Jesus backs our Covenant Prayer

January 4, 2025 John Wesley Covenant Service John 1:1-18 Year A Prelude Greeting Pastoral Introduction to the Covenant Renewal Service Today, we step into the footprints of giants. Nearly three centuries ago, a movement swept across England, a movement marked not by power or wealth, but by humble hearts ablaze with a holy fire. This was the Methodist movement—a revival that shook the very foundations of society, igniting a passion for holiness, justice, and devotion to God. Farmers and merchants, laborers and scholars, young and old alike gathered in homes, fields, and chapels, united by one singular cry: "Take my life, Lord, and let it be consecrated wholly to Thee." These were men and women who understood the cost of following Christ and embraced it with joy. They preached in the open air, endured ridicule, faced persecution, and yet persisted, driven by the unshakable conviction that their lives were not their own—they belonged to God. It was this commitment, this covenant with God, that fueled their courage, transformed their communities, and changed the course of history. John Wesley, the founder of this movement, knew the importance of renewal. He knew that the human heart is prone to wander, that even the most fervent soul can grow cold. And so, every New Year’s Day, he called his people together for a Covenant Renewal Service. It was a moment to remember their calling, to recommit their lives, and to declare once again, “We are Yours, Lord, wholly and completely.” Today, we gather in that same spirit. On the brink of a new year, we look back with gratitude and look forward with resolve. This is not a mere ritual or a tradition for tradition’s sake. It is a holy moment—a chance to reset, refocus, and reorient our lives around the One who gave everything for us. So let us prepare our hearts. Let us lay down our burdens, our ambitions, and our sins at the feet of Jesus. Let us, with generations of believers before us, declare our love, allegiance, and obedience to the God who has called us into His everlasting covenant. May this be a day of transformation, a day of fresh surrender, a day when heaven meets earth in the prayers of God’s people. Now, let us enter into this sacred time together, inviting the Holy Spirit to renew us, restore us, and equip us for all that lies ahead. (A John Wesley Covenant Renewal Service, Darrell Stetler II) Opening Prayer O God, Searcher of all our hearts, you have formed us as a people and claimed us for your own. As we come to acknowledge your sovereignty and grace, and to enter anew into covenant with you, reveal any reluctance or falsehood within us. Let your Spirit impress your truth on our inmost being, and receive us in mercy, for the sake of our Mediator, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (DAVID TRIPP, ENGLAND, 20TH CENT.) Song Love Came Down at Christmas UMH 242 THE INVITATION – Just print the title Dearly beloved: the Christian life, to which we are called, is a life in Christ, redeemed from sin by Christ, and consecrated to God through Christ. We have entered upon this life, having been admitted into that new covenant of which our Lord Jesus Christ is mediator, and which Jesus sealed with his own blood, that it might stand forever. On one side of the covenant is God’s promise to fulfill, in and through us, all that God declared in Jesus Christ, who is the author and perfecter of our faith. We are sure that this promise still stands, for we have known God’s goodness and proved God’s grace in our own lives day by day. On the other side, we promise to live no more for ourselves, but for Christ, who loved us even to death. He called us to serve God so that the purposes of Christ’s coming would be fulfilled. From time to time we renew our vows of consecration—especially when we gather at the Lord’s Table. But today we meet expressly, as generations of our ancestors have met, to joyfully and solemnly renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God. ( A John Wesley Covenant Renewal Service, Daniel Stetler II) WORDS OF ASSURANCE – Just print the title This is the message we have heard from Jesus and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we walk in the light, as God is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ( A John Wesley Covenant Renewal Service, Daniel Stetler II Scripture John 1:1-18 New Year Message For centuries, the new year started in March – in the springtime. That would make sense, since that is the time that nature comes back to life with new blooms, babies and green grass. It is believed that Jesus would have been born in early spring, so his birthday is in March. Originally, John Wesley celebrated his covenant service in the spring. The Roman calendar had 10 months for centuries, March was the first month. Every year there were roughly 55 days between December and March where time did not exist. It was winter and it was just too darn cold and dark to think about anything. You were just supposed to stay inside and wait for planting season. You made no plans, and kept no schedule. Finally in 700 BC, some Emporer decided to add winter to the calendar. January and February were added to the end of the calendar. That is why September which means 7th month is our ninth month. In 46 BC Julius Ceasar developed a new calendar with January and February at the beginning of the year. January become that time that you took account of your life and made resolutions. Janus is the two faced God with one eye on the past and one eye on the future. That was the time that you made plans for March and new life. February is named after the god Februa – who was a god known for cleansing the heart by destroying the old to make way for the new. So from the beginning of the calendar the new year resolutions made in January were destined to be destroyed by February. Eventually, the Christian Church stepped in and reclaimed and redefined all of the old Roman traditions. Our modern calendar was invented by Pope Gregory in 1582- with a lot of improvements like leap year to keep time on track. Catholic countries adapted the new calendar quickly. The protestant countries like the US and Britain didn’t adapt the calendar until 1752. So when John Wesley started the covenant service, it was March 25th. His first service was in 1755, and it was widely practiced by 1762. By that time it was moved to January 1st. John Wesley’s point was for us to use the spirit of January not so much to make personal plans, but to reconnect to God. To realize that our future is in God’s hands. It is not us who makes the covenant, because we are destined to break our promises. But to look the promises that God makes to us in the bible. The bible gives us countless stories where God kept God’s promise in the most questionable of circumstances. Today we say a Covenant Prayer acknowledging God’s power over our lives. The scripture for today is John 1 – a fitting scripture for the new year. It repeats the words of Genesis 1 – in the beginning was God. Only John adds Jesus to the mix. Jesus is the word that brings us grace. The new Testament means the new covenant. It is through grace of Christ that God fullfills the promise to us. Jesus words create life, so that our words create faith. John Wesley’s covenant acknowledges how grace create our future. If advent is about seeking, Christmas is about finding. Our answers to life come through prayer and preparation. And finding God in strange places. I know I have told this story before, but it fits. It is a story of a baby bear all alone playing in the snow. Unbeknown to him, there is a mountain lion stalking him. When we see the lion, he runs. He runs through the mountains, through the fields and even through the water. Finally when we reaches familiar territory he has the courage to stand up to the lion. He stands his ground and starts to roar. The mountain lion attacks and injures him. But this time he is not afraid and roars with all that he has. The mountain lion retreats and runs aways. The baby turns around and sees his father. The lion ran because of the bigger bear’s presence. The bigger bear was protecting the baby, and even licked his wounds. In the spirit of January – there is nothing wrong with making plans, resolutions and expressing hopes and dreams. When we renew our covenant with God- we know that God has our back and God will bring the future to life. Let us pray…… Children’s Sermon: “In God’s Hands” Object lesson: A soft piece of clay or Play-Doh (or a small ball of dough) Scripture connection: Romans 12:1 / John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer ________________________________________ Pastor: Good morning, friends! Have you ever made something with Play-Doh or clay? (Allow responses.) Look at this. (Hold up the clay.) Right now, it can be anything—a snake, a heart, a cross, or even a cookie! But here’s the important part: the clay doesn’t decide what it will be. It’s shaped by the hands that hold it. That’s a lot like us. A long time ago, a pastor named John Wesley wrote a very special prayer called the Covenant Prayer. In that prayer, we tell God something very important. We say: “I am no longer my own, but yours.” That means we are saying, “God, my life belongs to you.” Sometimes the prayer says things that sound a little tricky, like: • “Put me to doing” • “Put me to suffering” • “Let me be full” • “Let me be empty” But here’s what it really means—listen carefully: It means we are saying, “God, whatever happens— happy days or hard days, busy days or quiet days— I trust you.” Just like this clay trusts my hands. (Gently shape the clay into a simple heart or cross.) God promises something wonderful: When we put our lives in God’s hands, God shapes us with love, uses us to help others, and never lets us go. So when we pray the Covenant Prayer, we are saying: “God, help me love you. Help me serve you. Help me trust you.” Let’s practice together. I’ll say a line, and you repeat it after me. Call and Response: • Pastor: God, I belong to you. Children: God, I belong to you. • Pastor: Use me to love others. Children: Use me to love others. • Pastor: I trust you with my life. Children: I trust you with my life. Pastor: Friends, you are always in God’s hands— on the playground, at school, at home, and here in church. And God is shaping you into something beautiful. Let’s pray. Prayer: “Loving God, thank you for holding us in your hands. Help us trust you, follow you, and love others. We belong to you. Amen.” (ChatGPT version six) Song Go Tell it on the Mountain UMH 251 Prayer Lord’s Prayer *COVENANT HYMN – print the words Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine (quoted) (Written by Charles Wesley in 1762 for Methodism’s Covenant Service) Come, let us use the grace divine, and all with one accord, In a perpetual covenant join ourselves to Christ the Lord; Give up ourselves, through Jesus’ power, His Name to glorify; And promise, in this sacred hour, for God to live and die. The covenant we this moment make be ever kept in mind; We will no more our God forsake, or cast these words behind. We never will throw off the fear of God Who hears our vow; And if Thou art well pleased to hear, come down and meet us now. Thee, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, let all our hearts receive, Present with Thy celestial host the peaceful answer give; To each covenant the blood apply which takes our sins away, And register our names on high and keep us to that day! Stewardship Moment Radiant God, the light of your wisdom and love shines for all who seek you, guiding us not with force, but with grace. Like the magi, we come bearing gifts, not to earn your favor, but in response to the gift of Christ you’ve given us. Use these offerings to reflect your light into dark places, so that others might be drawn to your love, your justice, and your joy. Keep us faithful in our seeking, generous in our sharing, and willing to be led wherever your star shines next. In Jesus’ name, Amen. (Matthew 2:1-12) (United Methodist Board of Discipleship) THE COVENANT: (Congregation please stand) And now, beloved, let us bind ourselves with willing bonds to our covenant God, and take the yoke of Christ upon us. This means that we are heartily content that Christ appoint us our place and work, and that Christ alone will be our reward. Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honor, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and temporal interests, others are contrary to both. In some, we may please Christ and please ourselves; in others, we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is assuredly given us in Christ, who strengthens us. Let us engage our heart to the Lord, and resolve in God’s strength never to go back. Being thus prepared, let us now, in sincere dependence on God’s grace and trusting in God’s promises, yield ourselves anew to Christ. (A John Wesley Covenant Renewal Service, Daniel Stetler II) THE COVENANT PRAYER I am not my own self-made, self-reliant human being. In truth, O God, I am Yours. Make me into what You will. Make me a neighbor with those whom You will. Guide me on the easy path for You. Guide me on the rocky road for You. Whether I am to step up for You or step aside for You; Whether I am to be lifted high for You or brought low for You; Whether I become full or empty, with all things or with nothing; I give all that I have and all that I am for You. So be it. And may I always remember that you, O God, and I belong to each other. Amen. (Rev. Jeremy Smith, HackingChristianity.com) Communion Page 13 – Don’t need to print May the Lord be with you. And also with you. May your hearts be lightened and filled with God’s love! We lift up our hearts and praise God above. Let us give thanks to the Lord, God our Father. We thank God and praise Him – it isn’t a bother! It is right and good-ful; holy and wonderful; blessed and joyful; To give thanks to you God, Almighty and faithful. For it’s you that has given us this worship time, Filled with laughter, some holy humor and rhyme. It’s you that has shown us your holy love, That you have sent from heaven high up above. And so, with your angels who first sang your song, We proclaim your goodness by singing along: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Heaven is filled with your marvelous glory; Earth is filled with your light. Blessed is he who comes in your name – “Hosanna on high!” we loudly proclaim. Holy God, it’s your Son we remember today, Jesus Christ, the anointed, whom we try to obey. He encouraged the poor and freed the oppressed, And taught us that you care about the distressed. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection, He taught that Your grace beats out our imperfection. He ascended to Heaven and sits there beside you, But still remains with us in all that we do. On the night he was taken, he lifted some bread, He blessed it, and broke it, and here’s what he said: “Dear friends, this is my body to you that I give. Take it; share it: in you I will live. From now on, whenever, wherever you meet Remember our time when this bread here you eat.” When supper was over, he then took the cup, With praise and thanksgiving he lifted it up: “For the New Covenant, this is my blood; A sign of the Lord’s continuing love. For God has forgiven your every mistake, So trust in God’s love when this drink you partake.” May we offer ourselves for God’s greater glory, And proclaim what we know of this fabulous story: Christ Jesus: he died, but then rose again! He’ll return here on earth: Hallelujah! Amen. Holy Spirit, come down on us gathered here, With this bread and this fruit of the vine please appear. Make holy this food, fill us with your grace, So we proclaim gospel to the whole human race. We love you, Lord Jesus, we’ll shout out again Your glory and honor: Amen and Amen! (Allie Scott, HackingChristianity.com Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Go now, beloved, as people bound by the covenant of grace, redeemed by Christ, and empowered by the Spirit. May your hearts remain steadfast, your hands ready for service, and your lives reflect the light of God’s love. Walk boldly into this new year, knowing that the One who calls you is faithful and will strengthen you for every step. Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction

Driven to the Light

January 8, 2025 Isaiah 43:1-7 Driven to the Light Baptism of the Lord Year C Prelude Greetings Call to Worship When we pass through the cleansing waters of baptism and the troubled waters of our lives, God declares: I will be with you. When we go through the fires that refine us and the fires that threaten our livelihoods, God declares: I will be with you. Even when we travel to the far corners of the earth or down into the depths of our souls, God declares: I will be with you. So come, let us worship God whose love never fails, whose presence never leaves, whose mercies never end. Praise be to God who, in the form of Jesus, waded into the waters of baptism to prove God’s solidarity with us! Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, July 2024. Invocation (unison recommended) Holy One, awaken us again to Your outpouring Spirit of Love. Through this generous gift, stretch our souls wide and form us into channels of your healing grace. Gift us with an ability to recognize You in each other, all imprinted with Your beloved blessing. Clarify our intentions, purify our actions, fill our words with grace and our hearts with hope. Yes, soak our thinking, our praying, our hoping, our everything in You. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, David Long-Higgins) Song I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry UMH 2051 A Sermon for all Ages Children’s Time Remember your baptism "Let your light so shine that others, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father in heaven." Do you ever use candles at your house? In my home we have candles for some different reasons. When we are having a really nice dinner we might put candles on the table to help things look very special. If we lose power and its dark sometimes we light a candle to see (of course it’s a lot easier and safer to use a flashlight). The best way we use candles is for someone's birthday. In a lot of families, if you are a kid we place as many candles as your age on the birthday cake – then we light the candles, turn off the lights and sing to the birthday boy or girl? Is that what you do at your house? We put the candles on the cake to celebrate all the years someone special has been alive. Every year they have lived holds special memories and birthdays give us a chance to remember. For family and friends, we are thankful for each year. The older you get the brighter your cake is – filled with lots of birthday candles. In the church we celebrate another special day in your life, the day you were baptized. We celebrate that day when we as a church welcomed you into God's family. Now for some of you – you were baptized right here in this church. For others you might have been baptized in another place, that's just fine. Later today we as a congregation will all dip our hand in this water – where we baptize people in our congregation and remember each of our baptisms. Remember we are all God’s special children. Prayer: God of light, thank you for all the special days in our lives. Today we especially thank you for our baptism – let us never forget how much you love us. Give all the children a candle and invite their families to light it on the anniversary of the child’s baptism. This will help connect children that you did not baptize in your local church to their baptism stories. (United Methodist of Greater New Jersey) Do you know how to swim? Some people use something like these "floaties" to help them stay afloat when they they are first learning to swim. For some people, learning to swim can be a very frightening experience. They are so afraid of drowning that they don't want leave the shallow end of the pool, and if they do, they want to stay close to the edge and hold on to the side of the pool. The only trouble is, you can't learn to swim with your feet on the bottom or with your hands holding on to the side of the pool. I heard a story about a boy who wanted to learn to swim, but he was afraid that he might drown. Then, one day, a new swimming instructor came to the pool. This instructor's swimming lessons were exactly what the boy needed. He knew that the boy was afraid of drowning, so as the lesson began and the boy began trying to swim, he walked alongside with his hand underneath the boy's belly. His hand was like a safety net in the boy's mind. He knew that he had nothing to fear because his instructor was there to keep him from drowning! Sometimes, life can be a lot like learning to swim. It can be frightening. There may be times when we face uncertain situations and we may be afraid that we are getting in over our heads. Like the boy holding to the side of the pool, we want to hold on to those things of which we are sure. There is no reason for us to be afraid. Just as the swimming instructor's hand was there to keep the boy from drowning, we have God's promise that he will be there for us when we go through deep water. Listen to his promise. "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you." We are at the beginning of a new year. It is time for a fresh start -- a time of new beginnings. It is exciting, but it can also be frightening. As you face new situations in the coming year, let God's hand support you. He will always be there for you and he won't let you down. Dear Father, as