An Easter Season Worship Series: Revealing Revelation

For the last three Easter Seasons at FUMC of Arlington, we've studied the Book of Acts, focusing on the building of that first Christian community after the resurrection, leading to Pentecost.  The Book of Acts is an important book  for the church to study, as it chronicles the early problems, oppression, and successes of the early church and the apostles.

However, this year, Year C in the Revised Common Lectionary, the epistle reading was ... well ... too good to pass up.  In six weeks, which is rather quick, it takes us through the Book of Revelation.

Now, I know that many of the United Methodist variety might take to the famous perspective of Martin Luther ...

"I can discover no trace that it is established by the Holy Spirit."

Or, still others might pour over the details of the book, looking for prophecies of the end, trying and trying to apply the details to the world of today.

It's a provocative book.  It's imagery and literary content transcend the Christian faith.  So, we should talk about it.

At FUMCA, from April 3 until the Sunday before Pentecost, we will be.  Here's a breakdown of the series, for your use and perusal.  As always, post in the comments if you're taking this on!

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Easter Season Worship Series:

Revealing Revelation

The Book of Revelation has been controversial since its inception.  Its vivid imagery, depictions of violence and empire, and cryptic allusions to the return of Christ have made it a book that is easy to misuse and misinterpret.

But, what if we took Revelation and refused to get caught up in picking apart its symbols … Trumpets … Dragons … Numbers … And read it as a letter to people, to churches, in trouble and losing their faith.  What if we took this book and realized it was from a servant of Christ to fellow servants of Christ that said this:

This is hard right now.

And it might get harder.

But hold on to Christ - 

God is with us.

This Easter Season we’ll take on the mysteries of the Book of Revelation, and wonder together of the life God calls us to as people of God in the world that longs for the Kingdom of God to break through.

April 3 - Revealing Revelation

Revelation 1:4-8

So ... Christ is coming again?

April 10 - Worthy is the Lamb

Revelation 5:11-14

What did Christ give himself for?

April 17 - Bigger than U

s

Revelation 7:9-17

Do we, humans, prefer a limited offer of salvation?

April 24 - City of God

Revelation 21:1-6

Does God want to replace?  Or redeem?

May 1 - No More Night

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

What if it's really all about holding fast to Christ in the most difficult times?

May 8 - Benediction

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21

Can we stay thirsty for Christ's living water?

Our Lenten Worship Journey - The Path

Greetings to my brothers and sisters, worship planners and leaders, liturgy nerds and readers!  Lent is fast approaching ... It starts next week!  So, if it's helpful, I thought I would post the series we'll be going through at FUMCA.

This year, we're taking things on as a journey ... a hike ... a marathon ... Lent is a time of trial and perseverance that Christ calls us to and carries us through.  The series follows the Gospel stream of the RCL.  I've included, as always, scriptures, sermon titles, a description of the series for websites/worship guides, and a few ideas to start the sermon.

If you find it useful, please let me know in the comments!  An Easter Season Series is on the way1

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Our 2016 Lenten Journey:

The Path

Welcome to The Path, FUMC of Arlington’s 40-Day Journey of Lent.  It is a time to accept the call to set aside more time than usual to cultivate our faith lives.  Where, in the end, we have deepened our relationship Christ, deepened our relationship with the church, and centered ourselves on the call God puts on each of our lives to be better, do better, love more.

At least, this is the hope and the goal.

The Christian life could be described as a marathon, a lifelong journey, of study, praise, and service.

It could also be described as a treacherous hike, where peaceful streams travel down into dangerous valleys.

We are called to exert effort in our life journey with Christ, in our personal journeys, and in the way we bring others along with us.  But, as always, when we jump into the race we have Christ as our trail guide, our coach, and ... our map, as the Word of God made flesh.

