How to Be Real and Encouraged this Christmas with Bishop Julius C. Trimble (Special Announcement)
In Episode 55 of the United Methodist People Podcast Bishop Julius Trimble shares a Christmas message of How to be Real and Encouraged this Christmas.
Bishop Trimble shares the meaningfulness of Christmas memories growing up in his own family and in raising his own children. He also emphasizes the importance of clergy caring for their own families at Christmas and how laypersons can be helpful in this area.
He talks about the redeeming message of Christmas in the light of the Covid 19 crisis and other societal pressures. He relates that Christmas is a gift worth sharing - the gift of encouragement.
Episode 55 also featured the special announcement that in January 2022 Bishop Trimble is launching his own persona podcast "Be Encouraged with Bishop Julius C. Trimble." This included the release of an audio trailer for the new podcast which will be available on iTunes and other podcast directories after January 1, 2022.
Rev. Dr. Miller concluded the episode with gratitude to the listeners for their support in 2021 and the following quote from John Wesley.
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.”
― John Wesley
Transcript
Robert Dr. Brad Miller here with you on the
Brad Miller:United Methodist people podcast. This is the Be encouraged
Brad Miller:segment where we love to talk with Bishop Julius C. Trumbull,
Brad Miller:about the his message about being encouraged. And of course
Brad Miller:it's the Christmas season. And we are looking forward to a
Brad Miller:Christmas after a unique Christmas we had last year in
Brad Miller:2020, we have a new opportunity for to celebrate the birth of
Brad Miller:Jesus Christ. So, Bishop, welcome to the podcast and let's
Brad Miller:talk about Christmas a little bit.
Bishop Julius Trimble:Thank you, Brad, my friend and Merry
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas to those who will be hearing this podcast. And
Bishop Julius Trimble:looking forward to conversation about Christmas. We often we
Bishop Julius Trimble:think of it as a day, but it's really a season bread. It's the
Bishop Julius Trimble:season of praise and thanksgiving where we give
Bishop Julius Trimble:thanks for the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ. You the
Bishop Julius Trimble:story of the baby born in a manger, the baby born in
Bishop Julius Trimble:Bethlehem is literally as John's gospel teaches us. The Word of
Bishop Julius Trimble:God becoming flesh, God becoming human. Or as Eugene Peterson
Bishop Julius Trimble:says, I believe I'm paraphrasing, God comes and sets
Bishop Julius Trimble:up 10 in our neighborhood. So Christmas is certainly about the
Bishop Julius Trimble:ultimate gift of love from God through Jesus Christ.
Brad Miller:Well, that absolutely the God incarnate
Brad Miller:indeed. And let's talk a little bit about your personal life a
Brad Miller:little bit in terms of Christmas, then we I know that
Brad Miller:there's just a lot to say about Christmas. And I really want to
Brad Miller:kind of juxtapose this Christmas to what we experienced the last
Brad Miller:year or so with a lot of people live in all kinds of things. But
Brad Miller:I just be interested to Bishop a little bit about what some of
Brad Miller:your Christmas traditions How's Christmas made real for you and
Brad Miller:First Lady in your family, how's it made real for you?
Bishop Julius Trimble:Well, Christmas, I have many memories
Bishop Julius Trimble:of Christmas growing up as a child. I'm a middle child of the
Bishop Julius Trimble:fourth of six children. And I remember worship being
Bishop Julius Trimble:associated with Christmas, Christmas Eve services,
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas programs and when we were going in, and our Sunday
Bishop Julius Trimble:school classes, participating in some kind of a Christmas program
Bishop Julius Trimble:or the children's choir, participating in that, and of
Bishop Julius Trimble:course, growing up and watching our own children, as a pastor
Bishop Julius Trimble:myself, you know, watching our own children participate in the
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas festivities, and often leading worship for Christmas
Bishop Julius Trimble:Eve service. I often think of Christmas really beginning with
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas Eve and, and silent nine holy night. And then
Bishop Julius Trimble:waiting anxiously for the earliest time my parents would
Bishop Julius Trimble:let us get up. I go see what was under the Christmas tree.
