Anticipating Advent

Advent Week 1

by Becky Davey

Advent—the very word brings a smile to my face, causing feelings of anticipation to float around in my head. Why this anticipation, this stirring of excitement? Who or what is coming? After all, advent simply means “coming or appearance.”

The plan for this Advent began long ago—before the earth was in existence. God made plans, He created the universe with millions and millions of stars and their planets. In one part of the universe He placed one planet with its sun, moon and stars. He called it earth and put seas, rivers, plants, birds and animals in it. Then He did something different; He created a man [Adam] and woman [Eve], made in His own image, to live there, tend the garden, eat the produce and fellowship with Him daily. An idyllic existence. 

One day, a Tempter came; Eve listened to the Tempter, disobeyed God and so broke her fellowship with Him. Adam joined her in her disobedience and he, too, no longer had fellowship with God. How sad. How terrible. But! God had made plans before creation. One of those plans that would cover all time, was a plan for fellowship to be restored. God would send a Special Someone to make a way for fellowship with God to be restored.

God gave many promises as He prepared people for the Advent of this Special Someone. Each promise, or prophecy, gave more and more information about this Special Someone, so people could recognize Him when He came. As the years passed, the promises gave a reminder, and also a built-in mounting sense of suspense and anticipation of this special Advent. When would it happen? Who would it be?

Each year, as Advent begins, I like to go back and re-read those promises. It adds to my sense of wonder and anticipation—God really wants our fellowship. He promised the way; He sent that Special Someone and fulfilled the promises—Who is that Special Someone? Has He come? If so, when? Are there any promises still to be fulfilled regarding Him? How does the Advent season as we experience it today relate to God’s promised Advent? Come; read the promises with me. We’ll start with just one today and go on to more next week.  

The first promise may seem obscure but its meaning becomes clear as we read further promises. This was part of the judgement against the Tempter (snake/serpent) and God’s part in it.

Genesis 3:15: I [God] will put enmity between you [the tempter/serpent] and the woman[Eve], and between your offspring and her offspring [singular: the Special Someone/ snake crusher]; he shall bruise your head [fatal injury], and you will bruise his heel [non-fatal injury]. 

God began giving more information about this Special Someone: some different names, qualities and actions—but still not a “when.” We’ll begin looking at them next week.

Photo credit: Photo by Rodolfo Marques on Unsplash

2020: Salty and Sweet

“Oh, Jesus, do all that you will with us Lord! We are yours!” 

Amy Hanson

A family favorite around the Gerlach Thanksgiving dessert buffet is a simple treat originally shared by Heidi Bleeker. (She and I go way back, even before the teenagers leading the youth group charge were ideas in our minds.) It’s simple: saltine crackers placed on a cookie sheet, creamy, buttery brown sugar atop, polka-dot chocolate chips on the hot butter, spreading as the chips soften*. Once cooled, the toffee treats are cut into puzzle pieces and devoured by young and old. A tasty classic, they offer a bit of salty and sweet, smoothness and crunch, each aspect bringing out the other.

This year kind of feels like those saltine toffee cookies: salty and sweet, smooth and crunchy. How can a year of so many unprecedented challenges have any blessings? It’s only through the work of Our Father, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Anxiety and depression have ruled over many this year with the uncertainty of health and job security, isolation and loneliness, many disappointments, and cancellation after cancellation. Anna Palfreeman shares, “It's hard to have to cancel so many plans [and] hangouts [because of a cold]; there are so many consequences to getting sick right now.” A deep grief seems to have covered the country and local community as we have prayed for those who were sick or could become so, and while watching everything we thought would never change, change in a minute. 

“We really miss seeing grandparents as much as we used to. No one in our family had a birthday party this year. The kids miss their friends, and I miss seeing people and having grow-up conversation. We miss our homeschool co-op and field trips,” shares Tavia White, whose parents Kep and Carolyn Stone also attend The Vine. Kep shares their grandchildren’s disappointment, “[We’ve been] unable to spend in-person time with our daughter, her husband, and our four grandkids.” 

