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Bible Study and Prayer
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december 2013 wpaumc.org
The Wonderful Life
Every year around Christmas time, our family watches the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, where George Bailey gets to see what the world would be like without him. I always promise myself I won’t cry. I’ve seen the dumb movie a million times, and the thing’s pretty syrupy to begin with. I should be mature enough by now not to cry, I tell myself. It seems like every year we do the same thing. We mouth all of the lines that we know by heart, and we always shout at the television when George gets married and he’s headed out of town on his honeymoon. We always yells, “Don’t do it, George! Get out of town and live your life!” But George never listens to us. He always stops the taxi as he sees the crowd gathered around his Building Savings and Loan. Even when George prays for his life back, and when he runs through town shouting, “Merry Christmas,” I’m fine. When he runs into the house, finds his kids, and when his wife returns with half the town, I’m good. And when everyone in town is gathered in the house, and they’re all singing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” I think to myself, “Hey, I did it. I guess I’m not going to cry this year.” Then I suddenly remember, “Oh, no. Not the brother. Not Harry. I forgot about the brother. Hold on!” And Harry Bailey, George’s brother, who George saved from drowning at the age of eight, returns. Harry Bailey, whom George let go ahead of him to college. Harry Bailey, who got to live, in a sense, George’s dream life, raises the glass and says, “To my big brother, George Bailey. The richest man in town.” Everyone cheers, and I’m a mess, tears streaming down my cheeks. That’s when we realize that we’ve had things all backwards. George is the one who has it right. It’s not about me; it’s about others. It’s about sacrificing me, and my stuff, and my plans, and even my dreams so that others may find the living waters of acceptance and grace only found in authentic community. It’s about laying down my life for my brothers and sisters so that koinonia in Jesus Christ may defeat one of the most crippling demons in the world, the demon of rejection that rules our lives and drives us in to lonely, isolated places. The kingdom of God is near in Bedford Falls, not because George Bailey has a “Jesus Agenda,” handing out tracts and preaching on the streets, but because George Bailey exemplifies what it means to live the gospel and to be a missionary in his little, boring town. The Rev. Jim Walker, Director of Congregational Development and Revitalization
Join United Methodists throughout Western Pennsylvania in studying these Bible passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and praying for these congregations and leaders. November 25 - december 1, 2013 first sunday of advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Pray for: ✟ Greensburg District, William B. Meekins, Jr., Superintendent ✟ Bellview Charge, Indiana Dist., Roger P. Howard, pastor ✟ Smithton: Winnett UMC, Connellsville Dist., Mildred T. Martin, pastor ✟ Bradford: First UMC, Kane Dist., Thomas R. Verner, pastor
december 2 - december 8, 2013 Second Sunday of Advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Pray for: ✟ Torrance UMC, Indiana Dist., Herbert D. Phar, pastor ✟ Brave Charge, Washington Dist., Monica L. Calvert, supply pastor ✟ Armagh UMC, Johnstown Dist., James L. Miller, pastor ✟ Hopeful Heart Trinity Charge, Erie-Meadville Dist., Joong Koe, pastor
december 9 - december 15, 2013 third Sunday of Advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:47-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Pray for: ✟ Warren: First UMC, Kane Dist., Jeffrey D. Sterling, pastor ✟ Johnstown: Calvary UMC, Johnstown Dist., Wendy L. Henderson, pastor ✟ Shippenville/Providence UMCs, Franklin Dist., Elizabeth S. Cooper, pastor ✟ Connellsville District, William J . Blair, Superintendent
december 16 - december 22, 2013 fourth Sunday of Advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1-1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Pray for: ✟ Arnold UMC, Greensburg Dist., Karen L. Prescott, pastor ✟ Connellsville: Otterbein UMC, Connellsville Dist., Andrew P. Spore, pastor ✟ Allegheny River Charge, Indiana Dist., Thomas P. Bonomo, pastor ✟ Bridgeville: First UMC, Washington Dist., William D. Shaw, pastor
december 23 - december 29, 2013 first sunday after christmas--white Read: Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23 Pray for: ✟ Albion: Calvary UMC, Erie-Meadville Dist., Melvin E. Bendig, pastor ✟ Wexford: Salem UMC, Pittsburgh Dist., Beth L. Nelson, pastor ✟ Baden UMC, Butler Dist., R. Andrew Verner, pastor ✟ Washington: Avery UMC, Washington Dist., Ruth L. Simmons, pastor
