United Church of Two Harbors

I have this button which I put on this time of year that says "The Virgin Mary Was an Unwed Teenage Mother." I don't remember where or when I bought it, but I know why - because it is provocative and because it is true.

I like it because it makes me enter into the Christmas story in a new way, through the eyes of a young girl who has no more idea how her future will unfold than we do. It's easy to look back on history and admire people because we know how the story turns out. When you are in the midst of events you don't have that luxury.

I also like it because it makes me look at events around me in a new way. So often society writes off people like unwed teenage mothers - pities them, scorns them, shuns them, panders to them - and there are a lot of statistical reasons why...

• More than 75 percent are on welfare within five years of the birth of their first child.
• Only about one teenage mother in four ever completes high school.
• Seven out of ten marriages fail among women who had a baby while in their teens.
• The sons of teenage mothers are 13 percent more likely to end up in prison.
• The daughters of teen mothers are 22 percent more likely to become teen mothers themselves.

The deck is so stacked against them that we often forget the potential there. We stop seeing the beloved person created in the image of God and we only see a mass of statistics.

The story of Christmas is for the people who are in most need of good news, those whose lives have taken a bad turn. It's a story of new hope for the hopeless.

May this season be a blessing to you and those whose lives are intertwined with yours.

[Statistics from intheknow.com.]

We are shoveling out this morning but people are here at church and we are open for worship! If you do not feel safe on the roads, please exercise caution and stay home. Otherwise, feel free to come to worship at 10:30.

By the way I understand that Arrowhead Transit (the Blue Bus) is not running today, so if you were depending on that you'll either have to find an alternate means of transportation or stay home.

Last night the Youth Group did this quiz as "Who Wants a lot of Christmas Candy?" with two teams competing for more and more Christmas candy. They did pretty well. Now let's see how you do. The answers are in the extended entry.

1. Christmas has been celebrated on December 25 since –
a) Jesus was born
b) Pope Pius III declared it in 1781
c) The 4th century
d) Charles Dickens established the date in “A Christmas Carol”

2. Joseph was from
a) Bethlehem
b) Jerusalem
c) Nazereth
d) Detroit

3. Joseph & Mary traveled to Bethlehem with a
a) Camel
b) Donkey
c) Trade caravan
d) Who knows?

4. A manger is a
a) stable for domestic animals
b) wooden hay storage bin
c) feeding trough
d) barn

5. Which animals were present at Jesus’ birth?
a) cows, sheep, goats
b) cows, donkeys, sheep
c) lions, tigers, bears
d) Who knows?

6. Who saw the star in the east?
a) Shepherds
b) Mary and Joseph
c) Three Kings
d) None of the above

7. The angels who appeared to the shepherds sang –
a) “Joy to the World, the Lord Is Come”
b) “My Sweet Lord”
c) “Glory to God in the Highest”
d) “Unto us a child is born”

8. The baby Jesus cried
a) When the doctor slapped him on his behind
b) When the little drummer boy started banging on his drum
c) He never cried
d) Who knows?

9. Frankincense is
a) a precious metal
b) a precious fabric
c) a precious incense
d) a mad scientist who made a monster

10. Myrrh is
a) an easily shaped metal
b) a spice used for burying people
c) a drink
d) the name of Mary’s midwife

11. How many wise men came to see Jesus?
a) 3
b) 4 (but one got lost)
c) 22
d) Who knows?

12. The wise men were
a) doctors
b) eastern kings
c) astrologers
d) tourists

13. The wise men found Jesus in a
a) manger
b) inn
c) house
d) trailer park

14. The story of Jesus’ birth can be found in
a) Hebrews and Acts
b) Mark and John
c) Matthew and Luke
d) Genesis and Exodus

15. When Mary & Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant they
a) got married
b) Joseph wanted to break off the engagement and Mary left town for 3 months
c) Went to Bethlehem
d) Sought premarital counseling

16. Who told Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
a) an angel in a dream
b) Mary’s mother
c) Some wise men
d) Caesar Augustus

17. Joseph, Mary and Jesus went to Egypt to
a) see the pyramids
b) escape Herod’s wrath because of a warning in a dream
c) put Jesus in a basket in the reeds by the river
d) They never went to Egypt.

