The Pastor's Musing

Rejoice, Rejoice

2011-12-22T11:06:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 26

Fourth Thursday in Advent

December 22, 2011

Reading: Zephaniah 3:14 (NRSV)

¹⁴ Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!

Theme: Rejoice, Rejoice!

Reflection:

What does rejoicing look like to you in the context of the celebration of Jesus’ birth? Our celebration of Christmas has many layers to it. One layer is our Christmas celebration as a Christian community. We rejoice, as we celebrate Christmas in church, following the meditative Advent season. When the Advent light grows stronger and the Christmas tree is decorated and finally lit, I think each of us, present in our CLC community, feels a particular joy at Jesus’ coming. Each of us is touched when we hear the good news of Jesus’ birth come from the mouths of our Sunday School students in the Christmas pageant.

Yet Christmas in our culture has many other dimensions. We rejoice as we gather our family together around home, hearth and Christmas tree. We rejoice when we thank a store clerk for her service in this busy frantic, season. And there is yet another layer of celebration in the public, more secular Christmas gatherings and parties in towns, communities and businesses.

I think we can be full of rejoicing and celebration of Jesus’ birth in any of these layers when we keep the reasons for Jesus’ coming in our hearts and minds. A neighborhood Christmas party can help you connect with friends and neighbors, living out Jesus’ command to love your neighbor. Perhaps that party is also chance to listen to one of your neighbors’ recent difficulties, or maybe it is a chance to re-connect with someone with whom you have lost touch.

It is only when our multi-dimensional Christmas celebration creates stress and bad feelings that we need to realize that we have lost the sense of rejoicing. If trying to buy that last gift causes us to cut off other drivers or snarl at store clerks, then perhaps we need to step back and re-evaluate the meaning of Christmas, and re-gain the sense of rejoicing.

Christmas celebrations are among the most meaningful and tradition laden in our culture. If you associate a particular food or tradition with the celebration of Christmas, and it raises a sense of joy in you, give to glory to God. If your family always decorates your tree at a particular time, and the tree decorating helps ground the spirit of Christmas in you, rejoice! Enjoy all the special things that you love about the Christmas season and use them as a way of giving thanks to One whose coming we celebrate.

Prayer: Rejoicing God, we give you thanks for the coming of your Son, and we give you thanks that we are able to rejoice at his coming in so many ways. Ground us in your Son’s love and help us to use the special traditions of this season as a way of giving glory to you. Amen

Spirit Rejoicing

2011-12-21T07:37:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 25

Fourth Wednesday in Advent

December 21, 2011

Reading: Luke 1:46–47 (NRSV)

⁴⁶ And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

Theme: Spirit Rejoicing

Reflection:

“My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” Here is Mary, singing these lines as part of her song, sung after her cousin Elizabeth greets her, upon her arrival at Elizabeth’s home. Mary, young, unwed, and pregnant is rejoicing. Mary has complete faith that God has blessed her by choosing her to be the Mother of God’s Son. Mary’s faith gives her the courage that God will help her overcome any and all obstacles that occur as a result of her pregnancy. Mary’s song speaks of her trust in God and the apparent peace that this trust gives her.

In this late Advent season, my spirit is also rejoicing in God, my Savior. The sense of Christmas and the joy of the coming of the newborn Savior is upon me. And, somehow, between God and me (with a lot of help from Andrea Green—the church secretary), we have managed to finish nearly everything has be done to celebrate Christmas!!

I know in my heart that God always helps me to finish everything that the church needs done, but somehow that doesn’t let my head rest. Like many of you in this busy season, the to-do lists have been humming in my brain for the past weeks. For the past two weeks, the humming has been so loud that it has sounded like hive of bees had taken up residence in my head. I pray that someday, my trust will be as complete as Mary’s and the resultant peace will calm the humming in my head!!

But even with my incomplete trust, God has walked alongside of me these past weeks and seen me through! I can see the glow of the four Advent candles, and this light gives me the assurance that the God’s light is indeed coming into the world. We are reminded one more time of the miracle of Jesus’ birth, which we will soon celebrate. My spirit is indeed rejoicing in God my Savior.

Prayer: God of miracles, if it be your will, give me please, just a fraction of the faith and trust that Mary had in you. Amen

Sing a New Song

2011-12-20T08:03:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 24

Fourth Tuesday in Advent

December 20, 2011

Reading: Psalm 33:2–4 (NRSV)

²Praise the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.

³Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Theme: Sing a New Song

Reflection:

Some of you know that my husband John is a Christmas music aficionado. He has been collecting for years, and now having an iPod and access to iTunes has given him totally new opportunities to acquire different renditions of Christmas carols. We usually play Christmas music in our house from the time Thanksgiving is over, throughout December and the entire Christmas season, until Epiphany. Even though we play Christmas music frequently during the season, each late November, the music is NEW again. Because we play this music for only a short season each year, it is special music that somehow helps to create the aura of Christmas.

It is hard for me to think of Advent without thinking of “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “Messiah.” There are certain German Christmas carols that just mean Christmas to me. I find it nearly impossible to sing “Lo, How a Rose E’re Blooming” in English. When the music is played, I revert to German, and suddenly in my mind, I am standing next to my grandmother in the church of my childhood.

Music has the power to evoke powerful memories and thoughts in each of us. For people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, music is often their last contact with their memories. People who don’t recognize their relatives may be able to sing “Silent Night.”

Music is an important component of devotion and worship. It is a means of giving praise to God. In addition, words set to music have a way of enhancing the meaning of Biblical texts that surpasses mere oral reading of the passage.

We are in that transition time from Advent to Christmas. Savor these days and enjoy the music of the season (preferably not “Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer”). Let music be a form of worship and praise to God for you in these busy days. Sing along with the radio, your iPod, or whatever musical device you use. Give praise to God with the CD, iPod, iTunes, iSymphony or even your low tech voice! Make a joyful noise to the Lord. “Soon and Very Soon, we are going to see the Lord!”

Prayer: God of Glory, lift our spirits with song and help us to give praise to you with whatever musical instruments and devices are available to us. Amen

A Sign

2011-12-19T07:54:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 23

Fourth Monday in Advent

December 19, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV)

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.

Theme: A sign

Reflection:

In the same way that most of us like prophecies about the future, we also like signs. If we can’t know for sure what is going to happen, at least a sign would give us some clue as to the future.

In the original context of this 7^th century B.C. Biblical passage, Isaiah spoke God’s word about this sign to King Ahaz, the King of Judah (the Southern Kingdom). This sign was an indication for him that the two Kings whom he feared would not be successful in an attack against Judah. Kings often asked prophets for signs from God about their potential success in battles.

Because the word Immanuel means, literally “With us is God”, in the centuries after the 7^th Century B.C., this text from Isaiah was often interpreted as God’s promise of a Messiah, God’s special anointed one. From a Christian context, looking back into the Hebrew Scriptures, this passage from Isaiah is viewed a God’s prophecy of the birth of Jesus. In his Gospel, Matthew uses this quote, translated slightly differently, to reveal the birth of Jesus. (Matthew uses the less common translation of the Hebrew word for young woman; Matthew translates this word as “virgin”)

²⁰ …An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: ²³ “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:20–23).

Matthew quotes Isaiah to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of this sign spoken about by Isaiah, that Jesus is indeed the Messiah, “God with us” !

In this latter part of the Advent season, when we have been waiting and watching for a sign—a sign that the Messiah will be born, this sign from Isaiah is particularly hopeful for us. We wait for Christmas Eve, when we will hear the story of the birth of God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. We wait for the hope that this Gospel (Good News) brings us. We long to know and experience “God with us”. We want the reassurance of hearing the treasured story, yet one more time, that God did indeed send a special baby. We long for the holy night when we will hear the story of how God’s own son came to live among us, a very human baby, born in very human and very poor circumstances. The virgin is with child, and soon, very soon there will be a baby born in Bethlehem, the baby whose very birth name means that he will save his people. The Lord, himself will give YOU a sign and send His Son to YOU.

Prayer: Emmanuel, God with us, we also pray for signs. We pray for signs of your presence among us. We pray for signs of hope in a troubled world. We pray for signs that Your Kingdom, the world envisioned by Your Son, will indeed come. Amen

The Servant of the Lord

2011-12-18T06:42:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 22

Fourth Sunday in Advent

December 18, 2011

Reading: Luke 1:38 (NRSV)

³⁸ Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Theme: The Servant of the Lord

Reflection:

How many of us have heard Mary’s words: “Here I am the servant of the Lord” and wondered at her faith. She has just been given ‘mission impossible’ by the Angel Gabriel—the task of carrying God’s son—as an unmarried teenager. Her amazing response is: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Her faith is so strong that she willing submits to the role that God asks of her.

I don’t know that I could respond in the way Mary does. I think that I would be tempted to don my size 7.5 ASICS running shoes to get out of town. “Not me God, I’m not up to this; I have other plans for my life. My dream wedding is coming up, and I don’t want to be pregnant for it. Can’t you find some other Mary, one who is willing to do this. I know someone, maybe I could fix you up with her.”

And so it goes with many of us. When God calls you to do something, whether it is to teach Sunday School, to write a devotion, to sing in the choir or to serve on the Church Council, do you find yourself looking over your shoulder to see if maybe, just maybe, you overheard the call intended for someone else. Do you find all kinds of excuses why you’re not the right person. If Mary is a typical example, God often calls us to do things that are far out of our comfort zones. God often sees things in us that we don’t see in ourselves. God also supports and guides us when we do reach beyond our self-imposed boundaries to do God’s work.

Pray that when you hear God’s call to action, you, too, can answer: “Here I am, the servant of the Lord.”

Prayer: Challenging God, when I hear your call to service, help me to see myself in the ways that you see me. Help me to realize that you will be there to “bear me up” when I meet challenges in your service. In your son Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Name Him Jesus

2011-12-17T08:56:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 21

Third Saturday in Advent

December 17, 2011

Reading: Matthew 1:20–21 (NRSV)

²⁰ But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Theme: Name Him Jesus

Reflection:

Naming a child is one of the great dilemmas that new parents face. What does the name mean? How does it sound with our last name? What persona will this name create for this new baby? In Biblical times, naming a child had even more significance. For the Hebrew people, a child’s name was not just a label, or the way he/she was called. The name was the essence of the person. Children were typically named after a relative who was no longer living. Some of the relative’s identity was thought to be transferred to the child.

