This past Sunday I preached on John 4:4-42. You can read the sermon or watch the service by going to www.pampapcusa.org. I came up with the title sermon scraps because I intended to talk about all the fun things I learned in my research that didn't make it into the sermon. Unfortunately, I have not made the time to follow through on that idea. But this week I learned so much in my studies that I wanted to share some more information with those who might be interested. The sermon was about the different ways that the Samaritan Woman has been interpreted over the past two thousand years of church history. Scholars can't decide if she is a hero or a harlot; a sinner or a saint; humble or haughty; friendly or facetious; slow-minded or scholarly. She may be all of these things and more. When her story is put next to the story of Nicodemus, we see that the gospel is for everyone. These are two very different people on completely opposite ends of the social spectrum. We see that she catches on faster than Nicodemus and perhaps even the disciples. We see her act like an apostle as she tells people to come and see Jesus for themselves. I have two thoughts that didn't make it into the sermon this go around.
1. Why does Jesus have to pass through Samaria? I learned that while this is the shortest route to take, it was not the preferred one. The Jews tended to prefer the scenic route because it helped them stay out of Samaria. It is like taking the loop around the city in order to avoid the wrong neighborhoods – the wrong parts of town that are filled with the wrong sorts of people. Jesus did not have to go through Samaria because there were no other routes to take. I believe Jesus had to go through Samaria because that is where God wanted him to go. I think God planned his conversation with the woman at the well and his two day stay in the city of Sichar. Think of it this way, Jesus had to pass through Samaria because God had already made reservations for his stay.
2. I almost preached a sermon on The Woman as an Example of Being a Witness. In an article titled, "The Witness at the Well," Fred Craddock says the following,
"She is a witness, but not a likely witness and not even a thorough witness. 'A man who told me all that I ever did' is not exactly a recitation of the Apostle's Creed. She is not even a coninced witnss: 'Can this be the Christ?' is literally, 'This cannot be the Christ, can it?' Even so, her witness is enough: it is invitational (come and see), not judgmental; it is within the range permitted by her experience; it is honest with its own uncertainty; it is for everyone who will hear. How refreshing. Her witness avoids triumphalism, hawking someone else's conclusions, packaged answers to unasked questions, thinly veiled ultimatums and threats of hell, and assumptions of certainty on theological matters. She does convey, however, her willingness to let her hearers arrive at their own affirmations about Jesus, and they do: "This indeed is the Savior of the World."
I love the idea that this woman is a faithful witness even though she is not a likely witness or even a witness that is completely convinced that Jesus is the Christ. How many of us feel like we shouldn't talk about our faith because we are embarassed about how much we don't know or how often we question our faith. Should doubts keep us from sharing the faith we do have? Should a lack of knowledge prevent us from sharing the love of God that we have embraced? How wonderful to find a biblical example of someone who was so excited about her encounter with Jesus that she went and told everyone she knew the good news that she had met Jesus. It is my hope and prayer that all Christians will recognize that we are called to be witnesses to the world. We cannot wait until we have everything figured out before we go out and share the love of God with the world. In fact, I believe it is through being a witness that we begin to learn what it means to be a witness. Missional Theology suggests that we learn about God by taking part in God's mission. We learn what it means to be a neighbor by being a neighbor and reflecting on how well our actions reflect the will and love of God. We learn what it is like to be forgiven by forgiving others. We learn to love God more deeply by sharing that love with the world. The Samaritan Woman at the Well is a prime example of being a witness to the world.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
My Ash Wednesday Sermon
This Sermon was originally preached at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church at 12:00 noon on February 25.
My three-year-old son, Kennan, goes to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Monday we told him that the school was having a book fair. Later that evening he was really upset and on the verge of tears. When we asked him what was wrong, he said that he didn’t want to give his books away. Many of us feel the same way about Lent. We feel as if we have to give up something we enjoy – and like my son, many of us don’t have any idea why we are supposed to do it in the first place.
This year is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth. I recently read an article that claims Calvin was among the Reformers who tried to get rid of Ash Wednesday and other Lenten observances. As a Presbyterian preparing a sermon for Ash Wednesday I was intrigued by the idea that Calvin might not approve of what I was doing. So I dusted off my copy of John Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion” and flipped to the section on fasting. Calvin claims that fasting is not well understood, so it can easily lapse into superstition. His writing reveals that he does not have a problem with fasting, as long as it is done for the right reasons. Lent is not a time to give something up just for the sake of giving something up. Calvin says, “the matter lies primarily in the motive of the heart.” In fact, Calvin makes reference to our scripture reading from Joel, chapter 2.