we face the uncertain days of a new year, we place our life in your hands. We claim your promise that you will be with us. Amen. (Sermons4Kids) Responsive Reading Psalm 29 UMH 761 Passing of the Peace As you greet those around you, look at each person and offer these words from Isaiah: “You are precious in God’s sight.” Scripture Isaiah 43:1-7 Sermon Driven to the Light Jaymie, I and Mr. Utke were sitting in the library talking during Sr. Lunch time – Mr. Utke told us that it was January 8th – national quit day. Jaymie looked at each other and I said,Oh it must be national quit your job day. We got excited until Mr. Utke said no. It is national quit you New Year’s resolution Day. It was the day when all of those wonderful plans that we made to change the world by changing ourselves come to an end and life goes back to normal. So what about you, how are your new year’s resolutions going? Last week we made a commitment to get closer to God this year – how is that going for you? It is a good day for a new start. I like the way the amplified version puts it in the present tense: "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it, and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." I don't know how it is with you, but I like new beginnings. It doesn't matter whether it's a new year, a new month, a new week, a new day--a new experience--I like new beginnings. "A Jesuit priest, C.J. McNespy, once noted that scholars do not agree as to when the liturgical (church) year really begins. The usual opinion, of course, is the first Sunday of Advent. Others start with the Easter vigil. Still others choose the Sunday which comes seventy days before Easter. Father McNespy wraps up the controversy happily; "in any case, since we need to be constantly starting over, it doesn't hurt to have several new years." (C.J. McNespy, America, 1-25-64, p.149, quoted by Ellsworth Kalas, "Ring Out the Old" December 29, 1985)--I'll take as many new years, as many occasions for new beginnings--as the calendar or religion or life will provide. I'm glad for the chance for starting again. And that's the reason I wanted to anchor what we say today in this passage of scripture from Isaiah. "Behold, I'm doing a new thing; now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it, and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." So it's against this background of God intervening in history, a God who is always doing a new thing--it's against that background that I want us to look at these two approaches to life--if only/next time. The book of Isaiah is all about new starts. Our scripture says that God is doing a new thing. The book of Isaiah spans about 500 years of history. It is written by at least 3 authors. Isaiah 43 is believed to be written by the second author. The second book is good news from what is called the golden prophet – because he had a way of seeing the best in the middle of bad situations. He reminds us that trouble does not last always. This book is called the servant song – it is good news to a collective group of people who are coming out of exile. Chapter 42 reminds them that their captivity was the consequences of their own actions. They forgot about their relationship with God, they lost their center, and they were taken into captivity. Chapter 43 tells them that no trouble lasts forever. God’s justice always ends in mercy. As a matter of fact, chapter 43 of Isaiah is the only place in the Hebrew Bible where God directly says I love you – I care about you. God says that you are special. God will always be with you. In tough times and Good God is still there with you. If you are going through the fire, God goes there too. If you have to go through the water, no matter how murky or dirty – God is there with you. The movie, Schindler’s List is the story of the struggle that the jews went through in the holocaust. In one scene a man is desparately looking for a place to hide from the nazis. He decides that he will hide in the toilet of an outhouse. Only to discover that there are two children already hiding knee deep in the dirty polluted water. God goes with them in the dirty waters of life. Sometimes in life we can all feel that we are knee deep in murky dirty water – And God is there with us. God is also in the water of baptism. Today is a good day to remember our baptism. Today is a good day to experience God’s grace, today is a good day to start all over again. We have all sinned, we have all fallen short of the glory of God. In a world where we all struggle to survive in some way, we can easily get caught in the world of if only – A young man who had made it big had been away from home a long time traveling to exotic places all over the world. He had not been very attentive to his widowed mother. His conscience began to bother him and he decided to do something about it. He sent her a unique gift, a rare South American parrot for which he'd paid $1200. Well, time went by. Two weeks, three weeks, and he heard nothing. And the fourth week he called. When he got his mom on the phone he said, "Did you get the bird I sent you?" "Oh yes!"--It was so nice, I cooked it the day after it came. It was delicious!" "You cooked it! Mom, that was a rare South American parrot. It cost me $1200. That parrot could speak five languages." "My goodness, son," the mother responded. "If only you'd said something." If only! We hear it all the time. If only I hadn't had that accident. If only I'd lived in some other place. If only I were more beautiful. If only he had not died so young. If only people were friendlier to me. If only I had more money. If only I were younger. If only I were older. If only I had a different kind of job. If only people really knew my abilities. If only--and it goes on and on. If only. We're going to talk about that today, but we're going to talk about it in the context of an alternative stance: next time. There's a world of difference between "if only" and "next time." "If only" looks backward; "next time" is a look forward. "If only" is a word of defeat; "next time" is a word of hope. The world of if only is much more than living a life of regret. It is looking at the past and wishing that circumstances had been different. We have all had our fair share of if onlys. How does living in the world of if only’s work out for you? Does it give us the power to change things? Does it give us hope? Does it give us grace? Does it make us feel better? Probably not. It is based on the past, it based on circumstances that we cant do anything about. Instead of living in the world of if only, what if we lived in the world of next time. Next time is a second chance. Instead of looking back on spilled milk, next time gives us a chance to do something different. It gives us the power to make a difference. It gives us grace, and where there is grace, there is also the presence of God. In the world of grace, God is with you, God is on your side, God is doing a new thing. Isnt it comforting to know that in God’s world there will always be a next time. Laura Lee is the would-be victim of Hodgkin disease who has demonstrated this fact eloquently. She wrote at least two books, both recording her feelings, thoughts, and observations as she walked through the valley of the shadow of death. She likened the choices of life to standing before a button panel. "You push the down button for bitterness, resentment, and self-pity. Or you can push the up button and draw closer to God, closer to others and to be a better person. It's always an act of the will, a will beyond emotions or what you feel like doing. You can be deceived by feelings." What are you doing this year to draw closer to God? God is right there right next to you. The waters of baptism represent the presence of God in our lives. God is there in the murky water, God is in the cleansing water of baptism. That brings us comfort. Four-year-old Virginia and her family were enjoying the first visit by their new pastor. Gathered around the living room were Mother, Father, Virginia, Grandmother and the pastor. Soon it was Virginia's bedtime. After a bath, Virginia invited everyone to come up and hear her bedside prayers. Grandmother, whose arthritis was bothering her, chose not to go upstairs with the others and remained seated on the sofa. Just as Virginia knelt down, a flash of lightning followed by a crash of thunder filled the room. "I want to go downstairs with Grandmother," cried Virginia. "I'm scared." The adults in the room tried to reassure her. "Jesus is right here with you," said Mother. "He's even in your closet and under your bed," added Father. The new pastor said, "Yes, remember, Virginia, Jesus is right here in your bedroom." Suddenly another blinding flash of lightning and deafening blast of thunder rattled the windows. Virginia, pointing a finger directly at the pastor, said through clenched teeth, "You stay up here in my bedroom with Jesus. I'm going downstairs to my grandmother's lap!" And off she ran. You see, baptism is something like Grandmother's lap. In the midst of the rejections and raging storms of life, baptism reminds us where the love is. Named and claimed as God's child forever, we know that we have been chosen. No matter what. Hear again the promise of the Lord: "I have called you by name and you are mine ... you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you" (vv. 1, 4). And that's the truth." CSS Publishing, Lima, Ohio, Where Is God In All This, by Tony Everett We thank God for comfort, peace, grace. You know in the coming year, none of us knows what will happen, or even how we will handle it. No matter how many resolutions we may have, life will still throw us unexpected curve balls. We all face an uncertain future. But the good news is that we do not have to face the future afraid. Whatever happens, God will be right there by our side. Remember your baptism and be thankful! Let us pray….. Song It is Well With My Soul UMH 377 Prayers of the People Before we are born, before we do anything or make something of ourselves, before we make our first mistake or confess our first sin or fail majorly, you claim us, God our Creator, and call us beloved. We give you thanks and praise this Sunday for Jesus’ baptism and for ours, for the sign and seal of your claim on us and the sacred water from which we emerge newly born in Christ. That you come so close, Holy God, close enough to kiss our forehead with holy water and Holy Spirit, is astonishing. How can we comprehend a love such as this? How could we ever earn this amazing grace? You call us to you in love, O God, and send us to love others in Christ’s name. Hear our prayers this day as we hold the weary and the suffering in our p2 hearts and minds. We pray for those recovering and rebuilding from hurricanes and natural disasters. Shelter and protect