The angel tells Joseph that the child to be born to Mary is to be called Jesus (the Hebrew version of this is Joshua) because he will save his people from their sins. Jesus’ name, given before he was born, gives his identity as the Savior. His name is derived from a Hebrew verb (yasha) which means to save, deliver or liberate.

Imagine Jesus, growing up from a young age, aware that his name means that he is to save his people. Even for a child whose is both human and divine that is a large responsibility to put on small child. Jesus’ identity was shaped by his name, and the community’s awareness of what his name would have signified.

As we come ever closer to the celebration of this child’s birth, let us thank God for sending a Savior to us—the young child who bears the responsibility of saving us.

Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus—the One who Saves. Help us to realize the magnitude of your gift and to express our gratitude in love. Amen

Son of David

2011-12-16T10:02:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 20

Third Friday in Advent

December 16, 2011

Reading: Matthew 1:1–2 (NRSV)

¹ An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. ² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Theme: Son of David

Reflection:

What does it mean that Jesus is the son of David, and why did Matthew think it was so important to point this out in the first verse of his Gospel? Later in this same chapter of Matthew, the writer also points out that the child to be named Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ “An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ ” (Matthew 1:20-21)

There are two streams of information in these two quotes. First, Jesus is the “son” of David, and second, that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Obviously, Jesus is not directly David’s son since there are 28 generations between David and Jesus (Matthew 1:17). However, Jesus is in David’s lineage. Being in David’s linage is important as Hebrew prophecies have consistently predicted that God’s promised Messiah would be a descendent of David. By beginning his Gospel with Jesus’ genealogy, Matthew immediately signals to his readers that Jesus, whom he calls the Messiah has the right credentials. Additionally, by listing Jesus’ family, Matthew points out that Jesus was truly human, with a human family.

By letting his readers listen in on the angel’s announcement to Joseph that Mary’s son was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Matthew also signals that this very human baby is also divine. Before Matthew even relates the birth of Jesus and the arrival of the wise men from the east, he has revealed to his readers the paradox of Jesus’ identity. Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.

In this Advent season we have the gift of Matthew’s Gospel which reveals to us, the one for whom we pray. We call out “Come Lord Jesus, Come”, and we pray for God to come among us in a human form that we can recognize and who can identify with our struggles, but who yet has the divine power to save us.

Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus, Come. Come and be our brother. Come and be “God with us,” leading us, guiding us, and saving us.

Seeking Prophets

2011-12-15T10:10:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 19

Third Thursday in Advent

December 15, 2011

Reading: Luke 7:24–28 (NRSV)

²⁴ When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who put on fine clothing and live in luxury are in royal palaces. ²⁶ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John; yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

Theme: Seeking Prophets

Reflection:

Jesus asks the people why they have been going into the wilderness seeking John the Baptist. For millennia, people have been attracted to prophets. People today still seek prophets. What is our fascination with prophets? What is it we hope to learn? Most of us are uncomfortable with uncertainty. We would rather deal with any defined situation, even one that is uncomfortable or unpleasant, rather than wallow in uncertainty. Uncertainty has a way of driving us nuts. For instances, the time spent waiting for results from medical tests is an extremely painful time for most of us, because we just want to know! If we know, then we will figure out a way to deal with the diagnosis.

One of the reasons we seek prophets is that we hope that they will help us understand the future. We sense their connection to God, and we believe they speak God’s word to us. Many times we go into our own version of the wilderness looking for someone who will help us see what is to come. Our own dilemma is to discern who is a prophet of God and who is a false prophet.

Unfortunately for us, the prophets who offer the most certain answers, a certainty that we would like to hear, are the ones who are most likely to be false prophets. Think of the several “prophets” in the past couple of years, who have predicted, with certainty, the date of the end of the world. Jesus told us that we could not know the time or place that the end would occur. Consequently, anyone who claims to have this inside information must be a false prophet.

The people who sought future certainty by following John were not given that certainty. All John could promise was that there was one greater than him who would follow, who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Those of us who seek future certainty by following prophets will also be disappointed. The only certainty that we are given is found in the love of God through Jesus Christ. God does not promise us any particular future, what God promises is that God will not abandon us. The one whom John prophesied has come--born in the manger, does come daily into our lives--as our Savior, and will come again in the final days. Emmanuel, “God with us”, fulfills God’s promise of accompanying us.

Prayer: Come, Lord, Jesus Come! Be with us. Walk alongside of us. Come into our lives, daily, to give us the strength and wisdom that lets us deal with the uncertainty with which we live. Amen

Doing all Things

2011-12-14T11:17:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 18

Second Wednesday in Advent

December 14, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 45:6–7 (NRSV)

⁶ so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. ⁷ I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things.

Theme: Doing all things

Reflection:

This is a passage which gives us a fragmented glimpse into what God is like. As humans we have a very limited comprehension of God—because any attempt to fully know God, is an attempt to cut God down to human scale. We hear in God’s own words, in this text, a sense of the full breadth of God. And frankly, what we hear is difficult to comprehend.

Even if we understand the meaning of all the words, their scope eludes us. (I had to look up the meaning of weal—it has two very different definitions. The first is: ‘a red swollen mark’; and the second is; ‘that which is best for someone’.) I presume the author of this text meant the second one, implying that God does the full range of things from that which is best for someone to that which creates grief.

Reading this passage in The Message translation (a translation that attempts to help us understand, in contemporary English, what the original listeners heard) gives additional insights into God’s nature:

Isaiah 45:6–7 (The Message)

⁶ So that everyone, from east to west, will know that I have no god-rivals. I am God, the only God there is. ⁷ I form light and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords. I, God, do all these things.

We simply don’t have the scale and depth to understand how God can do all things. My own theology teaches that God does not deliberately set out to hurt us, but that because we are given free will, we do have occasions where things go wrong or we are deeply hurt. It is difficult to reconcile a God who does all things with a God that doesn’t set out to hurt us. I don’t have an easy answer.

In Advent, we hear many things we don’t full understand, but ultimately have to accept on faith. We hear of a baby being born to a woman well past child-bearing age; we hear of a woman who conceives by the Holy Spirit, and we hear of angels announcing these births. None of these things can be discerned with human logic. Perhaps this passage from Isaiah is just one more passage that reminds us of God’s greatness and our smallness.

May your Advent devotions give you a glimpse of the God, who is so great that we can’t comprehend God, and so loving that God’s own Son is sent as a gift to us.

Prayer: All powerful and omnipotent God, keep me humble by continuing to remind me that you depth and breadth exceed my comprehension. Amen

Humble and Lowly

2011-12-13T07:31:00.003-05:00

Advent Day 17

Second Tuesday in Advent

December 13, 2011

Reading: Zephaniah 3:12–13 (NRSV)

¹² For I will leave in the midst of you a people humble and lowly. They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord— ¹³ the remnant of Israel; they shall do no wrong and utter no lies, nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouths. Then they will pasture and lie down, and no one shall make them afraid.

Theme: A People Humble and Lowly

Reflection:

I think that very few of us would typically like to think of our ourselves as humble and lowly. We might be OK with humble, but lowly just doesn’t fit most of our self-images. In fact, such an opinion of ourselves might result in our being labeled as having “low self-esteem”! We are more likely to favor descriptions such as self-confident or assured or poised.

Why does the prophet Zephaniah claim that God will leave a people lowly and humble? The remnant of Israel, to whom Zephaniah is referring, are the people left after the Babylonian invasion, exile and return. They had been a proud people, who at one point had been world leaders in the Middle East. Their pride resulted in a haughty self-confidence that led them away from God and God’s laws. Their wealth was no longer shared or used responsibly, and they began to worship the gods of neighboring countries rather than the ONE GOD.

After their experience in exile and their return, facilitated by God, to their homeland, the remnant of Israel have been humbled. They no longer have their swagger or self-assurance, and they have returned to a dependence on God. They have been humbled and are now able to think of themselves as lowly.

In this Advent season, perhaps we, who like to think of ourselves as self-confident, should reflect on the humbleness and lowliness of the one for whom we wait. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is born in the animals’ feeding trough, because there was no room for his lowly parents at the inn. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus refers to himself in saying “I am gentle and humble in heart.” (Matthew 11:29) Jesus’ mother Mary also refers to lowliness twice in her song in Luke: “For he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;” (Luke 1:48) and “He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;” (Luke 1:52) Coming from Jesus and Mary’s mouths, the words humble and lowly have taken on a new respect.

Perhaps, we who profess to be followers of Jesus need to look for the role of humbleness and lowliness in our own lives. Perhaps in waiting for Jesus, we will learn how to be the servant of the one who served others.

Prayer: All powerful God, help me to depend on you and take refuge in you, rather than depending on my own self-confidence. Help me to be your servant, lowly and humble. Amen

Giving Service

2011-12-12T10:35:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 16

Third Monday in Advent

December 12, 2011

Reading: Psalm 72:11–12 (NRSV)

¹¹May all kings fall down before him, all nations give him service. ¹²For he delivers the needy when they call, the poor and those who have no helper.

Theme: Giving Service

Reflection:

May all nations give God service. What does service to God look like? Is it worship, respectfully coming on regular occasions to give praise and thanks to God? Is it doing community service in the name of God? Yes and Yes!

In the Gospels (Matthew 22:37-40 and Luke 10:27), Jesus tells us: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” We can serve God by honoring, loving and worshipping the Lord, and by showing, love, respect and service to our neighbors. The two are inseparably linked. Loving God, frees us to love our neighbor, and serving neighbor without loving God may turn into self-serving service, rather than a God-grounded love of neighbor.

In this Advent season, as we watch and wait, preparing for Jesus to come, preparation of our hearts opens us to full spectrum of service to God. The Christmas season is also a time when service to neighbors is desperately needed. As Charles Dickens writes in “A Christmas Carol”, this is a time when “want is keenly felt.” The secular Christmas season is a terribly difficult time to be poor in our culture. The media continually display extravagant “Christmas” celebrations, reminding those “without” just how little they really have.

