Not the classic song… but the vision of Jacob in Genesis 28:10-22 as he lay with his head on a stone in the wilderness. Our sermon from last Sunday can be found here.
Verse 16 of the Genesis passage reads; ‘When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it." ‘ It raises the question of our own awareness of the nearness of God. Although in our doctrine we speak of God as omnipresent – always with us - we do not excel at practicing the presence of God.
I suspect that this is partly due to the fact that the spiritual journey is one that takes place within relationship. We are often in the presence of people with whom we have no relationship. Every time we walk a busy street, take a train ride or go to the shops there are a whole lot of folk around us we have no interaction with. If we enter a crowded elevator alone it seems we positively try and avoid even making eye contact with our fellow travelers!
Human relationships do not take place simply because we are in the presence of other people. Communication has to be initiated and pursued. Friendships take a while to grow. Love even longer.
God is always present. But a relationship with God has to be nurtured through interaction with God. It doesn’t just happen. God is there for us but we need to take active steps to be there for God. Prayer. Meditation. Reading Scripture. Worship. Service. In such ways the presence of God becomes evident.
Prayer: Lord. Thank You for the promise of Your presence this day. Help me to be present for You! Amen.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Who Did Jesus Die For?
This past Sunday as we gathered together around the communion table we explored the question “Who did Jesus for?” Normally I’d post the sermon, but as it was as much visual as spoken, there was no transcript. However one of the verses we focused upon was from Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates His love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”
This is an amazing verse to focus upon as we come to the communion table. Upon that table we place visible signs of the broken life of Jesus. His body that was shattered upon the cross. The wine representing His blood that was shed for the sake of love.
Who did Jesus die for? For sinners. For all those who are prepared to admit they are broken and lack the strength in themselves to live in the way God calls them to live. To those who are prepared to receive Him, through faith, there is the experience of life being transformed by the same God who raised Christ from death.
We rightly call the sacrament a mystery. I really cannot properly explain how sharing bread and wine together nurtures our life with the love of God. It just does. The Holy Spirit has a way of interpreting the common actions of taking, tasting and sharing in a way that touches our hearts.
As with so many other things in Christian life it is all about grace. It is not our own actions, but our response to what God has done that changes us. ‘While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’. I love the words of Horatius Bonar’s communion hymn, written in 1855.
‘Here, O our Lord, we see Thee face to face,
Here would we touch and handle things unseen,
Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
And all our weariness upon Thee lean.
We have no help but Thine, nor do we need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon.
It is enough, O Lord, enough indeed;
Our strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.’
Prayer: Lord, you nurture our lives in many different ways. We confess our great need of Your love to forgive us, renew us, change us and guide us. We place our lives into Your hands this day. Amen.
This is an amazing verse to focus upon as we come to the communion table. Upon that table we place visible signs of the broken life of Jesus. His body that was shattered upon the cross. The wine representing His blood that was shed for the sake of love.
Who did Jesus die for? For sinners. For all those who are prepared to admit they are broken and lack the strength in themselves to live in the way God calls them to live. To those who are prepared to receive Him, through faith, there is the experience of life being transformed by the same God who raised Christ from death.
We rightly call the sacrament a mystery. I really cannot properly explain how sharing bread and wine together nurtures our life with the love of God. It just does. The Holy Spirit has a way of interpreting the common actions of taking, tasting and sharing in a way that touches our hearts.
As with so many other things in Christian life it is all about grace. It is not our own actions, but our response to what God has done that changes us. ‘While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’. I love the words of Horatius Bonar’s communion hymn, written in 1855.
‘Here, O our Lord, we see Thee face to face,
Here would we touch and handle things unseen,
Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,
And all our weariness upon Thee lean.
We have no help but Thine, nor do we need
Another arm save Thine to lean upon.
It is enough, O Lord, enough indeed;
Our strength is in Thy might, Thy might alone.’
Prayer: Lord, you nurture our lives in many different ways. We confess our great need of Your love to forgive us, renew us, change us and guide us. We place our lives into Your hands this day. Amen.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Can we heal the World?
It seems that common to all people are those days when we think “Why bother. Nothing that we can do can make a difference.” Our sermon (which can be found here) took the title “Can we heal the world?”
The Kingdom of God appears to invade our world not through the big things but the little things. In the bible reading of the feeding of 5000 the whole event turns around what seem like tiny actions. A young lad offers to share his lunch. A prayer of blessing is said. There is nothing particularly earth-shattering about such simple actions.
Yet through sharing and blessing a miracle takes place. One could become bogged down trying to explain how or why or what actually is actually going on in this story. There are many different layers to the account. It has deep theological overtones and appears within a particular context. It is great to ponder and investigate such avenues.
