Table of Contents

Welcome to Devotions for Mandy Cloninger Art by Logan Kijanski and Hannah Torres First Week in Advent Nov. 27 From Dark to Light Tommy Isel Nov. 28 Hope for Hard Times United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Nov. 29 A Light in the Darkness Florida United Methodist Children’s Home Nov. 30 My Soul Cried Out Mandy Cloninger Dec. 1 Turning Darkness into Light Hillsborough House of Hope Dec. 2 He Walked in the Light Habitat for Humanity Dec. 3 A Chance Jason Lee Render Art by Jackson Davis Second Week in Advent Dec. 4 Patient Smiles Mission Smiles Dec. 5 The Grace of God Metropolitan Ministries Dec. 6 She Forgave Paul Phaneuf Dec. 7 Watch What God Will Do Elio Muller Jr. Dec. 8 Wandering Toward the Light Abe Brown Ministries Dec. 9 Dorothy Meals on Wheels Dec. 10 Can Do All Things Leslie McCabe-Holm Art by Ean and Quinn Nichols Third Week in Advent Dec. 11 Etch-A-Sketch Salvation Army Dec. 12 Building on Faith Stephanie Johnson Dec. 13 A Great Light Society of St. Andrew Dec. 14 Delivering Good News The Upper Room Dec. 15 Faith Trail Run Seth Mokotimi Seminary Dec. 16 Our New Neighbors Refugee Mission Volunteers Dec. 17 Immersed in Hospitality Phakamisa Art by Katie Townley Fourth Week in Advent Dec. 18 Powerful Heart of a Child Elio Muller Jr. Dec. 19 A Cheerful Giver Good Samaritan Mission Dec. 20 Who is Watching? Heifer International Dec. 21 A New Pair of Socks Manna Ministry Dec. 22 Medicine and Miracles Trish Krider Dec. 23 My Soul Magnifies the Lord The Rev. Michelle Shrader Dec. 24 Ministry of Presence Susan Northcutt Dec. 25 Get into the Crib Roland Rink Art by Megan Combee

To get involved, please visit hydeparkumc.org Welcome to Devotions for Advent A New Day Dawning

When I think of a new day dawning, I think of the morning dew, a sunrise, brilliant colors spreading across the sky’s canvas. I think of a fresh start, a cup of coffee and an open mind.

One of my favorite new day’s dawning this year occurred in South Africa, and Leslie and I took a sunrise hike around the nature preserve where Peter and Jill reside. Dew was on the fresh foliage. The morning sky was peeking through the dense landscape. We paused for a scripture and prayer by the pond, and we walked mostly in silence, but still together. Then we had coffee, breakfast and hula hooped and laughed, enjoying the new day dawning with our hosts.

I think that’s how God wants us to embrace this Advent season, with an open mind like we’re approaching a brand-new day. The hurts, sorrows and pains of the past are forgiven. The darkness is settled into the night. A new day awaits us full of light, opportunity and hope.

As we journey through our lives and even our Advent season, we will experience times of darkness, sadness and sorrow. We will wait on the Lord. But, even in the darkness, we know is coming. God is with us. The morning light, the birth of Jesus, is bursting onto the scene.

My prayer is this devotional will shine a bright light as you wander through the Advent season, and a new day will dawn in your own heart. Fill each day with love, joy, opportunities to serve and be filled with Jesus’ joyous coming!

Shout for joy, lift your voice, sing your praise, all the Earth!

Mandy Cloninger [email protected] 2016 Editor, Devotions for Advent: A New Day Dawning Art by Logan Kijanski and Hannah Torres. Logan is in fifth grade and is active in Sunday School and Club 45. Hannah is in fourth grade and is active in Sunday School, Club 45, Celebration Choir and Celebration Chime Choir. The First Week of Advent Nov. 27-Dec. 3 Family Devotion: With You Start the conversation: When somebody is “with you” what does that mean to you? Emmanuel means “God with us.” What do you think that means? Scripture Reflection: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, Romans 1:1-7, 18-19; Matthew 1: 18-25 Talk About It: When somebody is “with you” it can mean literally, they are beside you, in the same room or space with you. It also is a way of saying that someone is “on your side,” they “have your back,” they are “for you.” It’s a way to show trust, love and friendship. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Emmanuel,” (Matthew 1:23.) Emmanuel means, “God with us.” God is with us. That means God is with you. He is on your side. He has your back. He is for you. It’s proof of His love, His trust and His friendship with you. The God and Creator of this whole universe is with you. Isn’t that incredible? Even in bad times, He is there. When you are going through a difficult time, He is the light that still shines through. Take comfort knowing that you are never alone, that He loves you and that together you can handle anything! Pray: Thank God for sending Jesus to be with you and your family. Ask him to help you trust his promises in the Bible and to remember that He is always right beside you, waiting and wanting to talk to you, to help you and to guide you. Things to try this week: • Give the gift of your presence to someone. Do you have a loved one or friend who you haven’t seen in a while? Go be with them. Invite them over, meet them somewhere or go visit them. • Bake a birthday cake for Jesus this week and invite your neighbors and friends over to share together! For older kids, do this activity at nighttime and put large, tall candles on the cake. Turn out all of the lights and blow out the candles. Talk about how it feels to be in complete darkness. Relight one candle. How much brighter does the candle seem when it is surrounded by darkness? Talk about Jesus being the light even when you are surrounded by darkness. November 27 From Dark to Light

Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. Psalm 139:12 (ESV)

Everyone experiences the dark. I have been in darkness. The three years before I went to Nicaragua, my Grandma, my Uncle Richard, my Aunt Lee and my Uncle Jeff passed away. For awhile, I literally became afraid of the dark. I had nightmares. Whenever I thought of anything bad, I got scared. I was afraid of what was going to happen next. Then I went to Nicaragua with my family. We had never flown on a plane together. I was excited about the new adventure. We planned a lot about what we were going to do for the people. What I did not plan was what they were going to do for me. I found out that the people in Mt. Sinai had so much less than me. They didn’t have electricity, which means they couldn’t use a night light. But they were joyful, hopeful and at peace. They trusted God. Sometimes, I still get anxious in the dark. But I think of my friends in Nicaragua, and I can feel the light, even when I can’t see it.

Help us to see the light even in the dark, O God.

