New Town CT Shooting Isaiah 9:2-3 & 6-7 12-16-2012

Sermon 12-16-12  Isaiah 9:2-3 & 6-7;

² The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  ³ You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you  as people rejoice at the harvest-

⁶ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Intro-

What we were going to do today

The polar express

Nice sweet story about not losing the meaning.

we are punting it

because of the incident Friday in Connecticut

How tragic this is, and in the season of childlike innocence

Although we read a different scripture earlier,

I draw your attention to the story of the wise men looking for the baby king -herod and the slaughter of the boy babies below 2 years old

Mt 2:¹⁶ When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. ¹⁷ Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:

¹⁸ “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”^[g]

In the midst of the story of redemption, there was a horror story

We are on edge today

I don’t know who these people are

We cannot understand folks that do this stuff

Chiefs Player

Mall in  Oregon

Movie theatre in aurora Colorado

Sikh temple  in Minnesota

Elementary school in Newport Connecticut

This goes beyond our oversimplifications/ our excuses

This is not a reflection on

Twenty year olds – some of you here are in your twenties

Kids from divorced families- some of you here were raised by a single parent

People that own guns – some of you here own guns

It is not that simple and the pat answers that are offered are not helpful

Hits close to to home

We all have elementary schools.  Yates.  Chapel lakes, Richardson. underwood.  James walker. 

We all have children – they are our children

It touches us in deep places

While we cannot control the people that do such things,

We can control us

We can decide who we will be

So, Who will we be

1.        Determined to be in the pursuit of god [my inward journey]

Who are you?. You are someone by nature.

Whether you stay that way is up to you

The baby isn’t just a baby, he invites us to change

Open, loving, aware

We are the people of honest, self introspection

We are the people of prayer

We are the people of change

2.       We are committed t o treating each other with love and respect [our journey together] those in our inner circle.  Our friends.  Our family.  Our church family

We are the people of love

We apologize when we were wrong

We work to resolve differences

When we get off track, we stop, shake ourselves off and get back on board

3.       We are committed to being a light  in a world that faces darkness [our interface with those outside the church]

Although we do not scare them

We are not better than them

We do not judge them

We also are more than ready to love them

Embrace them

Forgive them

Tell them the story as they give us the right

Helpers.  Shawn has a friend who says, in times like this, look for the helpers.  There are always those in tragic stories, who do the right thing.  We find hope in them.  This is the role that we want to play in the story.   who are we. Who will we be. To be a positive side of the story.

The woman who bought gas for the young woman w 4 children

4.       We will trust god no matter what [ultimate dependence]

Back to the part that I can’t understand.

I can’t understand it

It is painful. 

It makes me angry.

No little pat answers can help me

Today  we are feeling very bad for those who are hurting

Let us grieve for those whose hearts are breaking.

Let us pray that our Father console them as only he can.

But this does not end the story of Christ

In fact, as we have seen, in the story of the coming Christ child, there was a slaughter.

Rachel weeping for her children, and they were not

Cesar thought he was God.  He was not

Herod thought he was the big king. He was not.

These murderers think they are the story. They are not .

God is telling a story and we are remembering and celebrating it.

This is our fathers world.

We have to stay focused on the message of who we are and whose we are

Not just today.  Not just in the Christmas season

But everyday, no matter what. 

We are his people

And so we rally around the manger and we rally around the cross

we rally at the altar, in our private places of prayer.

We rally in the grocery stores, in the gas stations. 

On the road way. In our work places. 

We have a story to tell.  We have a people to be.

We don’t have all the answers,

But we know who we are

And we know whose we are

We live today with that knowledge

and we pursue the the presence of god which is enough

and  we look to the day when there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more death for god has wiped them all away

never forget my friends that the message of Christmas is special.

Not just because it is about a cute little baby

Not just because in Christ we find redemption

But this message is special because it is spoken in every language

It reaches through and beyond every circumstance that this world can provide

And it finds a place to lodge in  every heart that is open to it

Light still dispels darkness

Let us pray

Christmas Movies: The Little Drummer Boy Matthew 2:1-12 12-23-2012

Sermon 12-23-12  Christmas goes to the movies-

the little drummer boy  Mt 2: 1-12

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea,^(A) during the time of King Herod,^(B) Magi^[a] from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?^(C) We saw his star^(D) in the east^[b] and have come to worship him.” ³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ^[c] was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem^(E) in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for out of you will come a rulerwho will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’^[d]”^(F)7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east^[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.^(G) Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts^(H) of gold and of incense and of myrrh. ¹² And having been warned^(I) in a dream^(J) not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Today we continue our series – Christmas goes to the movies

Not a movie, but for retro sake, a clay-mation cartoon

Drummer boy by By Arthur rank, jules bass

film premiered on December 19, 1968 on NBC, where it aired annually for many Christmas seasons.

features the Vienna boys choir

as the movie opens, Everyone going to Bethlehem- mary is blonde

Drummer boy and his animals kidnapped by showman for the circus

Drummer boy does not like people

Did not always hate people

Was once a happy farm lad

Bandits attack- farm burned- had to run away.

