Christmas Day! - 25 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 653

Micah 6:8
John 3:16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. ² This was the first registration when^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ And all went to be registered, each to his own town. ⁴ And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, ⁵ to be registered with Mary, his betrothed,^[b] who was with child. ⁶ And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. ⁷ And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.^[c]

The Shepherds and the Angels

⁸ And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest,
    and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”^[d]

¹⁵ When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” ¹⁶ And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. ¹⁷ And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. ¹⁸ And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. ²⁰ And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

²¹ And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Christmas Eve! - 24 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 652

Micah 6:8
Luke 2:1-7
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

This is Christmas Eve - the day before we celebrate the birth of Christ. Many start the celebration this evening with church services, family gatherings, even present openings. (How do they do that? Does Santa some early to some folks, just so they can do that? It just doesn't make any sense!)

In a literal sense, we'll start this evening with worship at church, then head home to finish all those last-minute things that somehow never get done until that last minute.
Still, in at least as real a sense, we started this celebration on 28 November - the first Sunday of Advent - as we started the journey of preparation for the Joy we celebrate on Christmas.
Further, in at last as real a sense as either of those, we've been celebrating for as long as we've been Christians. Just as Ebenezer Scrooge discovers, it's imperative to keep Christmas in our hearts every day of every year.

I had a conversation with a friend at church recently about C&E Christians - those who only show up on Christmas and Easter. He said that growing up he had been pretty much one of those, but no longer. My thought is that if we made worship more like those two all year we might get more Christians who realize that Christmas and Easter are just particular days to emphasize what we really do and believe all year (and all week!) long.

So celebrate Christ's birth today and tomorrow... and every day... and celebrate His death and resurrection every day as well.
After all, Love came down at Christmas, lived with us for a few decades, then died for us and rose for us.
Amen!

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

1.6 Kilometers Davis - 23 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 651

Micah 6:8
Deuteronomy 25:14-16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

More history today! On 23 December 1975 U.S. President Gerald Ford signed the Metric Conversion Act into law. That's why all our road signs are in kilometers and our gas stations sell by the liter. (Please note - it was difficult for me to spell those words so Americanly - especially since we basically refuse to use them or even have any idea how big they are.) 

The Act made the metric system (specifically the SI, I believe) the preferred system of weights and measures in the United States. Of course it's used in science classes and engineering and not much else. Border States and cities may hear temperatures in both Fahrenheit and Celsius, but that's about it.

The U.S. is 1 of 3 countries in the world that do not use the metric system. Liberia and Burma are the other two. It seems we're hanging on to the Imperial measures (other than volume - our gallons are smaller) when the Empire has stopped. What's wrong with us?

I don't really understand the reticence. It's pretty darned simple to get used to - if you bother at all. And maybe that's what it comes down to. We don't want to be bothered. Lazy is as lazy does, sir.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Victory Is Ours! - 22 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 650

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 41:1-10
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is our ticket to herd immunity. It spreads more quickly than the previous versions, it produces milder symptoms, and it results in much stronger immunity (antibodies) than any of the vaccines. In fact, a recent study from Washington University School of Medicine indicates that once a person has had and survived COVID-19 he or she will likely have lifetime immunity. This seems ideal! Easier to catch, easier to tolerate and survive, and a one and done kind of infection.

As I've said before, it's time to declare victory and open the world again. Lockdowns and masks clearly don't stop the spread of this stuff - look at New York if you're interested - but if they do anything at all, then by keeping us apart they slow down any chance at herd immunity. You remember herd immunity, don't you? That was our original goal before it was changed to 70% vaccination rates before it was changed to no one ever getting sick before it was changed to whatever the goal du jour might be now.

It's time to follow the science.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Winter Is Not Coming - 21 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 649

Micah 6:8
Isaiah 55:10-12
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

That's right, Winter is not coming - it's here! At last it's Winter!

This morning we moved from Autumn into Winter at the Winter Solstice! This is what Stonehenge is all about according to the show I watched a few days ago - the Winter Solstice, not the Summer one currently celebrated by the herd of ersatz druids each June.
Of course if you're of an antipodean persuasion, you'd be forgiven for calling this the Summer Solstice, as Summer has arrived in our Southern Hemisphere.
(See, Winter is not coming there for a long time either.) 

Hey - maybe Stonehenge was made by a band of Aussies on walkabout way back when? How's that for a new theory, History Channel? I think they need me on their program development team.
You're welcome, network executives.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

I Can Name That Tune - 20 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 648

Micah 6:8
Colossians 3:16
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

Today we have a couple celebrations that should work very nicely together. Today is both Games Day and Go Caroling Day. Many folks of sufficient age will remember a TV game show called Name That Tune where contestants vied to identify popular songs using the fewest notes. "I can name that tune in five notes," was a common statement there. (In my research I've discovered that this show is back, so one needn't have all that many years of viewing to remember it!)
Well, why not have a caroling outing where those on whose porches you stand would try to guess what you're singing in the fewest notes? What could be more fun than that?
OK, lots of things would be much more fun than that, but still, why not give it a go? I'd love to hear stories of Name That Carol here in the comments. (note that I hold out little hope for that actually happening)

 Now go spread some Joy to the World!


Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264.

Worship - 19 December 2021 - Plague Journal Day 647

Micah 6:8
Luke 2:1-7 
Yes, your life matters.

Some of you are still sheltering in place, but fear not: I'm here to keep you sane and entertained.
One could hardly ask for much more than that, now could one?

 

For our 9:30 AM worship service we will have a sort of pageant presented by the children of the congregation with a special soloist at offertory time, and lots of carols and hymns for congregational singing. We'll light the fourth candle of the Advent wreath as well - Christmas is almost here!

Remember, we'll be streaming for all those who can't join us in person, and intend to continue that practice indefinitely. Still, know that we miss seeing you in person - please come join in corporate prayer, praise, and worship as soon as you feel ready.

As usual, today's stream should just appear as the latest entry on our YouTube channel, here.
You'll find all our previous worship videos right there at that same place, and today's stream will stay there as a recording as well.

Keep Calm and Don't Stay Away.
I'll be back tomorrow.
The mental health issues related to our lockdown and the pandemic are especially hard for people with depression. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, has a 24 hour helpline: 800-950-6264