documentary that came out of Billings, Montana:

Where did we come up with this and why? Well on Tuesday for Sitting at the Feet of Jesus, Pastor Tilly read The Christmas Menorahs: How a Town Fought Hate and afterward realizing it was based on a true story, someone dug deeper and found the above video. There is power in unity, strength, and even a blessing:

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm 133

Blessings, blessings, blessings!!!