Personal item on Christmas

Officially, the Celtic Church of Yahweh does not have a position on Christmas. I think this is as it should be. everyone should be left to their own conscience to decde whether o not to celebrte it. As for me (Brother Bradley) we have chosen not to celebrate it. It is a Roman Catholic holiday (not a Biblically mandated holiday). I do have many friends and family who do celebrate it and we have no conflict. We simply choose not to.
One of the things which changed our decision early on was an article I read about 10 years ago. The article was written by Tim Hegg and is called "why I don't celebrate Christmas". It's a bit of a long article, and a bit heady at times, but I thought the material was excellent.
Two years ago, I was helping with a Messianic congregation and decided to phone Tim Hegg and interview him about the article. It was written originally for his parents. He was a Christian seminary student and came into a conviction that he should no longer celebrate this activity. I asked him how it went with his parents...he said "neither of them were happy. My dad, i think, understands, but my mom has never been happy about our choice." I share that emotion. If you choose an action differet then the masses, don't expect a lot of supporters.

Here's the article:
http://www.torahresource.com/EnglishArticles/Christmas.pdf

Hope you enjoy.

Arthur's Charge to the Knights of the Round Table

A friend and dear brother sent this to me. It was the charge of King Authur to the Knights of the Round Table: Thanks kindly Brother Dave for your contribution. -Brother Bradley

God make you a good man and fail not of beauty. The Round Table was founded in patience, humility, and meekness.Thou art never to do outrageousity, nor murder, and always to flee treason, by no means to be cruel, and always to do ladies, damosels, and gentle women succour. Also, to take no battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law nor for no world's goods.

Thou shouldst be for all ladies and fight for their quarrels, and ever be courteous and never refuse mercy to him that asketh mercy, for a knight that is courteous and kind and gentle has favor in every place. Thou shouldst never hold a lady or gentle woman against her will.

Thou must keep thy word to all and not be feeble of good believeth and faith. Right must be defended against might and distress must be protected. Thou must know good from evil and the vain glory of the world, because great pride and bobauce maketh great sorrow. Should anyone require ye of any quest so that it is not to thy shame, thou shouldst fulfil the desire.

Ever it is a worshipful knights deed to help another worshipful knight when he seeth him a great danger, for ever a worshipful man should loath to see a worshipful man shamed, for it is only he that is of no worship and who faireth with cowardice that shall never show gentelness or no manner of goodness where he seeth a man in any danger, but always a good man will do another man as he would have done to himself.

It should never be said that a small brother has injured or slain another brother. Thou shouldst not fail in these things: charity, abstinence and truth. No knight shall win worship but if he be of worship himself and of good living and that loveth God and dreadeth God then else he geteth no worship here be ever so hardly.

An envious knight shall never win worship for and envious man wants to win worship he shall be dishonoured twice therefore without any, and for this cause all men of worship hate an envious man and will show him no favour.

Do not, nor slay not, anything that will in any way dishonour the fair name of Christian knighthood for only by stainless and honourable lives and not by prowess and courage shall the final goal be reached. Therefore be a good knight and so I pray to God so ye may be, and if ye be of prowess and of worthiness then ye shall be a Knight of the Table Round.

Celtic Theological Attitudes

http://www.celticchristianitytoday.org/

The following material was taken from a very dear brother who has done some great work in Celtic Christianity, Rev. Dr. George Cairns.

Celtic Theological Attitudes

Celtic Christian Theological Attitudes for Today
These attitudes are expressed as a way of initially orienting ourselves as we reconstruct Celtic Christian theology for today. This is a work in process. These attitudes are always changing and deepening as we continue this conversation together and discern how we are called to become the unique being God sees in the deepest recesses of our hearts. There are many other ways of expressing such attitudes. We start here because of our context.

God's Goodness is at the Heart of all of Creation: God made the earth and saw that it was good. As humans, made in God's image and as a part of God's creation, we also have good at the very heart of our being. We believe that creation is not a one-time event. Rather, we believe that God's creation is continuous and ongoing. We understand the radical nature of our dependence on God's continuing loving presence with us--and our interdependence with all of creation.

The Bible and God’s Creation: We understand, like the early Celtic Church, that God is not only present in the Bible, but also in all of creation. Both sources provide us with the grace- filled opportunity to move into greater intimacy with God. This understanding requires that we treat all others, both human and nonhuman, as we would have them treat us. We realize that we always stand on Holy Ground-the Holy Ground of God’s Creation-and this is good.
Shared Spiritual Disciplines: : With God’s Grace, we can become the unique and wonder-filled people God calls us to be. We realize that God is always with us, closer than our very breath always encouraging us to move into deeper and more intimate relationship. In our tradition, there are spiritual disciplines and wisdom teachings, that assist us in opening our hearts to this movement of the spirit. These disciplines, such as Scripture study, worship, prayer, and service, all have the underlying contemplative intention to open our hearts to God’s presence and movement within.
As Followers of Christ: We understand that God showed limitless love and compassion in the Christ, sharing concretely in the lives and brokenness of humankind. Jesus shows us how to minister. He is our teacher and guide who calls us to loving action throughout all aspects of our lives.
Community building: We seek authentic Holy community. As Jesus did, we seek to build community at the grassroots level. We understand that our most profound teachers often come from the poor, despised, and marginalized. We particularly welcome them as well as all others who seek to be agents of God’s loving-kindness, justice, and mercy in the world.