18. This gospel speaks of Joseph being visited in dreams by angels
a) Matthew
b) Mark
c) Luke
d) John

19. Mary, when she finds out she’s pregnant goes to visit
a) her mother, Anna
b) her cousin, Elizabeth
c) her midwife, Obstretica
d) Santa Clause

20. Jesus is born in
a) Jerusalem
b) Nazareth
c) Bethlehem
d) Duluth

21. King Herod found out about the birth of Jesus
a) by visiting astrologers
b) by reading the Jerusalem newspaper
c) by his wise advisors
d) by a dream

22. The wise men brought a gift of
a) frankincense
b) myrrh
c) gold
d) all of the above

23. When the wise men didn’t return to King Herod he
a) went to look for Jesus by himself
b) had all of the baby boys in Bethlehem killed
c) cried
d) proclaimed a day of celebration for the birth of a new king

24. Jesus’ first visitors, after his birth, were
a) talking animals
b) shepherds
c) wise men with gifts
d) tax collectors

25. The name “Jesus” means
a) God’s chosen
b) God saves
c) Son of Jesse
d) Nothing

26. The 12 days of Christmas are
a) December 14-25
b) December 25-January 5
c) The 12 Sundays after Christmas
d) The time it took for Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem

I was shocked with the recent senseless killing spree of Matthew Murray. I was equally shocked when he encountered resistance at New Life Church in Colorado Springs from an armed security guard. When I heard that I wondered, "What kind of church has an armed security guard on duty?"

New Life Church is a megachurch with thousands of members. It was led, until recently, by the Rev. Ted Haggard who was a major figure in the evangelical movement until he was removed because of allegations of homosexual encounters with a prostitute and drug abuse.

The armed guard was Jeanne Assam, a former police officer from Minneapolis, who was licensed to carry her weapon. She was also, presumably, well trained in firearms safety.

Still, I have to ask, am I the only one troubled by the idea of armed guards at churches? Am I the only one who sees an issue with confronting firepower with firepower as being an odd reading of the gospel?

The media seems to be rushing to praise Assam as a hero whose actions prevented many innocent deaths. Maybe that's so. I can't say. But what does it say about our faith when we have to station armed guards at the doors of our churches?

Perhaps I am naive. But I am not speaking without some experience. I and my family were held up at gunpoint at my church in November 1999. Admittedly, the gunman was not out for blood, he was out for money, which I gladly gave - the four bucks I had in my pocket. I play over that scene over and over again in my mind wondering what I could have done differently or if I should have done anything differently. I also wonder what difference it would make if I had been packing at the time.

In Romans 12 Paul writes, "Do not repay anyone evil for evil... never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God." But, a few verses later, in Romans 13 he writes, "if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain!"

So my soul remains troubled by this story and I hope your spirit will be with my spirit in prayer. Let us pray for those who think violence is the only answer to the problem, whether perpetrator or protector.

Please leave your own comments or thoughts about this.

United Church will be having two different Christmas Eve services on Monday, December 24.

Acting Out the Nativity - At 3:00 pm all are welcomed to come to this improvised nativity story where children, young and old, are welcome to get up out of the pew and help act out the nativity story with Pastor Lawrence acting as narrator. No lines to rehearse and you still get to wear a kitchen towel on your head and pretend you are a shepherd!

Lessons and Carols - At 10:00 pm we will be having our traditional service of readings from scripture accompanied by songs of the season. The service will conclude with holy communion (all are welcome to partake, regardless of your church affiliation) and candle lighting.

United Church of Two Harbors is located at 531 3rd Ave, right across from the courthouse and right next to the public library.

The United Church Youth went Candy Caning tonight and left candy canes randomly in people's door wreaths and decorations all around Two Harbors. Think of it as reverse trick or treating!

If you received a candy cane and stopped by to say "hi" just leave a message in the comments section! As long as you're here stop by and try your hand at our Christmas Quiz. All are welcome to attend our Christmas Eve Services.

We're still holding regular Worship and Sunday School today, but be careful out there! They are talking about wind gusts of 40 mph and the snow is driving.

If you don't think you can make it, don't. Hope to see you at our Christmas Eve Services tomorrow.

If you have to stay at home, try taking the Christmas Quiz. You can look up most of the answers in Matthew 1 & 2 and Luke 1 & 2.