From our start on February 10, Ash Wednesday, to Easter Sunday on March 31, here is a vision of The Path:

• February 10 - Ash Wednesday
  • Scriptures - Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
    • 2nd … All of them, but especially Psalm 51:1-17
  • Sermon Title - Before We Start, We Practice
  • Themes
    • Are there ‘Lent experts’?  Are there faith experts?
    • 10,000 hours
    • “Give me a clean heart”
• February 14 - Lent One
  • Scriptures - Luke 4:1-13
    • 2nd - Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16
    • The Lord delivers ...
  • Sermon Title:  The Starting Line
  • Themes
    • Jesus’ temptation …
    • Testing God?
    • Practice of fasting …
    • What’s holding us back in our relationship with Christ?  
    • What are we filling our bellies, minds, and hearts with that create barriers?
• February 21 - Lent Two
  • Scriptures - Luke 13:31-35
    • 2nd - Phil 3:17-4:1
    • Citizenship of heaven, standing firm
  • Sermon Title - Getting off track
  • Themes
    • Jerusalem kills prophets?  Foreshadowing Palm Sunday.
    • Jesus’ (Son of God) desires to gather all children together
    • Perseverance
• February 28 - Lent Three
  • Scriptures - Luke 13:1-9
    • 2nd - Isaiah 55:1-9
    • Come to the waters … My ways are higher ways.
  • Sermon Title - Traversing obstacles
  • Themes
    • A call for repentance
    • Yes, we do need to do it to follow Christ.
    • The practice of confession/repentance
    • When bad things happen …
    • Bad theology … Defining ‘God’ is hard.  We should, however, know ‘not God’.
• March 6 - Lent Four
  • Scriptures - Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32
    • 2nd - 2 Cor 5:16-21
    • New creation ...
  • Sermon Title - Don’t look back
  • Themes
    • Eating with sinners … Communion, anyone?
    • The Prodigal Son
    • God desires all to repent and return home.
    • The center of Luke’s story.
    • Practicing hospitality
• March 13 - Lent Five
  • Scriptures - John 12:1-8
    • 2nd - Phil 3:4b-14
    • Press onward to the goal … Resurrection
  • Sermon Title:  Almost done, but not yet
  • Themes
    • Anointing at Bethany
    • For burial, but where is Christ going?
    • At the home of Resurrected Lazarus - a foreshadowing of Easter
    • Tie in to washing the disciples’ feet
    • Judas vs. Mary
  • Practicing generosity
• March 20 - Lent Six: Palm Sunday
  • Scriptures - Luke 19:28-40
    • 2nd - Phil 2:5-11
  • Sermon Title - Not the finish line
  • Themes
    • The irony of Jerusalem's Welcome.
    • Back to the killing of prophets …
    • The Reality - Jesus is going to die, for our salvation.
    • Practicing self-sacrifice
    • Breaking down whatever At-One-Ment means.
    • Hope

Holy Week

• March 24 - Holy Thursday
  • Scriptures - Luke 22:14-20
  • Sermon Title - Fuel for the Marathon
  • Themes
    • Jesus calls us to remember him in a meal - a meal that’s free to us, but comes at great cost to Christ
    • A symbol of sacrifice, that at the same time causes us to pause, rest, and give thanks
    • Communion is for the Community.
      • It binds us together, in the good and the bad, reminding us that we are equally given the grace of Christ.
• March 25 - Good Friday
  • Scripture - John 18:1-19:42
  • Sermon Title - It is Finished
  • Themes
    • Don't be afraid to read the whole story, break it up throughout the service, and intersperse hymns and anthems.  This might be the only time all year that people read/hear the Passion Narrative at one time.
    • Reading the Gospel is much more than preaching it in this instance.
    • Christ did die to save us from our sins, our selves.
    • Do not shy away from this fact by bringing in a happy ending.  We need to wait for Easter for that.
    • I would recommend you conduct your worship in the traditional way and not have any kind of postlude or dismissal.  Directions can be in your worship guide, but the more abrupt the ending the better.
• March 27 - Easter Sunday!
  • Scripture - John 20:1-18
  • Sermon Title - Love Wins
  • Themes
    • The Disciples had all of the information they needed, but still the doubted the Resurrection would happen.
    • Our lack of faith doesn’t determine the faith God has in us.
    • Love wins out for us, but it’s just the start of another journey.

