Bethlehem Lutheran Church
The Heart of Bay Ridge
Sunday Service 10:30am
4th & Ovington Avenues
Brooklyn NY 11209
718.748.9502
Dear Members and Friends,
Just before Christmas, in my 8th Grade Christian Living class, we read an adapted play based on Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.” You all know the story of Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by three spirits in the night who end up transforming the old miser into a beneficent man who graced his community with gifts and good cheer. When we read a story in class, I usually provide a short description of the author, as the author so often provides messages based on his/her life experiences. Charles Dickens is certainly an example of this. Due to his difficult childhood working in a factory, because of his father’s debt issues, Charles was very interested in social reform. Throughout his works, Dickens retains empathy for the common working man and skepticism of the upper classes.
As an assignment for my students, I asked them: “If you were writing a novel, what message from your life experience would you want to convey?” My students did not disappoint me. Below are excerpts from a few of their responses.
- The message I would try to convey as a military child is “Home is where your family is.” Moving a lot, there is only one thing that stays the same. The house changes, the layout changes, friends change, and items get lost and thrown away. But, the thing that stays consistent no matter what, is the people in your family.
- I would convey that “Money isn’t everything.” Sure, you need it for living, but you shouldn’t keep on pursuing it so much that you forget about what love and happiness feels like. You should appreciate the little things and love your family and friends.
- I would convey the message of “Equality.” I think people are way too quick to judge others. People should be treated based on their words and actions, not the way they look.
- I would write a novel that communicates that “You should be yourself” and not be afraid of what others might think of you. Don’t just follow the crowd; be yourself.
- I would convey the message that “You shouldn’t lie to make yourself sound better than others.”
All the messages above have value, yet I believe an essential focus in life was left out. A message that absolutely needs sharing is our dependence on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We all need Jesus in our life every day in order to guide our thoughts, words and actions. If you were writing a novel with a message from your life experience, would Jesus be front and center? If not, a new year is a good time to start, because “Everyone needs Jesus.”
In the Lord’s Service,
Rev. Paul H. Knudsen
Pastor Paul's January Message
Bethlehem Lutheran Church ® | 4th & Ovington Avenues, Brooklyn NY 11209 | 718.748.9502
A member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
