"New Beginnings"

Devotional thoughts from the Washington Cathedral Writers’ Group

“Change” By Abby Hegge

Beginnings are often feared by people because they bring change. Change is often feared by people because there is a chance for something to go wrong when things happen differently. However, if we always fear change, how can we move forward? How will our lives get better if we are too afraid to accept the blessings that God offers us? If Gideon had been too afraid to follow the Lords call and lead the Israelites against the Midianites, Israel would have been poor, starving, and overrun by cruelty and sin.Happily, Gideon had the courage to do as God asked, and nothing bad happened. In fact, because of this courage, Gideon became an honored hero, and a lot of good happened. If God is asking you to do something, listen to Him, because your life will change for the better. Don’t let your heart be overcome by fear, but open it to God’s voice. Godly change leads to good.

“New Beginnings” By Marilyn Biggs

He is dead! He has gone to Heaven! My husband of 54 years has gone from my life!

Life as I have known it for so many years is over - no more breakfasts and dinners together, nobody to cuddle up to in bed. Trips to Mexico and other fun places will be no more - that Time Share was fun for a while!

No one to take out the garbage or wash the car! Family times together will be missing it’s most exuberant member, no onesneaking in doughnuts and candy bars! No ball games blasting away on 2 different TV sets!

This season of life is over! God called Bill home, and I will miss him. So, a “new beginning” ahead, a new life without Bill.Life does go on! I must go on until God calls me tome too. As long as I’m still here, God has something for me to do!

God led Bill and I to Washington Cathedral 14 years ago, and He called us into ministry here. Well, there is still “kingdom work” to be done at Washington Cathedral, in that new ReCreation Center. I have more time now to pray and be involved in more activities here. I am loved and valued here, and there is much to do: people to love, lessons to learn and lessons to teach,assignments to carry out, and more friends to meet and fellowship with, to spread the Good News to.

Thank you Lord, for planting me here at Washington Cathedral before you took my loved one home. You knew I would be in good hands here. The next “New Beginning” I will experience will probably be the beginning of eternity in Heaven with Jesus and reunion with my loved ones.

"Angels Among Us?"

“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’” Matthew 25:40

Hey Pastor Tim,

I have a few questions for you. I went on the church website today and saw the headline and was taken aback. It was talking about angels being all around us.

You see late last night I was leaving the grocery store. It was snowing and freezing outside. Before I pulled out onto the main road I saw a woman standing on the side of the road with her dog. She had a sign asking for anything anyone could spare. Now usually I am not one to give things away to homeless people (perhaps that is bad - I don’t know) but for whatever reason I felt so strongly for that woman. Usually my boyfriend is the one who gives, gives, gives - but this time it was me who felt for the person.

I had my boyfriend turn the car around. We parked the car and marched right up to that woman. We asked if we could get her something to eat or get her a coffee. This woman was close to 65 years old, missing many teeth and practically blind. She was all bundled up, but still freezing. The woman replied with, “Just a coffee and maybe something for my doggie.” Here she is freezing and she wants her dog to be able to eat, because he is the only thing she has. We went to Starbucks and bought a turkey sandwich and the biggest coffee they had and brought them to her. I will never forget the eyes of that woman, she was so grateful. It honestly made my day!

You know, it’s funny because it happens that my car payment is late. When you have the least amount of money and are almost out of gas, you have to trust the Lord. I left there trusting that I would have gas until Friday (payday) and knowing that that woman wouldn't go hungry that night.

As we were driving home, I just knew that situation was a test from God. I thought, “I wonder if she was an angel?” I went home thinking nothing more of it and then woke up to find the headline "Are There Angels All Around Us?" My question is, “Are there? Was that homeless woman just a woman who I was feeding or an angel? Is that possible?”

Brianna Howell

Today Is The Day!

Today is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

The Israelis have a saying that’s lasted for centuries “Next year in Jerusalem.” At Washington Cathedral we have had a saying for the last four and a half years “Next week in our new ReCreation Center.” It is with indescribable joy that I announce to you that ~ “Next week we WILL be in our new ReCreation Center!!!”

Pastor Rey Diaz - the Lead Pastor & Chief Cultural Architect of this meta church called Washington Cathedral will be preaching this weekend. Each service will end with everyone walking over to the new ReCreation Center for a moment of incredible thanksgiving. Pastor Rey brings a very thankful heart from the city dump in Honduras and this will be a service that you will never forget.

“The Glory of Christmas” our dramatic presentation of Christmas, designed by Dr. Dale White and Rev. Naomi Blake, will be at 6:30 pm on Sunday, December 21st, Monday, December 22nd and Tuesday, December 23rd. This year’s drama will be the first of many (and just a taste of what’s to come) on one of the largest theatrical stages on the eastside. Why not experience the first one and bring a friend!