But there is also a simple beauty about the fact that little actions bring about big changes. The little things we consistently do everyday make a difference. It makes a difference when we show thankfulness for the blessings we are receiving or offer a prayer at mealtime. Random acts of kindness that let others know they are cared about are never insignificant. Offering the little we have to be used by God in whatever way God can use it is a big thing.
A boy shares his lunch. A prayer is offered. Leave the rest in Jesus hands and you never know what can happen!
Prayer: Lord, Forgive me for those times I forget to care. Help me to be open to the opportunities laid before me. Help me to see that no action is without significance in the light of Your love. Amen.
The Kingdom of God appears to invade our world not through the big things but the little things. In the bible reading of the feeding of 5000 the whole event turns around what seem like tiny actions. A young lad offers to share his lunch. A prayer of blessing is said. There is nothing particularly earth-shattering about such simple actions.
Yet through sharing and blessing a miracle takes place. One could become bogged down trying to explain how or why or what actually is actually going on in this story. There are many different layers to the account. It has deep theological overtones and appears within a particular context. It is great to ponder and investigate such avenues.
But there is also a simple beauty about the fact that little actions bring about big changes. The little things we consistently do everyday make a difference. It makes a difference when we show thankfulness for the blessings we are receiving or offer a prayer at mealtime. Random acts of kindness that let others know they are cared about are never insignificant. Offering the little we have to be used by God in whatever way God can use it is a big thing.
A boy shares his lunch. A prayer is offered. Leave the rest in Jesus hands and you never know what can happen!
Prayer: Lord, Forgive me for those times I forget to care. Help me to be open to the opportunities laid before me. Help me to see that no action is without significance in the light of Your love. Amen.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Why are prayers not answered?
This past Sunday we pondered the problem of unanswered prayer. The sermon can be found here.
To many atheists the explanation for unanswered prayer is simple. There is no God. But what about answered prayers? Well that it is just coincidence. Has to be. If there is no God there can be no answered prayers. End of story.
As a theist I have to ask … ‘How many prayers have to be answered before it becomes more than coincidence?’ If even one single prayer in the whole history of the universe turns out to have been more than a coincidence; where does that leave arguments about the non-existence of a force that answers prayer?
Fact is that over the years, in ways mundane and moments that have graced my life with an awesome sense of wonder, God has answered prayers. The simple fact that I am where I am, doing what I do, is difficult for myself to understand without relating it to the way God has guided my life.
An atheist will suggest that there are other forces at work that have led me to my current work. That I am befuddled and brain-washed and they will offer a whole host of other explanations. They have to. The only other conclusion would be that they had got it wrong.
I also would assert that biblically speaking ‘no’ and ‘not now’ are considered equally valid answers to prayer as ‘yes’, and that negative answers need also to be balanced into the equation.
Of course when Jesus spoke of prayer He kept throwing that word ‘faith’ into the mix. Not just any sort of faith, but a faith that believes that God has our absolute best in mind, has a purpose for our lives and whose Holy Spirit is able to lead us and guide us through the many perplexing situations of our lives.
The sort of faith that when we don’t understand continues to ask ‘Not my will, but Your will be done’. A faith that includes present relationship, past experience and future hope.
Nobody can prove faith. You can’t set up laboratory experiments to measure it. It resists calculations. It is not a formula. It lacks physical dimensions. It defies defining. It is hardly surprising that Jesus speaks of it in relation to prayer!
So let us pray! “Lord, I don’t always understand how prayer works. But I do understand that I need You more than my words can express. Help me to be comfortable with mystery and be trusting that Your way is best. Amen.”
To many atheists the explanation for unanswered prayer is simple. There is no God. But what about answered prayers? Well that it is just coincidence. Has to be. If there is no God there can be no answered prayers. End of story.
As a theist I have to ask … ‘How many prayers have to be answered before it becomes more than coincidence?’ If even one single prayer in the whole history of the universe turns out to have been more than a coincidence; where does that leave arguments about the non-existence of a force that answers prayer?
Fact is that over the years, in ways mundane and moments that have graced my life with an awesome sense of wonder, God has answered prayers. The simple fact that I am where I am, doing what I do, is difficult for myself to understand without relating it to the way God has guided my life.
An atheist will suggest that there are other forces at work that have led me to my current work. That I am befuddled and brain-washed and they will offer a whole host of other explanations. They have to. The only other conclusion would be that they had got it wrong.
I also would assert that biblically speaking ‘no’ and ‘not now’ are considered equally valid answers to prayer as ‘yes’, and that negative answers need also to be balanced into the equation.
Of course when Jesus spoke of prayer He kept throwing that word ‘faith’ into the mix. Not just any sort of faith, but a faith that believes that God has our absolute best in mind, has a purpose for our lives and whose Holy Spirit is able to lead us and guide us through the many perplexing situations of our lives.