Our scripture reading begins with a blast from a trumpet, warning the people that they are facing a great calamity. God has sent an army to destroy the city. There is no escaping this army, but there is hope. God may still relent – if the people return to God with their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. We don’t know why God is sending this army, but we do know that the people believe they need to repent. Lent is a time for us to reflect on our relationship with God, a time to repent from our sins, a time to rearrange our priorities in life. Lent is a time for us to turn our hearts to God. Any fasting, weeping, or mourning must be an outward reflection of how one feels on the inside. Joel says you should rend your hearts and not your clothing. The bible has many examples of people who tore their clothing after recognizing their sin. It is a visible sign of inner repentance. Repentance is when we turn away from sin and turn toward God. What Joel is saying is that we cannot put on a religious show. God knows what is in our hearts. We shouldn’t give up something we enjoy without knowing why we are doing it. Psalm 51 says sacrifices are meaningless unless they represent a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. Lent is not about appearing religious. It’s not about making a sacrifice that will appease God. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s forgiveness. God has already done the work. Lent is about recognizing what God has done for us. It is about remembering Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, his journey to the cross on Calvary.
Our reading from Second Corinthians calls us to be reconciled to God. The passage recognizes that Jesus Christ, the only person who never sinned in his entire life, became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. Lent is a time for us to recognize our sin as well as the sinless one who died for our sin. Lent is about removing the obstacles that prevent us from having a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. If you don’t think you have time to read scripture or pray daily, yet you have time to watch television, then perhaps you should give up watching television for Lent. But it only makes a difference if you fill that time with God. Giving up television in order to read scripture and pray each day is a fast that John Calvin would be proud of. You shouldn’t give things up in order to be forgiven or earn brownie points with God. God has no delight in sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. But if you use that time to grow in your knowledge, service, and love of God – then you will receive your heavenly reward.
Our reading from Matthew warns us not to practice piety in order to impress others. We are not supposed to give money, pray, or fast in order to appear religious. God wants us to tear open our hearts, not our clothes. We need to be transformed from within. Calvin says that God does not care about fasting itself, unless an inner emotion of the heart is present. We need God to create in us a new heart, to put a new and right spirit within us. We cannot do this on our own. We cannot turn away from sin and turn toward God without the inward working of the Spirit.
A second trumpet is blown in our scripture reading from the book of Joel. This time the trumpet blast brings the people together for a fast. This fast is an outward sign of their inward repentance. They have returned to the Lord, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. During this season of Lent, let us prepare our hearts to be made new. Some obstacles may need to be removed. It may hurt. But your reward will be great.
My three-year-old son, Kennan, goes to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Day School on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On Monday we told him that the school was having a book fair. Later that evening he was really upset and on the verge of tears. When we asked him what was wrong, he said that he didn’t want to give his books away. Many of us feel the same way about Lent. We feel as if we have to give up something we enjoy – and like my son, many of us don’t have any idea why we are supposed to do it in the first place.
This year is the 500th anniversary of John Calvin’s birth. I recently read an article that claims Calvin was among the Reformers who tried to get rid of Ash Wednesday and other Lenten observances. As a Presbyterian preparing a sermon for Ash Wednesday I was intrigued by the idea that Calvin might not approve of what I was doing. So I dusted off my copy of John Calvin’s “Institutes of the Christian Religion” and flipped to the section on fasting. Calvin claims that fasting is not well understood, so it can easily lapse into superstition. His writing reveals that he does not have a problem with fasting, as long as it is done for the right reasons. Lent is not a time to give something up just for the sake of giving something up. Calvin says, “the matter lies primarily in the motive of the heart.” In fact, Calvin makes reference to our scripture reading from Joel, chapter 2.
Our scripture reading begins with a blast from a trumpet, warning the people that they are facing a great calamity. God has sent an army to destroy the city. There is no escaping this army, but there is hope. God may still relent – if the people return to God with their heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. We don’t know why God is sending this army, but we do know that the people believe they need to repent. Lent is a time for us to reflect on our relationship with God, a time to repent from our sins, a time to rearrange our priorities in life. Lent is a time for us to turn our hearts to God. Any fasting, weeping, or mourning must be an outward reflection of how one feels on the inside. Joel says you should rend your hearts and not your clothing. The bible has many examples of people who tore their clothing after recognizing their sin. It is a visible sign of inner repentance. Repentance is when we turn away from sin and turn toward God. What Joel is saying is that we cannot put on a religious show. God knows what is in our hearts. We shouldn’t give up something we enjoy without knowing why we are doing it. Psalm 51 says sacrifices are meaningless unless they represent a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. Lent is not about appearing religious. It’s not about making a sacrifice that will appease God. There is nothing we can do to earn God’s forgiveness. God has already done the work. Lent is about recognizing what God has done for us. It is about remembering Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem, his journey to the cross on Calvary.
