Christmas Message

December 24, 2019 Christmas Eve Service Psalm 96 Luke 2: 1-20 Christmas Message Year B Luke 2:1-20 Common English Bible (CEB) Jesus’ birth 2 In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. 2 This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. 3 Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. 4 Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. 5 He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. 6 While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. Announcement to shepherds 8 Nearby shepherds were living in the fields, guarding their sheep at night. 9 The Lord’s angel stood before them, the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid! Look! I bring good news to you—wonderful, joyous news for all people. 11 Your savior is born today in David’s city. He is Christ the Lord. 12 This is a sign for you: you will find a newborn baby wrapped snugly and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great assembly of the heavenly forces was with the angel praising God. They said, 14 “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors.” 15 When the angels returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go right now to Bethlehem and see what’s happened. Let’s confirm what the Lord has revealed to us.” 16 They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they reported what they had been told about this child. 18 Everyone who heard it was amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 Mary committed these things to memory and considered them carefully. 20 The shepherds returned home, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. Everything happened just as they had been told. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible The most important line of this story - Do not be afraid, good news of great joy for all people! Sermon So here we are at another Christmas Eve celebration. Every year we sing the same songs, and hear the same old story. If we are not careful, when we hear this story of a baby born into a manger who grew up to become the savior of the world – we can start to believe that this story has no meaning for us. when we think about all of the things that is going on in the world today, all of the challenges of the coming year – we can ask what difference this story makes. Sort of like Jerry Turner, a ten year old on his way to rehearsal for the Christmas play with his mother. Do I have to be in another Christmas pageant he asks. No his mother replied but it is a good reminder for us of what Christmas is all about, besides, it is tradition in our church. Well, Jerry goes on, it is the same old thing every year. And why do I have to be a shepherd anyway. I don’t like having to wear a bathrobe in front of all of those people. Why are shepherds even important to this story. His mother explained that the shepherds were the first to witness and to see the miracle of Christmas. The angels delivered a message from God.- and what are angels anyway. Messengers from God – explained his mother, messengers, why didn’t God just put it in the newspaper? His mother went on that God speaks to us in ways that we understand – God always delivers the message of love in a timely and relevant way. A way we can understand. Jerry still didn’t really understand, but he went along. I will be a part of this story for at least one more year – but I still don’t understand why we make such a fuss about a little baby. One pastor said that some stories that we hear are true to fact, and some are true to life. This is the story of life, of life that Goes on and on, and that reveals itself in unexpected ways time and time again. It is not about looking back at Bethlehem, it is about looking forward to today in our world. And in each revelation is a story of love. God needs us just as much as we need God, but God has such a problem getting through to us. We get so caught up on the news, on the mail, on facebook – that we forget to listen to God, and we miss that message of God’s love for us. But who doesn’t listen to little babies speak - can our children ring our bells…. This year as we here the story of Jesus birth – I thought that we should focus on the psalm. We read psalm 96, there are three readings for Christmas . Psalm 96, Psalm 97 and Psalm 98. All three of these psalms are known as enthronement psalms. They all honor God on the throne. Each of them encourages all of us to sing- song a new song. Joy to the world is based on psalm 98 which says that all of creation, should sing and celebrate that Jesus Christ is born. Psalm 96 says sing, sing, sing, acribe, come ascribe, ascribe, come worship, tremble. We sing three songs three different times Sing a new song in the morning, sing all of the earth in the daytime as we witness creation and sing at night the God is faithful and steady and will hold us together no matter what. We ascribe to God that God is king – king of us all whether we are hear or not, God loves all people. If God is lord of all creation, heaven and nature – that opens the door to our understanding – beyond ourselfs, beyond our family, beyond our community, to all of the world. That is a very wide door! And we worship – worship is not just about gathering in this sanctuary – worship is the life we life anywhere, at the grocery store, at the family table, in the hospital room, in a manger. God is with us in all of our lives, and worship is just acknowledging God’s presence. Someone said that God and our modern politicians have something in common – they make a lot of promises – God is King because all of those promises come true. That is why we are encouraged to sing, sing our faith, sing our Christmas songs, sing for a life full of hope and joy. This is the night we celebrate Christ is with us, Christ has come to us in a brand new way, so we can sing a new song. Bishop Sprague once said that Christ coming is not about the first coming or the second coming. Christ has come into the world a 3, a 4th a 20th time. Every day we can wake up is a new day, and a new day always calls for a new song. If we can sing a song in a new way – we can have hope that things will change, things will be different this time. Who is it that brings joy and good news to the situation of today? – that is God coming to us in human form – Jesus Christ. Where is Christ breaking into our world anew today? Where does joy seep into the darkness? It is in our singing, in Christ born anew. (Can our children ring bells to remind us of Christ presence). Amen. Stewardship moment Each line if psalm 96 gives us a directive, something that we should be doing. We are instructed to sing, sing, sing, tell, declare, ascribe, ascribe, bring an offering, come, worship and tremble. Whenever we are in the presence of God it is important for us to remember to tremble. To stand in awe of the power of God. But the psalm also says that we should bring an offering to God. It is time for us to bring that offering to God, an offering of our gifts, but more importantly our lives, our gratitude, our hearts our worship, our lives. In this season of giving, I want us not to focus on what we give, but what we receive. What have we received from God, this may have been a hard year, but we could not have done it without God. the greatest gift we receive in this season, is the ability to say thank you. Our offering is a part of our total worship of a loving, peaceful, joyful, hopeful God. Christmas Blessing Happy Holidays. This Christmas let hope warm your heart, love warm your family, and the Holy Spirit warm all mankind. May the harmony of Christmas stay in your heart all year round and may the Lord send his blessings. May God bless you and let this Christmas season bring comfort and joy to you and your family.Sep 5, 2018 Additional illustrations……… 6. KIERKEGAARD'S STORY OF THE PRINCE We affirm a belief in the Son, Jesus Christ. We say that God took on human form, came and lived among us, suffered the same trials that we suffered, experienced the same Feelings that we experienced. Jesus was purely human and purely divine. Jesus was not God. Jesus was God incarnate. There is a difference. Jesus never drew attention to himself but always pointed to God. Soren Kierkegaard, the great Danish theologian of another century tells a story of a prince who wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. During the ensuing days he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love. But he had a problem. How would he seek her hand? He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendor. As you might have guessed, the prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time the maiden grew to love him for who he was and because he had first loved her. This very simple, almost child like story, written by one of the most brilliant minds of our time explains what we Christians mean by the incarnation. God came and lived among us. I am glad that this happened for two reasons. One, it shows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God is with us, that he is on our side, and that he loves us. Secondly, it gives us a first hand view of what the mind of God is really all about. When people ask what God is like, we as Christians point to the person of Jesus Christ. God himself is incomprehensible. But in Jesus Christ we get a glimpse of his glory. In the person of Jesus we are told that God, that mysterious other that created the stars and the universe, is willing to go all of the way, to be one of us, talk our language, eat our food, share our suffering die on a cross. Why? So that a single person, you, me, might be redeemed. And, grow to love Him. 7. GET THE JOB DONE -- OPENER It's a startling fact but true -- Jesus and politicians have a lot in common. This no doubt comes as a surprise to those who regard politics as a dirty business, or who think of politicians essentially as liars, and who believe steadfastly that politics and religion don't mix. Nonetheless, Jesus and the politicians have a lot in common. When you think of it, politicians get elected by promising us something better. Twenty years ago President Reagan was elected and then re-elected by asking the public, "Are you better off now than four years ago?" The first time, the people answered, "no," and elected Reagan for the promise of something better. Four years later they responded "yes" to the question and elected Reagan for another term in hope for an even better four years. Jesus and politicians do have a lot in common. Not always, however. A little girl asked her mother whether all fairy tales began with, "Once upon a time." "No," replied the mother. "Today most of them begin with 'If I'm elected.'" Jesus made promises, but not like that. Was Jesus, 2,000 years ago, promising something better? Indeed he was. He said he had come to bring in the kingdom of God, the rules of God's righteousness in the world. For 900 years, Jews had been hoping for a restoration of the glorious kingdom of David and Solomon. For 500 years they had been longing for an end to foreign tyranny and a return to prosperity and freedom. And in Jesus' time the longings and expectations were at an all-time high. For Jews of that time, the hopes of a better life were often focused on a Messiah, a new King David who would come and restore their good fortune. Others spoke of a messianic age about to arrive, the coming of the kingdom of God, a time when God would reign supreme over his people, and freedom and prosperity and the good life would be enjoyed. It would also be a time when righteousness and justice and peace would prevail. Had there been people who claimed to be the promised Messiah? Indeed there had been, and the Romans, then occupying Judea and Palestine, promptly disposed of them. But now Jesus appears on the scene, announcing far and wide that the kingdom of God is at hand, and that he is God's agent to bring in his kingdom, the new and better life. Not only is Jesus like politicians in promising a new and better way, he is like them in his struggle to get the word out to all the people, to announce the kingdom is coming, to raise expectations and to prepare them to receive Jesus' message. Without newspapers, radios and television, how do you get the job done? You do it in person and you delegate emissaries, advance men, to prepare the way and to excite anticipation for Jesus' arrival and for his message of hope. The sermon goes on to develop the idea of how Jesus got the job done and poses the question: How do we get the job done in our time? The sermon uses Jesus as our model and goes on to answer this questions with the following outline: 1. To get the job done we must delegate 2. To get the job done we must discover new opportunities 3. To get the job done you must dedicate yourself to the task

