BRANCHES December 2015

BRANCHES
THE WORD
BECAME FLESH
Christmas devotionals
about the incarnation
incarnational ministry
DECEMBER 2015 | southwood.org
Fa La Lodge: an exegesis
of a yuletide carol

SOUTHWOOD
overview
CONTENTS
3 pastor's note
BRANCHES
DESIGNER Phillip Lackey
CONTRIBUTORS
Will Spink
Sarah Niemitz
James Parker
Niña Banta
Nicole Lucas
Barbie Sumner
PHOTOS
Phillip Lackey
Winnie Winford
Nicole Lucas
FEEDBACK!
We want to hear from you! Please send
your suggestions and comments to
branches@southwood.org
1000 CARL T. JONES DRIVE | HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35802
(256) 882-3085 | WWW.SOUTHWOOD.ORG
ADVENT READINGS
IN THE GUEST CENTER
CHURCH STAFF
NIÑA BANTA Director of Children
ELIZABETH BUTZ Receptionist
JANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/Finance
KIM DELCHAMPS Administrative Assistant
TERRI GOOD Accountant/Bookkeeper
PHILLIP LACKEY Graphic Designer
NANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director /Children/Nursery
SARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/Assimilation
JAMES PARKER Chief Musician
MELISSA PATTERSON Interim Administrative Director
WILL SPINK Associate Pastor/Shepherding
WINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director/High-Life
BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD:
AN ADVENT NARRATIVE
BY RUSS RAMSEY
Drawing from the hallowed pages of
Scripture and with an eye toward both
wonder and ground-level detail, Behold
the Lamb of God: An Advent Narrative
brings to life the people, the places,
and the earth-shaking significance of
the greatest story ever told—the true
tall tale of the coming of Christ.
COVER PHOTO
James Parker playing piano in the sanctuary
USES
ADVENT
WREATH!
4 session update
Keeping you informed
5 christmas family traditions
Recounting Christmas traditions
past and present
6 the word became flesh
Christmas devotionals about
the incarnation
8 fa la lodge
An exegesis of a yuletide carol
9 fall retreat 2015
Photo montage
10 incarnational ministry
Reflecting Christ in our lives
11 all that is fair
Surprise Ending
UPCOMING
EVENTS
No Christian Education
December 20 & 27, January 3
Fa La Lodge
December 20 at 5:30 and 7:30pm
Christmas Eve Services
December 24 at 5:30 and 7:00pm
Express Grace Conference
January 16 and 17
PREPARE HIM ROOM:
CELEBRATING THE BIRTH OF
JESUS FAMILY DEVOTIONAL
BY MARTY MACHOWSKI
This brand new, four-week devotional
guides your family on an unforgettable
Advent journey, exploring some of the
most wonderful prophecies in the Bible
and how God fulfills them in Christ.
Prepare Him Room helps you build
family Christmas traditions around
Christ. The memorable and meaningful
activities, songs, and stories of Prepare
Him Room will become the fabric of
your family's Christmas memories.
USES
THE JESSE
TREE!
2 DECEMBER 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG
UNWRAPPING THE
GREATEST GIFT
BY ANN VOSKAMP
Person by person, story by story,
retrace the lineage of Jesus. Fall
in love with Him all over again
as you experience God’s plan of
salvation for us―from the Garden
of Eden to the manger and
beyond. This book is a gift your
whole family can unwrap each
day leading up to Christmas!
Preschool
Calendar
Included
THE CHRISTMAS PROMISE
BY ALISON MITCHELL
A captivating retelling of the Christmas
story showing how God kept His
promise to send a new King. Superb
illustrations by Catalina Echeverri and
faithful, Bible-centered story-telling by
Alison Mitchell combine to make this
a book that both parents and children
will love. This book helps pre-school
children discover exactly how God kept
His Christmas Promise.

PASTOR’S NOTE
What Child Is This?