Our reading from Second Corinthians calls us to be reconciled to God. The passage recognizes that Jesus Christ, the only person who never sinned in his entire life, became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. Lent is a time for us to recognize our sin as well as the sinless one who died for our sin. Lent is about removing the obstacles that prevent us from having a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God. If you don’t think you have time to read scripture or pray daily, yet you have time to watch television, then perhaps you should give up watching television for Lent. But it only makes a difference if you fill that time with God. Giving up television in order to read scripture and pray each day is a fast that John Calvin would be proud of. You shouldn’t give things up in order to be forgiven or earn brownie points with God. God has no delight in sacrifice for the sake of sacrifice. But if you use that time to grow in your knowledge, service, and love of God – then you will receive your heavenly reward.
Our reading from Matthew warns us not to practice piety in order to impress others. We are not supposed to give money, pray, or fast in order to appear religious. God wants us to tear open our hearts, not our clothes. We need to be transformed from within. Calvin says that God does not care about fasting itself, unless an inner emotion of the heart is present. We need God to create in us a new heart, to put a new and right spirit within us. We cannot do this on our own. We cannot turn away from sin and turn toward God without the inward working of the Spirit.
A second trumpet is blown in our scripture reading from the book of Joel. This time the trumpet blast brings the people together for a fast. This fast is an outward sign of their inward repentance. They have returned to the Lord, for God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. During this season of Lent, let us prepare our hearts to be made new. Some obstacles may need to be removed. It may hurt. But your reward will be great.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Lent vs. Lint
Lent is the season in which the Church recalls the events of Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem. Lint is that stuff that some of us find in our belly buttons and most of us find in our dryers.
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends the day before Easter. It is forty days, not counting Sundays. Unlike, Christmas (Dec. 25), Easter is not on the same date each year. Easter is based on a lunar calendar that reflects the Jewish celebration of the Passover. The church has maintained the connection between Christian celebration of Easter and the Jewish celebration of the Passover because Jesus was in Jerusalem with his disciples celebrating the Passover when he was betrayed, crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. Lent is a season of preparation for the events that lead up to the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter always occurs in the spring.
Spring reminds us of spring-cleaning and spring-cleaning reminds us of finding lint in the dryer and sweeping dust bunnies from underneath furniture. Many households prepare for the spring by putting cold weather clothes away, re-organizing rooms, cleaning, and redecorating the house.
In many ways, Lent is supposed to be a time for some Spring-cleaning for our souls. It is not necessarily about making sacrifices (giving up desserts, television, or some other comfort). Lent is a time for preparation and reflection on our relationship with God and God’s love for us. Lent is a time for organizing and prioritizing our lives. Lent is a time for us to consider what is really important in life and focus our energy on those things. We may decide that we need to work on our relationships with God, family, and friends. We may decide to work on a spiritual discipline, like daily prayer and reading scripture, fasting, service to the community, etc. In the end, we may decide that we will give up watching television so we can read scripture and pray during that time instead. We may decide to give up desserts or have an occasional fast so that we can give the money we would spend on that food to an organization that feeds the hungry. But Lent is not meant to simply be a time of self-denial. Lent is meant to be a time of self-fulfillment.
Lint is something you throw away – it’s like celebrating Lent by simply giving up something you enjoy. Lent is meant to be a time when we reflect on how much God loves us and respond by sharing God’s love with the world.
