Remembering John

December 14, 2025 Third Sunday of Advent Matthew 11:2-11 Year A Remembering John Prelude Greetings Lighting the Advent Candle First Reader: In the midst of our waiting and longing for God to make the world right again, we cling to the truth that God has saved, God is saving, and God will save. So today, we join our voices with the prophet Isaiah, who calls us to live in the joy of the truth of God’s salvation. All: We choose to believe that the day is coming when “the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). Second Reader: We light this candle of joy as a sign of the Truth that sets us free to live in joy as we wait and work for the day when all creation will flourish together. Light the third candle (pink) of the Advent wreath. (United Methodist Board of Discipleship) Call to Worship One: Rejoice! We’re halfway through this season of preparation! Many: Why is that important? One: We’re anticipating the coming of Jesus, celebrating because our lives can model the joy of connection to God’s Beloved, our Redeemer! Many: Isaiah proclaims, “Be strong! Fear not! God will come to save you!” One: As God’s people, we gather, sing, and drink in the gladness. Many: Today, we look for the signs. See how the land, the animals, and all God’s people celebrate God and the Holy Way which is coming! ALL: Let’s sing aloud! (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Opening Prayer Beloved, we come now seeking to recognize moments of delight when we feel connected to you. We bring our fragmented hearts filled with good cheer, gentle reverence, and utter amazement; we share our secret hopes, dependable comforts, and cozy moments of advent peace. Rise up within us as we cherish the divinity of all that is good. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Maria Mankin) Song Angels From the Realm of Glory UMH 220 A Sermon for all Ages So speaking of God moments when God comes to us in unexpected ways- I found this cool children’s time while doing my sermon research this week. I liked it, but it called for a bag of chocolate coins in foil. I decided that there was no way I would be able to find them by Sunday. But I went to the chamber of commerce Christmas party and what was on the table – lots of gold coins, the nobody wanted to take home. So I took that as my sign. There was a young man name Nicholas, who lived in the land of Myra. He loved Jesus with all of his heart, and he tried to do as much good as he could in life. Unfortunately at that time it was not safe to be a Christian. The emperor outlawed kind acts and put Nicholas in jail. Luckily there was another emperor, Constantine who loved Jesus as much as Nicholas. Not only did Constantine free Nicholas – he made him bishop of Myra. Now that Nicholas was free, he could continue doing good. There were three sisters who wanted to get married, but couldn’t pay the fees. Nicholas provided. When people were starving he have food. When people were poor, he gave money for basic needs. Nicholas sound familiar – Saint Nicholas – we know as Saint Nick. Nicholas is an example that we can follow this time of year. Give money, but doing acts of kindness – volunteering, helping each other, sending notes of love, eye out for ways to help others. Nicholas is our example then so it Jesus. Personal Testimony Scripture Matthew 11:2-11 Sermon Remembering John Think about how many of us have ordered something online and waited eagerly for it to arrive. You track the package. You imagine what it will look like. You expect it to come in a certain box, a certain size. Then it arrives—and at first glance, it looks wrong. The box is smaller than expected. Or dented. Or wrapped differently. For a moment, you wonder: Is this even what I ordered? It is not what you expected, and inevitably, your high expectations turn into disappointment. Well in some ways the bible is just like amazon, or in the olden days like a catalog company. The bible tells us of all of these wonderful stories of how God worked miracles, how people were rescued from danger, the bible even tells of all of these promises of people living in peace, a world where everyone has a chance to live in happiness and experience love. And then you listen to the news and hear of one more mass shooting where someone has been shot, or of elderly people being beaten and robbed in their own houses – and you are disappointing, God is not living up to what God promised. If only one person could come along and fix it – that person would be a savior, a messiah, or maybe even superman. You know, if you read the Hebrew bible, - this messiah is alluded to, but there is no set description of the messiah – because there was no set belief in someone coming to save the world. There were just a bunch of rumors and expectations of what this person would be when they came into the world. – by Jesus day, all of these expectations has grown. People were expecting the messiah to solve all of their problems. Matthew 11:2-11 is all about the expectations of a messiah in a world in desparate need of saving. In the interest of time I want to focus on just two lessons from this story. First, this story gives honor to the ministry of John the Baptist. We hear his story every advent. He was Jesus cousin, born six months before him. When Jesus disappeared from the scene for 30 years, John stayed with his people – gathering them at the water, helping them to take responsibility for their sin and turn their lives to God. Eventually John is imprisoned and killed for telling the truth to power. Only after John is killed does Jesus take over his ministry. In this story – Jesus visits John in prison. And John asks the question on all of our minds – are you the one or should we be looking for someone else. Why are you convinced the Jesus is the one? Imagine a friend coming up to you and asking – how can you be sure that Jesus is the one? What have you seen and felt in your own life that makes you so sure? Advent is our time to really sit down and come up with an answer to that question. Is Jesus the messiah or our we still waiting for someone else? Advent is also a time of expectations. How does one person line up with are expectations? All of us are different and all of us have different needs. And all of us have different expectations of what the messiah should be doing. If Jesus spent his time living up to all of our expectations, then when would he have time to be in ministry? I am just asking a question. Jesus answer to John is an answer to us all – I don’t have to live into expectations, because I am the messiah. My actions and my life speak for itself. – he says the blind see, the deaf hear, the poor are fed, - what more are you expecting. He even says a new beatitude – blessed are those who are not thrown off from their faith because of me. A Place of Dreams There was once a woman who was disappointed, who was disillusioned, who was depressed. She wanted a good world, a peaceful world, and she wanted to be a good person. But the newspaper and television showed her how far we were from such a reality. So she decided to go shopping. She went to the mall and wandered into a new store - where the person behind the counter looked strangely like Jesus. Gathering up her courage she went up to the counter and asked, "Are you Jesus?" "Well, yes, I am," the man answered. "Do you work here?" "Actually," Jesus responded, "I own the store. You are free to wander up and down the aisles, see what it is I sell, and then make a list of what you want. When you are finished, come back here, and we'll see what we can do for you." So, the woman did just that. And what she saw thrilled