Around The Table

by Darin Miller, Family Ministries Pastor

Throughout the history of the Hebrew people, different festivals have continued to mark special occasions. Jesus regularly celebrated these feasts during his ministry. In fact, his first miracle happened at a wedding celebration in Cana. At that wedding Jesus turned water into wine and people commented that the wine tasted “choice” (John 2:1-12). The host was commended for not giving the guests the “cheap stuff.” It sounds like Jesus really knew how to make some good wine! Later in his ministry, Jesus took seven loaves and a few small fish and multiplied them to feed a multitude that had come to hear his teaching. Mark tells us that “The people ate and were satisfied” (8:8). I can only imagine how those fish sandwiches tasted.

I’m glad that Jesus knew how to celebrate with food and drink, because I’m a big fan of eating. I’m not a “picky” eater, though I do have favorites. The one that is like no other is my mom’s shrimp gumbo. It’s homemade from a roux with okra and poured over rice. The recipe has been passed down through several generations. (And never written down, I might add.) My mouth is watering just thinking about it. But as good as that gumbo is, I think there is more to the deliciousness than meets the taste bud.

Jesus shared meals with many people while he walked the Earth. But the most significant meals recorded in the Bible were those shared with his closest friends and family. There is something special about a meal shared with loved ones; it just makes things taste…better. In the case of my mom’s gumbo, we are always eating it around a table with my mom and dad, Leah and my kids, my brother and his children, my grandmother, and others. The taste of the food in my mouth is half the story. The rest is the love in my heart for the people around the table. The two just go together.

There is something truly special about a shared meal with loved ones and time to sit, talk, and laugh, celebrating with people created in God’s image. It can be around a Christmas meal of any flavor. For some families, it’s ham; for others it’s turkey and dressing, or something else special to their family. Whatever the flavor, the best part of the meal is always what happens within our hearts. Of course, I’ll take mine with a big bowl of shrimp gumbo.

Darin Miller has been a part of the Cove Church staff since 2003.  He served for many years as the Director of Student Ministry and is currently the Family Ministries Pastor, providing guidance for areas including missions and student ministry. He and his wife Leah have three sons, and Darin is making sure they grow up loving gumbo.

The Goodness of Christ

by Andrea Fields.  Andrea is one of the newest additions to the Cove Church staff family. She is the administrative assistant to Stephen Hampton at the Chase campus. She is enjoying learning about the heart and the people of Cove Church.

Baking cookies is probably one of my favorite things to do at Christmas. The cookies are presents to close friends, family, and neighbors. What is so endearing to me about passing out cookies to everyone is they never forget the taste. I wholeheartedly agree with the saying “Food is for the soul.”

Have you ever eaten a cookie and thought “That was the best?” You never forgot it, right? You know Grandma’s famous cookies that everyone talks about and bonds over? Yes, those very cookies. They leave a lasting impression. I make some pretty tasty oatmeal cinnamon, spritz, and peanut butter blossom cookies. I get calls, messages, and questions about the cookies all year round. Yes, just that one plate of cookies. It’s not just the taste. I believe it’s the taste, the presentation, and most of all the fact that they are made from a heart of love.

Christmas time brings out a giving, kind, loving, and caring feeling in most people. It is the one time some may visit church all year. Through that one special service, God is able to give a taste of his goodness through his word and love from church members. This Christmas I want not only my cookies but also my actions to leave a lasting impression on others that they may know the goodness of Christ. I have trusted and believed that one small action can start a chain reaction leading to something we can’t imagine. God has been faithful in nurturing those planted seeds to grow into fruitful works. I challenge everyone reading to do one small good act and let that seed of love and Christ be planted in someone.

“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusts in him.” Psalms 34:8

Here is a link to my ultimate favorite cookie at Christmas! 

Taste and See

by Sally Savas.  Sally has been married to her husband Keith for 26 years. They are thankful for three terrific daughters, Rebecca, Melanie and Carolyn. The family joined Cove Church after moving from North Carolina in 2005 and have served as c-group leaders and in Kids Cove and Student Ministry.

I have a cookbook from my newlywed days when my husband and I lived in Marietta, GA. It reminds me of the friends we made and of the young marrieds Sunday School class we joined that was instrumental in our development as a young adults, as a married couple and later as new parents. In the book are recipes that are now our family favorites, contributed by people we knew and their mothers and grandmothers. I love that these recipes were created and shared and enjoyed by so many. They have been part of family celebrations and taken to families who needed love and support in difficult times.

The title of this cookbook is “Taste and See… Psalm 34:8.” The complete verse is “Taste and see that the Lord is good.”