Became a Lonely orphan

Only friends, his animals, lamb, camel, donkey

Vowed to hate humans because of what they had done to him

Comes to Bethlehem.  Puts on show for those travelling

Drummer boy is the hit of the show.  Cheering crowd makes him mad.

Why should they be happy when he has been so hurt by people?

Caravan of wise men comes by

Following the star

They join in the caravan because they want to perform for the kings and get the king’s money

Showman sells the drummer boys camel to the wise men

Boy is mad at showman.  Follows star to catch up with his camel

Run into shepherds also following star

Crowd gathered at stable

Everyone is bringing gifts

Lamb hit by chariot

Boy seeks wiseman to help

King cannot help the lamb

Points him to the baby king

Show the video clip 2 mins 30 sec

I have no gift to bring

Plays the drums

Sense of awe at the manger

Your gift is enough

There is something Something more about this child

His Gift is given in love

Lamb healed

Hatred released

Blessed are the pure in heart……..

Today lets talk about gifts

Receiving - What gifts have you received?

best gift you ever received……I was never so excited as the day I got ----vibrating foot ball field

but actually I have received more than I could recount

the people that have invested time, caring, love

the God who invests in us

God gave gifts at Christmas
The gifts of Christmas are not gold, frankincense or myrrh
But a child, a son, salvation, love, grace
God gives us what we need

there was a sermon a few weeks ago about the imprt of learning to receive

But we cannot allow receiving to get out of control

We cannot become people that always want

What kind of things so we ask god for?
Better cars, better jobs, more sweaters?
Give us this day our daily bread.

Sometimes we just have to remember that God has promised to supply our needs. Nothing more.
Paul said, I have learned in all things to be content...

In your life, is having Jesus enough?

Giving -

Why do we give?

The tradition seems to have started with the gifts that the wise men brought to Jesus. It must be said, however, that no one was really in the habit of exchanging elaborate gifts until late in the 1800s. 1867 was the first year that Macy’s department store in New York City remained open until midnight on Christmas Eve, and 1874 was the first year for its special Christmas window displays. The Santa Claus story, combined with an amazing retailing phenomenon that has grown since the beginning of the 20th century, has made gift-giving a central focus of the Christmas tradition. Here in America, Christmas gifts owe more to Macy’s than to the magi.

what gifts have you given?

I remember a necklace, a bicycle, clothes

I hope we have given so much more than that

Do you give something, just so that you can say that you did?
Of do you try to better the person with your gift

What do the people really need?
Shoes to my son...needed
Shoes to my wife or daughter????

We should seek to give to others in ways that it blesses them, not simply providing more stuff
When we make Christmas becomes about the stuff, we r spending the gold Frankinsense and myrhh on us.

Gifts...gold, frankincense and myrrh- were sold so that Joseph could take his family to Egypt
the best gifts are not simply consumed, but they prepare us for the journey of living.

How is your giving to them preparing them for the journey of life?

in giving we are transformed

Generosity involves an encounter with God

When we realize what he has done for us, we want to help others.

Not just at christmas

Saw it on a sign on the wall in the movie it’s a wonderful life
The only things you keep are the things that you give away

when we give in ways that provide meaning and joy and life, we experience a spiritual gift
as we give as God gives.

but whether we are giving or receiving
Really Good Gifts do things for us on the inside
When we give back, we get back...something happens to us...
there is a goodness in our souls when we seek to live a generous life

I have no gift to bring you say?

Any one can give

Ways to give

·         Bringing cookies to their door

·         Play a board game with them

·         Make a dessert and show up

·         Watch a holiday movie

·         One family gift exchange

o    Alli 4, jenny 4, = 20.  New way = 5 totoal

·         Take them to starbucks and visit

·         Go ice skating at crown center

·         Everyone bring their fav Christmas song and sit down and listen to each others music

·         Donate a chicken in someone’s name

·         Go feed the homeless together

·         Take a gift to restart

·         Sing, Carol at the retirement home or on someone’s porch

·         $4 box of candy to mechanic, bank teller

·         Time, energy, effort, love

·         do chores for them

·         rake their leaves

·         visit plaza lights

·         shovel driveway

·         take them out for a pizza

·         baby-sit for them

·         stop by randomly for a hug

and so we have shared many ways that all of us can give.

Regardless of circumstances

I am convinced that when we say no to materialism and give love to others, we find the joy of being a Christ follower

And in giving things of true value, we again enter the scene of the manger

And as we have graced others, we also find the grace of God

From the movie the bishops wife 1947

The bishop’s wife is played by Loretta young.  the bishop is played by David Niven

Sermon from a closing scene of the movie………

Tonight I want to tell you the story of an empty stocking.