Brad Miller:Well, that's a it's a wonderful experience of family
Brad Miller:to be sure, but certainly in the life of the church. Boy, I tell
Brad Miller:you what, Bishop, for me, at least and I think you touched on
Brad Miller:as well. There's very few Higher Holy moments than a Christmas
Brad Miller:Eve candlelight singing Silent Night, Would you not agree?
Bishop Julius Trimble:I agree. I agree. And I think that's when
Bishop Julius Trimble:people talk about what we've missed in this long, protracted
Bishop Julius Trimble:pandemic season. Some of what we've missed is lighting the
Bishop Julius Trimble:candle, whether it's a real candle, or it's one of those
Bishop Julius Trimble:battery operated candles, singing Silent Night on
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas Eve service, gathered whether we're in a small
Bishop Julius Trimble:membership church or, or large sanctuary, making a big circle
Bishop Julius Trimble:around the pews, singing Silent night, holy night.
Brad Miller:Well, then, that is absolutely the case. And we
Brad Miller:certainly hear we're talking to the Christmas season of 2021.
Brad Miller:But we have now lived through the pandemic for a year and a
Brad Miller:half, almost two years now. And certainly last Christmas and
Brad Miller:last holiday season. Last year of 20 was a difficult one and
Brad Miller:people still have fear people still have anxiety. There's all
Brad Miller:kinds of things going on in life and yet Christmas is supposed to
Brad Miller:be the season of joy. Tell us a little bit about vicious how you
Brad Miller:feel like people can kind of make this a try to understand
Brad Miller:what's happened last year and a half or so of fear and of
Brad Miller:despair and anxiety. And let's live in joy now help us to make
Brad Miller:this transition help us to get to a place of joy.
Bishop Julius Trimble:Well, Paul says we ought to give
Bishop Julius Trimble:thanks in all things it's it hasn't been easy though, because
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas is a reminder for many people it's a it's a solemn time
Bishop Julius Trimble:and can be a somber and solemn time because there are people
Bishop Julius Trimble:missing at the table brand. And I think we can still carve out
Bishop Julius Trimble:room to say, I think this is a good good reason to light
Bishop Julius Trimble:candles. We like candles for the birth of Christ. We like candles
Bishop Julius Trimble:in memory of those who are no longer able to sit at the table.
Bishop Julius Trimble:And break bread or carved turkey or, or have ham and, and all of
Bishop Julius Trimble:the fixings with us. So it has been a season to remember. But
Bishop Julius Trimble:this is, this is a year in which we can really celebrate
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas as the ultimate gift of God's love for us. And God
Bishop Julius Trimble:has seen us through to this point. And so we have no other
Bishop Julius Trimble:reason than the fact that Jesus Christ is born than to give
Bishop Julius Trimble:thanks for that.
Brad Miller:Well, absolutely. And we do have always the
Brad Miller:opportunity to experience joy even in the midst of, of
Brad Miller:difficult circumstances, which many people have had the last
Brad Miller:year or so. And I know and by church, and many churches last
Brad Miller:Christmas met Christmas Eve over zoom call or over Facebook Live
Brad Miller:or something like that. And that's, and I thank God for that
Brad Miller:type of technology. And thank God that you and I are able to
Brad Miller:share in a podcast and other ways that people can hear our
Brad Miller:voices. And that's a great thing. But there's something to
Brad Miller:be said about being in community being in fellowship to be in
Brad Miller:person. And so let's talk about that a little bit about the
Brad Miller:meaningfulness of fellowship and community is, many of our
Brad Miller:churches are starting to reconnect and reform with
Brad Miller:whatever that means for them. Now, how are we different now
Brad Miller:than we were a year ago?
Bishop Julius Trimble:Well, we are satisfying a deep need a
Bishop Julius Trimble:deep seated hunger and a deep need that we all have bred and
Bishop Julius Trimble:that is the need to be in relationship with other people.
