Sidney UMC - Epiphany Sunday - 01/02/22 - Sermon - “Wise Men Still Seek Him”

Sunday 01/02/22 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:           “Wise Men Still Seek Him”                                

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6                                        

New Testament Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-12

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 2:1-12

          Merry Christmas and Happy New Year once again, as it is now 2022, and we are still in this season of Christmas, through January 5^th. In fact, today is the Second Sunday of Christmas, and the Ninth Day of the Twelve Days of the Christmas Season. The Twelfth-Day of Christmas ends this Wednesday. Thursday January 6^th is Epiphany, which is the day that many churches celebrate the visit of the Wise Men to Christ. Since we do not usually have a church service on Thursdays, today we call Epiphany Sunday, as we celebrate the Wise Men coming to Christ today.

          So, given all of this, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Ninth Day of Christmas, Happy Second Sunday after Christmas, and Happy Epiphany Sunday. I think I got all of those right!

As far as the story of the Wise Men, many of us know about their visit to Christ all to well. Many of us own nativity scenes, where the Wise Men are featured holding gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Some of us know and some of us do not know though that of the four New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that only the gospel of Matthew mentions the Wise Men coming to visit and worship Christ with gifts. So only one of the four New Testament gospels mentions the Wise Men coming to visit and worship Christ with gifts.

One of the questions that I had when I started in seminary school therefore, was “Why do we have a special Sunday and or day every year to celebrate the visit of the Wise Men to Christ?” I then asked, “We do not have a special day every year that we celebrate the visit of the Angels and the shepherds to Christ, so why the Wise Men?” “Is it because the Wise Men were rich and prominent and brought gifts, and the shepherds were not and did not?”

What I quickly found out though was that Epiphany is celebrated every year not to sleight the shepherds and or other visitors like the angels who came to visit the baby Christ on Christmas, but that the Wise Men probably did come on Christmas itself. Well hearing this was a shock to me, as I had always been taught that the shepherds and the Wise Men came to visit the newborn Christ on Christmas! This is how we did our Christmas pageants, what our nativity scenes look like, and etc. So why would this seminary professor say that the Wise Men or magi did not come to visit, to worship, and to give Christ gifts on Christmas?

Well let us look once again at what our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning actually says about the visit of the Wise Men or the Magi. Once again, our gospel reading for Matthew this morning says in 2:10-11 once again:

¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh                   (Matt. 2:10-11, NRSV).

I guess I had never noticed what the gospel of Matthew actually said about the visit of the Wise Men to Christ. The scripture says of the Wise Men, “On entering the house.” Jesus was with Mary, and they knelt down worshipped the savior and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

So as my seminary professor had me re-read these verses from the gospel of Matthew, he asked me, “Where was Jesus born?” I then explained to the seminary professor, “well Jesus was of course born in Bethlehem, the city of David, but he was born in a stable, or maybe even in a cave. The baby Jesus was of course wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a manger, or what could have been a stone or wood feeding trough.” The professor then said, “that is correct, but why did the Wise Men enter the house?” I said, “Well I really do not know.” He then said, “Most scholars believe that the Wise Men might have come after the birth of Christ, but that everything is still the same story.”

Well, this blew my mind, as you can imagine! In the gospel of Luke however, Mary and Joseph take baby Jesus at the age of eight days old to be presented at the great temple in Jerusalem. Based on the Bible translation, Mary and Joseph bring two pigeons or two turtle doves, to be offered for sacrifice, and they encounter Simeon and Anna. Perhaps Jesus was circumcised this day too, as this is the tradition of Jews for boys on the eighth day of their lives. So again, only the gospels of Luke and Matthew talk about the birth of Christ.

In Luke’s gospel there are no Wise Men or magi, and eight days after Jesus’ birth, Mary and Joseph take Jesus to be presented at the great temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is only about six miles from Bethlehem, so they probably walked or took a donkey. After presenting Jesus at the temple when he was eight days old, the gospel of Luke then says that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus headed back to Nazareth. Jesus was raised in Nazareth after his birth, which is why he is often called Jesus of Nazareth, or Jesus the Nazarene. In fact, there is a Christian denomination called the Church of the Nazarene.