Let us pray,
Gracious God, during this season of Lent, we ask that you would send your Holy Spirit to be with us, to guide and direct us, as we reflect on Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Help us learn more about your love and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Deepen our love for you and help us respond to your love by sharing it with the world. If we choose to give something up during this season, we ask that it would be done in order to bring us closer to you. If we choose to begin a new spiritual discipline during this season, we ask that you would give us the strength, endurance, and commitment we need to see it through. Bring us closer to you as we recall Christ’s journey to the cross during this season of Lent. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Gracious God, during this season of Lent, we ask that you would send your Holy Spirit to be with us, to guide and direct us, as we reflect on Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. Help us learn more about your love and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Deepen our love for you and help us respond to your love by sharing it with the world. If we choose to give something up during this season, we ask that it would be done in order to bring us closer to you. If we choose to begin a new spiritual discipline during this season, we ask that you would give us the strength, endurance, and commitment we need to see it through. Bring us closer to you as we recall Christ’s journey to the cross during this season of Lent. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Love of God
This Saturday we will celebrate the gift of love as we enjoy Valentine’s Day. While this holiday tends to focus on romantic love, I would like to talk about our love for God. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a Benedictine Monk. Bernard came up with the following four stages to describe how people tend to love God.
The first stage is “Love of Self for Self’s Sake.” The psychological term for loving oneself is narcissism. We recognize this behavior in infants and small children that think the world revolves around them. This behavior can return during adolescence. And we all know some folks who never seem to grow out of this stage.
The second stage is “Love of God for Self’s Sake.” This is when we recognize that there are benefits to believing in God. We look forward to heaven and ask that God bless us while we wait down here on earth. While this is certainly better than narcissism, it can be problematic. God is not a magic genie. God’s timing is not our timing.
The third stage is “Love of God for God’s Sake.” This is when we recognize that God has value, not because of what God can do for us, but because of who God is. We love God because God is God.
According to Bernard of Clairvaux, the fourth stage is “Love of Self for God’s Sake.” This is when we begin to see ourselves as God sees us. When we begin to experience life as a gift and strive to live our lives giving glory to God by enjoying God and the life we have been given.
If we are honest with ourselves, we probably move in and out of these stages on a daily basis. Let us strive to love God and ourselves for the sake of God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is love. This is revealed in the very nature of God. St. Augustine recognized that God is love by referring to the members of the trinity as: the lover, the beloved, and the love that binds them together.
Prayer:
Glorious God,
You are love. Help us love ourselves. Help us love others. And help us love you. Help us to know you more deeply. Help us to enjoy life and give glory to you for all that you’ve done, all that you are, and all that you have called us to be.
Prayer:
Glorious God,
You are love. Help us love ourselves. Help us love others. And help us love you. Help us to know you more deeply. Help us to enjoy life and give glory to you for all that you’ve done, all that you are, and all that you have called us to be.
New Year's Resolutions - Mine is posting more frequently!
While it is a month and a half after the start of the new year, I thought I would begin my new year's resolution of blogging on a more regular basis. And what better way to start than by posting the newsletter article I wrote for the church in January. Enjoy!
The New Year is a time for reflection on the past year and dreams for the new one. As you reflect on the past year, take some time to consider where you have seen God at work in your life and the lives of your loved ones, as well as your church, community, and world. As you look to the future, open yourself up to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The New Year is an excellent time to recommit ourselves to God and open ourselves up to what God would have us do.
This year I have heard some folks knocking New Year’s resolutions. One preacher said that they tend to be based on what society tells us to do, that they come from looking outside of ourselves and perhaps down on ourselves. While I don’t want to throw the resolutions out, this preacher may have a point. Choosing our resolutions based on what others tell us are important may be one of the reasons so many of us fail to follow through with them. However, I think an outside perspective combined with some introspection and a real desire for change can have positive outcomes. Thinking about what others are telling you to do and then reflecting on your desires is worth some time even if you don’t make a resolution for change. Knowing yourself is an immeasurable gift. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When we take the time to reflect on our lives, I’m sure all of us will find something that we would like to change. The New Year really is a great time to kick a harmful habit or pick up a good one. It is a time for commitment and re-commitment.
The important thing to remember is that God loves us just as we are. But that doesn’t mean that God wants us to stay where we are. God wants us to continue to grow and mature as people and as children of God. As we reflect on our lives this New Year, let’s be sure to reflect on the love of God as well. Where would we be without it?
Some Recommendations:
Did you know that you can find daily bible readings on our church website www.pampapcusa.org by using the Links page? You can also have the daily readings sent directly to your email by going to http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index.htm.
This year we are celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin. John Calvin was one of the Reformers who helped shape the faith of the Presbyterian Church. To celebrate, Princeton Theological Seminary is providing daily readings from Calvin’s crowning theological work, “The Institutes.” If you would like to make these readings a part of your New Year’s Resolutions or you just want to check it out, you can find them at http://www2.ptsem.edu/ConEd/Calvin/.