those who have lost loved ones and homes, God. Be their refuge and their strength. We pray for refugees, for children and families, mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles seeking asylum, safety and opportunity. Your love knows no boundary or border, Holy God. Help us to love as you love. We pray for the sick and their caregivers. We pray for first responders and hospital personnel. Give hope to those who are called to help and heal. May our world know well-being. We pray for countries and communities struggling for safety and freedom. We pray for those without access to healthcare, food or shelter. Help us, Holy God, to dismantle oppressive systems that privilege and hoard. Help us build new and just systems for our collective flourishing. We pray for those who, in this new year, feel helpless and hopeless. Remind them, Savior God, that the night is not night to you. Remind them, Covenant God, that you have called them by name, that they belong to you, that none of us is alone. (Presbyterian Outlook, Terri McDowell Ott) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Luke writes in chapter 3, describing Jesus’ baptism, followed by the gift of the Holy Spirit and a voice claiming, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” As we remember that description, I’m struck by what a remarkable reality it is for each one of us to be claimed by God. Remember? Isaiah 43 says, “I have called you by name, you are mine.” In gratitude for that relationship, we come to offer our gifts of money, time and talent. With joy, we bring the best we have to celebrate the way God reaches out to us. May each of us reach deep to offer our gifts today. Prayer of Thanksgiving Source of all being, Hear our thanks as we offer ourselves and these symbols of our daily living to you. May your Spirit pour into us, as it came into Jesus, for we truly want to be claimed by you as we follow him. Help us find ways to live the Good News of your love for one and for all, Help us use these gifts and our time and talents in service with Jesus, your Beloved Son, Amen. (Disciples of Christ, Center for Faith and Giving) Invitation to Reaffirm Our Baptismal Covenant We gather today to worship and praise the God of awe and majesty. We come to encounter the God who knows us each by name and who walks with us in intimate love. We come to reaffirm the blessing we have received through our baptism. In baptism, we remember God’s saving actions throughout history, and we have the opportunity to answer yes as God whispers our names. As a community of God, we gather today at the waters of baptism to reaffirm our commitment to Christ and to experience anew the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Laura Jaquith Bartlett) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook You are each precious in God’s sight. We go from this place, claiming our identity as children of God. God has called you by name. We go into the world to answer God’s call. Alleluia! (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Laura Jaquith Bartlett) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Remember that your first name is Beloved, given to you by God before any other name. Remember also it is the name given to every human being. May this blessed gift and claim of God grow in your heart and mind. And may it flow through you as a blessing into the life of the world. Blessings on you, Beloved! Amen and Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, David Long-Higgins) Additional Illustrations The Hassidic Jews have a story about the sorrow tree. According to them, on Judgment Day we will be invited to hang all of our own miseries upon the tree of sorrows. When we've done that we will be given permission to walk around the tree and survey everyone else's miseries in order to select a set we like better. According to Hassidic legend, in the end, we freely choose our own personal set of sorrows once more. That's a charming way of saying that when we see the suffering and sorrow of others, more often than not, we're quite happy to keep our own. A man at a party walked over to a woman and said, "You're wearing one of the most beautiful diamond rings I have ever seen." She responded, "It's the Chapman diamond, and a curse comes with it." Taken aback, the man asked, "and what is the curse?" The woman's face clouded as she replied, "Mr. Chapman, who gave it to me." Let me share a poem which I think will tie it all together--a rather folksy poem. I'm not sure Miss Olga would think it was great poetry, but it ties together the contrast between a "what if" and a "next time" kind of life. Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl and one was an optimistic soul but the other one took the gloomy view, "I shall drown," he cried, "and so will you!" And with one last despairing cry, he closed his eyes and said goodbye. But the other frog had a merry grin, Said he couldn't get out but wouldn't give in. "I'll swim around 'til my strength is spent. But for having tried, I'll die content." Bravely he swam, until it would seem His struggles began to churn the cream. On top of the butter he finally stopped. And out of the bowl he happily hopped. So what's the moral. It's easily found. If you can't get out, just keep swimming around! I hope you get the picture: the contrast between an "if only" and a "next time" approach to life. No matter what happens, no matter what our circumstances, we can affirm with conviction "next time" because our God is a consuming fire, burning away all the sin and failure of the past; He is a God who is "doing a new thing," making a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." Verse 20 both alludes to the universal nature of God’s loving, redemptive action, and proclaims the particularity that love is capable of expressing. While the water is given to all the wilderness, God declares that it flows there in order to "give drink to my chosen people." Modern homes with indoor plumbing always have water available - yet a young child, too small to reach the sink, is still completely dependent on a parent to get a drink. The same tenderness is implied in Isaiah’s image - the mighty creator God who makes whole rivers race through the land will still stoop to hold a cup to the thirsty lips of the children God “formed for myself." Once that thirst is quenched, however, v.21 reminds the reader, everyone has a responsibility to say "thank you," praising God again and again for the very staples of life. ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Collected Works, by Leonard Sweet That which binds us all together in this household of faith, however, is the fact that we have all been "redeemed" together. That is what we have in common -- not blood, not soil, not economics or status. Rather, we share together the one fact that God has redeemed us all. He redeemed Israel out of Egypt, that is, he bought her back out of slavery, which is what redemption means (cf. Leviticus 25:47-49). And so too he redeemed each one of us out of slavery to sin and death, and he redeemed the person who is to be baptized. Long before our baptisms, long before any one of us had done anything to deserve it (cf. Romans 5:8), God redeemed us from sin and death by the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The only place where God directly says, “I Love You”

Put God First

New Year’s Eve Prayer Service Revelation 21:1-6a December 31, 2021 Preparing for the Service Welcome – light a candle to make this sacred space and time. Also encourage you to have a pencil and a piece of paper for reflection and journaling. Lighting the Christ Candle We gather here in this sacred space to lift up your name in glory. At the start of this new year, we continue to be amazed by your Creation, Your heavens, with the multitude of stars in the vastness of space; The secrets found in the depths of your oceans; The majesty of your tallest mountaintops and the roar of your waterfalls; The splendor of your desert in bloom after a rainfall; And the vast expanse of the African savanna. You have set your glory above all the heavens and yet still care for us. You gave us responsibility for your creation giving us the power over the works of your hands. You shaped us in your image and filled our world with your creations, the sheep and oxen and all the beasts of the field, the birds of the air and the fish of the seas. We lift up our hearts and our hands in praise and thanksgiving for your Creation. Revelation 21:1-6 Common English Bible New heaven and new earth 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. Reflection In this scripture, we learn that the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven: God in the midst of the world. Revelation describes this new moment with wedding imagery, a relationship of perfect joy and peace between God and God’s people. We are called to partner with God to make this new heaven and new earth. Invite people to consider how they might commit themselves< to one or two things in the upcoming year that will show God’s love and teachings in the world. Also ask them to consider what might hold them back from showing God’s love to others. From Catherine Kenlin Message One week a Sunday school teacher had just finished telling her class the Christmas story. After telling the story the teacher asked, "Who do you think the most important woman in the Bible is?” A little boy raised his hand and said, “Eve.” The teacher asked him why he thought Eve was the most important woman in the Bible. The little boy replied, “Well, they name two days of the year after Eve. You know, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.” Source: Unknown New Year’s eve is not a church holiday. But I do think that it is an important time of year. New Year’s Eve us full of ritual and tradition, and myth and legend. Personally I look forward to this night more than any other. Christmas Easter, and even Halloween is full of expectations of me as a pastor and as a family member. New Year’s Eve I am free to be myself. But it is a wonderful night because I am also free to imagine, vision, dream and to plan new ways of being in the coming year. It is a time to set goals and to let God in on those goals. John Wesley, had the same idea. He felt it was a perfect day to look at our relationship with God. In Wesley’s day, of course people went to midnight mass – it was expected that you would be in church in Christmas eve. Wesley encouraged the people called Methodist to go one step further- to gather on New Years – with others and with a peace of paper. To ask yourself some questions about life, about what worked for the year, what didn’t, where was god in your life, most importantly where were you in relation to God. Don Whitely, a spiritual writer came up with a list of 30 questions to ask about your relationship with god. I will give you a sample of them. The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings. For starters, here are 31 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God as you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month. 