There is some mystery and excitement around
the birth of any baby. Boy or Girl? What will
the parents name the child? How will the
child’s life go as he grows up? Whom will the
child look like and act like? It is such a special
day—and that new life is so special—that we
celebrate the birthday every year for perhaps
even 100 years.
But we are still celebrating today the birth
of one child over 2,000 years ago. In fact,
in a variety of unique ways, his birth will be
celebrated around the world once again this
year. In many ways it’s fair to say that his birth
and life altered the course of world history—
as both those who follow him and those who
don’t have acknowledged.
In light of these realities, the question asked by
the traditional carol seems quite appropriate:
“What Child Is This?” What did the parents
name the child? More significantly, what is it
that makes this child so special? That’s what
we want to take some time to ask during our
sermon series this December. We want to look
at the identity of Jesus and see what God’s
Word proclaims about this unique child.
In particular, we’ll use Isaiah’s prophecy as our
launching point—where Isaiah famously writes
of the promised child to come, “To us a child is
born, to us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall
be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah
9:6). We’ll look at each of those four titles and
ask what they tell us about the child born that
first Christmas and how we see those titles
expressed in the life of Jesus as he grows up.
If there is another question more important
than “Who is Jesus?”, however, it may be
“Who is Jesus to me?”. I don’t mean by that
question that each of us gets to define Jesus
in our own terms and make him whoever we
would like him to be; that would be more
ridiculous than each of us getting to have
our own name for any other baby! We don’t
unilaterally decide his identity and make him
whatever we want him to be.
We do, however, have to decide how we
personally respond to who Jesus is. That’s
what I mean by the question “Who is Jesus
to me?”. It’s the difference between merely
identifying someone as a great chef and
actually tasting and savoring the food he has
cooked. It’s the difference between merely
identifying Jesus as the Prince of Peace and
actually experiencing him as one who brings
peace in your heart and life.
I hope you’ll join us for this exciting study of the
identity of the baby in the manger. More than
that, I hope you’ll consider as we go what the
identity of Jesus means in your own life. There
are no more important questions to answer.
Will Spink
Associate Pastor
If you would like to contact
Will, use the following:
will.spink@southwood.org
@WillSpink
I’m really excited about this time together
because I love Christmas in general, because
I’ve always loved Handel’s Messiah and having
these names of Jesus ring in my ears, and
particularly because I’m not sure there’s any
more important question for us to ask and
answer than the question of the identity of
Jesus—“What Child Is This?”. For thousands
of years, individuals and world religions have
offered different answers to that question, and
it is one well worth our time to consider.
DECEMBER 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 3

SOUTHWOOD
branches
SESSION UPDATE
We recently had the privilege of welcoming 18 new members
(many pictured below) into the Southwood family. One of our
greatest joys as a Session is getting to hear their stories and
rejoice with them in God’s work in their lives. It is exciting to
see the range of ages and life situations God has brought us
in this group, and we look forward to serving Christ with these
new members. Please join us in welcoming them and in thanking
God for faithfully building his Church.
God has also been at work through our Jobs for Life partnership,
where we—along with several of our local partners—recently
celebrated our first graduating class. We are looking forward
to being able to come alongside a new group of students and
develop more mutually life-giving relationships when we start
another class in January. Holding classes such as these requires
many volunteers from Southwood and the broader Huntsville
community, so there are plenty of places you can get involved
in January.
The Session continues to be encouraged by God’s faithful
financial provision for Southwood in this season. As has
been typical for our congregation, though, we find ourselves
needing a strong financial finish to the year in order to meet
our budgeted income. Additionally, our Finance Committee has
encouraged us to pray for God’s provision of a contingency fund
so that we can proactively and wisely address capital repairs
and improvements. If you have any questions regarding endof-year
giving, you may contact our church administrator, Janice
Crowson, at Janice.crowson@southwood.org.
We particularly look forward to this advent season as we celebrate
the birth of our Savior together. Join us on Sundays as we gather
to worship the newborn King and Will preaches a Christmas
sermon series on the identity of Jesus from Isaiah 9. You also
won’t want to miss two of our favorite nights of the year: Fa La
Lodge on the evening of Sunday, December 20, and communion
services on Christmas Eve.