Of all the senses, taste is the most private and personal. You can hear sounds from far away. You can hear a voice on the other side of the planet by phone or from outer space by radio. You can even hear voices from long ago on video recordings.  You can see things from far away, even worlds away with a powerful telescope and other technologies. A great smell can carry across the house or lure you into a good restaurant. A real stink, on the other hand can carry for miles. You smell a town with a paper mill long before you see it. Touch must be close but it is still outside of you. Taste is the most intimate of the senses. To taste, you internalize it. It becomes a part of you. Your body is either nourished by it or rejects it.

This Christmas season, taste and see that the Lord is good. Ponder the message of the season in your heart – the savior of the world gave up heaven temporarily to live in humility. He came so humans could see him, hear him, touch him and, I suppose, to smell him. The baby Jesus came on a mission. His birth set into motion a plan to conquer sin and death. Don’t just observe. Take the wonder of it in, live the Christian life out.  Jesus said, “…anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these…” (John 14:12 NIV).  Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Sally's recipe for Ham Squares

2 sticks butter or margarine
¼ cup poppy seed
1 Tbs prepared mustard
1 medium onion, minced (optional)
1 lb shaved ham
1 pkg Swiss cheese, sliced
3 (24 count) pkgs Pepperidge Farm Party Rolls

Melt margarine. Stir in poppy seed, mustard and onion. Refrigerate covered overnight. Take out one hour before baking sandwiches. Slice rolls lengthwise. Spread margarine mixture over top and bottom of rolls. Layer ham and cheese. Slice into individual rolls before baking. Bake 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Sandwiches can be made ahead of time and frozen. 

Touching Is Believing

by Claire Hampton.  Claire is a junior at Huntsville High School.  She and her family attend Cove Church@Chase, where she is a worship leader in the Student Ministry band.

My sisters and I all wanted to touch everything when we were kids – there is no denying it. Hair, glasses, jewelry, keys, phones, you name it. Even dirt was something we just wanted to grasp. And why? Merely out of curiosity and the awe of holding something so wonderful – yes, dirt may have seemed wonderful at the time.  The desire to touch things is part of what makes us human. 

For me, I always wanted to touch anything creeping or crawling. Who cares about dirt when there are worms and snails hiding under rocks? I was also the one to make a flip chart to show our parents all the pros about having a dog or cat. Turns out I’m pretty good at making puppy eyes because we are the proud owners of a Labradoodle and an Orange Tabby. I held a tarantula when I was just three years old, and I am very proud of that moment. But don’t worry – the worms and snails were just a phase. 

We also try to hold on to memories through photographs and tokens of the past, tangible reminders that we can physically hold. So I guess you could say “touching is believing” as well as “seeing is believing.”

God sent his one and only Son down to Earth so he could die on the cross for our sins. By doing this, the people of that time got to walk with Jesus and talk face to face with Him; they got to touch Him. Mary held Him in her arms as an infant and the disciples’ feet were washed by His hands. The woman who had been suffering from twelve years of constant bleeding was healed by His touch:

She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” . . . .   And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”  - Mark 5:27-34

Since she believed that a single touch could heal her, she was transformed and made new. 

Today we do not have the luxury of being able to touch the Son of God, but we have something else - faith. By faith we can hold the hands of Christ through the good times and bad. Christmas is a time for giving and loving. So be like Olaf (sorry for quoting Frozen) and give warm hugs. Love is the greatest gift of all and God gave us just that. Faith is what links Heaven to earth and touches our hearts forever. Don’t forget.  

Made New

by Allen Wilson, Director of Student Ministries at Cove

I know that we are right in the middle of an Alabama winter, but as I reflect on the sense of touch, I can’t help but think back to the last summer before I graduated from college. I helped lead a team of students on a cross-cultural mission trip to Thailand. The things I experienced during my nine weeks there changed my perspective in many ways.

One significant experience was a “vision trip” to a leper colony. Some of you may be thinking, “does that even still exist?” or “wouldn’t it be dangerous to go there?”. This was definitely the reaction my mom had when I told her about the trip (after I had already gone, of course). I learned some things about leprosy that you can’t quite pick up when reading about it in the Bible, which is where most people in the West get their ideas about this disease. Lepers who were in the colony had been “cured” so that they would no longer be contagious; however, the physical effects of the disease continued to wreck havoc on their bodies. 

Throughout history those with leprosy and other skin diseases have been called the “untouchables.” Think about what that might be like… to walk out in public and hear people shout out warnings that the untouchables were nearby. Since lepers were considered unclean in the Jewish culture, they were definitely untouchable. If a Jew were to touch an unclean leper, then it was thought to make that Jew unclean as well. Sacrifices and ceremonial washings would be needed to restore such a person to the community. 

But Jesus did not seem to care much about the stigma that went along with leprosy. In Mark’s gospel we read, “A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, ‘If you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed” (Mark 1:40-42). 

This is what is amazing. People were afraid to touch lepers because doing so would make them unclean. But when Jesus touched the leper, he took what was unclean and made it clean again. That is what the touch of Jesus does- it makes things new. 

