A step in the night

Fear broke into the house on this night. But it was only a hint of deeper imaginings. The news came in a phone call.

Perspective would have to lead me to reason, but morning would come before this happened. This slap on my head cost me sleep. Irrational words and phrases I cannot write battled for space in my mind. My perceptions cycled between my frames and re-frames. I thought, “Would someone tell life this is Christmas and just go away until January?”

The “maybes” tormented me. In bed, reaching for reasoned shreds, my mind paced. Experience elevates possibilities, good and bad. Life never happens on one’s timetable and I needed sleep. I could not. Who knew a single step would lead to this moment? Worry lengthens time and suspends perspective — and if considered currency — I had neither. Even my prayer seemed feeble. Time and distance and a good sunrise could only suffice now. Congruency and light were all I needed.

Struggle knows no season. At the very moment when all is still, when fragile peace reigns, life twists. Epictetus said, “If someone succeeds in provoking you, realize that your mind is complicit in the provocation.”

I realize my mind is too unreliable. Sometimes faith is all I have. Two thousand plus years ago, God punctured the night. On this night, fear found its opposite. Humility never comes in the instant. Rather, we wake one day and discover fear falls away because life’s many instants, demanding more than momentary gratification, return us to that silent night’s eternal perspective. If Christians find meaning in the manger beyond salvation, we find it in the instant we discover through our loneliness, we are not alone.

There is a wish within us all that Christmas is recess, a time to escape. Our good feeling and triggered spirit is a pale image of God’s holier intent. Lost in the gloss and glitter and swaddling warmth our traditions evoke from that night is the dirt and stench and offense we wish not to face. Salvation demands our humility. Human knees do not bend so easily. Embedded in my soul is the realization God came into this world as it was. Time continued. The world did not change. But men did change as grace appeared in their lives. Even as we exert our will — our pain — as much as our joy we must know all is in God’s hands, too. How else can God reveal his love but through life’s indifferent reality?

As just a step in time, Christ’s birth may have gone unnoticed. But because God took the step and is not chained by time, I am somehow privy to a knowledge I did not attain. I know my deepest pain is also God’s greatest triumph. Grace overcometh my fear. Who knew a single step would travel so far?

Angels Tori Took (left), 19, and Kristina Lu, 23, flank Joseph, Josh Sweetman, 20, and Mary, Cierra Penson, 21, as they stand at their positions in the living Nativity at the San Jose Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Fla. Students from the North Florida School of Special Education got into their costumes and performed their living Nativity at the church during the One Achord Christmas celebration.

The little drummer boy Ben Brown (from left), 9, shepherd Wyatt Burditt, 14, wiseman LeRoyal Chieves, 12, and shepherd A.J. Anderson, 12, keep busy on tablets as they wait in costume to take part in the living Nativity in the atrium of the San Jose Church of Christ.

Photos by Bob Self,

The Florida Times-Union via AP

Adairsville Church of God, 297 Old Dixie Highway, Adairsville, hosts Adairsville Church of God Kidz every Sunday morning at 11 a.m.

Faith Temple of Jesus Christ OCOG, 542 Branham Ave., will have Christmas breakfast on Dec. 23 at 8 a.m. The meal includes biscuits, bacon, sausage, grits, eggs and more. For more information call 706-676-0930.

First Baptist Church of Rome, 100 E. Fourth Ave., holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship is held at 11 a.m. and broadcast on Comcast channel 44. For more information visit www.fbcrome.org. The church will host the Three Rivers Singers, a 60 member community chorus, presenting “The Angels Sang on High” on Saturday at 4 p.m. The concert will feature a collection of sacred and secular seasonal choral arrangements accompanied by piano, organ and chamber orchestra. Admission is free. For more information visit the Three Rivers Singers Facebook page, threeriverssingers. org or call Lynn at 706-232-7411.

First Christian Church, 209 E. Second Ave., holds Sunday worship (casual/business casual dress) at 11 a.m. Sunday School meets at 10 a.m. Morning Coffee is each Thursday from 7-9 a.m. For more information contact the church office at romedisciples@gmail.com.

Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 445 E. 14th St., will have their annual Christmas Cantata, “Let’s Remember the Reason for the Season,” on Sunday at 6 p.m. For more information call 706234-2091 or 706-234-5047.

Hill Crest Baptist Church, 2202 N. Broad St., will hold a candlelight service on Sunday at 6 p.m.

Lyerly United Methodist Church is selling their third cookbook, “Feeding the Flock.” Cookbooks can be purchased from any church member. To receive a cookbook by mail, send $13 to Lyerly United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Lyerly, GA 30730. For more information call JoAnn Mitchell at 706-895-2636.

Metropolitan United Methodist Church, 700 Broad St., will hold their Christmas program on Sunday at 6 p.m. The choir will consist of several churches from the community. For more information or any questions call 706-291-8660.

Mount Alto Baptist Church, 1915 Huffaker Road, will present the church’s adult choir performing “O Little Town of Bethlehem” arranged by Russell Mauldin on Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as part of a special service of Christmas music and preaching.

New Canaan Baptist Church,3 Excelsior St., will have a singing Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. with Ordained and the Helms Family. For more information contact Carey Wright at 706-766-1152.