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The banner for the series is designed my super creative Director of Design at FUMCA, Mary Gibson. 

Advent 2015: From Heaven to Earth

Friends, this is a bit of a last-minute post, but here it is!  Hopefully most all of you are in the thick of your Advent planning - or it's done already!  Just in case, here's what we'll be offering this year at FUMC of Arlington, TX.

Advent/Christmas 2015 Worship Series: November 29 - January 3

From Heaven to Earth

Advent 1 - Nov 29

• Sermon Title:  “The Day is Coming”
  • Scripture: Jeremiah 33:14-16
    • 2nd - 1 Thess 3:9-13
  • Candle - Hope
  • Themes
    • Setting the series … From Heaven to Earth
    • What its like to wait … … And still be hopeful
    • Explaining Advent - it isn’t Christmas, yet
    • Speaking of exile (Jeremiah)
    • Who is actually waiting to meet Jesus?  Who needs to meet Jesus and hasn’t?
      • God’s long-view on deliverance and our work in the meantime. 
      • Nicene Creed
        • Light from Light, True God from True God

Advent 2 - Dec 6

• Sermon Title:  “People, Get Ready”
  • Scripture:  Luke 3:1-6
    • Malachi 3:1-4
  • Candle - Love
  • Themes
    • Setting the stage … Luke is creating a backdrop of kings and emperors, while the King of Kings is coming out of nowhere and nothing.
    • Love means telling it like it is, sometimes - J the B.
    • IT'S THE FEAST OF ST. NICHOLAS

Advent 3 - Dec 13

• Sermon Title: “Filled With Expectation” 
  • Scripture: Luke 3:7-18
    • 2nd - Isaiah 12:2-6
  • Candle - Joy
  • Themes
    • How are we preparing to meet the Messiah?  Are we focused on our needs, or the needs of others?
      • Are we heading into a joyful season?  Is it joyful for everyone?
    • Unreasonable expectations
      • What do you expect to get from this season?  What are you prepared to give?  John stood his ground.
      • Trimming back to proclaim the good news.

Advent 4 - Dec 20

• Sermon Title: “We Are Blessed”
  • Scripture: Luke 1:39-55
    • 2nd - Micah 5:2-5a
  • Candle - Peace
  • Themes
    • God’s peace comes with a special kind of justice
      • But it's the same theme that God has been working with since the very beginning: care for the least of these
      • Turning the world on its head … who would’ve thought God would choose a person like Mary to be mother to God?
        • Our God is a fan of the underdog

Christmas Eve - Dec 24

• Sermon Title: “From Heaven to Earth”
  • Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
  • Candle - Christ
  • Themes
    • CHRISTMAS
    • Incarnation
      • What does it actually mean for the world that Emmanuel would be a human baby, in actuality?
      • How does this amazing gift show how highly God thinks of us?  Or what brings out the best in us?

Sunday After Christmas - Dec 27

• Sermon Title: “Love Came Down at Christmas”
  • Scripture - Colossians 3:12-17
    • 2nd - Psalm 148
  • Themes
    • CHRISTMAS
    • The values that God sent Jesus to demonstrate to us:
      • Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience
      • Love
        • God so loves the world ...

Epiphany Sunday - January 3

• Sermon Title: “Searching for Jesus”
  • Scripture: Matthew 2:1-12
    • 2nd - Psalm 72:1-7
• Themes
  • Where do we expect to find Jesus?  Might that be a dangerous search?
    • Who would be the opposition?
  • The political cost of following Jesus, bending the Messiah to our vision, rather than God's vision.
  • God Revealed - the meaning of  Epiphany 
    • Welcoming the Gentiles to the Kingdom.
  • Offering a Wesleyan Covenant Service
  • The New Year

Easter Worship Series - Counter Cultural Community

Coming off the heels of Easter, FUMC of Arlington is launching into a series on the Acts of the Apostles and the building of the first Christian Community:

Here's an outline of the fun with a few (rough) ideas as to where we're going with things!