Christmas Eve will be a family service ~ I will share a short, positive Christmas message and your favorite soloists from Washington Cathedral will sing for you. There will be a manger scene, a harpist and of course communion with a dramatic ending ~ the lighting of hundreds of candles while we sign silent night. The 6:30 pm service will be in the new Mountainside Sanctuary of the ReCreation Center and the 11:30 pm service will be in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary (our current sanctuary).

Here are the new service times and locations beginning on December 27th & 28th. Saturday Night Service will be held in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary (our current sanctuary) at 6 pm. Sunday at 9 am (our Classical Service) will be held in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary. Sunday at 10:30 am we will hold our first service in the new Mountainside Sanctuary of the ReCreation Center (this is our Blended Service). At 10:30 am our Esperanza congregation will have service in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary. At 12:00 we will have a Youth Service in the Mountainside Sanctuary for all our young people, their friends and those who have been working at the 10:30 hour. And at 5 pm we will have our Sunday 5 service in the Spirit Falls Sanctuary. All services will include the celebration of communion and a family-style meal afterwards.

So… see you in our amazing new ReCreation Center. This has been a long awaited day! Bring your friends… and bring yourself!

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Tim White

“AN OLD CAVE BELOW BETHLEHEM”

I was instantly, gloriously deaf!
And a little disoriented- - -
Standing there a stupid four feet from the big bells in the tower of the
“church of the nativity” (Bethlehem).

I just couldn’t accept the old church as a sight of the birth of “The Baby.” So I bribed, snuck and bluffed my way into the rooms under the old church and pretty much any place else where I shouldn’t have been- - - My heart and my brain kept saying, “No way!”

Staggering down the ladders and steep steps in the gathering darkness. I’ll never forget the view towards the shepherds fields. Jerusalem maybe five miles away and poorly lit in those days. Then I was riveted to the awesome shadow of Herod’s palace fortress against the skyline maybe fifteen miles towards the Judean wilderness.

Below Bethlehem the shepherds fields stretched peacefully into the shadows.

Standing there I vowed that someday I would explore those fields foolishly hoping I would find the remains of an old barn- - - sure, 2,000 years later!

Maybe eight years later- - - I was living out my vow and finding myself staring in disbelief at an ancient cave at the edge of the fields. It obviously had been for centuries a perfect shelter for shepherds to escape the storms with newborn lambs.

Or, a perfect place for poor travelers.
Especially a private place for a soon to be mother.
Yes!- - - I fell on my knees there.
And remember it every Christmas since.

December 21st, 22nd & 23rd- - - with the help of many friends- - - we’ll recapture the greatest event in history- - - and it took place in an old cave below Bethlehem. It was the Glory of Christmas!!!

Dale/Caleb

"Come Share Our Joy!!!"

The Randy & Rod Halvorson

ReCreation Center

A Cathedral is a family of churches.
Many little country churches with one great dream!

Not a mega church a "meta" church!

Unleashing 7 Astonishing Capabilities!
(Upon Occupancy - Watch for Grand Opening Celebration)

1. It actually has…“The Randy & Rod Halvorson ReCreation Center” Life Extending- - Life Expanding- - Competitive- - or just for pure fun. Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Indoor Soccer, Roller-skating, Etc...

2. It actually has. . . A Very Large Therapy Pool- - - It’s called- - - “Healing Waters”

It has zero degree entry - It’s free for anyone in a wheelchair - It’s perfect exercise for senior adults - And it’s great for post-surgery therapy - The kids will love it

3. It actually has…“The Healing Center for Fully Aliveness”

Psychiatric Counseling- - - Dr. Ray Vath, Dean

4. It actually has… A No Hungry Child - “Project Transformation”

Specializing in children of third world dumps & targeting malnutrition. Already daily operation of a school & feeding station in the Tegucigalpa city dump!

5. It actually has… The “Mountainside Inspiration Center”

We specialize in encouragement & biblical fully-aliveness! Where it’s difficult not to have your good & great dreams re-energized. (Not being religious - but rather loving God & loving life

6. It actually has… A “Community Health Center”

New Life Recovery - Build the Family Ministries - Christian Martial Arts - Christian Yoga - Athletic Programs - Nutrition Counseling

7. It actually has… A “Launching Pad To Send Out World Changing Leaders”

Excel Business Ministries - Washington Seminary - “Dream Builders, Inc.” - - Academy of Joy- - - A tutoring/coaching phenomena