As I mentioned in my earlier post, I am doing a series utilizing the framework of a classic story, the Christmas Carol, to undergird the scriptural message of Advent. Dickens', A Christmas Carol, helps to put into perspective how our lives are shaped by "Christmas Past" to "Christmas Present" and for the "Christmas Future".
This evening I was completing a funeral sermon for tomorrow. The service is for a lady I met last year when I did her son's funeral. Her son was 47 and born with Downs Syndrome. Both mother and son thoroughly enjoyed Christmas and I wonder how the challenges of raising a son with Down's helped shape her? She had 12 children altogether and their coming home for the holiday's was a high point in her daily life. She loved having everyone together - children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, spouses... So - some of my sermon for her funeral is centered around Christmas and the true meaning of Christmas.
Gathering family together at Christmas (or anytime really) is important, but not everyone can do that. What about family that serves in the military and is across seas, or lives out of state and can't travel, or .... Presents at Christmas time is a wonderful way to show one another we love each other. Yet, many families I know are living on the edge of poverty because of our economy. Not everyone can afford Christmas gifts. Wonderfully cooked ham or turkey meals with all the fixings - great, but again not everyone can do this (for a variety of reasons).
So... when it gets right down to it the true meaning of Christmas is Jesus Christ. Christ is the one we should celebrate at Christmas time. All the rest - a trimmed out tree, multi-hued gifts wrapped under the tree, a table ladened with good fixin's, even family members gathered together are wonderful and should be celebrated - but is icing on the cake, and not the cake itself. [hmmmm ... sacrilegious to compare Jesus to cake? My seminary professor's might say so]
What we need to celebrate is Christ. We can do so through reading the Christmas story - the birth of Christ - in scripture together. We can sing some of the hymns telling of the coming of Christ and the promise fulfilled through his birth. We can attend worship service together. We can even offer to help at worship service on Christmas eve. There are many ways to celebrate the birth of Christ. Let us remember the real reason we gather December 24-25th. Jesus Christ and the salvation offered through his birth, life, ministry and mission, death and resurrection. But... it begins with his birth! Let's celebrate!
peace out friends,
Patrick
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Friday, November 26, 2010
Advent Begins!
Advent season is already upon us and quite likely sooner than we expected! It kind of snuck up on us. Our first Sunday of Advent is November 28th. Advent is the time of expectation, anticipation, and coming - which means we anticipate, expect and celebrate the coming of the birth of Jesus Christ.
This Advent I want to look at three seasons or times which should receive our attention.
The first season is the prophetic promise from the Old Testament that a king from the household of David would come and reign over Israel forever. During the Babylonian exile of the Jews, the promise of a coming king was especially important. The Jews, in their oppression as slaves, hoped their time of exile would end and Judah would be restored. Many were looking for a saviour or messiah - the “consolation of Israel” to save them from exile. Advent is a time in which we remember the prophetic promises and longing of ancient Israel for the coming of this king. The longing and expectation of a coming Lord is captured in the wonderful hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Listen to these words: "O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear."
The second season surrounds the birth of Jesus – his first coming. We see the announcement from the angel to Mary that a child will be born – a savior. And we see a parallel story of Elizabeth who gives birth to John the Baptist – the one who goes before Jesus to prepare a way. Traditional hymns such as “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley share these words of fulfillment: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free…”. We sing the Christmas carols and we ready our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ – our Savior and Lord.
The third season is the second coming of Christ and the day Christ comes for us in our death. This is the final emphasis of Advent. We turn our attention to the unfulfilled prophesies Christ’s own promises that He will return and usher in a new kingdom – a new heaven and new earth.
Hymns like “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending” capture this theme. In the words of this song we hear the promise of what is to be: “Lo, he comes with clouds descending, once for favored sinners slain; thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.” We ready our hearts and lives for the return of Jesus Christ.
In considering the past, present and future themes of Advent I am using a classic story by Charles Dickens to help lay the framework in conjunction with the scripture for the next three Sundays of Advent - A Christmas Carol. Pastor Adam Hamilton [of Church of Resurrection] did a similar sermon series in 2002 which I have reprised.
I invite you to join with us beginning November 28th as we begin Advent and explore the true meaning of Christmas – past, present and future – and what it means for us today. Please invite a friend to worship with us as we look at:
November 28th – the Ghost of Christmas Past – Isaiah 61:1-3
December 5th – The Ghost of Christmas Present – Luke 1:46-53
December 12th – the Ghost of Christmas Future – Isaiah 53:1, 4-6
December 19th – The Christmas Story – Luke 2:1-20
I would also like to encourage you to invite a friend to one of our Christmas Eve services – 4:00, 6:30 or 10:00pm, to hear a special message from one of the Wise Men, so they too may come to know the grace and love of our God through the Son, Jesus Christ.
If you can't make it to church on Sunday, please take some time to hear the messages via our website: www.miltonumc.org. Check out the Sermon Message Archive Menu option (on the left).
Peace out friends (as my 3 year old says),
Patrick
This Advent I want to look at three seasons or times which should receive our attention.
The first season is the prophetic promise from the Old Testament that a king from the household of David would come and reign over Israel forever. During the Babylonian exile of the Jews, the promise of a coming king was especially important. The Jews, in their oppression as slaves, hoped their time of exile would end and Judah would be restored. Many were looking for a saviour or messiah - the “consolation of Israel” to save them from exile. Advent is a time in which we remember the prophetic promises and longing of ancient Israel for the coming of this king. The longing and expectation of a coming Lord is captured in the wonderful hymn, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.” Listen to these words: "O come, O come, Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here until the son of God appear."
