Psalm 40:1-11, I Corinthians 1:1-9 and John 1:29-42

This coming week of January 17-25 is the designated Week of Prayer For Christian Unity. A time of prayerful reflection on the state of the Church through time and history into our current year of 2020. The primary text for the sermon is from I Corinthians 1:2 where the emphasis is on our “togetherness in Jesus Christ.” Paul is appealing for unity. Needless to say, he notes some conflict, disagreement, and power plays going on and proceeds to make a case for overcoming dissension and turmoil. He will reach a high point in chapter 13, “the love chapter.”

A worthy aspiration! The worldwide church is a grand marvel in all its diversity! And a beautiful experience when worship and service is shared by the millions of the faithful.

Yet, we live in both a world and a Church in which we are often not “of one mind.” It’s not a new concern. St. Paul wrote most of his epistles addressing issues and differences in the local churches.

The intent and aspiration is there to be of “one mind and spirit” but the practice of such is an ongoing struggle requiring daily “renewing of our mind” in this life. Thus, we will be reminded in worship this Sunday of the call to be “together in Christ Jesus.” As John Wesley said, “If your heart is as my heart, give me your hand.” Wonderful things happen when people work together in the name of Jesus.

See you Sunday, see you in the world!

Pastor Barry

Isaiah 42:1-5, Acts 10:34-43 and Matthew 3:13-17

Tattoos are not just for Popeye and other sailors these days! Somewhere between Generation X and Millennials tattoo parlors have increased a hundred fold! (I’m guessing!). Young adults like their tattoos. A mark, a sign, an image, a badge of identity. These messages of bodily ink tell us something about the person’s values, interests, and sense of who they are or aspire to be.

And that thought gets me to Baptism, a sign, a gift, an identity. And that sign comes from God and says cleansing, promise, Death and Resurrection, a “mark of belonging!” Baptism is our beginning in Christ and ultimately our Ending in Christ.

In our scriptures for today Isaiah is saying God’s promises are to be trusted and we are to long for their fulfillment. Matthew has the unexpected Baptism of Jesus (He doesn’t need this!!!!?”) by the prophet John who says this baptism is for “repentance.” Jesus is without sin! Yet, the sign is given and God is “well pleased with His Son.” This Son will now baptize with the “Holy Spirit and fire!” Power and purification!

There are many sermons in the making regarding baptism, but Sunday will focus on Jesus’ baptism, while we will each be called to consider the Christian “marks” upon each of us including our baptism.

If you have a tattoo….you will NOT be asked to show it, unless you want to! But you will be asked to consider your baptism, your covenant with God, your life in the Holy Spirit!

As Acts 10:43 says, “….everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

And so we confess our faith in this year 2020~† See you in worship this Sunday!

Pastor Barry

Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 and Matthew 2:1-12

So another annual cycle of 12 months begins! And so God is still about bringing New Life in Christ where once was only a dead past. We all have some element about our past that chains us while we long to be set free for fresh new beginnings. The psalmist and Matthew tell us about the work of Kings….one worthy and the other not so worthy. And how God is for righteous leadership for the sake of others in need.

Angela Ford, from Lascassas UMC, will bring our message for January 5 in the “newest” of 2020. She is a Lay Speaker long involved in a ministry to troubled youth originally founded by her mother. As Angela has provided leadership in this community ministry she has sought ongoing training and is expecting to be recognized as a fully certified Lay Minister come this Annual Conference 2020.

We are grateful for her presence with us on Sunday and she will assist our Communion stewards as well as hold forth in the Word. Pray for her service as a Lay Speaker/Lay Minister as she follows where God leads her. Pray for one another as we each develop our spiritual gifts for the sake of one another in church and in the world as we enter the new world of 2020.

Pastor Barry

Isaiah 63:7-9, Hebrews 2:10-18 and Matthew 2:13-23

December 25 for most people (not all!) is a day of rest filled with festive moments of gift sharing, fellowshipping with family and friends, some quiet moments, and multiple meals. There is activity but a certain “staying in place” seems to be common.

Not so the days following. Back to being “on the go!” Work beckons, people have to travel, routine demands kick back in. And for some, challenges unexpected emerge.

So it was for Mary, Joseph, and infant Jesus. King Herod wanted no contender for power and authority, so he sought to kill the newborn King. The holy family were angelically advised to flee to another country. Off to Egypt! There was little time to enjoy the gifts and visit of the Wise Men. Was the gold used to help pay their moving and Egyptian housing expenses!?

So it is for us. A thousand reasons appear on December 26 and we have to keep moving on whether old routines or new challenges.

We will hear of both from God’s Word this Sunday on worship: that which is good about routine and that which says something “new” calls us forth. The life God has given us cannot be complacent nor “put on hold.” We move toward God’s unveiling of what is next in our lives both personally and together as a faith community. Pack your luggage!

