Six Geese-A-laying A-round A-gain

Today is the Sixth Day of Christmas, and we didn't make it to "building". Sunday morning is not about "buildings", it's about "church", so we had church at home. It started with a thought provoking Christmas song and short discussion, then moved quickly to the sermon. Going into the archives of Paso Robles Bible Church, we wanted to pick something from our sending church that would feel like home. We decided to listen to Dave Rusco's sermon, "The Miracle of the Virgin Birth: Joseph's Story". Since we've been honored to have Dave and Donna minister to us several times in TX, I preferred to visualize Dave preaching from our couch with a Starbucks mug, and our dog in his lap. (Don't worry - I visualized the coffee as decaf!) I even pictured a little storm outside the window with some thunder at just the right time to highlight the main points. (I always turned my head and just missed the lightning, tho'!) Kevin served communion: A dinner roll, gluten free cornbread, and Sparking blueberry juice. (Never took communion through a bendy straw, but am considering sneaking a stir stick into service next time!) Kevin ended our little service by trying to take an offering, but everyone left.

During the holiday season, most people see, or call, or write family to affirm their love for each other despite distance, or situation, or whatever else keeps us apart through the year. We are bunkered down in our home this season - not really planning to do most of our Christmas-past traditions. Surprisingly enough, this thought does not sadden me. Is not the entire point of Christmas is looking forward to the future and not getting hung up on the past tradition? My heart longs for things of the past - especially pining for All-Things-California, but that is not what makes my heart beat. My heart is eager for things to come. My heart anticipates the future with excitement - nervous excitement - but excitement all the same. I know that God can take our little Ivie Church - The A-laying A-round A-gain Church - and use it for whatever purpose He so chooses. Praise God that we live in such a time as this; we can have intimate fellowship in our family, and virtual-corporate fellowship with PRBC ... SIMULTANEOUSLY! Though we won't be in Paso for the Christmas Eve service, I can visualize all of our kids dripping candle wax down the backs of chairs. (You know who you are, but I'll never reveal your identity!) Funny how these "kids" are trapped in my memory as children, yet now they are all teens and probably giggling at the next group of little ones as the candle-wax-drip-tradition lives on! Perhaps in honor of Christmas Tradition, we'll drip some wax down our furniture on Christmas Eve...uh...then again...perhaps that's one of those traditions that was meant to be broken.