December 2007

I have always loved the Christmas Season, and this year has been the best ever! I've just posted some pictures of some of the holiday events at The Free Methodist Church at Farmington. On the first Sunday of Advent the children made angel ornaments for the little tree in the foyer. They also decorated the tree in the Fellowship Hall as we discussed the Christian roots of familiar Christmas symbols. On December 8 we had a Christmas outreach. Pastor Art tried his hand at making fry bread, dressed up as "Bishop Nicholas", and drummed up business as the kids made crafts, and the parents picked out gifts in the "It's A Wonderful Life Gift Shop" (nothing cost more than ten cents). The advent wreath was a focal point of every service in December, St. Nick made another appearence at our December 23rd service - and oh yeah. We had a Christmas Eve wedding. We received many Christmas blessings from churches and ministries around the country. In turn we were able to bless many individuals and families through out the season. But always, Jesus was the center of the festivities. We had a birthday party for the King of Kings, cake and icecream and a moment to reflect on what we could give Him for His birthday. Some of us caroled at the local hospitol, we delivered gifts to an Angel Tree child of a prisoner. And we're not finished yet. Our Christmas will extend until Jan. 6th - traditionally "The Three Kings Day". And we are all looking forward to the new year. An Isaiah 61 year - the Year of the Lord's favor. And so, today, December 27 - the third day of Christmas, I pray for wisdom, provision, shalom, people to share our vision, people to come out of the darkness, and May God Bless Us, Everyone!

Christmas Images

This young lady is part of one of the families that we delievered groceries from our emergency food pantry to. I was very surprised (and blessed) to see that she was wearing a T-shirt from my home town - Rochester, NY. Just recently her cousin, mom, auntie, and grandma came in to the mission to help with our Christmas outreach. Yummy! Fry Bread and Navajo Tacos. And get a load of Pastor Art, drumming up business for our Christmas event, dressed like Ol' St. Nick.

A Monday Morning on the Bisti

Praying in the morning,
Driving a winding road through a barren land
But the rising sun behind me
Be it a goldent sunrise,
Or rosey red
Paints the rocks, the mesas, and the distant mountians
in such shimmering shades and deep shadows...
This is the definition of awesome - the definition of vast
Glory be to God, Creator of Heaven and Earth
Look there! a flock of sheep
The Lord is my Shepherd
Look there! a herd of cattle
The Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills
Look there! a formation of geese landing on the power plant's pond
and there! bright eyed children waiting for the yellow bus
and there! a noble man upon a noble beast - riding out to greet the dawn.
Glory to God, Creator of this all.
This land is not my birth place, but it is my home
And it is my joy and duty to be praying over it and through it
while driving down this winding road.

Update - December 1

This has been an encouraging 2 weeks. On the Sunday before Thanksgiving we had 18 people in church: family, friends, and visitors. A nice intergenerational (from 3 weeks to 63) and multicultural mix. Surprisingly we only had one family come to our food pantry that Tuesday. On Wednesday we had an early Thanksgiving Feast for family and friends of the ministry. Sixteen Pilgrims and Indians, mostly Indians. Our younger son cooked dinner on Thursday and it was his birthday as well, so we put candles on the pumpkin pie. We had so much to be thanksful for this year. Last Sunday there were 17... Communion and Pot Luck. The kids made angels for the little Christmas tree in the foyer. This week they will decorate the tree in the fellowship hall while they learn the spiritual meanings behind familiar holiday symbols. This past Tuesday we put up Christmas lights - now our little mission shines brightly in the cold dark nights. And several families, one with 8 kids, came to the food pantry. The best part of it all is that a friend and brother, who was raised on this complex, but who has been having a crisis of faith for a long time, has started coming to church, and talking with Pastor Art. A lost sheep has found his way home. We have a big Christmas Outreach planned for next Saturday, December 8. And our Prayers for provision are increasing as the Holidays approach and heating costs rise, and more people need help. Yet we continue, with those simple steps of obedience, trusting God. After all, this is His ministry - and He is faithful. May God bless us - everyone.

Some Immediate and Long Term Needs

Dolls, Trucks, and Basket Balls - needed by December 7

Blankets for the Elderlies

I did have hats and mittens on the list, but by the time I sat down to type it up, we just got a large donation of nice winter sets - praise the LORD!

A small TV, VCR, DVD combo unit

I was just thinking, if that one family, with 8 kids, who came to the food pantry, decided to make our Church their Church, we'd need another kids' room. Our long range plan includes getting a modest double wide put on the property for pastor housing, so we can convert the apartment part of the main building back into classrooms. Right now we are using the fellowship hall for kids church, but could soon need a pre-school room, kids' klass, and youth room. Well - God knows and God will provide, all within his perfect timing. Thanks be to God!

for our new friends:

our contact information is

The Free Methodist Church at Farmington

PO Box 6132

1275 Bistin Highway (371)

Farmington, NM 87499

(505)325-4496

artandme@juno.com