At the colony I was able to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and lay hands on the untouchables in prayer. Although their disease may be easier to see, the reality is that we all need a touch from Jesus. This Christmas we will celebrate again how God came down and literally touched the earth through Jesus. There is no better time than this to reach out and accept the gift of his presence.

Allen Wilson and his wife Dawn have attended Cove for about eight years.  Through much of that time, Allen was a small group leader for high school boys.  Allen is currently the Director of Student Ministries for Cove Church.

Reach Out And Touch...

Our creative team loves this Free Hugs video. It has bounced around the planning table more than once but has never made it into a service that we can remember. We are happy for an opportunity to share it with you.


Several of our bloggers this week write about the power of touch to convey compassion, love, and in Jesus’ case, healing. Through a simple hug or pat on the back we can show love to others and help follow Jesus’ instruction to his followers:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

We hope that through this blog you experience a virtual hug from your Cove Church family.

Much love,
Cove Church Worship Minstry

A Healing Touch

by Sharon Criswell, Director of Connections at Cove Church

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." – John 13:35

Why are adults so weird about giving hugs to one another?  There seems to be an underlying hesitation when we attempt the casual, physical connection with someone to whom we’re not related by blood or marriage – a fear of it being misconstrued as something inappropriate.  It's regrettable. Everyone agrees that children need to be touched in order to grow and develop.  (Although, ironically, I’m the one who turns to goo when my five-year-old lays her head in my lap and asks me to play with her hair.)  But what about other adults?

Random people…strangers, in fact…reached out to touch Jesus.  And, He touched them back…with His power. One of the most moving stories in Scripture is of a woman who had suffered for twelve years from a chronic bleeding. Doctors were clueless. She’d spent all her money, but still no cure. She was considered to be an outcast of society and labeled “unclean.” But she knew of Jesus’ power.  According to the Gospel of Matthew, the woman realized, “if I only touch His cloak, I will be healed.” Silently, persistently, and in faith…she made her way through the crowd…came up behind the Master Healer and touched His clothing.  And, she was restored.

Many of us also suffer from a chronic illness that only Christ can cure – one that spreads as a disease and attacks the most essential functions of our bodies and spirits.  It allows us to be surrounded by people, have a full schedule, and be constantly interrupted by gadget-assisted communication devices…all the while feeling that no one is aware of our unique presence or understands who we really are.  Too many of us aren’t able to genuinely connect with others.

Thankfully, the healing power of Jesus is just as real today as it was during his earthly life, and the church holds the vaccine for our epidemic of disconnectedness.  It lives itself out in Christ’s commandment for us to love one other.  We are called by Him to reach out and “touch” our neighbors, our surrounding communities, and even our enemies with the light and love of Jesus.  In times of difficulty, we should be willing and able to extend a hand on the arm or shoulder…or even a hug (gasp!)…with the words, “I'm praying for you.” 

So...won’t you join me in being a little less weird this holiday season?  Refuse to underestimate everyday contact, courtesies, and kindnesses which knit us together.  Put down the touchscreen and replace it with live interaction.  Share something warm to eat or drink.  Thaw a frozen heart with an offer of forgiveness.  Give hugs and handshakes, even to those who will misconstrue your intentions.  And, as you do so, may you FEEL the powerful Spirit of God alive within and among you this Advent season!

P.S. Which C-Group are you in?


Sharon Criswell has been a member of the Cove Church family for six years.  She currently serves as the rookie on staff in her role of Director of Connections.  She is wife to Jon Criswell, and mother of Madison Criswell and Bailey Grace Curtis. 

A Holy Night

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  Luke 2:19

It was Christmas Eve, approximately 23 years ago.  Our house was decorated and our traditional Christmas Eve preparations were ready for our family and friends that had been gathering at our home for the past 20 years.  That was a miracle! 

Both of our sons were home from college and it just happened that our youngest had no plans, so I suggested we go to our church for the Christmas Eve service.  I knew this year’s service was going to be different - it was “come and go” as a family.  We arrived at the church and entered the sanctuary that had been our church home since Charles was 2 years old.  It was as comfortable to us as our living room - the Chrismon tree (a Christmas tree decorated with ornaments of Christian symbols) was glowing and soft music was playing.  We sat together on a pew and mediated and offered our love and thanks. 

Together we approached the altar for communion.  Our pastor was such a dear, holy man.  As we knelt, he approached us and placed his hands on our shoulders and prayed the most beautiful and heartfelt prayer.  He then offered us the bread and the cup.  As I knelt there, I had a holy connection with Mary and sensed the love that she had for her son Jesus was very much like what I had for my two sons.  I treasured having this holy moment with my youngest.  Each of my senses was touched that evening, along with my heart. 

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!

Sandra Jones and her husband Ralph have been attending Cove Church since 2002. She has served in many areas over the past 12 years, including Student Ministry, First Impressions, and Women’s Ministry.  She is also a delegate to the United Methodist Annual Conference.