Tommy Isel, age 12, was a member of the Nicaragua Family Mission Team in 2015 and 2016. For information about Family Mission Trips see hydeparkumc. org/the-world. November 28 Hope for Hard Times

All praise to the God and Father of our master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. 2 Corinthians: 1-4 (MSG) I wish I’d never met Ms. Patty. I told her so, too. We met only because of her great loss. The tornado that ripped through Evergreen, Virginia, on February 24, took her home and her greenhouse. But it took so much more. Her daddy died in the storm. They didn’t find his body until after nightfall, three football fields from where the tornado engulfed his home. Five months after the tornado, I asked Ms. Patty how she was doing. “I’m tired,” she said. “I’ve been trying to keep it together because of mamma.” Her mother survived the storm, only because she wasn’t home when it hit the house. She was turning on Highway 460, only a couple miles away, when winds uprooted a tree and slammed it into her car. The impact fractured her back. As for Ms. Patty, she wonders if she would be alive if she hadn’t left for work about an hour earlier than usual – an hour before the tornado hit. Hope is rising on the ground the storm swept clean. In the final days of summer, volunteers from two United Methodist Churches dug the footers on the land where her house once stood. In the first days of fall, volunteers put the concrete block foundation on the land where her house once stood. So it has been, one team at a time, one day at a time, and so it will be until the keys to a new house are given to Ms. Patty. That day will come because ordinary people stepped up when our extraordinary God called. Hope is rising.

Lord, help us remember that through hard times you are always there with us sometimes sending others to give hope as well. Amen.

Forrest White currently serves as the Virginia Conference United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) Coordinator and the disaster recovery coordinator for the Southeastern Jurisdiction (sejumc.org.) UMVIM encourages, equips, and empowers volunteers to serve and comfort others who are dealing with hard times – Transforming the world through “Christian love in action.” November 29 A Light in the Darkness

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (ESV)

“I’m not coming out!” Jenna cowered under her bed, burying her face in her arms in the darkness, refusing to come out. Other girls were peeking in her doorway as they passed, clearly understanding the darkness Jenna was experiencing. The answer was simple, yet profound. Jenna missed her mother. The reasons our children are separated from their mothers and the rest of their families can vary: abuse, neglect, or family breakdown. Jenna’s mother was in jail, dealing with the consequences of a life ravaged by addiction. We spent time that morning encouraging Jenna, fully acknowledging her pain, and opening our arms and our hearts to embrace her in her time of need. Eventually, Jenna felt safe enough to emerge from the darkness under her bed and join those surrounding her that day – the girls and house parents she had come to live with at the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home. The darkness of her pain could not overcome the love she would experience that day. It has taken time, but we can now see the light of Christ’s love permeating Jenna’s life, including the joy of seeing Jenna baptized and committing her life to following Him. We can’t change the darkness of Jenna’s past, but Christ’s love now illuminates her future: one of hope, healing and love.

Lord, we pray for the courage to open the darkest parts of our lives to the light of your love.

The Florida United Methodist Children’s Home (fumch.org) serves children in crisis and works to empower children and families to experience God’s love as revealed in the ministry of Jesus Christ. November 30 My Soul Cried Out

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 (NIV)

The cold, tile floor was a refuge. I’d been on my knees, but mostly I laid on my side in a fetal position sobbing. The tears continued to fall. I was drowning in a sea of my own tears. They just wouldn’t stop. It seemed like hours passed. My whole world seemed broken. My marriage was over. I didn’t know how to begin again. The only place I felt comfortable was the bathroom floor. During my darkest hour, through the sorrows and wailing, I heard with piercing clarity an old hymn in my head. “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, how great thou art. How great thou art.” I was mad at God, at my ex-husband, at a lie that I’d bought into about happily ever after. But in that moment, the old hymn brought me enough light, to dust myself off, pick myself up off the bathroom floor, and walk into the light.

God, when our prayers we can barely articulate, when our troubles seem overwhelming, when we are so broken-hearted that it seems we might never heal, pierce into the dark, and shine your light on us. Amen.

Mandy Cloninger has been a member of Hyde Park United Methodist since 2009. She is active locally and globally in missions. For information about Missions and Outreach Ministries at Hyde Park United Methodist, see hydeparkumc.org. December 1 Turning Darkness into Light

I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Isaiah 42:16 (NIV)

Sometimes when the Hillsborough County jail door clangs shut and is locked, there is still hope. There is still hope and light for women in this dark place because of the new life and opportunity offered by Hillsborough House of Hope. A private room awaited Rose, Barbara and Jennifer despite the many arrests and failures of the past. These women were admitted to the six-month program and turned their lives around. Rose, Barbara, Jennifer and more than 100 women’s lives have been changed by this home. Christian counseling for drug and alcohol abuse, along with group therapy and career support help break the cycle of crime and homelessness. Slowly there is a transition from incarceration to becoming productive citizens --- a transformation from darkness to light. Rose, Barbara, Jennifer and all the graduates are shining and showing God’s love in the Tampa Bay area. Since graduating from the program, Rose has obtained a bachelor’s degree and purchased a house. Barbara got a job at a dry cleaners and is now store manager. Jennifer recently got her first car and can now get to work. All have volunteered to be mentors to new residents of the Hillsborough House of Hope.

Heavenly Father, give the women of the Hillsborough House of Hope strength and courage to rebuild their lives.

The mission of the Hillsborough House of Hope (HHH) is to give women incarcerated in the Hillsborough County jail the opportunity to successfully reenter the community and become the women God created them to be, doing what he created them to do, through Christian counseling, practical help, love and support. Paul Phaneuf, who wrote this entry, is a board member. See hillsboroughhouseofhope.com for more information. December 2 He Walked In The Light

The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Isaiah 60:19 (NIV)

Despite facing many obstacles in life, Joseph held to the principle that, “when you pray and put God in it, and you keep trying, things happen.”

Joseph moved, with his wife, from Haiti to Tampa in 2008. He’s a dedicated father of two that found himself homeless and alone in Tampa, one son in the care of others and another still in Haiti. Each week, Joseph would face the daunting bicycle ride across Tampa to visit his youngest son, carrying a balloon to brighten his day.

The path to homeownership has not been easy. Despite family strife and homelessness, Joseph was determined to continue walking in the light, always trusting God for his future. That faith was met with the blessing of a vehicle, rental housing and finally, the opportunity to build and purchase a Habitat for Humanity home.

In 2016 Joseph realized his dream of homeownership and told us that whenever he was down, he would lift his head and say, “God, I know that You know that I’m here.” He believes that, “If you keep trying, something will work. If you don’t try, it will never happen. I thank God for working behind the scenes even when I couldn’t see that He was doing anything.” He walked in the light!

Lord, please help us to remember to walk in your light. When we feel overwhelmed, remind us that you are with us so that we may bring you glory.