The New Year is a time for reflection on the past year and dreams for the new one. As you reflect on the past year, take some time to consider where you have seen God at work in your life and the lives of your loved ones, as well as your church, community, and world. As you look to the future, open yourself up to be guided by the Holy Spirit. The New Year is an excellent time to recommit ourselves to God and open ourselves up to what God would have us do.
This year I have heard some folks knocking New Year’s resolutions. One preacher said that they tend to be based on what society tells us to do, that they come from looking outside of ourselves and perhaps down on ourselves. While I don’t want to throw the resolutions out, this preacher may have a point. Choosing our resolutions based on what others tell us are important may be one of the reasons so many of us fail to follow through with them. However, I think an outside perspective combined with some introspection and a real desire for change can have positive outcomes. Thinking about what others are telling you to do and then reflecting on your desires is worth some time even if you don’t make a resolution for change. Knowing yourself is an immeasurable gift. Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” When we take the time to reflect on our lives, I’m sure all of us will find something that we would like to change. The New Year really is a great time to kick a harmful habit or pick up a good one. It is a time for commitment and re-commitment.
The important thing to remember is that God loves us just as we are. But that doesn’t mean that God wants us to stay where we are. God wants us to continue to grow and mature as people and as children of God. As we reflect on our lives this New Year, let’s be sure to reflect on the love of God as well. Where would we be without it?
Some Recommendations:
Did you know that you can find daily bible readings on our church website www.pampapcusa.org by using the Links page? You can also have the daily readings sent directly to your email by going to http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/lectionary/index.htm.
This year we are celebrating the 500th birthday of John Calvin. John Calvin was one of the Reformers who helped shape the faith of the Presbyterian Church. To celebrate, Princeton Theological Seminary is providing daily readings from Calvin’s crowning theological work, “The Institutes.” If you would like to make these readings a part of your New Year’s Resolutions or you just want to check it out, you can find them at http://www2.ptsem.edu/ConEd/Calvin/.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas Music
Yesterday our church choir and some actors reflected on the Christmas story in our annual Christmas Cantata. It was wonderful. Someone said that it was their favorite "sermon" of the year and I had to agree. As much as I love to preach, it was nice to spend some time working on other things and it was a real treat to hear the choir and watch the actors proclaim the word.
I love singing Christmas Carols and Hymns. I have been singing carols and hymns to my children at night (they haven't complained about my singing voice, yet). Kennan loves "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer." Brayden seems to enjoy "Silent Night." For some reason, Jennifer would rather listen to Sarah McLachlan, Jim Brickman, or Point of Grace.
Here is a list of my favorite hymns.
Advent (the time of year when we eagerly wait for the coming of Jesus Christ) (Top 3)
#3 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
#2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
#1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Christmas (the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus) (Top 10)
#10 The First Nowell - I really like the sixth verse that reminds us that God is the creator and redeemer of the world
#9 Go Tell It On The Mountain - An excellent reminder that we are to proclaim the good news of Jesus' coming with all the world
#8 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - The third verse reminds us that Jesus came to help those "beneath life's crushing load"
#7 O Little Town of Bethlehem - This song reminds us that Jesus is "the everlasting light" and that "the hopes and fears of all the years" were met in Bethlehem that night
#6 O Come, All Ye Faithful - As "Go Tell It On The Mountain" motivates us to share the good news with all the world, this song invites everyone to come and adore him
#5 Angels We Have Heard on High - Gloria in excelsis Deo (Latin for Glory to God in the highest) - enough said!
#4 Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Everytime I watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special I love to hear this song and can't wait to sing it in church
#3 Joy to the World - There is no better way to respond to the gift of Jesus Christ by singing of the joy he brings us
#2 What Child Is This - I love listening to Sarah McLachlan's version almost as much as sing it in church
#1 Silent Night, Holy Night - After so many candlelight services, you just can't beat it!
Not on the Top Ten (this year) (Top 4)
#4 We Three Kings of Orient Are - This is an Epiphany Hymn that often gets played at Christmas. Most scholars think the Magi/Wisemen/Kings arrived later.
#3 Still, Still, Still - Great Song but still.... I can only put ten in the top ten
#2 Born in the Night, Mary's Child - Recommended by another pastor and the words are great, but I am waiting to hear it in church before it can be considered for the Top 10.
#1 Away in a Manger - doesn't make the list because who knows a baby that "no crying he makes"?