Keep both aspects of service to God in your Advent preparations. Spend time in worship, prayer, meditation and praise to God. Then, look on your neighbors through Jesus’ eyes and heart. See where there is need and pray about how you might meet that need.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, help me to serve God through worship, prayer, and praise to God and through meeting the needs of my neighbors in God’s name. Amen

Rejoice Always

2011-12-11T07:01:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 15

Third Sunday in Advent

December 11, 2011

Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (NRSV)

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Theme: Rejoice Always

Reflection:

Those of you who will be in church this morning, will have a double dose of this passage, as it is also one of the texts for the day and figures in my sermon! But maybe this time of year, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded that we are to “rejoice always.” In both the Advent season and the secular December season, we can use lots of reminders about rejoicing.

In the early church, the third Sunday in Advent was designated ‘Gaudete’ Sunday (or Joy Sunday). Advent, at this time, was marked as a very penitential season, almost like Lent. The color of the season was purple and Advent candles were purple reminding worshippers of the need for penance. On the third Sunday in Advent, the readings on this Sunday were more joy-filled and often included the text from Thessalonians we are using this morning. On this Gaudete or Joy Sunday, the one pink candle on the Advent wreath was lit, giving worshippers a break for joy in the middle of the penitential season. This tradition continues in the Roman Catholic Church today.

In the mid-20^th century, the Protestant churches changed lectionaries (the cycle of readings) and hence, no longer celebrate Gaudete Sunday. The focus of Advent also was modified to emphasize hope rather than penance (keeping Lent as the penitential season). That is why we use blue candles in the Advent wreath—blue being the color of hope. Having said this, in the middle of the Advent season, JOY is still a welcome theme.

By this time in December, I have been rushing around—with Christmas shopping, wrapping, writing cards, trying to attend festivities and keeping up with all the things that have to be done at church in Advent. Each of you, may also have a non-stop to-do list. Sometimes it is hard to remember to feel joyful in the midst of the freneticism. I have to stop, take a deep breath, and remind myself what Advent and Christmas are all about. God wants me to be joyful and hope-filled. I am anticipating the greatest gift ever given—the gift of God’s own Son—given for me and for you. I can be joy-filled while I watch and wait for Jesus to come.

Rejoice always. Ok, always may be difficult—but keep on rejoicing. If you have trouble rejoicing, try the praying part. Frequent praying will help keep the focus where it belongs and the rejoicing with flow along.

Prayer: Gracious God, fill my heart with joy at the gift of Your Son. Help me to pray always and follow the prayer with rejoicing. Amen

Seeing and Not Seeing

2011-12-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 14

Second Saturday in Advent

December 10, 2011

Reading: John 16:16–18 (NRSV)

¹⁶ “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” ¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.”

Theme: Seeing and Not Seeing

Reflection:

In this Advent season, we pray “Come, Lord Jesus Come”. But when Jesus does come among us, how will we know it? Will we see Jesus? Will we be living in the “little while” when our eyes are opened and Jesus’ presence is visible to us? Will our eyes be opened to the presence of “God with us” and will we be able to see, or will there be so many things distracting us that we will not be able to see Jesus?

In the Gospel of John, seeing is equated with believing. If you don’t believe, then you are not able to see. If you believe, trust, and have faith, then your eyes are opened, and God enables you to see.

When you trust and believe, you see Jesus in many ways. Yesterday I saw Jesus in the face of the young cashier at Ocean State Job Lot, who asked me for a donation to the Newport Food Pantry. She explained that the donation could be conveniently rung up with my purchases. And then she told me, shyly, that she volunteers at the food pantry in her spare time. I don’t know what her religious traditions are, but I know that Jesus was alive and well, working through her for the least among us. I saw Jesus in her, and I heard his mother’s words in her voice: “And the hungry will be fed with good things.” You know, this young cashier thanked me for the donation. I should have thanked her for her witness. My eyes were opened, and I was able to see.

Prayer: In this Advent season, Lord help me to pray “Come Lord Jesus, Come”, and open my eyes that I might see “God with us” in all the walks of life. Amen

Your Redeemer

2011-12-09T07:52:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 13

Second Friday in Advent

December 9, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 48:17–18 (NRSV)

¹⁷ Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go. ¹⁸ O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your prosperity would have been like a river, and your success like the waves of the sea;

Theme: Your Redeemer

Reflection:

The prophet Isaiah named God as “Your Redeemer” when speaking to the Israelites back almost six centuries before Jesus was born. We have been taught that Jesus redeems us from our sins, but God was being called Redeemer before even Jesus came to earth. For the Hebrews, a redeemer was someone who purchased a person out of trouble. An older brother, for instances, might redeem his younger brother by paying off the debts of the younger one and keeping him out of debtor’s prison or slavery. When Isaiah spoke of God as Redeemer he was prophesying that God would “purchase” the Israelites out of exile in Babylon and return them to their homeland.

But notice what else the Redeemer does in this passage. The Holy One of Israel reminds the people that the Lord teaches and leads them also. God will not just free the people from exile, but teaches them for their own good and leads them on the path they should go. Isaiah is promising a full service God—one that not only frees people from slavery, but then continues to lead and guide them in starting a new life.

In this Advent season, we look toward Jesus’ coming, the one whom God sends to redeem and save us. One of the texts that we often read in Advent is the “annunciation” to Joseph found in the Gospel of Matthew. When the angel of the Lord comes to Joseph to tell him about the baby that Mary is carrying, Joseph is told that the child has been conceived in the Holy Spirit, and that Mary will bear a son. Joseph is also instructed to name the child Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” Jesus’ very name, which is the Greek version of the Hebrew name Joshua, means ‘one who saves’.

God continues the saving work that was begun with the people Israel, by sending God’s own Son Jesus, the one who will save. God continues to lead you and guide you with the Law—the commandments—that God insists that you pay attention to. But the Gospel, or Good News, for you is that God also recognizes your weakness and sends his Son, Your Redeemer, who helps you and saves you when you slip into trouble.

Prayer: Redeeming God, I thank you that you save me when I get into trouble. I thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus, whom you sent to save all your people, including me. Amen

Messengers

2011-12-08T07:06:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 12

Second Thursday in Advent

December 8, 2011

Reading: Matthew 11:7–11 (NRSV)

⁷ As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. ⁹ What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ ¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Theme: Messengers

Reflection:

What is the role of a messenger? He or she is someone who spreads the word that something has happened or is about to happen. Being a messenger is not always an easy job. We have often heard the expression: “Don’t shoot the messenger.”

When I was still working at AT&T, if someone walked into my office and started the discussion with “I’m here to tell you something, but please don’t shoot the messenger”, I knew that what I was going to hear was not good news—but usually word of some disaster that would shake up my week or even my month.

In the case of John, who is the messenger, come to prepare the way for the Lord, the message that he brings is good news for most people, but is still earth shattering news. It is news that the old order is going away and new order will emerge. As Mary sang in her song, “(The Lord) will fill the hungry with good things and the rich will be sent away empty handed.” This is good news if you are the hungry, but not so good news if you are the established order, otherwise known as the rich. John was so threatening that the established order, e.g. Herod, killed John.

We hear a lot about John during the season of Advent. It is easier for us to think about him preparing the way for Christ than it is to think of him as someone who shakes up the established order of our lives or changes our priorities. Preparing the way of the Lord is not a smooth process, but one that involves tearing down obstacles and raising up valleys.

In this Advent season, some of us are also called to be messengers and prophets. We are called to spread the good news that God came to earth and continues to come among us. We are called to spread this news to a world that is increasingly suspicious of anything divine. No one said being a messenger was easy.

Prayer: Incarnate God. You come among us and dwell with us. You call some of us to be messengers of the good news of your presence. Give us courage and strength to do this job. Help us to learn what it means to prepare your way. Amen

Rest for Your Souls

2011-12-07T09:46:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 11

Second Wednesday in Advent

December 7

Reading: Matthew 11:28–29 (NRSV)

²⁸ “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Theme: Rest for Your Souls

Reflection:

“Come to me all you who are weary…and you will find rest for your souls.’’ Often in December we need to find rest for both our bodies and our souls. Perhaps we need to find rest for our bodies because we don’t have rest for our souls. Without rest for our souls, our bodies seem to be always running around seeking something.

As much as I enjoy Christmas, and I am a self-confessed Christmas junkie, I wonder how much my striving to “make Christmas” is not some subconscious attempt to seek something. Am I looking to re-create some remembered magic of childhood Christmases (which admittedly were much simpler than those of today)?

We had our time-honored traditions, one of which was going to a 7:30 bilingual Christmas Eve service (German and English), followed by a special meal after church, and then present opening. The large darkened church with the candles in the windows, large tree in the front, poinsettias around the altar, the Gospel read in German, and the magnificent sounds of the pipe organ created a Christmas Eve aura that I looked forward to each year.

I wonder if by trying to keep and expand Christmas traditions I am, in reality, seeking the specialness and Christmas “high” of Christmases past. Trying to do that may just leave me with a worn out body and a dissatisfied soul. I still love Christmas Eve worship, and perhaps that’s the seeking I have to do—seeking the source of the Christmas delight rather than the trappings.

In this Advent and secular pre-Christmas season, Jesus’ words “Come to me” are perhaps the soul satisfaction I need. With a soul that rests in Jesus, I won’t have to do so much seeking, and perhaps, maybe perhaps, my body won’t be so tired!

Prayer: Lord, God, help me to come to your son Jesus and rest in him. Help me to slow down my striving and seeking and instead rest in Christ. Amen

Teach Me Your Ways

2011-12-06T06:53:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 10

Second Tuesday in Advent

December 6, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 2:2–3 (NRSV)

² In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. ³ Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Theme: Teach me your ways

Reflection:

It is hard to pray, “Lord, teach me your ways.” In Burger King style, we want to have it our way. We are a people used to getting what we want. The Baby Boomers grew up as a treasured generation, loved by parents who were happy to return to some sense of “normalcy” following World War II. The relative prosperity of the Baby Boomer’s parents meant that they were given a great deal of both attention and material things. In turn the Baby Boomers showered their Gen X and Millennial children with nearly everything their hearts desired. We, who live in the 21^st century in the US, want and expect it our way!