her. There was peace on earth, no more war, no hunger or poverty, peace in families, no more drugs, harmony, clean air. She wrote furiously and finally approached the counter, handing a long list to Jesus. He skimmed the paper, and then smiling at her said, "No problem." Reaching under the counter, he grabbed some packets and laid them out on the counter. Confused, she asked, "What are these?" Jesus replied: "These are seed packets. You see, this is a catalogue store." Surprised the woman blurted out, "You mean I don't get the finished product?" "No," Jesus gently responded. "This is a place of dreams. You come and see what it looks like, and I give you the seeds. Then you plant the seeds. You go home and nurture them and help them to grow and someone else reaps the benefits." "Oh," she said, deeply disappointed in Jesus. Then she turned around and left the store without buying anything. Adapted by Susan R. Andrews, as told in Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life, F. and M. Brussat, editors (New York: Scribner, 1996), p. 359. __________________________________ Advent is our time to plant seeds of hope, knowing that God will water them and make them grow. What seeds are you planting? Our expectations point us to the places where God spirit can enter into the world in love. Look. Listen. Where mercy is practiced. Where the broken are restored. Where the poor hear good news. Where love shows up in unexpected places. The kingdom of God is already among us—and still coming. Good News for the Waiting Church Jesus honors John because John stayed faithful to his calling—even in the dark. And Jesus honors us when we keep pointing toward hope, even when answers feel incomplete. Advent reminds us that God often arrives not with fireworks, but with healing hands. Not with force, but with compassion. Not with certainty, but with presence. So rejoice—not because everything is finished, but because God is faithful in the waiting. The One who is coming is the One who has come and the One who is still at work among us. Let us pray…… Song Lo How Ere A Rose is Blooming UMH 216 Prayer God who approaches: you gather the ignored, so you can accomplish the unexpected for a world which no longer cares; with bread broken into pieces, you restore your shattered creation; as you let go of your Child, our emptiness is filled with immeasurable grace. Ever-new, always-scarred Jesus of the forgotten: through you, those whose voices are silenced hear the whispers of angels on hillsides and in shelters; by you, those who are knocked over lead the way into your kingdom; with you, those who wander in shadows are clasped tight in your love. Breath of Advent: you pour the promises of the Word into the shy and silent so they can carol of grace; you stretch out your hand to all in despair’s exile, to place them on the holy way of hope; you gather up the scraps of our scattered fears, to build a new crib for a refugee family. Come, God in Community, Holy in One, come to us, as we pray together saying…. (Lectionary Liturgies, Thom Shuman) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment The prophet Isaiah uses word pictures to draw us in and fill us with eager anticipation for what is not yet. Isaiah 35 poetically sings, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.” (If you can, show this image.) That’s the expectation of what happens when “the ransomed of the Lord shall return…everlasting joy shall be upon their heads…and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). Sharing our gifts, our tithes and our offerings provides opportunity for us to step into this picture, and join the celebration. Come! Bring your best gifts! Let the joy of the Lord explode in this place! Prayer of Thanksgiving Creator God, Receive these tokens of our praise, given with joyful hearts. Open us to rejoice in the giving and the sharing of this offering. Help us serve you and your beloved world with these gifts and with all we are and all we have. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer God, lead us from this time of prayer and reflection with dancing! Allow the joy within each one of us to shine upon those who suffer. Let our light be magnified by your grace each and every day! Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Maria Mankin) Community Time – Joys and Concerns Benediction Advent people, go now in the blessing of God’s joy, confident that the day we await is close at hand and ready to cooperate with God in building the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. Written by Dr. Lisa Hancock, Discipleship Ministries, June 2025. Timing Is Everything I was reading about steamships. It was a wonderful article in which the author said that the dream of a self-propelled ship had been a dream of humankind for hundreds of years. Then one day the time came when it was theoretically possible, but it was still not practically possible. The dream was kept alive for another hundred years or so by inventors and experimenters, some of whom were considered to be eccentric. Later on people looked back and said of them, they were just ahead of their time. Then the times changed. The next person to come along wasRobert Fulton. It was not so much that Fulton invented the steamboat, but that he just happened to be there when the time was right. As the author wrote, "The inventor's eminence may be more a trick of chronology than anything else, due to being active at the very moment when fruition was possible." It's a wonderful statement. It tells you that timing is everything. That's what we learn from the Bible. Look at our lesson for this morning. The disciples of John the Baptist come to Jesus, and ask, "Are you the one, or do we look for another?" It is a critical question for John. John has preached that the time has come. The Messiah, he said, is about to appear, so repent, get ready, put your lives in order. He has devoted his whole life to the belief that the time has come. But he is in prison now. He is about to lose his head. So he sends his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one that we have been waiting for, or do we still look for somebody else?" Mark Trotter, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com ___________________________________ Who Jesus Really Is I don't know where life may be defeating you this Advent. I don't know how Jesus may be disappointing you this Advent. But I would suggest to you this Advent that any disillusionment you feel may not necessarily be a bad thing. For what is disillusionment if not, literally, the loss of an illusion? And, in the long run, it is never a bad thing to lose the lies we have mistaken for the truth. Did Jesus fail to come when you rubbed the lantern? Then perhaps Jesus is not a genie. Did Jesus fail to punish your enemies? Then perhaps Jesus is not a cop. Did Jesus fail to make everything run smoothly? Then perhaps Jesus is not a mechanic. Over and over again, our disappointments draw us deeper and deeper into who Jesus really is ... and what Jesus really does. William A. Ritter, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com __________________________________________ Only Jesus An anonymous author made this striking comparison: "Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men, who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from him. Jesus wrote no poetry but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by him. Jesus composed no music still Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in his praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth. His unique contribution to humanity is the salvation of the soul! Philosophy could