Ponderings

2^nd Sunday in Christmas | December 30, 2020
Just these lines, my friends …

… to say that we are drawing near to the end of 2020. I wish the strike of the clock could be like breaking a wicked fairy’s spell, and we would all suddenly find ourselves restored to what we have lost this year. That will not be the case though. However I do feel cautiously hopeful about 2021 – the vaccines are promising and there is a light at the end of the tunnel and a light on all the inequities that have been revealed during these months.

I am so grateful for the special Advent and Christmas seasons we’ve just experienced. To me they are all special, but this one was especially so. First of all, though worship was virtual, it was still rich and transformative. I loved watching the Christmas Eve service with seven of my family serving Holy Communion and lighting candles in our sacred circle. I think we made a powerfully unique family memory. If you missed the services on Christmas Eve or December 27, you can watch them here. Secondly, given our Wilson family history of frayed emotions during vacation times (I’ve chronicled these for you during the years.), we made it through our days together without a single fight. Praise be to God! Simply amazing!

Last week, I had the opportunity to watch our United Youth do their annual Talent Show. This year, though it was virtual, it was outstanding. You can watch here.

As we get closer to closing the door on one of the most trying years of our lifetime, I want to share something my wife, Karen, recently saw online. I’m grateful for the humor.

1. The dumbest thing I ever bought was a 2020 planner.
2. I was so bored I called Jake from State Farm just to talk with someone. He asked me what I was wearing.
3. 2019: Stay away from negative people. 2020: Stay away from positive people.
4. The world has turned upside down. Old folks are sneaking out of the house and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors!
5. This morning I saw a neighbor talking to her dog. It was obvious she thought her dog understood her. I came into my house and told my cat. We laughed a lot.
6. Every few days try your jeans on just to make sure they fit. Pajamas will have you believe all is well in the kingdom.
7. Does anyone know if we can take showers yet or should we just keep washing our hands?
8. This virus has done what no woman has been able to do. Cancel sports, shut down all bars and keep men at home!
9. I never thought the comment, “I wouldn’t touch him/her with a 6-foot pole” would become a national policy, but here we are!
10. I need to practice social-distancing from the refrigerator.
11. I hope the weather is good tomorrow for my trip to Backyard. I’m getting tired of the Living Room.
12. Never in a million years could I have imagined I would go up to a bank teller wearing a mask and ask for money.

My Devotional for Wednesday, December 30

My devotional for today is titled Ponderings. Please click here to watch.

This Sunday (January 3, 2021) in Worship

Will you join us for online worship this Sunday at 9:30 am (contemporary), 11:00 am (traditional) or 12:30 (Spanish-speaking).

This week our CCH community will gather for worship at 12:30 pm and begin a new worship series, An Unquestionable Authority. Pastor Roldan will be preaching from John 2:1-5 with his message, Qualities of a Good Guest.

In our morning services at 9:30 am and 11:00 am, please gather with your family, light a candle and sing some Christmas carols with us on the 2^nd Sunday of Christmas as Pastor Corey puts the Word into words for us.

Dr. Dayna Trivette has been a part of our church for many years. This year she wrote a beautifully moving Christmas poem called Still Waters. I love the way she ends it:

It’s been quite a year (like none other they say)
Ill winds came and blew many treasures away.
Lots of folks will complain but let’s not conform
But honor the ONE whose voice calms the storm.

And, as always, during these strange, uncertain, tumultuous and perilous days remember … God does God’s best work in moments like this.

Love Loud in the New Year,
Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II

Did you know that Pat & Nancy Bowes were featured in the annual newsletter of the Joe Martin ALS Foundation for raising $24,275 during their fundraiser this year? Way to go, Pat’s BOwesZO’s! Click here to learn more about the foundation & how they help those living with ALS.

Did you know that Roof Above distributes 1500 face masks each week to our homeless neighbors? Thanks to our church members’ generosity, Global Impact has donated 11,750 surgical face masks to different ministry partners in Matthews and in Charlotte.