Habitat for Humanity of Hillsborough County (habitathillsborough.org) seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. December 3 A Chance

Keep on loving each other as brothers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Hebrews 13:1-3 (NIV)

I just finished doing 17 years, 7 months and 17 days. I’m 36 years old and was arrested at the age of 18. I was in my sophomore year at USF majoring in engineering. Because I had a prior juvenile conviction of robbery, it was hard for me to find employment. I was struggling to make ends meet and a friend who was in a bad financial position as well wanted to start robbing stores. I did it and eventually got caught. I was charged with every robbery, some I did, some I didn’t, and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. During that time, I lost everything that ever meant anything to me: family, friends, everything. Some died, or they left me for dead. Prison is not designed to rehabilitate. It takes you so far away from society, physically and mentally that you will not be prepared for society when your time comes. If your time comes. Since I had nowhere to go when my time came that made my circumstances even more dangerous. I am determined to succeed. Going back isn’t an option. Crime isn’t an option. Temptation was waiting for me at the gates, but I mentally prepared myself. All I needed was a chance. I’m a part of Abe Brown Ministries and the Ready 4 Work program. I haven’t looked back since, and I won’t. I have plans to start my own business, and I’m taking steps to bring those plans to fruition. Then I can lend a hand to the next person who only needs a chance.

God, we lift up to you, those who have served in prison and those who are called to prison ministry. We ask you to soften our hearts to the prisoner’s struggle. Amen. Jason Lee Render is working in the warehouse at Feeding Tampa Bay (feedingtampabay.org) through Abe Brown Ministries Ready 4 Work program (abebrown.org.) Feeding Tampa Bay provides food to friends, family, colleagues and neighbors in need throughout the Tampa Bay area. Abe Brown Ministries’ mission is to compassionately demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ by helping offenders, ex-offenders and their families achieve productive and fulfilling lives. Jackson Davis is in third grade and is active in Sunday School, The Zone and Celebration Choir. The Second Week of Advent

Dec. 4-10 Family Devotion: Wait Start the conversation: When is it the hardest for you to wait? What’s it like waiting for morning? Scripture Reflection: Psalm 122 Talk About It: Advent is a time of waiting. Most of us don’t like to wait, and with our modern-day conveniences, we don’t. We drive-thru for a fast cup of Starbucks. Microwave food is ready in minutes. We reach people instantly with our cell phones. Waiting is hard for our kids too. The month before Christmas must be one of the longest times of waiting a child must face. Advent isn’t just about waiting, it’s also about preparing. Advent can be a time to awaken a wonder in all of us, including our kids, for the incredible gift of Emmanuel—God with us. In these weeks leading up to Christmas, use this time of waiting to remind your family that there is joy and wonder in preparation and anticipation. Pray: Lord, our culture breeds an air of impatience. Teach us in the coming days to be still and wait on you as we look forward to celebrating the birth of Emmanuel – God with us. Things to try this week: • Advent Calendars are a great way to focus each day on the journey toward Christmas. You can purchase a calendar at the Aldersgate Bookstore and support missions at the same time! • Create a Nativity “place” in your home. Prepare for setting it up, by putting things in that place which represent the longing, the desire, the emptiness. Begin with a basket. Children can place notes in the basket that express their hope, for each member in the family, for their friends, for people in the world. They can write special prayers for loved ones who are sick, for children in their school who are difficult. Then, set up the in that place. December 4 Patient Smiles

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2 (NIV)

Twice a year Hyde Park United Methodist partners with Mission Smiles to provide free dental care to the homeless that come to our Sunday morning breakfast at Open Arms. For many, this is the only dental care available to them in the city.

The sign-up sheet fills quickly. Then the long wait begins for those that are at the end of the list and won’t receive care for several hours. On occasion, some folks become upset thinking another has skipped their place in line or received treatment out of turn.

This is when I have witnessed the kindness of our volunteers showing hospitality and love to those that have become impatient. The art of giving a warm smile and a reassuring word can turn a misunderstanding around and make the waiting tolerable. Offering conversation and getting to know the stranger’s story is a way of showing and receiving God’s love.

At the end of the day, there are lots of happy and grateful smiles, minus those painful teeth!

Lord, remind us to always show kindness and understanding to those who become impatient. Let warm hospitality be our welcoming gift to all, especially to the stranger.

Mission Smiles (missiontampa.org) is a dental service outreach mission providing emergency dental and spiritual care to the poor of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Joan Mellen, RN, and Congregational Care Minister serves as the mission’s liaison. December 5 The Grace of God

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Luke 6:21 (NIV)

M’Kenzie did not know what it felt like to sleep in her own bed. She has never had a home-cooked meal, or even a toy of her own. She is two years old. Her mother, Vivian, was homeless when she was born.

M’kenzie and Vivian came to the Metro-Market to get food before Thanksgiving. They had slept on a nearby bus bench the previous night. Vivian expressed she often felt like giving up, and was asked what kept her going.

“The grace of God,” she says. “I believe God has a plan for my daughter and me. This is the testimony we have to live. But it still hurts.”

Lord, allow me to serve as you serve, with a gentle and joyful heart. Guide me in helping those who you place before me. Amen.

Metropolitan Ministries (metromin.org) cares for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in our community, through services that alleviate suffering, promote dignity and instill self-sufficiency… as an expression of the ongoing ministry of Jesus Christ. December 6 She Forgave

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

I was in Cape Town South Africa looking at the side of a large mountain when our local host, Greg said, “Look, there is District 6.” I said, “Where is it? I don’t see anything.” He said, “It is that big, barren rocky cleared area on the mountainside. There used to be 60,000 people living there before the white apartheid government bulldozed the homes and neighborhoods and forcibly relocated everyone black or non-white.” Redistricting, I learned was one of the many ugly processes of apartheid. The white government systematically moving black and colored families, and then demolishing the communities so they could never return. No roads, buildings or homes were left intact. Black and colored families that the apartheid government despised were forced to hastily pack up at gunpoint and leave their homes and belongings forever. I had a chance to speak with a black woman, Angela, whose family was redistricted and forced to move more than 30 years ago. I asked, “Was she still angry?” As we rode along in the bus, she said, “I cannot forget, but I must forgive. The Bible tells me I must forgive.” That night I prayed for her and prayed that if I was mistreated like her, I could forgive. Because she could forgive the darkness of apartheid, she started moving toward the light Lord, help us to always remember to forgive those who trespass against us. Amen.

