A Different Kind of Christmas – December 20, 2019

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Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in “I am feeling blue.” Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other dis-ease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregations and communities. Does this fit where you are? Or someone you know?

Nothing is Impossible: #morepeace – December 15, 2019

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Scripture:  Luke 1: 26-56

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary… The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God… For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1: 26-37)

Zechariah freaked out when the other-worldly creature appeared to him. But Mary was simply “perplexed.” Why would such an incredible message come to a common girl just barely a woman? Then her reply to such a foretelling about her purpose in life was also simple: “Let it be so.” Have you ever struggled with finding your purpose and being at peace with it? Or are you yearning for more peace in your life and relationships? #morepeace in the world happens when all of us feel #morepeace within ourselves and live out that message each day.

 

Make Ready a People: #morehope – December 8, 2019

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Scripture: Luke 1: 5-25, 57-80

An angel from the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw the angel, he was startled and overcome with fear. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah. Your prayers have been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will give birth to your son and you must name him John… He will make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1: 11-13)

It was just another day at the temple for Zechariah. It was his priestly turn to make sure everything was done properly and in good order. But it turned into something quite different when an angel showed up at the altar. Have you ever had a moment in your life after which you knew nothing would ever be the same? In the midst of great change, hope is always a welcome thing. Advent can remind us that God makes us ready for whatever unknown may come our way and calls us to be messengers of #morehope in an ever-changing world.

Make Preparations for the Coming of the Son: #moreprep – December 1, 2019

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Scripture: Matthew 24: 36-44

“But nobody knows when that day or hour will come, not the heavenly angels and not the Son. Only the Father knows.”  (Matthew 24: 36)

Angels are messengers for all sorts of tidings…warnings, prophecies, joyous tidings! But not even angels know everything, so we need to be prepared for Christ-sightings as we ready our hearts for the celebration of his birth.

Faithful to the End: Our Witness – November 24, 2019

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Faithful to the End: Our Witness – November 24, 2019

Scripture: Luke 23: 33-43

“Stay alert at all times, praying that you are strong enough to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand before the Human One.”  (Luke 21:36)

We are faithful when we stay alert at all times to the life Christ wants us to live. We bear witness to the power of Christ when we overcome the temptations of the world and stay strong.

Our Foolishness, God’s Faithfulness: Our Service – November 17, 2019

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Scripture: Luke 20: 27-38

“He isn’t the God of the dead but of the living. To him they are all alive.”  (Luke 20:38)

Sometimes we make mountains out of molehills, and big deals out of nothing. Yet, God doesn’t give up on us, and is faithful in all things! Remembering that love of God and love of neighbor are our marching orders, we lift up service as a way to stop our own foolishness.

The Faithfulness of a Sinner: Our Gifts – November 10, 2019

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Scripture: Luke 19: 1-10

Zacchaeus stopped and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I repay them four times as much.” (Luke 19:8)

The story of Zacchaeus reminds us that faithful giving and growth in Christ come in surprising ways by unpredictable people.

A Lesson in Faithfulness: Our Presence – November 3, 2019

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Scripture: Luke 18: 18-30

Jesus replied, “What is impossible for humans is possible for God.” (Luke 18:27)

Jesus reminds us that it is only with God’s help that impossible things are truly possible. We celebrate the saints who have shown us how to walk in ways of impossibility as they have left what they have known to embrace the things of God.

Justice for the Faithful: Our Prayers – October 27, 2019

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Scripture: Luke 18: 1-8

Won’t God provide justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he be slow to help them? I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. But when the Human One comes, will he find faithfulness on earth?”  (Luke 18: 7-8)

In this parable of the judge and the widow, we see that life is often unfair…yet God promises justice when we continue to pray.

Serving – October 20, 2019

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Scripture: Joshua 24:1-15

“As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”  (Joshua 24:15)

The people have now settled and prospered. But “settled and prospered” can be its own roadblock. We begin to forget how we needed God’s help before when things weren’t so rosy. Joshua gathers up all the tribes and reminds them of all the ways God has served them well and encourages them to joyfully choose to serve God. We know that we have arrived at an important milestone in our journey, living the kind of life that we were created to live, when we can look back over all the struggles that have come before us and affirm that we would endure “the good, the bad, and the ugly” all over again in order to be in the place to which God has led us.