You Are Welcome Here

by Holly Habimana, Executive Director of The African [SOUP]

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”  - Luke 18:16

When you walk into one of our classrooms at The African [SOUP] in Eastern Uganda, our students greet you by rising and exuberantly yelling in unison, "Thank you for visiting The African [SOUP] school, you are MOST welcome!" And they mean it in a way that is far more profound and genuine than we could ever imagine. This is exemplified in so many ways in daily interactions with our students.

Solomon, a student at African [SOUP]

A volunteer recently shared a story with me: it had just rained in our village and she was about to sit down on the wet, muddy ground to take a break from work. Primary 7 student Solomon saw she was about to sit down, and yelled, “Wait, wait!” He then proceeded to take a broom and brush the ground for her, insisting that, “It’s clean now – sit, sit!” This air of genuine concern for her welfare stuck with her enough to tell me this months later.

It also reminds me of when our team was walking to one of our teacher’s homes in the village and out of nowhere, several girls come running up to me as fast as they could. One of the girls, a [SOUP] Primary 6 student, came forward and presented me with a perfect tomato from her family farming plot. As she knelt down and presented her prized possession to me, she simply said “thank you.”

The type of gratitude, selflessness, and authentic compassion for one’s well-being emphasized in both of these examples is the epitome of Jesus’ message of love, empathy, and acceptance. It reminds me of His ability to welcome everyone to His community, to love unconditionally, and to give wholeheartedly in His name. These children don’t have much. In fact, that tomato might’ve been part of that little girl’s dinner. But, she was determined to make me feel welcome and to thank me for my role in her education and future. It was a powerful moment for me, as was Solomon’s insistence on cleaning the muddy ground for our volunteer, because it reminded us of the true lessons of Jesus’ love.

So, when I think of someone saying, “Thank you and you are most welcome,” it reminds me of how our [SOUP] students embody Jesus’ teachings in ways that are more sincere and exemplary than we encounter in the West. While I may help them receive an education and a future with limitless potential, they have given me the power to see God in action on Earth. It doesn’t really seem like a fair trade.

Holly Habimana is the Executive Director of The African [SOUP], a Cove Church Mission Partner.  The African [SOUP] is a sponsorship program for orphans in the country of Uganda.  For more information, you can visit theafricansoup.org.

The Hands-on Approach

by Nathan McGee.  Nathan and his wife Brooke began attending Cove Church in 2004.  Together they are C-group coaches, and Nathan also leads a small group of elementary boys in Kids Cove.  In addition, Nathan has served on the church board and various committees.

Jesus … reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!”  - Mark 1:41

I read recently that touch is the first sense we develop; we begin receiving tactile signals even before birth as the vibration of our mother’s heart beat is amplified through amniotic fluid. It struck me as really cool to know that even before we know what is going on, we are comforted through touch.

Touch is an interesting topic for me as I am not naturally a touchy-feely type of person. People at work joke that I have an aversion to touch because I am not a “hugger.” While not totally true, this is somewhat accurate. I am not naturally drawn to lots of hugging and such, but I do see the value and importance of touch.

I was very blessed to grow up with parents who hugged me daily and never shied away from showing me their love. In fact, they still hug me every time they see me, which I do love, by the way. I have never once doubted that I was loved because it was demonstrated to me in many ways, and a big part of that was through physical touch.

As I have read a number of Bible stories recently, I have been led to stories about Jesus’ healings. In most cases I read where Jesus touched someone, or they reached out and touched Him and were healed. Think about that for a minute. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, reaching out to the unclean and needy and touching them or allowing them to touch Him! And here I am not wanting to hug a coworker! I’d never really considered the significance of this aspect of His healing until now.

As we look forward to Christmas, I have been hearing lots of discussions and prayers about the healing needed in our nation and world. I believe Jesus has already taught us one way we can help heal our world, and that is simply by reaching out and touching others and showing them the amazing love that comes from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Aroma of Jesus

by Angela Hawke, Executive Director of the CARE Center

New babies, honeysuckle, candied roasted almonds, apple pie fresh out of the oven, a pile of fall leaves…all these things touch my heart and spirit when I smell them.  They are reminders of new life and God’s love and I find myself refreshed with these distinct aromas.  Memories are triggered from the sense of smell, and it seems like we can instantly be transported to a moment in time with just a whiff.  This is even more significant at Christmastime, particularly with the distinguishable scents of homemade feasts, pies, and other items that have become treasured traditions.

My husband Tom recalls a childhood memory of eating freshly baked cookies from a favorite family recipe while everyone worked together to decorate the tree.  Ahhh, there is nothing better than the smell of grandma’s cookies and fresh pine!

Tom also shares how he has experienced some painful memories caused by unpleasant smells related to war, scents experienced during holidays away from our family and while in service to our nation.  He believes he is “meant to have this as a reminder to always be thankful for our service members and the sacrifices they make each and every day.” 