Peace, Joy, Hope, Love - the Promises of Advent

December 1, 2019 Hope, Peace, Love and Joy First Sunday of Advent Year A Isaiah 2:2-5 Children’s Sermon OBJECT: A Globe LESSON: What do I have here? That's right. It is a globe of the Earth. Where would you say is the most important place on the globe? Some might say Washington, D.C. People in France would probably say Paris. Hundreds of years ago, the prophet Isaiah was given a vision of the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. Do you know what a vision is? A vision is something a person sees in a dream. In this case, God showed Isaiah the holy Temple in Jerusalem in his dream. Isaiah had a vision of what Jerusalem would be like someday. It would be the most important place in all the earth and people would come from all over the world to worship there. There would be no more wars or armies. Doesn't that sound wonderful? That hasn't happened yet but it gives us hope. Just like Isaiah saw hope for a better world in the future, Advent and Jesus' birth gives us hope also. PRAYER: Thank You for sending Jesus to give us hope for a better world. AMEN Isaiah 2:1-5 Common English Bible (CEB) The LORD’s mountain 2 This is what Isaiah, Amoz’s son, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. 2 In the days to come the mountain of the LORD’s house will be the highest of the mountains. It will be lifted above the hills; peoples will stream to it. 3 Many nations will go and say, “Come, let’s go up to the LORD’s mountain, to the house of Jacob’s God so that he may teach us his ways and we may walk in God’s paths.” Instruction will come from Zion; the LORD’s word from Jerusalem. 4 God will judge between the nations, and settle disputes of mighty nations. Then they will beat their swords into iron plows and their spears into pruning tools. Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war. 5 Come, house of Jacob, let’s walk by the LORD’s light. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Stewardship moment This is the season of gifts. Give and receive. What is the greatest gift that you ever received? Who gave it to you. Season of giving physical gifts, but they all represent some form of hope, peace, love and joy. Ultimately, that is what we want to give. This season, remember to put God first. Give as God calls us to give – to make a difference not just to our family and friends but to all of the world. A better world for some of us, better world to all. Give to further the mission of the church. Sermon We begin the school year by buying new clothes and school supplies, we start the calendar year with fireworks and parades, we start the fiscal year by looking at the budget. We start the Christian year by turning everything upside down. So that the beginning is the end, and the end is the beginning. Afterall that is what Jesus did – turned everything upside down, so that there something new and exciting could begin. The book of Isaiah starts about where our world is – there is devastation, darkness, hopelessness. In chapter 1 of Isaiah – the country is devastated from being taken over by another land. They are at a loss for what to do. For us – there are so many things going on to bring devastation. But Isaiah takes a look at that devastation, hopelessness, darkness and tries to make sense of it. He turns it into hope, peace, love and joy – by getting us to focus on the presence of God in our lives. Every Sunday in advent there is a reading from Isaiah. We are not going to read every one of them this year. But I think this one is important. I remember writing a whole research paper on this one – I wish I could find it. This one speaks to me, because it speaks of the importance of peace. I think the world needs more peace and understanding. In Schaumburg the ministerial alliance decided to have an intentional conversation on the meaning of peace. We were unique because we have muslim, jewish and Christian participation. That was actually unique, because usually if you can get the jewish synagogue to participate, then you wont get the mosque. And if the mosque is present the synagogue wont. We had some very understanding clergy. Interestingly, when we invited the lay people to come – some said no, as long as the other was in the room they would not talk. I taught a workshop on peace, and asked what was the meaning of peace. One of the jewish persons said – peace was the presence of American b1 bomber in his country. As long as it was there, he knew there would be peace in his country. Interesting. We all have our images of what represents peace. And we have different images. But this verse teaches us that there is only one God. When we all look to that God and trust him. Then and only then will we understand peace. One author suggests that children's letters to Santa reflect that same desire to reach out to God. The tiny town of Rovaniemi, Finland, is the official international site for sending letters to Santa Claus. They have an aptly named Santa Claus Village nearby, and they postmark their letters with a Santa Claus postal seal. Each year, the Rovaniemi post office receives hundreds of thousands of letters from over 184 countries. Although form letters are sent out to most of the requests, the most heartrending ones are personally answered by a volunteer team of university students from the surrounding towns. One postal clerk at Rovaniemi says, "We can see everything that is going on in the world through the letters." Children in war-torn areas ask Santa to send them peace on earth. Children whose parents are dying ask for the miracle of healing. One child may ask for a new Power Ranger doll from Santa; another child on the other side of the globe may ask for an artificial limb to replace the hand or leg that was blown off by a land mine. But why do children and adults write to Santa for both tangible and intangible things? One clerk remarks, "People used to have the saints to call on when they felt they couldn't reach God himself. Now some of them think, "˜If God can't help me, maybe Santa can. "˜" (4) There is a universal need to connect with God. At some time in our lives, all of us will look up and say, "Please, God. Listen to my need." There is a universal need for God. Christmas speaks to that need. When we could not reach God, God reached out to us. As someone has written, "Christmas is love tugging us back to God with a powerful clasp of a tiny hand reaching out from a bed of straw." There is a universal need for God and there is a universal need for peace. Isaiah writes, "He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." We are all looking for something beyond ourselves – the divine. And a God of mercy, justice and love takes care of everyone. When our prayers are answered and our needs are taken care of we don’t need to depend on war to get our needs met. We can sit next to each other in peace and unity. Here's an interesting fact: Research has discovered that no two nations with McDonald's restaurants have ever gone to war. The so-called Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention, conceived by Thomas Friedman in The New York Times, holds that countries can only support a McDonald's when they have reached a sufficient level of economic prosperity and political stability to make war unattractive to its people. (6) The world is moving away from war one Big Mac at a time. Do you catch the significance of that little fact? One way to reduce conflict in the world is to attack the conditions in the world that make for war--injustice, poverty, and abuse. Even if it doesn't make the world safe for democracy, that is what followers of Jesus are supposed to be doing anyway. Frankly, I really don’t believe that McDonalds has that kind of power. More importantly, McDonalds is not that altruistic. They go where they can make a profit. We have to remember, that the church is the place that Jesus created to be the place of peace. We are the high mountain that everyone will come to learn the ways of God and the ways of peace, hope love and joy. The scripture says that God will judge between the nations and give justice. God does not judge us, God is the intercessor that deals with each of us fairly. We don’t need a b1 bomber to deal with our enemies. The setting is West Africa. The casings from bullets fired during the Liberian civil war in the 1990s are being made into crosses by local artisans. It was George Togba's idea to make these crosses. He is a native of Liberia. At the peak of the country's 17-year civil war, George and his family were among 600 people who sought refuge in St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Monrovia. The military raided the sanctuary, and George saw most of the refuge-seekers killed in front of him, including his mother. They were all unarmed. "I escaped the massacre and joined the war effort," George said. "But I didn't really want to be a soldier." Nonetheless, George made it through the war, and when peace was finally restored to Liberia in 1996, he had to find a way to support his family. "I had a dream," he says, "where I was changing the shell casings into symbols of peace." He gathered up several of the used shells that littered the war-torn countryside and started to work. "I leave the lower part of the round intact," says George, "so that you can see what it was intended to do--destroy life--but above that is the symbol of life," he explained, pointing to the cross. About 30 other artisans and former soldiers have joined George. This creative and meaningful effort provides income for many families in Liberia. The project was sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation. The crosses serve as a reminder to all that "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." (7) Friends, that's our job--to transfer symbols of hate into symbols of love, symbols of death into symbols of life, symbols of hopelessness into symbols of God. How do we do that? One small act of love and concern at a time. Those counter productive tools can be turned into productive tooks. Tools to protect us from one another can be turned into tools to share. What would happen if we strove to turn swords into plowshares. To all use those tools of production and sharing. Advent is the beginning of us being the people God called us to be. A little girl named Jana was given a part in her church’s Christmas drama. Jana was so excited about her part that her mother thought she was going to be one of the main characters. Jana, however, would not reveal to her mother the part she was supposed to play. After much anticipation, the big night finally came. The parents were all there eagerly awaiting their children’s participation in this Christmas drama. One by one the children took their places. The shepherds fidgeted in one corner of the stage. Mary and Joseph stood solemnly behind the manger. In the back three young wise men waited impatiently. Meanwhile, Jana sat quietly and confidently. Then the teacher began: “A long time ago, Mary and Joseph had a baby and they named Him Jesus. And when Jesus was born, a bright star appeared over the stable.” This was Jana’s cue. She got up from her chair, picked up a large tin-foil star, walked behind Mary and Joseph and held the star up high for everyone to see. When the teacher told about the shepherds coming to see the baby, the three young shepherds came forward and Jana jiggled the star up and down excitedly to show them where to come. When the wise men responded to their cue, Jana went forward a little to meet them and to lead the way, her face