Living as a Kingdom Community in Divided Times
I still remember the look on Matt Harvey’s face. At the time, he was the managing editor of The Clarksburg … Continue reading Living as a Kingdom Community in Divided Times
Sermon: You are Beloved
A lot has happened since we last gathered for worship. There has been nonstop breaking news from Iran to Buckingham Palace. My beloved 49ers hosted, and won, their first playoff game in their new stadium. And, we’ve went through 30 years of Biblical history.
That last part is an interesting detail about how each of the four gospel accounts of Jesus’ life are put together. Two of the gospels – Matthew and Luke – give some details about Jesus’ birth and early life, while the other two – Mark and John – do not discuss his birth and go right into the descriptions of Jesus’ life. Since we celebrated Epiphany Sunday, and gave a little attention to the Magi of Matthew 2, we’ve traversed the majority of Jesus’ life. In fact, only Luke gives us any details about what took place after Jesus was, roughly, the age of 2.
Why is that? The gospels are written in a historical biographical form that was prevalent in the 1st Century AD. That form of writing focused on only including substantial details from the main subject’s life that would give an understanding of who this person was. This often included a focus on the person’s death and final moments. We see that in each of the gospels, which place most of its emphasis on Jesus’ final week before his death and resurrection. Counter this to our focus, today, which would be to include every aspect of an individual’s life from birth through death based upon a common theme.
One aspect of Jesus’ life that all four gospels mention or allude to is his baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. It is one of the most significant moments of his early ministry and launches Jesus’ into the public portion of his earthly ministry. You cannot understand Jesus’ ministry without taking a deep look at why he was baptized. Continue reading “Sermon: You are Beloved”
Proposed Settlement Offers More Questions than Answers
The new year is off to an exciting start within the United Methodist family. A year that was already expected to be fraught with nervousness regarding the church’s future and on-going discussions regarding human sexuality received a jolt of new energy, Friday, when a group of pastors and leaders in the church released a proposed settlement to separate the church at General Conference.
Almost immediately, the proposed settlement was picked up by religious and secular media as a done deal. Headlines were written to suggest that what was proposed was official. As a former reporter, the nature of who was around the table – bishops and leaders of various caucus groups – would lead those unfamiliar with the polity of the United Methodist Church to make that inaccurate assumption.
As we approach General Conference in May, the proposed settlement – which gives $25 million for a new traditionalist church – becomes one of several plans that will be up for consideration regarding the church’s future. It will be up to General Conference to determine the proposed settlement’s vitality and if it wants to approve it or another plan up for consideration.
While the proposed settlement offers an attempt to end the decades-long impasse within the church, there are more questions than answers within the document. Many of those questions will likely be answered during a press availability on January 13. Here are just some of the questions that need to be answered by the proposed settlement group prior to General Conference. Continue reading “Proposed Settlement Offers More Questions than Answers”
A Worriless Mission
At the beginning of each year, I have often found it important to spend some time focusing on where we … Continue reading A Worriless Mission
Light in the Darkness
This evening, we gather in the midst of darkness.
It wasn’t that long ago that the sun set over the horizon of the community. That moment called an end to a festive day of preparations and celebrations, while extinguishing the light that had allowed us to see where we were going and move about freely. As the sun went down, a familiar darkness consumed the sky and reminded us of the evening’s chill.
We gather in the midst of a darkness that is not just about the realities of the night’s sky. We gather in the midst of a darkness that is as much about the metaphorical realities we face than about the physical realities. In the midst of that darkness, we have gathered, looking for hope. Continue reading “Light in the Darkness”
The Nativity: Mary
Today, we will conclude our sermon series looking at the characters that make up the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Throughout Advent, we’ve focused on how each of these characters help us to prepare our hearts for Christmas. We’ve saved the most beloved and important of the characters, outside of Jesus, for last. Her name is Mary.
Mary’s role is central to the entire Christmas story. We do not give her, in the Protestant tradition, enough attention and respect. She deserves more of our time and reflection, because she is theotokos. This is what the early church called her. Theotokos is a Greek word that means “God bearer.” There is no better word to describe Mary. That is her contribution to the Christmas story. She was the one who gave birth to the incarnate Son of God. She was the one chosen by God to give life to the One who offers true life and hope into the world.
But, who is she? Why did God choose her? What are we to make of her life and her connection to Christ? These are all questions that, perhaps, we’ve wrestled with before and are ones important for us to consider as we think about Mary, her life, and how she enables us to encounter the peace, hope, joy, and love found in the Christ child. Continue reading “The Nativity: Mary”
Importance of Communion at Christmas
One of my favorite communion moments came last year.
I was blessing the elements in a barn as the sky was slowly turning towards its dusky hues. There was a large gathering of people, larger than some had expected, and we were sitting on bales of hay and folding chairs, bundled in our warmest jackets. We had sung songs, lit candles, and celebrated how Jesus came to bring hope into the world.
It was Christmas Eve, and it was beautiful and holy.
Throughout my ministry, nothing has given me more joy as a pastor than to lead the congregation in the celebration of communion on Christmas Eve. It is a holy and sacred meal that connects us to the full ministry and life of Christ, and how we are to be transformed by his life at work in us. Is it appropriate, however, for Christmas Eve worship?
That is a conversation that is a relevant question for many in the church pews A lot of this deals with both the practical side of communion, as well as the lack of theological understanding of why communion is important in discipleship. While we read passages where regular celebration of communion is important to faith (1 Corinthians 11:23-25), we are still comfortable with an infrequent and, at times, haphazard celebration of this sacrament due to historical practices.
In the past, I’ve written on the importance of communion and how we should take it more frequently than we do. While I won’t repeat a lot of those arguments here, what this essay will focus on is the importance of communion on Christmas Eve. Continue reading “Importance of Communion at Christmas”