Working in ministry at The CARE Center, I often find my sensory receptors for smell activated in countless situations prompting an array of emotions. These smells are not always pleasant, but I know God has called me to serve for His glory and I quickly disregard offensive odors, putting His plans and others first. Jesus’ work on Earth was more than an act of servant leadership; He is our Savior after all. His connection to others was not necessarily attractive and sweet smelling.  Instead, we know that He experienced some of the most grueling and inhumane treatment ever recorded, which most certainly included undesirable odors.

As we anticipate honoring our Savior’s very first birthday, I encourage you to close your eyes and try to imagine the odors surrounding Mary, Joseph, and Jesus: dirt, hay, animals, and….well, you get the picture.  The gifts brought to Jesus by the wise men on that cool night long ago, two essential oils and gold, are considered valuable, practical, and fragrant.  In my opinion, these gifts represent the Trinity and are characteristic of God’s sacrificial love, His miraculous healing, and the aroma of His unmerited favor upon us.  We are made in God’s image and it should be our desire to acquire the aroma of Jesus.  As we walk with Him and talk with Him, the more we will smell like Him. 

Our prayer this Christmas is to ask Him to reveal an awakening like never before, and that we will experience Him with our whole hearts, bringing forth only Jesus’ aroma through our service to His kingdom.  We hope you will join us in this prayer. 

“…and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2

Tom and Angela Hawke have 3 boys and have been attending Cove since 2010. They  followed the lead of their oldest son, who was involved in Cove’s Student Ministry. Angela is the Executive Director for The CARE Center.

Memories...

Isn’t it amazing how a smell can take you back to a memory? One smell that reminds me of Christmas is Frazier Fir Christmas trees. I had the privilege of serving on Young Life staff for over 18 years, and the last 10 of those years I served as the Area Director of Young Life Huntsville. Young Life Huntsville has been selling Christmas trees as a fundraiser for almost 40 years. Every year, I would help unload close to 1,000 trees that God would miraculously sell over a 3-4 week period. I worked the lot many nights each year, and my daughters loved to spend time with me at the lot. They would climb the stacks of trees, roll down the big hill and drink hot chocolate. The smell of Frazier Fir trees and hot chocolate will always remind me of Christmas.

Have you ever wondered what smells would remind Joseph and Mary of Christmas? Maybe it would be the smell of hay or whatever was all over the floor of the room where Jesus was born. Or maybe the smell of the wood the manger was made from. Maybe it was the smell of the shepherds who came to see Jesus after he was born. Or it might have been the smell of the gifts given by the wise men:

“They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11 – The Message)

Gold doesn’t have much of a smell, but frankincense and myrrh definitely do. I did a little research and found out that they are “derived fromtree sap, or gum resin; both frankincense and myrrh are prized for their alluring fragrance.”

I believe that the fragrances of frankincense and myrrh would always remind Joseph and Mary of that first Christmas morning. What smell reminds you of Christmas?

Stephen Hampton, his wife Jane, and their three girls started attending Cove Church in 2001. After 10 years as active members on the Hampton Cove campus, Stephen became the campus pastor of CoveChurch @ Chase in June, 2011. 

The Nose Knows

Are you one of those people who is always asking why? Do you like to know the science behind things that happen? Then this video is for you!

Many of our bloggers for this week have talked about certain smells triggering special holiday memories.  Here’s a short video that explains why this happens.



Enjoy the many delightful scents that surround us this Christmas, and praise God that you are so “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

Many blessings,
Cove Church Worship Ministry

The Smell of the First Christmas

by Stephen Hampton, Chase Campus Pastor

Isn’t it amazing how a smell can take you back to a memory? One smell that reminds me of Christmas is Frazier Fir Christmas trees. I had the privilege of serving on the Young Life staff for over 18 years, and the last 10 of those years I served as the Area Director of Young Life Huntsville. Young Life Huntsville has been selling Christmas trees as a fundraiser for almost 40 years. Every year, I would help unload close to 1,000 trees that God would miraculously sell over a 3-4 week period. I worked the lot many nights each year, and my daughters loved to spend time with me at the lot. They would climb the stacks of trees, roll down the big hill and drink hot chocolate. The smell of Frazier Fir trees and hot chocolate will always remind me of Christmas.

Have you ever wondered what smells would remind Joseph and Mary of Christmas? Maybe it would be the smell of hay or whatever was all over the floor of the room where Jesus was born. Or maybe the smell of the wood the manger was made from. Maybe it was the smell of the shepherds who came to see Jesus after he was born. Or it might have been the smell of the gifts given by the wise men:

“They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11 – The Message)

Gold doesn’t have much of a smell, but frankincense and myrrh definitely do. I did a little research and found out that they are “derived from tree sap, or gum resin; both frankincense and myrrh are prized for their alluring fragrance.”