as alight as the real star might have been. The play ended. They had refreshments. On the way home, even though she only had a nonspeaking role, Jana said to her Mother, with great satisfaction, “I had the main part!” “You did?” Her mother asked, wondering why she thought that. “Yes,” she said, “because I showed everybody how to find Jesus!” (1) I guess she did have the main part. She pointed all the other actors toward Jesus. This advent may you strive to be that light to the world. Let us pray……. Additional illustrations I Shall Not Rush Here is a version of the 23rd Psalm that ought to be mandatory reading each day of Advent, and a unison reading each Advent Sunday. The lord is my pace setter . . . I shall not rush He makes me stop for quiet intervals He provides me with images of stillness which restore my serenity He leads me in the way of efficiency through calmness of mind and his guidance is peace Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day, I will not fret, for his presence is here His timelessness, his all importance will keep me in balance He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity by anointing my mind with his oils of tranquility My cup of joyous energy overflows Truly harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours for I shall walk in the Pace of my Lord and dwell in his house for ever. A version of Psalm 23 from Japan, as reprinted in Mother Teresa, Life in the Spirit: Reflections, Meditations, Prayers, ed. Kathryn Spink (San Francisco, Harper & Row, 1983), 76-77. We've Done Everything Else "We have learned to soar through the air like birds, to swim through the seas like fish, to soar through space like comets. Now it is high time we learned to walk the earth as the children of our God." William Sloan Coffin Never Give Up Hope In Anne Tyler's novel, “The Amateur Marriage,” we witness a sad series of events. The book's main characters are Michael and Pauline, a pair of World War II-era sweethearts who get married and eventually have three children. But then one day their oldest child, Lindy, just disappears. She runs away from home and promptly falls off the face of the earth. For the first days, weeks, and even months, they watch for her return. They seize on any and every clue as to her whereabouts. The pace, they peer out windows, they listen for a key scratching at the front door's lock, they sit bolt upright each time they think they hear footfalls on the driveway. But Lindy does not return. Over the years, her absence becomes just another part of life. They never finally give up on the idea that they'd see her again, but they stop watching for her. At first they were certain she'd be back soon. They would not have been at all surprised had she walked back through that front door. Years later, though, the surprise flipped: after a while, they would have been surprised if she had come back. Lindy does return eventually, although her mother Pauline never lives to see it. When Lindy shows back up, her father says to her, "Your mother never gave up hope, I could tell." Of course, Pauline had gotten on with life. But she just had a way of glancing out the window that let you know the hope was still there. When she had the chance to take a cruise with a group of friends, she refused. She came up with a dozen excuses but everyone knew that deep down the real reason was that she didn't want to be gone in case Lindy came back. We may not live to see our Lord's return. But as we go through our routines in these days of Noah, we certainly want it to be true that as people look at the shape of our lives, they can say of also us, "Those Christians never give up hope. We can tell." Scott Hoezee, Comments and Observations The Season of Preparation Today marks the beginning of the season of Advent, a time of preparation, a time of going toward the coming again of the Messiah, a time of great expectation and great anticipation. But exactly what is it that we anticipate? What are we getting ready for? What do we expect to happen? Do we anticipate the end of the world, as some religious cults always do at this time of the year? Are we preparing our hearts and spirits to receive once again the coming of the Christ child into the world? Or are we preparing for yet another month-long shopping spree that some have called "economic first-degree murder" – willfully and with malice aforethought murdering our bank accounts? Or maybe we’re getting ready for the seven to ten pounds the average American will gain during the season (Lord, please let me be an underachiever this year!)? Or are we preparing for the suicidal traffic jams at Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke, or the general atmosphere of surliness and desperation? (A couple of years back I remember hearing on the local news in West Tennessee that shoppers were actually coming to blows for the right to buy a Holiday Barbie doll!) Are we getting ready for the depression, the anxiety, and even the rage that accompanies the secular holiday season? If we allow ourselves to get caught up in the consumer Christmas – and I firmly believe that we in America celebrate two separate events on December 25 – we can easily find that instead of preparing to sing "O Holy Night" we will find ourselves living out one holy nightmare. When the prophet Isaiah thought about the advent of God, he envisioned a world unified in worship of God and committed to peace. Isaiah dreamed of a time when the nations and people of the world would join together in recognizing the sovereignty of God and declare, "Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that God may teach us his ways, and that we may walk in his paths." In the world of Isaiah’s vision, war was a thing of the past, and the nations of the earth lived together in peace. Johnny Dean, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com An event of some significance took place in Wauconda, Illinois, a small town with a population of 6,500. For the past 45 years the town had placed two large illuminated crosses on the city water towers during the Christmas season. Then the town council received a threat. Someone was going to sue the city if the crosses were erected in the coming Christmas season, based on the separation of church and state. The town council grudgingly took them down. But that’s when the citizens of Wauconda took matters into their own hands. They didn’t counter-sue. Nor did they organize angry protests. Here’s what they did. They decided to honor the missing crosses by placing lighted reminders of Christ on their own property. All over the community, the citizens of Wauconda put up lighted crosses and nativity stars and manger scenes and trees draped in lights. They put up so many lights that you could see Wauconda from the interstate freeway! Wauconda looked like an entirely different town. All night it was as bright as day because the people decided to turn on the lights of Christmas. (6) What is the first thing God created in this world? Light. What is the last thing that will indicate the presence of God is among us? According to the book of Revelation it is light. The Advent season is our chance to remember, to celebrate, to announce to the world that the Messiah has come and that we have been called to walk in the light of the Lord. And as we walk in God’s light, we will choose justice and peace because through Jesus we have been restored to God and restored to one another. For these next four weeks leading up to Christmas, I hope that you will focus on how you can heal any separation between you and God and between you and your brothers and sisters in this world of every race and creed, that you may share more of Jesus’ light and life with a world that needs so badly to know God’s hope and God’s peace. I read something interesting about icebergs some time ago. I read that if you were to fly over the North Atlantic in a blimp and were to stare at a large pack of icebergs, you would begin to notice something. You would notice that all the small icebergs would be moving in one direction, while the large ones would be moving in another. Now why do you think that is? It's because surface winds are moving the little icebergs while the enormous ones are directed and moved by ocean currents deep below the surface. Right in the midst of turmoil and hopelessness, the surface winds of his day, Isaiah was undaunted in his faith. He knew that such things would pass and that the day would come when the mountain of the Lord would be established as the highest of all. He knew that the day would come when, instead of the people of God turning their backs on the Lord who loved them, once again they would be faithful and by their sheer radiance and the power of God, people would flow back up the mountain to be taught the Lord's way of peace. Every Hanukkah, the Markovitz family of Pennsylvania lit a menorah and placed it in the window of their house. It stood out in contrast to all the Christmas decorations in the windows of their neighbors. One year, vandals broke out the front window of the Markovitz home, the window that held the menorah. The whole Markovitz family was shaken by the senseless hatred of this act. After the window had been repaired, they left to spend the day with their family. That evening, the Markovitzes returned home to find almost every house in the neighborhood had a lit menorah in its front window. As Vicky, the Markovitz's daughter said, it was their neighbors' way of saying, "If you break their windows, you will have to break ours." (8) That's where it begins--it begins with us as we seek to be God's people in the world--loving our neighbors as Christ has loved us. The Advent season speaks to our need for God and the world's need for peace, and it shows us a better way--the way of love. The poet Emily Dickinson wrote: Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all. Here we are in December. December is not so much another month as it is another mood. We start talking about faith, hope and love just because it’s December. We send greeting cards to people we have seldom seen all year. We decorate our houses with greenery hoping this symbol of life will become real. We string lights around our homes, hoping against hope to chase the dark away. It’s December. I want to spend these December Sundays talking about hope, about real hope, about spiritual hope. Or as Helen Neimast said, “Waiting with hope is an affirmation that God – not you or I – is in charge, and that God is faithful, worthy of our hope.” Maybe it’s time to move to higher ground. The mountain that Isaiah mentioned is Mt. Moriah. It’s where Abraham learned that child sacrifice was not the way of the Lord, it’s where David learned that he could pray for the release of plagues on his people, and it’s where Solomon built the temple. It is where the laws of the Lord were kept and the ways of the Lord were practiced. Let us go up to the mountain, the highest mountain of all. There is no doubt that you will be busy the next 30 days. That is not the question. The question is, are you going to be any better this month? Will you be busy with things that matter? Our problem is that we try to manufacture hope. We trim a tree, we hang some lights, we pack our schedules with things to do and places to go. We take a few trips down memory lane. This is not where hope lies. Hope is not to be found in the things we do. We can even engulf ourselves in religious activities, sing the Messiah, listen to the cantatas, engage in a thousand ways to help the needy, and still wind up feeling hopeless, because we have failed to encounter God, to learn his ways and walk in his paths. Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. Let us rise up to the place where we may learn God’s ways and walk in his paths. Let me say it plainly: Our hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame But holy lean on Jesus Name. I’m hoping today that God will be exalted in all that we do and all that we say. Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and there learn to worship with all of our being. Let him fill our hearts and minds and souls with hope because hope alone lies in God.

