The End… or New Beginning!

To come to the end of oneself and to realize that there is nothing left to hang onto. The ‘willfulness’ that got me this far, has run out. Circumstances have pushed me to a place up against a wall; the very place of miracle and rebirth. To know that all my running and planning is at an end. To turn my heart, mind and will over to the care of my Father who has been waiting patiently for me to reach the end of myself.

We saw it in the lives of Peter and Paul and others who finally ‘got it’ no more running or working off one’s own agenda. To be truly God’s person you have to come to the end of yourself. Oswald Chambers addressed it in today’s devotion as:

“All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to receive the Holy Spirit. The idea is that of invasion…”

There is now only one who directs the course of my life. Now that I am finally in that place I never want to leave it. My direction, purpose and will are centered outside of myself and upon Jesus and what He would have me do.

When I look back to the places of worry, fear, angst, planning and coercion that I lived in, I marvel at how He has brought me out of it and to this place of acceptance. Not an easy road to be sure, but one that- - - step-by-step and doing the next right thing- - - brought me to this place.
I thank You my Father for the miracle of coming to the end of myself and finding You there waiting to hear those words that only I can say “whatever it takes.” You put me on a better path from that moment on. You are dependable, trustworthy and true to all that you have promised. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Be with all those I love and use their circumstances to bring them to the end of themselves and to the place where they will find you there waiting. That is the greatest miracle in anyone’s life that we could ask for. Be with us all in this New Year with its changes, pain, problems, angst and also Joy. Help us to share with each other your faithfulness in all our circumstances so that others come to the place of relinquishment and total trust in you. Amen

Fiona Monaghan

Transport to New Worlds

Sometimes we underestimate the advantages our children possess by something as simple as strapping them into the car and taking them with us to the grocery store.The children of AFE (a school Washington Cathedral supports in Honduras) do not have that advantage. They come from a small world that they cannot see past the garbage dump or the ends at their neighborhoods. The younger children do not recognize that they live in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. Nor have they traveled downtown to see the beautiful remnants of colonial architecture or the brightly colored signs of fast-food chains signaling a larger world of international commerce exists. I always enjoy watching the children take their first step on an escalator when we bring them to the airport to pick up teams. It is a frightening thing to get on a moving staircase and to feel so out of control of your location. We often cause a bit of an uproar as we attempt to travel up to the second level.These experiences are priceless. They give the children vision; they learn that there is more to life than the garbage dump community. They see people working in other professions, they visit places that are kept clean of trash, and they begin to dream.

Thanks to Washington Cathedral and all who participated in its “Fiesta de Milagros” auction, the children of AFE will be able to travel outside of their dump community much more frequently now. We have purchased a 15 passenger van (roughly 30 Honduran-passenger), which will serve to take classes on field trips. Trips to museums, the zoo, and the universities are planned. The more we can get AFE’s children out into “normal” society, the more they will feel comfortable and become socialized for something more than dump-life.

The van will transport visiting teams as well, though we plan to continue charging a small transportation fee to cover yearly maintenance.We are excited about the possibilities in store, thanks to all who have given so generously! If you would like to participate in the "Fiesta de Milagros" this year, please contact linda.skinner@wacathedral.org.

Pastor Elise Diaz, Together for Transformation

"Finding God's Plan for Your 2011!"

Jesus Christ Is God’s ultimate yes!

2 Corinthians 1:19

A generation ago, a very devout missionary to India by the name of E. Stanley Jones wrote a life-changing book while he was in his 80s. The book was called The Divine Yes! It touched so many people. It was quoted by Billy Graham, Bill Bright, Robert Schuller, Norman Vincent Peale, Oral Roberts, and Pat Robertson. And my grandfather Rev. Floyd White had the chance to meet E. Stanley Jones in Tacoma, Washington at Puget Sound University and attend his School of the Prophets. It had a profound impact on Grandpa’s life. E. Stanley Jones had been a friend to Mahatma Gandhi, but he was most famous for being a follower of Jesus Christ in such an authentic way that it impacted a whole generation.

We as a church are involved in a life-changing study of 1 and 2 Corinthians. We are expecting a revolution in our understanding of love, worship, spiritual gifts (and how we use them in the church), and skills for having a heart that finds God’s plan for the complexities of 2011. I love the passage in 2 Corinthians 1:19-22 “For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate ‘Yes!’ And through Christ, our ‘Amen’ (which means ‘Yes’) ascends to God for his glory. It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.”

That just thrills my heart to hear that. It warms my soul like some of my mom’s homemade potato soup. Am I the only one that is revived when I hear those verses? In this negative age of cynicism and despair it seems so doggone positive to see our job is really pretty clear―not simple or easy, but clear. Say “Yes” to God by following Jesus Christ- - - and if a whole church has that attitude- - - then watch out world!