Bishop Julius Trimble:I thank God actually for the technology and the platforms
Bishop Julius Trimble:that have allowed us to, to see each other or hear each other,
Bishop Julius Trimble:even during this this long, protracted, COVID season. But I
Bishop Julius Trimble:do think people are giving thanks for the ability to
Bishop Julius Trimble:actually come and look across the table or look across the
Bishop Julius Trimble:pews and see see other people that they have missed being in
Bishop Julius Trimble:the same space with. I often say whenever we whenever we gather
Bishop Julius Trimble:in the name of Jesus Christ to worship, or to break bread, it's
Bishop Julius Trimble:a unique and unrepeatable moment, it's a gift of God. Some
Bishop Julius Trimble:might even some might even claim it as a, the sacrament of
Bishop Julius Trimble:presence, the presence of being with other people. So that's a
Bishop Julius Trimble:deep seated need that we have. You know, our souls, hunger for
Bishop Julius Trimble:the presence of God.
Brad Miller:Absolutely. And that's a good thing. And yet we
Brad Miller:have the opportunities to be transformed ourselves. And
Brad Miller:there's nothing more really no more transformational for a
Brad Miller:Christian, United Methodist, Christian than understanding
Brad Miller:that Jesus Christ was born. And that made all the difference in
Brad Miller:the world. Tell us a little bit about just that fact. You know,
Brad Miller:I know that you've also been privileged to travel to the Holy
Brad Miller:Land and see some of the sites there. Tell us a bit about the
Brad Miller:impact for you personally, but to know Jesus Christ is a real
Brad Miller:he's a real human being real human child. Totally, totally
Brad Miller:divine, totally God incarnate, speak just a little bit
Brad Miller:priestess, a little bit of a friend.
Bishop Julius Trimble:Well, well, I've been to the bends of
Bishop Julius Trimble:Bethlehem, as you have on a number of occasions. And there's
Bishop Julius Trimble:nothing like being in the place being in a place where Jesus was
Bishop Julius Trimble:born and walked, and was raised. Being on the Sea of Galilee,
Bishop Julius Trimble:where he called people to put down their net center, come
Bishop Julius Trimble:following become fishers of men, women, boys and girl, girls, but
Bishop Julius Trimble:But Jesus can actually be felt in a real way, even when we
Bishop Julius Trimble:share for example, the sacrament of Holy Communion. When we share
Bishop Julius Trimble:the Gospel reading, when we sing Christmas, we call them
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas carols and Christmas hymns. But I actually feel a
Bishop Julius Trimble:connection with with the living Christ when we when we sing when
Bishop Julius Trimble:we sing our theology brand, as well. But there's nothing I
Bishop Julius Trimble:would desire more we're in fact, in 2022, we are planning to take
Bishop Julius Trimble:folks to the Holy Land in December before Christmas. So
Bishop Julius Trimble:we're hoping that people who even on this podcast might might
Bishop Julius Trimble:take advantage of that opportunity to travel to to
Bishop Julius Trimble:Bethlehem December 2022. That would
Brad Miller:be awesome to be in Bethlehem at Christmas time. I
Brad Miller:know that times I was there was in like in the springtime and it
Brad Miller:was awesome to be there then. But I just think it'd be really
Brad Miller:so cool to be in Bethlehem at at Christmas time. So that's good.
Brad Miller:You said earlier that Christmas is not just a day, it's not just
Brad Miller:a birth date, so to speak. It's a season and so it is with all
Brad Miller:of us. We all have birthdays, you know we all have you know my
Brad Miller:Birthday you have yours and and that's a day to be marked as
Brad Miller:special for every one of us personally. For all of us,
Brad Miller:though, we have Christians have this date as a special day kind
Brad Miller:of transformation between Why was and what is. Hmm. And I'd
Brad Miller:just like to speak a little bit now about, about that
Brad Miller:transformation about Jesus makes for us when we allow that Him to
Brad Miller:come into our hearts that in transformation.
Bishop Julius Trimble:That is that's that's a great question.