A Reason to Wear a Crown

November 24, 2019 Colossians 1:1-20 Christ the King Sunday Year C A Good Excuse to put on a Crown Children’s Sermon Object: A dusty, smeared mirror and some window cleaner. Good morning, boys and girls, How many of you feel that you have changed since you were born? Are you the same as you were when you were two years old? You are not the same today as you were last week, or even yesterday, are you? We are growing up, and when we grow up we change our looks. We know more, and we have different friends. Everything changes. Look at what I brought this morning and tell me how I can change this dusty, smeared mirror. [Let them answer.] That’s right, I can clean it. But what should I clean it with? Can I use a dust rag, a broom or a hose? [Let them answer.] None of those things would work very well. But there is something that I could use that would be just right. We call it glass cleaner, or window cleaner. If I use the right kind of cleaner I can change that dusty, smeared mirror into a bright and shiny mirror. We can change our lives in the same way if we use the right thing. God teaches us that reading and listening to his ways and his teachings will change us and make us better pecple. St. Paul called those teachings the good news and he was sure that wherever the good news was preached and taught, people had their lives changed and made better. It happens all the time. Here in the church you hear the good news and if you listen carefully, your lives are changed and made better. The good news is about Jesus, and what he did for us. But if is not just happening to you. It is happening everywhere. People are listening to the good news in Egypt, Russia, Switzerland, Brazil, and everywhere you can think of. The wonderful part about it is that it is not just another story, but instead it is changing you and making you better. The next time you see your mother cleaning glass you can think about the way that you are changed and made better by the good news about Jesus, just as the window is changed by the window cleaner. CSS Publishing Co., Inc., God's In The Huddle, by Wesley T. Runk Scripture Colossians 1:1-20 Common English Bible (CEB) Greeting 1 From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother. 2 To the holy and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our Father. Thanksgiving and prayer for the Colossians 3 We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you. 4 We’ve done this since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all God’s people. 5 You have this faith and love because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You previously heard about this hope through the true message, the good news, 6 which has come to you. This message has been bearing fruit and growing among you since the day you heard and truly understood God’s grace, in the same way that it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, who is the fellow slave we love and Christ’s faithful minister for your sake. 8 He informed us of your love in the Spirit. 9 Because of this, since the day we heard about you, we haven’t stopped praying for you and asking for you to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, with all wisdom and spiritual understanding. 10 We’re praying this so that you can live lives that are worthy of the Lord and pleasing to him in every way: by producing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God; 11 by being strengthened through his glorious might so that you endure everything and have patience; 12 and by giving thanks with joy to the Father. He made it so you could take part in the inheritance, in light granted to God’s holy people. 13 He rescued us from the control of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 He set us free through the Son and forgave our sins. Hymn about Christ’s work 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the one who is first over all creation,[a] 16 Because all things were created by him: both in the heavens and on the earth, the things that are visible and the things that are invisible. Whether they are thrones or powers, or rulers or authorities, all things were created through him and for him. 17 He existed before all things, and all things are held together in him. 18 He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the one who is firstborn from among the dead[b] so that he might occupy the first place in everything. 19 Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him, 20 and he reconciled all things to himself through him— whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross. Footnotes: a. Colossians 1:15 Or firstborn of all creation b. Colossians 1:18 Or first over the dead Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Stewardship Moment Giving Tuesday We have a big week coming up. We all know that as soon as Thanksgiving is over, the Christmas season starts. Within one week we have to switch out those fall decorations for Christmas. Many stores don’t even let thanksgiving end anymore. Stores are open on Thanksgiving, then there is black Friday, small business Saturday, cyber Monday. And Tuesday December 3rd is giving Tuesday. Tuesday is the day that many nonprofits encourage people to make donations. Studies have shown that many nonprofits meet 50% of their budget on giving Tuesday. As we spend and as we give, let us remember the church – our mission as a church is also dependent on your giving. I would hope that as we make decisions about how to spend and how to give – let us remember to put God first in all that we do. Sermon I look forward to this Sunday every year, I have a collection of about 10 different crowns in my bedroom, and this is the one day that I don’t have to feel bad about wearing one. I get to show my true aspirations in life – to be a princess. A few years ago, a friend of mine asked me to babysit her daughter. I had to pick her up from preschool and bring her home. It was career day, where the kids had to choose what they wanted to be when they grew up. The little girl chose to be a princess. I was so jealous, because no one gave me that choice growing up. If I had known in preschool that being a princess was a career choice, you wouldn’t know me today – because I would have given Meghan Markle a run for her money. Nevertheless, I get to wear my crown today because today is Christ the King Sunday – and if Christ is a King, then I can surely be a princess. But Christ the King or some people call it the reign of Christ Sunday is not about being royalty. It is about being a loved child of God. It is a day to reflect on really who Christ is for us, for the church for the world. The question for the day is why is Christ the King? And not the president. We didn’t elect Christ, Christ elected us. I chose Colossians this Sunday as opposed to the gospel because I think that Colossians gives an excellent explanation of why Christ is the King of our lives. I read the entire first for us to get a better understanding of the context that Paul was speaking in. he wanted to encourage the new church to be faithful to Christ. They were going through some tough times, so he wanted to encourage them. What better way to encourage them but to pray for them. This morning, I am going to go through the scripture backward. Start with the end and go backward. The end of the chapter is a hymn that the original hearers of the word would have been familiar with. The tune and purpose of this hymn was lost a very long time ago. But we still have the words that explain why Christ is King. – he is the image of God, he created all things, he existed before time, he is head of the church, and he does the work of God here on earth – forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace. Every Sunday we light two candles – both of them represent the light of Christ amongst us. There are two candles to represent the two natures of Christ. Christ lived fully human as a man here on earth, and Christ lives in a heavenly being who is in heaven with God. I often think of life as one long potluck supper; you never know who is coming or what they are bringing. The feast survives in this very uncertainty. When we try to get to the "dim sum of all things" or to understand why things happen the way they do, we are always better bringing our best dish to the feast, in the hope that our surplus will secure the generations. When mercy is mobilized, personal responsibility — a truly wonderful thing — engages a community. When both social and personal responsibility is in full-tilt conversation with fate, truly great nations and people emerge. When we follow Jesus as king, we maximize our personal responsibility for the world by mobilizing mercy and compassion. We also maximize the strength of communities so that we are not alone. There are two other important points to get out of this lesson. I saw an advertising for a lawyer that stuck with me, it said where there is a will I want to be in it. Being a part of someone’s will is not a bad thing. Usually when we are a part of a will, it tells us what we will be inheriting very soon. We don’t have to wait – it is something that we receive now. Colossians says Jesus made us all a part of God’s will. He made it so that we can take part in his inheritance. The distinguishing characteristic of Christian religion, which separates it from all other religions of the world, is that God is looking for us. In every other world religion, people are searching for God, trying somehow to feel after Him and hoping to find Him so the hunger of their souls will be satisfied. Christian religion is different. It is different in that God comes searching for us. Indeed, He searches for us in a loving way, by giving none other than His own Son, Jesus Christ. In Christ, God is patiently, persistently, longing for relationship with His own. I ask you today, how long are you going to leave Him at the door knocking without having the courtesy to at least stand up, open the door and let Him come in? Christ is the answer to the question, “Who is God?" Prayer puts us in God’s will by doing two things. First when we pray – we are asking what God’s will is for us and for our lives. But we also ask for the power to live within that will and to accept the life that God has created for us. Perhaps that is why When Paul tells us who Christ is – he starts out with a prayer for us. Paul’s prayer is that all of us have strength to endure when things take a long time – that we will have inside strength that will help us to trust God in all circumstances. Prayer that as followers of Christ that we will be victorious over every circumstance, patient with every person and have a joy which no circumstance or person can take from us. Paul prays that is making Christ King that we will have Endurance or fortitude, Patience, and joy. Endurance helps us to deal with any situation that happens in life. Patience helps us to deal with people who get on our nerves and try us , and joy that can’t be taken away from us given our circumstances. I heard it said that joy that is not rooted in suffering is shallow. It is our struggles that help us to recognize the true joy in our life. Christ and all that Christ has done for us. Christians are risk takers — self-starters — and they live George Bernard Shaw's words, "and dream things that never were." In the pursuit of Christ the king, excellent Christians are not afraid of being uncomfortable. They ask the tough questions about themselves. (Who are we? What sort of image are we presenting to the world? What would Jesus do in this situation? Are we doing enough?) They are not afraid to walk into city hall, or over to the next desk in their office, or to reach across the back fence if they know that is where they need to be. In essence, they have denied themselves a comfort zone for now so that they see themselves as a new (while certainly imperfect) creation; those old taboos are gone, polite convention no longer rules. While they are not belligerent or righteous, they have a new power to go places they would never have dreamed of going, to let words come from their mouths they might once have kept secret in their hearts. Christ is king in them. People who crown Christ with mercy, security, and risk-taking are often thought to be a little weird. They are often being tested to see if they are the real things. They have the strength to be the church for the world. Most importantly they can wear the crown of life well. This is the end of the year for us. Next week is the first Sunday of advent – a brand new day. This is a time for us to reflect on what Christ has done for us in the past, but most importantly to look forward to the future – a future where Christ continues to come to make life better. Let us pray…… Additional Illustrations Where there is a will – I want to be in it. Wills are for the here and now. Some people make a lot of noise about Christ-centeredness and are not the real thing. I like what I heard the Benedictine theologian, Joan Chittister, say, on the subject of "spirituality": "If it's the real thing (and sometimes it is), it does not turn the mind off; it turns it on." The question that always has to be asked about experiential religion is: What does it lead to in terms of both thinking and acting? What "spirit," precisely, is being invoked here? The world is full of spirits, and as the first epistle of Saint John reminds us, "Not every spirit is of God." Probably the most "spiritualistic" events of our epoch — if we discount Woodstock and the rock concerts for a moment — were the Pleased to Reconcile - Luke 23:33-43 Did you ever secretly wish that we had kings and queens here in America? I think that must be a secret wish of many of us, if the tabloid newspapers and magazines which are always on sale at the supermarket checkout counters are any indication. Between the romantic antics of Hollywood and the goings-on of the British royal family, the tabloids do a rushing business. (I won't embarrass any of us by asking how many secretly enjoy reading those tabloids as we're standing in line.) There's hardly a week goes by that there isn't some story about the latest marital couplings among the British royals. From all appearances, poor Queen Elizabeth, like her illustrious and straitlaced grandmother, Queen Victoria, is definitely not amused. Personally, I think the British royal family is worth every penny they're paid for the service they perform in keeping the media, and therefore the public attention, focused on them, leaving the government free to get on with its business. Although it's unlikely we'll get a royal family for ourselves, we do seem to be in love with the idea of royalty. Today is the last Sunday in the Christian year, the Sunday we call Christ the King. It's fitting to conclude the liturgical year with an acclamation of the royalty of Christ, though we do this much more frequently than once a year. The sovereignty of Christ is well-affirmed in our hymns and in the language we use to speak about Jesus in our worship. In a few weeks, we'll be singing "Come and worship, come and worship, worship Christ the newborn king," and "Hark! the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn king," as we celebrate Christmas. But as often as we use the language of royalty in our praise of Christ, I wonder if we really have a good understanding of what we mean when we hail Jesus as a king, and what, if anything, the kingship of Jesus has to do with our lives. Those two questions, it seems to me, are ones we have to consider seriously: What does it mean to confess Jesus as King, and what personal significance does that confession have for us?…. Accepting a Human Messiah In contrast to the theology of the cross and our suffering/dying king. Robert Capon in Hunting the Divine Fox presents a wonderful picture of our typical American Messiah -- and it doesn't look much like Jesus on the cross. . . . almost nobody resists the temptation to jazz up the humanity of Christ. The true paradigm of the ordinary American view of Jesus is Superman: "Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It's Superman! Strange visitor from another planet, who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men, and who, disguised as Clark Kent, mild-mannered reporter for a great metropolitan newspaper, fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice and the American Way." If that isn't popular christology, I'll eat my hat. Jesus -- gentle, meek and mild, but with secret, souped-up, more-than-human insides -- bumbles around for thirty-three years, nearly gets himself done in for good by the Kryptonite Kross, but at the last minute, struggles into the phone booth of the Empty Tomb, changes into his Easter suit and, with a single bound, leaps back up to the planet Heaven. It's got it all -- including, just so you shouldn't miss the lesson, kiddies: He never once touches Lois Lane. You think that's funny? Don't laugh. The human race is, was and probably always will be deeply unwilling to accept a human messiah. We don't want to be saved in our humanity; we want to be fished out of it. We crucified Jesus, not because he was God, but because he blasphemed: He claimed to be God and then failed to come up to our standards for assessing the claim. It's not that we weren't looking for the Messiah; it's just that he wasn't what we were looking for. Our kind of Messiah would come down from a cross. He would carry a folding phone booth in his back pocket. He wouldn't do a stupid thing like rising from the dead. He would do a smart thing like never dying." [pp. 90-91; this book has been reprinted, along with two others under the title The Romance of the Word: One Man's Love Affair with Theology] Robert Capon, quoted by Brian Stoffregen, Exegetical Notes Where Do We Get Our Brilliance? What do we Christians do to counter this violence-filled world? We are to be more visible witnesses to Jesus’ reign. In order to do this, we must be willing to be human in an environment of vulnerability; that is, to understand that when we are in relationships with others our humanity is bound up in the other’s humanity. Desmond Tutu illustrates this by describing a light bulb that shone brightly and proudly. "[It] began to strut about arrogantly, quite unmindful of how . . . it could shine so brilliantly, thinking that it was all due to its own merit and skill." One day the light bulb is taken out of the socket and placed on a table. "Try as hard as it could, the light bulb could bring forth no light and brilliance. . . . It had never known that its light came from the power station and that it had been connected to the dynamo by little wires and flexes that lay hidden and unseen and totally unsung.” Michael Battle, The Other Kingdom Christ the King This is Christ the King Sunday. We have heard the whole story; we have all the information. So now—how do we recognize Jesus as King? We “independent, stand on our two feet, nobody tells us what to do, rugged individualist” Americans, how do we recognize Jesus as King? In Luke’s story of the crucifixion nobody there seems to recognize Jesus as King. Luke has painted us into his story as well. He describes the people who do nothing except to stand there and watch. “And the people stood by, watching.” That’s us, isn’t it? Grinding poverty is slowly destroying our urban youth and we just stand by and watch, preferably from a distance, preferably from inside a gated community. Watching the world turn secular, we know that there is a spiritual side to life but it just can’t crack our tightly wound schedules. We think about a Bible study but just can’t tolerate the idea of one more thing to attend. We won’t even pull off the road to watch a sunset for fear that we will be late to the next appointment. In trying to do everything, we are doing nothing of lasting value for our souls. When a king passes by in your life, you don’t just stand and watch. You respond. Bill McDonald, How Do You Recognize a King? Kingship in Our Lives The letters to the editor in the Lexington-Herald are full these days of people defining what is required to be a true American patriot. If you don’t think inside their box, then you are a traitor and ought to be cast out of the country. This narrow-minded neo-orthodoxy that we now see promoted even by some Congressional and local leaders reminds me of exactly what we are fighting against in Afghanistan. If freedom doesn’t mean the ability to disagree, to be different, then what does it mean? If I am required to think like you, then who is free? Likewise when we set narrow limits for belief in Christ, we are trying to squeeze him into our mindsets. And that is no way to treat a King. We are supposed to broaden our minds and stretch our hearts to his limits. That’s how we recognize his kingship over our lives. Or else we are merely scoffers, daring Christ to prove us wrong. Bill McDonald, How Do You Recognize a King? I. WHO IS GOD? Have you ever asked that question? A little girl was drawing a picture when her mother asked, “What are you doing?" “I'm drawing a picture of God," said the little girl. An enlightened mother asked, “How could you draw a picture of God? No one has ever seen God to know what God looks like." The child said, “They'll know what God looks like when I finish my picture." Paul said of Jesus Christ, “Christ is the image of the invisible God." Eugene Peterson, in translating this theological treatise of Paul says, “Everything of God gets expressed in Christ." You do not need a telescope, microscope, or horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ and the emptiness of the universe without Him. When you come to Christ, the fullness comes together for you. Does God care? Look at Christ. Can God forgive? Look at Christ. Why do people suffer? Look at Christ. Who holds the future? Look at Christ. As Jesus describes the way to Heaven to His disciples, Philip comes and says to Him, “Show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus says in response to him, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father." In the heavens we see God's handiwork. In our hearts we sense our hunger for God. In the Church, God is glorified. In Christ, God comes to us as a living person. God is personified in Jesus Christ. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock," says the Lord of lords and the King of kings, “if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me." First of all, he says, HE HAS DELIVERED US FROM DARKNESS INTO LIGHT. Somewhere I heard about an English instructor at a certain university who introduced his class to what he called one of the finest, most elegant lines in the English language. The line was, "Walk with light." He said the words in a whisper to his class, "Walk with light." Looking around, he said, "Isn't that a wonderful thing to say to someone?" The class agreed. They wanted to know the author. "It's anonymous," said the instructor. "It's written on a sign at the intersection of Main and Broadway. `Walk with light.'" St. Paul tells us Christ "has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son...." (RSV) What does that mean? One final thing Paul says to us. CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH. That's important. Not you or me, but Christ. Church is a funny place sometimes. A lady, Judy Burress, wrote in to READER'S DIGEST recently to tell about a friend of hers, a professional organist, who was asked to play for a wedding. Unfamiliar with the church's organ, her friend went to the sanctuary to practice. Curious about a small keyboard that slid out from under the two regular keyboards, she tapped out a couple of bars of a children's song but heard nothing. Then she played a few more notes, but still no organ music. Just then a man came running into the church, shouting, "Who's playing `Three Blind Mice' on the church-steeple bells?" She had been playing this children's tune on the carillon for all the community to hear. I sometimes wonder if all our community hears from this church is `Three Blind Mice'? I don't mean to sound negative, but I wonder if they really perceive that this is a Christ-controlled church? I wonder if they sense love and concern flowing out of the doors of this place of worship? We have such potential. A Broadway legend tells of a playwright holding a giant-sized New York City telephone directory. He felt its great weight and looked curiously at its hundreds of pages of Joneses, Smiths, and Johnsons. Thinking in theater terms, the man exclaimed, "There's not much of a plot here but man, what a cast." I look at the people in this church and I say to myself, what a cast! If somehow we could just get motivated, energized, organized, what an impact we could have on this community. Do we realize that Christ is the head of this church? What would happen, I wonder, if we really did? Doris Forman remembers the time when she and her husband moved into a new house. Shortly after they moved in her husband asked her, "What about having a picture of Christ in our living room?" Part of her thought it was a good