Isaiah 60:1-6, Ephesians 3:1-12 and Matthew 2:1-12

Every age, every generation looks for someone either with “common sense” or “wisdom!” Those two virtues, when combined, make for leaders who can show the way forward in uncertain times.

In our scriptures today we are told of “wise men from the East” and “the church” as those who point to the vision Isaiah has of the promise of God fulfilled. Those who were NOT Jews, these wise ones, are prime examples for those who “seek.” All they knew was to LOOK for the promised One of God. They even bring “gift of gold” to help finance the soon to be flight to Egypt so as to avoid the merciless Herod. Much later Paul says the “church” now both Jews and Gentiles from everywhere are to speak and tell of God’s revelation in Jesus Christ.

The point is to get the Word out! In word and deed! The Magi did it their way before the ministry, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus and the church is all about that message after the Resurrection. The hard task in any age is to communicate what has touched us to those who haven’t heard and seen and to those who have heard and seen but continue to grow in the Faith.

It’s a daunting task and we, as the church, do it as “earthen vessels” or as ones who don’t always get it done! It’s an ongoing work with ups and downs since the Herods of the world are many and strong in their own way to stifle the Word of the New King in town! The Herods are often us! “We have met the enemy and it is sometimes US!”

As we celebrate Epiphany Sunday let us not hide our light under a bushel but find ways to light the way for the newborn King! Every Christian is a “star” to help show the way!

Make it so with the help of God!

Pastor Barry

I Samuel 2:18-20, 26, Colossians 3:12-17 and Luke 2:41-52

The young Samuel is described as wearing a linen ephod. Paul talk about “clothing ourselves in love.” The Luke passage says little about what Jesus as an adolescent wore! But he was “about his Fathers business!”

As we approach yet another new calendar year many will have some gift items from Christmas to wear about at work, school, and community. Since it may get colder some are bringing out anything to wear other than a “linen ephod.”

Back to Paul and Jesus. I suspect they wore whatever was common in the day. Clothes of the era would have been primarily functional for ease of movement, warmth, or cooling. However, if you were a person of royalty or of some wealth you might have some expensive varieties of cloth and color! Today one can have much variety and not at great cost! Clothes express who we are quite often, e.g., uniforms, suits, leisure, t-shirts with messages.

Paul knew this about our human nature and knew that the expression of “being clothed” with certain attitudes would reach the hearers of this message about Christian living.
How we “clothe” ourselves always gives some message to others whether implied or explicit.

“Get out your Sunday best” is perhaps attire for a previous generation but only as to physical clothing. Our “Sunday best” of love is to be showing all the days of the week!

Blessings in the New Year 2019!

Pastor Barry

Psalm 46 and Luke 2:19.

Advent draws to a close this Sunday and we are at the doorstep of Christmas! For many, it has been a full, busy, energetic time of the year. Expectations run high at every age and festive feelings abound!

Both Kedron and Lock’s Memorial have wonderful worship in store this Sunday with many voices to be heard in Word and song. And then on to Christmas Eve and more Word and song and Candle Lighting as the last night before Christmas Day concludes.

At some point read Psalm 46 and Luke 2:19 to help get a balance between excited rejoicing and a calm peace in your life. In the midst of both fighting enemies of the day and the turmoil of the age the Psalmist says, “Be still…..” For us today we might read “focus and pay attention.” It helps to pause and quietly reflect on the “who, what and where” of Christmas! And in Luke 2:19 Mary pauses and remembers what all the angels and shepherds appearing around her is all about! She probably just sat in awe of everything that was happening.

Let’s all hope to find those moments of peace, calm, and thoughtfulness over the next few days. Pray and wait….. for the moments to appear! Sit and ponder. Be still and know……

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Barry

Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7 and Luke 3:7-18

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Kedron, December 16, the Third Sunday of Advent, the sermon title is Advent Anxieties?! The scriptures are Zephaniah 3:14-20, Philippians 4:4-7 and Luke 3:7-18.