The sort of faith that when we don’t understand continues to ask ‘Not my will, but Your will be done’. A faith that includes present relationship, past experience and future hope.
Nobody can prove faith. You can’t set up laboratory experiments to measure it. It resists calculations. It is not a formula. It lacks physical dimensions. It defies defining. It is hardly surprising that Jesus speaks of it in relation to prayer!
So let us pray! “Lord, I don’t always understand how prayer works. But I do understand that I need You more than my words can express. Help me to be comfortable with mystery and be trusting that Your way is best. Amen.”
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Does it pay to be Good?
This past Sunday we reflected on if seeking to live a good life actually made any difference to ourselves or the world around us. The way of the world seems to be that prosperity has no link to morality! The sermon can be found here.
There are many who adopt an ‘ends justify the means’ philosophy. Whether it be governmental justification of torture or something far more mundane such as parking illegally because we ‘are just in such a rush today’ there are circumstances where people feel taking a course of action that would otherwise be unacceptable is O.K.
By way of contrast scripture invites those who follow Jesus Christ to be above reproach. In the Kingdom manifesto we know as the sermon on the mount we are counseled; “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”. (Matthew 5:16)
When speaking of those who aspire to leadership in a congregation Paul places the highest standards before his young friend Timothy. “The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.” (1 Timothy 3:2-4)
‘Do gooders’ are often regarded as hypocritical meddlers who do more harm than good. Neither Jesus or Paul suggest the way of God’s Kingdom is one of self-righteously enforcing our morality upon others. It is rather about doing the right thing whatever it may cost and however personally uncomfortable it may be.
Whether it means involving ourselves with a cause for justice and peace or simply obeying traffic laws the bottom line is that we are instructed in scripture to be shining examples of God’s love!
Prayer: Lord God, You call us to be people of Kingdom standards. We know ourselves well enough to see such is only possible through the intervention of Your Holy Spirit and through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us this week to let our light shine so that others obtain glimpses of Your love. Amen.
There are many who adopt an ‘ends justify the means’ philosophy. Whether it be governmental justification of torture or something far more mundane such as parking illegally because we ‘are just in such a rush today’ there are circumstances where people feel taking a course of action that would otherwise be unacceptable is O.K.
By way of contrast scripture invites those who follow Jesus Christ to be above reproach. In the Kingdom manifesto we know as the sermon on the mount we are counseled; “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven”. (Matthew 5:16)
When speaking of those who aspire to leadership in a congregation Paul places the highest standards before his young friend Timothy. “The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.” (1 Timothy 3:2-4)
‘Do gooders’ are often regarded as hypocritical meddlers who do more harm than good. Neither Jesus or Paul suggest the way of God’s Kingdom is one of self-righteously enforcing our morality upon others. It is rather about doing the right thing whatever it may cost and however personally uncomfortable it may be.
Whether it means involving ourselves with a cause for justice and peace or simply obeying traffic laws the bottom line is that we are instructed in scripture to be shining examples of God’s love!
Prayer: Lord God, You call us to be people of Kingdom standards. We know ourselves well enough to see such is only possible through the intervention of Your Holy Spirit and through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Help us this week to let our light shine so that others obtain glimpses of Your love. Amen.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Souperbowl Sunday
This past Sunday we sang football related songs, raised money for the local Freeport Food pantry and reflected on ways we can help others. Lots of links today!
The sermon.
Our congregations rendition of “Drop Kick me Jesus”.
An update of the total money raised by the campaign.
Thanks deservedly go to our youth that participated in the service and all those who contributed.
The Sunday School sang for us the song ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’ . They reminded us all that whatever efforts for justice we make,they have to start where we are!
Prayer. ‘Lord, help us to sense Your presence this day, in a way that centers our lives, that we may share such peace with others. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.”
The sermon.
Our congregations rendition of “Drop Kick me Jesus”.
An update of the total money raised by the campaign.
Thanks deservedly go to our youth that participated in the service and all those who contributed.
The Sunday School sang for us the song ‘Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me’ . They reminded us all that whatever efforts for justice we make,they have to start where we are!
Prayer. ‘Lord, help us to sense Your presence this day, in a way that centers our lives, that we may share such peace with others. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.”
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Where are you going?
This past Sunday we reflected on the theme of where our lives may be heading. The sermon can be found here.
One of the problems in seeking direction is that we are often just too caught up in the journey to stop and ask. Commitments on our time impede from all directions. Work, family, travelling in between appointments, meeting deadlines… our schedules are not our best friend!
It is sometimes only when are forced to stop travelling on the crazy train that we find the time to ask where it may be heading. Times of illness, weather related cancellations, simply getting caught in the traffic can create a space where we suddenly become reflective and ask; “Just where is my life heading?”
