He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion-
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning…
Isaiah 61:1b-3a
The patient was a woman in her mid 50’s. She had metastasized breast cancer and was a frequent visitor to the ER when I was a chaplain at Queen of Angels hospital. She had spent years going through chemo and radiation and earlier that year she had told her doctors she didn’t want any more treatments or medications. Sadly, her cancer had created a large, open sore in the front corner of her right armpit. The sore was infected which she knew and was treating unsuccessfully with herbs. Her doctor was worried because the infection was spreading and the wound was seeping so much fluid that she was using a thick feminine pad as a bandage. It was painful and despite how often she changed her “bandage” she smelled like rotting, infected flesh. Her family was having a hard time being with her and even her doctor was having a hard time just walking into examination room.
Even though her doctor knew he could make her remaining months much more comfortable he understood what this patient had been through and was willing to respect her wishes. The problem he was facing was that, as she had an open wound, she was losing blood constantly and therefore was regularly being brought in for blood transfusions. He was conflicted because until he was allowed to heal up the wound, she would continue to drain and waste blood already low in supply. I remember him saying something like, “I’m filling a bucket with a hole in the bottom”.
Where are the holes in our lives? In our church? What are the things we think we are managing but really are causing precious, God-given resources to run right through us? As Christmas and a new year draws closer, hopefully we can prepare for the season by looking for places where we have an open, festering wound, the places where we are hurting, and can welcome the healing offered by Christ.
~ Upcoming Events ~
Sunday, December 18
Christmas Pageant
10 am | Sanctuary
All participants please arrive by 9 am
~
Sunday, December 24
Please note that we will not be having Sunday School
Family Service
4:30 pm | The Main Sanctuary
We will be welcoming a very special, very large, very dusty guest.
Christmas Eve Service
9 pm with special music beginning at 8:40 pm | The Main Sanctuary
~
Sunday, December 31
Please note that we will not be having Sunday School
~
School Vacation Boredom Busters
Join us for something every day during Christmas Break
Please contact Heather for any further information.
Tuesday, January 2
Including a possible trip to the Doc McStuffins Exhibit
$18 for Adults, $13 for kids
Wednesday, January 3
$11 for 30 minutes / $16 for 60 minutes / $21 for 90 minutes
Thursday, January 4
“Ferdinand” at the Santa Anita AMC
Tickets: $15 for adults, $12 for kids
Friday, January 5
Ice Skating
Pasadena Ice Skating Center
$11 entry, $4 skate rental
~
Sunday, January 7
Team 2 Acolyting
Family Worship
10 am | Chapel
Sunday School
10:30 am | Sunday School Classrooms.
