✝ Daily Encouragement (12/4/23) "The Light Of The World"

Published: Mon, 12/04/23

A daily, Bible-based perspective of hope, encouragement and exhortation. The online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen & Brooksyne Weber.

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Monday, December 4, 2023

Alleghany Mennonite Meetinghouse, Berks County PA

"The Light Of The World"

Note: Due to a very busy day due to our home addition project a message was not posted last Friday. Friday we had both HVAC and electricians. Today we have roofers and electricians. It's quite a different experience being the customer in your home as opposed to visiting the employees at a work setting.

Message summary: Today shine brightly the light of the world which is Jesus!

Note: Due to noise a podcast not prepared for this message!

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).

Late yesterday afternoon, along with Jesse and Anna Ruth and their two youngest children, went to an acappella Christmas singalong with some one hundred people gathered to pack a small country meetinghouse built in 1855. The Alleghany Mennonite Meetinghouse was built in Brecknock Township, Berks County on land donated by Solomon Weber (I know of no relation, but am pleased to see Weber is spelled the same way as mine!)

The building, which has been closed for regular services since 1954 , is on the National Register of Historic Places. But special services are scheduled several times a year, including the singing of Christmas carols. With no indoor bathrooms or electricity we were blessed that the temperatures were relatively warm. Wherever I have lived people like to sing and really, the best congregational singing we've heard in church settings can be found right here in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

A view on the inside of the candlelight service. Notice where Jesse and I hung our hats. This meeting house's seating arrangement would have seated men sitting on the right side (where we were sitting) and the women on the left side (not speaking politically in this context, of course).

The majority of us have not had the benefit of learning to sing in harmony but the Amish/Mennonite/Brethren people here in Lancaster County not only learned four part harmony but sang only acappella over the centuries. Some still practice this method though most congregations among the Mennonites and Brethren now incorporate instrumentation. It goes without saying these people know harmony very well and several times I just wondered if we were going raise the roof off the small meetinghouse as soprano voices amidst deep bass tones were lifting their joyful noises to the Lord.

In addition to the robust singing, contemplating the meaningful lyrics, and seeing several friends from Lancaster County we had the special pleasure of hearing "Stille Nacht" sung by Greg Gehman. Of course most of our readers will recognize or guess that I'm speaking of Silent Night sung in the original language of which it was written by Joseph Mohr.

"Silent Night, Holy night, Son of God, Love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth, Je-sus, Lord, at Thy birth."

Christ is the Light and indeed He shines in the darkness. Wherever you live there is darkness, although some places are certainly much more spiritually dark. We noted such a difference in this regard when we moved from Northern Pennsylvania to New England and now to Lancaster County. However, wherever you live there spiritual darkness also resides, since the prince of darkness remains active till his ultimate destruction, but we thank God that he does not reside in us who have declared allegiance to the King of light.

Jesus teaches His followers, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

Today, all over the world, serious believers are allowing the light of Christ to shine through them. This light exposes the fruitless deeds of darkness and this is the essence of spiritual warfare. Darkness hates the light. Yet faithful followers of Christ will continue to let their light shine, essentially reflecting the Light, who is Christ the Lord.

The Apostle Paul makes a very unambiguous statement: "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them" (Ephesians 5:11). It’s a call desperately needed in our culture and increasingly so in the Church. By obeying it will subject us to ridicule among many who “love the darkness rather than the light” (John 3:19). In fact the world wants to silence those who speak out for truth who expose the darkness by the Light of His Word.

You see, if we grow accustomed to the darkness the darkness may not seem so dark anymore. Remember the childhood phrase, “My eyes got used to the dark.” I believe that can be true of our spiritual eyes as well. As the old song says we must “in the light of His presence continually dwell.”

May each reader today shine brightly the light of the world which is Jesus!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: Father, You created us to be people who function and thrive by light. Your placement of the sun by day and moon by night is the way You provide for our physical needs enabling us to see clearly as we carry out our multitude of duties. As important as light is for the eyes to see, it is even more essential that the eyes of our heart see the magnificent light of Your glory. As we walk in Your light we will be able to discern that which is evil from that which is good. We know that goodness cannot partner with wickedness for there is no harmony between You and the devil so help us to be consistent not only in what we speak but the manner in which we live so that the fruit of light is evident in all we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

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Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Silent Night" Watch on YouTube (45 seconds) Brooksyne's Note: I recorded a video of the congregation last night singing v. 2 of Silent Night. If you watch toward the end you'll see Stephen. We sat on the last row on the side which would have been benches for the men when the church met on Sundays.

"Silent Night" Watch on YouTube Herbie Basso Herb was a very colorful Italian who attended our church in New England who has since joined the saints in heaven. He had a wonderful voice and great skill on the harmonica. Before we moved from New England he and his wife, Cecelia, took us to the Federal Hill section of Providence, Rhode Island to eat at an authentic Italian restaurant in Little Italy. I remember Herbie eating Escargot, slurping the snails down! This is among the numerous fine memories we have from our years in New England. In this version hear Herbie's rich voice and harmonica along with violinist Laura Silvia, the daughter of a pastor friend.

"Mennonite Doxology" Watch on YouTube Messiah College choir The singing concluded last with this enhanced doxology.

Jesse and Stephen entering the meeting house

Following our hymn sing fruit, cheese and pretzels were provided along with some hot apple cider.

While picking up our dear friends, the Lapps, who attended the hymn sing with us we saw George. He's their very active and most popular goat and decided the bush is "greener on the other side".

After we returned to the Old Windmill Farm from the sing along, I (Brooksyne) visited with Naomi and Elizabeth, two of the older girls who were busy in the barn with the nightly chores. I'm not sure I've ever been in the barn at night which is a very different experience than in daylight. The animals were hunkering down for the long night following their evening meal. Calves were fed and one who has been ill was given special attention. Horses were fed and watered until one by one the animals who needed attention for were taken care of. I get a kick out of seeing the piglets who are born to the same "litter" yet some of them have stripes, others polk-a-dots, and still others have big spots. You have a very special appreciation for much of the hard work required of those who own a farm, when you're with them during chore time. These girls were "pros" as they went about their different duties and are much like grandchildren to us in our affection for them and their involvement in our family, especially during holiday season.

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495 Kraybill Church Rd
Mount Joy PA 17552
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