The second season surrounds the birth of Jesus – his first coming. We see the announcement from the angel to Mary that a child will be born – a savior. And we see a parallel story of Elizabeth who gives birth to John the Baptist – the one who goes before Jesus to prepare a way. Traditional hymns such as “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley share these words of fulfillment: “Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free…”. We sing the Christmas carols and we ready our hearts for the birth of Jesus Christ – our Savior and Lord.
The third season is the second coming of Christ and the day Christ comes for us in our death. This is the final emphasis of Advent. We turn our attention to the unfulfilled prophesies Christ’s own promises that He will return and usher in a new kingdom – a new heaven and new earth.
Hymns like “Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending” capture this theme. In the words of this song we hear the promise of what is to be: “Lo, he comes with clouds descending, once for favored sinners slain; thousand, thousand saints attending swell the triumph of his train. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God appears on earth to reign.” We ready our hearts and lives for the return of Jesus Christ.
In considering the past, present and future themes of Advent I am using a classic story by Charles Dickens to help lay the framework in conjunction with the scripture for the next three Sundays of Advent - A Christmas Carol. Pastor Adam Hamilton [of Church of Resurrection] did a similar sermon series in 2002 which I have reprised.
I invite you to join with us beginning November 28th as we begin Advent and explore the true meaning of Christmas – past, present and future – and what it means for us today. Please invite a friend to worship with us as we look at:
November 28th – the Ghost of Christmas Past – Isaiah 61:1-3
December 5th – The Ghost of Christmas Present – Luke 1:46-53
December 12th – the Ghost of Christmas Future – Isaiah 53:1, 4-6
December 19th – The Christmas Story – Luke 2:1-20
I would also like to encourage you to invite a friend to one of our Christmas Eve services – 4:00, 6:30 or 10:00pm, to hear a special message from one of the Wise Men, so they too may come to know the grace and love of our God through the Son, Jesus Christ.
If you can't make it to church on Sunday, please take some time to hear the messages via our website: www.miltonumc.org. Check out the Sermon Message Archive Menu option (on the left).
Peace out friends (as my 3 year old says),
Patrick
Black Friday
It has been such a while since posting, that I thought I would start with this one - Black Friday shopping. The apprehension and anxiety leading to trepidation is always highest just before Friday - around 4:00am. News articles, blogs, websites... all talk about the crowds and difficulty in shopping the day after Thanksgiving.
This year I thought I would give it a try - see what the hype is all about. Although, I did not venture out at 4:00am. It was around 11:30am when I hit the roads for the several stores I had in mind. Building Blocks - looking for a pre-school spanish program or books to work with my 3-year old on learning spanish. Kohl's - finding a certain pair of boots my wife said she was interested in for a Christmas gift. Best Buy - seeking a Garmin so I would quit getting lost on those road trips I take several times a year. And... I thought about Wal-Mart, but opted against going there.
What I found most interesting were the people. I knew what I wanted at each store so I did not spend a lot of time actually shopping, but spent more time people watching. And believe it or not I found many of the people upbeat and friendly. Only a few here and there seemed harried and out of sorts.
I watched one lady at Kohl's juggling 6-8 packages, drop a couple of them, step on one of her children's toys, set everything down on a table and try to regroup. It was obvious to me that she had too many things in her hands. I was in the check out line with only two items in my cart, so I offered her the cart. She accepted it - but I can't remember if she said thank you or not. Most likely she did.
At all the places I stopped, the employees were gracious, helpful and smiling - a feat I would not have accomplished had it been me.
All in all - a good Black Friday experience. I'd love to see that many people rushing into church on Sunday morning though. It's the pastor side of me, I know. But really - shouldn't saving souls be more important than saving a few dollars on good deals for Christmas?
peace out (as my three year old says to me).
Patrick
This year I thought I would give it a try - see what the hype is all about. Although, I did not venture out at 4:00am. It was around 11:30am when I hit the roads for the several stores I had in mind. Building Blocks - looking for a pre-school spanish program or books to work with my 3-year old on learning spanish. Kohl's - finding a certain pair of boots my wife said she was interested in for a Christmas gift. Best Buy - seeking a Garmin so I would quit getting lost on those road trips I take several times a year. And... I thought about Wal-Mart, but opted against going there.
What I found most interesting were the people. I knew what I wanted at each store so I did not spend a lot of time actually shopping, but spent more time people watching. And believe it or not I found many of the people upbeat and friendly. Only a few here and there seemed harried and out of sorts.
I watched one lady at Kohl's juggling 6-8 packages, drop a couple of them, step on one of her children's toys, set everything down on a table and try to regroup. It was obvious to me that she had too many things in her hands. I was in the check out line with only two items in my cart, so I offered her the cart. She accepted it - but I can't remember if she said thank you or not. Most likely she did.
At all the places I stopped, the employees were gracious, helpful and smiling - a feat I would not have accomplished had it been me.
All in all - a good Black Friday experience. I'd love to see that many people rushing into church on Sunday morning though. It's the pastor side of me, I know. But really - shouldn't saving souls be more important than saving a few dollars on good deals for Christmas?
peace out (as my three year old says to me).
Patrick
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