A Voice in the Wilderness

2019-12-11

Chains

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Romans 6:23 
 
There is a frightening scene in the book "A Christmas Carol" (Charles Dickens) where Jacob Marley's ghost shows Scrooge the chain that he (Marley) made in life and now must carry with him in death.  Frightening, not because Marley is a ghost, nor that he is bound by a chain, or even what the chain represents (avarice).  No, what is scary is that Marley made the chain himself...it was not made by someone else and placed upon him like some form of punishment.
 
"I wear the chain I forged in life....I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it."   Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
 
Every time I read the book, or see one of the many films it has inspired, I shudder to think of the links that I have forged in my life. Links (sins) that by my own power I am unable to discard or undo. These are ill-fitting links that rub and chafe and leave me "sorely hindered by my sins."  Sin pays out its own wage.
 
How unhappy and tragic it would be had Dickens ended the story there.  How terrifying it would be if I too, were left in the chains of my own making.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-  Ephesians 2:4-5 
 
Thanks be to God our chains don't have the final word in the story. Like Scrooge in Dickens' classic tale we aren't left in the bondage of our sin.  The cross is the answer to all our chains.  The wages of sin are satisfied.
 
During this season of Advent we are "Journeying the Way of Love" as a way of being intentional in allowing God to help us identify our chains and offer them to him that he might break them.

May we find that "God, being rich in mercy," has come with great might to help and deliver us.  By His bountiful grace and mercy he offers a gift if we will receive it:  "...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
 
Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent, BCP pg.160)    

Blessings,

Matthew+

Coming up...

Season of Giving 

Reminder: This coming Sunday, December 15^th, is the Senior Holiday Dinner sponsored by Mountain Family Center and the Grand County Seniors program. Held at the Granby Community Center (3^rd and Jasper), the doors open at 11:45 and meals are served beginning at noon.

The holiday season is always a good time to take stock of our many blessings and to share with those who are less fortunate. Thank you to all of you who so generously give to make life a little better for those around us

Journeying the Way of Love: Advent Curriculum

Why not make the Way Of Love part of your Advent practice of getting ready.

During Advent, Journeying the Way of Love offers four sessions to be explored as we await the coming of Christ by moving through the first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke.

Grab a cup of coffee and join us as we walk The Way of Love together. 

Christmas Eve Services

Come celebrate the Christmas with us!

Cranmer Chapel at 4:00 PM

St. John's Granby at 8:00 PM

Hick’s Hall Transformed Into Santa’s Workshop

Sunday morning, December 8^th was magical as members of St. John the Baptist rolled up their sleeves to wrap gifts for the five families and 12 children the church adopted as a part of our Giving Tree efforts to support those in the community seeking assistance. In spite of heavy snowfall in the early morning, hardy souls and members of St. John’s showed up for the festivities and enjoyed food and fellowship while working on making some children’s dreams come true during the holiday season. Although the gifts are blessings for the families receiving them, the gift of giving was a true blessing for those who participated either by donating gifts, or wrapping the gifts or simply praying for the process. It is true that in giving we frequently receive more than we give!  Gifts have been delivered to Mountain Family Center for the families.

You can find pictures on our facebook page here!

Christmas lights

We have a Christmas tree to decorate outside the church that is in need of some new LED lights. Do you have a strand that you might be willing to donate?

Cranmer Dinners

We had a great kick off to the 21st year of the Cranmer Dinners. We served over 150 meals at this years Thanksgiving Dinner. 

Read about it in the Sky-Hi News here and the Winter Park Times here.

Journey to Faith:
The Five Thresholds

Recently, Melodie Marske, a Regional director at InterVarsity gave a presentation after the service on how to help people on their journey to faith. If you missed the presentation or want to revisit the videos you can find them here.

Church Directory

We are in the process of updating our church directory. Please click here to fill out your current information.

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