TOUCHPOINT The Marble Magazine One West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001-4596 212-686-2770 MarbleChurch.org
What Matters Most to You?
We are now into the busiest season of the year — Perhaps that is sage advice as we conclude one so busy, in fact, that it leaves us almost breathless. year and enter a new one. Maybe we would be wise to There are parties to host and family consider the elements of 2015 that we reunions to plan and gifts to buy and need to retain as well as the others that travel arrangements to make and church we need to delete. Then, moving forservices to attend, etc. December can be ward into 2016 we simply focus on that and usually is the most hurried, harried which matters most. Have there been month on the calendar. moments of compassion, charity, mercy, generosity, kindness, celebration, recIf on ocasion we step back from the onciliation, or love? If we identify those day-to-day hectic nature of the month, as high moments in the journey of the we are able to view life’s journey at year past, then why not make a decision an important juncture. This is a time of to create similar moments in the year concluding and beginning ... a time of to come? Have there been occasions of transitioning from past to future ... a Dr. Michael Brown anger, judgment, prejudice, selfishness, time of assessing what was and planning self-doubt, or recrimination? If the memory for what is yet to be. December (the end of one year) of such brings guilt or pain, then why not identify those gives way to January (the birth of another). In carefully moments as learning experiences — specifically learnreviewing what we have done and/or left undone in the ing what to discard from our behavioral menu as we past twelve months, we can more effectively project for move forward? the twelve months that lie ahead. St. Paul once wrote, “I press on toward the goal for Several of us from Marble were recently in South the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians Africa, observing ministries, assessing needs, and strat3:14) To reach that goal in any consequential fashion egizing as to how we can provide meaningful support. requires that we pay close attention to our yesterA worker in an orphanage (which you help underwrite days in order to craft more meaningful tomorrows. with your offerings) made an observation about Remember the counsel of George Santayana: “Those Christmas. The children in that orphanage hope that who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat families will adopt them, will welcome them into their them.” As you celebrate a Merry Christmas, learn the homes and love them. The worker said, “All around the lessons you need to learn from the past twelve months world children will be hoping for countless things at in order that you may create a truly Happy New Year! Christmas. These children will hope for just one thing — that someone will choose them to become part of their family.” She was correct in suggesting that those children have reduced their wish list to that which matters most.
DECEMBER 2015 / JANUARY 2016 SUNDAY WORSHIP, 11AM Dr. Michael B. Brown Senior Minister preaching
DECEMBER 6 2nd Sunday in Advent
A Rude Reminder Luke 3:1-6
DECEMBER 13 3rd Sunday in Advent
Peace Amid Bedlam Philippians 4:4-7
DECEMBER 20 4th Sunday in Advent
The Baby Is the Easy Part Micah 5:2-5a
DECEMBER 27
The Difference a Day Makes Luke 2:25-32
Dr. R. Mark King preaching
CHRISTMAS EVE & NEW YEAR’S EVE SERVICES See page 3.
WeWo & Jazz Revelation See page 10.