Ritual for the New Year

Philippians 4:6

Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

1. Start with a 10 - 15 minute time of meditation and prayer in which you set your attention on releasing the old and opening to the new.

2. On a piece of paper, hand write a list of all the things in 2014 that you'd like to let go of. This can include old patterns that don't serve you, grudges or resentments you're hanging on to, fears that hold you back, or circumstances that you'd like to change. It can also include not-useful habits such as eating too much sugar or not exercising. Make sure your list is as complete as possible with everything that didn't work for you in 2014.

3. If it's easy for you to burn the list, then you can do that. If not, you can
tear the list up in many pieces. As you release this list, imagine letting go of the energies that are represented on your list.  Give these worries over to God.

4. Now, on to creation. Make a list of all that you wish to create for yourself in 2015. Include the habits you'd like to embrace, the external circumstances you'd like to create, and the internal experiences you'd like to have (joy, freedom, ease, love, peace, acceptance of all that is, etc.). Be as specific as possible.

5. Read the list aloud (whether you're alone or with others). Speaking it out adds more energy to it. Feel each item as though it's actually happened.  You can also read it as a form of prayer (see #6).

6.  Pray.  And remember the scripture from Philippians 4:6

‘Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’

7. Put the list in a special place.

Notice how you feel after doing this ritual

cleansed, lighter, renewed,
 excited about what's ahead.

Merciful God,

We have a desire to let things go,

To give our worries, doubts, and fears over to you.

Let it be as if we have placed them on a stone

which sinks to the bottom of a pond.

Lead us from:    Loneliness to solitude,

  Hostility to hospitality.

  Illusion of control to prayer.

Guide us on our path

and let us embrace the joys you bring our way.

Let it be as a flowing stream,

 always bringing the new possibilities to us.

Thank you Lord.

As we rejoice and pray in Jesus’ name.  Amen.






*the 3 movements mentioned in the prayer -Loneliness to solitude, Hostility to hospitality, Illusion of control to prayer, are topics discussed in Henri Nouuwen's book: Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life.

GPS -God Positioning System

Sermon preached at Lake City Presbyterian on December 28, 2014. 
Scripture is Luke 2:22-40.


GPS –God Positioning System

I am someone who is a little behind on technology:

I have no smart phone,
and it took me a little while to relent to needing a laptop,
(which I finally found was necessary in seminary.)

So I am a little behind on technology, which is fine…..

One thing I do have is a GPS
-a global positioning system,
Which has been very helpful when I travel and especially as I navigate Richmond. –it is a good thing.

A Global Positioning System tells you
-where you are,
-where you are going,
-and how to get there.
That is a wonderful thing!

But the GPS I want to talk about today is a little different…
How about the God Positioning System?

God getting you
-where you need to be,
-when you need to be there…….
That is amazing!

The traditional GPS, the one that gets you where you need to go, may occasionally lead you in the wrong direction.
I have accused mine of lying to me……
It will say turn left, when it means turn right…..
It will say destination ahead on right, when I actually passed it in the block behind me….

However, about a year ago, my GPS acted not as a Global Positioning System but as a God Positioning System.

I had a friend, a fellow seminary student, Shannel, who needed to get to the ER.
Another friend, Linda, drove and I grabbed my GPS to navigate.
We knew the large hospital downtown would be crowded and busy and so I looked up hospitals on the GPS…..
I chose one and started directing Linda where to go.

We had gone to one with an un-crowded ER,
We had gone to one where they took Shannel back immediately.
Later, we found out, we had gone to a hospital with one of the best neurosurgeons in Virginia.
We had gone to one that could help Shannel.

So that night,
I knew the GPS satellites that directed us were not in charge…..God was!    

And in our passage today from Luke,
You and I can see that again……
God putting
-the right people
-in the right place
-at the right time.

Mary and Joseph bring the baby Jesus to the temple where they meet Simeon and Anna.

Let us back up just a little, why had Mary and Joseph traveled to the temple in Jerusalem?

They had 2 purposes:
First to redeem Jesus, to present him to the Lord….
"…as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"
It was also the proper time for Mary’s purification, 40 days after giving birth, she can be made clean again.

These tasks were what was expected of them by the law of Moses;
Mary and Joseph were faithful Jews who observed these laws.
Jesus was nurtured in his Jewish tradition.
In this way, Jesus was prepared for his later life,
knowing the laws,
he was able to oppose flawed and hollowed practices in the name of the law of Moses.

In other words, think of the many times
Jesus was able to challenge the Pharisees and scribes because of his knowledge of scripture and law.