Easter Season Worship Series:  Counter Cultural Community

April 12 to May 10

Synopsis

:

The first church of Jesus, the Acts Church, was a revolutionary community.  Not only was it founded on the teachings of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit, but it was a community set apart entirely for the glory of God.  Yet, it was still in the world – in the world, but sharing in values that were not of the world around it.  It was a counter-cultural community, anointed by God to spread the good news of God’s love to the nations.  What would that first church say to our church today?

April 12 – “Counter-Cultural Community”

• Lesson – Acts 4:32-35
• Ideas
• The first church lived in community, everything was shared and everybody had enough.  What could be more opposite to culture than that?
• They lived in an attitude of worship, their very lives testifying to the Resurrection.

April 19 – “Turning to God”

• Lesson – Acts 3:12-19
• Ideas
• How have we turned from our old lives and back to God?
• Metanoia, Repentance
• Dispelling fear and ignorance – we can’t live in ignorance any more.
• Do we ignore the problems of the world, hiding in our sanctuaries?  Worse, do we ignore the problems that we cause?
• Taking responsibility and moving forward.
• What does conversion look like?

April 26 – “Fearing Rejection”

• Lesson – Acts 4:5-12
• Ideas
• How do we work counter to a culture of bureaucracy that seems to lack care?
• Or, how do we work within it to make a change?
• Remembering that Jesus was rejected, so sometimes we, as bearers of good news, will be rejected as well.
• We can’t fear going against the grain of things.
• The power of community to overcome obstacles.

May 3 – “Wherever You Go”

• Lesson – Acts 8:26-40
• Ideas
• Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch
• We’re out in the mission field.
• EVANGELISM!
• Sharing our faith by building relationships with people.
• Slow evangelism, the practice of hospitality.
• The Holy Spirit goes where we go.  We are the church wherever we are.
• Knowing your Bible – being equipped to witness

May 10 – “For the World”

• Lesson – Acts 10:44-48
• Ideas
• Again, we’re out in the mission field, with God sending Peter to the Household of Cornelius
• Baptism of the gentiles – the Kingdom is open to the world.
• Christ came for the salvation of all, Christ is for the world.
• Being United Methodist – how is [YOUR CHURCH] making disciples for the transformation of the world?
• Might be good to work in something on mission ministries that your church facilitates
• Looking at UMCOR …

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These are all really just ideas from my notes that I hope you might find helpful!

As a side project for this series, we're gathering faith stories from within our community, asking people the questions -

"What difference has being a Christian made in your life?"

"What difference has being part of the church made in your life?"

We're gathering stories from across demographic lines and will include these short testimonies in our worship and post them online as we go.  The first clip is below.  I'm telling you - you have somebody in your church that can do this for you.  The most vital thing that the church can do to bring more people in is to tell its story and the difference that is made in being part of the community.

April 5, 2015: Counter-Cultural Community

from

FUMC of Arlington

on

Vimeo

.

2014 Advent to Christmas Series "The Promise" Worship Helps

As promised, here are the candle lightings, calls to worship, and corporate or pastoral prayers for our

2014 Advent to Christmas Series "The Promise"

.  Everything is designed to get the point across for each particular Sunday and is free to use.  Let us know me the comments if any of this is of help to you!

This year, I decided to go with the traditional names for the Advent Wreath Candles (perhaps for the first time since I started writing original lighting liturgies).  I'll have a graphic for worship guides in the next couple of days!

November 30 (Advent 1) - “A Promise and a Plea” Isaiah 64:1-9

Lighting the Candle of Hope

Long ago the prophet Isaiah cried out for God’s mercy to be shown to God’s children – all of us.  God heard that prayer, though God came in God’s own time.  Even though God may not move in the way we expect or as quickly as we would sometimes like, God still keeps the promises that God makes.  God hears our cries for mercy, even today.  This morning, as we light the Candle of Hope, may this small light be a symbol to all of us that waiting and hoping for God to come to us again.

Let this fire remind us that while we wait for the Lord, truly the Lord is already here.  Hope is here!

