Mr. Bill Rochester, Guest Speaker

This week, we have Christ’s birth, and Simeon and Anna get-ting to see the infant messiah.  Imagine their joy at finally seeing the beginning of the salvation of the world!  

We will talk about the Shepherds on Xmas Eve

An Angel tells Mary about Christ’s birth.  She is confused, and goes to see her cousin.  Who is old, and also pregnant!  Then, Mary sings a song of Joy.  But how often do we listen to Mary’s song?  

We hear about the birth of John the Baptist.  An angel comes to tell Zechariah about the miracle to come and he scoffs at the idea.  So, he isn’t able to speak for 9 months!  When he does finally speak, he sings a song of thanksgiving.  What if we sing songs of thanksgiving like Zechariah, or pro-claim Jesus like John?

Jesus talks about the signs that will precede his coming, and the necessity of vigilance.  We have to keep looking in order to see the coming of Christ.  

Part 4 will focus on atonement. Basically, a restoration of relationship making us "at one" with God through Christ.

Did Christ have to die? Suprisingly no. He chose to allow himself to die. The love and sacrifice of Christ means so much more since he chose it rather than having it predeter for him.

Part 3 we will talk about Christ. Specifically, why did God come down in human form? What does it mean for us, and what does it mean for God?

Part 2 speaks about the Trinity - What is it? Why did we come up with it? Especially since the OT seems to say that God is very singular?

We will talk about how Jesus is equal with the Father and the Son. If there is no superiority in the Godhead, then we should live that way among each other as if we consider ourselves made in the image of God.

We will be starting a Sermon Series.  “What Does it Mean to Be United Methodist?”

First we will start with God.  

How Do We Know God?  We will talk about historically, and then how God is made known through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Paul points out to the Ephesians that they all have been ac-cepted by Christ – some from nearby and some from far away.  He uses the example of circumcision.  That is some-thing that is really hard to deny if it has been done or not.  And it was very important in the Jewish religion.  But Paul says Christ accepts those who have been, and those who haven’t.  May we have that same attitude in our Churches and at our Communion table.  

1. Mr. William Rochester, Guest Speaker

Love should be the distinguishing characteristic of a Christian.  Love for God, Love for one another.  May we aspire to the love Christ showed his disciples.

Rev. Eduardo Bousson, Guest Speaker

Jesus shows that he is really physically present with the Dis-ciples.  He even eats food with them!  We know the people we eat with the most often the best.  These little details matter.  Ghosts don’t eat!  Christ is really truly alive, and he opens the scripture to the disciples.  

How can we connect with that risen Christ and grow in our understanding of the scriptures?

This week’s scripture is wonderful, but it ends on such a note of uncertainty.  The women run away terrified and tell no one.  I would have been scared too!  

But the story continues off the page.  The good news cannot be held back by fear, by sorrow, by evil, by even death!  The good news bursts free from all that try to contain it.  

How can we live into that powerful good news?

We have reached Palm Sunday.  The people gather and fol-low Jesus into Jerusalem, crying for salvation.  

Let’s remember that we crave salvation and love and the presence of Christ every bit as much as those people long ago.  May we hold onto the Palm Sunday feeling.

Jeremiah speaks of a time when God’s covenant will be written on our hearts.  I have never gotten a tattoo because I don’t like pain.  But I understand that people get them to commemorate wonderful events or express strong emo-tions.  You had better be serious about a tattoo!  

So, Jesus’ love and sacrifice for us makes a mark on us.  On our hearts.  What if everyone could see it?  

This week, we have two stories about snakes.  In Numbers, the people of God are plagued by poisonous snakes because of their constant complaining.  But God provides them a way to be healed.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus compares himself to the snake on the pole.  Obviously, we need to look to Christ for healing.  But why didn’t God just get rid of the snakes?  

I think it might be because they/we are the snakes.

Just like The Chambers Brothers sang, Jesus is proclaiming that the Time Has Come Today. 

 I love the song because it has an insistent beat and message that reminds the listener of the urgency of the work that lies ahead.

 What is Jesus calling us urgently to do?

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service and Holy Communion

Advent begins with the prophet Isaiah imploring God to 

tear open the heavens and rescue the people. In the 

end, he concludes that we are meant to be formed and 

shaped in the image of God. In Advent, we remember 

that we are meant to be formed in the image of Christ, 

the one who came to live among us.