So, Mary and Joseph are in the temple doing what is prescribed by law.  This is when the unexpected happens:
"Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple…"
Simeon came by direction of the Spirit.

He is someone described as righteous and devout,
someone who can give honorable testimony.
Simeon recognizes Jesus as and witnesses to Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.

One commentary even suggests that Simeon may have been a priest and perhaps as he took Jesus in his arms,
he took part in the presentation of Jesus to the priests of the temple.
A happy introduction of the priests into acquaintance with the Savior.  

Simeon was not the only one to be placed in a position of witness that day.
There was also the prophetess Anna.

Anna was an elderly widow.
Varying theories says either 84 was her age or 84 years was the amount of time she had been a widow, this would put here at an age above 100;
Either way, Anna was elderly.

She was also pious, she fasted, prayed, and worshiped in the temple and she was knowledgeable in the scriptures,
perhaps even instructing younger women in the things of God.
She praised God and prayed to God,
always in hope of the ‘redemption of Jerusalem’.

Anna was not directed to the temple as Simeon had been; she was always at the temple.
However, she comes to the scene precisely
where and when Jesus is being presented.

Anna’s witness, her testimony is in harmony with that of Simeon’s,
They are both representatives of Israel at its best:
-devout and obedient,
-always in prayer,
-at home in the temple,
-longing and hoping for the fulfillment of God’s promises,
-and being willing to be led by the Holy Spirit.

These two aged saints’ testimonies are for all people to know Jesus.
A testimony from a man and a woman,
so both men and women are invited to believe and that they may be saved.

Simeon speaks of Jesus as not only for the Jews, but for the Gentiles as well:
     "for my eyes have seen your salvation,
       which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
       a light for revelation to the Gentiles and
       for glory to the people of Israel."
Jesus is for all people.
  
As minister Fred Cradock writes in his comentary on Luke, quote…
"Anna and Simeon are a portrait of the Israel
that accepted Jesus;
Those who rejected him misunderstood their own tradition and therefore were not capable of recognizing him
as the continuation of their own best memory and hope."   

For the Israelites hope is joined to memory and God keeping an old promise.
From Luke 24 verse 44, Jesus says
　"Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."

God put Anna and Simeon where they needed to be, when they needed to be there,
to be able to be witnesses,
to be able to proclaim the good news.

Mary and Joseph were the right people at the right time as well.
They were devout Jews who raised Jesus in the tradions and following the laws of Moses.
Mary and Joseph were not wealthy
or important or powerful……
they returned to rural Nazareth and God’s plan continued:
"The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him."

God puts you and I
       where we need to be,      when we need to be there.
He knows the need:
whether it is to help, to witness, to proclaim….
God is in control.
You and I are part of God’s plan.

And that is true for this church.
Lake City Presbyterian Church is a blessed church.
In Sunday school this morning, several 'saints of the church' were mentioned.....
people who were part of this church family;
those people who God had placed into this fellowship,
to be here  -right place  -tight time,
for reasons to help,
                   to proclaim,
                   to witness.
And the joy of the journey of Lake City Presbyterian Church continues today.

As a faithful people you are going through a transition in searching for a new pastor.
There is hope and faith that God will lead the right person to this place at the right time for both them and for you.   

You are here at this place, at this time
for reasons only God knows……

We are all witnesses to the love of God.
You and I trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
And we proclaim to others by sharing the joy
and spreading the good news of salvation that God brought to us in Jesus Christ.

So as Simeon and Anna were brought to the right place at the right time,
trust that the Holy Spirit is leading you,
with the remarkable God Positioning System.

Harvest of Joy

Sermon for 3rd Sunday of Advent at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, NC.

A Harvest of Joy

We are here on the 3^rd Sunday of Advent to celebrate joy.                     

Joy is one of my favorite words;

I believe we are all on a joyful journey,

full of surprises, celebrations, challenges, and adventures. 

The journey is filled with love, grace, mercy, and faith, All of it being guided by God.                                                        

The Psalm today is Psalm 126.                

It is referred to as a Harvest of Joy.           

What a place to start the conversation….

The Book of Psalms is a prime place to find joy and thanksgiving,   

                              rejoicing and giving thanks.

Of course, the Book of Psalms also contains psalms of

lament, sadness, and prayers asking for help.

At first glance, Psalm 126 seems to be a very straightforward psalm of praise. 

So let us see how Psalm 126 may lead us into thanksgiving.

When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
and we rejoiced.

The Israelites are celebrating their return from captivity in Babylon. 

It seems too good to be true...they are home!

