MORGAN'S MOMENT
A Christmas tree in the ditch!
So here we are walking
      on a sunny winter’s day…
      our usual 2-miler
      down Airport road.
We count beer cans
      in the ditch
      deciding to bag them
      next time out.
 
Then, Whoa!
      something in the ditch
      it’s a Christmas tree
      tied up for shipping.
It must have escaped
      jumping off a truck
      loaded with trees 
      heading for Los Angeles.
I climbed down the bank
      checked for major damage
      hoisted it to my shoulder
      took it home.
This lonely orphaned tree
      Now stands in lovely array
      presiding over
      the season of gifts.
‘Tis the season
      for the low to be raised up
      the lost found
      the forgotten included.
Finding a Christmas tree
      in a ditch
      is like finding God
      in a manger.
  — Art Morgan 
MOMENT MINISTRIES
Dec. 6, 2000
home address:  25921 SW Airport Ave.
Corvallis, OR 97333   541-753-3942
email at  a-morgan@peak.org
CHRISTMAS EVE 2000
6:30
(those who know come early!)
OLD WORLD DELI AND PUB
POSSIBLY THE ONLY CHRISTMAS SERVICE IN THE WORLD CONDUCTED IN A BREWERY
WE HAVE ACCEPTED THE HOSPITALITY OF THIS “INN” FOR OUR CHRISTMAS EVE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS.
- A 30 MINUTE EVENT -
LOTS OF CAROLS AND MUSIC
A NATIVITY PAGEANT CREATED ON THE SPOT
CANDLE-LIGHTING
A FAMILY EVENT
NO OFFERING
A GIFT OF TED COX OF THE OLD WORLD DELI
AND MOMENT MINISTRIES
CURRENT READING
     The book of the moment is Bishop Spong’s “Here I Stand,” an auto-biographical journey through his life and ministry. Some parts read like my own biography. Since he is virtually my age, his ministry spans the same time with the same issues as mine. 
     His attempt to be open about biblical scholarship in churches bound by outmoded and stifling traditions sounded familiar. He dared to speak while most clergy remained silent.
     Spong took led his churches to face up to issues of women in ministry, racism, homophobia and others. 
     Those who have been involved in any of those struggles in the church will be emotionally engaged. Memories flood back of working in congregations, feeling as if swimming against the tide, coping with entrenched ideas and powerful feelings.
     It is a book clergy should surely read, and one that most who read this blue sheet would probably appreciate. 
SALVATION ARMY BUCKETS
      We don’t want to knock the Salvation Army. They do good, especially in the cities. They need lots of money. But in our town we don’t need them. Not because there aren’t hungry and homeless and troubled folks in need. We have more than most of us realize.
      The reason we don’t need the Salvation Army is because we have Community Outreach, known among old-timers as “Sunflower House.” It is the big-time referral point for people with special needs in Corvallis and Benton County.
      The reason we mention it is that if anyone has a benevolent thought at Christmas time, with hopes of offering assistance to some of the troubled folks we see (and don’t see) in our own community, the best gift is not to the Salvation Army, but to Community Outreach Inc, 128 SW 9th, Corvallis OR 97333.
the back page
WAITING
          There has never been an Advent season like this. If we don’t understand the idea of “waiting for the Messiah,” we do now. The hopes and fears of waiting are increasing as I write. It is the most historic Advent ever.
          On Advent Sunday I offered three “prophecies.” Actually, I don’t believe in a God with secret plans for far off times that are hidden in remote places in the Bible waiting for some lunatic preacher to “discover” and report them.
          Amazingly, I am an accidental prophet. You can decide that maybe I was divinely inspired when I wrote these words on Dec. 9, 2000. (Those of you who discover my writings in ancient manuscripts 1000 years from now should note the date). It was 2 days after the presidential election and 4 days before the last football games of the season.  Neither outcome was known at the time. I wrote:
 Whose side are you on, God? Are you a Duck or Beaver or Husky?
 Are you for Bush or Gore or Nader—or neither?
 While you are deciding—or not deciding—
 Remind us that we don’t need a majority to practice
 Love, and justice here and now.
          The God who either doesn’t decide or won’t, leaves Ducks, Beavers and Huskies tied for the PAC 10 championship. Nobody won and nobody lost.
          As of this writing, God is still not deciding who will be president. ...staying out of it.
          How prophetic can you get?
          Others have tried their hand at prophecy. Like the Isaiah we quote at Christmas time.
 For 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,’ and ‘Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of his government
 and of peace there will be no end…with justice and righteousness forevermore.
          Some Christians think this was written for Jesus.  Not!  In 725 BC Jesus was not on anyone’s horizon. This was a Coronation poem for some king or president. Lots of high hopes for the guy as we have for all the newly crowned.
          My third selection was made while listening to the radio. I don’t usually listen to the radio when working on my presentations. But this was December 1, 2000 when the Supreme Court was trying to decide who should decide whether votes should be counted or not. From time to time they played sounds of the angry folks full of hopes and fears who languished in frustration outside.
          With this coming out of my radio on my desk I was going through the hymnal reading words of Christian advent carols.  My eyes fixed on these prophetic words:
 O come desire of nations, bind all people in one heart and mind.
 Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease; Fill the earth with heaven’s peace.
          Talk about words for the moment. This is a prayer for inauguration day. These are words full of human hope in all times. Let me see, when was this written?  I look at the notes on the bottom of the page. “Latin Hymn, ca. 1200 AD.” 
          So we have three “prophecies,” from 725 BC, 1200 AD and 2000 AD. Have you noticed the common hunger? The bottom line is not who is chosen but what happens.
          Here comes the theology of it all. God is not in the who, no matter what titles are assumed or powers claimed. God is what happens. The time of the messiah has arrived when we see love and justice and peace and righteousness. As one of the above prophets has said so well, we don’t need a majority to practice love and justice here and now.  We don't have to wait for a messiah.
— Art Morgan, December 2000