   All of this said, in our gospel of Matthew account for this morning, not only do we have the visit of the Wise Men or magi to Jesus, but again this is not listed in the gospel of Luke. In our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning once again, the Wise Men encounter King Herod, before encountering Christ and Mary. Once again, this what our gospel of Matthew reading for this morning says starting 2:1:

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was                      (Matt. 2:1-9, NRSV).

          The Wise Men or magi then enter the house and see Jesus and Mary. They pay homage, they kneel, and then they give him their gifts. Then the gospel lesson ends for this morning once again in Matthew 2:12 saying of the Wise Men:

¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road (Matt. 2:12, NRSV).

          The Wise Men leave, and do not go back to see King Herod. After this, Joseph is told by an Angel of the Lord in a dream to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt. Why would they do this? Well because King Herod was angry that the Wise Men did not return to him and tell him where Jesus was. As a result, King Herod ordered that all children two years old and under in and around Bethlehem to be killed. King Herod figured that if all children two years old and younger were killed, then surely, they would kill Jesus among them.

          Mary, Joseph, and Jesus according to the gospel of Matthew stay in Egypt until King Herod dies. The Angel of the Lord then appears to Joseph and tells him that King Herod had died. So, the royal family returns to Israel, and in another dream, Joseph is told to not stay in the area of Jerusalem or Judea. Joseph and Mary then take Jesus to Nazareth, where he is raised.

          So, both the gospel of Luke and Matthew agree that Jesus was taken north to be raised in Nazareth, about 70-90-miles from Bethlehem. The question to ask then, is how do we square the gospel of Luke having no Wise Men, Jesus being presented at the great Temple in Jerusalem at eight days old, and going right to Nazareth to be raised, while the gospel of Matthew then discusses the visit from the Wise Men, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus fleeing to Egypt, and the massacre of the young children by King Herod? Or maybe the better question to ask is this, did all of these things happen?

          I believe that yes all of these things did indeed happen. Someone might ask though, “Well Pastor Paul if this true, why are there some differences about the birth of Christ in the gospels of Luke and Matthew”? Well, what I think is that Matthew and Luke both told the story of the birth of Christ, but they maybe told the parts of the story they knew or the parts they wanted to emphasize. I also think over the years and over the centuries, that we have assembled the whole Christmas Story into one big event. I mean it makes sense, who wants to do two Christmas Pageants right?

          What I think happened is this, Mary and Joseph traveled about 70-90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered for the population census that Roman Emperor Augustus ordered. Both the gospel of Luke and the gospel of Matthew agree on this. After this, when Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem, she went into labor. There was no room in the Inn, and of course Mary gave birth to Jesus in stable or a cave. Jesus was born, wrapped in bands of cloth, and laid in the manger or feeding through. The shepherds then come to see Christ. I then think that eight days later Mary and Joseph travel about six miles to Jerusalem to present Jesus at the great temple in Jerusalem. While there, they meet Simeon and Anna, and they bring two turtle doves or two pigeons for sacrifice.

          I then think that after presenting Jesus at the great Temple in Jerusalem that Mary, Joseph, and Jesus then travel back to Bethlehem. By this point after the census, Bethlehem has calmed down. Mary and Joseph at this point are able to stay with Joseph’s relatives, or perhaps they found another house to stay in. Then the Wise Men come, following the same star, that we call the Bethlehem Star. The Wise Men “enter the house” as the gospel of Matthew says once again for this morning, and then the Wise Men leave without returning to King Herod. King Herod, enraged orders the deaths of all children two and younger in and around Bethlehem. The angel of the Lord warns Joseph, and they flee with Jesus to Egypt. King Herod dies, then Mary, Joseph, and Jesus come back to Israel and raise Jesus in Nazareth, just like the gospel of Luke says.

