Christmas season

I thought I would share what I wrote for our newsletter.  So if you are reading this twice, as a professor once told me, it could be important. Not sure if this is but enjoy anyway.

From the Pastor’s Desk-December

Christmas cards sent-a work in progress. Decorations up-another work in progress. Gifts bought-check. Christmas treats baked-getting there. Dinners planned-when? Services planned-check. Sermon outlines done-check. Holiday cheers-every day.

Does the above sound similar to what you are experiencing this Advent and Christmas season. The pressure to get things done and gifts wrapped and cookies baked. Yes indeed, tis the season of joy and peace on earth. At church we are doing a sermon series that focuses on four aspects for Advent as we come to the celebration of our savior’s birth. The four aspects are expectations, acceptance, family, and finally ourselves and to think outside the box to seek the gift that cannot be contained or gift wrapped this year. We sometimes become so caught up in the other activities of the season we forget the purpose of the season.

From the hectic scheduling of parties, family gatherings, and shopping, we have been focusing on slowing down and taking time to look at the expectations that we carry into the season. Combined with the sermons, we are also studying “The Journey” by Adam Hamilton that focuses on the journeys that took place in scripture with Mary and Joseph. Can you imagine what it might have been like for Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus? We read the stories so often that we may miss the point of the choices that they made and the hardships that they faced. This is the true story of Christmas. A young couple, traveling during her last month of pregnancy, walks 80 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. And when they arrive they have no place to deliver the baby in a warm, clean, and safe place. Rather they deliver the baby in a barn life environment. Where are the Christmas lights, the feasts, rather the birth is rather stark. Mike Slaughter in his book, “Christmas is Not Your Birthday,” reminds us that these situations continue to exist throughout the world today.

This year when we gather together remembering the birth of our savior, take a moment with your family, tell the story from Luke chapter 2, and offer thanksgiving that God would so love you and I that He would send His Son to be a light unto this world, to show that way, to die for our sins, and to rise up for our redemption. What a gift we have received that cannot be contained in a box.

advent sermon series

I will be doing the following as an Advent sermon series.  Here is the trailer. 

November thoughts

It seems that it has been forever since I sat down to write on my blog.  To catch up I did complete the gospel of Matthew and we have one more week in our bible study of the gospel.  Every time I study scripture something strikes me that I had not reflected on in the past.  This time was when Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin there were two disciples who witnessed the abuse, Peter who denied him and Judas who betrayed him.  What struck me as interesting about this, was the times in my life I was a Peter and even a Judas.  The difference between the two was that Peter asked for forgiveness and Judas did not.  The question would be have there been times in your life you have either been Peter or maybe even Judas?  Have you asked for forgiveness?  Know that God will forgive you and wipe the slate clean because of what Jesus has done for you and me.

This month I will be focusing on the Lord’s Prayer.  I have often felt that just because we say this weekly does not mean we truly are aware of what we are saying.  In fact sometimes, I feel that if I say something that I have memorized it can become so rote that it is only words.  During the month we will focus on three parts of the prayer.  The first is to whom are we praying.  In the gospel of Matthew, the entire prayer is first person plural.  Our Father who art in heaven.  Not just mine but everyone’s. 

The next week we will be focusing on the three divine petitions, hallowed be thine name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  All prayers should first focus on seeking God’s Will not ours.

The last week will focus on the three human petitions, give us this day our daily bread, forgive our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.  Note again the plural which states all of us.

It should be an interesting series and would encourage others to be present or to listen on our website ainsworthjohnstownumc.org.