WELCOME TO SOUTHWOOD
Take a moment to welcome our newest members who
joined Southwood on Sunday, November 22
From left to right: Elaine Hill, Casey and Lauren Still, Ken and Suzanne Comer, Danny, Rush, and Jordan Razook, Lana and Keith
Barshinger, Sam Sheppard, Tom, Thomas, and Kate Austin, Thomas, Kelly, and Grace O'Connor, Brooke, Geoff, and Hayes Harriman
(Not pictured: Austin Duncan, Lana Austin, and Erin Barshinger)
4 DECEMBER 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

christmas family traditions
by Nicole Lucas and Barbie Sumner, sisters
The Lucas Family
The Czura Family
The Sumner Family
Christmas is the most wonderful time
of the year; somehow mom and dad
made sure we knew it. The season
began after thanksgiving with the
ceremonious decorating of the
Christmas tree. We used the same
5’ tree every year, the same passed
down ornaments we made in grade school, the same wooden
stars that mom bought in a flower shop in Germany. We laughed
at our clothespin reindeers and glittered self-portraits, poking fun
is one thing we sisters did best. The Beach Boys and Alvin and
the Chipmunks played on loop until the whole house was covered
in our version of Christmas joy. Mom had a handmade advent
calendar that was stuffed with three chocolate kisses for each day,
one for each of us. On December 5, we each would put one boot
on the front porch for St Nicholas’ visit. If we had been good,
we got candy and gifts in our boot! The house would smell like
cookies, the three of us would help mom make a ton of different
kinds in different shapes. We would give them to neighbors,
teachers, friends, and even Santa Claus! We went to church on
Christmas Eve; watched where Santa was on the evening news.
We put out cookies and milk for Santa, with a couple of carrots
for Rudolph. Then my sisters and I would all sleep in the same
bed that night; giggling, singing carols, and talking until dad
had enough. Our family was always quite close. Yet there was
something about Christmas that made us even closer.
At the Lucas home, we have traditions, too, that are starting to
emerge. Although we cut down our own tree at a Christmas
tree farm, we too do it the day after Thanksgiving. Some of my
childhood ornaments are on our tree now. And even though
we have homemade ornaments, each of our four kids choose a
new ornament to add to the tree every year. We celebrate St.
Nicholas day too, and anyone who knows me will tell you I love
to bake! We have two little mischievous elves that Santa sends
to ensure good behavior at the Lucas house. We have Friday
family movie nights in December, where we all watch a Christmas
movie together. We have a Jesse tree that goes through the
Bible, relating it to the season, each
story has an ornament we place on
the tree together. We go to church
on Christmas Eve, and we always
have homemade cookies for Santa.
At the Sumner home, we were
blessed with our son Joshua a little over a year ago. It’s been
fun to dream about what traditions we would carry on when we
started a family. We are just now starting to carry those out. Each
year just after Thanksgiving, we pack up the family and drive to
a Christmas tree farm to pick out our very own Christmas tree.
It was something special that Jonathan always did growing up.
Each year we purchase an ornament to go on that tree that
symbolizes a special moment that happened during the year.
We always attend service on Christmas Eve. After, we cuddle up
and watch the best Christmas Movie of all time—“Home Alone.”
We are looking forward to new traditions that we plan to start by
baking Christmas cookies for Santa and celebrating the season
with mom’s German Advent Windmill. Most of all, I’m looking
forward to reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to Joshua
for his second year.
It’s funny how a tradition is. How a smell of a cookie or a glimpse
of a wooden star ornament could recreate a memory. Our mom
passed away this year. Normally those things wouldn’t have
stood out as much. It isn’t the tradition that really matters; it isn’t
whether you have an elf on the shelf or you bake cookies. It’s
about the feeling behind it, the love you feel from those moments.
For our family, we won’t get to do those special traditions with
our mom. Those memories that we still laugh about, we now
adore as treasures we won’t experience again this side of heaven.