          I think all of these events occurred; The birth, the stable, the shepherds, taking Jesus to be presented at the temple at eight days old, the Wise Men, fleeing to Egypt, and then returning to Nazareth to raise Jesus. What I also think, once again, is that Luke and Matthew had the portions of the birth stories that they had or emphasized when they wrote their gospels. Over the years we then assembled these stories together. This is why we tell the story of the birth of Christ with the shepherds, the manger, the star, and the Wise Men, as this probably did not all happen on the same night.

          The gospel of Luke also quotes the Old Testament Prophet Hosea of Jesus coming back from Egypt to Nazareth saying, “Out of Egypt I have called my son” (Lk. 2:15, NRSV). In our reading for this morning from the Old Testament Prophet Isaiah once again, Isaiah prophesizes in 60:1-6 the visit to Christ of the Wise Men centuries before Jesus’ birth.

          Once again, I believe that the events around Christ’s birth and early life in the gospels of Luke and Matthew both happened, but I think that each gospel writer might have had various parts of the story or emphasized different parts of the story. What is important however, as my sermon title for this morning says, “Is Wise Men Still Seek Him.” Not just the Wise Men or the magi that visited Christ seek him, but many wise women sought him, and still seek him too. Wise people all over the world have and continue to seek Christ. These people come from all levels of society, have different amounts or power, status, financial wealth, and education. Yet, people of all distinct kinds for over 2,000 years have sought this Christ. They have sought this Christ for transformation, for newness of life, for truth, for love, for hope, for peace, for joy, and for forgiveness.

          I cannot think of any other institution like the Christian Church, where we have so many distinct kinds of people that probably otherwise would never come together or be friends. All different kinds of people still seek Christ, and together, all of us, all different, all special, all unique, are gathered under the banner of Jesus Christ.

          It is my hope and my prayer that in 2022 and beyond that “Wise Men Still Seek Him,” that “Wise Women Still Seek Him,” and that “All People Still Seek Him”. I hope and pray that 2022 is a better year than 2021 and I hope and pray that our church and its ministries grow and flourish this year, like never before. Let us seek Christ together. Amen. 

 

 

Sidney UMC - First Sunday After Christmas Day - 12/26/21 - Sermon - "Imagine If Your Kid Did That!"

Sunday 12/26/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:      “Imagine If Your Kid Did That!”                        

Old Testament Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26                                       

New Testament Scripture: Colossians 3:12-17

Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:41-52

          Merry Christmas once again, as we are still in this season of Christmas, through January 5^th. In fact, this is the second day of Christmas.

          So, there I was, I was about 5-6 years old, and I went to large grocery store in Southern Wisconsin with my mother. I loved this grocery store, even though we did not go to this grocery store as often as I would have liked. It was one of those grocery stores with the loose candy that you could put into plastic bags. They had all kinds of candy. My mom would always allow me to get some of this candy whenever we went to this grocery store. As a result, I loved going to this grocery store!

          Well during one of the few times I remember going to this grocery store with my mom, we were shopping, and I just walked away from my mother unannounced. I was not trying to be rude, but I just thought, “I want to go and see the loose candy and put some in bag.” The problem with my little candy acquisition plot, was that within no time my mother was worried that I was lost in the grocery store. As you can imagine she was upset, meanwhile I was joyfully thinking, “Do I want root beer barrels or do I want something else.” Clearly mom and I were not feeling the same way around my little grocery store excursion.

          After about five-minutes, all of the sudden a worker at the grocery store got on the grocery store loudspeaker. I remember hearing, “Attention customers if Paul Winkelman is in the store, your mother Susan is looking for you up front at the service counter.” Well needless to say, I did not get any candy that day. Although, I did try to negotiate, unsuccessfully. Mom was not too happy with little Paul after that little incident.

          Maybe you have a story like this? Maybe you could not find a child, or maybe you had a lost pet. It must be a terrible and a terrifying feeling to lose someone, a pet, or something. I have talked to people for example, that have told me that they have torn apart their house and their car, and they still could not find, fill in the blank.