Most likely, God’s way and my way are not necessarily going to converge. I don’t have the vision or insight (nor could I) to understand God and God’s plan. Any attempt that I make to understand God is simply an attempt to cut God down to human scale! My way is based on my limited ability to see what is that I want, while God’s immeasurable vision can comprehend the entire world and what it needs. God’s way uses God’s vision and takes into account a world that I can’t fully see or understand.

In this Advent season, as I pray “Come, Lord Jesus, Come!”, my prayer means that God will send Jesus on God’s terms, in God’s timeframe and in God’s way. Part of the Advent preparation of getting ready for Jesus to come means realizing that my way needs to be set aside. I have to get my “own way” out of the way, if I am to hear and learn God’s way. I have to hear God’s way before God can help me walk in God’s paths.

Prayer: God of wisdom, give me the strength to put aside my way, hear and learn your ways and walk in your paths. Amen

Joy and Gladness

2011-12-05T07:34:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 9

Second Monday in Advent

December 5, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 35:8–10 (NRSV)

⁸ A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. ⁹ No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. ¹⁰ And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Theme: Joy and Gladness

Reflection:

You know Lord, I really need to hear those words: “they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” This is a promise from God that has real traction for me. As a congregation we have said good-by to many treasured members, friends and family members this year. Many of us have experienced deep grief personally, or watched and waited with friends going through this cycle. It is only through deep trust in the Lord and strong faith in God’s promises that we can let grief and sorrow do their work, knowing that joy and gladness will ultimately follow.

The Advent season with its symbols of light and hope are a testimony to everlasting promises that God gives of joy and gladness. God does not promise that we will never experience grief and sorrow. God only promises that God will be here with us as we suffer, and God promises that joy and gladness will return. God promises the light of Christ to you.

In this Advent season, we look with joy to the birth of Christ. All of us love to celebrate the birth of the baby. With Mary, we gaze with amazement at her tiny baby, and wonder what life will bring for him. Of course, we don’t have to do much wondering, because unlike Mary, we know the end of his story. Even as we celebrate his birth, we know that this baby’s life on earth will end in sorrow.

However, just as certainly, we know that sorrow will not have the last word. The God who promises joy and gladness, also shows us this joy in the resurrection of his son. The God who brings the baby to earth with much joy, also raises him from the dead, accompanied by joy, gladness and much amazement.

God has shown us that death, grief and sorrow do not win. We have been baptized into Jesus’ death, but we have also been baptized into his new life. Joy and gladness will have the last word. May that everlasting joy permeate these Advent and Christmas seasons for you.

Prayer: God of joy and gladness, may your promises be our beacon in this Advent season. May we hear and trust in your words that promise joy and gladness, with sorrow and sighing fleeing away. Amen

At Peace

2011-12-04T05:38:00.000-05:00

Advent Day 8

Second Sunday in Advent

December 4, 2011

Reading: 2 Peter 3:13–14 (NRSV)

¹³ But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. ¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;

Theme: At Peace

Reflection:

Today is the Second Sunday in Advent. We light the second candle on the Advent wreath this morning, and the light of Christ grows stronger. This morning, in this text, found also in our lessons in church this morning, we hear the words: “While you are waiting…, strive to be found…at peace”! Advent, waiting, peace—those three words are sometimes difficult to associate with one another. However much we might try to strive for a sense of peace in the season of Advent, for many of us, the to-do lists are running in our heads. Shopping—check; cookie preparation—check; concert to attend—check; and so on…

How do I achieve that sense of peace??? What should I do to strive for peace? Maybe the choice of words affects our probability of getting to peace. Maybe doing and striving are what keep us from being at peace. Another way of translating that same line is: “be eager to be found at peace.” I get a totally different sense when I think of “being eager” to be at peace than “striving” for peace. When I am eager for something, I can anticipate it or hope for it, I don’t have do it.

Being “eager to be at peace” in the Advent season means taking the time to just be—to watch, wait and hope. We watch for the signs that God is at hand, we hope for Jesus’ coming, and we give ourselves time to experience the sense of peace that comes in the waiting. To let yourself experience the sense of peace, put the to-do list aside, for even a few moments, take a few breaths and give God a chance to permeate your life.

Prayer: God of tranquility, I pray for your peace to enter into my life. Help calm my busy thoughts, stop the chatter in my brain, and give me even a few moment to just be, eager for your peace. Amen

The Lord Will Answer You

2011-12-03T08:31:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 7

First Saturday in Advent

December 3, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 30:19 (NRSV)

¹⁹ Truly, O people in Zion, inhabitants of Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He (the Lord) will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry; when he hears it, he will answer you.

Theme: The Lord Will Answer You

Reflection:

The Lord will answer you! The Lord will be surely gracious to you at the sound of your cry. In this Advent season, in our worship, in our prayers and in our preparations we cry ‘Come Lord Jesus, Come!’ When you say these words are you merely following the traditions of Advent, or do you say them with the faith expressed in Isaiah’s words, believing that ‘the Lord will answer you’? Do we really think we can count on God to answer our prayers and send Jesus to us?

What signs and wonders will be the clue for you that God has answered your plea: ‘Come Lord Jesus Come’? Some of us pray for a vision of Christ, and some of us hope for just a sense that we are not alone. God may answer your cry in many different ways. There are many different narratives of the experience of perceiving Christ.

Some tell stories of having been lifted from the brink, physically feeling a sense of support. Others tell of having heard a voice at a time of great despair. Yet others tell of having seen some image that alerted them to the presence of Christ when they felt very alone.

In the 21^st century, when we count on reason and science, it is sometime difficult to trust in these shadowy, mysterious experiences. These experiences of Christ are usually very intimate and may be very difficult to share. In this Advent season, if you have experienced Christ in some way, pray about it, thanking God for having answered your plea. If you are able to talk about it, share your experience with someone you love and trust; your witness may strengthen someone else’s faith.

The Lord will surely answer your plea. “Come Lord Jesus, Come!”

Prayer: Mysterious God, in this Advent season, help us to pray with conviction “Come Lord Jesus, Come”. Strengthen our faith and help us to trust that you indeed hear and answer our pleas. Amen

Lord Have Mercy

2011-12-02T08:21:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 6

First Friday in Advent

December 2, 2011

Reading: Matthew 9:27–31

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” ²⁸ When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” ²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, “See that no one knows of this.” ³¹ But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

Theme: Mercy

Reflection:

How many times in our lives do we cry out to God for mercy? Sometimes, frankly, it is for stuff, that in the scheme of things, is not very serious. Maybe someone in front of us in traffic does something we consider stupid, and we cry out something like “God have mercy”. Or perhaps you have pulled a hot pan out of the oven, catching your bare arm on the edge of the oven. “Lord have mercy,” you mutter.

But then there are the times something really serious happens, a terrible diagnosis at the doctor, a tragic accident or a friend who is in deep trouble, and then you plaintively cry “Lord have mercy”, while clasping your hands in prayer. Or perhaps, sitting in church, after a week of one disaster after another, the liturgical Kyrie, with its “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy”, really hits home. Or maybe you hear these words “Lord have mercy” spoken with you, as you sit grieving a loved one.

The blind men in this text from Matthew cry “Lord have mercy” and truly believe that Christ, whom they consider Lord, will have mercy on them and in some way relieve their suffering. Jesus even questions their faith, and they are able to respond “Yes, Lord”, affirming their belief in Jesus’ power to positively affect their lives.

Each time you cry out “Lord have mercy”, either as part of a lament of your personal situation, or as part of our collective liturgical ritual, what would happen if Jesus were to ask you “Do you believe that I am able to help you”? Would you be able to respond ‘Yes, Lord, I believe in your power’?

In this Advent season, as we watch and wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, remember that we are also watching and waiting to experience the power of Christ in our own lives.

Prayer:

All powerful and loving Lord, help us when we cry out to you “Lord have mercy” to have the faith to truly believe that you come into our lives, and to help us to trust in your mercy and loving kindness. In this Advent season, may we experience the power of Christ in our lives. In your son’s name we trust and pray, Amen.

Be PATIENT !!#&#

2011-11-30T23:12:00.002-05:00

Advent Day 5

First Thursday in Advent

December 1, 2011

Reading: James 5:7–8 (NRSV)

⁷ Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. ⁸ You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.

Theme: Be Patient!

Reflection:

In our rush, hurry and get it done now culture, the words “Be Patient!” are likely to put many in people into a slow—no make that fast—burn. In the 21^st century patience is a highly underutilized talent. Baby boomers grew up with instant cereal, instant coffee and instant pudding, along with fast food, but we still depended on letters as a primary form of communication. Remember when a long distance phone call was a rarity; it was usually announced with “they’re calling LONG DISTANCE”! Our children’s children know a world of instant communications of both words and images, web-streamed movies, on-line purchasing, and electronic banking. Patience means having to wait because a company’s website is responding slowly with an overload of Black Friday purchasing.

In Advent we are called to be patient as we watch and wait for the coming of Christ. This patient watching and waiting can be interpreted on many levels. For children, the watching and waiting is the interminable December time until Christmas. We can hope that our children are watching and waiting for Jesus to be born, but undoubtedly there is at least a bit of waiting for Santa! We also watch and wait for signs of Jesus’ presence in our own lives. This requires patience and attentive watching, as we never know when we will get a glimpse of God’s Kingdom in our own lives.

As adults, we also know that we are watching and waiting for Jesus to return. This requires extremely patient, faithful waiting, as people have been waiting for two millennia for Jesus to return. When James wrote these words to the Jewish Christians during the first century, people expected Jesus to return within their lifetimes. We however, have 2000 years of perspective in realizing that Jesus may not return in our lifetimes, but then again, we can’t know the time or the place. We know Jesus will return because God has promised it, but we don’t know the when, where or how. This waiting requires much more patience than that possessed by those of us who live in this time of instant gratification.

Prayer: Patient and loving God, grant me the faith to believe and the patience to wait for the coming of your son and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Wiping Away Tears

2011-11-30T07:36:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 4

First Wednesday in Advent

November 30, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 25:7-8 (NRSV)

⁷ And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; ⁸ he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

Theme: Wiping away tears.