We feel this awesome responsibility to pass them down to our
children, so they will always remember how much they are loved,
just by seeing a wooden Christmas tree ornament. After all, isn’t
that the same way we feel when we see the cross? Christmas is
about showing each other how much you are loved, because our
Father loves us.

SOUTHWOOD
branches
The Word
The Humiliation of the Incarnation
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have
seen his glory…” (John 1:14). Take a moment to ponder the
wonder, the miracle of the incarnation. The Word, whom John has
told us was in the beginning and created all things, in whom was
all life, takes on flesh. The glorious King of Kings becomes a crying
baby in a dirty stable. Very God of very God becomes fully man.
Headaches. Hangnails. Heartbreaks. Hiccups. And much more.
How humiliating our bodies can be! They often don’t work the
way we want them to, don’t feel the way we wish they would, and
don’t reflect the dignity for which we were created. Sometimes
they can be downright embarrassing, can’t they? And Jesus
offers to take it all on—to set aside the glory of heaven for the
humiliation of earth.
Isn’t it incredible that the God who created us perfect and in his
image actually takes on flesh and walks among a broken creation
suffering under his curse? Jesus does exactly that. He humbles
himself… he weeps, he thirsts, he hungers, he hurts… he humbles
himself even to the point of death. What an incredible sacrifice!
The word used for “dwelt” in John 1 is the word for “tabernacle”
in the Old Testament—the place where God lived among his
people. And immediately when the holy God comes to live among
his sinful people, sacrifices are necessary for that to happen.
Likewise, sacrifices are required for Jesus to “tabernacle” with us;
the difference is that this time Jesus himself is the sacrifice. The
humiliation of the incarnation is complete as the God “in whom
was life” dies for his people.
God of the Lonely
Have you ever felt lonely? Have you ever thought you
deserved to be lonely? Have you ever felt no one should
want to be around you, much less live with you? If we’re
honest, the last time we felt we should live on the Island
of Misfit Toys with the others who didn’t quite fit in wasn’t
when we got cut from the middle school football team. Even
surrounded by people every day, we know what it’s like to
feel alone.
One of my favorite names given to Jesus in the Bible
is “Emmanuel,” which means “God with us.” Isn’t that
remarkable? Of all the people we can’t imagine wanting to
be with us, God must be at the top of the list. We could
never be worthy of that! And yet in Jesus God moves near.
That’s the message of Christmas: When we have turned our
backs on God, when we have isolated ourselves from others,
when no one else seems to be on our side, God is with us.
In fact, he wants to be with us. He chooses to move toward
us even when we are choosing to turn from him. I think I’ve
sung about Emmanuel so many times and known what it
means for so long that it often fails to amaze or startle me.
God with us. He wants to be with us. He chooses to have a
relationship with me. God doesn’t want you to be alone. He
likes you too much. In fact, it’s so important to him that you
know his love that he entered your world and your life and
promises never to leave you or forsake you. God with us.
God with you—today and always!
RESPOND:
Have you thanked Jesus lately for the humiliation he endured
for you and the sacrifice required to live with us? Marvel afresh
at the miracle of his love that prompted him to become flesh.
RESPOND:
Think of someone you know who might feel lonely this
Christmas season. How could you share with them the
comfort of Emmanuel’s presence? How could you be
a tangible expression to them that God is with them?

anches
SOUTHWOOD
BecameFlesh
CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONALS ABOUT THE INCARNATION by Will Spink
God With Us: Rejoice!
I love hearing Christmas music… even in November… or
June! The music, the lights, the decorations, the parties all
are an attempt at making the Christmas season “the most
wonderful time of the year,” “the hap-, happiest season
of all.” And people will rightly point out that much of that
happiness comes from manufactured, circumstantial positive
feelings. But what all of that is meant to point to, I believe, is
an appropriate response to the wonder of Christmas: true joy!