I believe that the fragrances of frankincense and myrrh would always remind Joseph and Mary of that first Christmas morning. What smell reminds you of Christmas?

Stephen Hampton, his wife Jane, and their three girls started attending Cove Church in 2001.  After 10 years as active members on the Hampton Cove campus, Stephen became the campus pastor of Cove Church @ Chase in June, 2011. 

Smells of Christmas

by JD Blankenship, Cove C-Group leader

For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other an aroma that brings life.  - 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Good food is a central part of my life.   After a once in a lifetime vacation, I am more likely to recall the signature meal than the main event itself.  If I were invited to dinner at the White House, I would probably cast my vote based more on my taste buds than my politics.

It follows that the fragrances of food that accompany Christmas always make an impression on me. The smell of Mom’s pumpkin cake and Granny’s sweet potatoes quickly lift my spirits to a place of comfort and joy.  To me, these aromas are life.  To others, however, the feelings are not so calming.

Our mixed-breed dog, Sadie, has some wonderful qualities. She loves to have her belly scratched and licks you whenever she has a chance. Some traits, however, are not so endearing.  She bangs on the door of her room when it storms and has even jumped through a screen window when I sprayed the house for ants. Baking at high temperatures will elicit similar responses.  Some “blackened” food once set off the fire alarm and prompted Sadie to find the nearest exit.  She pushed the door open and bolted for a less frightening home.  So now, every time the temperature begins to climb in the oven, the familiar scent that ignites my joy results in Sadie having a panic attack.  “To the one … an aroma that brings life. To the other an aroma that brings death.” 

Just as I pursue the smell of the oven that fills our home, more than ever, I am being drawn to the aroma of Christ that permeates every aspect of a Christ- follower’s being.  Christ is full of grace and truth. Like Sadie and the oven, the world has concluded that the “smell” exuded by a Christian leads to death, when in fact, the scent they are encountering is a marker of the life they desperately need.  My desire is that Christ so richly dwells in me that His nature creates an aroma that is not only distinct but also appealing. When people encounter me, do they panic and run for cover, or do they want to move forward in hopes of a taste of the life-giving food that Christ offers?

JD and his wife Janet have been married for 20 years.  In addition to Sadie, their family includes four two-legged children.  JD is a C-group leader at Cove Church.

That Smell

Leigh and Drew Helveston have been members of Cove Church for the past 3 years. Drew serves as a small group leader for 8^th grade boys, and Leigh works with 7^th grade girls. The Helvestons are active in a C-group and have 2 children, Mac and Zoe.

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,  and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.  - Luke 2:6-7

Balsam and Cedar, Red Apple Wreath, Christmas Cookie, Home for the Holidays, Sparkling Snow, and Christmas Eve: these are the different scented candles that the company Yankee Candle has to offer.  Chances are you have enjoyed one of these scents.  They are supposed to capture the different aromas that represent Christmas.  Its funny how I can walk past a candle and instantly think about spending time at my grandmother’s house.  The house would be packed with family running around, parents cooking food, and a feeling of warmth and love.  All I have to do is smell a little bit of cinnamon mixed with the smell of a fresh Christmas tree and my mind takes me to that place.  The simple scent makes me think of Christmas. 

Unfortunately, I have to think that Mary and Joseph have a different idea of what Christmas smells like.  A long day of traveling, sweaty and tired, they searched for a place to stay the night.  There was no room at the inns because the Roman Emperor wanted to take a census for tax paying purposes.  They were not offered to stay in the premium room with the scent of Red Apple Wreath. The only place they could find was in the stables with the animals.  The scent of a long day, manure, and animals probably littered the air with a stench that was pretty strong.  Jesus himself was wrapped in a manger where animals had probably been recently eating.  As a proud parent of two beautiful children, I would like to think that on that night, Mary and Joseph did not care about the smell.  They just wanted a healthy baby.

So this holiday season, I am going to enjoy the wonderful aromas of Christmas.  I am going to enjoy the scents of the trees, food, and candles.  But each time I do, may it be the one thing that makes me think about that brave couple walking in Bethlehem looking for a place to stay, a couple that was faithful and true to God and one which was blessed by God.  The story of Christmas is and will always be about the glorious birth of Jesus, but my hope is that next time you smell these scents, that you will take time to think about that night in Bethlehem and the hardships that Mary and Joseph endured.    

It's the Little Things

by Richard Williams, Chase C-group leader & tech guru

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?  - 1 Corinthians 12:17

Looking back on my life, no sense brings back memories like the smells from Christmas. Of course, in every Yule Tide season, smell has to struggle with the other senses to be noticed. A dazzling wheel of colored light projected onto an aluminum tree, a nippy Christmas morning that stings the nose and leaves it runny, a rousing Mormon Tabernacle Choir carol played at full volume on our home entertainment system, and the sweet, sweet taste of chocolate-cherry cordials stolen from the kitchen for weeks before – these are the rivals that seek to steal my attention every time the nativity scene is rolled out for display.