Reflection:

For many people Advent is a bittersweet season. Advent calls for time to meditate and reflect on God’s promises. God’s promise in this text from Isaiah is to “swallow up death” and “wipe away tears from all faces.” In the Advent season, losses of loved ones are often particularly felt. Amid the hope, joy and anticipation of Advent, there is often an undercurrent of pain. This promise to swallow up death and wipe away tears is a powerful antidote to any sense of loss in this season.

I have read these words at many funerals in my time as a pastor. I felt, more than heard these words, as my brother-in-law read them at my mother’s funeral this past fall. In the promise of these words, I could feel my tears being dried, and I could feel God’s promise that death would be no more.

In this Advent season of watching and waiting for Jesus’ return, we have the assurance that God has made good on the promise and has indeed swallowed up death in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent is a season of HOPE. Because of Jesus, we have the sure and certain HOPE that our tears will indeed be wiped away.

Prayer: Good and gracious God, in this Advent season we pray for all people who feel the pain of loss. May you wipe away tears of all of us and comfort us with the promise that death will indeed be swallowed up. Amen

Stumps and Shoots

2011-11-29T07:20:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 3

First Tuesday in Advent

November 29, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 11:1 (NRSV)

¹ A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

Theme: Stumps and shoots

Reflection:

I never cease to be amazed at how resilient plant life is. I have several junk trees that have grown at various places in my flower beds. If I were a better gardener, I might have pulled them out when they had weak spindly roots; however, by the time they attracted my attention, they were full fledged saplings. I have sawed at them, and my husband has hacked at the roots. But it seems that no matter what we do, there are shoots coming out of the sawed off stumps. I’ll think to myself—this time I’ve knocked that tree off. Yet the next time I look at the stump, lo and behold there is yet another green shoot emerging from the stump.

From this these words of the prophet Isaiah, it appears that God is promising that Jesse’s family line will have a resilience that resembles the junk trees in my garden. Despite the calamities that will happen to God’s people in Israel, as they are invaded by their Assyrian and Babylonian neighbors, a new leader will emerge, who will restore God’s people. Jesse’s descendents have already included the great King David (son of Jesse). Another great leader from this lineage is anticipated. This passage from Isaiah is viewed as a prophecy of a great Messiah (God’s anointed one). The Gospel writers, particularly Luke and Matthew, go to great lengths to show that Jesus is in David’s lineage, revealing that Jesus is God’s promised Messiah. From a Christian perspective, this Old Testament passage is viewed as pointing to Jesus Christ.

As I sit in this Advent time and hear these words from a prophet living 800 years before the birth of Jesus, I reflect on how much God’s people had hoped for a Messiah. They watched for the resilient shoot to emerge from the stump of God’s chosen people. We are blessed to live at a time when we know that God had made good on the promise of that shoot—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each Advent season, we watch and wait both for Jesus’ birth and the sense of Christ’s presence in our own lives.

Prayer:

God of the promises, help me to watch and wait for your shoot to emerge in my own life. Amen

First Monday in Advent: "Here is your God"!

2011-11-28T06:47:00.001-05:00

Advent Day 2

First Monday in Advent

Monday November 28, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 40:9 (NRSV)

⁹ Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”

Theme: “Here is your God.”

Reflection:

Lift up your voice with strength and say “Here is your God.” In our US culture today, with its emphasis on separation of church and state, it is hard to say anything about God, in a public place, with strength. Very few of us have the courage to speak about our faith, or what God means to us, or how God has acted in our lives.

Yet here is the prophet Isaiah commanding the people—meaning us—to go to the top of a mountain and shout to everyone in hearing distance that God is out and about and acting in the world. In Advent, we are watching and waiting for signs of God’s presence among us. “Here is your God”—see what God is doing in your life.

During this season of Advent, as we watch and wait for God’s coming, we ask ourselves questions like: What is God doing in my life? What Good News does God daily bring into my life. How is God challenging is me?

Lift up your voice. Do not fear. Tell others how God has acted in your life. “Here is your God,” who daily makes God’s presence known to you.

Prayer: Challenging God, give me the courage to publically give witness to the good things that you have done for me. Help me to recognize that my God is in the here and now with me.

Keep Awake

2011-11-27T05:35:00.002-05:00

Advent Day 1

Sunday November 27

First Sunday in Advent

Reading: Mark 13:35–37 (NRSV)

³⁵ Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶ or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Theme: Keep Awake

Reflection:

What does it mean to “Keep Awake”?

Coming off the Thanksgiving holiday, the time of national overeating, and tryptophan-induced sleep from the turkey overload, we are launched into the beginning of Advent and the beginning of a new Church Year. We may be feeling a bit sluggish from Thanksgiving, but the new Church Year brings with it a sense of freshness and excitement. I know that I always look forward to the lighting the Advent wreath for the first time.

We begin Advent with a sense of energy, but how do we use this energy to “Keep Awake”? Advent is a time of preparation, preparation for the coming of our Lord. Advent means coming! The preparation requires alertness, as we watch and wait for Christ to come. We watch not just for the coming of the baby Jesus, but also for Christ’s daily appearance in our lives as baptized Christians, and even for his coming at the end of time.

One aspect of “Keeping Awake” is being purposely watchful for signs of God’s action in the world: signs that Kingdom of God is near. Another part of “Keeping Awake” is a kind of self-monitoring that looks at the ways in which we live our lives. Are we being good stewards of what God has given us—our lives, our families, our homes, our assets, our health? Are we living life, aware of the interdependence of all of God’s creatures. Yet another facet of “Keeping Awake” is our role in bringing God’s Kingdom to earth—lifting up the poor and filling the hungry with good things.

“Keep Awake” for the Kingdom of God is at hand, coming—soon but not yet!

Prayer: Good and gracious God, help me to “Keep Awake”, watching for your coming into our world and my life. Help me to see the signs that your presence is at hand. Help me to live my life under your guidance. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen

Lent Day 40: April 23--Easter Saturday

2011-04-23T08:26:00.003-04:00

This morning brings us to our last Lenten devotion. I thank guest blogger Susan Van Abs for her reflection on "Who do you say that I am?"

Lenten Reflection for Day 40

Date: Saturday April 23, 2011 (Easter Saturday)

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Matthew 16:13–16 (NRSV)

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Reflection:

Who is Jesus to you? This passage asks this question of us as well as of the disciples. Do you believe in “the Messiah, the Son of the living God?”

In this passage, Jesus is giving his disciples a quiz. He asks them two very pointed questions. The disciples give him a variety of answers to the first question: John the Baptists, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. If we asked some of our friends this question, we might very well get a varied answer about who Jesus is.

I often think about the life of the disciples and what life was like for them to be followers of Jesus. It was not easy. They witnessed Jesus’ life on earth by seeing him perform miracles, preach and teach using parables. They were mocked and even though they loved Jesus, Peter denied Christ, one betrayed Christ, and the rest abandoned him. Their faith waivered, just like ours does when we feel God is not with us.

Simon Peter answered the question, “You (Jesus) are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Note Peter answered “the Messiah” – not “a Messiah” or “Messiah.” Jesus is “the Messiah” who is written about in the Old Testament.

On Easter Saturday, we know the outcome and the joy of victory following on Easter Sunday. We know that Christ was raised from the dead. The disciples, however, had to rely on their faith and belief in Jesus. We prepare for Easter Sunday during the Easter Vigil service this evening as we wait for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The sanctuary will come alive with beautiful music, flowers, and lights symbolizing Jesus, the Light of the World. Tonight, there will be readings of the faithful who came before Jesus – Moses and the Burning Bush, Jonah and the whale, to name a couple of them.

Who is Jesus to you? As a disciple of Christ, how will you answer? Tomorrow we will be joyful and will proclaim your resurrection.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, we eagerly await the joy of Easter. We prepare ourselves for your glorious resurrection where we will sing with rejoicing! We thank you for the gift of your son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We will sing with all our being –“You are the Light of the World”. Amen

Lent Day 39: April 22--Good Friday

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I welcome guest bloggers Lorraine Blanchfield and Barbara McKinley this morning and thank them for their reflection on the meaning of loving our enemies.

Lenten Reflection for Day 39

Date: Friday April 22, 2011 (Good Friday)

Author: Lorraine Blanchfield and Barbara McKinley

Bible Passage:

Matthew 5:44 (NRSV)

⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

Reflection:

When I first read this verse I thought the request that Christ is asking of us as humans is not only impossible but absurd. It is only natural for man to react to any wrong doing with hostility and resentment. Yet this one command from God is what separates us as Christians from the human world. Instead of flattering ourselves and giving in to our pride and selfishness, we are to return love to those that want to cause us harm and have nothing good to say about our reputation.

By our actions, they will know that we are Christians! It is only through Christ in our heart that this is possible, for us to return love for evil. Loving our enemies does not mean that we have to like their conduct or even find it acceptable, but it does mean that we are to forgive them and to pray for them the same blessings on their life that we would also desire on our own. This then puts us "right" with God and we can let go of the outcome.

It has often been said that we do not forgive others for their sake but for our own, so that we may heal and let go of any resentments towards one another. By praying for our enemies, we are putting them in Gods hands and interceding for them. We are doing for our enemies what they cannot do for themselves, bringing them to Christ for reconciliation though Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Prayer:

Lord of peace and justice, let me not so much want victory over my enemies but true and mutual reconciliation with them. Amen

Lent Day 38: April 21--Maundy Thursday

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For this Maundy Thursday devotion, we welcome guest blogger John Harris, who is also my husband! John reflects on what it means to" love our enemies."

Lenten Reflection for Day 38

Date: Thursday April 21, 2011 (Maundy Thursday)

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Luke 6:27–28 (NRSV)

²⁷ “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸ bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Reflection:

“Love your enemies...!!!” In his humorous tale, The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis relates how two devils, an uncle and his vastly inexperienced nephew, go about tempting Christians to turn their backs on God. In one amusing example, Uncle Screwtape admonishes his nephew that despite his “patient’s” Christianity being tested by being drafted into the World War II British Army, beware of trying to inflame hatred of the Germans in this particular Christian.