1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? 2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? 3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? 4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? 5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? 6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? 7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? You can ask all at once, or one a year. Can google Don Whitely if you want to know more. Pastor Stephen Brown taught swimming and diving for a number of years. He tells about a young boy named Billy. Billy had watched so many professional divers and wanted so much to dive like them that he refused to take time to learn the basics. Time after time Brown tried to help Billy see that the most important thing about diving was to keep his head in the proper position. If his head entered the water properly, Brown explained, the rest of his body would enter the water properly–at least, more properly than it had been. Billy would dive into the pool, do a belly flop, and come up grinning, “Mr. Brown,” he would shout, “were my feet together?” “Billy, I don’t care whether your feet were together or not,” Brown shouted back. “Make sure your head is straight, then everything else will work out.” The next time Billy would stand on the edge of the pool and really concentrate. Then he would dive and, once again, make a mess of it. “Mr. Brown, were my hands together?” “Billy,” Brown would groan in frustration, “I’m going to get you a neck brace and weld it onto your head. For the hundredth time, if your head is right the rest of you will be right. If your head is wrong, the rest of you will be wrong.” And isn’t that true in all of life? If our head is wrong, our marriage will probably suffer. If our head is wrong, our priorities will be fouled up. If our head is wrong, it may even affect our health in a negative way. God understands our distress and God seeks to make us new persons so that we can handle our distress more effectively. Stephen Brown, When Being Good Isn’t Good Enough, Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. Adapted by King Duncan New year is a good time to get your head straight. How are you going to put God first in the coming year. We also have to look at what got in the way of our first love and most important relationship. Sometimes it can be our own good intentions, our service, and even the church. Most often, to build toward leisure demands that we disassemble something else. In Thomas Moore’s book Meditations, he tells of a pilgrim walking along a road. The pilgrim sees some men working on a stone building. “You look like a monk,” the pilgrim said. “I am that,” said the monk. “Who is that working on the abbey?” “My monks. I’m the abbot.” “It’s good to see a monastery going up,” said the pilgrim. “They’re tearing it down,” said the abbot. “Whatever for?” asked the pilgrim. “So we can see the sun rise at dawn,” said the abbot. Richard A. Wing, Deep Joy for a Shallow World, CSS Publishing The word paragon means – an action or step that comes second, but helps you to keep your #1 priority in place. Our relationship with God comes first, but the activities that refresh and renew us and clear away the clutter to hear God more clearly are just as important. Tonight, we say goodbye to 2021 and say hello to 2022. One ritual of the new year is to open the door to make sure that the old year passes away. Before it leaves, thank it for the lessons that it taught us, for making us stronger than we were in 2020, for getting us through the tough times for a better day. No year is all bad, and worth shutting the door on. But let us also welcome 2022 I am the New Year. I am an unspoiled page in your book of time. I am your next chance at the art of living. I am your opportunity to practice what you have learned about life during the last twelve months. All that you sought and didn’t find is hidden in me, waiting for you to search it but with more determination. All the good that you tried for and didn’t achieve is mine to grant when you have fewer conflicting desires. All that you dreamed but didn’t dare to do, all that you hoped but did not will, all the faith that you claimed but did not have—these slumber lightly, waiting to be awakened by the touch of a strong purpose. I am your opportunity to renew your allegiance to Him who said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Source: Unknown My prayer for the new year is you stay close enough to the spirit of God that you may know that you are never alone. That you may walk through new doors, that you know when God calls you to let go. There will be many ups and down in this year. There will be heartache, there will be joy. But through it all may we keep our faith directed at God. John Wesley’s Covenant Prayer I am no longer my own, but thine. Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt. Put me to doing, put me to suffering. Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee, Exalted for thee or brought low for thee. Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing. I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal. And now, O Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it. And the covenant which I have made on earth, Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen. One More tradition – ringing the bells With food in our bellies and big questions on our minds,we wait for epiphanies big and small.We are still following the star and trying to be wise and braveto ready ourselves for all that this new year might hold.We are listening for that revelationand that certainty that will beas clear as a bell. We hear hints of those those chimes and believe that through all the disorientationand heartbreak we have known, God is still making a new heaven and a new earth.God is making all things newand inviting us to join in the creation of this new year. Elsa Cook A New Year Blessing Benediction You are the people of Christ, the people of the New Jerusalem. You have been claimed by God. Look bravely into the future and see the promise of the new year. See the abundance of God’s gifts in the world. Feel the presence of God in the world with you and go forward in God’s strength, love and grace. Amen. A Service of Holy Communion for the New Year was written by Catherine Kenlin, a recent graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, and Member in Discernment in the Lancaster Association of the Penn Central Conference. Additional illustrations Stay Focused! We sometimes miss the great opportunities of life because we get sidetracked. I once heard the tale of a talented and gifted bloodhound in England that started a hunt by chasing a full-grown male deer. During the chase a fox crossed his path, so he began now to chase the fox. A rabbit crossed his hunting path, so he began to chase the rabbit. After chasing the rabbit for a while, a tiny field mouse crossed his path, and he chased the mouse to the corner of a farmer’s barn. The bloodhound had begun the hunt chasing a prized male deer for his master and wound up barking at a tiny mouse. It is a rare human being who can do three or four different things at a time–moving in different directions. The Apostle Paul knew his number one priority in life was to live his life to the honor and glory of God by preaching the Gospel. However, we know that Paul is not in a plush hotel room but in prison. He receives a report that all is not well at the Church in Philippi. His very life could be ended at any moment. And the list goes on. However, the Apostle Paul would not allow anything to cross his path that would deter him from his priority. Paul knew that his new life was a gift from God, not from the promises of humanity. His life was to be lived for his master. Nothing would sidetrack him of that priority! Eric S. Ritz, The Ritz Collection, www.Sermons.com The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up and get our bearings. For starters, here are 31 questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God as you "Consider your ways." Think on the entire list at one sitting, or answer one question each day for a month. 1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God? 2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year? 3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year? 4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it? 5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year? 6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church? 7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year? 8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year? 9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year? 10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity? 11. What's the most important decision you need to make this year? 12. What area of your life most needs simplifying, and what's one way you could simplify in that area? 13. What's the most important need you feel burdened to meet this year? 14. What habit would you most like to establish this year? 15. Who do you most want to encourage this year? 16. What is your most important financial goal this year, and what is the most important step you can take toward achieving it? 17. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your work life this year? 18. What's one new way you could be a blessing to your pastor (or to another who ministers to you) this year? 19. What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren? 20. What book, in addition to the Bible, do you most want to read this year? 21. What one thing do you most regret about last year, and what will you do about it this year? 22. What single blessing from God do you want to seek most earnestly this year? 23. In what area of your life do you most need growth, and what will you do about it this year? 24. What's the most important trip you want to take this year? 25. What skill do you most want to learn or improve this year? 26. To what need or ministry will you try to give an unprecedented amount this year? 27. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your commute this year? 28. What one biblical doctrine do you most want to understand better this year, and what will you do about it? 29. If those who know you best gave you one piece of advice, what would they say? Would they be right? What will you do about it? 30. What's the most important new item you want to buy this year? 31. In what area of your life do you most need change, and what will you do about it this year?