          Some of us might have seen the famous movie “Home Alone” with little Macaulay Culkin. The whole family goes on vacation, but they were missing something. Did they forget a bag? Did they forget a camera? No, they forgot their son, named “Kevin!” In the movie the mother of this character realizes this on the airplane and shrieks “Kevin,” as she realizes that they had left their son “Home Alone.” A scary reality, but exactly what we have in our gospel of Luke lesson for this morning.

          In our gospel of Luke lesson for this morning, Jesus wandered off, and his parents left without him. There were panicked and afraid of course, as they did not know where their son was. As it turned out Jesus was in the great temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was listening to the teachers and asking questions. Everyone who heard this were amazed at young Jesus’ answers and understanding (Lk. 2:41-52, NRSV).

          Samuel in our reading from 1 Samuel for this morning, had a similar experience in his life. In fact, as our reading from 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26, says for this morning once again:

¹⁸ Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. ¹⁹ His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. ²⁰ Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord”; and then they would return to their home (1 Sam. 2:18-20, 26, NRSV).

          This morning, a lost 12-year-old Jesus is in the great temple in Jerusalem, wowing everyone with his knowledge and wisdom. Samuel did this as well, as young boy, as we see in our scripture from 1 Samuel.

          We hear in our reading from the Book of Colossians for this morning once again that we are to be compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Overall, we are to seek love, peace, forgive, and to serve in the name of the Lord Jesus (Col. 3:12-17, NRSV). Sometimes when a child is missing it can be hard to do all of these things that we read in Colossians 3:12-17.

          So, in looking at our gospel of Luke lesson for this morning, it says once again of Jesus and his family traveling to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover:

⁴¹ Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ⁴³ When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it                (Lk. 2:41-43, NRSV).

 

          So, this is not young Pastor Paul lost in the grocery store for 5-10 minutes, this Jesus lost for a few days. Losing a child for a few days must be a terrifying experience. Jesus’ family traveled from Nazareth to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover, which was about 60-70 miles away. They were headed home in a group of people and did not realize at first that Jesus was not with them. Mary and Joseph figured incorrectly that Jesus was somewhere in the large group of people they were traveling with. In fact, as the gospel of Luke lesson for this morning continues saying once again of lost 12-year-old Jesus:

⁴⁴ Assuming that he was in the group of travelers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety” (Lk. 2:44-48, NRSV).

 

          So, Mary and Joseph had headed one full day’s journey home, and then finally realized that young Jesus was not with them. I wonder if she shrieked “Jesus,” the way the mother in the movie “Home Alone” shrieked “Kevin” when she knew her son was not with them? As a result of Jesus being missing from the traveling group, Mary and Joseph went back to Jerusalem. It took Mary and Joseph a day’s journey back to the Jerusalem, and then it took them another three days to find young Jesus.

          I have seen some funny depiction of Mary and Joseph finally realizing that Jesus was in the temple in Jerusalem, after looking for him for the better part of a week. In one of these pictures Joseph was in the car in from of the temple, and he said, “You go in and get him Mary, I am to mad to get our of this car!” I mean the gospel of Luke does have Mary asking Jesus directly, “why have you treated us like this?” Mary then says, “your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety” (Lk. 2:44-48, NRSV). Clearly Mary and Joseph were not thrilled that Jesus was lost. Further, you cannot really ground the savior of the world, even if he is your son!

          What Mary did see and observe, as well as Joseph, as he was in actuality next to Mary, and not really angry waiting in the car, was seeing their 12-year-old son, the savior of the world wow all of the religious teachers. The people were “astonished” the scripture says by the wisdom, knowledge, and teachings of Jesus.

          After asking Jesus why he had left there traveling group and did not tell them about, Jesus responded by saying:        

⁴⁹ He said to them, “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”  ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he said to them. ⁵¹ Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favor      (Lk. 2:49-52, NRSV).

 

          Imagine, if I was lost in the grocery store, even if it was only for 5-10 minutes. My mother finally and frantically finds me. She approaches me and says, “Paul, why did you wander off, I was worried sick?” Imagine if I just said to my mom, “Mom didn’t know that I was supposed to be looking at the loose candy?” If that actually happened, I do not think I would be alive on earth right now to tell you the story.