Bishop Julius Trimble:I think one of the books that has been helpful for me is a
Bishop Julius Trimble:book by Kyle Idleman, not just a fan, and where he talks about,
Bishop Julius Trimble:there's a difference between being a fan and a follower of
Bishop Julius Trimble:Jesus. I think the difference for me was, even though I was
Bishop Julius Trimble:raised in the church as a child and baptized as a child, it came
Bishop Julius Trimble:a point where Jesus became so real to me, this was long before
Bishop Julius Trimble:I ever even knew I would go to the Holy Land. But Jesus became
Bishop Julius Trimble:so real to me, understanding that Jesus loves me, this I
Bishop Julius Trimble:know, for the Bible tells me so. And not only does Jesus love me,
Bishop Julius Trimble:but Jesus is proof of God's love for us. Because as we know, God
Bishop Julius Trimble:so loved the world. And it wasn't just some neighborhoods
Bishop Julius Trimble:in the world. That translation God so loved the world from John
Bishop Julius Trimble:316. Jesus didn't die first, he was born first. And born of a
Bishop Julius Trimble:Virgin Mary, a mother, born of the Virgin Mary, meaning that
Bishop Julius Trimble:God so loved us that God made possible what others would say
Bishop Julius Trimble:is impossible, in order to forgive our sins and to give us
Bishop Julius Trimble:life with full meaning. I was I was a teenager, when I really
Bishop Julius Trimble:accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. And I continue to
Bishop Julius Trimble:accept Jesus as a new gift, every Christmas bread. Mike
Bishop Julius Trimble:slaughter Pastor Mike slaughter some years ago, wrote a book
Bishop Julius Trimble:little book entitled, Christmas is not your birthday. And I
Bishop Julius Trimble:think he wrote the book that really encourage people to
Bishop Julius Trimble:remember that it's Jesus's birthday. And so we think about
Bishop Julius Trimble:the wise men or the Magi who brought gifts of gold,
Bishop Julius Trimble:frankincense, and myrrh. When we give gifts, and I'm looking
Bishop Julius Trimble:forward to putting lots of gifts under the tree for our
Bishop Julius Trimble:granddaughter this year,
Brad Miller:the authors are giving gifts. This year,
Bishop Julius Trimble:she really knows about Christmas,
Bishop Julius Trimble:he's already talking about it. So but the greatest gift we have
Bishop Julius Trimble:received is indeed love that cannot be snatched away for from
Bishop Julius Trimble:us Brent, nor does anybody have to vote on it at their
Bishop Julius Trimble:conference or in the Congress. We don't need Republicans and
Bishop Julius Trimble:Democrats to agree on it. God has already stamped with
Bishop Julius Trimble:approval, our gift, and everybody receives the gift you
Bishop Julius Trimble:remember that Oprah Show where you get a car you get every
Bishop Julius Trimble:everybody receives the gift of Jesus Christ, if we receive
Bishop Julius Trimble:Jesus in our hearts.
Brad Miller:And that's a gift that is sustained if if we allow
Brad Miller:that to be sustained any other gifts we get, you know, a
Brad Miller:sweater in your under your tree is going to wear out eventually
Brad Miller:that toy you get that bicycle you get is going to kind of wear
Brad Miller:out this is the gift that keeps going, as you said earlier, it's
Brad Miller:about the season that keeps on keeps on giving here. Speak to
Brad Miller:us for just a minute though Bishop here about the people who
Brad Miller:are hurting this Christmas time, the people who are really
Brad Miller:broken, you know, and how, you know, how can we share those of
Brad Miller:us who have the joy of Christmas share that joy in their life?
Brad Miller:Because there are people who have been really beat up, you
Brad Miller:know, just really beat up this Christmas time? And how can we
Brad Miller:be the church, you know, how could be the church and share
Brad Miller:the joy of Jesus to people whose lives are a little bit messed up
Brad Miller:and broken this year?