not accomplish that. Nor art. Nor literature. Nor music. Only Jesus Christ can break the enslaving chains of sin. He alone can speak peace to the human heart, strengthen the weak, and give life to those who are spiritually dead." David E. Leininger, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com _____________________________________ Matthew 11:2-11 – Time to Unpack Advent is an intentional season of “preparedness.” We think of Advent as a “journey,” to use Oprah Winfrey’s favorite word. We think of Advent as a progressive path we take in order to arrive at a destination — the sleepy village of Bethlehem. Preparing. Making plans. Charting a way. Scouting and scoping the landscape. Assessing and overcoming obstacles to avoid or override. Sounds like life as usual. Sounds like something we can get our heads and hands and hearts around. Sounds like something we can get down and get done. But wait a minute! Advent is not our journey. We are NOT in charge. Advent is not a journey we make, a journey we prepare for, a road that we navigate. No, Advent is the journey GOD makes. Advent isn’t a trip we prepare to go on. Advent is the time we prepare for God’s trip to us. Advent is the time we ready ourselves to RECEIVE God. The God who, against all reason and for our redemption, is making a journey TOWARDS us. This week’s gospel text reminds us just how long God had been preparing for this journey. Before the baby Jesus was even born, God had arranged for the ideal advance man, the perfect prophet to be conceived and born and nurtured to adulthood. Generations before John the Baptist there were other prophets whom God provided with selected slices of insight, like a freeze-framed GPS map. Moses and Isaiah, Malachi and Daniel: all provided peeks at the pathway God was paving… Pay Better Attention Annie Dillard tells of the pastor whose pulpit prayer included some wonderful petitions for the betterment of life in this world. Then, before signing off, he included these words: "But thou knowest, O God, that we ask for these same things Sunday after Sunday. So we confess to you our discouragement that so little progress is made." Said Annie: "His prayer was so painfully honest that I knew I had finally found a preacher who knows God." Frankly, I do not know why....if God is truly in charge....that things do not go better or happen faster. But when John raised a similar question to Jesus ("If you're the one, tell us what we're missing"), Jesus said: "Look again. Look closer. Pay better attention. Things are happening." Which, apparently, was good enough for John. And, most days, is good enough for me. William A. Ritter, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com ________________________________ When Jesus tells John's people what to look for, it's not big, grandiose stuff. As concerns signs of the kingdom, Jesus points to people who couldn't see much, seeing more...people who couldn't climb out of bed in the morning, playing Ring Around the Rosie in the town square...Previously untouchable lepers kissing their wives and hugging their children....and the poor, hearing a good sermon for a change. And I suppose if you're blind, lame, poor or your skin used to be all scales and scabs, that's big time stuff. But can you build a kingdom on it? Apparently, Jesus thinks you can. He doesn't care whether it's "big time stuff" or not. As concerns the kingdom, it breaks through in little ways. But it breaks through. As if to illustrate his point, he talks about a seed that nobody can see growing. But it's in there. I mean, it's already in there. You aren't going to see it come to maturity all at once. In the version we sang last Sunday: "First the blade, then the ear, then the full corn shall appear." No, you may not see it. But neither are you going to be able to stop it. It's like that dandelion that finds a crack in the asphalt. Or creates a crack in the asphalt. Not only does it have presence, but there is an inevitability to its appearance. William A. Ritter, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com

The Day Everything Changed

April 26, 2020 Luke 24:13-35 Every thing has changed Year A Third Sunday of Easter Children’s Sermon Exegetical Aim: To teach that we need God's assistance to see. Props: Prescription eye glasses and an eye chart (the chart can be hand drawn). The ideal situation is to use the glasses that one of the children may be wearing. If you have an optometrist in your congregation ask them to participate and bring an actual eye chart. Lesson: Good Morning! (response) I want to ask child's name with glasses--we shall call her Gladys to come and sit beside me and I am going to need one other volunteer. Choose one of the children who does not wear glasses--we shall call him Mike. I have asked Gladys to come sit beside me because she wears glasses and I have asked Mike to sit on my other side because he does not wear glasses. I also have another volunteer who is going to help this morning. Introduce the optometrist or person who will hold the eye chart. They should sit up front and be ready to stand with the chart at this time. (Eye chart holder's name) has brought an eye chart. Does anyone know what an optometrist is? (response) And what is an eye chart? (response) Very Good. In just a minute (eye chart holder's name) is going to hold up the eye chart and I am going to have Gladys and Mike to read the chart but before we do that I am going to ask Gladys to give me her glasses. May I have your glasses for just a minute? (child should hand the glasses to you) Now I am going to ask Mike to put the glasses on. If either of your eyes hurt you can close them until I am ready for you. Make sure that the children's head sizes match so the glasses are not stretched. Eye chart should be held up at this time and the holder point to the appropriate lines. Now I only want Gladys and Mike to read the lines on the chart. No one else call out the letters. Gladys can you read the first line? (response) How about you Mike, can you read the first line? (response) Gladys can you read the second line? (No) How about you Mike? Can you read the second line? (No) OK, Mike you can take the glasses off and let's give them back to Gladys. Is there anybody here like Gladys and Mike who cannot read the second line? (response) Is there any body here that can't read the third line? (response) Use this as an opportunity to spot an eyesight problem but don't call too much attention to it during the children's sermon. What would happen if we couldn't see clearly? (response) That's right. We wouldn't be able to read, or watch TV and we wouldn't even know where we are going. Sometimes we can't even see God when he's standing right in front of us. That's when we need to come up to the altar--where we are sitting right now--and we need to pray, break bread with one another, and ask for insight. When we do these things God opens our eyes and helps us to see. ChristianGlobe, , by Brett Blair Prelude Opening Prayer Dear Lord, you have so much to show us and to tell us— things that no human eyes have seen, things that no human ears have heard, things that you have prepared for those you love. Mighty God, your promises are like shelter in a storm— to us and to our children, to all those far and near, to everyone who hears your call. O, that we might have the mind of Christ, that we may know and understand your truth. We wait as empty vessels, ready to be filled to overflowing with your living water, as you reveal your love for us through Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. Stewardship Moment Your offering last week empowered ministry within our congregation