New Hope Cathedral Church of God, 200 Nixon Ave., will hold their Christmas program on Sunday at 11 a.m. For more information contact Gladys Allen at 678986-0285 or gladysallen@att.net.

30 Orchard Road, Adairsville, hosts Celebrate Recovery, a Christcentered

Pisgah Baptist Church, 5603 Alabama Highway, holds prayer every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. The church will have Christmas cantata on Sunday at 10:50 a.m. and will host Brotherhood Breakfast on Jan. 6, 2018, at 8 a.m. Call 706767-8648 for more information.

Pleasant Hope Baptist Church, 5953 Rockmart Road, Silver Creek, will host A Night of Pleasant Hope: A Christmas Celebration to Worship the Newborn King on Dec. 20 from 7-8 p.m. There will be fire pits, hot chocolate, apple cider and free ornaments for children to take home.

Pleasant Valley North Baptist Church, 735 Old Summerville Road, will have a special Carols & Candlelight service on Sunday at 6 p.m. with refreshments afterward. The church holds a praise and worship service Sundays at 10:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall with music by Ben Thornton and the Praise Band. A blended service is held at the same time in the sanctuary.

Rome First United Methodist Church, 202 E. Third Ave., offers contemporary worship in the Garnett M. Wilder Center at 9 a.m. and traditional worship in the historic sanctuary at 11 a.m. Sunday School and small groups for all ages meet at 10 a.m. On Christmas Eve, the church will celebrate the gift of the Christ child at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. with carols, candlelight and Holy Communion in the historic sanctuary.

St. Andrew’s Anglican Church, 42 Ash St., meets Sundays at 9:30 a.m. On Dec. 24, the church will have Morning Prayer at 9:30 a.m. and celebrate Holy Communion at 5 p.m. On Dec. 25, the church will celebrate Holy Communion at 10 a.m. For more information call 706-506-1241.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 911 N. Broad St., offers Saturday vigil Masses at 5:30 p.m. in English and at 7 p.m. in Spanish; Sunday Masses are 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. in English and at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Spanish. For additional information on any church activities or programs contact the church office at 706-290-9000 or at DeaconNeslin@smcrome.org.

St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 101 E. Fourth Ave., offers services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. in the chapel and 10 a.m. in the church each Sunday. Midweek Eucharist services are held on Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel. Sunday School/Christian Formation is available on Sundays at 11:15 a.m. for all ages of children, youth and adults. Nursery is offered during the 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist on Sunday. Children’s Chapel is also available for children ages pre-K through third grade during the 10 a.m. Sunday service. Advent services and activities: On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. there will be a Children’s Christmas Pageant. Eve of the Nativity services will be held Dec. 24 at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. A Christmas Day service will be held in the chapel at 10 a.m. For more information call 706-2919111 or visit www.stpetersrome. org.

Second Avenue United Methodist Church, 801 E. Second Ave., holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. and services with the Rev. Millie Kim at 11 a.m. For more information call David Gresham at 706237-7146 or visit www.2aveumc. org.

Silver Creek Presbyterian Church, 6 Old Rockmart Road, Lindale, holds Sunday School at 10 a.m. The church youth will provide vocal selections and instrumentals for the 11 a.m. worship service on Sunday and the Rev. Camille Josey will lead worship. The sermon title is “The Hour is Coming.” The Old Testament scripture passage is Ezekiel 37: 1-14 and the New Testament scripture passage is John 5: 28-29. On Dec. 24 there will be no 11 a.m. service; a special candlelight Christmas Eve service will be held at 5 p.m. For more information contact Janet Farr at 706346-7268.

Silver Creek Methodist Church, 36 Reeceburg Road, Silver Creek, will have Family Night Supper at 6 p.m. tonight followed by a White Elephant Sale at 7 p.m. Bring finger foods to share and a wrapped item for the sale. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the church’s community outreach program.

Spring Creek Baptist Church and Reynolds Baptist Church will host Silent Night, a drivethrough Nativity experience, on Saturday and Sunday from 6-8:30 p.m. nightly at 2636 Chulio Road. Admission is free. For more information call 706-234-1220 or email springcreekbc@bellsouth.net.

Springfield Baptist Church, 113 Smith St., will have their annual candlelight service on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

State Line Baptist Church, 8536 Black’s Bluff Road, Cave Spring, will have a Christmas play featuring the church’s youth on Sunday at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served afterward.

Transfiguration Episcopal Church, 304 Coker Drive, will celebrate Holy Eucharist on Sunday at 11 a.m. Tuesday Travelers will not meet this week. On Wednesday, Al-Anon will meet in the parish hall at noon and there will be a healing service with Holy Eucharist at 6 p.m.

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1941 Shorter Ave., holds Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 a.m. Worship is at 11 a.m. The Rev. Greg Lund will preach a sermon titled “Your Holy Vocation.” A nursery is available. For more information call 706-235-8561.

West Rome United Methodist Church, 1003 Shorter Ave., will observe the third Sunday of Advent at 11 a.m. this Sunday. The sermon, “The Great Reset,” will come from Mark 1:1-8. For more information visit www. westromeumc.org, call 706-2346214 or email wrumc@bellsouth. net.