Paul Phaneuf was a member of the Hyde Park United Methodist mission team that went to South Africa in September 2016. The adult mission trip to South Africa builds relationships with the ministries that Hyde Park United Methodist supports. Team members serve alongside these ministries, attend worship services and immerse themselves in the culture. In many ways, making this trip is an extended worship experience. For information about adult mission trips with Hyde Park United Methodist, see hydeparkumc.org/the-world. December 7 Watch What God Will Do With The Rain

Waves broke over the boat. Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down, and it was completely calm. Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

Our mission team arrived in Havana ready to start our construction project amid the forecast of rain for several days. Sensing our team’s cabin fever, I told them, “Watch what God will do with this rain.”

Soon we learned of a nearby church trying to create a preschool as a ministry and as a revenue source. Our mission team included three teachers, a retired vice principal and several accomplished business people. One was the music teacher of our church’s preschool “Small Blessings.”

Instead of construction, we went over to the church to learn how we could help. God reminded us that we were better suited to build a curriculum and a business plan than for construction. Miraculously, a Cuban version of our Tampa school was incubated and named “Pequeñas Bendiciones” (Small Blessings.)

Once we returned, our school’s director embraced it, and our mission’s committee funded it. We purchased bilingual instruction materials and sent the funds needed to build the facilities in Cuba.

Small Blessings parents in Tampa organized in support of “Pequeñas Bendiciones” in Cuba. Soon our Tampa children and their Cuban classmates will be praying for one another and getting acquainted by sharing video footage with one another.

Lord, make your light shine in the midst of the rain. Amen.

Elio Eduardo Muller Jr. and his wife Drema serve as liaisons to our Cuba missions. For information about adult mission trips with Hyde Park United Methodist, see hydeparkumc.org/the-world. December 8 Wandering Toward the Light

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)

It was love that sent Jesus, “made in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2:7 KJV,) to give men an example, to light the way to the true and living God. The word of God was created as a book of instruction (II Timothy 3:16 KJV) to provide training in righteousness, God’s way of being and doing right.

Wandering speaks of aimlessness, departure, bending, and digression— revealing one who forsakes that which progresses his life, returning to the familiar, unprofitable one. The children of Israel were given a leader to usher them into the promise, yet instead of being consistently faithful, they were consistently murmurers and stiff-necked (Exodus 1-12). Their wanderings were the result of their rebelliousness and fear of entering that promised land.

The Word declares the believer has no excuse (Rom. 1:20) for endlessly wandering. Through the Word, we have seen His Son, experienced His salvation, seen His hand move in our lives, and seen miracles performed. We are ’s disciples—witnesses of His Glory—seen in our own lives. We have a straight path to the Light (Ps. 119:105 KJV), because the Light lives within us. Jesus died that we might be examples of the Light for this present age.

Father, thank you that we do not need to wander or wonder. Jesus finished everything at the cross. It is time to be your witnesses that demonstrate your love and power! Fill us to overflowing that we might pour forth your light and glory.

Abe Brown Ministries (abebrown.org) compassionately demonstrates the love of Jesus Christ by helping offenders and ex-offenders, as well as their families, achieve productive and fulfilling lives. December 9 Dorothy

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NIV) Dorothy was 93 when she passed away last month. Like most her age, her journey had been filled with many ups and downs. Unfortunately, in recent years there had been more downs than ups. Eventually she had to leave her home and lost her ability to be independent, moving in with her son. Then she lost her mobility. Finally, Hospice was called in and, in time, she moved into a care facility, where eventually she went to be with the Lord. Still, even up to her very last breath, she felt fortunate. She had a loving family – sons and grandkids – to help her, visit her and love her. I know all this, because Dorothy was my Mom, a simple but amazing lady who, to me, was the essence of grace and unconditional love. Through the difficulties of being her caregiver over the last four years, even amidst the pain of her decline, there were countless moments and blessings I will treasure for the rest of my life. Oh, make no mistake about it, there were plenty of times I cried as her pain grew and she felt more and more isolated, but now that she’s gone from this earth, I wouldn’t trade those memories for the world. I confess that I don’t always understand the why’s and how’s and what’s of God, but this I know beyond a shadow of a doubt: my Mom has now been healed completely and is in the presence of God. What did I learn along the way? I learned that we need to take every opportunity to tell our loved ones – grandparents, parents, brothers, sisters, and children – that we love them. I learned that caring for what many consider the least, the lost, and the last of our society – be it the elderly, the disabled, the homeless and homebound – is a privilege and one of the greatest blessings any of us can ever have. I learned the power of a simple visit, a kind word, and a loving touch can have on someone in need. Thank you, Mom, for a life well-lived, for the love you shared, and for the example you were. Well done, good and faithful servant. Let us shine your love, your light, as bright as Dorothy did. Show us where we can share a visit, a kind word and a loving touch to someone in need, O God. Amen. Stephen King serves as the executive director of Meals on Wheels of Tampa (mowtampa.org) and is committed to its mission of “nourishing and enriching lives of the home-bound and seniors. December 10 I Can Do All Things

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

God literally hit me over the head with this scripture last year. First, it came to me in a dream. Then in a sermon. A few days later, I received a canvas block quote of the scripture as a gift from a friend. Little did I know then, that God was equipping me with that message to arm me for the journey He had laid out before me.

My niece, Ellie, was born at the end of last year with a heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, meaning that her heart is underdeveloped on the left side. Ellie’s heart has three chambers instead of four. A few days after she was born, she had her first open heart surgery, followed by her second open heart surgery, a short five months later.

Watching my younger brother and his wife walk through this difficult time in their lives made me feel so hopeless. How do these things happen to babies and their sweet parents? At the same time, I knew that there was so much I could do: I had the power of prayer. I lifted my fears up to God and asked Him to walk alongside me and my family.

Ellie has been an incredible fighter through all her procedures and surgeries. She is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen. God’s light shines so strongly through this little girl, and my faith is stronger than ever.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the path you have laid out to bring each of us closer to you. Please help those who are struggling and suffering remember that you alone provide the strength to sustain and prosper.