In a society that rejects sabbath such momentary pauses can be our ‘little sabbaths’. Time to take stock and evaluate the journey. Space to ask where the direction of God and the things of God’s Kingdom fit into the picture.
Make the most of such moments. They can be revolutionary!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we hear Your call to follow You. We confess we often do so without truly thinking it through. We get caught up in the everyday madness. Direct us and lead us. Show us where changes need to be made and grant us the strength of Your Holy Spirit to make them! Amen.
One of the problems in seeking direction is that we are often just too caught up in the journey to stop and ask. Commitments on our time impede from all directions. Work, family, travelling in between appointments, meeting deadlines… our schedules are not our best friend!
It is sometimes only when are forced to stop travelling on the crazy train that we find the time to ask where it may be heading. Times of illness, weather related cancellations, simply getting caught in the traffic can create a space where we suddenly become reflective and ask; “Just where is my life heading?”
In a society that rejects sabbath such momentary pauses can be our ‘little sabbaths’. Time to take stock and evaluate the journey. Space to ask where the direction of God and the things of God’s Kingdom fit into the picture.
Make the most of such moments. They can be revolutionary!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we hear Your call to follow You. We confess we often do so without truly thinking it through. We get caught up in the everyday madness. Direct us and lead us. Show us where changes need to be made and grant us the strength of Your Holy Spirit to make them! Amen.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
What are you looking for?
It’s hard to find what you are looking for if you are not exactly sure what it is. Such is the dilemma that occupied our thoughts during our sermon this past Sunday, which can be found here.
I feel that for many of us the spiritual quest is one that we really cannot define. We kind of know what we are searching for, but we can’t frame it with words. It is not certainty. It is not conviction. It is not answers (particularly when we are not even sure what the questions are).
Yet we are attracted to the message of Jesus Christ and to the way that being part of a spiritual community enables us to follow Him. Maybe it is just as well that in the passage we were considering today (John 1:29-42) Jesus frames His invitation in the words “Come And See!”
There is something about the journey that is a revelation all of itself. Along the way we discover things that we hadn’t even realized that we were looking for. Sometimes when we find them we wonder how we ever managed without them!
And if that sounds rather vague then I make no apology. Even Paul spoke of only ‘seeing through a glass darkly’. Jesus invites us “Come and See”. Come and see what? We can only find out by following.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the encouragement to follow that not having to know all the answers can bring to us. You welcome the curious. You invite the seekers. Help us to stick with the journey and seek the company of others to travel it with. Amen!
I feel that for many of us the spiritual quest is one that we really cannot define. We kind of know what we are searching for, but we can’t frame it with words. It is not certainty. It is not conviction. It is not answers (particularly when we are not even sure what the questions are).
Yet we are attracted to the message of Jesus Christ and to the way that being part of a spiritual community enables us to follow Him. Maybe it is just as well that in the passage we were considering today (John 1:29-42) Jesus frames His invitation in the words “Come And See!”
There is something about the journey that is a revelation all of itself. Along the way we discover things that we hadn’t even realized that we were looking for. Sometimes when we find them we wonder how we ever managed without them!
And if that sounds rather vague then I make no apology. Even Paul spoke of only ‘seeing through a glass darkly’. Jesus invites us “Come and See”. Come and see what? We can only find out by following.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for the encouragement to follow that not having to know all the answers can bring to us. You welcome the curious. You invite the seekers. Help us to stick with the journey and seek the company of others to travel it with. Amen!
Monday, January 10, 2011
What are you doing here?
As a New Year gets underway we rapidly become busy. After a brief pause for reflection and resolution making it seems things soon get back to the state we describe as ‘normal’. Yet is into the midst of our normality that God often chooses to step. This past Sunday we reflected on the experience of John the Baptist who was rather surprised when Jesus showed up at the banks of the Jordan. The sermon can be found here.
It is as Jesus is baptized that a voice from heaven describes Him as a beloved son with whom God is ‘well pleased.’ The sacrament of baptism declares to us that God is pleased to claim us as sons and daughters. We may not always feel pleased with our spiritual progress, or even feel there is much for God to be pleased about in our lives but… nevertheless… God continues to desire our utmost good.
In the light of our faltering steps and uneasy commitment we have those days when we question our ability to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. There are times when we ask ourselves; “What are you doing here?”
Then, unexpectedly, God shows up. Shows up in the voice of a friend or someones random act of kindness towards us. Shows up by placing before us an opportunity to bless another. Shows up in the words of a song on the radio or by an insight in the midst of a comedy routine on TV. Shows up in places we weren’t looking.