I believe our church is on the edge of a “Brazilian style” revival! And we are all not only going to be blessed by it- - - we are going to become a huge blessing to our community because of it!

“Humility is a magnet for the Holy Spirit.” Rick Warren

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Dr. Tim White

Christmas at the Cathedral - Relying on Christmas Miracles

“I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Christ” Galatians 3:5

I love all things Christmas! I love the lights sparkling in the trees, the songs, the decorations, the movies (yes, I had to watch A Christmas Story for probably the 20th time and I still laughed out loud at the part when Ralphie has to wear the pink bunny suit from his Aunt Claire). Most of all, however, I love the activities at our church. For 26 years now I have been celebrating Christmas with my Washington Cathedral church family and every year it gets better and better.

Every Christmas it takes a series of miracles to make everything happen and every Christmas it seems that God enables us to pull off the impossible. This year was no exception! It started with our Santa Conspiracy. Every year people of our church dress up like Santa or his helpers and go to hospitals, nursing homes, retirement centers and group family homes to deliver a little Christmas cheer in the form of a stuffed teddy bear or cuddly animal. In order to meet the needs of all the facilities we need approximately 5,000 bears. When all the bears were counted one week prior to “Santa Day” we needed 1,900 more bears to meet our goal. We sent out the cry, “We need 1900 more bears” and miraculously on the Saturday before the Santa Conspiracy bears started pouring in! And by the time we had finished counting them on Sunday night - we not only had enough bears, but we had about 200 bears left over to use next year!

Next was the Christmas Drama. This year’s Glory of Christmas Drama was a tremendous success. Over 800 people showed up to witness our efforts in telling the Christmas Story in a new and compelling way. I have worked with Pastor Naomi for several years in pulling these off. My job is to help recruit cast members, get them into appropriate costumes, and try to get them to the right place at the right time. Her job is to pull the music and drama together into one cohesive unit and work out all the other details (a mammoth job!). Both of us are trying to put wheels on Pastor Dale’s vision for the story we are trying to tell. This year, at the last dress rehearsal we both looked at one another and said “It’s going to take a huge miracle to pull this one off!” We had key people getting sick, we didn’t have coverage on some key technical and backstage roles, and we never got to do a full run through on the entire program. But for some reason, when it came to Thursday night, we both seemed to have a peace about things . . . or maybe it was numbness!? Anyway, it couldn’t have been better. Things just rolled right along without any kind of glitch. All the musicians, actors, stage hands, and technical people showed up and every spot was filled. The program was our best ever and Naomi and I said to one another, “Praise God for miracles!”

Of course, my favorite service of the year is the one on Christmas Eve. We have a long-standing tradition of (I think) one of the most beautiful Christmas Eve Services I’ve ever been to. Spirit Falls Sanctuary just sparkles on Christmas Eve. It is like the building knows it has a very important story to tell that night. One of the highlights of every Christmas Eve is having a ballerina dance to “O Holy Night” (this year was sung once again by Rhonda Jones). The key to that element of the night is actually having a ballerina to dance. Pastor Naomi and I both made several calls to people we knew to no avail. So I began calling dance schools. I called the University of Washington dance school and the lady who answered the phone said that she’d be happy to send out an email, but I better not count on a response because most of the students were gone home for Christmas break. I thanked her for agreeing to send out the email and hung up the phone thinking, “Another dead end.” To my surprise and joy, the next morning at 8 am I received a phone message from a young lady who said she just got the email and wanted more information. When I got back to her and she told me about her experience and qualifications―I immediately knew that God had pulled it off again. Not only was she a wonderful dancer, but she was so excited about dancing at a church on Christmas Eve. She said her family was in the south area and that she’d be honored to dance for both the 6 and 11pm services. If you were able to be here for Christmas Eve, you saw what a beautiful, creative dancer she is. But what you wouldn’t have seen is her beautiful heart for the Lord. She danced with feeling because she believed every word that Rhonda was singing. Her mother came to both services and watched her daughter dance. I couldn’t help but glance over at her face and I don’t think any parent could be more proud than she was at that moment. They both loved Washington Cathedral and thanked us for giving them the opportunity to spend Christmas Eve with our church.

Christmas is over now and as I think back on all the things that happened, I thank God that I am in a church were “We not only believe in miracles- - - we rely on them!” I thank God for all the people who let their lives be used to tell the story and I thank God for the opportunity in this coming year to witness more of the same.

Blessings to you all!!

Pastor Linda Skinner

"The Glory of Christmas!"