Leslie McCabe-Holm is the Lay Leader for Missions and Outreach and co-led the 2016 South Africa Mission team. Leslie also serves with the Prison Crusade team at Abe Brown Ministries. For information about Missions and Outreach at Hyde Park United Methodist see hydeparkumc.org. Ean and Quinn Nichols are 9 years old. They are in third grade and active in Sunday Morning Live and The Zone. The Third Week of Advent Dec. 11-17 Family Devotion: Preparing the Way Start the conversation: Preparations: we make them every day, big and small. How do you prepare for school? How do you prepare for a big game or competition? Think about the preparations that happen for big life events like moving to a new house or city, taking a big trip with your family, or maybe the arrival of a new baby in your family. What kind of preparations occur? Scripture Reflection: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Talk About It: Google says to prepare the way means to create an opportunity for something to happen. It means to get things ready. God’s people believed a Savior was coming, they were waiting in anticipation, but they didn’t know when it would happen. They were keeping watch: hoping, waiting, expecting it to happen. God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. He helped the people get ready! He told them to get their hearts and minds in the “right place.” He encouraged them to make sure they were living the way God wants them to and honoring God with all they did. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus at Christmas. During this season, we anticipate and prepare our hearts for Jesus. We do this by turning our focus on Jesus, as God’s gift of love to all of us. Then we share that love with others. Pray: Thank God for sending you and your family the best gift of all, Jesus! Ask God to help you prepare your heart for him during this special season. Ask him to help you shine his light by showing peace, joy, hope and love to others. Things to try this week: • What is one of your favorite Christmas preparations? Make plans to do that activity as a family and then afterwards read Matthew 3:1-12 and talk about how your family can prepare the way for Jesus to come and enter your heart this Christmas season and forever more. • Prepare the way for someone else. Invite a friend to a Christmas service or event at church. December 11 Etch-A-Sketch

Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. Isaiah 43:19 (MSG) I remember the Christmas I received an Etch-A-Sketch. I loved that when I messed up, I could wipe it clean and start again. I could do this as many times as I needed. Mess up and start again. Mess up and start again. Mess up and start again. This toy got me thinking about my relationship with God. Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? Let’s face it, that’s what we all want. But how often do we meet with God to clean our slate? I learned a long time ago to keep short accounts with God when it comes to sin. I love to pray this version of Psalm 19 (MSG) most mornings: Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins and thinking I can take over your work. Then I can start the day Son-washed, scrubbed free of the grime of sin. These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar. Maybe it’s time for you to shake things up and clean your palette. What are you holding on to? Is time to wipe it clean? Commit to spend some time with the Master Artist today so he can continue make you a masterpiece. Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!

The Salvation Army (salvationarmyflorida.org/tampa) is at work year-round preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ and providing housing and homeless services, hunger relief, prison ministries, elderly services, combating human trafficking, adult rehabilitation, youth camps and more. Kathy DiRaimo is the administrative assistant for Hyde Park United Methodist’s Children’s and Youth Ministries and serves as mission’s liaison for the Salvation Army. December 12 Building On Faith

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:3 (NIV)

It was another hot, humid, sunny day in Tampa. But this wasn’t your typical Saturday. Three faith communities came together to help build a house for Margarette Brown. No one cared about what color, belief, faith, or spiritual God each believed or didn’t believe in. What we all cared about was coming together for a greater cause than our own: to help another human being have a place to call home.

We lifted, moved, carried and hammered as one, right alongside Margarette. One group, united, as part of her journey from a place of darkness, struggle, and uncertainty, to a place of light, hope and a sense of belonging. A place of peace, built from the faith of many as one.

The team learned that the three communities from United Methodist, Jewish and Islamic faiths, worked well together. It was evident that we are not that different from one another. After all, we are all God’s people.

Habitat for Humanity is “seeking to put God’s love into action. Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities, and hope.”

Their annual Faith Build Project helped us discover something bigger than ourselves, working alongside people of different backgrounds, beliefs and religions. When there is so much hate and anger in the world, this was a beautiful day, shared with wonderful, fun, hardworking, caring people, all coming together out of generosity and kindness.

The blessing: a new home and a journey to light for Margarette Brown

Lord, guide us towards your light, so that we of many faiths and beliefs can find peace within and among ourselves. Bless Margarettes’ home with peace and happiness. Amen

Stephanie Johnson served on the annual Faith Build Project. Habitat for Humanity (habitathillsborough.org) is dedicated to eliminating substandard housing locally and worldwide through constructing, rehabilitating, and preserving homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help people improve their shelter conditions. December 13 A Great Light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy. Isaiah 9:2-3 (NIV))

It was Mission Sunday at Hyde Park United Methodist, and as I walked through the doors of the Harnish Activities Center I was enticed by the amazing aroma of breakfast cooking. I was greeted by a variety of pastries, fruits, breads and other delicious choices at beautifully prepared tables.

I learned that this was not food prepared for me, but for special guests, those who spent last night under a bridge or on a park bench or wherever they could find shelter. Though they must have been hungry, no one stormed the buffet. Some were getting haircuts while others engaged in conversation with church members; it was as though they knew it would still be there for them when they were ready, and it was.

The guests had wandered in from the darkness, to the light of the great hall where they were greeted, welcomed, engaged in conversation, invited to the table, and treated with dignity.

Oh God, guide us with your light to that place of darkness and use us to be instruments of hope and healing. Amen.

Society of St. Andrew (endhunger.org) works with members of Hyde Park United Methodist who glean and help gather fresh produce left behind after the harvest, or the annual food show. The nutritious food is shared with special guests on Sunday morning at Open Arms bringing light through the gospel message, “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat.” December 14 Delivering Good News in a Rickshaw

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2: 10-11 (NRSV)

When Shanth Gole hired a rickshaw driver to take him across the city of Belgaum, India one evening, he shared his seat with the good news of Christ. Shanth, the editor of one of the seven language editions of The Upper Room devotional guide in India, sat down in the three-wheeled vehicle and was surprised to be sharing the seat with a small stack of Christian publications under a hand-painted sign, “These books are free.” “Christians in India face opposition against preaching in public places,” he explains. People wanting to share their faith must find creative ways to start conversations. Seeing the books on the seat next to him, Shanth seized the moment and introduced himself and The Upper Room. A few days later, the driver arrived at the editor’s office asking for a few copies of the magazine to share with others. As a result, a group of rickshaw drivers gathers in the town square every morning to read the daily devotional and pray together. “I thank God for the opportunity to travel by that particular rickshaw on that day,” Shanth says. While Advent is typically known as a season of expectation, Shanth’s story reminds us that Christ—who came as a baby born in a simple manger, in a little town—is present in the unexpected moments and places of our everyday lives.

Lord, open my eyes to see you in the unexpected. Help me find new opportunities to share your good news with those I meet today.

Most known for the daily devotional guide, The Upper Room (upperroom.org) is a global ministry providing resources that foster the spiritual lives of people in 100 countries, in 35 languages. Hyde Park United Methodist partners with The Upper Room to support international editions of the devotional guide. December 15 Faith Trail Run

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Trail running in the dark was not my first choice for a fun Friday evening, yet somehow, my friends persuaded me. Standing at the start line, I tried to look as calm as I could, but I was nervous. I wasn’t afraid, but it was the anxiety of the unexpected that concerned me.