Bishop Julius Trimble:I think we best do that, Brad by by
Bishop Julius Trimble:pausing, and saying and then I see you and literally seen
Bishop Julius Trimble:people and not rushing past the hurt and the pain, the sorrow
Bishop Julius Trimble:the sadness, but but carving out space for that. Because that to
Bishop Julius Trimble:that too is part of the gift of community. Part of the gift of
Bishop Julius Trimble:community, according to the Bible in Galatians, six and two,
Bishop Julius Trimble:I believe it is, is that we are to bear each other's burdens,
Bishop Julius Trimble:and so fulfill the law of Christ and I would, this is my
Bishop Julius Trimble:paraphrase. We bear each other's burdens and so fulfill the love
Bishop Julius Trimble:of Christ. So I cannot really celebrate Christmas, and not
Bishop Julius Trimble:acknowledged when we raised asked the question Is it well
Bishop Julius Trimble:with your soul? Some answers are it's not well, it's not my soul
Bishop Julius Trimble:is hurting, my heart is hurting someone I love is not with us.
Bishop Julius Trimble:I'm estranged from a child who is who has gone astray. I'm
Bishop Julius Trimble:caught up in an addiction that I can't get free from. I'm
Bishop Julius Trimble:homeless without a place to call home. I'm visiting a shelter to
Bishop Julius Trimble:get my holiday meal. We have to not just see people but
Bishop Julius Trimble:acknowledge them and sit with each other. And indeed, that way
Bishop Julius Trimble:we are sharing I believe the greatest gift. And that is the
Bishop Julius Trimble:gift of Christ with us.
Brad Miller:That appreciate that so much in terms of those
Brad Miller:hurting people. And let's address some of you and I are
Brad Miller:some people you and I are quite close to let's talk about
Brad Miller:pastors and pastors families at Christmas. What I mean by that,
Brad Miller:Bishop is that you We already talked a minute ago about how
Brad Miller:both you and I have led on many occasions Christmas Eve services
Brad Miller:for instance. And sometimes that means kind of balancing you
Brad Miller:know, church activities and family life and things like
Brad Miller:that. But pastors and pastors family spouses or children are
Brad Miller:often under a lot of stress or under the spotlight at Christmas
Brad Miller:time and need a little joy in their life as well. Sometimes it
Brad Miller:gets a little a little crazy what kind of a word of
Brad Miller:encouragement you know you you'd love to your your phrase you
Brad Miller:love to say and you're all about as being encouraged and we're
Brad Miller:going to be looking forward to before too long you a whole new
Brad Miller:podcast called Be encouraged with Bishop tremble. But what
Brad Miller:word of encouragement this Christmas would you give to
Brad Miller:clergy and clergy families who have dealt with an awful lot for
Brad Miller:you know, for a long time, but especially last year or so.
Bishop Julius Trimble:I would say to our to our clergy and
Bishop Julius Trimble:clergy families, we love you. I think my wife and I first lady
Bishop Julius Trimble:reseller, she is she is quick to say, you know, we need to love
Bishop Julius Trimble:the people love the people, but also love the pastors and love
Bishop Julius Trimble:the pastor or families and be unapologetic about it. So we're
Bishop Julius Trimble:praying for you this season. Sometimes you can be leading and
Bishop Julius Trimble:be lonely at the same time. I know as a pastor, you know,
Bishop Julius Trimble:sometimes I was leading worship services. And yet there was a
Bishop Julius Trimble:sense that even amidst your responsibility, there you were
Bishop Julius Trimble:standing alone. And we are all called not just to our
Bishop Julius Trimble:congregations and to our jobs, but to our families. And I would
Bishop Julius Trimble:say to during this this Christmas season, that a special
Bishop Julius Trimble:shout out of love and appreciation to pastoral
Bishop Julius Trimble:families in Indiana and across the globe. You are a treasure,
Bishop Julius Trimble:you are a blessing. You are the source of encouragement for so
Bishop Julius Trimble:many others. My wife often says that we can't feed others unless
Bishop Julius Trimble:we are eating ourselves. So I would just say branded view and
Bishop Julius Trimble:I even in this podcast broadcast that we send a blessing out a
Bishop Julius Trimble:shout out to every pastor and pastor's home those who are
Bishop Julius Trimble:living in parsonages. Or in your own residence those who are in
Bishop Julius Trimble:appointments outside the local church chaplains and hospital
Bishop Julius Trimble:workers and counselors and all kinds of persons but
Bishop Julius Trimble:particularly pastors who will be leading who are leading churches
Bishop Julius Trimble:and you're navigating wearing masks and involving the
Bishop Julius Trimble:children. I hope you find reason and find time to be unavailable.