and in response to the needs of our community. It also supports the work done at our general church agencies, who in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, have continually mobilized staff, working from their homes, to resource local churches. Staff are providing relevant worship resources, training in how to stream worship services, webinars on ways to continue funding mission and ministry and manage budgets during the crisis, and offering support for families on ways to include faith formation for children, youth, and adults—all while practicing social distancing. Ministries like these happen, thanks to the way the people of The United Methodist Church live and give connectionally. I invite you to give generously, as we worship God through sharing our gifts, tithes, and offerings. God of righteousness, God of mercy: We have been called through the apostles to live in reverent fear – not a fear that immobilizes, but a fear that empowers us because we know how much is at stake. We know there are implication for what we do and what we don’t do. Dedicate the gifts we give this morning to do the things your heart longs for your church to do; help our eyes to be opened to where you would use us. We pray in the name of our risen savior, Christ our Lord. Amen. (I Peter 1:17-23) Scripture Luke 24:13-35 Common English Bible (CEB) Encounter on the Emmaus road 13 On that same day, two disciples were traveling to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking to each other about everything that had happened. 15 While they were discussing these things, Jesus himself arrived and joined them on their journey. 16 They were prevented from recognizing him. 17 He said to them, “What are you talking about as you walk along?” They stopped, their faces downcast. 18 The one named Cleopas replied, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who is unaware of the things that have taken place there over the last few days?” 19 He said to them, “What things?” They said to him, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth. Because of his powerful deeds and words, he was recognized by God and all the people as a prophet. 20 But our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the one who would redeem Israel. All these things happened three days ago. 22 But there’s more: Some women from our group have left us stunned. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 and didn’t find his body. They came to us saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who told them he is alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women said. They didn’t see him.” 25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! Your dull minds keep you from believing all that the prophets talked about. 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27 Then he interpreted for them the things written about himself in all the scriptures, starting with Moses and going through all the Prophets. 28 When they came to Emmaus, he acted as if he was going on ahead. 29 But they urged him, saying, “Stay with us. It’s nearly evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 After he took his seat at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts on fire when he spoke to us along the road and when he explained the scriptures for us?” 33 They got up right then and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34 They were saying to each other, “The Lord really has risen! He appeared to Simon!” 35 Then the two disciples described what had happened along the road and how Jesus was made known to them as he broke the bread. Common English Bible (CEB) Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible Sermon Child - "How old are you, Grandpa?" Grandpa - "I'm 81, dear." Child - "So does that mean you were alive during the Coronavirus?" Grandpa - "Yes, I was." Child - "Wow. That must have been horrible, Grandpa. We were learning about that at school this week. They told us about how all the schools had closed. And moms and dads couldn't go to work so didn't have as much money to do nice things. They said that you weren't allowed to go and visit your friends and family and couldn't go out anywhere. They told us that the shops and stores ran out of lots of things so you didn't have much bread, and flour, and toilet rolls. They said that summer holidays were cancelled. And they told us about all those thousands of people that got very sick and who died. They explained how hard all the doctors and nurses and all essential workers worked, and that lots of them died, too. That must have been so horrible, grandpa!" Grandpa - "Well, that is all correct. And I know that because I read about it when I was older. But to tell you the truth I remember it differently... I remember playing in the garden for hours with mom and dad and having picnics outside and lots of bbqs. I remember making things and fishing with my Dad and baking with my Mom. I remember making forts and learning how to do hand stands and back flips. I remember having quality time with my family. I remember Mom's favorite words becoming 'Hey, I've got an idea...' Rather than 'Maybe later or tomorrow I'm a bit busy'. I remember making our own bread and pastry. I remember having movie night three or four times a week instead of just one. It was a horrible time for lots of people you are right. But I remember it differently." Remember how our children will remember these times. Be in control of the memories they are creating right now, so that through all the awful headlines and emotional stories for so many that they will come to read in future years, they can remember the happy times. Author unknown These are tough times indeed. But perhaps we should all focus on what these times will mean for our children. How did they experience this time? What lessons will they take on in their lives from this experience. We have to keep in mind that they will take their cues from us, they will define these times based not on what we say, but how we treat them. We may not have a lot of control of a lot of things, but we do have complete control over how our young people will remember these times. As a learned about the history of the world, I remember making my grandmother a hero for all of the historical events that she loved through. I treasure those conversations of asking what those times were like. Even though I must say, my own lifetime is turning out to be quite a historical event. Easter 2020 – having to create community over the computer will be one of those memorable events. The Easter season is always my favorite time in worship. 