And then we remember that we are not disciples because we are good at it! We are disciples because God is a God of Grace and refuses to despair of us. Through the influence of God’s Holy Spirit prompting us to have eyes that see and ears that hear, we can discover God in ways and places we had never expected!
Prayer: Lord, help us to stay awake to Your presence within us and around us. Remind us that we are children of Your pleasure. Encourage us to keep listening and keep serving, especially when we have more questions than answers. Amen.
It is as Jesus is baptized that a voice from heaven describes Him as a beloved son with whom God is ‘well pleased.’ The sacrament of baptism declares to us that God is pleased to claim us as sons and daughters. We may not always feel pleased with our spiritual progress, or even feel there is much for God to be pleased about in our lives but… nevertheless… God continues to desire our utmost good.
In the light of our faltering steps and uneasy commitment we have those days when we question our ability to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. There are times when we ask ourselves; “What are you doing here?”
Then, unexpectedly, God shows up. Shows up in the voice of a friend or someones random act of kindness towards us. Shows up by placing before us an opportunity to bless another. Shows up in the words of a song on the radio or by an insight in the midst of a comedy routine on TV. Shows up in places we weren’t looking.
And then we remember that we are not disciples because we are good at it! We are disciples because God is a God of Grace and refuses to despair of us. Through the influence of God’s Holy Spirit prompting us to have eyes that see and ears that hear, we can discover God in ways and places we had never expected!
Prayer: Lord, help us to stay awake to Your presence within us and around us. Remind us that we are children of Your pleasure. Encourage us to keep listening and keep serving, especially when we have more questions than answers. Amen.
Monday, January 3, 2011
The New Year
Yikes! It’s 2011 already. The years just seem to zoom on by. In church yesterday we reflected on our need of the grace of God to get us through the times of our lives. After reflecting on a sermon (which can be found here) we shared bread and wine and sought spiritual nourishment for the journey ahead.
Whilst we can make some inspired guesses at what a New Year may bring, the truth is that it remains a blank page. There’s most likely going to be some great things and some nasty stuff that gets written on the pages. That’s usually what happens.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth setting ourselves some goals for the coming days. I’d say ‘making resolutions’, but somehow ‘goals’ feels like a less demanding concept.
See… I was never a very good soccer player. I could mis-kick a ball in more ways than I knew how to do it properly. If I ever got near to scoring the adrenaline would kick in and I’d end up hitting the ball with way too much enthusiasm or just completely missing altogether. I was never offended when folk didn’t choose me to be on their team. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on my team!
But the thing is… goals are things you keep pursuing and working at. Resolutions, well you either keep them or break them. Goals, you can keep on trying!
So forget the resolutions and set yourself some goals. They don’t have to be anything super-impressive or mega-spiritual. Things like ‘a little less TV and a little more exercise’; ‘occasionally eating out less and putting the money aside to help the local food pantry’; ‘signing up for something at church that I haven’t done before… just to give it a try’.
It often seems that lasting changes in our life come through little steps. May you have a grace filled 2011!
Prayer: ‘Lord, help us to set ourselves some attainable goals for 2011. Guide us to the best use of our time, talents and treasures. Whatever the year brings our way, help us to allow Your love and hope to be a part of it. Amen.”
Whilst we can make some inspired guesses at what a New Year may bring, the truth is that it remains a blank page. There’s most likely going to be some great things and some nasty stuff that gets written on the pages. That’s usually what happens.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth setting ourselves some goals for the coming days. I’d say ‘making resolutions’, but somehow ‘goals’ feels like a less demanding concept.
See… I was never a very good soccer player. I could mis-kick a ball in more ways than I knew how to do it properly. If I ever got near to scoring the adrenaline would kick in and I’d end up hitting the ball with way too much enthusiasm or just completely missing altogether. I was never offended when folk didn’t choose me to be on their team. I wasn’t sure I wanted to be on my team!
But the thing is… goals are things you keep pursuing and working at. Resolutions, well you either keep them or break them. Goals, you can keep on trying!
So forget the resolutions and set yourself some goals. They don’t have to be anything super-impressive or mega-spiritual. Things like ‘a little less TV and a little more exercise’; ‘occasionally eating out less and putting the money aside to help the local food pantry’; ‘signing up for something at church that I haven’t done before… just to give it a try’.
It often seems that lasting changes in our life come through little steps. May you have a grace filled 2011!
Prayer: ‘Lord, help us to set ourselves some attainable goals for 2011. Guide us to the best use of our time, talents and treasures. Whatever the year brings our way, help us to allow Your love and hope to be a part of it. Amen.”
Monday, December 20, 2010
Shepherd Song
This past Sunday, the fourth in Advent, our service took on a musical theme. We had special music from the choir augmented by trumpets and drums, a wonderful anthem by the hand-bells and a Calypso Carol for childrens time. My own contribution was the Shepherd song … a version of which can be found here.