With Bells On

December 30, 2018 Colossians 3:12-17 With Bells on 1st Sunday of Christmas Year C Children’s time Lesson: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above. Object: A kite, balloon, flower, candle Good morning, boys and girls. Isn't this a wonderful day? Do you all know what special festival we are celebrating today? (Let them answer.) That's right. Today is Easter Sunday -- the day that Jesus rose from the dead. We are especially happy today as Christians because of this wonderful thing that God allowed to happen. Today all of us are supposed to remember that we are special to God, too. We are all going to rise from the dead, like Jesus did, so we should keep our minds on heaven. Paul tells us today that we should always be looking at the things that are above -- the things of heaven. To help us do that I brought some things along that have something in common. (Pick up the kite.) What can kites do, boys and girls? (Let them answer.) Kites can fly high above the ground, can't they? When we fly a kite, where do we keep our eyes? (Let them answer.) That's right. We keep our eyes on the kite, up in the sky, because kites usually want to keep going up and up. (Pick up the balloon.) Here is a balloon. Balloons have something in common with kites, don't they, boys and girls? What do they have in common? (Let them respond.) Balloons like to fly above the ground, too. They help us to keep our eyes on heaven, too. (Pick up flower pot.) Here we have a flower. How did this flower get started, does anyone know? (Let them answer.) Probably this one got started from a little seed that got buried in the dirt. Pretty soon that little seed began to sprout, and it grew up and up until it reached the air. Then it just kept growing up toward the sky until it looked like it does now. So kites and balloons and flowers all like to reach for the heavens, don't they, boys and girls? (Let them respond. Light the candle.) Finally, here is a candle. I want all of you to watch the flame. Which way is the flame reaching? (Let them answer.) That's right. The flame is reaching up toward the sky, also. It is sending its little light right up toward the heavens. All of these things today remind us of Jesus' Resurrection, of his coming out of the tomb and reaching up to his heavenly Father. He wants us to remember that we belong up there, too, with himself and with his Father. That's why I want you to think a lot about heaven this week by remembering this kite, this balloon, this flower, and this candle. In fact, you can probably find a lot of other things that keep reaching toward the heavens, toward God. Let's all try to keep our eyes opened for those kinds of things this week -- and then praise God for this wonderful day of Jesus' rising from the dead. Will you do that, boys and girls? Good. God bless you all. Amen. CSS Publishing Company, WE ARE THE CHURCH, by Wesley T. Runk Colossians 8-17 8 But now set aside these things, such as anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene language.9 Don’t lie to each other. Take off the old human nature with its practices 10 and put on the new nature, which is renewed in knowledge by conforming to the image of the one who created it. 11 In this image there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all things and in all people. 12 Therefore, as God’s choice, holy and loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Be tolerant with each other and, if someone has a complaint against anyone, forgive each other. As the Lord forgave you, so also forgive each other. 14 And over all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 The peace of Christ must control your hearts—a peace into which you were called in one body. And be thankful people. 16 The word of Christ must live in you richly. Teach and warn each other with all wisdom by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Bells are a big part of our celebrations this time of the year. We have all heard the songs about sleigh bells. And we have images of the sleigh going over the river and through the woods to grandmother’s house. But have you ever wondered why the sleigh would need bells? If you are travelling alone, with no stop lights, who is it that actually hears the bells. Unlike the horns on our modern sleigh’s, bells actually have a deeper purpose. Other people can hear the bells coming. But there is a deeper meaning behind the bells. spirits don’t like noise. The bells are a warning not to people, but to all of the elves and fairies living in the woods, to tell them to get out of the way, so that the sleigh can travel safely to its destination. It is a common understanding across many cultures – that spirits don’t like noise. And noise is used in many if not most cultures to keep the spirits away. In Africa, the drum is used to keep the beat and to keep the spirits away. Asian cultures tend to use gongs, or something that makes an off key noise. I have here a native American noise maker. You use this to cleanse a space of spirits. The spirits, will disappear in order to avoid the noise. European cultures tended to favor a more harmonious sound, so they use bells for that purpose. Another interesting addition in European spirituality, is that Europeans believed that not only could you cleanse space of spirits, but you could also cleanse time. If you ring the bell at the beginning of the church service, then any spirits that were hanging around hoping to get in church to cause trouble were scared away and you could worship in peace. If you rung the bell at the very beginning of a marriage, then any spirits hoping to get in the marriage and cause havoc would be scared away and not have a change to ever enter the marriage. And if you rang the bell at the very beginning of the new year, any spirits hoping to get in and wreak havoc in your year were scared away, and you had a good year all year. Not only do spirits, not like noise, but they also hate light. And they hate crowds of people. They really hate to be around crowds of people that are having fun, making a lot of noise, and celebrating. So now does the New Year’s Eve celebrations make sense. We gather together, have fun and celebrate, and at the stroke of midnight, fireworks go off, and we make a lot of noise, and sing. It is a way of bringing good luck into the year, and keeping evil and negativity at bay. So you thought I was just being annoying wearing bells on my shoes for Christmas. And all of the time, I was cleansing the space, and getting rid of the negativity. So I wanted to make sure that everyone got a bell, to ring in the new year, and keep the negative thoughts at bay. On the positive side, we can think of the bells as a reminder that this is a new year, and we can put the old year aside. Our scripture from Colossians actually encourages us to put the old year aside, and to start anew. That is what Christianity is all about – willingingly accepting a new way of life in Christ. I find it interesting that this understanding of the spiritual world stands up across all cultures. I actually learned that spirits don’t like noise in a Tibetan culture – as they were explaining why they got together to celebrate the new year, and have found that all cultures do the same. Have you noticed that we all have some type of celebration to mark the stages of life. Whenever there is a significant event in your life, what do you do – you have a party and invite your friends over to celebrate. You don’t celebrate alone, in the dark, in silence. – that would be inviting trouble. When we worship God, we don’t stay at home and do nothing. We gather together in worship, and we make a lot of noise and sing. Some cultures look forward to gathering and clapping and celebrating the light of life. The louder and the more boisterous the better. And when we leave, our spirits are in a much better place. Just like the bells in church have a dual purpose – of calling the people in and keeping the spirits out. I think that negativity can creep into our lives in many ways. Some of it is inside of us, and some of it may indeed be around us. But there is something sacred about gathering together. There is something even more sacred about gathering together in the spirit of Christ. The message of Colossians is perfect for the new year. It starts our by acknowledging all of the negative things that we as humans do to one anothers. But once you are a gathering in Christ. You take off the old and put on the new. In Christ, we are all one, and there are no divisions. Paul encourages us to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. These are all important qualities, because these are the attributes of God. These are things that only come from God. But these are things which make a difference in the world. These are the things which ensure good luck in our lives, because they are positive and they give positive vibes in the world. If we are forgiving, peaceful and loving – it makes a difference to everyone that we meet in the year. We are encouraged to worship – by listening to the word, singing, and showing gratitude. But the message for us is that what we do as we gather together – doesn’t make a difference unless we live it out there. We don’t just ring the bells on new years, but every Sunday. And we don’t just worship for one hour on Sunday, but every day, in all times and in all things. It is Christ who keeps the evils spirits at bay. But we have to power to bring Christ with us whereever he is needed. As we gather for worship, we will celebrate new years in many ways – some of us alone, some of us with loved ones, some of us in a crowd. Some of us will be sleep way before midnight, and others may be up late into the night. Some of us will watch tv, some of us prefer to sit in silence. Whereever we are, let us know that we are united in Christ. And that when we show compassion, kindness, forgiveness and patience – that we are cleansing the earth and keeping negativity at bay. Colossians reminds us that in Christ, we are chosen, we are holy and we are loved. Let us remember how important that is – this coming year. Let us pray. Amen.