idea and another part of her was unsure, but she agreed anyway. "Of course," she said, "we were Christians and, of course we loved God ” but a large picture of Christ hanging in the living room and in a spot where everyone who stepped into the room would see it ” wasn't that being a bit fanatical?" When the decorator came out to check on lamps and pictures one day, he couldn't help but notice the 16 x 20 inch print of "The Savior" by Coleman hanging over the piano in the most prominent place in the living room. The decorator suggested that another picture, perhaps a landscape, would look better in that spot. "We like it and that's where it stays," her husband replied firmly. What would their friends think when they saw the large picture of Christ hanging in their living room? "Most of our friends were professed Christians, but they lived largely in a world of club affairs, cocktail parties and bridge luncheons," Doris wondered. During the next two years, many interesting things happened to this family that they believe was a direct result of that picture. Total strangers, like the man who delivered their newspaper, began telling them their troubles. There were others who commented on the picture hanging in their living room. "Consciously, or maybe unconsciously, they felt that we must know Christ," Doris said. She concluded, "Our life today has more purpose, more meaning and more beauty" due to this decision to proclaim Christ as the Lord of their lives. (5) When we are able to make that kind of commitment, we're not playing `Three Blind Mice,' are we? We are being what he means for us to be. What do we discover when we see the authentic face of Jesus? We see one who has delivered us from darkness into light. We see one who is the image of the invisible God. We see one who is head of the church and Lord of our lives. Conclusion The state advertising slogan for the Louisiana tourist industry is or was, "Come as you are. Leave Different!" Maybe that should be the slogan of every church. (4) Why? Because we've been RESCUED, RECONCILED AND REDEEMED. Maybe you've never felt your heart stirred before. Maybe it's not movies or books or anything else that you've experienced. But today, I hope you've opened yourself to the church's heart Specialist, Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God. He willingly and knowingly gave His life on cross for you. Today we're reminded that through Christ the King we are RESCUED, RECONCILED AND REDEEMED. The will has already been read. All we have to do is claim our Inheritance by opening our hearts and inviting the one in whom "all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell," Jesus, into our lives as our Savior and King. I saw a bumper sticker on a truck once that read, "If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict?" This is a very good question. How do we know that our core is attached to Christ? By how much mercy is in motion around us. By how many enemies are loved. By how many risks we are taking. That's how. People who have Christ as their king mobilize mercy. We take risks, we have a magnificent security, and we also have a joyful vibrancy. Nothing can really shake us up. We live on the creative and holy edge on which Jesus lived. Being a Christian is not a leisure-time activity but a high-adventure pursuit. Christians have accepted the challenge. Each day is brimming with possibilities, and these people want to seize those possibilities. They are excited about more opportunities to put more mercy into more motion. They revel in the challenge. Yet, along with this excitement is a quiet peace, a trust that God walks with them. That is the security. famous Nuremberg rallies of Adolf Hitler and company. "Test the spirits!" (1 John). Christ-centered, Christ-cored people are more than willing to be tested. Paul Tillich used an interesting phrase to speak of people who were centered in God and Spirit. Here we are using the word Christ, aware that the Trinity is also being invoked. Tillich said that people filled with the Spirit are people who have been grasped by God. When people are grasped by God in such a way as to say that they are centered in Christ, they point to that which transcended themselves: They pointed to the Christ, whom the Spirit made present to them in a new and deeply meaningful way. If a person is pointing to himself or herself, they are probably a phony. Christ-centered people must pass Jesus' test as expressed so fully and frequently by Saint Paul. By their fruits you shall know them. Christ-centered people, Christ-kinged people, are secure enough for risks and full enough to spend big on mercy. They are also ready to engage the deepest, and therefore the most vulnerable, kind of involvement in the realities of our world in depths of participation that most of us, likely, had not bargained for. Christians are free because Christ is their king. We are free for the wise foolishness, the foolish wisdom, of the crucified God, and are blest by it. It is a freedom that can be enjoyed only by people who are ready to admit their own utter incapacity to achieve it on their own. We have to stop being our own king and our own ruler. It is not the freedom of the rich who "have" everything. It is instead the freedom, according to Douglas John Hall, "of those who are conscious enough of their emptiness and lack to realize that they must ‘ever ask anew' for intimations of a truth that, in its fullness, forever eludes and transcends them; a truth, however, that is willing and more than willing to impart itself in its sufficiency for the here and now, and to those who ask for it humbly and in solidarity with all who hunger and thirst." The king Christ starts out humbly enough for us to grasp. He starts out as a child. This strange royalty has to be acknowledged. A boy who grew up in Los Angeles as a Mexican immigrant speaks this way of Jesus: As a young child I always wondered why Santa didn't deliver gifts to us the way he did the well to do Anglo kids ... Maybe he was afraid to come into the Barrio ... Maybe he just didn't like Mexicans or poor people. Larry Gilliland, a poor white friend, didn't ever seem to get much more than us ... so maybe Santa just forgot us poor folks. At least we had the homemade tortillas and tamales which Larry liked and we shared with him. When you went back to grade school after the holidays, the class would have to participate in a show and tell, where students would talk about their Christmas ... and show off some of their toys ... one year it came to be my turn and I had nothing to offer ... It had been a difficult year and my parents were not able to buy us much that Christmas ... and so I told them that I had Christ, pure and simple, for Christmas. And they all didn't believe me.As a young child I always wondered why Santa didn't deliver gifts to us the way he did the well to do Anglo kids ... Maybe he was afraid to come into the Barrio ... Maybe he just didn't like Mexicans or poor people. Larry Gilliland, a poor white friend, didn't ever seem to get much more than us ... so maybe Santa just forgot us poor folks. At least we had the homemade tortillas and tamales which Larry liked and we shared with him. When you went back to grade school after the holidays, the class would have to participate in a show and tell, where students would talk about their Christmas ... and show off some of their toys ... one year it came to be my turn and I had nothing to offer ... It had been a difficult year and my parents were not able to buy us much that Christmas ... and so I told them that I had Christ, pure and simple, for Christmas. And they all didn't believe me. Christ, pure and simple, is not always the poignant absence of material goods that a child experiences. Christ is also a presence and a present. There really is a lot at stake in Christ as king, isn't there? It is not just some night long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away when Wise Men spotted one star that was acting funny and traveled afar. No, it is about whether in the midst of these "dark streets shining with everlasting light" there is an energy that puts the ever-ready bunny to shame. So let us go over to Bethlehem, soon, and see this thing which has come to pass. Christians go back to Christmas to understand the humility and humanity of their king. We then go forward to mobilize mercy and to take risks because we are so deeply grasped and secured. CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays after Pentecost (Last Third): Whose Inheritance Is It?, by Donna Schaper Today we celebrate our love for Jesus. This is Christ the King Sunday. The writer of Colossians has set the mood for our celebration with this description of Christ: "He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross." Today we talk about what Christ means in our lives. Notice the first words of our lesson. "He has rescued us from the power of darkness . . ." Some of you understand those words, don't you? You were headed down the wrong road . . . with your marriage . . . with your personal habits . . . with your attitudes, and Christ said, "About face!" And your world was transformed. "He has rescued us from the power of darkness . . ." This is a world of darkness in many ways, isn't it? There is a story in Mary Hollingsworth's book, Fireside Stories, about a man whom the author calls Rick. This is not his real name, but the story is true. Rick lives in the southern U.S. where Mary Hollingsworth and her pastor-husband were serving in the 1970s. Rick was a big, burly kind of guy who drove a cross-country truck, chewed tobacco, and hit home runs on the softball team. However, he rarely made it to church services or participated in the more spiritual aspects of church life. But some friends told Rick they needed his help putting on a play at church for Vacation Bible School. When they first asked him to get involved in the drama, Rick declined saying, "That's just not my bag." However, after some arm twisting, he reluctantly agreed. Interestingly, Rick was to play Jesus. Rick had a only a nodding acquaintance with Christ at the time. The first time Mary Hollingsworth, who had written the play, saw Rick in his Jesus costume, she almost laughed in his face because it seemed so out of character for him. Still, at that point, he appeared to be taking his job quite seriously; so she contained herself and congratulated him on his unusual interpretation of the role. When Vacation Bible School week finally arrived, Rick played his role to the hilt, yelling in his Southern accent at the money-changers to "Git outta here! . . .You cain't turn my Father's house inta a den a'thieves, ya hear? So, jist git out, and don't chew come back . . . evah!" Then he proceeded to destroy the temple by throwing over the tables of the moneychangers (he actually enjoyed this part) and tossing the crooks out into the street. It was more like a TV cop show than a Bible story . . . but the kids got the point. "As planned, twice every night for four nights Rick donned his Jesus suit and cleansed the temple of insincere people. And the children loved it! They voted this story to be one of the best of the whole week. "The best part of the story, though, came after Vacation Bible School. Somehow, acting like Jesus for several weeks had a lasting effect on Rick. He began coming to the church services a little more often. He even started coming to the midweek Bible study and staying for fellowship events. But the most powerful impact on him came from the young children at the church who, for weeks and months after VBS, would point at Rick and whisper, "Look! There's Jesus!" "Before long, the big, burly truck driver no longer chewed tobacco, drank beer, or played hooky from church. He and his wife began team teaching Sunday School classes, hosting youth activities, and leading teens on mission trips. He organized a youth softball team at the church and served as coach. And, after a few years, was chosen as a deacon to serve in the youth ministry. In short," says Mary Hollingsworth, "he stopped ACTING like Jesus and began LIVING like Jesus." (6) That can happen in a person's life. Jesus reveals God to us. He also reveals how a godly person is to live. All of this is part of why Christ came into the world. "He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God . . ." Are you still walking in darkness? Christ says to you, "About face!" Come out into the light. Come into Christ's kingdom through the forgiveness of your sin. Begin living like Jesus.