And it’s not just families with young children struggling to adjust, as even college classes have transitioned to online. “The biggest negative was for my son who signed up for college classes. He is not an online-learner and struggled through three classes, failing one. His VA school benefits have been put on hold until he can prove he can pass his next class, which he has to pay for himself…difficult to do when he can’t get sustainable work during COVID. There is no extra money,” laments a church member.

An elderly church member shares that her family was the reason she kept the will to live while battling an illness before the COVID shutdown. Upon her recovery, she was one of the first people in our area to contract COVID-19. But when she was released, “The family I fought to get better for has not been able to be around each other. But I thank God that he continues to use my family to serve him. We will have an eternity to be together.”

The sweetness has shown itself as well. With the COVID shutdowns, individual families have spent more time together than ever before. Dads and Moms working from home and after-school activities cancelled lent to regular family walks, lunches together, board and card games, and creative sibling bonding. With family and friends near and far now unable to see one another, the technology of Zoom has become a household name. It’s even the tool we rely upon for Sunday worship! Only God could turn something so salty into something so sweet. Karen Schickling shares her struggle with isolation and loss of income, but “[It] has made me get into some organization at home, things I’ve been putting off, downsizing, and foremost more time in prayer and in scripture.”

Amy Hanson, whose husband John has been an essential worker throughout COVID, reflects, “The ongoing nature of this crisis has forced [us] to talk through his history of anxiety and depression on deeper levels than ever before. This crisis has not presented a clear finish line; [which] has been a catalyst for us to seek outside help, prayer for healing, and discover ways to promote health for the long-term.”

Division, a salty relative of anxiety and depression, have reigned in our world this year too. To mask or not? To open or close? As Christians, we get to discern wisdom from God (James 1:5) and are told to respect those in authority over us as a society (Romans 13:1-2). Kelsi McGann comments, “[This season has] been pretty dividing as far a what loving your neighbor looks like. Some say masks show your lack of faith, others say wearing a mask shows compassion for others. The church has been divided on this, and the division is what’s most frustrating.” 

Simultaneously, the season has provided for sweet unity in new ways. The $11,000 raised for the Community Care Fund is only one way our church has united to help those in need. (Read more about the CCF here and here.)

Sweetly, the Elder Team has been in consensus frequently as they have led our congregation in decisions about how to meet safely. Each coming to the crisis from different backgrounds, perspectives, and concerns, a peace seemed to cover each one. Says Brandon Hudson, “During this difficult season the elders have learned even more the need to press in and seek the wisdom of God. He’s guided us in ways we couldn’t have imagined a year ago.”

God has also been generous in knitting together the hearts of His people through a deepening of prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Prayer groups have formed over Zoom and after in-person service on Sundays, and wonderful things are happening. Says Anne Dunn of her community and prayer group over Zoom, “[We] greatly appreciate Zoom and the opportunity to get to know more people through our small group. We’ve grown in numbers and in closeness to one another. I believe God is at work in this whole pandemic, through our times of prayer and outreach to one another.”

Of the post-service prayer group, Thien Lai shares, “As people began to come to us each week, we've seen God do everything from healing back pain completely to reducing the swelling in limbs. What we've also seen is God's healing work in our hearts and spiritual lives. God has been freeing our members from anxiety, fear, brokenness, shame, and guilt. We are seeing the Holy Spirit bring spiritual strength and restoration in families.” The group has seen miracles among them and in their broader communities as the reliance on prayer has become a daily necessity.

Although this year has been seasoned with challenges, God is also using this time to show his beauty and kindness. Thien summarizes it well, “Healing seems to be coming both internally and externally. God is teaching us along the way, it has been a beautiful journey of trust, vulnerability, new life, and encouragement. Through this work we should only expect to see the fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

This season of Thanksgiving, remember some of the ways God has blessed you this year. From darkness comes an appreciation of light, from cold an appreciation of warmth, from salty an appreciation of sweet. As we have seen in our study of Genesis this year, God is capable of changing the worst of situations to those that glorify Him. 

Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

James 1:5- If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Romans 13:12— Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 

*https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/11376/saltine-toffee-cookies/

Community Care Fund Update: Part 2

Part 2

Matthew 28:18-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

The Community Care Fund grew out of God’s provision and blessing on our church during the COVID-19 season in the spring of 2020. Shattering the original request, as of August 2020 $14,617.49 has been given to the Community Care Fund. This is over-and-above normal giving, while making regular budget in May and July!