Bishop Julius Trimble:We're so often expected to be available. And I say this
Bishop Julius Trimble:without apology and I'll take on any flack that's coming my way.
Bishop Julius Trimble:be unavailable so that you might be available to your family
Bishop Julius Trimble:might be fully available to God. And you know, that's why I say
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas is a season if we only celebrated as Christmas Eve and
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas. I say celebrated as a season and part of that season
Bishop Julius Trimble:includes when if you have children in school while they're
Bishop Julius Trimble:out of school, making sure we carve out time for that. That
Bishop Julius Trimble:was always a challenge but we always made it happen we had
Bishop Julius Trimble:three children as I was pastoring local congregations
Bishop Julius Trimble:they were small and then get get get get older and older now
Bishop Julius Trimble:they're adults. So thanks be to God for our pastors a shout out
Bishop Julius Trimble:to you this Christmas. Make sure you you exercise your soul and
Bishop Julius Trimble:and Exercise your bodies as well.
Brad Miller:Well appreciate that. And let's just encourage
Brad Miller:our lay folk who may be listening to us to maybe just
Brad Miller:give a good word to your pastor or your spouse or kids for that
Brad Miller:matter. And you know, whatever Christmas cookies, any number of
Brad Miller:things could be just a small token of appreciation, it is
Brad Miller:appreciate I know it is for for me, Bishop one more thing I know
Brad Miller:every year you give a very impassioned Christmas message to
Brad Miller:folks who who want to hear what you have to say. And I would
Brad Miller:like to give you an opportunity to share anything you'd like to
Brad Miller:share about the power of Christmas in in your life and
Brad Miller:how you share that with others. And then after that, maybe we
Brad Miller:can we can pray together and ask God's blessing to be with us for
Brad Miller:this Christmas season.
Bishop Julius Trimble:Well, this year, my focus was on
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas love is a gift to share. It's not something just
Bishop Julius Trimble:for one single household, or one single congregation. Christmas
Bishop Julius Trimble:love is a gift to share. I think, I think the baby born in
Bishop Julius Trimble:Bethlehem is a confirmation that God's love for us cannot be
Bishop Julius Trimble:interrupted. It cannot be denied. And it is indeed comes
Bishop Julius Trimble:to us as both insurance as well as assurance. The baby born in
Bishop Julius Trimble:Bethlehem who brought us insurance for us all also
Bishop Julius Trimble:brought us assurance. Well, what do I mean by that? Well, Isaiah
Bishop Julius Trimble:says that a child will be born and that child, the government
Bishop Julius Trimble:will rest upon that child's shoulders in that child shall be
Bishop Julius Trimble:called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace. I
Bishop Julius Trimble:remember a few weeks ago, President Biden was saying that
Bishop Julius Trimble:he talked to the CEOs of Walmart and Target, and they promised
Bishop Julius Trimble:that the shelves would be full. And you didn't have to worry
Bishop Julius Trimble:about a shortage. On any toys are things you were looking for,
Bishop Julius Trimble:where there is a gift that everybody can receive, and not
Bishop Julius Trimble:worry about going to Walmart or Target that is the gift of Jesus
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christ and His love. I am here to tell you that we need in
Bishop Julius Trimble:today's world, that wonderful counselor, that mighty God, that
Bishop Julius Trimble:Prince of Peace, or Emanuel, which means God is with us. So
Bishop Julius Trimble:if you're listening to this podcast, don't give up. Don't
Bishop Julius Trimble:give out. Don't fret. Don't forget that the love of Jesus
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christ is for you. And for me, because of the major comes
Bishop Julius Trimble:because of the baby born in a manger, your insurance of
Bishop Julius Trimble:salvation has been adopted, your assurance of love has been
Bishop Julius Trimble:grant. Because the baby was born in Bethlehem, you have insurance
Bishop Julius Trimble:of forgiveness, and you have assurance of grace. You have
Bishop Julius Trimble:insurance of possibilities. And you have your assurance of hope.