On to the year of our Lord 2020!

Pastor Barry

This Sunday’s worship service, the Fourth Sunday of Advent, will be led by our children and youth as the message of Christmas comes to us all once again. Delann Harris Dunbar has written a creative program and will include choir and congregation as well.

Christmas is hardly Christmas if we are not involved in some life of faith. We ARE participants in this story of God with us. We are all at the manger along with the shepherds, sheep, angels, and Magi from the East.

Prayerfully anticipate this Sunday and the week to come!

Pastor Barry

Isaiah 8:10-16, Matthew 11:2-11 and Luke 1:46b-55

At the very least, family members will send Christmas cards to each other. At the most, families will gather in groups from 2 to 200 or more! And if there be few family members, friends like family come together to enjoy each other’s company.

Our two New Testament scriptures for our Third Sunday in Advent have two cousins speaking and asking questions about the overlapping work of God in their lives. Mary and second cousin John the Baptist both declare that Jesus is special. Jesus does not hesitate to say they are correct. Even so, Mary and John the Baptist ask questions of Jesus and have their moments of uncertainty and deep suffering with their beloved family member. Sounds like family doesn’t it?!

For all the joy that Mary has in her bearing the Messiah, she faces what we all face as followers of the Lord: the cost of discipleship. A wonderful and abundant life, but still challenging spiritually, emotionally, and for some, physically painful. John will be executed. Mary will suffer as a mother when her Son is also executed.

The family story is deep and wide, full of life, full of sorrow, and costs everyone something as they stay family for “the long haul.” God’s story is “family” writ large from beginning to end.

This Sunday we will celebrate the joyful journey that we, today, continue that Mary and cousin John participated in generations long before us! A good group of relatives to be a part of!

Happy Advent….Merry Christmas almost!

Pastor Barry

Isaiah 11:1-10, Romans 15:4-13 and Matthew 3:1-12

I’ve never been much for being hollered at! We had very few ministers in our small town UMC who were given to shouting or calling the congregation a “brood of vipers!” Being yelled at by a coach or even parents was one thing, but the preachers I knew were not that way…for the most part. Even one of the Baptist preachers just across from our Methodist church was not much of a shouter. His name was literally “Bro Love.” A very warm and caring pastor for my Baptist friends. Not much of a shouter. But, here and yon in our community churches…there were shouters!

So, we do have in Matthew 3 John the Baptist, a fairly stern prophet who minces no words about the locals! But our other prophet, Isaiah, in chapter 11 seems to quietly point to a coming peaceable kingdom led by a child. Even animals, predators and prey, will get along! And Paul in Romans goes on about being in “harmony” with one another and then about “peace and joy.”

We might ask, “Does John the Baptist shouting in the wilderness have any peace within himself or does he even expect peace in God’s coming reign as King?” Lots of upheaval to say the least?! Looks like a lot of finger pointing for those within range!

One way to address this tension between high drama against sinners and a peaceable kingdom about to appear is to realize the Bible reflects virtually every human emotion and feeling, every depth and height of human experience. What do WE feel and experience when the whole range of the Word of God comes to us on any given day and hour?

This Sunday we will explore John’s prophetic voice as well as strive to see how John might have also had a peace about him even as he draws close to execution. We’ll see what comes of this prayerful effort during this Sunday’s worship on the Second Sunday of Advent. Peace and joy to all you (us) sinners…..and dearly beloveds of Jesus Christ!

Pastor Barry

Isaiah 2:1-5, Romans 13:8-14 and Matthew 24:36-44

Isaiah speaks of the “light of the Lord” while Romans mentions the “armor of light.” Matthew insists on keeping our eyes open, keeping watch lest we miss being ready for the coming of the Lord at any time!

Most of us can only stand so much light at once! In fact, some behaviors and thoughts we prefer to keep in the dark! Advent is a reminder that light is important to get us to the final, ultimate Light. And sometimes (most of the time?) light dawns on us gradually, like the gradual light of morning dawn. We symbolize the slow unveiling of light by lighting five candles during the Sundays of December adding as we go until the fifth and last candle, the Christ candle is lit near or on December 24th.

For some, however, a sudden blinding moment in life is the time when all changes spiritually for the better. Paul’s dramatic Damascus road experience for instance. But for most of us the unfolding of our life before God is gradual as we receive more light from our walk in faith, hope, and love over a lifetime.

Either way, we are told to “stay awake,” “be alert” for the coming of the Lord. A good night’s sleep and a daily nap are not bad things but staying awake and alert to things of the Spirit are crucial to an “abundant life.” Worship together is one of those disciplines to keep us “alert.” I hope you look forward to our Advent Sundays of worship as you receive “more light” for your ongoing journey of life with God!

Pastor Barry