To date, $10,500 has been given out on a requested basis at the discretion of our elder team. From funding an adoption, paying bills because of job loss or reduction, covering medical bills, and reaching out to isolated individuals because of COVID, our church has gone far and near to spread His love and grace. States Thang, “To us as the church, we get to in small ways express the goodness of God in our lives and express that this is how Gods economy and Kingdom works.”

Here are some of the ways the Community Care Fund has impacted our congregation and our extended community. We praise God for his glorious ways!

• Candace and Sean Leenhouts have been in the adoption process for several years and CCF was able to fund part of their ongoing costs to bring their child home.

• The Pham family’s neighbor expressed need related to this season and received help, allowing the family to share the love of Christ with her. “This community care fund has given us And allowed us to see a part of Gods abundant wealth and care! He truly does own the cattle on a thousand hills*,” shares Thang.

• A family member in South America needed help with medical costs, and our community was able to pray for healing and comfort. 

• Bridge Disability Ministries received help with care packages for many of their residents who are particularly isolated during COVID. Shares a Bridge friend, “My favorite part of the packages were the little cards that talked about Jesus and His love. I don’t know if that was anyone else’s favorite, but for me, it was perfect.” – Crystal

This list is only a few ways that God has worked through the Community Care Fund. Our friends, neighbors, and others we’ve never met have received provision through the generous giving of so many in our midst, out of the generosity received from Christ in this time. For that we say “thank you” to our congregation and our Father the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is still more available to share and funds continue to be welcome if God lays it on your heart to give to the CCF. May this spirit of generosity continue and may we continue to go where He leads.

*Psalm 50:10-11

For every beast of the forest is mine

 the cattle on a thousand hills,

I know all the birds of the hills,

and all that moves in the field is mine.

Community Care Fund Update: Part 1

Matthew 28:18-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Part 1

The church’s purpose: to share the Good News with the world. The Good News of our Lord Jesus, who went to the cross for us and took our penalty for sin. The Good News of freedom in Christ, not tied to our sin. The Good News that this world is not our home, while sin and death prevail here on Earth, our home is the perfection of Heaven. 

When our region, our country, and our world were rocked earlier this year with COVID-19, it left us abandoning Sunday gatherings, scrambling to understand God’s purpose. The sanctuary sat empty, the lights unlit, the classrooms undisturbed, the Commons stagnant. What used to be a gathering place quickly appeared asleep. Instead, worship took place in our homes as our gatherings shifted to Zoom, communion taking place with makeshift elements: Gatorade, juice, water, milk, tortillas, sandwich bread, crackers. 

When the church was sent home, the question remained: how can we fulfill The Great Commission while we are scattered? How can Jesus’ church be a light in a dark time? Our church elders, Brandon Hudson, Thien Lai, Thang Pham, Zane Sporleder, and elder-at-the-time John Hanson were approached with various needs within our body, from help with medical bills or job reduction or loss because of the virus. Desiring God’s will to provide for those in our midst, an initial decision by the elders was to give $2,000 from our operating budget and ask the congregation to match that gift, which would then be used to help those who had requested aid. This is how the Community Care Fund was born, responding to the needs presented before us.

God’s response through our member offering far exceeded the initial ask of $2,000. Within a month of sharing about the CCF, nearly $10,000 was given to the fund! In a time of deep need, God showed up and we weren’t even meeting in person. With this miraculous response of provision from God, it was decided to expand the scope of how these funds would be used, allowing our church to be the hands and feet of the gospel. As church members became aware of need in our communities, the CCF became a resource for relieving the burdens of this challenging season. States Pastor Brandon, “We realize each individual probably can’t take care of the needs we hear about, but partnering together as a whole church we can support one another and provide the care our family friends and neighbors need.” 

While our church was at home, God was at work just as He always has been. Thang adds, “Times of need [are] a perfect way for the body of Christ to step in and up to the plate to fulfill the Gospel mandate of loving our neighbor like ourselves.”