Screwtape writes, “The results of such fearful hatred are often most disappointing, and of all humans the English are in this respect the most deplorable milksops. They are creatures of that miserable sort who loudly proclaim that torture is too good for their enemies and then give tea and cigarettes to the first wounded German pilot who turns up at the back door.”

“Blessed are the ‘milksops,’ for they will be called children of God.” Blessing those who curse or abuse us is hard doctrine, particularly for American Christians who historically have not suffered tyrants gracefully. After all, we hold in contempt world leaders like Neville Chamberlain who refused to draw a line in the sand to monsters like Adolph Hitler. Chamberlain’s name has become a synonym for appeasement.

So what is a Christian “milksop” to do? Do we become conscientious objectors, pacifists who refuse to take part in just causes and watch innocent people succumb to evil. Bonhoeffer, himself, was executed for taking part in a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler. Do we turn the other cheek and watch 6,000,000 Europeans go up in smoke?

I do not believe that Jesus is asking us to ignore evil in the world. He wants us to stop the evil and then offer our enemies “tea and cigarettes.” He is asking us, to paraphrase President Lincoln after Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, to let our enemies “up easy.” We need always to listen to our enemies and let them “up easy.”

Prayer: Jesus, it is hard to let our enemies “up easy.” It is too easy to repay evil with evil. Open our hearts to listen to our enemies and to repay them with kindness. Amen.

Lent Day 37: April 20

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This morning we welcome guest blogger Rosemary Affeldt who shares her thoughts about what it means to be sent out to the lost sheep.

Lenten Reflection for Day 37

Date: Wednesday April 20, 2011 (Wednesday in Holy Week)

Author: Rosemary Affeldt

Bible Passage:

Matthew 10:16 (NRSV)

¹⁶ “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Reflection:

God our Father sent his beloved Son like a sheep out into the midst of wolves. Likewise Jesus sent out his followers with instructions to go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel and proclaim the Good News - that the Kingdom of Heaven has come. His followers were asked to cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out demons. They were to go and take nothing: and receive no payment. They were told to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Times have changed today but the mandate remains the same - go out to the lost sheep and be wise. The riches and distractions of today's world will distract you from your mission; friends and family might dissuade you; the sheep may be less visible and found in places where most of us don't go: homeless shelters, HIV/AIDS orphanages, safe houses, street corners, jails. You may not be welcome!

Be wise as serpents in your ability to see Jesus in the sheep of the 21st century. Let your innocence, presence and love proclaim the Good News that in Christ there is always Hope and Salvation.

Prayer:

Father, help me to know through the gifts of the Holy Spirit, how I am to speak without being distracted, and what I am to say to your sheep today to bring them the "Good News of Salvation" through Jesus Christ your Son. Amen

Lent Day 36: April 19

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This morning we welcome guest blogger Mike Michaels, who reflects on what it means to restore others in a "spirit of gentleness.

Lenten Reflection for Day 36

Date: Tuesday April 19, 2011 (Tuesday in Holy Week)

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage:

Galatians 6:1 (NRSV)

¹My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted.

Reflection:

Some of us have partners and close friends who may serve as that “second conscience” at times when we may be leaning away from the behaviors that God expects of His people.

Because of their support and examples we find it’s easier to maintain Christian behavior, surrounded by others who share our faith, rather than going it alone.

Dietrich Bonhoffer states that we do a terrible disservice to our partners, or brothers and sisters in the faith, when we just clam up and do not point out when they are doing something that Jesus has warned us as “despicable to the Lord.” While I still have a difficult time figuring out how to talk to a fellow Christian regarding sinful behavior, I understand my responsibility to do so, and so I now pray that if the time comes along, I will have the Holy Spirit speak through me, for the right words and not my own clumsy attempts.

Now if I could just reconcile this feeling that I myself am loaded down with all manner of grievous sin, and that I have no right in God’s eyes, to counsel anyone else who may be transgressing as well…I could do the job much more efficiently, I’m sure!

Prayer:

Dear Lord, please help me to know when to speak and when to change my own behavior. Give me a caring heart and loving words to use in gentleness, whenever I do have to speak, in a helpful way, about You and Your righteous principles. Also, if it isn’t too much to ask, help me remove the logs from my own eyes before even attempting to help someone remove a speck of dust from theirs. In Jesus name, Amen.

Lenten Devotion Day 35: April 18

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For the Monday in Holy Week, we welcome guest blogger Susan Van Abs, who shares her thoughts with us on what it means to be in relationship with God and neighbor.

Lenten Reflection for Day 35

Date: Monday April 18, 2011 (Monday in Holy Week)

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Matthew 5:23–24 (NRSV)

²³ So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

Reflection:

I remember being told as a child “Do not end your day angry with someone. Make amends with them because you might never get a chance.” As a child, I probably was not thinking in terms of relationships and their importance, nor was I worrying about making things right with them.

This passage from Matthew 5 is all about relationships and forgiveness. It has to do with our relationship with God and with one another. It is about asking for forgiveness for ourselves of anything we have done to another person to make them feel bad or ill-willed towards us. It is the ultimate forgiveness that we were given when Christ died on the cross for our sins.

We cannot love our neighbors if we do not love God. We cannot love God, if we do not love our neighbor. When we bring an offering to God and we have a strained relationship with another person, then our offering is not being given to honor God. When we make our relationship right with the person whom we offended or who offended us, we are making our relationship right with God.

In the Old Testament there are numerous accounts of offerings and sacrifices to God. I am reminded of the story in Genesis of Abraham and Isaac. God tells Abraham to offer his son Isaac as an offering to him. Abraham obeys and prepares wood for the fire, builds an altar, ties Isaac on to the altar and gets ready to kill him. Abraham has such faith and love for God, he was willing to sacrifice his son. Because Abraham did what God told him to do, Isaac was spared. Abraham was blessed. Abraham’s relationship was right with God.

Fast track to the Gospels. God made the ultimate sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ, who bore pain and suffering upon the cross to save us from our sins. Forgiveness - freely given.

When we bring an offering to God and we take the painful steps to make peace with our neighbors, our relationship is made right with God. We are bringing our offering to honor God in joy, praise and thanksgiving for all he has given us, especially forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

Gracious God, thank you for the gift of relationships. Help me to reconcile and heal any wounds I have inflicted on others and to graciously accept your gift of forgiveness. Thank you for the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. Amen

Lenten Devotion Days 30-34, April 12--16

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This morning we welcome guest bloggers: Elaine Day, Howard Shaffer, Mike Michaels, Dan Affeldt and John Harris for their devotions for today and the following four days of Lent

Lenten Reflection for Day 30

Date: Tuesday April 12, 2011

Author: Elaine Day

Bible Passage:

Ephesians 6:18 (NRSV)

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.

Reflection:

In the verses preceding 6:18, God’s people are told to be ready to stand against the wiles of the devil by putting on the “armor of God” which is truth, righteousness, a willingness to announce the Good News of peace, faith and salvation. In order to do this we must pray continually for God’s help.

One of my favorite hymns is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. It is such a comfort to have the privilege to take my burdens to God in prayer. I frequently find myself praying for my personal needs and the needs of loved ones and friends. Less frequently, do I find myself praying for the attributes described in Ephesians which would make me a more faithful disciple who is able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Yet Ephesians 6:18 says to do so not only for myself but for all God’s people and at all times.

It is not easy to “walk the walk” but by seeking help from God through prayer, I can strive to do better.

Prayer:

Lord, God, thank you for your precious Word. Help us to seek truth and righteousness. Help us to announce the Good News of Peace. Increase our faith and acceptance of our salvation. These things we pray for ourselves and for all God’s people. Amen

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Lenten Reflection for Day 31

Date: Wednesday April 13, 2011

Author: Howard Shaffer

Bible Passage:

James 5:15–16 (NRSV)

¹⁵ The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.

Reflection:

I've always liked the book of James, because of his directness and common sense. James saying we must have good works has caused difficulty in understanding. At first, some see it as meaning we are saved by works, not by faith. The opposite is true. We are saved by faith in God's grace alone. But James, Paul, Jesus and Martin Luther all mean the same thing. God and your fellow human beings know what you really believe; its what you do! Jesus said "They will know you are my disciples by how you love one another." Martin Luther said "You are saved by faith alone, but if faith is alone, it is not faith."

James reemphasizes Jesus command to pray in all things.

Prayer:

God help us to remember to pray about all things, at all times, in all places, having faith that you are always there for us.

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Lenten Reflection for Day 32

Date: Thursday April 14, 2011

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage:

1 Samuel 12:23 (NRSV)

²³ Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

Reflection:

Although this passage was written way before Jesus came to us to teach us “to forgive and forgive and forgive yet again,” it seems that our Father in heaven, the Lord God Almighty, had been doing just this same thing for his chosen people, Israel, for a long, long time. When the people of Israel turned away from God, to join in worshiping golden calves or other false idols, the true God would always warn them by means of a prophet; then when they were sufficiently convinced of the error of their ways, and begged God’s forgiveness, He would do so, again and again.

At this point in their history, the people of Israel had once again gone soft in their faith in the Almighty God (who had delivered them countless times past) and had now asked for a human King to lead them. It was Samuel’s job to address them and to warn them, as he was stepping aside for their new King to take control, that they and their new king had better stay on the straight and narrow path of God’s law.

Samuel promised to continue to pray for them, but in the same breath he admonished them that if they strayed again, The True God would certainly punish both them and their new king with destruction.

As much as God wanted His people to live up to His expectations and His righteous laws for them, and as much as He continued to discipline them severely when they strayed, it remains clear throughout the history of Israel, that God would much rather forgive them over and over, than to forsake and destroy his people forever.

Maybe it was a foreshadowing of the love that His Son, Jesus, would show to us who follow Him…forgiving us over and over again, no matter how many times we seem to screw up and then beg His forgiveness once more. He always seems to be able to do this, and go forward with us, rather than forsake us to eternal destruction. What an incredible gift we have in this.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your unending forgiveness. We thank you for the provisions you have made for everything we have, ever have had, or ever will have. In Jesus’ name; Amen.