Arise and Shine, your Light has Come

January 5, 2014 Isaiah 60:1-6 Matthew 2:1-12 “Arise and Shine, your Light Has Come” Year A Epiphany Sunday Living to die Walker Percy, is an American novelist who has written several books about the state of affairs if the world today. In Walker Percy’s novel, The Second coming, the major character, Will Barrett is a man who has lost everything. He plans to commit suicide, until he meets a woman as depressed as he is, and he discovers that life is not so bad afterall. Instead of killing himself he finally realizes that the name of the real enemy of American society is death, “not the death of dying, but the living death. The name of this century is the Century of the Love of Death. Death in the century is not the death people die, it is the death people live How many people in the world are living in death, because they are stuck in a pattern, a belief, a lifestyle, a reality that does not really serve them. Man looking for money to get away I was reminded just yesterday how easy it is to live stuck in a pattern. As a man knocked on my door – looking for the pastor of the church next door – because he needed someone to help him think and to pray for him. So I let him in the church, and let him talk. He gave me this really sad story about how he used to be in the Latin Kings, and that he got out and moved away, but that he came back because he wanted to get back with his wife and daughter. He had a job, and was getting it together, oh and while he was in jail he had met a minister that had led him to Christ. Well today he got in a fight with his cousin, who told him that he could not get out of the gang, and that now he could not go home, or go to work, or go this his family because they were looking for him. If I could just put him in the car and drive him as far away – everything would be okay. He was mad a god for allowing all of this to happen to him. I got a little irritated and told him not to blame this on God, but that he got himself into this mess, and that God would not come out of the sky and rescue him, but that God would give him the strength to get out of it. I was not going to help him, but to trust that God would be with him. When I told him that I was not going to give him an answer of what to do next, I told me that he got himself into this mess, needed to figure out how to get out of it. he got up offended and said that I did not understand. And he just walked away. As he was leaving – I couldn’t help but to wonder what makes people stuck in dumb situations. But before you start thinking bad thoughts about that man and how he needs to get himself together and get a life. Let me tell you that I met this same man, who told me the same basic story (the details were different but the premise was the same). And that time I was so caught up into his story that I have him $50 in cash and drove him to a Mexican bus station. He promised me that as soon as he was safe who would send me the $50 back. I even preached a sermon about him, talking about how my faith in helping humanity was making a difference in the world. Needless to say I never heard from him, and was told that he makes his rounds to churches and tells the same story, of needing to get out of town, so he needs money to travel.expecting the same old results? It is not uncommon for us to remain trapped in our lives, our habits, our understandings, our own made up reality? My point for today is that is life without Christ, an illusion, and not a very happy one at that. I am not talking about the Christ that we hold in our heads, our beliefs, our sense of reality. But I am talking about the real Christ – the glorius savior, the unpredictable one who comes in our lives and shakes things up. The God who is so concerned about us that no matter how many times that we make the same mistake, no matter how many situations we cause, no matter what messes we seem to always create, God loves us enough to listen to our sad story, to change us from within, to bring us salvation. And it seems that the more he offers salvation, the more determined we are to stay stuck in our lives and blame God for what we do wrong…. Living without Christ Fred Craddock once told a parable about a man who moved into a cottage equipped with a stove and simple furnishings. As the sharp edge of winter cut across the landscape, the cottage grew cold as did its occupant. He went out back and pulled a few boards off the house to kindle the fire. The fire was warm, but the house seemed as cold as before. More boards came off for a larger fire to warm the now even colder house, which in return required an even larger fire, demanding more boards. In a few days the man cursed the weather, cursed the house, cursed the stove, and moved away. The futility that man felt is the futility of those who try to live the Christian life without Christ. He is the Word that was in the beginning with God and was God. And he is alive today. To those of us who are drowning he is someone we can hold on to. He is someone who can set our feet on dry ground again in this New Year. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com That is why the first words of Isaiah 60 are so important. It is a call to the world – Arise and Shine your light has come. It is time for us to awaken out of death and to enter into the life that God has in store for us. These are words of hope for the isrealites, who had lived in exile for years. And when they were able to come home all they saw was darkness and hopelessness. Everything was destroyed and nothing seemed to be working. And before we start to feel sorry for the Isrealites and their hopelessness. Let me reminds you that they were sent into exile because they had forgot about God, they stopped helping the poor, and living a faithful life. And God’s assurance that it would be okay – was not because they had earned relief, but because God wanted to show that he was God – he sent them into exile and he would deliver them because he was God all by himself. God doesn’t always agree with us, but he always cares enough to save us. in Isaiah 60:10 God says though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. And it gets better, in verse 20 God says that you sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; and the Lord will be your everlasting light and your days of sorrow will end. That is what life with Christ is all about – seeing the glory of God for ourselves with our own eyes. God’s glory is enough to help us to see clearly. There are two words for “arise”. “Arise, shine” in verse 1 means “Stand up and let us see you in all your radiant glory”. The long night of suffering is over, a new day had dawned for her, a day when she can get up out of the dust where she has lain for so long, forsaken and dejected. The other word for “rise” is usually used of the sun, but here it is twice used of the rising of the glory of the Lord (vv. 1–2); that is to say, “the sun of righteousness...with healing in its wings” (Mal. 4:2). Finally the author brilliantly combines the two when he describes the revival of Jerusalem in verse 3 as the appearance in the blackness of the morning star, proclaiming to the nations that dawn is near Not only do we shine, but Christ shines too. And we are able to see God’s light, and not our darkness. Today is the 11th day of Christmas. Tomorrow is the 12th day of Christmas - it is epiphany – the manifestation of Christ. It took the wise men 12 days to reach the baby Jesus. Matthew’s point is that the light is not just for the Jews, but for everyone who can see it. The wisemen saw the star and knew they needed to follow it. I thought it was important for us to remember the point of epiphany for the first Sunday of January. I didn’t want to do the Wesley Covenant service – you can look it up if you need it. Before we make a commitment to serve Christ, we have to remember the reason for our commitment. Christ is the light not just of our lives, but of the world. When we see the light – we need to make an intentional response. The wise men gave gifts to the baby – gold for a king, myrhh for a priest , and frankensense to make things holy. We give gifts for Christmas, because the wisemen gave their gifts. I wanted us to focus gift giving this year and not goals. Remember when someone gave a gift away or they gave it back to us we call them an Indian giver. I went to an Indian ceremony once and complimented the host on her earrings, she took them off and said that since I liked them, that she had to give them to me. I am not worthy of anyone’s earrings, because I tend to lose them. But I still treasure those earrings, because they were a special gift, given just to show that she care. It is understood in Indian culture that whatever you have, you don’t hold onto it, you give it away. I don’t have those earrings on today, and wouldn’t give them to you if you asked. But the lesson is that we should be able to give as God gives to us – freely. Scripture says that after they gave gifts they kneeled before the baby in adoration. What does “adore” mean? In its Latin roots it means to reverence and honor. But it is a much stronger word than “honor,” or the Latin venerari. It actually is equivalent to the Greek proskunein, which means to “prostrate.” So to say “I adore Chipotle burritos” or “I adore my little brother” is to say something almost sacrilegious. For to “adore” something is to go as far as we can go in worship and praise. You can glorify God, and praise God, and bless God. But when you “adore” God, you go as far as you can go. You take the ultimate step… How do you glorify God in your life? what gifts do you bring to God? How does Christ manifest in your life each and every day? God's "Random" Provision Charles Cowman and his wife were missionaries to Asia. He became fatally ill and they returned to their homeland. For six years he battled his illness. Mrs. Cowman says, "... each time when the testings had reached their utmost limit, God would illumine some old and familiar text, or a helpful book or tract would providentially fall into our hands, which contained just the message needed at the moment. The help from God that an ill person would naturally seek is healing, whether it be through medicine, supernatural means, or a doctor with an epiphany. What one does not necessarily expect to find is the strength to carry on in the illness from random inspirational thoughts, one of which simply fluttered across their path as they walked on the beach." The treasures that carried them through were developed after Cowman’s death into the classic devotional book, Streams in the Desert, which has given inspiration to people all over the world for the last 50 years. My final story is about a lady in a store in search of hope.. Planting the Seeds There was a woman once who wanted peace in the world and peace in her heart, but she was very frustrated. The world seemed to be falling apart and her personal life wasn't that great either. One day she decided to go shopping, and she went to the mall and