Today's "Daily Bread" from St. David's

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Daily Bread

"In those days
a decree went out from Emperor Augustus
that all the world should be registered ..."

(Luke 2:1)

For me, the above stained glass window calls to mind the Christmas story, ... and yes, you may have figured out that I'm starting to run out of windows. Why else would I be talking about Christmas at the end of April? But in many ways, this wonderful story of a baby born in a manger, of the "incarnation" - of God coming to be with us and to share in our lives, has changed the world forever. And even beyond it's amazing message, this story evokes many happy emotions in us and helps us look back to many fond memories – memories of family gatherings … and candlelight services … and joyous gift giving … and happy carol singing … and beautiful decorations … and so much more. Its one story, but it helps remind us of what’s been truly important in our lives.

Likewise, the day will come when we can look back at this time, and this whole “Coronavirus crisis” and “sheltering-in-place” will just be one of our stories we tell. We’re in the midst of struggling through it right now, and it looks like it’s going to be going on for some time to come, … but I look forward to that day when we can look back and tell our stories – stories of families coming together and finding interesting and innovative ways to spend their confinement together, … stories of shared hardships and the renewed appreciation of simple pleasures, … stories of neighbors helping neighbors, … stories of grandparents "Zooming" and going on Facebook and becoming more technologically savvy than you thought possible, … stories of a whole society changing their behaviors and working together for the common good, … stories of people realizing they’re doing God’s work in their daily jobs - nurses providing human contact and making sure people don’t suffer along, shelf-stockers working hard and keeping much needed supplies available, garbage men keeping our streets clean and maintaining a sense of order in the chaos, ... and so many more.Yes, one day, we’ll be able to look back and tell stories. But now we’re in the midst of it, and the struggles and suffering and hardships continue. Yet it’s into this reality today that we hear again the story of the incarnation – that in a baby born in a manger, God came to truly be with us and to completely share in our lives. May this news fill you with Christmas peace and joy … even at the end of April.

-- Pastor Micah

In the spirit of this story, I'm inviting everyone to take part in what I'm calling our:

"St. David's Christmas Video Challenge."

I'm hoping to make a compilation video of the Christmas story, with a variety of people each reading a verse from the story. So, if you'd like to be one of our readers (I need 15 - first come, first served):

1) Contact me by phone or text (347 649-5282)
or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
2) I'll randomly assign you a verse.
3) Make a video of you reading the assigned verse
and send it to me.

My hope is to collect all of the videos, compile them, and premiere the video in a "Daily Bread" next week. Thanks.

Daily Song

*** Click on the above image to hear the song.

One of my favorite times in my almost 10 years at St. David’s has always been Christmas Eve. I don’t know exactly what it is about that night. Maybe it’s the way everyone’s faces are bathed in candlelight as we sing “Silent Night,” or the underlying sense of excitement and anticipation that seems to pulse through the air, or even the sight of the pews full of people with huge smiles on their faces. But honestly, I think the biggest thing that resonates for me is the almost palpable sense of hope that hangs in the air. That sense of hope that comes from knowing that we are about to celebrate the moment when Jesus was born, the moment that would change everything that would happen from that minute on.It’s a beautiful story, the Christmas story. And one so full of hope and possibility. And that sounds like a story that we all could really use right now. Because that sense of hope might seem a little shaky at this second with all of the uneasiness and uncertainty surrounding us at every turn. But that’s exactly why the story of Christmas is so important. It reminds us that the greatest of all hopes can come in the tiniest of forms in the most unexpected of ways. The greatest story ever told gives us hope that our story too can change at any second in ways that we never imagined as long as we just believe...So as Lucille Ball said in the movie version of the musical Mame, “we need a little Christmas now!” And I can’t think of a better song to go along with that idea than one that has become such a treasured part of our Christmas Eve tradition at St. David’s over the years - the Christmas version of Leonard Cohen’s classic song “Hallelujah,“ performed here by the contemporary Christian music and worship band Cloverton. I hope this beautiful and moving version brings a little bit of Christmas joy to your day!

Please view our Photo Gallery and enjoy the pictures of the various aspects of our life together as a community.