Bishop Julius Trimble:And One writer says hope comes Brad when you invite the God who
Bishop Julius Trimble:made you, the Christ who redeemed you, the Holy Spirit
Bishop Julius Trimble:that unfolds you to grant you Christmas Joy. Not only
Bishop Julius Trimble:Christmas joy when I said it's the season, but New Year's mercy
Bishop Julius Trimble:and something we can all use every day gratitude. So that's
Bishop Julius Trimble:why we seen I don't know what your favorite hymn is, but I
Bishop Julius Trimble:don't know if you can you have Christmas without singing George
Bishop Julius Trimble:to the world. I was gonna
Brad Miller:ask what exactly I was gonna say.
Bishop Julius Trimble:Yeah, let it let it Let earth receive her
Bishop Julius Trimble:King, Let every heart prepare Him room. And I like to refrain
Bishop Julius Trimble:and heaven and nature sing and heaven and nature sing. We need
Bishop Julius Trimble:bread for heaven and nature to sing. to seeing that the earth
Bishop Julius Trimble:is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. And all who dwell there
Bishop Julius Trimble:in if we're committed to climate, creation, care and
Bishop Julius Trimble:climate crisis response. We need heaven in nature to sing. We
Bishop Julius Trimble:need to have an a nature to sing. Let the weak say I am
Bishop Julius Trimble:strong, that the poor say I am rich because of what the Lord
Bishop Julius Trimble:has done. We need heaven and earth to sing. From the rising
Bishop Julius Trimble:of the sun to the going down of the same. The name of the Lord
Bishop Julius Trimble:shall be praised. We need heaven and earth to sing. Oh, come, O
Bishop Julius Trimble:come. Emmanuel, the little child of Bethlehem God with us. We
Bishop Julius Trimble:need heaven and earth to sing in order to purify our hearts
Bishop Julius Trimble:discipline our tongues, sanctify our souls, liberate our love,
Bishop Julius Trimble:and connect our minds and we'll with the will of God, in
Bishop Julius Trimble:obedience and love to Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas. And God
Bishop Julius Trimble:bless you.
Brad Miller:That's awesome. And just as you share that there I
Brad Miller:just reminded about, about the incarnate God about the words of
Brad Miller:Wesley I believe he, he said that the best news of all is
Brad Miller:what God is God is with us. God is with us. And that's a that's
Brad Miller:kind of a Christmas message as well. And we thank you for your
Brad Miller:Christmas message. Misha tremble, and how about having a
Brad Miller:prayer for us to close our time, Chris, a blessing when all who
Brad Miller:hear our voices
Bishop Julius Trimble:Holy God, heaven and earth I met this day
Bishop Julius Trimble:in the newborn child, the Savior of the world, we celebrate the
Bishop Julius Trimble:birth of Jesus Christ. God's love confirm for all times. In
Bishop Julius Trimble:Him, you come to choose us that we might choose you. We give
Bishop Julius Trimble:thanks for every family, for all the clergy for all the laity for
Bishop Julius Trimble:all who do not know Christ in the forgiving of their sins. Do
Bishop Julius Trimble:not know him as their personal Savior. May they receive the
Bishop Julius Trimble:gift of Jesus Christ, this Christmas season, this Christmas
Bishop Julius Trimble:season. Christ is born. We give glory to Him. Christ has come
Bishop Julius Trimble:down from heaven. We receive Him. Christ is now amongst us we
Bishop Julius Trimble:exalt Him. heaven and nature scene. Amen.
Brad Miller:Amen. This has been the Be encouraged program on the
Brad Miller:United Methodist people podcast with Bishop Julius treble and