As we started running, and the athletes spread out along the trail, I looked up and noticed hundreds of headlamps snaking their way up the side of the hill. It looked like a long string of lights. A great sense of peace came over me. I knew everything on the trail run was going to be fine.

Advent can be a moment like this for many people. We may be nervously reflecting on our personal challenges, struggling to know which way to turn, when suddenly, we can experience the peace of Christ fill our hearts. Jesus is the Light of the world, and He lights up the path on our faith trail run. We can rest assured that there are many other Christians running the race with us, so we don’t need to be afraid

Dear God, please help me not stress so much about the path ahead, but simply put my faith headlight on and trust Jesus to help me put one foot in front of the other.

Delme Linscott is currently serving as a Minister in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. She is an adjunct lecturer teaching at the Seth Mokitimi Methodist Seminary (smms.ac.za.) The Seth Mokotimi Methodist Seminary, located in KwaZulu-Natal currently registers over 100 seminarians each year, all in formation training for the ministry of Christ through the agency of the church. December 16 Our New Neighbors

The Lord your God is the God of all gods and Lord of all lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God who doesn’t play favorites and doesn’t take bribes. He enacts justice for orphans and widows, and he loves immigrants, giving them food and clothing. That means you must also love immigrants because you were immigrants in Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:17-19 (CEB) In the fall of 2015, our Forum class was inspired to be agents of “humanizing the other” and to expand the definition of “loving one another” by Brian D. McLaren’s book, “A New Kind of Christianity.” We discussed how followers of Jesus relate to people of other faiths. It was very provocative, given the heated rhetoric about Muslims, refugees, and terrorism. The Florida bishop’s letter encouraged a response to the influx of refugees, so we researched our new neighbors in Tampa. An opportunity arose to set up an apartment for a newly arriving family of six from Syria. Greeting these dazed but grateful new neighbors with four beautiful children was instantly gratifying, and the first step to becoming involved with five newly arrived families from Syria and Iraq. All the families were Arabic speaking Muslims, and two of the men spoke English. We have provided clothing, furnishings, occasional financial assistance, tutors for adults and children, educational outings, medical appointment assistance, government benefit renewal assistance and job opportunities. Most importantly, the families have the assurance that they are valuable neighbors and friends of both Christians and Muslims. We share God’s blessings and help lead them out of the darkness of their war-ravaged countries and into a more hopeful future in our country. May we experience, enjoy, and embody God as Jesus did, as the radiant light of perfect compassion for all creation. And may we find or form our flocks, and may ten thousand flocks and more arise together in a great spiritual movement of justice, joy, and peace. (Benediction from Brian D. McLaren’s Blog, September 2016, brianmclaren.net.)

Marilyn Kaleel, Kathy Ollivier, Sally Ordway and Linda Rounsaville serve as volunteers with our refugee neighbors. For more information about this Hyde Park United Methodist ministry, see hydeparkumc.org. For information about refugee services in the community see the Department of Children and Family Services, myflfamilies.com/service-programs/refugee-services. December 17 Immersed in Hospitality

But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. Luke 22:26-27 (NIV)

“Do you prefer to take your bath in the evening or the morning?” Thabisile asked.

“Tonight would be great. I’m so not a morning person!” I replied.

“Let me just get things ready for you,” Thabisile laughed. A short while later she knocked on the bedroom door, “Your bath is ready, Mandy.”

I walked into the bathroom, and my knees almost buckled. She had drawn a hot bath for me heating the water in a kettle and transporting it to the bathroom. She refused to allow me to take a cold bath, no matter how I pleaded that it would be fine. She’d placed a couple towels and wash cloths in the bathroom as well.

I gingerly climbed in the tub and was overwhelmed with gratitude for her radical hospitality. She’d invited me into her home, and as I washed the African dust from my body, my salty tears splashed in the water. I couldn’t help but think of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet.

The light of God’s love and persevering grace shone brightly in the servant leadership and hospitality that Thabisile demonstrated. I was a stranger, and she invited me in.

God of relentless grace, help us to pour out your light and the radical hospitality and servant leadership that you call us to share on our friends, family and the stranger in need. Amen.

Thabisile Magwa serves as a monitor of the childcare center staff trained by Phakamisa (phakamisa.org), which means to uplift. Thabisile completed early childhood development training offered at Phakamisa, served in her local crèche (childcare center) then was recruited to join the staff. She recently completed her bachelor’s in education at the University of South Africa. Mandy Cloninger co-led the mission team to South Africa in 2016. Katie Townley is in fifth grade and is active in Sunday School and Club 45. The Fourth Week of Advent Dec. 18-24 Family Devotion: Praise the Lord, All the Day Long Start the conversation: How does it make you feel when someone praises you? Scripture Reflection: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:5-10; Luke 1:46b-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Talk About It: Psalm 146 begins and ends with “Praise the Lord.” In Luke 1:46b, after being told she was with child and would give birth to a son whose kingdom would never end, the young Mary praised and glorified God. I’m certain she didn’t understand all the details. I’m sure she had a lot of questions. I bet she was a little scared, a little uneasy about how this all would go. Yet she praised God. It is important to praise God. The Psalmist says, “I will praise the Lord all my life, I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” Then he describes all of the wondrous things God has done. He is the maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He remains faithful forever. He gives food to the hungry. He gives sight to the blind. What are you waiting for? Praise God from whom all blessings flow! This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long! Pray: Thank God for His presence in your life and all the wonderful ways He shows His amazing love for you and your family. Ask Him to help you stay focused on Him this Christmas season so you remember to praise Him every day and all of your life. Things to try this week: • Sit down with your family and have everyone draw or write a prayer or song of praise to God. Write or draw the things that you are thankful for, that He provides for you and praise Him for those things! Then take turns sharing your prayer or song of praise. • Play one of your favorite praise and worship songs (it doesn’t even have to be a Christmas song) and sing it together to God! Close your eyes, focus on the words and really sing it to Him! • Take a praise walk! One night after dinner, take a nighttime walk with your family to look at all the in your neighborhood. While you walk, praise God for all the good you see along the way and all the good in your life. December 18 The Powerful Heart of a Child

Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:15-16 (NIV)

We learned from donating to Metropolitan Ministries at Christmas that people tend to forget about donating toddler toys. So, every year my wife and I go shopping for toddler toys at Big Lots or Dollar Stores that can cost as little as $2-$3 apiece.