That emotion is at the heart of the Christmas carol, “O
Come, O Come, Emmanuel.” The chorus of that song says,
“Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”
Why rejoice? What’s the basis of the joy? God is coming to
you. He’s coming to a people in exile, undeserving of his
presence or his blessing, distant from him because of their
sin, wondering if there is any hope or future for them. And the
answer is that although they have wandered from God, God
is coming to be with them.
Amazing, isn’t it? God with people who have run from him in
their sin. This means he’s coming with forgiveness, to fix the
brokenness of the relationship he created his people to have
with him. In the words of the song, he’s coming to “ransom
captive Israel,” he’s coming to “make safe the way that
leads on high and close the path to misery,” he’s coming to
“give them victory o’er the grave.” Rejoice! Rejoice! Those
are reasons not merely for circumstantial happiness but for
abiding joy. Because God is with us, our joy will never end.
In His Steps
I love the many movies where someone has to travel great
distances and overcome many obstacles to make it to his loved
ones on Christmas morning. Has someone ever journeyed hours
to be with you? Doesn’t that communicate something about their
love and commitment to you?
Now consider the great distance Jesus travelled in the incarnation,
the first Christmas journey. In the words of the great Christmas
hymn, he went from thrones to a manger, sapphire-paved courts
to stable floor. He journeyed from glory and comfort into a world
of humility and pain. He refused to let anything keep him from us
as he literally moved heaven and earth to enter our mess, to take
on our infirmities, to be familiar with our suffering.
If we are to love others as Jesus has loved us (and we are), if we are
to walk in his steps (and we are), then our footsteps will carry us
toward pain, brokenness, and suffering. There is plenty of mess,
sin, and hurt in our world these days, but I find that I am usually
seeking to move away from it rather than toward it. Christmas
reminds me this is not the path my Savior chose. The footprints
of the incarnation are travelling a long way in the other direction.
Like a firefighter rushing into a burning building while others
are rushing out, Jesus calls us to enter into the mess of others’
lives even at potentially great cost to ourselves. Recall that it
cost him his very life. So in calling us to live “incarnationally” and
“sacrificially,” he doesn’t call us to go anywhere that we can’t
already see his footprints.
RESPOND:
Have you stopped to appreciate the joy the
incarnation brings to you? Consider your own peril
apart from Jesus, the hopelessness you were facing,
and the hope he has brought you. Truly rejoice in the
true joy of Christmas!
RESPOND:
Where would “incarnational” living take you? Whose pain
or mess have you been avoiding that Jesus would call you
to engage? Pray that God would give you the courage
and perseverance to walk a long journey in the direction
of your Savior’s footprints.

an exegesis of a yuletide carol
It’s a bird… it’s a plane… it’s… it’s… a Christmas variety show!? Yes, it’s a Christmas show at
the Lodge full of ballyhoo, shenanigans, and of course, merriment. Fa La Lodge is actually
one of the few things in life that cannot easily be misunderstood. It is exactly what it sounds
like: an evening of Christmas music, hot chocolate, and good fun to be had—at the Lodge!
In order to aid you in preparation for the evening, I’ll offer this brief (yet scholarly... sort of)
exegesis of a very old song.
by James Parker
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
(Adorn the passages with lot’s of greenery.)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
'Tis the season to be jolly,
(It’s time to get happy!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Don we now our gay apparel,
(Let’s put on our happy clothes!)
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Troll the ancient Yuletide carol,
(Sing the very old midwinter festival song!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
See the blazing Yule before us,
(Look! A log on fire!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
(Start playing the harmonica and begin singing!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Follow me in merry measure,
(Come with me and be happy about it!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
While I tell of Yuletide treasure,
(I’ll tell you about fancy stuff associated with said midwinter festival!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Fast away the old year passes,
(Time keeps moving on.)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
(Just relax and go with it guys and gals!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Sing we joyous, all together,
(We sing happy together! Or together happy? However you want to phrase it.)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
Heedless of the wind and weather,
(It’s cold and windy outside? Fuhgeddaboudit!)
Fa la la la la, la la la la
(Fa la la la la, la la la la.)
The song is ridiculous…seriously ridiculous! And like all things ridiculous, it is one of many backdrops for human beings to enjoy being with one another.