Call to Worship

Lord, hear our prayer!

Listen to your children praying!

Hear your people crying out for mercy this morning, God of our Salvation.

May the hope of Jesus arise in us this morning!

Prayer of Confession

Merciful God, we have much to confess.  We lose our focus.  We forget the reasons we’ve had for the holiday season.  We get caught up in being busy, caught up in ourselves, caught up in the world.  Help us to focus on you, and in so doing becoming more like you.  The world around us needs you, needs people focused on you and ready to meet the needs of those that are hurting and lost around us.  Focus us God, lead us with your Holy Spirit, so that when the Hope of the Nations does arrive, we are ready.  Amen.

December 7 (Advent 2) - “Passing the Baton”Mark 1:1-8

Lighting the Candle of Peace

John the Baptist’s ancient words, calling us to prepare the way of the Lord were more ancient than he was.  He learned them from Isaiah.  But in John’s time, Jesus did finally arrive.  The Hope of the Nations walking among the people.  This morning, we light the Candle of Peace.  May we carry the Lord’s peace with us this holiday season, as we remember that Jesus was, and is, real.

Let this fire remind us that while we wait for the Lord, truly the Lord is already here.  Peace is here!

Call to Worship

Peace of the Lord be with you today!

Peace of the Lord be with you!

We have work to do to prepare the way of the Lord!

May Jesus make his true way into our hearts, today.

Prayer of Confession

Everlasting Lord, we confess that Advent is not a peaceful season, and that it is our own making.  We forget that your incarnate love in Jesus Christ wasn’t just meant for the church or the people that call themselves ‘Christian’ … It is for everyone.  Can you help us be peace-bringers this season?  Can you open our hearts and minds to those that need us to bring your healing touch?  To those that need to be introduced to your son, Jesus Christ?  To those that need the way to you made plain?  Calm our hearts and steady our minds, dear God, that we may find your peace and show it to others.  Amen.

December 14 (Advent 3) - “A Mother Sings” Luke 1:46b-55

Lighting the Candle of Love

Mary’s song reminds us that God’s love is truly for everyone, that we are all God’s children, and God’s mercy is equally given.  Mary helps us to remember that God’s view is different from ours– that those we might consider the lowly, the outcast, are equal in God’s eye to the powerful and the strong.  This morning we light the Candle of Love, reminding ourselves that God’s love is without boundary, it is timeless, it is free to all.

Let this fire remind us that while we wait for the Lord, truly the Lord is already here.  Love is here! 

Call to Worship

This morning, we are called to sing!

To sing of the Lord’s everlasting mercy!

To sing of the Lord’s faithfulness!

Thank you God for keeping your promises from generation to generation!

Prayer of Confession

God on high, we know you love us, but we confess that we forget to return that love.  You give us everything and we squander our resources.  We spend on ourselves, we pour extravagance on ourselves, all while those around us, in our neighborhoods, communities, and families struggle just to keep healthy food on the table.  Let us hear Mary’s song anew this morning, may we be reminded that the ways of the world, where the strong forget the weak, are not your ways.  Your ways are higher, God.  Help us to bring your Kingdom more fully onto this earth.  Amen.

December 21(Advent 4) – “Yes!”Luke 1:26-38

Lighting the Candle of Joy

As the angel tells Mary not to fear, we hear that call on our own hearts this morning.  Because we know that the promise of God, delivered by an angel, and received by Mary, is true.  When the world cried out for a savior, that savior did come to us.  Not as a king, but as a baby.  As we light the Candle of Joy this morning, may we be reminded, with joy, that the Lord loves us so much, that the Song of God came into the world like one of us.

Let this fire remind us that while we wait for the Lord, truly the Lord is already here.  Joy is here!

Call to Worship

The Lord is with us this morning!

Yes, indeed.  The Lord’s joy is here!

Are you prepared for miracles?

Nothing is impossible with God!