Once upon a midnight clear, there was a child's cry. A blazing star hung over a stable and wise men came with birthday gifts. We haven't forgotten that night down the centuries; we celebrate it with stars on Christmas trees, the sound of bells and with gifts.  But especially with gifts.  You give me a book; I give you a tie. Aunt Martha has always wanted an orange squeezer, and Uncle Henry could do with a new pipe. We forget nobody, adult or child.  All the stockings are filled -- all that is, except one. And we have even forgotten to hang it up.  The stocking for the child born in a manger. It's His birthday we are celebrating. Don't ever let us forget that.  Let us ask ourselves what He would wish for most, and then let each put in his share. Loving kindness, warm hearts and the stretched out hand of tolerance.

All the shining gifts that make peace on earth.

Ralph waldo emerson wrote : Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts…: the only true gift is a portion of ones self-----------------That is what God gives to us…..

Let us this season, give not simply a book, but let us give of ourselves. 

And as God has offered himself to us, let us give ourselves, completely back to him

Let us pray

Give Thanks: Thankful for Life in the Spirit Lamentataiona 3:19-26 11/18/2012

Today’s Message: Give Thanks: Thankful for Life in the Spirit

Today’s Scripture:  Lamentations 3:19-26, NIV 1984

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,  the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,  and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind   and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;  great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

 ²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,  to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly  for the salvation of the Lord. 

The sermon series is on giving thanks

          But I hope you are engaged in a life of thanksgiving.  Today is the 324^th day of 2012

          What about a life of thanksgiving…. Today I am how many days old? 20,226

          It is not just a sermon series……Every day should be thanksgiving.

Today giving thanks for the spiritual life

Our passage is from lamentations

Little known old testament book

Written to mourn the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Babylonians 586 BC

The suffering of the people is portrayed in great detail.

 warfare, siege, famine, and death that are described - are not just on a ‘society’ level- they are experiences on individual levels.  Brave men are reduced to begging, mothers are unable to nourish their children.  The national catastrophe is made even more real as society disintegrates and people die or are deported.  The entire book of Lamentations is an appeal for God’s mercy.

Stories of book of daniel originate here

          Three men in the firey furnace

          Daniel in the lions den

          Daniel’s visions

In a time of difficulty, the prophet still points the people to the joy that we have in the Lord

The life in the spirit helps us rise above what ever may be going on in the world.

Verse 24 “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

When the lord is our portion, we are full.  In the most complete kind of way.

It was true then.  It is still true today.

Spiritual life

We don’t like the word

Its hard to explain

We feel more earthly than spiritual

We can relate to the physical

We are more comfortable with earthly issues

          Mow the grass.  Get yr nails done.  Go to the grocery store. Watch tv.

Spiritual things?  Tend to frighten us

          Read the bible.  Pray.  Pray outloud.  Think harder about how we live.

          The spiritual life is hard work, but it is rewarding.

We tend to divide life into compartments

The spiritual and the carnal, or the worldly

Yet when we open our heart, we can see that everything in life can be spiritual

Everything is spiritual

See the joy in a sunrise

Finding people to love in the grocery store

Thanking god for breath as you mow the grass

Give thanks for your pain…..its when we feel the most alive

See life as a journey with our father

Celebrate it

What is the Story of your life

Smiled at baptism

What do you want to be when you grow up – a football player – or a pastor

First prayer remembered june 1969- brian adams was doing what?

Thankful for salvation – punch the ticket

Decisions decisions decisions  for christ

                I am doing it wrong

                Spiritual birthdays

My  journey

          I am a child.  I go because they make me

          I am a youth.  I am starting to think about this

          I have an epiphany

                I know it all

          Life breaks me

                I don’t know it all

                There is so much to learn, not that we will attain

There is no arrival

Seeing is so important

The spiritual journey begins when we start to see the world differently

Most of us have a very narrow view of life…….. horse blinders

We see and evaluate experiences and people in very human ways

God sees so differently, and invites us to see as he sees

          Seeing every moment as a gift from god

          Seeing his presence every where

Seeing others as souls

          Seeing yourself as a soul

The spiritual search

Allowing others to have theirs – folks looking for a church

Allowing yourself to enjoy yours

Setting aside guilt

Welcoming celebration

Taking a serious bent

What can you take from this?

Ed wimberly’s book, remembering your faith story

We all have one.  What happens to you when you remember the stories?

This is the side of life that delivers us joy. Hope.  Love.  gratitude.

Do you have something to be thankful for?

Today can be a day of decision for you.

          To choose Christ for the first time

          To choose him again- every day is a day of decisioin/embracing christ

To tackle a bad habit or attitude

To release someone from bondage

To love someone

To love

To live the generous life

To find the joy

What are you waiting for?