This familiar scripture shows up on Christ the King 

Sunday. None of the places Jesus mentions are usually 

associated with kings! Hungry, Thirsty, Sick, in Prison. 

But that is where we encounter Christ in this world. If 

we consider him the King, then we love him and serve 

him when we see him in those places.

The Gordian Knot – Knot that was extremely convoluted, and whoever untied it was destined to rule Asia. Alexander the Great just sliced it with his sword. Jesus cuts through all the mental and religious gymnastics. The Shema and love your neighbor handle 

everything.

This passage has two good words for us.

 1. Don’t hold back: ask the Lord for help. 

2. focus on the good aspects of your community. 

Is there anything good? Focus on that.

Paul speaks about pressing on to greater closeness with Christ. How often do we focus on the failures and successes of the past without keeping an eye on the road? Let's be like Paul and keep moving on toward perfection.

Jesus speaks of the power of being truly together in 

Christ’s name. This power is enough to affect the here 

and now, and eternity!

It is important for us to know who Jesus is to us as individuals, and who Jesus is to our church, so we can be prepared to share who He is with others.

Now we see the fulfillment of God's working through the wild story of Joseph's life. Betrayal, slavery, imprisonment, all led to Joseph being in the position to save thousands of lives in Egypt. On top of that, it led to Joseph being able to save the lives of his family - even the ones who had tried to kill him so long ago. This is a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to bless all the world through family.

Now we begin Joseph's story. He is a little bit full of himself, and his brothers resent him. They decide to kill him but change their minds at the last minute and just sell him into slavery. But God takes what they meant for death and brings life to not just Joseph, but many others.

Jacob wrestles with God. He doesn't exactly win the match, but he does receive a blessing. His name is changed to reflect his stubbornness and unwillingness to give up. Can we reclaim that same stubbornness and unwillingness to give up for the church of today?

Jacob has already stolen his brother's birthright and finagle a blessing out of Isaac by trickery. Now he has been sent off to find a wife. On the way, he stops in the wilderness to sleep and has a vision from the Lord. The Lord tends to show up in those unexpected places, righr? Let's see what we an learn from Jacob's theophany.

Esau/Edom (red) vs Jacob (Heels). Two very different brothers foreshadow two different nations (Edomites and Israeites). And you would expect the one that goes on to be the leadre of Israel to be the good guy. But, just like in wrestling, he is the heell.

This story is an echo of the story of the Garden at the beginning of Genesis. Adam was lonely and God made him a suitable companion. Here, Isaac is mourning after losing his mother and God provides a companion for him in Rebekah.

God sent Abraham to sacrifice his son, his only son, the one he loves. How often might we be tempted to find somone or something else to give God?

How can we be like Abraham and have faith the God will carry things to fruition?

Trinity Sunday

Pentecost Sunday with guest speaker, Noa Tobin.

Today reminds us that Christ has been elevated to the highest places. We say in the creed that he is "seated at the right hand of the Father," but how often do we think about what that means?

There is a certain way of understanding the divine that emphasizes God's transcendence. And that is appropriate, but Paul relates the transcendent, unknowable God to the Athenians and us as well through Christ. And we can know him!

Building Blocks

What does it mean to be a living stone? We have all felt rejected or useless at one time or another. In Christ, we are important blocks to making a new creation.

Endurance Race

Too often, we focus on Christ's death as simply a means to an end: we needed forgiveness and God gave it to us through Christ. Peter helps us to remember that Christ's life and death also serve as a model or path for us to follow.

Breaking Bread - Holy Communion

"I Can Now Stop Running Away from God" Guest Speaker: Josie Thompson-Fenn

The women go to the tomb early in the morning and see the empty tomb. The Disciples run to the tomb. They don’t all run at the same speed, but the tomb is still empty. We will reflect on our own journeys to hear the risen savior call our name.

The blind man doesn't have all the answers, but he does know that he was blind and now he can see. This man had experienced Christ, and his life was different. Let's consider how Jesus gives us clarity of vision in our lives.

Sometimes we get so caught up in how much we know that we miss out on something new and wonderful.  Lent is a time of humility, so this week we talk about realizing that we don't know everything.  How can we stay close to the One who has the answers?