          It is fun though to imagine ourselves in this story. The joke about dad waiting in the car, might have actually happened many times in different situations in our lives. Imagine if your child was lost, and you searched for them for three days. You then find them at a friend’s house, and they just say, “Didn’t you know that I was supposed to be at my friends house?” Well, I do not know about you, but if I did that, I would not be alive on earth right now to talk about it.

          What is the big take away here then? Number one, God’s plan is bigger than our plan. Anyone ever heard the statement, “We make plans and God laughs?” In Jesus being the Messiah, the savior of the world, If he was supposed to be in God’s house, then that is it. It is awful that Mary and Joseph looked for him for so long, but if that was God’s will, then that was God’s will. Number two, when you leave somewhere, make sure your kid is with you!

          Of all of the stories of Jesus in the gospels, this is one of the most unique and fun stories to play with. The reality though is that God can call us to do something at any moment. Mary and Joseph were so consumed with leaving the festival of the Passover festival in Jerusalem that they did not even notice that Jesus was not with them. It is not good that they had to look for him for so long, but never go anywhere my friends without first knowing where Jesus is. Amen. 

Sidney UMC - Christmas Eve - 12/24/21 - Sermon - "One Person Can Change The World!" ("A Real Advent and A Real Christmas" Series: Part 5 of 5)

Christmas Eve 12/24/21 - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:               “One Person Can Change The World!”     

                  (“A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Series: Part 5 of 5)          

Old Testament Scripture: Isaiah 9:2-7                                    

New Testament Scripture: Titus 2:11-14

Gospel Lesson: Luke 2:1-20 

          Merry Christmas everyone! What a blessing it is to be here tonight with all of you. It is hard to believe that we have now lived through two years of this COVID-19 Pandemic. Yet, we still gather to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Some of us gather here in person tonight, while others gather and watch online. Even so, we gather together on this night that is full of hope, joy, peace, and love.

          With this said, I have said through the entire season of Advent that I was naïve enough to think a few months ago that we would be much farther along in this pandemic than we are now. I created a sermon series called “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas” because a few months ago I thought that we would be back to much more “Normal” than we are now.

          Some people have barricaded themselves away waiting for all of this to be over. Some people have not seen other people in weeks, or even months. People continue to struggle with not being able to visit some loved ones, some people struggle with events being canceled, and having to wear masks indoors. Maybe some of us watch movies from before the pandemic and marvel at how people are inside of a building without masks, without social distancing, and without, wait for it, hand sanitizer.

          It is safe to say that for the past two years things have and continue to be different. Some of us though are still waiting for “Normal” to return. In hoping that “Normal” would return by now, once again, I created this sermon series called once again, “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas.” In praying about it though, what God revealed to me was this, we did have a real Advent Season leading up to tonight. We will also have a real Christmas Season. Why is this? It is real my friends because we are all still here. We are still alive, we are all still living our lives, and hopefully on this Christmas Eve all will still have some hope, joy, peace, and love.

          In this season, we are invited to bring the love of Jesus Christ into our hearts daily, we are called to remember and celebrate his birth, as we await his second coming or return to earth.

          Christmas Eve in many churches is truly a wonderous and a beautiful time. We have the tree decorated, we have the candles, or LED tea lights, we sing silent night, and the love and the care that we have for each other is real and palpable. Make no mistake my friends, we had a real Advent, and we will have a real Christmas, because the love of God in Jesus Christ is still real, pandemic or no pandemic.

          Some of us have gathered to worship tonight, whether in person or online because we just love the Christmas Eve Service. We love the hymns, the decorations, the beauty, and the love. As one seminary professor I had also said of people going to church on Christmas Eve, around Jesus’ birth, many people go to church on Christmas Eve because everyone loves a baby!

          When I was layperson, before I became a pastor, I went to Christmas Eve Service because my family went. I believed, but it was largely about family. What I realize now looking back though, is that I was searching. When I went to the Christmas Eve service, I was hoping and praying that the story of Christmas would not only be completely true, but that somehow and in some way the story of Christmas could change me. Some people believe in wishing upon star, some people believe in a better world, and some people believe that greater things are possible. Christmas and the Christmas story reminds us of the love, the power, and the transformation or God in Jesus Christ.