Prayer of Confession

God of Compassion, we are a fearful people.  We carry so much with us … hurt, pain, disease, strife.  We confess that we forget that you are with us, often in the hardest times.  We confess that sometimes this season of joy is less than joyful, because we lose track of you.  We need you to heal our hurts God, we can’t make it on our own.  Heal us God so we can be prepared to say “Yes!”, as Mary did.  Yes, to your call to lift up each other, to carry each other and lift burdens for one another, not just for our friends and family, but to everyone.  Help us to receive the gift of your healing, and joyful, love in Jesus Christ.  Amen.

December 24 (Christmas Eve) - “The Promise is Kept”Luke 2:1-20

Lighting the Christ Candle

As we light the Christ Candle, we remember that long ago God’s promise to us was kept!  We called on the Lord for salvation, and not only did the Lord bring it, the Lord Our God appeared to us as a baby.  A baby to be loved and nurtured in a human family.  A baby Messiah that would grow up to preach the good news that all are welcome and loved in the Kingdom of God.  Today, we welcome Jesus Christ!

Welcome to you, Lord Jesus!  May this light remind us of the hope, peace, love, and joy that can only be found in you!

Call to Worship

Let heaven and nature sing -

Joy to the world!

Oh come, all ye faithful –

Joyful and triumphant!

The herald angels sing –

Glory to God!

Jesus is here!

Jesus is here!

A Christmas Prayer

God, we welcome you here.  We have been waiting for you, anticipating your arrival, expecting you to visit us today.  We need you God, and we are so grateful that you love us so much that you came to us in the form of a child.  You place so much trust in us, even trusting a humble family to raise your own son.  On top of that, you gift us with care over one another.  Yes, it’s a care that we often fail to give.  Thanks be to you God that no matter how often we forget to take care of each other, to love each other as you love us, your forgiveness knows no end.  Forgiveness, grace, mercy, and love that became incarnate in Jesus Christ.  A promise of salvation that is kept.  Welcome to the world, Lord Jesus.  May singing your songs, sharing in your gifts, and looking to your earthly life bring heaven closer to us this Christmas.  Amen.

December 28(1st Sunday After Christmas) - “Seeing Salvation”Luke 2:22-40

Call to Worship

In our church, today it is still Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

The angels are still singing!

Glory to God, and peace on earth.

Prayer for After Christmas

Lord Jesus Christ, another Christmas Day has come and gone.  How did we celebrate your birthday?  With family and friends?  With food and gifts?  Did we remember that you are the true gift of Christmas?  You are the agent of our salvation, the light in our darkness, a fulfilled promise of God.  And we, whom you would call friends, are called to share these great gifts, that only you can give, with the world. Remind us that the gifts we’ve been given aren’t ours to keep.  Remind us that there’s more than enough food for none to go hungry.  Remind us that through you everyone we meet is now a brother or sister.  Thanks be to God for the family of faith that began on Christmas Day and continues to grow into the future.  Amen.

Advent to Christmas 2014 Worship Series: The Promise

This Advent season at FUMCA we're following the thread of messengers, the people who prophesied and proclaimed the good news the culminated in a fulfilled promise with the birth of Jesus Christ.

Our Advent journey will take us from the heartfelt prayers of Isaiah, to the rugged preaching of John the Baptist.  Then to the tender joy of Mary, mother of Jesus, as she sings her song of thanksgiving after the angel Gabriel gives her the news that God has chosen her to bear the Son of God into the world.  Finally, after the long wait, the promise of God, Jesus the Messiah, comes to us at Christmas.  A promise fulfilled.

Here is an outline of our plan, with liturgy resources and graphics to come.  This is all shared freely, but if you use it within your faith family, just do me a favor and share that in the comments!

Advent to Christmas 2014 Worship Series:

The Promise

November 30 (Advent 1) - “A Promise and a Plea" - Isaiah 64:1-9

Isaiah prays, "Oh, that you would tear the heavens and come down ..."

This lesson is a heartfelt plea for mercy, which is unlike many of the iconic Advent scriptures we pull from this prophet's deep words.  Where is the Holy Mountain, or the Great Light?  Isaiah is speaking for a world that needs a savior, a messiah, a rescuer.  Do we not cry for this still today as we wait for Christ to come again?  We wait still for the great intercessor to appear.

