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

Jeremiah 23:1-6, Revelation 1:4-8and Luke 23:33-43.

There are a lot of historical Kings (and Queens) that would make me uncomfortable if they appeared at my house for Thanksgiving! I don’t think any of the King Herods would be less than frightening. Henry VIII of England might eventually find reasons to falsely execute me! King George III might well tax me more without due representation! I did see Queen Elizabeth II along with President Eisenhower in 1958 and we were about a hundred yards apart but I was not invited to have a meal together!

But…..Jesus, King of the Jews and ultimately King of a New Heaven and New Earth will be at our table for Thanksgiving. And there will be no fear! As it turns out I, along with millions are part of a royal family to begin with! This is a wholly different notion of Kingship than that of all other earthly kings. Something has changed about Kings even from the glory days of David and Solomon. This eternal King asks me (and us) to sit beside Him and enjoy all the benefits of a righteous, just reign of a good and gracious God.

We should all share this vision of a good King at table with us this Thanksgiving. After all, we are part of the royal family now!

Blessings for the coming season of thanks, family, friends, and food!

Pastor Barry