Don't get weary carrying the weight of others

November 17, 2019 2 Thessalonians 3 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 23rd Sunday After Pentecost Year C Object: A jar of dirt (and an earthworm, if available) Boys and girls: How many of you like to work? Do you do chores around the house? Do you help with the dishes? Work seems to be part of God's plan for life. Even the animals work. Beavers build their dam. Bees make honey and pollinate flowers. Squirrels hide away nuts for the winter. Birds feed their little ones. We are not the only ones in this world who work. Even a lowly earthworm works. Earthworms are kind of "yucky," aren't they? Some of you may have used worms for bait when you were fishing. Some of you may know that earthworms are necessary for more than for bait. They help make our soil richer. There may be as many as 50,000 earthworms in a acre of dirt like this. They are constantly aerating the soil. In fact if you have some fertile top soil that will grow beautiful flowers or vegetables, you can thank the lowly earthworm. Each of God's creatures seem to have a purpose. You and I have a purpose for being here. Part of the reason we come to Sunday School and worship is so that we can find out why God put us here so that we can live, as best as we are able, according to God's purpose for us. That means that someday we will work at a job. But we won't mind. Because we know that we are fulfilling God's plan. Just like the lowly earthworm. Dynamic Preaching, Collected Sermons, by King Duncan 2 Thessalonians 3 Common English Bible (CEB) Prayer request 3 Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us so that the Lord’s message will spread quickly and be honored, just like it happened with you. 2 Pray too that we will be rescued from inappropriate and evil people since everyone that we meet won’t respond with faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful and will give you strength and protect you from the evil one. 4 We are confident about you in the Lord—that you are doing and will keep doing what we tell you to do. 5 May the Lord lead your hearts to express God’s love and Christ’s endurance. Discipline for the undisciplined 6 Brothers and sisters, we command you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to stay away from every brother or sister who lives an undisciplined life that is not in line with the traditions that you received from us. 7 You yourselves know how you need to imitate us because we were not undisciplined when we were with you. 8 We didn’t eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, we worked night and day with effort and hard work so that we would not impose on you. 9 We did this to give you an example to imitate, not because we didn’t have a right to insist on financial support. 10 Even when we were with you we were giving you this command: “If anyone doesn’t want to work, they shouldn’t eat.” 11 We hear that some of you are living an undisciplined life. They aren’t working, but they are meddling in other people’s business. 12 By the Lord Jesus Christ, we command and encourage such people to work quietly and put their own food on the table. 13 Brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged in doing what is right. 14 Take note of anyone who doesn’t obey what we have said in this letter. Don’t associate with them so they will be ashamed of themselves. 15 Don’t treat them like enemies, but warn them like you would do for a brother or sister. Final greeting 16 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you. 17 I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. This verifies that the letter is from me, as in every letter of mine. This is how I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Stewardship Moment I am so excited, because tonight channel 11 will be airing the sesame street 50th anniversary show. When I was little I loved watching sesame street. And then Mr Rogers would come on right after that. It was my routine to watch both shows, and right now Mr. Roger’s movie is out in the show. I heard yesterday that there are two types of people in the world. There are sesame street people, and there are mr rogers people. Sesame street was a bright show with lots of colors and controversial topics. There was always a lot of activity. Wheras Mr Rogers was calm, quiet peaceful. He was also finding the good in everything and teaching us to be calm and patient. Which type of person are you? Both are great positive messages, but God calls us to have a sesame street faith. An active, bright faith. A faith that prays – but also gives and works to make a difference in the world. Let us be sesame street givers – givers that give to support God in building the kingdom through the church. Sermon Every organization, club, group has some sort of organizational rules. Whenever we come together in community for a common cause, either consciously or unconsciously we decide what it is that holds us together. And we decide how we are going to relate to one another. We decide what it means to belong. We also decide who does not belong to the group. We decide who the insiders are and who the outsiders are. Who we want in the group and who will never be a part of our group. One we start to let people in, we also start to establish rules for how to get rid of people who don’t follow the rules. This happens in any community even the church. We have our rules for belonging. We have a ceremony for accepting members. We have our rules for shunning people who don’t follow the rules. When Paul speaks to the Thessalonians, he knows exactly what to say to the insiders. He establishes a clear rule for getting kicked out of the community. Whoever does not work does not eat. Wow! It is just that simple. Whoever does not work on behalf of the church should not benefit from the churches efforts. When we hear that with modern ears, it seems a little cliquish. Arent we suppose to welcome anyone? Arent we supposed to be accepting of all people. It seems strange to say that there is something that someone could do to be kicked out of the church. In reality – Paul was just expressing a feeling that has existed for thousands of years, and it present in countless other places in the bible. The old testament speaks very clearly of who belongs in community and who does not. And there are very clear rules for getting rid of people who are a danger to the community. Widows, the sick, the disabled, the foreigner, - none of those people belonged in community. And it seems that the new testament is Jesus story of how he went after each of those people to include them. And yet there is one rule of belonging to community that still sticks with us in modern times. Those who don’t contribute to the church. There are stories all throughout the old and new testament about how important it is to work hard. Hard work is expected in all areas of our community. It is important because the community is only as strong as the weakest link. Who we are as a community is determined by how much our members work to make a difference. The End Was So Near One of my friends this week reported on a TV preacher recently talking for an hour about his new book that supposedly explained everything we needed to know about the coming of Jesus and the end of time. "You must have this book," he said over and over again, a telephone number (not even toll-free) constantly flashing at the bottom of the screen. Seems that he was the only one who had prophetic insight into world events, and for a mere $14.95 we could have the benefit of his wisdom. We would not survive the coming terrors unless we had this book. A pastor called the number and suggested to the poor operator that if this preacher really thought this was so vital to the survival of the planet, and that the end was so near, he would be giving the book away! I mean, he won't need the money, right? It's all coming to an end anyway. Who needs a bank account? True, it costs money to print, but he will not have to pay for it if it goes as he says. The woman on the other end of the line was not amused. "Sorry, sir," she said, "but I don't know much about theology," to which the pastor responded, "Neither does the writer of the book you're selling." David E. Leininger, When Your Church Provokes You In Thessalonians, Paul was addressing a special issue. There were many people who has joined the church and we excited about Jesus message. But for them, they believed that the coming was right around the corner. The end of time was near. So they were all getting ready. They were ready to give up their lives, in order to leave this earth with Christ. If Christ was coming, then there was no need to work or prepare for anything. They stopped working, they stopped contributing, that stopped volunteering, because there was not need to even try. So Paul had to remind them that being a Christian was not about giving up and doing nothing, it was about doing everything. A bishop and professor of the church was asked what he was going to do if he knew Jesus was coming tomorrow. He said that he would do the same thing that he did yesterday. If he had to do work the day before, then he would just continue to work. Because when Jesus did came he wanted to be found faithful. The key is that remaining faithful through it all is the most important part of our faith. An "if" believer follows God if he receives blessings and rewards in return. He waits to see what God will do first, then decides whether or not to respond in obedience. Jacob is a good example of an "if" believer. A "because" believer follows God because God blesses and rewards him. He has seen the connection between his obedience and God's blessing, and he wants to keep it going. King David is a good example of a "because" believer. But there's a third kind of believer, said this pastor. This is the "regardless" believer. A "regardless" believer loves God no matter whether he/she ever receives any blessings or rewards in return. Job, the man whose very name is synonymous with suffering, was a "regardless" believer. A "regardless" believer loves God in spite of the circumstances, in spite of their hardships. On the day he heard that sermon, Mr. Hall devoted himself to being a "regardless" believer for the rest of his life. (2) Pastor Ron Hutchcraft suggests to us that Jesus wants us to “go M.A.D.” That’s an interesting way of putting it. Of course mad is spelled capital M period, capital A period, capital D period M.A.D. Don’t look for that in the original Greek, by the way. M.A.D. is an acrostic. When Hutchcraft says that Jesus wants us to “Go M.A.D.,” he’s saying that Jesus wants us to “go make a difference.” If you make a constructive difference in people’s lives, you won’t have time to be a busybody. In Thessalonians 3 – Paul seems to get mad in another way. By first saying that if we don’t work, we don’t get to go the church potluck. But he goes even further, his words are pretty harsh to us He goes on the say that we should ignore those people who are not carrying their fairshare of the load. He says that there are some people in the community who rather then being busy, have become busybodies. Not only are they not working, but they make a point to get into everyone else’s business and make it difficult for those who really are working. Every community is based on some type of rules and understanding. The word that Paul uses for busybody in greek is the word for the undisciplined. Those who don’t uphold the good of the order. Those who work against the church, instead of for it. An unknown author said he met the strangest man on his way to church. Here is how he described this man: “He said he believed in the Bible, but he never reads it. “He said he thought well of the church of which he is a member, but he never attends or invites others to share in its ministry. “He said a person should be honest with God in money matters, but he never tithes. “He said the younger generation needs the Lord, but he isn’t leading them in that direction. “He said the church needs dedicated Christian members, but he isn’t one. “He offered some ‘constructive’ criticism of some of the workers but he never works. “He said the church should do more in ministering to people, but he doesn’t help. “He is critical of the way the church is ‘run,’ but he never participates. “He says he believes in the Second Coming, but he lives as though the Lord will never return. “He says prayer will change things, but he never prays. “He was,” says this author, “a strange man, indeed!” (3) Not so strange. Their number in the church is legion. St. Paul called such people busybodies. They are busy, but not with constructive behavior. What we tend to overlook is this: the mind is always active; it is never still. It is either thinking positive thoughts or negative thoughts. A person may have an idle body, but not an idle mind. An idle brain is the devil’s playground, as the old expression goes. This is the reason why so many idle persons regardless of their age get into trouble. The trouble can range all the way from becoming a busybody to murder. It is dangerous business to be idle. I give this sermon, not because it applies to anyone in this room, but because it reminds each of a lesson in our Christian journey. The Christian journey is always an active journey. There is always something for us to do. And Jesus calls us to be active in whatever we do. We can pray and hope and dream. But we also can work and use our hands to make a difference. A visitor in a coal mine stopped to talk to one of the miners. He told the miner how sorry he was for him, spending his time monotonously picking coal down there in those dark tunnels. The miner picked up a piece of coal and said, “I don’t think you understand. This is not just a lump of coal. This is light and heat and power. Perhaps it will light a city, or it may warm a home or run a train. I’m not just a miner for the company. I’m helping people I don’t even know have a better way of life.” Because of the drive for clean energy today, many miners are losing their jobs. The principle has not changed, however. If you feel like your work is making a difference in the world, it can bring you real satisfaction. If you can see a purpose higher than a pay check, it can improve your attitude toward your work. You are helping produce a product that will improve the quality of people’s lives. You are helping to keep a city running. You are educating young people for the future. I know that it can sometimes seem that we are just a cog in a great machine, but what if your job was not done? Would society be the worse off for it? Most of us can find a purpose for what we do if we try. If we cannot, we may be in the wrong place. Work allows us, first of all, to be partners with God in the provision of the world’s needs. The bottom line is that Jesus called us to stick together and to work together. Jesus changed the rules. Jesus opened to door so that the outsiders, could become insiders. And Jesus calls each of us to keep working until the door is open to everyone and everyone is a part of the church. I like Paul’s final word to us – never get tired of doing the right thing. Never get tired of making a difference, and doing the work of Christ. there is a saying that when the knight came to king Arthur’s court they were reminded that they did not come to retire but to serve. Each of us here is called to serve also. There is a Lutheran church in Philadelphia who got a donation from a former member. The daughter of the member gave them old anniversary bulletin for 75 years ago. As the pastor read the bulletin and saw all of the churches that had been attendance. On the list of 30 churches, 20 of them were now closed. This was a wake up call to the pastor, of how important it was for his church to be a survivor. Word on the street was that you went to the Lutheran church when you needed groceries, but if you wanted to experience the holy spirit you went to the Baptist church. The pastor realized how important it was for his church to realize their mission. No longer could the church run itself like a social club. No longer could they follow the rules of any other club in town, it was time for them to live into what it means to be the body of Christ. A body that no only works, but also prays, loves, and most importantly lives a disciplined life. a life of a committed follower of Christ, not a busybody. We too are called to be the body of Christ here in Wilmington – what work is there for us to do together as community. Let us pray…. Additional illustration… There's an old Chinese proverb often attributed to Confucius. It goes like this: If you would be happy for one hour, take a nap. If you would be happy for one day, go fishing. If you would be happy for one week, kill your pig and eat it. If you would be happy for one month, get married. If you would be happy for one year, inherit a fortune. If you would be happy for life, love your work.