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Lenten Reflection for Day 33

Date: Friday April 15, 2011

Author: Dan Affeldt

Bible Passage:

Romans 12:4–5 (NRSV)

⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Reflection:

Bonhoeffer’s insight to this passage is powerful and at the same time daunting. He considers the physical body as;

“. . the appropriate metaphor for the Christian community. Every member serves the whole body, contributing either to its health or to its ruin, for we are members of one body not only when we want to be, but in our whole existence.”

Think about how we express the state our own bodies. We do not say my back is sick, nor do we say that only one isolated part of my body has the flu. We say “I am sick”, or “I do not feel well” or “I feel awful”. Conversely if we feel good, healthy, energized, and focused this is a statement about our whole being.

So it follows that if we, the community as the one body in Christ, have a member [a part of our “body”] who has shared freely the love of Christ so have we all in some regard since we are a part of the same Body in Christ. The same is true if any have sinned, are ailing spiritually or physically, are desperate or lonely, or are holding desperate and painful secrets that in some way this is shared by all of us.

Thus each of us with so many different “functions” as cited in Paul’s letter to the Romans, has the potential to be a part of healing and restoring our shared “Body” back to health through our individual acts of sharing, kindness and compassion. All of this is made possible through the freely given love of Christ and our willingness to act as His Disciple.

Prayer:

Lord, we look to the past with complete gratitude for the profound gift of your Grace, which allows us to look to the future with hope. The gift of our community is so evident, with friends all about us with so many special gifts to share.

We know nothing does itself, hunger doesn’t stop itself, healing treatments don’t administer themselves, projects for service don’t plan themselves, our forgiveness and compassion for others don’t offer themselves on their own. Someone has to do everything that is done, make everything that is made, and think everything that is thought.

We know the next move is always up to us.

Let us be fair and kind to those in our life’s path this and every day. Inspire us so that we may labor for things beyond ourselves, so that our lives may be dedicated to you. Make us unafraid of hopes and dreams; release us from cynicism and despair. Teach us to be realistic about our limitations but never to lose trust in our potential to transcend them.

Keep clear to us the blessings of the past and the promise of the future. Grant us courage for today and tomorrow.

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Lenten Reflection for Day 34

Date: Saturday April 16, 2011

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Ephesians 4:29 (NRSV)

²⁹ Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear.

Reflection:

The great wartime British prime minister, Winston Churchill, was a man of strong opinions and a great letter writer. When he was angry at fellow politicians, often times it was our own President Roosevelt, he would fire off an angry missive telling the offending leader just what he thought of him. Sir Winston would then proceed to throw that letter in the trash and write a more conciliatory and “diplomatic” letter.

Locally, in the past few days, we have seen some of our state representatives lash out at opponents in some “graceless” and ill advised Facebook comments that definitely did not “give grace to those who hear.” Later, if the newspapers are to be believed, these individuals have appeared to be apologetic for their harsh words. Of course, as Christians, Paul holds us to a higher standard. His advice is never ever talk or write about a fellow believer to another believer or a third party. If a Christian has an issue with a fellow Christian, you speak to them personally and in private. The Church is no place for secrecy and gossip. Rather, the Christian Community is a place were we build each other up, affirm one another, and when our sinful natures come into conflict, we listen to each other first, and then seek solutions.

Perhaps we all should emulate Sir Winston. Next time you find yourself in conflict with a member of the Christian Community, write down your feelings in a letter or an e-mail. Then, throw the letter in the trash or hit the delete button on the computer. Grab the phone, call the person up and invite them out for coffee. Most importantly, listen to what they have to say and be conscious of any “evil talk” emanating from our own mouths.

Prayer:

Lord, we live in a world that thrives on secrecy, rumor and gossip. Through your abundant grace, you have given us the means to listen and to respond to the needs of our neighbors, both within our Christian Community and in the greater world. Help us to be agents fro building up and affirming all our neighbors. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Lent Day 29: April 11

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This morning we welcome guest blogger Susan Van Abs, who shares her thoughts about service in the context of Christian faith.

Lenten Reflection for Day 29

Date: Monday April 11, 2011

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Galatians 6:9–10 (NRSV)

⁹ So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. ¹⁰ So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.

Reflection:

Have you ever done something for someone that went unappreciated? Have you ever felt weary serving others and maybe even about serving and worshipping God?

Galatians 6:9 gives us hope! If we stay the course by relying on faith and do not give up, we will reap a harvest. That harvest is the Kingdom of God! It is easy to feel down when we get involved in the community and church work and we feel unappreciated or even alone. Yet if we remember our faith in God and the reasons we are helping others, we might go about what we do with a less weary heart. Our works alone will not get us to heaven, but having faith in God and worshipping and glorifying him, will help us to reap the harvest, our final reward with our Lord Jesus.

Does Galatians 6:10 imply that “charity begins at home?” Absolutely not! Our family of faith is our team. As a Christian, faith-based community, we are stronger with a team of faith-equipped members going out and sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ than doing it solely by ourselves. With this faith-based community, our works multiply and we are able to share the goodness and love of Christ to those with no faith. Lifting those in our faith-based community helps us to reach out together to “work for the good of all.”

Martin Luther wrote “But works, being inanimate things, cannot glorify God, although they can if faith is present, be done to the Glory of God.” [1]

So the next time you feel “weary” or “unappreciated”, lean on your faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

Dear God, my Lord and Savior, help me to remember that any works I do for others is in vain if I do not have faith in you. Please help me to keep faith when things do not seem to be going well, so that I do not get weary and lose sight of your will. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord. AMEN

[1] p. 398 Martin Luther’s Theological Writings, Second Edition. Martin Luther, Timothy Lull, and William Russell. Fortress Press, 2005.

Lent Day 28: April 9

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This morning we welcome guest blogger Phil Cronenwett who shares his thoughts on the challenges of servant leadership.

Lenten Reflection for Day 28

Date: Saturday April 9, 2011

Author: Phil Cronenwett

Bible Passage:

Matthew 23:11 (NRSV)

¹¹ The greatest among you will be your servant.

Reflection:

This passage, repeated twice in both Mark and Luke to give it emphasis, is one that is often difficult to reconcile with our modern lives. We have been taught to work hard, to be a success, to earn as much as possible, and to strive to be the best. This is the complete opposite of what Jesus says in this verse. He turns the late 20^th, early 21^st century view of what is important in our lives completely upside down. We are not to do anything and everything we can in order to be at the top of the heap; we are to be individuals who live godly lives and work in a community to help each other and, in fact to be servants to our community.

Becoming a servant, even conceiving of becoming a servant, is hard. When I was working full time, it was fun being the boss. I liked being able to tell colleagues what to do and when to do it. I enjoyed having everyone do what I told them to do. But in the long run, what really matters is not being the boss. What matters is my relationship to God, my relationship to members of my church family, and to the wider community. It is in this sense that Jesus tells us that we must be servants of all. We cannot begin to think that we are behaving in a manner appropriate to the Christian life if we cannot think of every other person as worthy of our concern, our compassion, our help, our love. This is what I believe Jesus was telling us in this passage.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me to understand the needs and wants of others so that I can be a servant within the community of faith. Amen.

Lent Day 27: April 8

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Lenten Reflection for Day 27

Date: Friday April 8, 2011

Author: Pastor Pat Harris

Bible Passage:

Job 13:17 (NRSV)

¹⁷ Listen carefully to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears.

Reflection:

This passage from the book of Job, is part of Job’s plea to both his so-called friends and to God, asking them to really listen to him. Job has suffered terribly, and his friends assume that he must have done something incredibly wrong for God to have punished him in this way. Job declares his innocence to both his former friends and to God. However, these so-called friends are so invested in their view of God and their belief that God only sends bad things to people who have been bad, that they simply can’t believe that Job could be innocent. Job is pleading for his words to penetrate into their ears and their hearts.

Sometimes we believe something so strongly that we simply cannot hear another person’s point of view. When the person with the opposing view speaks, sometimes we simply shut down, or we think about what we want to say while the other person is speaking. Listening is hard work which takes both self-discipline and care for the other person. Sometimes it helps to re-phrase what the other person has said and ask him or her if you have correctly understood the point they were trying to make. “I think I heard you say…” The mere act of repeating the other person’s thought and speaking it from your own lips has a way of helping the brain and heart digest what that person was saying.

In a Christian community, true listening is a sign of respect for your Christian brothers and sisters. Listening promotes harmony and is a step toward peaceful resolution of differences.

Prayer:

God grant me listening ears and an open heart. Amen

Lent Day 26: April 7

2011-04-07T06:35:00.002-04:00

This morning, I welcome my husband John Harris as guest blogger and thank him for his reflection on what it means to live as the body of Christ.

Lenten Reflection for Day 26

Date: Thursday March 7, 2011

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

Romans 12:4–5 (NRSV)

⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, ⁵ so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.

Reflection:

As individuals, we can accept Jesus’ gift of grace or, we can turn our backs on this gift, and walk away. In Paul’s language, we individually say yes to become part of the body of Christ, that is, we say yes to become part of the Christian Community, and we now have entered into a relationship with all those other Christians who have said yes to the gift of grace. But what does this mean to me as an individual? Does this mean I give up my own responsibility to listen to God’s word, to pray, and to those “random acts of kindness” to our neighbor. Of course not! Just as an arm, a leg, or a mouth have important functions in keeping our bodies working, to use Paul’s powerful metaphor, we are called to put our individual affirmations of Christ’s grace to use as members of a Christian Community. Yes, we carry our crosses and struggle and give an account to God as individuals, yet we are members of a Christian Community and we carry our struggles and burdens as members of a faith community. It gives us solace and comfort to know that all others in our Community are carrying similar struggles and burdens and that we can unburden ourselves to God and each other when we meet as a Christian Community in order to confess our sins, reflect on our baptism, listen to God’s word, and receive His Body and Blood.

Prayer:

Jesus, we know that Your yoke is easy and Your burdens are light. It is your gift of grace to us, as individuals and as members of a community of faith that makes this so. Help us to say yes to Your great gift of grace and let it transform our individual lives as we strive to transform the world through our Christian Community. In Your Name, we pray, Amen.

Lent Day 25: April 6

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This morning's devotion helps us to think about the ways in which we hear God's Word.