          So, the real question then, is outside of all of the lights, the decorations, being with family, a baby, why Christmas? Why is Christmas Eve and Christmas Day so wonderful for so many? It is amazing to me that I have seen human behavior change on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I have seen people become kinder, more loving, more generous, more compassionate, and love there neighbors even more. It is amazing to me that at certain times of the year, and at certain days of the year some people are different. On certain days of the year and during certain times of the year, some people are just more loving.

          Ask yourself then, is this all the case because of the decorations, the lights, the gifts, the food, the endless lifetime channel Christmas romance movies, or is there more here? What if a baby born over 2,000 years has transformed the world, and we might not even know it?

          As I have been saying through the season of Advent, and before, after six thousand years of recorded human history, humanity continues to remain so broken. We still have so much violence, hatred, wars, meanness, cruelty, and so on, and son on. Is it possible to make a perfect world here on earth? Well, if we could, I think would have done it already. What is possible though, is for us to change, for us to renew our minds, fill our hearts, and restore our souls. Out of this change, we can change Sidney and we can change the world.

          If God were going to come to earth, to live among us, to teach us, to heal, to laugh, to cry, and to show us amazing love, wouldn’t we have expected something different than tonight? A baby born outside in a stable, or maybe it was a cave. A baby born to woman named Mary, who was probably fourteen or fifteen years old. This baby born in a poor and forgotten place in Judea in the Roman Empire called Bethlehem. A baby born to father who a carpenter, or maybe he was a stone mason. A baby born in poverty, with nothing, to a teenage mother. A baby born outside. A baby that had shepherds from the fields flock to him. A baby that guided wise men with a star. A baby that drew both the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, Chicago Bears fans and I guess even Green Bay Packers fans, and all manner of people to himself.

          If God was going to come among us in a surprising and in an unexpected way, well then, the birth of Christ in Bethlehem on Christmas was truly a surprise to many. Was his birth predicted by many prophets and writers in the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible? Sure, as we hear in our reading from Isaiah 9:2-7 for tonight. As the prophet Isaiah wrote of this coming savior centuries before his birth, he said of this Jesus:

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ⁷ His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isa. 9:6-7, NRSV).

          All of this from a baby, born outside, to a teenage mother, in what many have described as the armpit of the Roman Empire. God in the flesh, the savior of the world, came to earth to be like one of us. Maybe if Jesus were born today, he would be a volunteer fire fighter here in Sidney. Maybe Jesus would work at the Great American. Maybe Jesus’s father would be a machine operator at Amphenol. Maybe Joseph worked his whole life at Unalam, and Jesus took up right after his father. Jesus, my friends, came as one of us. God came this night to show us that he stands with us, and that he gets us. God came in the simplest of ways to show us that he will stop at nothing to have a loving relationship with us. Love Came Down at Christmas, and his name is Jesus Christ. Since we are so broken, God chose to redeem humanity through his son’s death on a cross. We are offered love, light, and life in abundance if we but turn to Jesus. Turn to him, repent of our sins, our brokenness, our darkness, and allow the Holy Spirit to change us mind, heart, and soul.

          Jesus does not just come tonight only so that one day that he can die for the sins of humanity. Jesus also comes to us this night so that we might change. The world continues to be so broken, and during his life on earth Jesus transformed countless people and the world. Hope itself was born on this night, and Jesus came to become like one of us.

          For as our reading from Titus 2:11-14 for tonight says once again:

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, ¹² training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, ¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds (Tit. 2:11-14, NRSV).

          Many of us have heard the birth narrative of Jesus that was read tonight in the gospel of Luke, or maybe you also have heard it in the gospel of Matthew. This life changing story of the birth of Christ is story that for many of us has been near and dear in our families, our communities, and for centuries. It is part of the fiber of who we are. It reminds of who we are, who’s we are, and what is possible through God.