8 weeks of worship is about celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Easter season is my favorite time to preach – the scriptures are different, all of them have a special message just for this season. One major theme of easter scriptures is recording the disciples encounters with a risen Christ. There are twelve encounter stories throughout the new testament. In each encounter, Christ comes to the person in real life, they don’t recognize that it is Christ until later. And each person is changed permanently from the encounter. They become a lifelong follower of Christ. The most popular encounter story is the walk to Emmaus story, only found in the book of Luke. This story takes place on Easter evening, when word gets out that Jesus has risen and appeared to his grieving disciples. Two of his disciples are walking home, when they encounter a stranger. We don’t even know where Emmaus actually is, even though the scripture says it is 7 miles away from Jerusalem. But that does not matter, because Emmaus is not so much a story about a physical place, but a spiritual place. Emmaus is the place in our own spirits where we come in contact with our Risen Savior. We all have a lot going on in this time. We all have questions, we are all anxious about the future, we are all discouraged about some things, we are all in danger of losing our faith. But I want to challenge you to look for where you have encountered the risen Christ in our life. What special messages has God given that would only speak to your own spirit? The travelers in the Emmaus story – express sentiments that we all have had – as they are talking to the stranger and telling the story of Jesus – they say – and we had such high hopes for him. We had hoped that he would make a difference for us all – and now he is dead. Remember back in January, when we had such high hopes for 2020 – this was going to be our year. And look at where we are in April – everything gone, no hope for anything happening this year, everything cancelled for who knows when. I have been amazed at how many conversations that I have start with – Life as we knew it is gone forever. One lady said – we are never going home, because home does not exist anymore. And if it seems that things are tough now, as a pastor I worry more about the grief that so many of us will feel after this is over with. How do we deal with so many broken dreams and unexpected changes? No one is going to come out of this situation untouched – we have all been affected, we all have to heal. Where is the risen Christ in the midst of all of this? That is why this story in Luke is so important and why it speaks to so many of us. As the travelers were walking along and talking to the stranger he asks – what happened. And they ask him are the only person living under a rock that has not heard the story. And Ironically it was them who really didn’t know – that they were talking to Christ. Slow to Recognize Greatness Karl Barth, one of the twentieth century’s most famous theologians, was on a streetcar one day in Basel, Switzerland, where he lived and lectured. A tourist to the city climbed on the streetcar and sat down next to Barth. The two men started chatting with each other. “Are you new to the city?” Barth inquired. “Yes,” said the tourist. “Is there anything you would particularly like to see in this city?” asked Barth. “Yes,” he said, “I’d love to meet the famous theologian Karl Barth. Do you know him?” Barth replied, “Well as a matter of fact, I do. I give him a shave every morning.” The tourist got off the streetcar quite delighted. He went back to his hotel saying to himself, “I met Karl Barth’s barber today.” That amuses me. That tourist was in the presence of the very person he most wanted to meet, but even with the most obvious clue, he never realized that the man with whom he was talking was the great man himself. It reminds me of Mary’s reaction on Easter morning. In her grief, she thinks the man she is speaking to is the gardener. It is not, of course. Until he called her name she did not realize that she was speaking with the risen Christ. And, of course, it reminds me of that scene on the road to Emmaus, when later that same Easter day, two of the disciples walk for a while with the resurrected Jesus, and they, too, had no idea with whom they were conversing. King Duncan, Collected Sermons, www.Sermons.com How many times in our life, do we wait for Christ to show up in our lives, totally oblivious to the fact that he has been there all along? He is probably here right now, we just don’t see it. We are totally blinded by our circumstances. Grief has a way of shaping our view, we miss a lot of encounters with love. Blinded by sadness They just want to go home and climb into bed and feel sorry for themselves. They didn’t notice anything or anybody. Jesus could have been walking right along with them, and they would not have noticed. As a matter of fact, Jesus was walking along with them. They just did not recognize him as the Christ. There are people in the world today, who do not know that Easter has come and gone. They are still living the same life. Sadness, depression, pessimism, disbelief, an unwillingness to see change, all shade our thinking and our seeing. When we are caught up in our feelings, we are not open to Christ’s presence in our lives. We just want to crawl into a dark hole and stay there. In this case, possums are actually smarter then people. Possums and graves Possums like to crawl into holes too. But before they crawl- they look at the foot prints of those who may have crawled in that same hole. If there are only one set of foot prints going into that hole, they don’t go into that hole. If there are only one set of prints in the hole, then that means that whomever crawled into that hole – for some reason is still there. Either they crawled in and did not make it out alive, or they are still in there alive and well and just waiting for someone else to crawl in. You don’t want to crawl into somewhere that you cant crawl out of. If there are two sets of tracks into and out of the hole – them it is safe to go in. there comes a time in our lives when you have to crawl out of the hole and see the light. And live in the light. Jesus is our second set of tracks. Jesus is the source that can give us the power to crawl out of our hole. The resurrection gives us the power to crawl out and live in the light. Our travelers are nice enough to at least invite the stranger home with them, they talk with him, but it is not until they eat with him that it becomes clear – that they are talking with the risen Christ, and he disappears. Scripture says that they recognized him in the breaking of the bread. We break the bread during communion – to help us to look for and see Christ in the midst of our present circumstances. Communion is the place where you recognize for yourself that Christ has been there all the time. Sometimes it takes tough times like this for us to look for Christ. Christine Burgos says that Christ has a way of coming to us in the times that we need him. He stays with us in our time of need. And when that need is over, he leaves. He doesn’t stay as long we want, but just as long as we need. He does not stay forever. And he has a funny way of telling us, I am here, but not in the way you expected. And that is the gospel lesson for us today – Christ has come to each of us in our Emmaus to lead us to the other side – from despair to resurrection. And in return, we can be witnesses to the risen Christ in order to help someone else make it to the other side also. Evangelism is just one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread – in Jesus Christ. Luke tells this story because he is trying to help us understand that each of us lives in a moment in history. There is a moment in all of our lives when everything changes. Without Christ, we may struggle with how to carry on. But when we encounter Christ – we are given the strength to face the future and go on. We may not know what the future holds, but we can be clear about who holds the future. Why does Christ come to us in times like this. I want to share this old poem. Fay Inchfawn wrote, “Sometimes, when everything goes wrong; When days are short and nights are long; When wash-day brings so dull a sky That not a single thing will dry. And when the kitchen chimney smokes, And when there’s naught so ‘queer’ as folks! When friends deplore my faded youth, And when the baby cuts a tooth. While John, the baby last but one, Clings round my skirts till day is done; And fat, good-tempered Jane is glum, And butcher’s man forgets to come. Sometimes I say on days like these, I get a sudden gleam of bliss. Not on some sunny day of ease, He’ll come … but on a day like this!” We look for Christ in our best days, when he really comes to us in our worst days. We want to be ready, we want to be in control – and nothing happens. We look for God in the sunset, but he comes in the sunrise. We were put here for such a time as this. This is our moment in history – to encounter Christ and to understand the true meaning of resurrection. May we look for the Risen Christ in every moment! Let us pray….. Pastoral Prayer Time of reflection Benediction Additional Illustrations Three Table Fellowships "The Scriptures speak of three kinds of table fellowship that Jesus keeps with his own: daily fellowship at table, the table fellowship of the Lord's Supper, and the final table fellowship in the kingdom of God. But in all three, the one thing that counts is that 'their eyes were opened, and they knew him.' "The fellowship of the table teaches Christians that here they still eat the perishable bread of the earthly pilgrimage. But if they share this bread with one another, they shall also one day receive the imperishable bread together in the Father's house." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Brothers, 1954), 66. he Resurrection Changes Everything There’s a story about a young boy named Walter Elias. Born in the city, his parents one day moved out to the country to become farmers. Walter had a vivid imagination and the farm was the perfect place for a young boy and a wondering mind. One day in the apple orchard he was amazed when he saw sitting on a branch of one of the apple trees an owl. He just stood there and stared at the owl. He thought about what his father had told him about owls: owls always rested during the day because they hunted throughout the night. This owl was asleep. He also thought that this owl might make a great pet. Being careful not to make any noises he stepped over sticks and leaves. The owl was in a deep sleep because it never heard Walter Elias walking toward it. Finally, standing under the owl, he reached up and grabbed the owl by the legs. Now, the events that followed are difficult to explain. Suddenly everything was utter chaos. The owl came to life. Walter’s thoughts about keeping the bird as a pet were quickly forgotten. The air filled with wings, and feathers, and screaming. In the excitement Walter held the legs tighter. And in his panic, Walter Elias, still holding on to the owl, threw it to the ground and stomped it to death. After things calmed down, Walter looked at the now dead and bloody bird and began to cry. He ran back to the farm, obtained a shovel, and buried the owl in the orchard. At night he would dream of that owl. As the years passed he never got over what had happened that summer day. Deep down it affected him for the rest of his life. As an older man he said he never, ever killed anything again. Do you see it? Something significant happened after that event. Something that Walter didn’t miss. Something which transformed Walter Elias, something that redeemed him from the pit of despair, something that resurrected him, something that made Walter Elias Disney give life to thousands of animals on the big screen. The resurrection changes everything. It transforms us. It moves us from despair to new possibilities of life. It takes us in our blindness and opens our eyes. It transforms ordinary bread into a holy meal. It takes two sad and lost brothers on the road to Emmaus who had lost the only the world they knew and gives it back to them. Jesus comes to them and says see I am not dead. I am alive. Now tell the world. Brett Blair,www.Sermons.com Sermon Opener - The Gospel According to Winnie the Pooh Transition times. Life is full of them . . . times of transition. As Eve allegedly said to Adam as they were leaving the Garden of Eden, “We are living in a time of great transition.” Transition times. No times are more filled with possibility and promise. No times are more filled with peril and despair. In transition times, everything is possible, and everything could fall flat and fail. Think about every time you started a new school. Think about the first time you moved out of your parent’s home. Think about the SECOND time you moved out of your parent’s home. (Maybe DON”T think about the third time you moved out of your parent’s home!) Think about when you graduated from high school or college. Think about when you got married. Think about when your first child was born. Think about when your first child got married. Think about the first day you were officially “retired.” Think about the first day that is tomorrow. But let’s not get too flowery too soon. The rabbi and novelist Chaim Potok (1929-2002) summed it up in his autobiographical novel In the Beginning (1975): “All beginnings are hard.” It is hard to be a new baby. It is hard to start a new school. It is hard to move to a new home. It is hard to be a new teenager. It is hard to be a new husband or wife. It is hard to be a new parent. It is hard to be a new widow or widower. It is even hard to be a new convert, a new disciple, even of Jesus the Christ. The truth of our text this morning is this: these two disciples traveling to the village of Emmaus were basically rats fleeing a sinking ship. The tumult and tragedy of that transition week in Jerusalem had deeply traumatized them. Talk about “difficult.” Jesus had been arrested, convicted, condemned, tortured, crucified, and entombed. Adding insult to injury was the disturbing report they had received from some women in their group, a report that Jesus’ body was no longer in its tomb. Here was a transition had left the disciples in the throes of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Shock Disorder). It was then they admitted their own faithlessness. ‘Some women of our company have astounded us: they went early to the tomb this morning and failed to find his body . . .’ They were neither cheered nor bewildered by this account. Nor had they gone to the tomb themselves to find out if it was true, They had simply and sadly tramped home. What, we might ask, had they been doing in Jerusalem all day? The women had gone to the tomb at break of day and now it was late evening. It was about seven miles from the city to their village, about a two-hour walk. Probably they had lain low until it began to get dark, scared of being picked up by the police (Ronald Blythe, The Circling Year [Norwich: The Canterbury Press, 2001], 75) But as darkness began to fall in earnest, these two slithering disciples invite a stranger to stay with them, a companion who had been offering them surprising solace on their journey. In their honesty about their confusion and depression, their “slow hearts” (v.25) began to beat faster with a cadence of hope. They began to hear a song of divine possibilities and dreams. As they walked and talked with the unrecognized resurrected Jesus, they received their own personal (remedial?) instruction. They began a new way of understanding scripture, a new way of understanding the Messiah, a new way of understanding suffering love, a new way of understanding true redemption. The Emmaus Walk is the journey that walked the disciple-community into its new identity as the body of Christ. It is hard to be a “new” anything. Including being a new, or I should say, an “always new” disciple of Jesus. Yet as we go along in life, even new beginnings take on a rich patina from our past. After two years we do understand gravity. After five or six years we do know how to read. After a few more years we do figure out a few things about interacting with other human beings. The most basic skills for dealing with these