Advent should make one think of “A” words like “anticipation,” “awe,” “adventure,” “awareness,” but hardly “anxiety.” Well, the texts for Sunday CAN create feelings of anxiety if we look and listen closely. Zephaniah (I felt anxious because I first confused Zephaniah with Zechariah!) is complete with reasons to be anxious! Mercifully the verses are all about final “release of anxiety” with the coming favor of the Lord!

John the Baptizer’s preaching certainly can cause anxiety! And perhaps anxiety for him when Herod lands him in jail(!). Paul, also writing from jail, says “be anxious for nothing” Phil 4:6 which seems almost an impossibility….in any age, with any person facing life’s challenges.

But, rest assured anxiety will NOT be the final word for persons of faith during Advent. Some of us will face it but with the Lord’s help it will not have power over us. We have reason to look forward to better things in Advent! Christmas is coming! Jesus is here and now!

Anticipate Blessings…and breathe a sigh of relief: “What? Me worry?”

Pastor Barry

Malachi 3:1-6, Philippians 1:3-11 and Luke 3:1-6

Preparing for these three texts was interrupted a bit by my watching the funeral of President George H.W.Bush at the Washington Cathedral. I was also struck by how all three texts have a context of government and leadership! John the Baptist is preaching during the reign of Caesar Tiberius in Rome and Pilate and Herod in Palestine. Paul writes while being held under house arrest by Roman authorities. Malachi announces God’s judgement on those who oppress the people whether government or the religious authorities are doing the oppressing!

All of this, of course, is the buildup to the coming Righteous One, Jesus of Nazareth. There really is a sense of a huge impact impending on both individuals and upon governments. And there is “cosmic” significance and transformation coming as in a “Refiner’s Fire.”

In the public televised Christian funeral of a former US President we hear echoes of God still at work in lives of individuals, communities, and nations. This gives us both anticipatory “concern and unease” in the call to change thru love and justice but also anticipatory joy knowing that God in Jesus Christ is bringing the True and Good to all people!

We are to hear the call of faith and then the following response of service to a greater good than just our own well-being!

Cosmic joy is coming!

See you in worship and in service!

Pastor Barry

Jeremiah 33:14-16, I Thessalonians 3:9-13 and Luke 21:25-36

Some are old enough to remember the Heinz catsup commercials from 1979 which depicted kids eagerly awaiting the slow moving catsup to descend out of the bottle onto their hamburger. The background song sung by Carly Simon was named “Anticipation!”

Our scriptures for the First Sunday in Advent definitely are about anticipation and coming events on “the big scale of things!” Momentous occasions wrought by God Almighty. A case can be made that the Luke passage was indeed fulfilled in 70 AD! Jerusalem was under siege and the Temple was destroyed. We will look at that time in Christian history but also at ancient Jeremiah’s longed for hope of Israel. Paul brings us to the attitude we should have as we wait with anticipation for God’s appearing in our lives throughout human history.

It’s a great start to the Season of Advent! We ask ourselves, “What are we longing for above all else? Gifts at Christmas give us a measure of joy but what lies behind that momentary happiness and points to something much grander?” What DO we anticipate coming from God?! What are some ways to do this together as God’s people?

Blessings in your waiting!

Pastor Barry

Daniel 12:1-3, Hebrews 10:11-25 and Mark 13:1-8

The word provoke usually means an act that could, in turn, lead to a “poke” as in “poke back!” A provocation between nations has been known to lead to armed conflict! This does not seem to be the best direction for a calm and thankful family Thanksgiving does it?

But to provoke in Hebrews 10:24 is to provoke to “love and good deeds.” Another translation uses the words “to stir up!” Either translation is a strong encouragement to earnestly demonstrate how Christians feel toward one another out of thanksgiving for what God in Christ (our final High Priest) has done for us! Gratitude leads to a good attitude! Especially toward the brothers and sisters as well as the neighbor, the stranger and even the enemy!

So, we arrive at being “provocative” around the Thanksgiving table. If used in the manner most often thought of “provoke” could lead to family feuds before everyone departs for their homes! Thus, we use it as intended in Hebrews 10:24!