People need the company and warmth of their friends and family. We can’t survive without it. And sometimes a silly song that makes us laugh is just the
excuse we need. It breaks the ice and before we even know what’s happening, we find ourselves swept away with enjoyment and affection for each other.
This is a good thing!
Fa La Lodge is happening this year in order to provide a backdrop for us to simply “be together.” To sing, to drink wassail, and to laugh… a lot! We will
just be there, donning our gay apparel, and making memories. Southwood has always been a church filled with people who love to be with one another. It
is one of the many things that drew my family to find a home here. Even though it is a large building and the attendance has been that of a large church,
it has always felt very warm and inviting. It is a unique place. I invite you to come to Fa La Lodge and see that this is still true!
In addition to providing a backdrop to fellowship, it should also be quite entertaining. If your belly doesn't shake with laughter and your cold cheeks don't
get warmed with smiles, then you probably went to the wrong event! We have a proven 3 year track record of providing holiday merriment at Fa La Lodge
and we don't intend to slow things down this year!
Fa La Lodge will be held on Sunday, December 20 th at the Lodge (across the street from the church). There will be two performances: 5:30 & 7:30. Tickets
are available in the Guest Center on Sunday mornings and at the church office during business hours. They are free, but seating is limited, so grab yours
before they are gone. A nursery will be available at the 5:30 show with sign-up required in advance and only $5 per child to cover this evening out. You can
sign-up at the guest center or at the church office (deadline December 13 th ). So follow us in merry measure and put Fa La Lodge on your family’s calendar!

DECEMBER 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 9

SOUTHWOOD
branches
INCARNATIONAL MINISTRY by Sarah Niemitz
Every Christmas we celebrate the incarnation of Christ—the
wondrous fact that the king and creator of the universe would
take on flesh and be born into a “low-income family,” live as a
displaced refugee in Egypt, and eventually lay down His life on the
cross. Christ’s earthly ministry was one of sacrifice. Isaiah describes
Him as “a man of sorrows acquainted with suffering,” who “bore
our grief and carried our burdens” (Isaiah 53:3-4).
Nothing about Christ’s earthly ministry protected His status as Son
of God and creator of the universe. In fact, as Philippians 2 says,
“though He was in the form of God, [He] did not count equality
with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking
the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being
found in human form, He humbled himself by becoming obedient
to death, even death on a cross.” The incarnation of Christ meant
taking on the appearance and the sufferings of a hurting people. It
meant abandoning the comforts and privileges that were rightfully
His in order to demonstrate God’s love not just for hurting people,
but for GOD’S ENEMY.
Christians, as Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20), must
realize our lives and ministry ought to reflect the truths we preach
about our Savior’s incarnation. Obviously none of us is leaving our
heavenly throne to live among mortals, so what does it look like
for us “already mortal people” to show a watching world the lifechanging
reality of Christ’s incarnation?
In Philippians 2 Paul says it ought to look like this:
“If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, and
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete
my joy be being of the same mind [....] Do nothing from rivalry
or conceit, but in humility consider others more significant than
yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but
also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves,
which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though He was in the very form
of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
but made Himself nothing, ....”
It is important to note that Paul does not call us to BE Christ—He
calls us to “have this mind among ourselves which is ours IN Christ
Jesus.” We are never called to be saviors; we are only called to
point to our Savior, and He is the one who gives us the mind to
do so.
Having this mind among us first means that we lay
down our privilege and our position for the sake of
others. Instead of defensively trying to protect our
safety, power, comfort, or wealth, we are willing to lay those things
down for the sake of another. If this sounds dangerous or countercultural,
then you are hearing it correctly. This is not a call to liberal
politics; it is an exhortation toward Christ-likeness. It is important
that as Christians we constantly examine our hearts for places where
we have idolized our personal comfort, space, money, culture, or
rights. Our Savior, the one with the most rights of anyone, willingly
laid them all down so that sinners like you and me might have the
“right to be called children of God” (John 1:12).