A few years ago, I took my seven-year-old nephew, Tripp, shopping for these toys. He understood we were shopping for poor children, but how do you control a seven-year-old boy in a toy department after telling him he can fill a shopping cart to the top with 100 toys? Tripp was grabbing handfuls of toys and tossing them in the cart like a wild man.

I gently stopped him and put the toys back on the shelves. I told him that he had to lovingly touch each toy with his heart as well as his hands thinking of the less fortunate children that would receive it, so that his love would go with each toy. Thereafter, Tripp picked up the toys more deliberately pressing his eyes shut in prayer over each toy he put in the basket.

I must confess that teaching my nephew that Christmas lesson made me stop to slow down and be more deliberate in loving those that I might serve.

Lord, let us draw near to touch those who we serve with our hearts as well as our hands. Amen.

Elio Eduardo Muller Jr. and his wife Drema serve as liaisons to our Cuba missions. Elio shared his powerful testimony this year at our Missions Celebration. For information about missions at Hyde Park United Methodist, see hydeparkumc. org. December 19 A Cheerful Giver

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7-8 (KJV)

She walked into the mission fueled by her Christmas spirit. She had heard about a unique, gift-exchange program that the Good Samaritan Mission was offering, and she wanted to be part of it. She unloaded her arms with the bags of toys she purchased earlier that day. “How many more toys do you need?” she asked my wife, Theresa. “One thousand.” Her face sank. How could she possibly purchase 1,000 toys? Feelings of discouragement and disappointment flooded her head. Theresa noticed her fallen expression. She explained, “You know, you’re not supposed to buy 1,000 toys. If 100 people bring 10 toys, that’ll be fine. Or, 200 people bring in five, we’ll make it. If everyone does their part, the goal will be reached!” Whatever God has asked you to do with the gifts, talents, and resources He’s given you, do it to the best of your ability. But know, you are not alone. Each of us lives out our different purpose, in harmony and unison with one another, to His glory. We pray that we all cheerfully give of our time, talent and treasure to glorify you, God.

Good Samaritan Mission (gsmission.org) ministers to the spiritual, physical and emotional needs of farm worker families and those at or below poverty level in southeastern Hillsborough County. Rev. William R. Cruz serves as the CEO of Good Samaritan Mission, Inc. December 20 Who is Watching?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:27-29 (NIV)

Advent causes me to ponder what it means to watch. It makes me wonder, who is watching me? What do my words and actions say about me? As a child I paid attention to my parents’ and grandmother’s words and actions. They modeled the mantra: “Love one another” adding, “especially your neighbor.” The irony is that our hard-scrabble, barely-making-it family of eight worked hard to share. Bake bread for the new neighbor. Give your last dollar to the March of Dimes. Tithe. We proudly sat down every payday to put dimes in our Sunday school offering envelopes. We talked about where mission money ended up around the globe. My parents shared so I would, too. Decades flew by. Acutely aware that now grandchildren are watching me, I want to pay it forward. We have a great opportunity to share the mission of Heifer International. These kids go on their computers and research the animals they will choose. Then we “give” them their animal instead of a . We have their rapt attention when we say they do not need more stuff, but that they can celebrate the joy of a family somewhere receiving an animal. This Heifer gift will sustain a family. Knowing that Heifer recipients also pay it forward with the offspring of their animals is a joy. Even a flock of hens brings giggles of pride to our grand kids. As we countdown the days in Advent, I know 12 children who can name the animal that each selected and who are watching the mailbox to get that thank you letter from Heifer International.

O God, Let my faith, my words and my values match my actions. This is my faith challenge and my prayer for Advent. As Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy will be done.” Amen.

Carleen Boyer serves as mission liaison for Heifer International (heifer.org.) Heifer provides 22 different kinds of livestock to 817 projects on five continents, including 25 states in the U.S. December 21 Oh Boy! A New Pair of Socks!

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NIV)

Pain and suffering come in many shapes and sizes. The number one request from people in homeless shelters is: socks. It is also the number one comment we hear from people who receive the gift of a Hyde Park United Methodist Manna Bag: “Oh boy! A new pair of socks!”

Each bag contains healthy, non-perishable food items, information on how to find help in Hillsborough County, a grace card and a new pair of socks!

When I think of the many blessings I’m thankful for: having a car and a home are at the top of the list. It always strikes me that people on the streets haven’t got a home, and they use their feet for transportation. It would be dreadful to spend every day walking around in socks and shoes with holes in them.

As Christians, we are charged with being the light of Christ and watching for opportunities to bring help and hope to those in need. As we wander toward the light, we want to do something but often find ourselves at a loss.

Each time I give a manna bag, I’m filled with a sense of humility and love. I’m never sure who gets more out of the gesture, the recipient or me.

God, light my path that I may be a light to others. Allow my path to be filled with your fruits and help me to shine on those who need your light. Amen.

Gray Caron has been involved with the Manna Ministry, a ministry of Hyde Park United Methodist, for seven years and she has led the team for the last four. To help prepare or sell Manna Bags, please contact Gray at 813-839-0083 or [email protected]. December 22 Medicine and Miracles

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 (NIV) When asked a few years back how Hyde Park United Methodist’s mission team to Nicaragua could best serve his clinic, Dr. Medina suggested providing education to the women in the community on pregnancy, breast feeding and child care. The need for this education in Nicaragua is dire as the rate of 10- to 14-year-old girls having babies in Nicaragua has risen almost 50 percent over the last decade. One in three teenagers has a child before she turns 18. This request gave birth to what we affectionately call “The Preggo Team.” In our third year now, we spend a few hours with women, who have been personally invited by the doctor, providing a comprehensive seminar on how your body changes, what to expect, and what is normal during and after pregnancy. Dr. Medina feels so strongly about the value of this information that, as we were ready to begin, he asked us to wait as he knew there were many more women who should be in attendance. Rather than sit and wait and hope they arrive, he got in his car and on his phone and rounded up many more “students.” Each woman is provided a comprehensive booklet that she gets to take home. Each page is encased in a plastic sleeve as the team knows the kind of damp, dirt floor home in which these women likely live. Having some protection from the elements gives this booklet a better than average chance of being around long after the team departs. Our medical reach extended to the construction site this year when Glenn had a conversation with a mom whose child has rheumatoid arthritis in her knee. When our doctor, Rick, visited the construction site, he met this young girl and two other children with serious problems, one with scoliosis and the other with a heart problem. These children face bleak futures with inadequate medical care. While Glenn, who used to work with Shriner’s Hospital, has obtained the application forms to see if the Shriner’s can assist two of the children, both he and Rick are committed to looking for resources to assist the boy with the heart problem. Thank you, God for sending us to this place. We have no doubt that you put our team and these children together. We now put it in your hands to care for these families. We have faith that you will.