God has ‘restored their fortunes’, they are more than happy, they are joyous!

This is right in line with the dictionary definition of joy:

Intense and especially ecstatic happiness.

Yes, that is a good definition of how the Israelites must have felt. 

Amazed –like being in a dream. 

Filled with Laughter!            Shouting with Joy!

They were ready to praise God and proclaim to all what God had done for them.

 Have you ever experienced that intense feeling? That level of joy?

Let us stop and think a moment about that overwhelming joy….

            This is more than being happy, more than having a good day….this is

            wanting to shout from rooftops, or mountaintops,

            laugh ‘til your side hurts, and

            a desire to share this feeling with everyone you meet.

What makes us joyful? 

How do you and I show joy?

How can we embrace joy?              

We each find joy in our own unique way;

what makes me joyful may be different from what brings you joy.                                     

Let us look at a few ideas:

Joy: may be found with family,

in friendships,

            In celebrating new life,

whether it is a newborn child,

a tail-wagging puppy,

or being surrounded by God’s creation,

In learning, teaching, or discovering,

            In exploring or embarking on an adventure,

In silence,

            In prayer, in solitude, in meditation,

In celebration,

In laughter, in fellowship, in worship.

Joy can be anywhere and anything!                                    ~~~

 However, what about the question of embracing joy?

Do you ever feel guilty when you are happy?

I know I have felt that way sometime…

            How can I be enjoying this gathering when my friend had to work? 

How can I be having a nice evening when a family member is dealing with an illness? 

How can I celebrate while another may be suffering?                            

Let us go back to the Psalm…

The Israelites are overjoyed to have been returned from exile.  But there is more….

Only some of them have returned,

others are still in Babylon, still in exile. 

Those who have returned cannot believe their good fortune,

but they also remember their friends and families who are not yet home.

Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
    like the watercourses in the Negeb.
May those who sow in tears
    reap with shouts of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
    bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
    carrying their sheaves. 

This is a prayer for God to again do great things; restore those who are not there, who are still suffering.

They know God can and will do this! 

They know the power of God!

They have seen how the dry river Negev overflows when the seasonal rains come,

refreshing the waters, giving life anew.                                 

They have experienced the sowing of seeds

in hope of the coming harvest,

and seen the results

in a harvest of sheaves of plenty,

an abundance of blessings.                                  

The Israelites are praying for those who are still suffering;

they know of no other way to help, so they pray.

The people of Israel have seen and experienced God’s blessings on them time after time…

            God’s promises to Jacob when he dreamed at Bethel…

            God being with Moses as he led the Israelites out of Egypt…

            God guiding them through their wanderings in the wilderness…           

They have their faith!

They know what God has done, what he will do!

What are you and I doing in our faith, with our blessings, to show our joy and to help those who are suffering?

Yes, we pray. 

As individuals

            –silently with God, as we are driving to work, when we need a moment in our busy day, 

or when we come here into this sanctuary to pray prayers from the prayer box.                    

As a congregation

            –together with each other, with the prayer of confession, in the prayers of the people, including  the list in the bulletin of those who are in need.                                        

And there is doing.

This congregation does for others. 

The church’s local and global missions aid those in need in our community and those far away. 

            Giving a ‘can when you can’ for Interfaith Assistance Ministry, helping with scholarships to students at Fuenta de Vida in Guatemala, and giving financially to countless local organizations.

As individuals, there are always volunteers.  So many of you work with local organizations –Hospice, The Free Clinics, the Rescue Mission, IAM, Council on Aging, Mainstay, and the list goes on….         

We as the church universal proclaim our joy and our faith in what God has done for us.

            With praise and worship,

            With singing and laughter,

            By praying and  by doing.

We are all blessed.

You and I know the Joy of the Harvest.                             

We are on our journey through Advent.

Psalm 126 is found in the lectionary for both Advent and Lent.  Both are seasons of preparation heading to a time of fulfillment:

            -Advent to Christmas, preparation for the celebration of Jesus’ birth.

            -Lent to Easter, preparation for the celebration of the resurrection.

The sowing/ the preparation

in the anticipation of hope of the harvest / of  God’s blessings.

And in this journey, when we celebrate Jesus’ birth, we are also looking forward to the fulfillment of Jesus’ life –the resurrection of Easter morning.                       

This is where you and I live now, on this journey,

In this harvest;

            living in the knowledge of what is to come and living in the joy of discipleship.

The joy

Of what God has done for us in the past,

Of our salvation through Christ,

Our doing for others guided by the Holy Spirit,

and we look to the future with joy of what is to come.