Second, it means that we willingly enter other people’s pain as
reflections of a Savior who took all of our burdens and knows
all of our suffering. Paul exhorts the Galatian church to “bear
one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
This means listening to and walking with others even when their
pain makes us uncomfortable. Often our quick attempts to fix
people or situations come from the instinct to avoid pain. We use
“helpfulness” as a protective distance—dispensing band-aids
rather than carrying burdens. On the other hand, “entering in”
requires that we first feel the hurt of someone else before offering
solutions. It asks us to walk in their shoes before we try to give them
new ones, and it usually leaves us crying out to our Heavenly Father
to heal wounds too big for us to handle.
Have you ever considered listening to someone who has
experienced the hurt and oppression of racism in America—not
entering into a debate, but actually seeking to help them bear the
burden of that pain? Or have you considered applying the biblical
concept of gleaning in your life—intentionally not reaping all of the
profit that is “rightfully yours” so that others might find work and
dignity on the margins? Maybe your family is called to use your
vacation time and money to go on a mission trip to learn from and
encourage our brothers and sisters in another part of the world.
While reflecting the incarnation of Christ will look different for
each one of us, we know that whatever form it takes,
it will look like radical self-sacrifice as we
lay down our “rights” for the
sake of others.
10 DECEMBER 2015 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG

ALL THAT IS FAIR
SURPRISE ENDING
by James Parker
I love Christmas for many reasons. I like
the cold, christmas lights, christmas
music, presents, etc... But more than
all of the peripheral christmas clamor,
there is a fundamental aspect of the
Christmas story that echoes through
my core. Even for those who don't
claim faith in Jesus, the story of his
birth makes them hope and wish
that it could be true. It came as a
complete surprise. No one would
have ever expected that the coming
Messiah would appear in this humble
way—or that this child born in such
an unremarkable fashion would leave
an indelible mark on the human race.
The reason I love Christmas is because
I love surprises. I love to be shocked but in a way that resonates
with my humanity, too. The incarnation is that kind of jolt. It
is otherworldly, yet profoundly human. And all good surprises
borrow their efficacy from this ultimate unexpected gift.
Sufjan Stevens is one of those good surprises. He is an artist
who has steadily crafted his songs for the last 15 or so years and
built a very strong following. He is a Christian but his work is
not something you'll ever hear on WAY FM. His subject matter
for writing songs is an extreme juxtaposition of things that are
mundane and nearly boring along with
other things that are incredibly strange
and other-worldly. Also his musical
ideas are nearly a mirror-image of
this concept. One song might have
a clawhammer banjo and a guitar
and his wispy voice, and that's it. The
next song could have a symphony
of woodwinds, quirky percussion
instruments, electronic elements and
voices. I have never been surprised
by an artist quite like I have by
Sufjan Stevens. His album "Songs
for Christmas" is worth a complete
listen. There are some things you will
recognize and some you won't. But
whatever you hear, I can guarantee
that there will be an aspect of it you simply did not see coming.
He is the master of the unexpected.
This year as you remember the birth of our Lord, and the fact that it
was indeed the mother of all plot twists, ask yourself if this old story
still surprises you. And perhaps be edified in your remembrance
by the odd and haunting, yet beautiful and exciting music, of a kid
from Michigan with a funny name who came from a broken home
with an alcoholic mother who is simply trying to make sense of the
world through the lens of his eclectic faith in Jesus.
and for your listening pleasure...
Relax this Christmas with one of these great holiday selections from Southwood Members
Christmas with
Frank & Bing
Handel's Messiah:
Choir of King's
College, Cambridge
The Spirit
of Christmas:
Ray Charles
Christmas Carols:
The Oxford Trinity
Choir
Christmas:
Michael W. Smith

Featuring the Christmas Jammy band!
December 20 th at the lodge
5:30pm * & 7:30pm
LIMITED SEATING
Free Tickets at Office
or Guest Center!
*Nursery only available at
5:30 performance for Pre-K
and younger. Reserve
by December 13th.
$5 per child.