We remind our people though, as evidenced by the Incarnation, that God does hear our prayers.  That God does move towards us.

December 7 (Advent 2) - “Passing the Baton” - Mark 1:1-8

John proclaims, "One who is more powerful than I is coming after me ..."

A rough and tumble prophet, John wasn't into the pretensions of his time.  He wanted to get down to business, declare a season of repentance, and get people right with God.  However, he wasn't the Messiah, he wasn't the endgame ... Jesus was/is.  John, the way-maker, is preparing the people to meet Christ, for real.  John starts the race, but Jesus finishes it.  So, the question may be, still today, how are we making the way for Jesus in people's hearts right here, right now?

December 14 (Advent 3) - “A Mother Sings” -  Luke 1:46b-55

Isaiah had cried out to God for mercy (as had many Israelites), and here mercy is, gifted to Mary to bring into the world.  The special thing, though, is that God is buying into the human experience.  Not only will God come down to earth and to our rescue, but God will do so by coming into the world the way all humans do.  You might say, "God has skin in the game."

And, of course, this is Mary's song.  It's a riff on Hannah's song from the First Samuel, but Mary makes it her own.  She's prophesying in a way, singing the themes that are the Gospel of Luke's central message: the world as we know it is upside down from here on out.  That is, God's heart is for the lowly, the tread upon, the outcast, the ill, those who have no way out in society.  Mary is one of those people, and here she is, soon-to-be Mother of God.

December 21 (Advent 4) – “Yes!” - Luke 1:26-38

"Nothing is impossible with God ..."

God makes it happen for God's children.  The world needs a savior, and a savior is sent.  Not on a flaming chariot with an angel army as backup, but as a child.  However, the approach to Mary needs to be made, and Gabriel gets to make it.  Angels in the OT aren't bringers of joy, on the whole.  The Israelite history with angels is pretty scary stuff, so it's no wonder that Gabriel first tells Mary not to fear.

The Lord is with us, we don't need to fear.  Do we fear things this time of year?  Loneliness?  Money problems?  Brokenness in our families and relationships?  Are there things in our lives that we find impossible?  Is God there to help us find a break through?  The Incarnation is proof to us that God is ready, willing, and able to work miracles.  Mary was brave enough to say "YES!" to God, what about us?

December 24 (Christmas Eve) - “The Promise is Kept” - Luke 2:1-20

This sermon is so easy, but so hard.  How do  you bring something new to the Christmas story?  Do you even need to?  The awe, wonder, and praise wrapped into these twenty history-changing verses are timeless.  The joy of the angels, the shock to the shepherds, the love of the holy family.

But perhaps the greatest thing of all: God was always on the move to bring us Jesus, and God is still on the move in the world today.  Karl Barth wrote of the incarnation, not just that Emmanuel means "God with us", but also that "God does not want to be without us."

That is the Good News of Christmas!

December 28 (1st Sunday After Christmas) - “Seeing Salvation” - 2:22-40

"My eyes have seen your salvation ..."

The Song of Simeon rounds out the three songs that open the Gospel of Luke (Mary's Magnificat and the Song of the Angels being the other two).  Most people may know the Nunc Dimittis, 'Let your servant go in peace', set to music, but it doesn't give much of the scriptural context.  Simeon had been waiting, and waiting for the arrival of the savior, having a witness that he would meet the Messiah from the Holy Spirit.

What a gift Simeon received - to have tangible proof that God's promises are true.  We humans, some 2,000 years later have to take to these stories on faith.  However, the point should be made more often that while we don't see the Human One in the flesh before us, we, the church, are the Body of Christ - baptized to love and serve others as Christ did.  In other words, others should be able to see Christ in us.  In the aftermath of Christmas and before the New Year, what can we do to better show people that we know Christ was/is real?  Do we bring good new to the poor?  Let the oppressed go free?  Help people shake off their spiritual blindness?  Proclaim the time of the Lord's favor on the whole wide world?