Book ending this thanksgiving expressed in love and good deeds, however, is Daniel 12 and Mark 13 both speaking of a Final Wrapping Up, a great Stirring Up of all creation as God brings a great apocalyptic ending to non-love and bad deeds in all Creation.

Again there is Thanksgiving that God’s purposes will be fulfilled both in the work of Jesus on the Cross and in the Resurrection of all coming after the Resurrection of the first born I.e., Jesus!

When all is said and done the final word from us to God is “thanks.” From this response there is a great freedom to “provoke” love and do good to all. Sort of what you hope for at each Thanksgiving table or Thanksgiving gathering of family and friends, saints and sinners, the least and the lost, the loved and the forgiven!

Our hope is built on nothing less…..
Happy Provocative Thanksgiving!

Brother Barry

2 Samuel 23:8-12, Luke 6:27-36 and Romans 13:1-5

Sunday November 11, 2018 marks 100 years since the end of World War I. For most of us alive today that is only history long behind us. But such an event has had lasting impact on all. What should have been a convincing moment to commit to world peace seemed to have only set the stage for World War II; and wars and large scale violence ongoing still into the 21st Century! Something is wrong.

Yet, the remedy is always before us in the struggle to be people of faith in a fallen world. And ultimately as the Creator and Savior, God makes a way for all creation. There is hope.

Our texts today cover only a portion of the vast sweep of scripture addressing the human condition. We should hope for peace yet ask what is to be done before the fullness of the Kingdom arrives. We will look at King David’s “mighty warriors,” Jesus call to “love our enemies,” and Paul’s look to the state as a way to constrain evil.

I dare say we will still struggle with lived faith each day even with Biblical guidance but we will have guidance which comes from beyond mere human wisdom and human planning.

Pray without ceasing even in the midst of “wars and rumors of wars.” Remember those who have served and continue to serve this Sunday! Remember all who walk by faith and not by what they see in a fallen world.

Pastor Barry

Ruth 1:1-18, Hebrews 9:11-14 and Mark 12:28-34

I write this on Halloween. Or rather All Saints Eve. Kids of all ages tend to enjoy the “scary” night of costumes and candy! Fun scary not really scary. Behind the ghosts, zombies, Frankensteins, action heroes, and cartoon characters, there is a whiff of the real thing: our death. And also those of whom we love.

All Saints Day celebrates those who have become the Church Triumphant, the Church at rest, the Church at the Eternal Banquet Table. But the only way there is through Death and Resurrection and that too only through the Risen Lord Jesus. Our scriptures have the “bookends” of the grief of Naomi and the utter loyalty unto death by Ruth AND the High Priestly death of the sacrificial Lamb of God in Hebrews 9. In between those we have Marks’s Jesus describing the full life in loving God, neighbor, and self!

Death is real but love of God, neighbor, and self is greater still. And so we remember Jesus and all our hidden-in-Christ family and friends this Sunday. Dead, not forgotten, and ultimately alive in a Kingdom that has no end and has only the Light of God in whom there is no darkness!

Come to worship and Fellowship in this All Saints Sunday!

Pastor Barry

I still have a vivid memory of being about 21 or 22 and going with a friend to speak with our pastor at the time. We had some “serious questions” about the faith. I don’t think he gave us a really good, satisfying answer but he did open the Bible and read a passage from Romans. It was a good example. I’ve tried to remember that as a pastor and I always carried a Bible with me as a hospital chaplain (but used it only as appropriate to the patient in the moment not as an instrument to always start with)!

This Sunday is known both as Reformation Sunday and Bible Sunday. As Protestants coming out of the 16th century Reformation we are known for the primacy of Scripture in our doctrines and in worship. The church is often reformed when someone or some group re-discover a powerful message within the Bible, e.g. “justification by faith,” or “God is love,” or “the righteousness of God not our righteousness.”

As we listen in on Job and Hebrews and Mark we will hear familiar but life changing verses which capture our attention and strengthen our faith from week to week, year to year. We are indeed “people of the book!”

Open your Bibles and read! And come to worship the God revealed in scripture!

Pastor Barry