Lenten Reflection for Day 25

Date: Wednesday March 6, 2011

Author: Pastor Pat Harris

Bible Passage:

Hebrews 13:7 (NRSV)

⁷ Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Reflection:

The Word of God comes two us in two forms: Law and Gospel. The Law shows us our failings, condemns us, convicts us and even has the power to kill the sinner us in. The Gospel part of God’s Word comforts us, restores us, saves us and gives us the promise of eternal life.

We receive the Word of God when we hear Scripture read, when we hear Scripture preached, when we experience Christ in the sacraments, and when Christ comes among us as two or three gather in his name. God uses human beings to preach and proclaim God’s own Word to others. Hearing God’s Word from other people is an important way in which God shapes us and gives us the gift of faith. We come to know the Word of God in a Christian community.

St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans that “Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) From whom have you heard God’s Word? In what ways have those people been role models for you? How has the hearing of God’s Word affected you? How does hearing God’s Word from others strengthen your faith?

Prayer:

Good and gracious God, I thank you for all those who speak God’s Word to me. May your Word take root in me and thrive and blossom. May your Word strengthen my faith. Amen

Lent Day 24: April 5

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This morning we welcome guest blogger Mike Michaels who shares with us his thoughts about how God intends for us to live in Christian community.

Lenten Reflection for Day 24

Date: Tuesday April 5, 2011

Author: Mike Michaels

Bible Passage: Ephesians 4:1–6 (NRSV)

¹ I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ² with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³ making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Reflection:

“I am you and we are they and she is he and we are all together…” is what kept running through my mind, after reading of the Love that Paul speaks of, running through The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, and through each and every one of us as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The popular song lyric, paraphrased, is from the 1960’s, and is basically echoing in different words, that God did not intend for any one of us to be alone, but to interact together as a community of loving, tolerant, forgiving, and caring Christians.

If we are to bear each other, as Paul wrote in today’s passage, with humility, gentleness, patience, and Love, while at the same time worshiping with all our thankful hearts our God, who is above us, through us, and in us all, that pretty much tells us how we should treat every single behavior in our lives, and every aspect of every relationship we are blessed to enjoy. After all, we’re all in this together. Without God, we are nothing; without each other we are nothing; without love we are nothing.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You so much for the community of our brothers and sisters who are with you and with us in Christ. Please help us at all times to continue to do things to serve one another, in an effort to show this love…in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lent Day 23: April 4

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This morning we welcome guest blogger Dan Affeldt who helps us to see how reconciliation and forgiveness are possible when we are focused on Christ.

Lenten Reflection for Day 23

Date: Monday April 4, 2011

Author: Dan Affeldt

Bible Passage:

1 Peter 3:8–9 (NRSV)

⁸ Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ⁹ Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing.

Reflection:

This passage from Peter captures for me the essence of how we are offered the opportunity to experience the profound joy that comes from God’s love made manifest in the sacrifice of Jesus. Forgiveness that is ours from Christ is also ours to share with others if we keep our hearts focused on Christ and our actions guided by that focus. Anger, hurt, resentment, alienation, fear, spitefulness, envy, and greed inevitably bring pain, separation, loneliness and even despair. And this befalls us if we are the target of or we are the source of the evil or abuse.

But surely joy can be ours if we, through Christ, but offer forgiveness, seek forgiveness, and are reconciled both with God and those who harm us or we have harmed in any way that might separate us from the other, from our own faith, and thus from God.

They will know we are Christians by our love.

Prayer:

Dear, dear Lord, help me this day and every day stay close to you in all that I do and say. Let the Grace you paid so dearly for, but offer us so freely, if we but accept it be my strength and continuing blessing. Keep fresh in my being how the criminal crucified next to you had only turn to you and asked to be remembered in your Kingdom for your Grace to bring him peace and even joy in the midst of such fear. Amen

Lent Day 22: April 2

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This morning I thank our guest blogger, my husband John, who shares his reflections on the blessing of the Christian community.

Lenten Reflection for Day 22

Date: Saturday April 2, 2011

Author: John Harris

Bible Passage:

1 Thessalonians 4:9 (NRSV)

⁹ Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another;

Reflection:

The gift of Christian community has been a blessing for Pat and myself. It has been particularly important because of our many job-related moves and the fact that modern secular society has precluded even bring up the topic of religion in a public setting. “God talk” to acquaintances and friends often gets you labeled as “one of those.” Thus, Sunday worship and Bible studies become an important part of our Christian witness as we receive the word and sacrament—the sustenance that we need to go out into that secular world and love the sometimes unlovable.

As Paul states in this morning’s Biblical wisdom, he does not have to write to us about loving our brothers and sisters. Through God’s word and honoring the Sabbath, our joining together in Christian community, we have been taught to love our neighbor. And as the Good Samaritan teaches us, we definitely know who our neighbors are.

In this Lenten season, partake of the Christian community. Go to Holden evening prayer on Wednesday and receive the word and sacrament on Sunday. If this is already part of your Christian community, rejoice in it. If not, think about the power of worshipping with fellow Christians as we continue our journey to that Cross on the hill.

Prayer:

Jesus, we thank you for the saving grace of Word and Sacrament. We ask your blessings on Christian communities everywhere. Strengthen these communities as you nurture them to go out into the world and to be examples of Christian discipleship. In your name we pray, Amen.

Lent Day 21: April 1

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Lenten Reflection for Day 21

Date: Friday April 1, 2011

Author: Pastor Pat Harris

Bible Passage:

James 2:14–17 (NRSV)

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? ¹⁷ So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

Reflection:

This passage can be a difficult one for Lutherans to deal with, because at first glance it can seem to be at odds with one of the prime tenets of Lutheran belief, that we are saved through faith, not by works. This strong Lutheran belief is grounded in Paul’s Letter to the Romans: since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,…For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law. (Romans 3:23-24, 28)

How can this passage, from James’ letter, about the importance of “works” be read and interpreted without undermining our strong belief in justification by faith? It helps me to think that anyone having a “lively faith” would be moved to help their brothers, sisters, neighbors and community members. When we realize that God has given us the gift of faith, and along with it, forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ, we are so filled with gratitude that we just want to do things for others. When we realize how much God has done for us, doing things such as: feeding our neighbors, advocating for those who living in poverty, helping with shelter and clothing for those who have none, all seem to flow out of our faith.

To paraphrase Luther, now that God has done all the heavy lifting by giving us grace, faith and forgiveness of sins, what are we going to do with all of our time?? Why help our neighbor, of course!!

Prayer:

Gracious God, you have given me so much: life, faith, forgiveness of sins, and the promise of salvation through Jesus Christ. Help me to express the “lively faith” which you have given me through what I do for others. Help me to see and help those who are hungry, cold, homeless, suffering or lonely. Amen

Lent Day 20: March 31

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Lenten Reflection for Day 20

Date: Thursday March 31, 2011

Author: Pastor Pat Harris

Bible Passage:

Mark 1:16–18 (NRSV)

¹⁶ As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” ¹⁸ And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Reflection:

Whenever I read this passage about Jesus calling the disciples, the word that always jumps out at me is immediately. I can certainly understand Simon and Andrew following Jesus. There was undoubtedly something compelling in his manner, words and persuasion. But immediately they left their nets!!! Those nets were their livelihood. I wonder if they thought about washing the nets and putting them away first. I wonder if they didn’t feel like they had to run home first and tell their families. Some powerful force moved them to respond immediately.

I am amazed at the level of faith that would allow these men to follow Jesus so quickly. Their faith let them take the first step in responding to Jesus’ command, and their obedience reinforced their faith. This reinforcement of their faith following their initial response was important for challenges that would face them toward the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth. I wonder if Simon and Andrew could have taken that first step of following Jesus if they could have seen the cross at the end of the road.

For us, taking the first step toward following Jesus’ call may be difficult, but often more thorny challenges arise. Very few of us can take this first step immediately. For instances, agreeing to take a lay leadership role at church may require much soul searching. When a call is prayerfully followed, God gives us a faith boost to help us get started. However during the course of this work, if obstacles come up such as program changes, financial difficulties, or the loss of other volunteers, the commitment to serve can be challenged. Reliance on God, accompanied by prayer is what sustains us through these challenges.

Prayer, the faith that is a gift from God, and our response to God’s call to serve are all intertwined. We are unable to serve or even pray without the Holy Spirit who intercedes on our behalf.

Prayer:

Gracious God, may your faith encourage and sustain me and may you grant me the listening ears to hear your call and the obedience to follow it. Amen

Lent Day 19: March 30

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I thank Ed Olney for his reflection this morning on costly grace.

Lenten Reflection for Day 19

Date: Wednesday March 30, 2011

Author: Ed Olney

Bible Passage:

1 Corinthians 6:20 (NRSV)

²⁰ For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.

Reflection: Verse 19 sets up this passage (20) very nicely: "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own?" It is clear that we should take care of the temple within us because it is God's. This is why it is so important to nourish our spiritual body weekly through church attendance and even daily through devotions. "It was bought with a price" - God's own Son who saves us from our sins through His grace. "By grace are you saved by faith, not of yourself...."

Our salvation was bought with a price, Jesus Christ. However, this costly grace is free for us.

Prayer: Thank you, O God, for the costly grace you have offered me freely and which has made me a disciple of Jesus. Amen

Lent Day 18: March 29

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Today we welcome guest blogger Mary Harrington, who shares with us her reflections on having our "debts" paid.

Lenten Reflection for Day 18

Date: Tuesday March 29, 2011

Author: Mary Harrington

Bible Passage:

Romans 6:1–4 (NRSV)

¹ What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? ² By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? ³ Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴ Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Reflection:

In today’s economy, too many people know what it is like to be deeply in debt, even facing bankruptcy. If you were in this position, due to bad choices in spending, imagine someone telling you that your debt has been “paid in full.” It is a gift. Now you have a choice: show your gratitude by being responsible and staying out of debt, or going back to the old spending ways.

At baptism we are united with Christ. By his death on the cross, Jesus gave us a gift. We are permanently debt free, sin free. But, we also have free will. We can choose to continue in our old ways knowing future sins will be forgiven, or we can use our free will to live a life that shows gratitude to God. We are still responsible for our choices and actions.

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the gift of your Son, who made the ultimate sacrifice to free me from sin. Protect me from daily temptations and give me the strength to fully surrender my life to you. Amen