I love singing Christmas Carols and Hymns. I have been singing carols and hymns to my children at night (they haven't complained about my singing voice, yet). Kennan loves "Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer." Brayden seems to enjoy "Silent Night." For some reason, Jennifer would rather listen to Sarah McLachlan, Jim Brickman, or Point of Grace.
Here is a list of my favorite hymns.
Advent (the time of year when we eagerly wait for the coming of Jesus Christ) (Top 3)
#3 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
#2 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
#1 O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Christmas (the time of year when we celebrate the birth of Jesus) (Top 10)
#10 The First Nowell - I really like the sixth verse that reminds us that God is the creator and redeemer of the world
#9 Go Tell It On The Mountain - An excellent reminder that we are to proclaim the good news of Jesus' coming with all the world
#8 It Came Upon the Midnight Clear - The third verse reminds us that Jesus came to help those "beneath life's crushing load"
#7 O Little Town of Bethlehem - This song reminds us that Jesus is "the everlasting light" and that "the hopes and fears of all the years" were met in Bethlehem that night
#6 O Come, All Ye Faithful - As "Go Tell It On The Mountain" motivates us to share the good news with all the world, this song invites everyone to come and adore him
#5 Angels We Have Heard on High - Gloria in excelsis Deo (Latin for Glory to God in the highest) - enough said!
#4 Hark the Herald Angels Sing - Everytime I watch the Charlie Brown Christmas Special I love to hear this song and can't wait to sing it in church
#3 Joy to the World - There is no better way to respond to the gift of Jesus Christ by singing of the joy he brings us
#2 What Child Is This - I love listening to Sarah McLachlan's version almost as much as sing it in church
#1 Silent Night, Holy Night - After so many candlelight services, you just can't beat it!
Not on the Top Ten (this year) (Top 4)
#4 We Three Kings of Orient Are - This is an Epiphany Hymn that often gets played at Christmas. Most scholars think the Magi/Wisemen/Kings arrived later.
#3 Still, Still, Still - Great Song but still.... I can only put ten in the top ten
#2 Born in the Night, Mary's Child - Recommended by another pastor and the words are great, but I am waiting to hear it in church before it can be considered for the Top 10.
#1 Away in a Manger - doesn't make the list because who knows a baby that "no crying he makes"?
This is my list. What do think? Any surprises? What would your list look like?
Friday, December 12, 2008
December Newsletter Article: "The Light"
Advent means coming. It is a time when we wait and we watch for the coming of our Lord. It is a time when we look forward to both the birth of our Lord and the time when he will come again and make all things new. Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation. It is a time when we recall the story of the ten bridesmaids and their lamps. We are called to keep our light burning as we look for the coming of the Lord.
During Advent the sanctuary is decorated with evergreens reminding us that God is everywhere and everlasting. Homes are decorated with strings of light, reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world and encouraging us to shine our lights as we have been strung together. As we prepare for the holidays let us also prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord so that we might shine with the light and love of Jesus Christ.
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. On the first Sunday we will light one candle of the Advent wreath. Each subsequent week we will light an additional candle as we build up to the moment when the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve. The candlelight increases as we approach Christmas. We recognize that this world can be dark and cold. So we look forward to the coming of the light that brings both light and warmth. We look forward to the coming of Christ, the light of the world. At the end of the service on Christmas Eve we will use the Christ candle to light our own individual candles as the light and love of God fills the room. We recognize that it is the light of Christ that expels the darkness from our lives and fills us with the warmth of the love of God. Therefore let us share the light and love of the world in our homes, communities, and all of creation. Let us shine our lights as we prepare for the coming Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
During Advent the sanctuary is decorated with evergreens reminding us that God is everywhere and everlasting. Homes are decorated with strings of light, reminding us that Jesus is the light of the world and encouraging us to shine our lights as we have been strung together. As we prepare for the holidays let us also prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord so that we might shine with the light and love of Jesus Christ.
Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. On the first Sunday we will light one candle of the Advent wreath. Each subsequent week we will light an additional candle as we build up to the moment when the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve. The candlelight increases as we approach Christmas. We recognize that this world can be dark and cold. So we look forward to the coming of the light that brings both light and warmth. We look forward to the coming of Christ, the light of the world. At the end of the service on Christmas Eve we will use the Christ candle to light our own individual candles as the light and love of God fills the room. We recognize that it is the light of Christ that expels the darkness from our lives and fills us with the warmth of the love of God. Therefore let us share the light and love of the world in our homes, communities, and all of creation. Let us shine our lights as we prepare for the coming Jesus Christ, the light of the world.
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