new beginnings are part of our childhoods. In the nineteen-twenties a wannabe poet/writer decided to put down a few stories and verses about his young son, a four year old named Christopher Robin. Like all four-year-olds, Christopher Robin doted on a large collection of stuffed animals. You now know the rest of the story. A.A. Milne’s remarkable collection of novels known as “Winnie the Pooh,” “The House at Pooh Corner,” “When We Were Very Young,” and “Now We Are Six.” Unlike today’s “series stories,” where writers stretch out their characters to fill three, or seven, or even ten volumes, Milne only devoted two books to the special relationship between the little boy, Christopher Robin, and his beloved stuffed bear, Winnie the Pooh. The “Winnie the Pooh” volume introduced readers to the world of childhood. “The House at Pooh Corner” was the opposite of an “introduction,” or what the wise Owl informed Pooh was a “contradiction”, the end of the story. In the final chapter of “The House at Pooh Corner,” Christopher Robin is preparing for a transition: he is being sent away to school. It will be an ending, and it will be a whole new beginning. Christopher Robin understands this; his simple stuffed animal friends, not so much. But as the one who knows, and the ones who don’t know walk forward towards this new future, they find their feet guided by four simple steps: Participate, Anticipate, Relate, and Liberate. These four steps of transition — to emigrate you must first participate, anticipate, relate and liberate---are the same four stages outlined in the Emmaus Road encounter of Jesus and his disciples. ell Others the Good Word A 9-year-old girl named Erica was so filled with joy when she came to know Jesus that she insisted that all her friends know him too. One day she took me to her neighborhood to invite the children to a vacation bible school our church was having. We went with colorful flyers in hand. I expected that we would tell the children and their parents about the dates and time and place of the vacation bible school, leave them a flyer as a reminder, and be on our way. Erica saw our job differently. When we got to the first home and the door was opened she stepped right up and said, "We've got great news about Jesus and my pastor will tell you all about it." I stood there flabbergasted, but she was right. Our job was first and foremost to spread the Word, proclaim the Good News, tell others about our Risen Lord. Erica and I worked hard that day because she did not want any child in her neighborhood to miss out in hearing about Jesus and the vacation bible school. Erica knew in her own way, Jesus' claim on our lives and the magnitude of that claim. We are Jesus' witnesses and those who need to receive our witness is the entire human family. Minerva Carcano, The Good News is for Everyone When the Circus Comes I am reminded of the story of the little boy whose grandmother regularly took him to her weekly prayer meeting. He was bored silly, but being a good lad he endured it. One day he was invited to attend the circus. He had never been to a circus before. He came away from this experience anxious to share with his dear grandmother what he was feeling. "Grandma," he said, "I went to the circus today, and let me tell you, once you have been to the circus you'll never want to go to another prayer meeting." And so it will be when God opens our minds to understand and experience God's marvelous, incredible risen presence. Something happens that sets us free, which renews and refreshes our sense of God's love, grace, and forgiveness that simply cannot be contained. Greg McDonell, Out of the Ashes Jesus' Post Resurrection Appearances To Mary Magdalene Jn 20:14-18; Mk 16:9 To the women returning from the tomb Mt 28:8-10 To Peter later in the day Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5 To the disciples going to Emmaus in the evening Lk 24:13-31 To the apostles (except Thomas) Lk 24:36-45; Jn 20-19-24 To the apostles a week later (Thomas present) Jn 20:24-29 In Galilee to the seven by the Lake of Tiberias Jn 21:1-23 In Galilee on a mountain to the apostles and 500 believers 1 Cor 15:6 At Jerusalem and Bethany again to James 1 Cor 15:7 At Olivet and the ascension Acts 1:3-12 To Paul near Damascus Acts 9:3-6; 1 Cor 15:8 To Stephen outside Jerusalem Acts 7:55 To Paul in the temple Acts 22:17-21; 23:11 To John on Patmos Rev 1:10-19 The New Unger's Bible Handbook, Merrill F. Unger, Revised by Gary N. Larson, Moody Press, Chicago, 1984, Page 397-398 Christ Never Gives Up There is a story of a British soldier in the First World War who lost heart for the battle and deserted. Trying to reach the coast for a boat to England that night, he ended up wandering in the pitch black night, hopelessly lost. In the darkness, he came across what he thought was a signpost. It was so dark that he began to climb the post so that he could read it. As he reached the top of the pole, he struck a match to see and found himself looking squarely into the face of Jesus Christ. He realized that, rather than running into a signpost, he had climbed a roadside crucifix. Then he remembered the One who had died for him . . . who had endured . . . who had never turned back. The next morning the soldier was back in the trenches. Maybe that's what you and I need to do in the moments of our distress and darkness - strike a match in the darkness and look on the face of Jesus Christ. For Christ is here. He comes to us just as he came to those two disciples on the road to Emmaus even though we may not recognize him. He takes the initiative. He knocks on the door. King Duncan, Collected Sermons,www.Sermons.com

Glory to the Newborn King

Christmas Eve Service December 24, 2012 Isaiah 9:2-7 Luke 2:1-20 Year C The expectations of the couple waiting for a baby I am sure when the couple found out that they were expecting, they were overjoyed. When they discovered that their first born would be a boy, they waited in anticipation. And as they raised him, they already knew that he was destined for greatness. They never knew that the government would be on his shoulders, they never dreamed that some people would call him wonderful counselor. They never guessed that people would celebrate his birthday the world over. Obama was a special baby His birthday, August 4th is certainly a date that lives on in history, and Barack Obama has certainly achieved great goals by becoming the most powerful leader in the world. But of course he is not the baby that we gather to honor on this special night. Every baby is special The coming of every new baby into a family is a wonderful occasion. Every child who comes into the world – is a special child in the eyes of God. Every child has a special purpose for their time on earth. Jesus is more than a baby in a manger The Lord Jesus Christ whom we exalt at Christmas is not just a baby in a manger. He is not a character in a children’s story. He is far more. The first time he came, he came veiled in the form of a child. The next time He comes, and we believe it will be soon, He will come unveiled, and it will be abundantly and immediately clear to all the world just who He really is. The first time He came, a star marked his arrival. The next time He comes, the whole heavens will roll up like a scroll, and all the stars will fall out of the sky, and He himself will light it. The first time He came, wise men and shepherds brought Him gifts. The next time He comes, He will bring gifts, rewards for His own. The first time He came, there was no room for Him. The next time he comes, the whole world will not be able to contain His glory. The first time He came, only