In the midst of all the music one of our elders read from the King James version of the Bible the account of the angels and the shepherds. He had e-mailed me earlier in the week to say that he would prefer to read the traditional version rather than the version in our NRSV pew bibles. There is just something about familiar words that communicates the Christmas story in a special way!
He also shared how he was reading from a bible that had been presented to him in 1942 by one of his great-grandparents. After the service another member shared how they had been praying about whether to give their own great grandchildren and grandchildren the gift of a Bible for Christmas. The experience of hearing somebody share how precious such a gift had been to them, answered their prayer.
One of the themes of the Advent season is that ‘The Word’ becomes flesh. We are blessed when during worship we get a sense that God is at work in ways we had never anticipated and through actions that are very human.
Throughout this Christmas season may we continue to have experiences of the Holy Spirit that are truly ‘incarnational’… a theological term for God becoming flesh and hope being born into the midst of our everyday world.
Prayer ‘Lord, help us in this holy season to seek for Your love to be born in the midst of our celebrating. We thank You for this joyous season, and pray for all those we know of who are finding it hard to celebrate because of their life circumstances. Continue to shine the light that removes all darkness. Amen.’
Monday, December 13, 2010
Prisoners of Hope
Our lesson for the third Sunday in Advent focused on John the Baptist and his situation in prison. The sermon can be found here.
The majority of us have those times in our lives when we seriously question the validity of our faith. If Christianity is such good news, how come our world is still so full of bad news? If Jesus came to be the savior, how come so many seem to be on a path to nowhere? When we are going through a dark patch in our personal lives such questions can be particularly imprisoning.
In the darkness of his prison cell John found encouragement through Jesus quoting to him Isaiah’s words about the ‘blind receiving sight, lame walking and good news being proclaimed to the poor.’ Those words bid John look beyond the confines of his immediate circumstances and see a bigger picture. Not easy to do, for sure!
But whoever said the journey of faith was meant to be easy? Whoever said there wouldn’t be days of darkness and doubt and struggle? Such were certainly a feature of Jesus own spiritual journey. At various times we see Him weeping, angry, and sweating blood as He struggled with God’s will. On the cross He declares He feels forsaken by God.
Despite the struggle, to paraphrase John’s gospel, “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it”. It’s O.K. when we have doubts and our faith is more struggle than it is victory. It seems to be all part and parcel of what makes faith a reality rather than a fairy tale.
It’s partly what can make Christmas such a meaningful celebration. There is nothing particularly attractive about taxes, census taking and fleeing persecution. Having nowhere to stay and being forced to give birth in a stable is a desperate situation to be in. None of us would describe a life driven by visions of angels and vivid dreams ‘normal’.
Yet the eye of faith sees in these events the hope of redemption and dares to proclaim that through Jesus Christ we can all be prisoners of hope!
Prayer: “Lord in this Christmas season, guide us through our struggles to places where the light breaks through. Through Your Holy Spirit, be born in our hearts afresh and imprison us with Advent hope. Amen.”
The majority of us have those times in our lives when we seriously question the validity of our faith. If Christianity is such good news, how come our world is still so full of bad news? If Jesus came to be the savior, how come so many seem to be on a path to nowhere? When we are going through a dark patch in our personal lives such questions can be particularly imprisoning.
In the darkness of his prison cell John found encouragement through Jesus quoting to him Isaiah’s words about the ‘blind receiving sight, lame walking and good news being proclaimed to the poor.’ Those words bid John look beyond the confines of his immediate circumstances and see a bigger picture. Not easy to do, for sure!
But whoever said the journey of faith was meant to be easy? Whoever said there wouldn’t be days of darkness and doubt and struggle? Such were certainly a feature of Jesus own spiritual journey. At various times we see Him weeping, angry, and sweating blood as He struggled with God’s will. On the cross He declares He feels forsaken by God.
Despite the struggle, to paraphrase John’s gospel, “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness will not overcome it”. It’s O.K. when we have doubts and our faith is more struggle than it is victory. It seems to be all part and parcel of what makes faith a reality rather than a fairy tale.
It’s partly what can make Christmas such a meaningful celebration. There is nothing particularly attractive about taxes, census taking and fleeing persecution. Having nowhere to stay and being forced to give birth in a stable is a desperate situation to be in. None of us would describe a life driven by visions of angels and vivid dreams ‘normal’.
Yet the eye of faith sees in these events the hope of redemption and dares to proclaim that through Jesus Christ we can all be prisoners of hope!
Prayer: “Lord in this Christmas season, guide us through our struggles to places where the light breaks through. Through Your Holy Spirit, be born in our hearts afresh and imprison us with Advent hope. Amen.”