Bible Study and Prayer
&
Flame
december 2013 wpaumc.org
The Wonderful Life
Every year around Christmas time, our family watches the classic It’s a Wonderful Life, where George Bailey gets to see what the world would be like without him. I always promise myself I won’t cry. I’ve seen the dumb movie a million times, and the thing’s pretty syrupy to begin with. I should be mature enough by now not to cry, I tell myself. It seems like every year we do the same thing. We mouth all of the lines that we know by heart, and we always shout at the television when George gets married and he’s headed out of town on his honeymoon. We always yells, “Don’t do it, George! Get out of town and live your life!” But George never listens to us. He always stops the taxi as he sees the crowd gathered around his Building Savings and Loan. Even when George prays for his life back, and when he runs through town shouting, “Merry Christmas,” I’m fine. When he runs into the house, finds his kids, and when his wife returns with half the town, I’m good. And when everyone in town is gathered in the house, and they’re all singing “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” I think to myself, “Hey, I did it. I guess I’m not going to cry this year.” Then I suddenly remember, “Oh, no. Not the brother. Not Harry. I forgot about the brother. Hold on!” And Harry Bailey, George’s brother, who George saved from drowning at the age of eight, returns. Harry Bailey, whom George let go ahead of him to college. Harry Bailey, who got to live, in a sense, George’s dream life, raises the glass and says, “To my big brother, George Bailey. The richest man in town.” Everyone cheers, and I’m a mess, tears streaming down my cheeks. That’s when we realize that we’ve had things all backwards. George is the one who has it right. It’s not about me; it’s about others. It’s about sacrificing me, and my stuff, and my plans, and even my dreams so that others may find the living waters of acceptance and grace only found in authentic community. It’s about laying down my life for my brothers and sisters so that koinonia in Jesus Christ may defeat one of the most crippling demons in the world, the demon of rejection that rules our lives and drives us in to lonely, isolated places. The kingdom of God is near in Bedford Falls, not because George Bailey has a “Jesus Agenda,” handing out tracts and preaching on the streets, but because George Bailey exemplifies what it means to live the gospel and to be a missionary in his little, boring town. The Rev. Jim Walker, Director of Congregational Development and Revitalization
Join United Methodists throughout Western Pennsylvania in studying these Bible passages from the Revised Common Lectionary and praying for these congregations and leaders. November 25 - december 1, 2013 first sunday of advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 Pray for: ✟ Greensburg District, William B. Meekins, Jr., Superintendent ✟ Bellview Charge, Indiana Dist., Roger P. Howard, pastor ✟ Smithton: Winnett UMC, Connellsville Dist., Mildred T. Martin, pastor ✟ Bradford: First UMC, Kane Dist., Thomas R. Verner, pastor
december 2 - december 8, 2013 Second Sunday of Advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12 Pray for: ✟ Torrance UMC, Indiana Dist., Herbert D. Phar, pastor ✟ Brave Charge, Washington Dist., Monica L. Calvert, supply pastor ✟ Armagh UMC, Johnstown Dist., James L. Miller, pastor ✟ Hopeful Heart Trinity Charge, Erie-Meadville Dist., Joong Koe, pastor
december 9 - december 15, 2013 third Sunday of Advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 35:1-10; Luke 1:47-55; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11 Pray for: ✟ Warren: First UMC, Kane Dist., Jeffrey D. Sterling, pastor ✟ Johnstown: Calvary UMC, Johnstown Dist., Wendy L. Henderson, pastor ✟ Shippenville/Providence UMCs, Franklin Dist., Elizabeth S. Cooper, pastor ✟ Connellsville District, William J . Blair, Superintendent
december 16 - december 22, 2013 fourth Sunday of Advent --purple or blue Read: Isaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1-1-7; Matthew 1:18-25 Pray for: ✟ Arnold UMC, Greensburg Dist., Karen L. Prescott, pastor ✟ Connellsville: Otterbein UMC, Connellsville Dist., Andrew P. Spore, pastor ✟ Allegheny River Charge, Indiana Dist., Thomas P. Bonomo, pastor ✟ Bridgeville: First UMC, Washington Dist., William D. Shaw, pastor
december 23 - december 29, 2013 first sunday after christmas--white Read: Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23 Pray for: ✟ Albion: Calvary UMC, Erie-Meadville Dist., Melvin E. Bendig, pastor ✟ Wexford: Salem UMC, Pittsburgh Dist., Beth L. Nelson, pastor ✟ Baden UMC, Butler Dist., R. Andrew Verner, pastor ✟ Washington: Avery UMC, Washington Dist., Ruth L. Simmons, pastor