a few attended His arrival – some shepherds and some wise men. The Next time He comes, every eye shall see Him. The first time He came as a baby. Soon He will come as sovereign King and Lord. (Autoillustrator.com, CHRISTMAS) We should all know the story of salvation On this night we retell the story of Jesus’ birth because it is an important story for us. It is a story that combines heaven and earth, it is a story where the rich and the poor come together, where darkness in our lives encounters the light, where our despair can meet our hope, and we can know that whatever challenges we have in life, if we have God in our lives, they come to make us stronger, not to hold us down. It is important to tell this story of salvation each and every year, because sadly there are so many people in our world who don’t know the story – and who don’t know the real gifts of Christmas for us. A Russian Orphan’s version of the story In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments, and a large orphanage. About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in the care of a government-run program occupied the orphanage. A Christmas story from their experience has been circling the globe since 1994. It was nearing the holiday season, time for our orphans to hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, the couple went to a stable, where baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing the story, we gave the children three pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square cut from yellow napkins I brought with me. No colored paper was available in the city. Following the instructions, the children tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn-out nightgown an American lady was throwing away when she left Russia, were used for the baby’s blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from the United States. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two He looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously. For such a young boy who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately—until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib. He made up his own ending to the story as he said, “And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.” “I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t, because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I keep him warm, that would be a good gift. “So I asked Jesus, ‘If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?’” “And Jesus told me, ‘If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody every gave me.’” “So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him—for always.” As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him; someone who would stay with him—FOR ALWAYS. This story came by email with no source given. Isaiah 9 says that a child has been born just for us, just for our lives, just for our struggles, just for our salvation. Obamas time will come and go, but Jesus time will be forever. His gifts are for us and for all who come after us. And if we are able to receive those gifts, we will stay with Jesus forever. Jesus came to the earth to be a ransom for many who chose to live in sin, to provide an example of what it means to live a righteous life, to bring salvation to our dark lives, and more importantly to give us eternal life. How do we accept that gift? What does it mean to us tonight. The baby on the alter You can see that I have found a baby to put on the altar, to represent the newborn king coming into our lives. I am going to have to find someone to build me a manger for the baby. But I put him in a moses basket. And a receiving blanket instead of swaddling clothes. The legend of the swaddling clothes Of course the swaddling blanket it a lot bigger that a receiving blanket. There is a tradition that when a family was traveling – the swaddling blanket was made out of gauze. The gauze was used to mend the wounds of those who were hurt. If someone died, they could also be wrapped in gauze. It was used to take care of the community. Lay your burdens on the child Luke says that the baby was wrapped in swaddling clothes, scripture eventually says that he was bruised for our iniquity. He took our wounds, our hurts, our sins upon himself, so that we can heal. Tonight, I am going to invite you to once again write your hurts, your struggles, your wounds on a piece of swaddling cloth and put it in the basket. Knowing that there is no pain that Jesus cannot bear for us, there is no healing that God cannot do. As you put the piece of cloth in his bed, no that God hears your prayers, and that this baby has to the power to heal and make life all better. Let us listen to this carol during this time of prayer… THIS BABY IS FOR YOU Pastor and author Richard Foster writes about genuine, joyous giving. "Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of rooting out the tough old miser within us. Just the very act of letting go of money or some other treasure does something great within us."1 Such genuine, joyous giving awakens us to the true message of Christmas and reminds us of God's free, unconditional gift of Jesus to us. God generosity toward us in Christ opens us up to new possibilities of being generous with others. It was like a beautiful tale from a storybook. The young couple had found each other and began their marriage together full of hope and anticipation. It all seemed so perfect. They were happy, with good jobs, a nice home, and a loving relationship. In time, they celebrated the incredible joy of the birth of their first and only child. They were loving, caring, and devoted parents. Life seemed rich and complete. They were a family. Then the unthinkable happened. The beautiful little baby who had filled their lives with so much joy died suddenly. Their lives turned from hope and joyful anticipation to numbing emptiness and pain. They were devastated and agonized over their loss and wondered what they could have done to prevent such a senseless tragedy. Life no longer seemed complete. Instead of the excitement of new beginnings they were consumed by endings, darkness instead of light, as they struggled to hold their fragile love together. It all seemed hopeless until a simple knock on their door changed their lives forever. There at the door, stood a Native man holding a small baby. He reached forward, handing the child to the couple. "Here, this baby is for you," he said and then he left. I still feel my tears as I think about th It all seemed hopeless until a simple knock on their door changed their lives forever. There at the door, stood a Native man holding a small baby. He reached forward, handing the child to the couple. "Here, this baby is for you," he said and then he left. I still feel my tears as I think about the young Native mother who gave her own baby to fill the lives of the grieving couple. Native people call it custom adoption. For me, it is much more. It is the ultimate gift of love. Christmas is our celebration of God's ultimate gift of love. God saw our pain, our devastation, our hopelessness, our brokenness, and our fragile love and he loved us so much that "...he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus is God's ultimate gift. "Here, this baby is for you."2 "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us." Jesus, the greatest gift of Christmas--for you, for me, for everyone. Amen. (1 Cited from: Clergy Talk, December 1998 (Sequim, WA), p. 11. 2 Cited from: Lee Barry, "This Baby is For You," in: Come Let Us Adore Him: LAMP 1995 Advent Devotions, p. 30. From a sermon by Garth Wehrfritz-Hanson, Christ is the Greatest Gift, 12/20/2010 )