Monday, December 6, 2010
Advent Sundays
During Advent our sanctuary is filled with the sights and sounds of the Christmas season. We have a number of special programs in worship … children sing, instrumentalists accompany the choir, families light the candles each Sunday. We also have a number of special collections. Mittens adorn the Christmas trees. There are boxes of food in the porch that will be distributed to local pantries. We receive a Christmas Joy Offering. And of course we still do all the regular stuff like confessing, preaching and praying!
We have a number of added programs. The Deacons provide a coffee hour after worship. Our Sunday School offers us an annual play after which we sit down together for Christmas Dinner. We have a special Jazz concert by one of our members. We visit some local homes carol singing after which one of our families opens up their own home for fellowship.
On Christmas Eve we have two services, one at 5 p.m. for families, then at 11 p.m. we meet for a service of Carols, Communion and Candlelight that extends into Christmas morning.
It is a good thing that we have these opportunities to remind ourselves of the Christian meaning of the season.
An Advent Prayer
Lord, as we travel through these crazy days of Christmas keep us in mind of the deeper meanings of the season. Take us to the hillside to hear the angels song. Help us to marvel at the wonder of Jesus birth. May we join with the Wise travelers who journeyed to Bethlehem. In a world often desperate for hope, may we fix our hopes in your love. Amen.
We have a number of added programs. The Deacons provide a coffee hour after worship. Our Sunday School offers us an annual play after which we sit down together for Christmas Dinner. We have a special Jazz concert by one of our members. We visit some local homes carol singing after which one of our families opens up their own home for fellowship.
On Christmas Eve we have two services, one at 5 p.m. for families, then at 11 p.m. we meet for a service of Carols, Communion and Candlelight that extends into Christmas morning.
It is a good thing that we have these opportunities to remind ourselves of the Christian meaning of the season.
An Advent Prayer
Lord, as we travel through these crazy days of Christmas keep us in mind of the deeper meanings of the season. Take us to the hillside to hear the angels song. Help us to marvel at the wonder of Jesus birth. May we join with the Wise travelers who journeyed to Bethlehem. In a world often desperate for hope, may we fix our hopes in your love. Amen.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Feasting on Hope
This past Sunday being the first Sunday of Advent we focused on lectionary passages that were about the coming Kingdom of God. The sermon can be found here.
The motif of ‘surprise’ in the Matthew reading (Matthew 24:36-44) is the one that always fascinates me. Whilst telling us in no uncertain terms that the day of the Lord will come, we are cautioned not to speculate about when such an event may take place.
Rather our call is to work at the kind of things that bring the Kingdom closer. If we want to see a hope filled world then we are invited to offer some hope. If we wish to see war at an end then we are called to support initiatives towards peace. If we want to see the poor lifted up, then we are called to do some serious sharing from out of the abundance God has blessed us with.
The surprise seems to come when our small and seemingly insignificant actions are shown to have made a difference to somebody and opened a little window of hope into their lives. ‘One day’ the prophets declare “All will be well”. In the meantime do the little things that turn out to be the big things.
Prayer: Lord, in this Advent season we seek that our lives may be a source of hope for others. We dare to believe that You have all things under control and one day its all going to turn out right. But until that time help us to carry on trusting that our actions make a difference. Amen.
The motif of ‘surprise’ in the Matthew reading (Matthew 24:36-44) is the one that always fascinates me. Whilst telling us in no uncertain terms that the day of the Lord will come, we are cautioned not to speculate about when such an event may take place.
Rather our call is to work at the kind of things that bring the Kingdom closer. If we want to see a hope filled world then we are invited to offer some hope. If we wish to see war at an end then we are called to support initiatives towards peace. If we want to see the poor lifted up, then we are called to do some serious sharing from out of the abundance God has blessed us with.
The surprise seems to come when our small and seemingly insignificant actions are shown to have made a difference to somebody and opened a little window of hope into their lives. ‘One day’ the prophets declare “All will be well”. In the meantime do the little things that turn out to be the big things.
Prayer: Lord, in this Advent season we seek that our lives may be a source of hope for others. We dare to believe that You have all things under control and one day its all going to turn out right. But until that time help us to carry on trusting that our actions make a difference. Amen.
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Living Difference
In our sermon this past Sunday we were thinking about the Sadducees and their doubts about resurrection. The sermon can be found here.
How can belief in the resurrection make a difference to our daily lives?
Belief in the Resurrection offers a fresh perspective on justice.
Many times we hear the complaint that “Life is not Fair”. There was nothing ‘fair’ or ‘just’ about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Yet God was able to turn the ultimate catastrophe into the ultimate victory through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Belief in the resurrection grants to us the hope that God can take the most unjust and desperate situations and use them for some good and eternal purpose.
Belief in the Resurrection places life into a larger framework.
