Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Mark 13:24-37

November 30, 2014 1st Sunday of Advent

Every year Advent starts the same way for me—I look at our gospel lesson and think, this doesn't seem very joyful or hopeful for the season of Christmas. And here it is again, “the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” That doesn't sound very “peace on earth goodwill to men”-like.

But again every year I have to remind myself, Advent is not so much about us preparing for Christmas as it is about announcing the coming again of Jesus as our deliverer and redeemer. Advent is a preparation time, but not for buying our presents and setting up the tree and having parties—although we do those things. It is about being reminded that this world is not all there is. We are to be ready at all times for Jesus to usher in the new creation. “keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come...for you do not know when the master of the house will come, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake."

Psalm 100 (responsively pg 46), Ephesians 1: 15-23, Matthew 25: 31-46

I'm going to start us off this morning with a kind of test. I'm going to read off a list of experiences, traits, incidents from the life of a famous person and see if you can identify him...that's your first clue. Please don't shout out the answer but feel free to nudge the person next to you when you know who it is.

At the age of 7, his family was forced out of their home due to a legal technicality. He had to go to work to help support the family. At age 9, his mother died. When he was 22, he tried to go to law school, but his educational background was insufficient. At 23, he went into debt in order to form a partnership in a small store. Three years later his partner died, leaving him a huge debt which took years to repay. At 28 he was ready to settle down and asked the young woman whom he'd been dating for four years to marry him. She said no. He ran for congress and lost in both of his first two tries. He finally won election when he was 37 but lost his reelection bid two years later. He got married but then lost a son at 4 years of age. At 45 he ran for the Senate...and lost. Two years later he was nominated for Vice President. He lost. At 49 he ran for the Senate again... and lost again. But at the age of 51, he was elected the 16th President of the United States. His second term was cut short by an assassin's bullet. You may have guessed by now it is Abraham Lincoln of whom I speak.

Psalm 78:1-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, Matthew 25:1-13

November 9, 2014

If you've been coming to church for many years, you've heard this story of the ten bridesmaids before—you probably know it as the 5 wise and 5 foolish virgins. As I considered this story, I thought about a time when we ran out of oil here at church. It was the first Sunday of Advent, either 1 or 2 years ago. Arlyce had volunteered to read and light the candles but no matter how she tried that candle wouldn't light. And sure enough, it was out of oil. An oil lamp or an oil candle will not burn without oil. We must be prepared, whether for an Advent candle lighting or for the arrival of the bridegroom.

I'd like to take a little time this morning to explain the customs of the wedding feast in the Palestinian world—both then and now; there remain similarities. The concept seems very foreign to us, but the wedding there involved the whole village. The bride and groom didn't leave on a honeymoon but stayed and celebrated what was basically an open house. They were treated as royalty and not only for a day but for a whole week.

Psalm 34: 1-10, 22; Romans 8 responsively; Matthew 5: 1-12

November 2, 2014 Service of Remembrance

Our gospel reading this morning is the lectionary reading for All Saints Day which was actually yesterday. It is commonly called the Beatitudes and comes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He gives us a list of attitudes followed by a promise. On this morning of remembering our loved ones, I want to focus on verses 3 and 4. Verse 4 may seem obvious for today, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We continue to mourn the loss of our loved ones today—grief has no schedule and it goes on but changes as time passes. Our comfort and our hope is in the Lord Jesus. And that brings me to verse 3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is not so obvious and we may wonder just what makes us poor in spirit. And I'd suggest that being poor in spirit is the understanding that we are lost on our own. It is the knowledge that we cannot save ourselves. Jesus came that we might have eternal life as well as a more holy life here on earth. As we said goodbye to our family and friends this past year, we, as Christians, trust that they are in heaven with Jesus. But just what gives us that hope?