Christ is our Harvest of Joy!                

In the Potter's Hands

 This sermon was preached at Lake City Presbyterian Church in Lake City, SC 
   on November 30.2014.
 The scripture passage was Isaiah 64:1-9.


In the Potter’s Hands

Today begins the season of Advent,
    A season of preparation,       
    A season of hope.           
And we have lit the first candle of Advent,
the candle of hope.

This little spark of light is what I want us to ponder today.

    This little spark of light is a beginning, a hope.  

When a little spark is taken
and is passed from candle to candle,
the glow grows…                        
    until…
    there is one bright shining light.               
That bright light begins with one spark,
    one small glow of hope.
           
In our scripture today, we find hope.
The scripture is part of a prayer to God which begins in the previous chapter of Isaiah.
It is a psalter,
    a communal lament,
and we are picking it up in the middle.
In chapter 63, the prayer begins with remembrance of the great things God has done:
    Isaiah 63:7:
“I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
    the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
because of all that the Lord has done for us,
    and the great favor to the house of Israel
that he has shown them according to his mercy,
    according to the abundance of his steadfast love.”

Then Isaiah brings in the Israelite’s current situation.
The Israelites are in despair; they are in exile in Babylon.
God’s people had to sit down and think and pray and imagine in a new way that they could be faithful in their circumstances of the exile.
They know what great deeds God has done for them in the past and they know what He can do for them in their present situation and in the future.
They put their hope in God. 

The people of Israel wanted God to show His power and His might.
“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
    so that the mountains would quake at your presence—as when fire kindles brushwood
    and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
    so that the nations might tremble at your presence!”

In Isaiah’s time, the Israelites were looking for a divine warrior to ‘come down’.
They wanted someone to save them;
    “….so the nations might tremble at your presence!”

God’s response is in the following chapters of Isaiah:
    Isaiah 65:17-19
“For I am about to create new heavens
    and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
    or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
    in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
    and its people as a delight.
 I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
    and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
    or the cry of distress.”
The Lord responded. 
The Israelites went home to Jerusalem.

In Jesus’ time, the people were again looking
for a divine warrior,
a Messiah,
someone to take charge,
to fight Rome,
to bring vengeance on their enemies,
someone to save them.

But who did God send?  
  
Not a warrior, yet, a savior. 
Not a king to make war against Rome,
but a prince of peace.
God sent a light into the darkness of their lives;
a spark of hope.

One light, breaking through the darkness;
the brightest spark shinning from the deepest darkness.

As we read in the first few verses of The Gospel of John:
“What has come into being in him was life,and the life was the light of all people.  
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.”

So why was this God’s response?
    -back to Isaiah:
“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.”

You and I are God’s creation!

God is our caring and loving parent.
Our creator.
Let us look at this image of God, Isaiah uses –the potter.
Have you seen a potter crafting an object,
a vase, perhaps?
The lump of clay is taken
        and centered, on a wheel.
Water is slowly added
        as strong hands guide the clay,
                    molding the clay,
                shaping it.
The clay is stretched and grown as it builds up,
into a form.
There is careful guidance,
    there is patience,
    there is love,
and a form, a vase, is created.

God is our potter:

“the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and the man became a living being”

God is our creator.
You and I have a caring and merciful God.
We have a God who loves us.
This is why God sent to us a prince of peace, a savior.

God responded to the Israelites in exile…
God responded to the people in Jesus’ time…
And God responds to us today.

There have been the occasions when you and I
have prayed with hope in our hearts asking something of God.
Also you and I have learned,
    yes, God answers all prayers,
    however, His answer is not always yes.
        Sometimes it is no.
        Sometimes it is not now.
    And sometimes it is God has a better plan.
So no, no divine warrior to answer Israel’s pleas;
    No, no one king to make war against Rome.
Yes, a savior.

God sent hope.
Not a conqueror, but a teacher.
God’s love and mercy for His creation is shown
    in the spark of light of Jesus Christ.
The hope in the darkness –the light to shine,
    the little spark that begins renewal, salvation, and
    the bright light of hope.

We have welcomed Advent, a time of expectant watching. 
We are watching and we are waiting. 
In this time of anticipation and preparation,
be alert to God’s presence among us.   
Watch as the light as it grows brighter each week. 
Embrace the hope, peace, joy and love of the season. 
Shine your light to others.            
And look to the fulfillment of the hope
of the birth of God’s son,
who is our Redeemer and our Savior.
Through his, resurrection, light has overcome all darkness.

Amen.