Trish Krider has been doing mission trips to Nicaragua for the past eleven years. It has changed her life and continues to do so each time she returns. See hydeparkumc.org/the-world for information about mission trips. December 23 My Soul Magnifies the Lord

My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my savior, for he has looked upon the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is his name. Luke 1:46-49 (NRSV)

Many of the young people here in South Africa feel as if they are walking in times when the lights are off for them. University-age students experienced a 10.5 percent fee increase, which launched a protest campaign called, The Fees Must Fall.

I asked one of the leaders at the campus closest if she would meet with me for it was on my heart to invest in young women serving in leadership to support them. Her response was… tears.

She shared with me that this morning she was reflecting on a gift she was given to participate in a program called, I am somebody. She had learned how important it was to care for herself in order that she might have something to give to others. Her prayer had been answered. My response was… tears.

One morning when we met, I was shivering. She shared with me that she was used to the cold. Her shack had burned down, and the electrical line had not yet been replaced. She shared she slept under six blankets, and the cold was not as bad as getting out of bed once you got used to it. I found myself speechless. I could not imagine her facing all she faced with such hope, but she did.

She is Mary to me—singing a song of hope in dark times. I am thankful for the continued support that allows me to be a part of this radiant life

May we recognize the beauty and light that lives in all those around us, that we might participate together in turning the lights on in the world. Amen.

The Rev. Michelle Shrader serves as a Missionary Pastor at Central Methodist Mission in Cape Town, South Africa (cmm.org.za.) In addition, she supports the work of the Bishop in Cape Town. December 24 Ministry of Presence

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music. Psalm 98:4 (NIV)

The first time I saw Dumazile, she was singing and chanting. Then, dancing. After more singing, she delivered a powerful sermon in Zulu.

It was the first morning of the mission trip to Durban’s Pinetown Methodist Church, South Africa, where Phakamisa is located. We joined the staff and gogos (grandmothers) for daily devotions. Dumazile sat in a chair in front of the altar, relaxed yet alert. Head wrapped in a black and red scarf, her long skirt swaying, her body and voice commanding and directing our attention. Her words and presence touched me. God spoke to me through Dumazile.

I met Dumazile later that day. The work day was at an end and the walk to the taxi stand, a few busy blocks away from the church, began. Dumazile took my arm firmly, with resolve and joy. Steering me, directing me again, with her presence.

The ministry of presence was manifest in Dumazile. Holy presence. She took my arm at the end of every day. Still does. A wonder.

Dear Lord, allow me to awaken to your presence and be present. I want to awaken to the wonder of your presence in my life and in others. Amen.

Phakamisa (phakamisa.org) is a non-governmental organization that provides services to women, especially grandmothers (or gogos in Zulu) who care for their grandchildren orphaned by AIDS. Services include training in child care, gardening, sewing and beading. Susan Northcutt was a member of the 2016 South Africa mission team. December 25 Get into the Crib with Jesus this Christmas

An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest. Luke 9:46-48 (NIV)) The Christmas morning service is always characterized by the humming undercurrent of muffled voices – the voices of very excited children. Last Christmas morning was no different. The children were invited to gather around the crib standing at the front of the church to hear their special message. They ran excitedly to the front of the church and formed a ragged circle around the crib. As Pastor Kim began to tell them the age-old story of the birth of Jesus, a small boy broke from the ranks of the circle and proceeded to slowly climb into the crib. The congregation roared with laughter! It was truly a very funny sight to see the face of an excited little boy smiling and waving to his parents from the crib. However, there was a profound message that was being delivered to the congregation and to the world. The real questions for all of us this Christmas are important: Are you prepared to get intimately involved with Jesus? Are you prepared to become a child again? Can you lose your inhibitions and get into the crib with Jesus this Christmas? The choice, of course, is an entirely personal one, but in a world that groans and weeps at injustice, violence, corruption and greed, it does seem to require an answer from each of us on this Christmas Day. I pray that your answer is a resounding, “YES!” Loving God, on this special day, strip away the many layers of my adult conditioning. Allow me the courage and faith to run to the crib as a little child; filled with wonder and excitement at the renewed feeling of having a newly-born Jesus in my heart and soul. Remind me often that with Jesus, every single day of the year is Christmas day. Amen. Merry Christmas! Roland Rink serves as director of Africa Upper Room (international.upperroom. org), a new model for international ministry, drawing people together throughout the continent, practicing the daily disciplines of reading the Bible, praying, and sharing the journey with Christians around the world. Today, The Upper Room is distributed in 27 African countries. Megan Combee is in fifth grade and is active in Sunday School , Club 45 and Celebration Choir.

HERE, ALL ARE WELCOME TO EXPERIENCE A NEW DAY DAWNING THIS CHRISTMAS

Sundays in Advent - “A New Day Dawning” - Nov. 27, Dec. 4, 11, 18 8:30, 9:30 and 11 a.m. at the Hyde Park campus • 5:30 p.m. at The Portico campus On so many levels, we live life in the dark. What we hope for and pray for is the inbreak of new life and new possibility. Essentially, the dawn of a new day. This Advent calls us to walk, watch, wonder, and wait for the new dawn of Jesus’ arrival in our lives.

Blue Christmas Service - 7 p.m. Dec. 21 Chapel at the Hyde Park campus This is supposed to be a joyful time of year, but… for some of us, the holidays are hard. You are not alone. Childcare available with RSVP to [email protected].

Family Christmas Service - 5:30 p.m. Dec. 23 Sanctuary at the Hyde Park campus Joyous for all ages, a service by our children and youth.

Carols in the City - 7:30 p.m. Dec. 23 Begins at The Portico Campus. Come-as-you-are Christmas caroling on the sidewalks of downtown Tampa. No nursery or childcare available.

Christmas Eve Candlelight Services - Saturday, Dec. 24 Nine services across two campuses at 3 p.m. 5 p.m. 7 p.m. 11 p.m. All are invited to celebrate the coming of the Christ child with Scripture, spoken word and a variety of music. Complete details about all services on both campuses are at hydeparkumc.org/christmas. Childcare available at all services except 11 p.m.

Christmas Day Service - 10:30 a.m. Dec. 25 Worship service in the Sanctuary at the Hyde Park campus only. No Children’s Ministries programming, nursery or childcare.

hydeparkumc.org/Christmas Hyde Park campus: 500 W. Platt St. - Tampa, FL - 813.253.5388 The Portico campus: 1001 N. Florida Ave. - Tampa, FL - 813.254.5139