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.Isaiah 9:2

Over the past two months, families in our church have been giving hours of their time learning songs and lines. For weeks the atrium of the ReCreation Center has been packed with parents waiting for their kids who are practicing for the Christmas play. Why are they doing this at the busiest time of the year? One dad told me, “Because this is what Christmas is all about!”

For 26 years our church has been telling the story of Christmas through music, drama, dancing, and preaching. We’ve transformed high school gyms, VFW halls, senior centers, and barns to tell the story. I can’t begin to count the number of volunteer hours that have gone into building sets, sewing costumes, taking flyers door to door, baking cookies, folding bulletins, labeling envelopes, cutting down trees. . . the list goes on and on. Why? I think if you asked anyone they’d say, “Because this is what Christmas is all about!”

This year our theme for Christmas is “Let’s Share the Light.” That’s what we have been doing all December in each of our services and that’s what we are doing on Thursday and Friday night.

Thursday night’s Glory of Christmas drama is entitled “One Candle Can Light the World” and will be at 7:30 pm in Mountainside Sanctuary. This beautiful dramatic depiction of the glory and wonder of the first Christmas will fill you with Christmas joy. Before the drama you’ll enjoy Christmas carols with the choir, and a heartwarming children’s drama entitled “What’s a Nativity?” (What would Christmas be without kids singing and acting?) Afterwards, there will be homemade Christmas cookies, hot cider and coffee waiting for you in the Library.

Friday night, Christmas Eve, we have two beautiful worship services in our Spirit Falls Sanctuary at 6pm and 11pm. As you enter you’ll notice the waterfall in all its beauty and immediately you’ll hear the beautiful harp being played by Diane Chattin. As is our tradition, we will sing Christmas carols, enjoy a ballerina dancing to Rhonda’s “O Holy Night”, Travis will share a new Christmas song he wrote, the choir will sing about joy, and the little cherub ballerina’s will bless us. And of course, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and Kings will dramatically tell the story in our traditional style of a live nativity. I will share a wonderful inspiring message of hope and candles will be lit as we sing Silent Night. The service will end with an invitation to communion. What a way to prepare for Christmas!!!

Please join us this Christmas. We have a light to share with you! Bring your friends, family and neighbors. They will thank you . . . “Because this is what Christmas is all about!”

Your friend for the rest of my life,

Tim White

"Share the Light!"

Washington Cathedral 2010

4 Astonishing Miracles Now
And One Memory Moment!

You can choose your own miracle
and "Share the Light!"

One - “My Jesus Christmas Gift”
Nothing else makes much sense about Christmas, but with my Jesus gift everything else can make joyous sense! “They opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense and myrrh.” Mat 2:11

A Cathedral tradition―all of us, individuals and/or families, bring our special “Christmas bank” is the very heart and essence of Christmas worship. Any Christmas Sunday and especially Christmas Eve you may leave your “Jesus Christmas gift” on the altar.

Two - “The Miracle of the Gray Curtain”
Nothing is sadder than people in nursing and retirement homes who have lost the ability to experience personal love and joy at Christmas. Washington Cathedral’s “Santa Conspiracy” proves to be again and again, a psychiatric and spiritual breakthrough (at least for a few minutes) for hundreds of terribly lonely people.

Three - “The Three Sundays of Christmas at the Cathedral”
(December 5th, 12th & 19th)
Each of these Sundays are carefully designed as a “Christmas Bursts in Beauty” experience. If you can only make one you won’t miss the glory, but the three will focus more and more our hearts! Different amazing children’s groups will guarantee this miracle.

Four - “The Glory of Christmas Drama” 7:30pm ~ December 23rd
Will reignite and reprogram all of our hearts so the glow of Christmas will last for a lifetime! Christmas Eve Family Communion is a short, sweet, precious church family tradition. (6pm or 11pm)

Dr. Dale Caleb White

"MERRY CHRISTMAS - - - IT’S ALL ABOUT JESUS!"

The Christmas season is upon us again, with its wonderful sounds and smells -- and parties, family get-togethers, shopping, wrapping gifts, baking cookies, concerts, pageants, decorating and singing Christmas carols, etc. etc. It's a busy time of year and we tend to wear ourselves out! And it comes around every year, and we celebrate!

But whatever happened to that “Silent night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright. Christ the Savior is born!”?

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them."Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord! This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)

Let us remember that it's all about JESUS, who came to earth as a little baby to save us from our sins. That's why we celebrate! Let's keep Him central in all our preparations and celebrations leading up to Christmas and remember the real “Reason for the Season” - it's JESUS! Take some quiet time to remember and celebrate our wonderful Savior. He is worthy of all our adoration and praise. HALLELUJAH! And a Merry Christmas!!

Pastor Marilyn Biggs