December 4th, 2020
by Denee Bowers
by Denee Bowers

Friday, December 4
Colossians 1:25-29
When I was younger, there were two Christmas presents that I was most excited about opening. (And no, neither of them were the inevitable underwear we’d find in our stockings. Thanks Santa…) The first was whatever big present I’d asked for, which I got about half the time. The other was batteries, because more often than not, my presents were going to need batteries. Whether that was a glow-in-the-dark Nerf football or a Tamagachi (look it up if you weren’t a child of the 90’s), the best toys needed power to run.
And in the 90’s everyone knew the best battery for the job was Energizer. The commercials of a bunny who kept going and going and going had me convinced that Energizer batteries never ran out. They must have been attached to some kind of energy source that filled them at all times, because if the bunny never stopped, the batteries shouldn’t stop either.
We work in a similar way. Just like that Nerf football, we’ve been made (read: YOU’VE been made) for a purpose. You were created to help bring light into the world. But that’s not your light, and if it’s all about your energy, eventually that will run out. No, we’re meant to reflect God’s light as Jesus lives in us. Jesus is the engine that drives us forward, calling us towards what God is doing in the world and giving us the energy to follow. As disciples, we’re meant to be people imitating Jesus who is alive in us.
C.S. Lewis perhaps said it best. “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose.” You were made creatively to reflect Jesus in the world, to be a “little Christ.” Let that light shine for others to see Jesus at work in you.
Reflection by Martin Leathers
Colossians 1:25-29
When I was younger, there were two Christmas presents that I was most excited about opening. (And no, neither of them were the inevitable underwear we’d find in our stockings. Thanks Santa…) The first was whatever big present I’d asked for, which I got about half the time. The other was batteries, because more often than not, my presents were going to need batteries. Whether that was a glow-in-the-dark Nerf football or a Tamagachi (look it up if you weren’t a child of the 90’s), the best toys needed power to run.
And in the 90’s everyone knew the best battery for the job was Energizer. The commercials of a bunny who kept going and going and going had me convinced that Energizer batteries never ran out. They must have been attached to some kind of energy source that filled them at all times, because if the bunny never stopped, the batteries shouldn’t stop either.
We work in a similar way. Just like that Nerf football, we’ve been made (read: YOU’VE been made) for a purpose. You were created to help bring light into the world. But that’s not your light, and if it’s all about your energy, eventually that will run out. No, we’re meant to reflect God’s light as Jesus lives in us. Jesus is the engine that drives us forward, calling us towards what God is doing in the world and giving us the energy to follow. As disciples, we’re meant to be people imitating Jesus who is alive in us.
C.S. Lewis perhaps said it best. “The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose. It is even doubtful, you know, whether the whole universe was created for any other purpose.” You were made creatively to reflect Jesus in the world, to be a “little Christ.” Let that light shine for others to see Jesus at work in you.
Reflection by Martin Leathers
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Archive
2025
January
Happy New Year // M-Note 1.4.2025Cancel the Noise // M-Note 1.11.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 1The Beloved Community // M-Note 01.18.2025Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 2What A Coincidence // M-Note 1.25.25Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 3Cancel the Noise Discussion Guide - Part 4The Original Influencer // M-Note 2.1.25
February
The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 1Exploring New Sites…And You’re Invited // M-Note 2.8.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 2Uncovering Implicit Bias // M-Note 2.15.2025A "Flurry" of Activity // M-Note 2.22.25The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 3The Beloved Community Discussion Guide - Part 4
March
Beloved Community Action Steps // M-Note 3.1.25Vulnerability & Wilderness | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 1Trusting the Spirit's Lead | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 2Courageous Connection | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 3What's Your Emotional IQ? // M-Note 3.8.25The Spaces Between Us | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 4Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 1Jesus Weeps With You | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 5When Sadness Lingers | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 6Lurking in the Shadows | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 7Cycles of Life and Death | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 8Inked in Memory | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 9The Void of Grief | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 10Emotional Rollercoaster Discussion Guide - Part 2Sending Forth // M-Note 3.15.25Journey Not Alone | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 11Friends Along the Way | 2025 Lenten Devotional | Day 12
2024
January
Clean Slate: Week 1 Discussion GuideStarting & Sustaining Change // M-Note 1.6.24Clean Slate: Week 2 Discussion GuideStarting Small, Dreaming Big // M-Note 1.13.24Clean Slate: Week 3 Discussion GuideTogether Towards Change...and Healthy Habits // M-Note 1.20.24Clean Slate: Week 4 Discussion GuideSlowing Down for God to Show Up // M-Note 1.27.24
February
More Isn't Always Better // M-Note 2.3.24Money Talks: Week 1 Discussion GuideAshes for Valentine's Day? // M-Note 2.10.24Money Talks: Week 2 Discussion GuideLenten Devotional 2024Money Talks: Week 3 Discussion GuideWhat's your legacy? // M-Note 2.17.24Strength in Numbers: Community in Ministry // M-Note 2.24.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week One
March
Entourage Discussion Guide - Week TwoUpdates from Clayton and Easter Invitation // M-Note 3.2.24Twenty Students Confirmed Last Sunday // M-Note 3.9.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 3How serving at Easter can really make a difference // M-Note 3.16.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 4Can You Know Joy Without Pain? // M-Note 3.23.24Entourage Discussion Guide - Week 5It's time for EasterSTL at The Factory // M-Note 3.28.24
April
Easter Discussion GuideScreen Time: Troubleshooting our Relationship with Technology // M-Note 4.6.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 1Springtime Reminders: Joy Comes with the Morning // M-Note 4.13.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 2Shaping the Future at the UMC General Conference // M-Note 4.20.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 3 General Conference Halftime Report// M-Note 4.27.24Screen Time Discussion Guide - Week 4
May
Very Good News at the End of General Conference//M-Note 5.4.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 1Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 2Announcing The Gathering’s Church Planters Lab//M-Note 5.11.24My (Hypothetical) Commencement Address // M-Note 5.18.24Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 3Uncomfortable Truths Discussion Guide - Week 4
June
July
September
Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 1Transitioning...to 47 // M-Note 9.7.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 2Invitations Work in Mysterious Ways // M-Note 9.14.24Students Stepping Up: Getting Involved in Ministry // M-Note 9.21.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 3A Stressful Season // M-Note 9.28.24Worth Sharing Discussion Guide - Week 4
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