January 4

Happy New Year, Church Family,

But more importantly, ECSTATIC EPIPHANY!

Sunday we will be celebrating one of my favorite Christian festivals, "The Feast of the Epiphany." Epiphany is the last day of the Season of Christmas. Its signature story is that of the Magi in Matthew 2:1-12. This text is FILLED with so many jewels to help us navigate through life. I always look forward to preaching on this text and to experiencing the hymns, liturgies, and experiences of this Festival, which includes Holy Communion.

If you are not able to worship with us in person, please join us online through our Livestream Ministry. Have bread and juice with you, so you can participate in the Eucharist.

10 O'CLOCK HOUR IS BACK

I hope among your New Year's resolutions are to get to know more Asburians on a deeper level and to grow in knowledge and in faith. Guess what? Our Sunday study and fellowship for adults will be starting back this week! I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. The group uses the wonderful video series, Living The Questions. This experience is open to all.

"BIG" COFFEE HOUR

This is not only the first Sunday of the month, it's the first Sunday of the year! So, join us in Holliday Hall after the service for a time of fellowship and brunch. If you are able, please bring some of your favorite food items to share with others so we can have a great feast together. You can drop your food off in the kitchen when you arrive. We thank the members of our Kitchen-Hospitality Team for their help with the event.

FLOWER CALENDAR

I hope you noticed the church email that went out about the 2025 Flower Calendar. Supplying the flowers for the worship service is a wonderful way to honor a Loved One or to remember a special event in your life. It also blesses the congregation as we experience God's beauty in the sanctuary during worship. Lastly, after the service, the flowers are arranged and delivered by members of our Flower Ministry to uplift the hearts of our members who are sick, grieving, or having a special event in their life. That ALL happens for $70. For details on participating, see the email, our website, or call the church office. Thanks!

SOUTHERN LIGHTS, JAN. 17th-19th

Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, and Richard Rohr.

What do they all have in common?

They are brilliant theologians.

They are three of my favorite theologians.

AND I never heard of them when I was in seminary in the late 1980s.

I discovered them at a wonderful conference called January Adventure on St. Simon's Island about 20 years ago. Now I try to go to the conference every year.

If you want to hear theologians and speakers focused on progressive Christianity and making our faith relevant for today, I highly recommend this conference, which is now called, "Southern Lights." This year, the facilitators for the conference are Brian McLaren and Diana Butler Bass. Ken Medema will be handing the music. (If you don't know who Ken Medema is, Google him, or talk with Ray Ellis. He'll talk your ear off about him!) The conference will be January 17th - 19th at Epworth by the Sea on St. Simon's Island. If you are interested in learning more about it and/or registering, here is the link: https://southernlightsconference.com/

JIMMY CARTER

I can't end my weekly email without mentioning the death of former President Jimmy Carter. Many of you know that going to Plains, Georgia, to officiate the funeral of Asbury member, Tim Rockwell led to one of the highlights of my life. Tim and his wife, Beverly, had been among our first new members when Cheri and I came to Asbury. Tim and his parents had lived on Koinonia Farm near Plains, and had been good friends with President Carter. The family asked President Cater to participate in the service.

I'll never forget first arriving at the little church, trying to talk with everyone involved with the service. As I was addressing a number of people in front of me, I could tell someone was standing behind me, waiting patiently for me to finish. After answering all the questions, I turned to see if I could help this patient person. I was surprised to see that it was President Carter. His authenticity and humility were just as advertised.

My mother had traveled to Plains with me for the funeral, and she had the honor of sitting with Rosalynn. Mom was in her usual good voice that day. We had some good singing in that little church for that service. Rosalynn said she'd never heard anything like it!

I'm sure my mother was one of the first in line to welcome both Rosalynn and Jimmy into the Kingdom.

We are sure going to miss what this man brought to the table. I think it's fair to say that no former president did more for humanity after their presidency.

I stumbled upon this poem about President Carter written by retired Presbyterian minister, professor, and poet, Rev. Paul Hooker.

Goodbye, fierce and gentle warrior,

farmer with your hands full

of good soil. You grew things.

You made your choices for weal and woe,

held your power loosely, let it go;

asked nothing of others

you asked not of yourself.

In extraordinary times, you were an ordinary man —

not a hero, not a saint, not a role model.

You looked into our eyes and told the truth

as best you understood it. We did not listen.

We wanted fairy tales of false greatness,

glib promises of never-ending good times,

eternal morning in a land immune to night —

Lies, all, and so you warned us.

But comforting calumny is easier to hear

than stony fact. We turned away

to worship at their shiny altars

these gods of glory, greed, and gore.

You wavered not an inch from your convictions,

smile undimmed by public humiliation;

you went back to planting crops

in fields where no one else thought they could grow:

Peace in loodied ground,

homes in urban lots,

love stretched like a wedding canopy

over time and patience and simple faith.

Doy not despair.

The fields you plowed still wait their harvest.

See, even now they bear your quiet fruit.

You may have noticed that we have sent out a number of emails, letting you know of church members who have had deaths in their family. As you know, the death of family members can be especially difficult at this time of year. Please be praying for all of our church family, loved ones, and friends who are dealing with loss.

God bless each and every one of you. Hope to see on Epiphany Sunday!

Love,
Billy