But, while the other four senses get all the credit, my nose has excelled at gaining my real attention. One whiff and I’m transported to my past, from childhood to father, from wearing diapers to changing them. Nothing comes close to its range, from the subtle hint of food in the kitchen to the eye-watering reality of cheap cologne packaged in glass cars that my grandmother gave every year. Indeed, smell has left big footprints in my life.

But of all my Christmas memories there’s one that’s dear to my heart. It’s a recent memory, shared by all my family. Five years ago, at the last possible moment, my wife and I decided the family needed a dog. In the eleventh hour, we scoured the internet, searching for small cute dogs that don’t set allergies aflame. Within hours we had chosen a breeder, received pictures of the recent litter, used PayPal to close the deal on our choice, and arranged for my wife to meet the owner halfway between Chattanooga and Knoxville for delivery. After years of begging for a family pet, we surprised our children with a tiny puppy just days before Christmas. I still remember how excited they were on seeing him and how quickly he became one of us.

On that first encounter, this little creature, so tiny and scared, did something that touched my heart. He licked me on the nose. And in that moment, the smell of puppy’s breath was indelibly etched on my heart. That smell, offensive to some and sought by others, became my most treasured Christmas sensual memory. This was something not plastic, not bottled in glass, not cooked or canned. It didn’t need 2 minutes in the microwave, nor shaking and stirring for 5; it was simple and loving and from one of God’s creatures. And I realized how marvelous our God is to remind us of the things we can miss as we rush through each Christmas with our mind on our lists.

Our dog Buck is still with us and loved. And our whole family still says he was the best present ever! Until we’re reminded of the first Christmas gift, with His humble beginnings to His crucifixion because of His deep love for us all. And often I wonder how sweet His breath must have been.

Richard Williams has been a member of Cove Church since 2004 when he and his wife Deborah were moved by God’s Spirit to join.  They and their three children are now all active members of Cove Church @ Chase.  Richard is a C-group leader and also serves in Worship Ministry as the video team leader. 

In the Beginning

by Scott Wood, shaper of young minds in Kids Cove 

As many of you are aware, as we age our senses dull a little.  Many of us require devices to aide with the natural process of aging.  We have glasses for our eyes, and hearing aids for our ears.  But there has yet to be an invention to help our aging “sniffers.”  I wonder why that is?  Isn’t smell just as important as vision or hearing?  Most people would say not.  Why is that?  Is it because people don’t relate smell to Christ? 

This got me thinking!  I have heard many things (people talking, the sound of nature, laughter, etc.) with my own ears and thought, that reminds me of the wonders of Jesus.  Likewise, I have seen many things with my own eyes and thought, only God could have done that!  But how many times, after smelling an aroma or scent, could I honestly say, now that smelled like Jesus!  Initially I thought, not many.  But as I began to search my old database upstairs, I began to realize that there were more memories of the aroma of Christ than I originally thought.  In fact, there were more than that of sight or sound combined. 

Let me explain.  Who has ever smelt the breath of a puppy?  The smell of a new born baby?  Pizza?  Hot dogs at a stadium?  Vinegar at Easter while you are dying eggs?  Christmas scented candles this time of year?  The aroma of your kids as you kiss them good night?   We have all smelt these things and they are all very distinct and unique.  But they all have one thing in common.  They are the aroma of Christ!  You see, like it says in John 1:3 (NIV): “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”  So all these aromas, all these smells and scents, they originated from Our Lord!  So I challenge all of you, the next time you smell something, let your mind focus on the originator of that aroma. 

And remember kids, “people smell better than reindeers.”  Merry Christmas!

Scott Wood and his family have been members of Cove Church for 9 years.  He is an active and enthusiastic volunteer in Kids Cove, where he has been known to sport a wig and a tutu.   

You Just Missed Him

by Stephen Hampton, Chase Campus Pastor

Every Christmas Eve, my grandparents would drive me, my sisters, and my cousins around so that we could see the Christmas lights and look for Rudolph pulling Santa’s sleigh. We would look for that red light that had to be Rudolph’s nose, but we never saw it. The amazing thing about it was that every year, while we were gone, Santa would come to our houses and deliver our gifts. Our parents would always say, “You just missed him.”

So many times, the Christmas season can be that way for me. I am driving around looking for the right presents or busy getting ready for Christmas services, and I miss the most important things. I miss the beauty of Christmas lights, the simplicity of a cup of hot cocoa with my daughters, or a special moment with my wife Jane without distractions; but most of all, I miss seeing Jesus himself.

I don’t want to get to the end of this Christmas season only to hear the words, “You just missed him.” I want to have eyes to see Jesus this Christmas like never before. Here are a few ways that might help you and me see Jesus more clearly this Christmas:  1) Buy a nativity scene, set it up and read the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke;  2) Go serve at Manna House or the Care Center because Jesus can be seen in the face of each person you serve;  3) Pray each morning that Jesus would give you eyes to see him for who he really is that day.

