Saturday, December 18, 2010

Merry Christmas! Also, TWO WAY STREET in Baltimore with Project Connect...

For those of you who still have exams -- good luck!  I hope you are getting rest, eating well, and taking care of yourselves and those around you.

Christmas is just around the corner.  I love how subversive it is -- that God would begin the reconciliation of the world to God-self through the birth of a baby in a feeding trough for animals, out behind of a full inn -- because his parents are far from home.

Jesus didn't come into the world as part of a family with wealth.  They couldn't buy their way to better lodging in an overcrowded town.  That hints to me that we shouldn't make Christmas about having lots of money and stuff -- or about needing whatever is cool or what everyone else has.

I'm a fan of celebrating Christmas with family or friends, focusing on relationships and caring for people -- especially those we meet who might not have family or friends with whom they can share Christmas.

Dear Lord, help us to celebrate Christmas in ways that get to the meaning of the season even though it is so counter to the culture around us.  Dwell with us, and help us to bless those around us in ways we might not expect.  In Jesus we pray, AMEN.

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FYI: I'm not going to have access to Internet or phone for most of the rest of the month. If you leave me a message, I'll try to get to it in early January.
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TWO-WAY STREET RETREAT in Baltimore -- January 2-7, 2011.  Start your year off with a winter break exploring faith and service with other young adults!  (Open to ages 18-30.)  This will be a fantastic "serve and be served" week with wonderful people -- don't miss it!  I heard great  things about this from those who went last year.  Cost is only $25 (let us know if you need help with that...)  For details, email don@projectconnect.org or janet@projectconnect.org -- and check out the brochure at:
http://projectconnect.org/images/uploads/baltimore-service-ministry-jan2011-brochure.pdf


Other than that opportunity, we are on break until worship on Wed. 1/26 at 7:47pm in JC meeting room B.  Have a great break, and may it nourish you and recharge you for the coming semester!

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We are starting to look ahead to lots of exciting opportunities next semester.
Join the Facebook group & invite your friends: http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=19907586200
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Grace and peace,
Ben
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Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University
www.LCMGMU.org
http://facebook.com/LCMGMU
http://twitter.com/LCMGMU
http://GMU747.org
MSN 2C7; SUB 1 room 207; Fairfax, VA 22030
703-829-0220