2018 Youth Retreat

This year our youth group had the privilege of joining Lake Country Baptist on their yearly winter retreat to Plain, WA.  Retreats are often great and important experiences for students, but the size of our youth group makes such events hard to organize on our own. I'm thankful for the connections in our church to the people at Lake Country Baptist and for introducing me to their Youth Director Tyler. Tyler invited us and another local youth group to join them on their retreat, and it was a huge blessing to us. Joining them freed me up from all the logistics that come with planning such an event. They have their retreats tuned in and running with purpose, and we were beneficiaries of the years of experience and hard work they have put into planning these events.

Our trip began with four students, Candace, and I loading up in the vehicle graciously loaned to us by the Phams. We were set to head to Lake Stevens to meet at Lake Country Baptist and before we even got there, the Thule roof rack popped open on Highway 2, littering a few of our items on the highway behind us. After a quick stop, we retrieved all our scattered items except Candace’s pillow (RIP).  The rest of the drive was uneventful and we arrived at Stone Water Ranch near Leavenworth ready for our long weekend away from our regular lives. Most of our group went into the weekend a little anxious being around so many strangers for so long, but all of us grew closer together and made new friends during our time.

A couple highlights of the weekend:

Excellent Bible Teaching - The teacher for the weekend was a member of Lake Country Baptist. Aaron spent the whole year preparing this series of five messages specifically for this weekend. The teaching walked us through the Old Testament, showing the history of Israel and God's plan of salvation. He showed us how Jesus was the fulfillment of the covenants God made to Abraham, Moses, David, the prophecies of Daniel, and all the Old Testament. The teaching was advanced, all of us learned a lot, and many of the students felt challenged to keep up with the high level of teaching. I was greatly encouraged by this. Though the Gospel is simple enough for a child to understand, God's word is deep and worthy of much study. It was a joy for me to see one student light up when putting together that Jesus was Abraham's great great great...grandson, and He himself was the blessing to the whole world promised to Abraham. Also that Jesus was the lamb who was slain for us, and that is why we no longer sacrifice animals in the temple as God commanded Moses to do. This student stated their desire to go from this trip and read the Bible more. My assumption and hope is that this desire to read the Bible after the retreat came from how the Bible was shown to be so complex, interesting, and beautiful that this student simply saw how beneficial it is to read God's word. 

Fellowship - It was great to experience God grow the relationships in our group in just a few days. It was not all fun and games, there were tough moments relationally on this trip for sure. But, I think this trip was one that will be looked on as one of the best things we've done as a group since we started youth group here at The Vine. The last 15 minutes of our car ride together showed me a glimpse of how the trip knit us together. We were all exhausted from the weekend, and even more so from the car ride full of pit stops for car sickness, and yet we were all hysterically laughing while recalling all the craziness of the day and the trip as a whole.  It was such a sweet and fun way to end our trip together.  On top of that the fellowship experienced between brothers and sisters in Christ from other churches was a great experience for us. Watching everyone from our group, myself included, build relationships throughout our time was a great tangible way of experiencing the body of Christ outside of our local church.

Service - Our group was served so well this trip. Three members of Lake Country Baptist cooked EVERY SINGLE meal for 60+ people, three meals a day. No one from our church so much as lifted a finger in providing or cleaning up any meal the entire trip. The level of service we experienced in this way was unreal. Another notable way in which our group was served so well was by the worship team. The worship team did an amazing job leading us in song before and after each lesson. The last night of the trip a worship night was scheduled and the worship leader had noticed our students hadn't been familiar with the songs they were singing, and asked me for song recommendations so our group would be able to join in on songs that we knew and loved. It was so thoughtful and kind of them to make sure to include songs that would more naturally speak to our students. 

Fun - It was just plain a good time. We got very little sleep, but had lots of fun. Our days were packed with learning, hanging out, tubing down a massive hill, playing board games, and numerous other activities.  

I am very thankful for our trip and the time we got to spend together and the time we got to spend meeting and hanging out with the folks from Lake Country Baptist and Restoration Road. My prayer is that the knowledge learned and relationships built will continue to point the students to Jesus into the new year and beyond. 

Zane Sporleder, Youth Director