When we see Jesus for who he really is, we are never the same again. The shepherds would definitely agree:

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:20).

May the words “You just missed him” never be a part of my Christmas story, or yours, ever again. May we see Jesus this Christmas for who he really is. 

Stephen Hampton, his wife Jane, and their three girls started attending Cove Church in 2001.  After 10 years as active members on the Hampton Cove campus, Stephen became the campus pastor of Cove Church @ Chase in June, 2011.

Grace and Gratitude

by Rusty Cockrell, photographer and videographer

For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  - Psalm 100:5

At least every two years since I've been alive, we have gone to Enid, Oklahoma, to have our Esau family Christmas rendezvous at my grandparents’ home. Sometimes we would go Thanksgivings, and sometimes on a whim. Now that I’m a grown man, we only make it every two years for Christmas. But my first memories of that place were forged in those long December trips across the abomination that is I-40 -- the 10 hour stretch of death from Memphis all the way across the rice fields of Arkansas, to Tulsa.

To this day, this is where my memory flies every single time. I can see it now. We are exiting off that interstate onto the Muskogee turnpike, then pulling up to the booth and paying the first of five tolls. Then two straight lanes…for miles. On either side there’s a dormant ocean of cut corn, dotted with the green pop of the winter wheat. Golden pastures with every domestic breed of cattle known to man are bedded down in the sunshine. I see the never-ending fence lines and the giant grain silos rearing their heads on the horizon.

           

Grandma and Grandpa’s house was modest, a small, white two story house in a subdivision. My grandparents had 10 children, and I still have no idea how we possibly fit our gigantic family into that house during Christmas.  But what mattered was everybody in that room came from Harold and Leona.  Their children’s spouses were adopted into the family.  It was our homecoming.

One of my many talented aunts would play the piano and everybody would sing together in harmony.  The Bible would open, and Grandpa would read the story of Jesus and that night that changed the course of each and every one of our lives.  I remember his enormous hands grasping that wrinkled cover.  He spoke with mild inflection, but he read intentionally, firmly,  holding on to the word of God as if it was his very life, because it was.  He lived by it more diligently than anybody I have ever known.  I say that with the utmost sincerity.  He was a common man, an ordinary man by the world’s measure.  But I for one saw it in his pale eyes even when I was a kid.  I heard it in his voice, in his conversations, in his prayers.

We would always stay for many days during Christmas, sometimes long after everybody had filtered back toward their corners of America.  The Esau family would dissolve from the gathering.  Those were always sad times.  And it’s still sad whenever we have to hug somebody’s neck and say goodbye.  

Rusty Cockrell has attended the Hampton Cove campus for several years.  He serves in Student Ministry as a small group leader and also chaperones many student road trips (God bless him!).  Rusty is also a videographer and has shared that talent with several different ministries here at Cove Church.  You can read more of Rusty's story here.

Eyewitnesses

by Lidia Zirkel, Cove mission partner serving in Coronado, Costa Rica

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  2 Peter 1:16

The trees were old and full of moss.  The grass towered above our heads.  In the clearing we could see the city below and the volcano above, but how Lord? Where do we begin turning this old diseased avocado farm into a home for children? 

We cut the grass. Cut down old diseased trees.  Cleared an entry and began construction.  Short term mission teams came from throughout the United States.  There were also groups of families, young and old, small groups and large groups, who came to help, and slowly the plan began to take shape.  In March 2011, we opened the first Home and began to receive children.  Sitting on the hillside watching the children play on the playground with the city of San Jose in the distance, we bowed at the faithfulness of our Lord. 

The Home is a place of healing and restoration. The children who live at the Home have all experienced abuse, physical and sexual, in their lives.  They have been abandoned by their parents and are alone and broken.   Each child who comes to live with us hears the story of Jesus Christ:  his birth, death, and resurrection.   Through Christ they are no longer alone.

Four years later, the second Home is open.  This Christmas we will have 21 children living at the Methodist Children’s Home in Costa Rica.  The farm is now green with life.  New trees and plants fill the property.  Yet, the greatest gift this Christmas is the sight of the children who are happy, healthy, and full of life and hope.   

We are privileged to witness the majesty of our Lord every day in the sweet faces of the children who live with us.  We witness His majesty in the healing of the physical and emotional wounds of the children.  We witness His majesty in the generosity of the many churches and individuals who support the Children’s Home through their presence, prayers and gifts.  We witness His majesty in the body of Christ being His hands and heart to the children in Costa Rica.

Thank you church family.  We pray that His majesty will fill your hearts and homes this Christmas season.

Ray, Lidia, Sarah and Emma Zirkel

The Zirkels are long-time mission partners of Cove Church.  They are the founders of the United Methodist Children's Home in Coronado, Costa Rica.