Death is a part of Life

November 3, 2019 Ephesians 1:11-23 Death is a Part of Life All Saint’s Sunday Year C Children’s Sermon Children’s Sermon Good morning. Today is a special day in our church. Of course, every day is special when we can be together. But some days are more special than others. Today’s special day is called All Saints Day. Can you say that with me? All Saints Day. Did you know that you are a saint? A saint, in the Bible, is what people in the church called each other. “I am a saint, you are a saint, we are all saints together.” Saints in the Bible are those who seek to follow Jesus. So, you see, I think you must be a saint because I know you try to follow Jesus: loving God, neighbor, and even your enemies. But sometimes you will hear somebody called “Saint So and So.” Or maybe you have friends who go to St. Matthew’s Church. It is named after one of Jesus’ disciples named Matthew. Sometimes famous people who did wonderful things get called saints. And sometimes at church, you might hear someone talk about someone who died. They might say, “He was a real saint.” This is a way of remembering someone that we really liked who followed Jesus. Today we are remembering some saints in our church. We are remembering people who died in the last year. Did you ever know anyone who has died? When someone dies we usually feel sad. And we might cry because we loved them. Because they were saints, because they tried to follow Jesus and helped us to follow Jesus, we do things to honor them. And today, we will remember them by reading their names in worship. I give thanks every week for the ways you show me how to follow Jesus. You are Jesus’ saints. Yes, children are Jesus’ saints, and Jesus knew you would be and he told adults, “become like children to enter God’s kingdom.” Saint Children, Stewardship Moment This morning we are reminded of the sacredness of life. God is all around us. Everything about life is special because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. We can see God’s presence in so many ways. In our family and friends, in the life that we live, in our priorities. Being a child of God is a wonderful privilege given to us, but it also gives us great power. The power to make a difference, the power to make the world a better place, the power to give and let God’s presence be known to others. This morning, during our time of giving let us feel the presence of the holy Spirit and all that the Spirit does to spread love. We have the power to be a part of that in giving what we have in love. Scritpure Ephesians 1:11-23 Common English Bible (CEB) 11 We have also received an inheritance in Christ. We were destined by the plan of God, who accomplishes everything according to his design. 12 We are called to be an honor to God’s glory because we were the first to hope in Christ. 13 You too heard the word of truth in Christ, which is the good news of your salvation. You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit because you believed in Christ. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment on our inheritance, which is applied toward our redemption as God’s own people, resulting in the honor of God’s glory. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians 15 Since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, this is the reason that 16 I don’t stop giving thanks to God for you when I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, 19 and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers. This power is conferred by the energy of God’s powerful strength. 20 God’s power was at work in Christ when God raised him from the dead and sat him at God’s right side in the heavens, 21 far above every ruler and authority and power and angelic power, any power that might be named not only now but in the future. 22 God put everything under Christ’s feet and made him head of everything in the church, 23 which is his body. His body, the church, is the fullness of Christ, who fills everything in every way. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Jack defeats death One day Jack was about to go to work, before leaving he looked in on his mom. She did not look so well. Her color was off, she had not gotten out of the bed yet, and she was not very responsive when Jack talked with her. Even so, so encouraged Jack to go on with her day. She would be fine, just go on she encouraged. Reluctantly, Jack walked out of the door, down the sidewalk and out onto the street. But he noticed that there was a man, dressed in black from head to toe, with a black cape covering his face so you couldn’t see his face. And a sickle in his hand. Jack turned around to look at this strangely dressed man. He noticed that the man was heading up the driveway of his house. So Jack yelled at the man, can I help you. The man responded no thank you, I just have some business to take care of. You have some business headed that way? Jack asked. Yep said the man. No, I don’t think you have any business in this house, so you need to go on about your business. I am sorry but I cant do that said the man, I have my instructions and I have to follow them. Realizing now who this man was, Jack jumped in front of him and said I am sorry but I cant let you go into that house. As a matter of fact, Jack reached out and bopped death in the nose. Death was a little taken off guard and did not fight Jack back. Jack just kept hitting death and bopping him. Every time Jack hit, death got a little smaller and smaller. Once death was smaller even then a peanut, Jack looked around the ground and found a acorn with a hole it in. He smashed death into to acorn and ran to the beach and threw the acorn into the ocean. At last, he had victory over death, he had won the fight, and put death far away. Jack decided that he would go check on his mom to see if she was okay. And sure enough, she was up , she looked better than she had in years, her hair was done and she even had on one of the best dresses the she owned. She said that she had the energy that she had as a teenager. Her color was in her cheeks, she was really happy. She told Jack that she wanted to cook him a good lunch since he was home. She went into the kitchen to cut up some carrots, but she noticed that everytime she cut the carrot, she could cut it, it would just bounce off of the cutting board. Never mind, she would cut up some potatoes - the same thing happened. She couldn’t cut into it. By this time Jack comes into the kitchen to make sure everything is okay. Mom responds, I am having a little trouble with the vegetables, but that is okay because we need some meat. She asked Jack to go to the butcher to get some pork chops. Jack goes into town, but he notices that everyone is walking around aimlessly. He goes to the butcher shop and asks for some pork chops. But butcher tells him that he cant give him any pork chops, he could kill the pig this morning. Jack says that okay, them give me beef, the butcher shakes his head, I cant do it. What about chicken, the butcher shakes his head again. As Jack walks home he notices everyone is just walking along, everyone seems to be upset, no one can prepare anything to eat. They cant kill nothing and wont nothing die. Jack wonders what he is going to tell his mom about the meat. When he gets home he tells his mom what happens at the butcher shop, and how everyone in town is in a total panic. He also tells her- I think I know what is going on. You see, this morning I got into a fight with death. I beat death and through him into the sea. You beat death – why would you pick a fight with death – because he was at your doorstep – and you didn’t look so good this morning, so I needed to get rid of him, so that you would be okay. His mom puts her hand on her head, o my God Jack, what have you done. You cant get rid of death, death is a part of life. In order for things to live, some things have to die – that is just the will of God. how are we supposed to eat lunch if we cant get kill anything. Leave it up to my son to not only ruin lunch, but to upset the whole order of life. She looks at Jack and tells him that he has to go and make this right. How I am supposed to make this right. Death is in an acorn at the bottom of the ocean, I will never find him. Jack, I don’t know what you are going to do, but you better get out of this house right now – and do something. Jack walks out of the house, and walks to the beach and just staring at the ocean, totally at a loss of what to do. All of a sudden the tide blows in, and an acorn washes up on shore. Jack cracks the acorn open, in sure enough there is death, still smaller then a penny. Jack has to take death and stretch him out. He pulls him left and right until he is back the size of a man. He gives death back his black robe and his sickle. Death thanks Jack for restoring him, and he looks at his watch as says that he still have a busy schedule. But he turns to Jack and says, since you now seem to understand the concept of death, I wont be going to your house today. But you need to understand that when the time comes I will be back for her, and the next time she has to go with me. Jack said that he understood. When he got home, lunch was ready for him. He treasured each moment that he had with his mom. Until many years later his mom passed away. Jack is a popular character in English folktales. Jack represents the ordinary guy – he is not the smartest person in life, but he not the dumbest. He is not a good person, but he is not necessarily the worst person. He doesn’t go to church, so sometimes he has to learn his lessons the hard way. In the earlier centuries, people used to carve out turnips, and put a candle in it in order so that when Jack got lost, he would see the light and have a safe place to sleep at night. He would sleep in the turnip – today in America – people carve out pumpkins and call them Jack o Lanterns. Jack never did really come to terms with death – that is why he is roaming the earth still looking for a safe place to sleep at night – but that is a story for another time and another place. Not a story for today In many ways – we all struggle with death. And all of us would do all that we can to save our loved ones from death. And when it affects those that we care about, it is harder for us to accept death as a part of life. but Ephesians gives us a word of hope in the midst of our grief. Because it reminds us that in the presence of the holy Spirit, death is not the final word. Redemption and resurrection is the final word, since Christ came into our world. We share in the inheritance of Christ of eternal life with God. The presence of the holy spirit in this life is sort of a down payment in the joy to come. Joy of truly being in the presence of God, where there is no sorrow, no death. Only love, light and hope. As we stand today – we stand in the presence of all who came before us, all that is to come. The doors of heaven are open – just to give a glimpse of better days. Let us pray…..