If we believe our actions have an eternal significance then we are less likely to make hasty decisions or invest ourselves in activities that benefit only ourselves. We will take seriously the invitation of Jesus to find Him in the most needy of those around us. As our lives are transformed by the action of the Holy Spirit we seek to help others experience His living love.
Belief in the Resurrection offers a hopeful perspective on death.
If death is the end, then death is the ultimate catastrophe. However if death is a doorway into something greater, then death is nothing to fear. As St Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”.
Prayer: Lord, we ask that belief in the power of Your love to overcome death may transform our lives. Help us through Your Holy Spirit to be resurrection people with ‘Hallelujah’ as our song!” Amen.
How can belief in the resurrection make a difference to our daily lives?
Belief in the Resurrection offers a fresh perspective on justice.
Many times we hear the complaint that “Life is not Fair”. There was nothing ‘fair’ or ‘just’ about the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Yet God was able to turn the ultimate catastrophe into the ultimate victory through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Belief in the resurrection grants to us the hope that God can take the most unjust and desperate situations and use them for some good and eternal purpose.
Belief in the Resurrection places life into a larger framework.
If we believe our actions have an eternal significance then we are less likely to make hasty decisions or invest ourselves in activities that benefit only ourselves. We will take seriously the invitation of Jesus to find Him in the most needy of those around us. As our lives are transformed by the action of the Holy Spirit we seek to help others experience His living love.
Belief in the Resurrection offers a hopeful perspective on death.
If death is the end, then death is the ultimate catastrophe. However if death is a doorway into something greater, then death is nothing to fear. As St Paul wrote to the Philippian church, “For me to live is Christ, to die is gain”.
Prayer: Lord, we ask that belief in the power of Your love to overcome death may transform our lives. Help us through Your Holy Spirit to be resurrection people with ‘Hallelujah’ as our song!” Amen.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Get out of that Tree
Zacchaeus was the little guy who climbed up the sycamore tree to see Jesus pass by. But Jesus didn’t pass by. He stopped in His tracks, looked up into the tree, called his name and told him to ‘Come down’ as He was coming to his house that day. A sermon on Zacchaeus can be found here.
Zacchaeus is a fascinating character. His name means "pure," yet the Bible tells us he was anything but. He was a chief tax collector in Jericho, the city where the walls had fallen down. Jesus was passing through the city on His way to Jerusalem. Zacchaeus was hated by the Jews not so much because he was a tax collector but because he had intimate contact with Gentiles.
Jesus told Zacchaeus to hurry down out of the tree: Jesus was going to spend the day at his house. Jesus was spending more and more time with people who were "undesirable" and He explained His reasons for associating with them; the Son of Man had come to seek and to save those who were lost.
Jesus cared about Zacchaeus just as He cared about everyone, no matter their profession. Zacchaeus was truly a changed man after he met Jesus. He repented of all the wrong things he had done. He understood what Jesus said about "turning around" and following in His ways. He promised Jesus that he would pay back the people from whom he had taken too much in taxes according to the laws of Moses -- fourfold.
Jesus told Zacchaeus that his faith had caused him to be counted among God's people. Anyone, in fact, who comes to Jesus in faith and believes in Him is saved by his or her faith. If Zacchaeus had a chance, so do we!
Prayer: Lord, it is good to know that whoever we are and whatever we have done, You still come seeking after us. You always offer us the chance to make amends and start over again. May we welcome Your love into our daily routines this week. Amen.
Zacchaeus is a fascinating character. His name means "pure," yet the Bible tells us he was anything but. He was a chief tax collector in Jericho, the city where the walls had fallen down. Jesus was passing through the city on His way to Jerusalem. Zacchaeus was hated by the Jews not so much because he was a tax collector but because he had intimate contact with Gentiles.
Jesus told Zacchaeus to hurry down out of the tree: Jesus was going to spend the day at his house. Jesus was spending more and more time with people who were "undesirable" and He explained His reasons for associating with them; the Son of Man had come to seek and to save those who were lost.
Jesus cared about Zacchaeus just as He cared about everyone, no matter their profession. Zacchaeus was truly a changed man after he met Jesus. He repented of all the wrong things he had done. He understood what Jesus said about "turning around" and following in His ways. He promised Jesus that he would pay back the people from whom he had taken too much in taxes according to the laws of Moses -- fourfold.
Jesus told Zacchaeus that his faith had caused him to be counted among God's people. Anyone, in fact, who comes to Jesus in faith and believes in Him is saved by his or her faith. If Zacchaeus had a chance, so do we!
Prayer: Lord, it is good to know that whoever we are and whatever we have done, You still come seeking after us. You always offer us the chance to make amends and start over again. May we welcome Your love into our daily routines this week. Amen.
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