"...became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory,

The glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

John 1:14

In the approaching Epiphany Season may the Holy Spirit help us disciples (the church) celebrate the nativity of Jesus Christ in the midst of our real-time living and disciplemaking. Through scripture readings and sermons may our worship bring new life to others and us as we remember: And the Word was with Mary helping her to present Jesus at the Temple and offer a sacrifice - And the Word manifested in the Christ Child, Jesus, showing God's wisdom to the teachers - And the Word proclaimed Jesus' identity at his baptism, saying this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.

And the Word intentionally became flesh! God's redeeming design upon all human flesh was initiated in the nativity of Jesus Christ. The salvation of the world through the birth of Jesus was not Plan B or some re-scripted default work of God. No! God was and is proactive. No scheme or plan is accomplished outside the Initiating, Creating Living Word.

And the Word is at work in the midst of our real time - creating, making new, penetrating our lives and others, as we shepherd Christ's redeeming ministry of disciplemaking. As disciples let us not live reactive lives, led and pressured by the circumstances of lesser things around us. Let us choose to be available to and be led by God's designing, proactive, initiating Word in you and me, pastors, lay leaders, and

superintendent of the Mountain Lakes District.

And the Word is crying out to us to find a way to develop into effective, excellent leaders of Jesus' Church, manifesting the presence of God's Spirit at work in our lives and the churches we serve, evidenced by the fruit of new disciples being birthed. And the Word is seeking to become flesh in you and me to call a whole new generation of people to have faith in Jesus Christ - And the Word using our flesh is initiating a relationship and manifesting a Christ-redeeming vision to youth and young adults - And the Word through the Holy Spirit is proactively at work, conceiving and celebrating new disciple-making faith communities in the United Methodist Church and beyond.

And the Word in you, manifested through faith in Jesus Christ, will be used to redeem and transform lives in 2008.

May we behold Christ's glory and witness the same!

~Will Garrett

Matters for Prayer:

•  Jeff and Melissa Dunaway in the loss of her mother
•  Karl Abernathy and family in the loss of his granddaughter
•  Carolyn Ball (wife of Jimmy Carl Ball) - illness
•  Michael Keeble - recovering from surgery
•  2008 Appointments
•  Please plan to come and bring your laity to the Celebration of Methodist on January 5