I received the following from Robert McMahan and thought it worth sharing! Robert said, "go ahead!"
FYI Robert has agreed to chair our AdCouncil in the coming year!
Carolyn
Carolyn:
Denise, Will, and I missed "home" last week as we attended the baptism of a close couple's first born child at Trinity United Methodist in downtown Denver. Since the baptism was at 11 AM, we had no way of making the Christ Church service and the baptism. So we took the rare opportunity to explore the church home of two friends we respect highly and care for deeply and do so with open minds and no expectations.
Trinity is the site where I have attended several 12-step meetings, so participating in a full service in the sponsoring congregation was nice and allowed me to silently thank the members for supporting me through their generous ministry in another of faith's journeys.
The only other time Denise or I had been in the sanctuary was when we saw these same two dear friends, Tina and Gary, formally announce their love through marriage exactly one year to the day prior (11/20/04). Seeing their baby, Noel Gabriel, baptized 365 days later from the same exact location was comforting.
Denise and I were able to see, hear, and experience the same "brand" of church we're loyal to with a differently purposed "model." I see these two related yet vastly different houses of worship as fulfilling very similar purposes in vastly different ways.
Top three most reliable and popular models on the road.
If United Methodists are Hondas, Trinity United Methodist Church appeared to be the sensible, fairly attractive, and always dependable "Accord," the car that many Americans religiously buy, drive, and buy again with the same calculated certainty paralleling the above average consumer satisfaction ratings it collects annually.
Millions of satisfied Honda Accord customers negotiate their daily commute in comfort. Trinity's "Accord" ALSO featured many comfortable options not standard on most Honda models, such as luxury padded seating surfaces, rich wood grain interior, multi-zone climate control, and a high-end sound system with plenty of tweeters, multiple mid-range speakers, and even a sub woofer.
The Accord really attempted to be kid-friendly too, even though it took two "salespeople" walking us through underground back hallways in our attempt to register Will for a test play in the child safety/entertainment zone, and it took another "customer" to all but draw us directions on how to access the secure features and their remote location without missing the primary reason for test driving this "model," the dependable performance, touted service, and a commitment to check it out in support of friends who were very committed to the Accord.
Our experience was positive at this bigger name from the same family, but ultimately we were comforted in knowing that our model offers the right fit, feel, and function for where we drive today and where we hope to journey in the foreseeable future. I, personally, was so calmed by that thought that I didn't even check my rear view mirror as we drove south, then east, out of the parking garage for our short journey home.
So what model are we?
If Trinity is the Accord in all its glory, I really appreciate the "Element" that is CCUM. The unique model that is the Element is not produced in anywhere close to the same quantities as the Accord from the same family. Even so it is strangely appealing and attractive to a small, niche group.
I particularly enjoy CCUM Element's multi-functional, easy to change, cargo area that readily accepts all sizes and types of baggage appropriate for any type of journey from the washboard tough back roads, to the serene winding prairie highway, yet seems to be most comfortable in tough, daily grind of the stop-and-go traffic and quick maneuvering required to navigate in a city of so many hazards and construction projects seemingly lurking at every turn of the road.
My favorite feature of the CCUM Element is not the unique form or structure--I mean both the Accord and the Element have four wheels, an engine, a transmission, and many other common requirements that make them vehicles suitable for use. The reason I so enjoy the CCUM Element, I can attribute to the seemingly little differences in the option packages. These really make the difference between the two clear for me.
The radio in the Element, though not as powerful or as big a unit as in the Accord, strangely displays a broader, more dynamic range and sings a more soulful tune for my taste that beckons to be turned up and appreciated. Funny thing, too, when listening to the radio, I noticed that the message from the morning "DJ" seemed more targeted to me and definitely genuine--this is amazing considering all voices coming from the multitude of Honda radios in service read from the same headlines and are influenced by the identical "governmental oversight body." The consistent message I get from listening to the CCUM Element's DJ, though, is a unique blend of folksy yet poignant wisdom informed by the many storms she's weathered; strangely these messages simulcast gently and incisively moving beyond mere listening into the realm of meaning making.
It's true that many more Accords travel the roads than any other Honda model; in fact the Honda Accord brand and model has become a sort of standard for how to build a solid, predictable, and reliable, if not a bit staid, flagship vehicle to carry the brand name. Though stingier at the pump, sporting a little less horsepower, and wearing a style that says, "Like me or not, I got you to look, experience, and ponder," the "Element" is quirky cool, and that breeds a rare vehicle loyalty for some faithful.
The Element isn't for everyone, and if it was, it probably wouldn't be for me. I feel like an individual when I drive down the road; sure some people stare, while others mock me by gunning their bigger horsepower engines or by blasting their huge stereo systems. The funny thing is I still see the faster, louder, flashier cars at the same traffic lights I'm waiting at. I think we're going in the same direction--and that's comforting to an extent--but I sure like the look, feel, fit, and ride better than anything else I've tried.
Thanks, Carolyn.
Robert McMahan
The Christ Church Chancel Choir will present a special Festival of Lessons & Carols this Sunday evening, December 11, at 6:00pm in the sanctuary. The service will feature the traditional reading of lessons (Scripture readings) interspersed with the singing of Advent and Christmas carols by choir and congregation. Joining the Chancel Choir are special guest musicians Susan Ripper, flutist, and Doug Lacy, pianist.
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Thank you all for a splendid "Hanging of the Greens" event this morning at Christ Church!
The Worship committee arranged for all of the beautiful sanctuary decorations, including a brand new Advent Wreath and Christmas tree. Plan to come to Christ Church tomorrow morning to see the decorations and appreciate all their hard work!
The Children's Education committee led the kids in several crafts, like decorating Christmas cookies and making tree ornaments and garlands. The special Christmas tree with all the children's homemade ornaments is located in the Fellowship Hall.
Following worship, everyone gathered back in the Fellowship Hall for soup, bread and freshly-baked Christmas cookies!
You are cordially invited to join the Christ Church community this Saturday morning, December 3, as we decorate the sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas seasons. The annual "Hanging of the Greens" is an exciting event for ALL ages, and will include special craft activities for the kids, a complementary soup and bread lunch (from the Smiling Moose Deli) and a brief time of worship to commemorate the season.