walked in to one of the stores. She was surprised to see Jesus behind the counter. She knew it was Jesus because he looked just like the paintings she'd seen in museums and in devotional books. Finally she got up her nerve and asked, "Excuse me, but are you Jesus?" "I am." "Do you work here?" "In a way; I own the store." "Oh, what do you sell here?" "Just about everything," Jesus replied. "Feel free to walk up and down the aisles, make a list, see what it is you want, and then come back and I'll see what I can do for you." Well, she did just that. She walked up and down the aisles, writing furiously. There was peace on earth, no more war, no hunger or poverty. There was peace in families, harmony, no dissension, no more drugs. There careful use of resources. By the time she got back to the counter, she had a long list. Jesus looked over the list, then smiled at her and said, "No problem." And then he bent down behind the counter and picked out all sorts of things, and finally stood up, and laid out the packets on the counter. "What are these?" the woman asked. "Seed packets," Jesus answered. "This is a catalog store." "You mean I don't get the finished product?" "No, this is a place of dreams. You come and see what it looks like, and I give you the seeds. You go home and plant the seeds. You water them and nurture them and help them to grow, and someday someone else reaps the benefits." "Oh," she said. "And she left the store without buying anything." John understood that he was planting the seeds. The message is we must wait. Are you willing to do the work and wait? Brett Blair, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com We cannot invent God, or create God, we cannot invent life, or create life. we can only discover what God has already done. We can only realize what has been true from the beginning of time, for ourselves, for others, for the world. That is why epiphany is so important – for us to finally see the light that has been there all along. Epiphany is about planting the seeds to heal our illness, to light our darkness to fulfill our hope. The story of the wise men is a familiar story – we know they bought gifts, we know that they kneeled in adoration. They were led by a star, they talked to a king. A king who promised that he too wanted to come and worship the new king. But scripture says that they were warned in a dream to go home another way. May you also, no leave the way you came – go home another way. The 7 most dangerous words for a church is we have never done it that way before. Don’t get stuck on your reality. Witness and see the glory of Christ. Arise you light has come. But make sure when you go home, don’t leave the way that you came. Be changed, glorify God do something different this year – Go home another way! Amen. In the book, “Let Us Break Bread Together” Fred Daniel Gealy writes, “The word Epiphany is a great Christian word. The grace of God has appeared is the testimony of every page in the New Testament. My eyes have seen God has not just shown himself in the past; nor is his coming simply some far-off divine event. That the one who manifested himself to the fathers is here. The coming one has come. The light shines. And in the presence of this revelation we see ourselves as we are in our true relations to the world, to one another, and to God. In showing himself to us, God shows us ourselves. Light is not to look at but to see by.” Let’s begin with a little survey. How many of you have you have taken down your Christmas tree and packed up all the festive decorations until next December? How many of you are still living with your Christmas bling-bling? I thought so. There are not too many of us who hold on and hold out until the passing of Epiphany to take down our Christmas décor. This year Epiphany, January 6, falls on Thursday, a nondescript day of the week. We are back at work. Kids are back at school. Post-Christmas and New Year’s sales are over. It’s too early to plan for “President’s Day” or Valentine’s Day. We find Epiphany, the day the Magi finally reached Mary and Joseph and offered their extravagant gifts to the baby Jesus, slightly off-putting. Maybe it is because we’ve jumped the gun and have already opened up . . . used up . . . eaten up . . . even broken up . . . all our presents by now. Maybe we have a sneaking sense that “we should have waited.” So we crate our crèches even before the wise men get a chance to show up for the celebration. But maybe there is something else about epiphany that makes us uncomfortable. When the Magi finally reached their destination, what was the first thing they did? They “knelt down and paid him homage” (Matthew 2:11). Specifically Christian worship begins here, and on the Sunday closest to Epiphany. These were rich, respected, wise men. They were on speaking terms with the king. As astrologers they were privy to the secrets of the stars, and the stars held the secrets to the universe. They were not even Jews. In this East meets West moment, the Eastern cults and traditions of the magi were far removed from the messianic traditions of the Hebrews. Yet when they came into the presence of this little star-born baby, what did they do? They threw themselves down on the ground without hesitation but with abject humility. Think of that crèche you put away. Wasn’t at least one of the wise men kneeling? Here was one to be offered praise and glory. Here was one whose greatness was to be honored. Here was one born to be “adored.” “Oh, come, let us adore him.” ___________________________ Finally, the Wise Men brought gifts. They did the thing that people in the East or in Africa or in India would do when visiting royalty. They brought gifts. Gold was the kind of gift that you brought to a king. Frankincense was the kind of gift that you would bring to a priest. Myrrh was given to someone who was about to die. On This Twelfth Day, or Three Kings Day, otherwise known as Epiphany, think of the gift that you will offer to God in the coming year. The gift of time? The gift of your talents? Your service in the community? Your witness and testimony? The gift of undying love and devotion? Their greatest gift comes to us in the form of a realization. The Wise Men were the first Gentiles to recognize that Jesus belongs to everyone. Good news is for everyone, not just a select few. Star of wonder Star of light Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading Still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect light. Amen. On Epiphany we celebrate the original gift-giving, the gifts of the magi, whose example is why we give gifts at Christmas. January 5, the eve of Epiphany, is actually the twelfth day of Christmas. Today, Christmas seems to be over in one day, and Christmas trees are out at the curb the next day. Festive lighting is extinguished on December 26. The Pilgrims who landed in this country discovered that Native Americans passed gifts on and this came to be called "Indian giving." Today many "regift" items they have received, but have no use for, when they need a present. We have inherited a European understanding of gifts, but Jesus, like Native Americans, wants gifts to keep on giving. Even today gold is the essence of hard currency. Frankincense was once used for the purification of holy things, but Jesus expands holiness to include even ordinary sinners such as us. Myrrh was used for sacred anointing...

A New Year with God - New Year's Eve

December 31, 2012 New Year’s Eve Revelation - A New Heaven and a New Earth Here we are at the end of another year. There has been a lot of good times and a lot of bad times for us all. One of the most notable events of 2012, is that it was said that the end of the world was coming. The media made a big deal about that. And many are celebrating because they survived the end of the world. I laugh to myself, and say you really don’t know that – the year has not ended yet. But more importantly I laugh because I think this whole end of the world thing has been blown out of proportion. It seems that the one way to strike fear in the heart of an American is to say end, last, final. For some reason, whenever we hear those words we cringe, we start the scrurm and sweat. For some reason we think that life as we know it is about to end. It is popular in church for pastors to say that the last days are coming. We might be, we might not be, but Is that the only reason to join church – because this is your last chance to know salvation? Is our relationship with God to be based on fear of going to hell? To have fear when you hear the word end, or final is a misinterpretation of the mayan prophecy, and ultimately it is a misinterpretation of the word of God. The mayans don’t believe in endings. And they never said that the world was coming to an end. As a matter of fact, the prophecy is that world is coming to a new beginning. In order for the world to begin anew, what is already here has to pass away- so that something new and different can emerge. If you look at scripture it gives the same concept. Colossians says the in Christ, you take off what is old and you put on what is new. Revelation says the old earth shall pass and the new shall emerge. Old and new go hand in hand – you cant have one without the other. Beginning and endings go hand in hand – you cant have one without the other. Why are we so afraid of endings – when that is only half the story. You can’t have an ending, without a new beginning. God says I am the alpha and the omega. He didn’t say he was alpha and he didn’t say he was omega. He said I am the beginning and the end. You can’t separate the two. So maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about it all being over –maybe we should learn to look forward to what is next. When we live our life in Christ, there is always what’s next. The old never really goes away – it just becomes a part of the new. The new was underneath the old all along. As we begin 2013 – I don’t know what you have planned. I don’t know what your resolutions and goals are. I don’t know what you will do differently this year. But I ask – that this year you live each moment with Christ. Let God be a part of your whole life. And everything that you experience this year – take in the moment as a gift from God. A son asked his dad – dad – there are 3 frogs sitting a branch, and one decided to jump. How many are still on the branch? The dad thought about it, if one jumps, then there are two left on the branch. No – that is not right. So the dad thought again – Oh I get it, if one jumps, then they all will jump – so there are no frogs left. No, said the son. One frog only decided to jump – he didn’t actually take the plunge. There are still 3 frogs left on the branch. Whatever you do tonight to bring the new year in – what you do in 2013- may you live each moment in the spirit of Christ. Let each experience of the year be an adventure – and everyday ask God – what is next for me? It is only when you live you life for God that you see the old pass away and all things become new!