          As my sermon title says, “One Person Can Change The World!”. Certainly, Jesus changed the world, but so do we all. I meet people and talk with people here in Sidney every day who change the world. Our brave volunteer fire fighters who serve and save lives. There are not paid, they just care, and this is changing Sidney and the world. It might not seem like that big of a deal in the great picture of the entire world, but you are all changing the world in different ways.

You see, Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection, and return one day, are like a key. This key goes to our minds, our hearts, and our souls. This key unlocks us so that we might have joy, love, peace, hope, restoration, freedom from sin, and a calling to change the world. Friends, this is why God sent his only son Jesus to be born in the humblest of ways.

          So, can we all change the world, as Jesus came to change us? Yes, we can. For example, here is a story called about a woman named Kate and a homeless man. Here is the story:

“Kate McClure was driving to Philadelphia and ran out of gas. She was scared and didn’t know what to do. Then a homeless guy came up to her and told her to stay in the car because it wasn’t safe to be outside. He left, but 20 minutes later he brought her a can of gas. Johnny spent his last $20 so that Kate could return home safely. The girl didn’t have any cash to return to him. So, during the following weeks, she drove past this place to give the homeless guy a jacket, a hat, socks, and food”.

“In November 2017, the girl organized a fundraising campaign for Johnny to help him start a new life. This story was so moving for many people that just 2 months later, more than $400,000 was raised. Johnny used this money to buy a house and a car, and he will donate the rest of the money to the people who have helped him over the years” (https://brightside.me/wonder-people/16-stories-proving-that-we-can-change-the-world-for-the-better-450460/).

          You probably have never heard of Kate or Johnny, but just like you they are regular people who are changing the world. Friends, this night, the birth of Christ, is not just an historical event. It is the beginning of the transformation of the world. That transformation, however, begins in you and it begins in me. God then equips and uses us to change Sidney and to change the world.

May this night, this Christmas Eve then, be more than just decorations, gifts, food, love, and endless lifetime channel romance movies, maybe it can be something that changes you, mind, heart, and soul. For this is why Christ came, to give us life, and give us life abundantly. Friends, go and change Sidney and the world, for “One Person Can Change the World!” Merry Christmas! Amen.

Sidney UMC - Blue Christmas/Longest Night Service - Tuesday - 12/21/21 - Sermon - “What Now?"

                                  Tuesday 12/21/21 – Blue Christmas

/Longest Night Service - Sidney UMC

Sermon Title:             “What Now?” 

Old Testament Scripture: Psalm 80:1-7                                        

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 10:32-39                                                

Gospel Lesson: John 16:31-33

          Welcome again, to this our annual Blue Christmas or Longest Night Service. Who here has never been to a Blue Christmas or Longest Night Service? 

          Well let me read to you all a brief explanation of what a Blue Christmas or Longest Night Service is. This description is taken from www.umcdiscipleship.org, and it says:

“Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in "I am feeling blue." Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holiday. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other dis-ease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregations and communities. There is a growing attentiveness to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas. Increasing numbers of churches are creating sacred space for people living through dark times. Such services are reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope”. “Some churches hold a service of worship on the longest night of the year, which falls on or about December 21st, the Winter Solstice. There is an interesting convergence for this day as it is also the traditional feast day for Saint Thomas the Apostle. This linkage invites making some connections between Thomas's struggle to believe the tale of Jesus' resurrection, the long nights just before Christmas, and the struggle with darkness and grief faced by those living with loss” (https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/blue-christmaslongest-night-worship-with-those-who-mourn).

          Tonight, December 21^st, 2022, is the first day of the season of winter. This day is also the winter solstice. What is the winter solstice? Here is one explanation that I found:

“The winter solstice (or hibernal solstice), also known as midwinter, is an astronomical phenomenon marking the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice).

          So tonight, the first day of the season of winter, or the winter solstice, we will have the shortest day of daylight all year. Given this and given two long years of this Global COVID-19 Pandemic, my sermon title for tonight is “What Now?”.

Every year, various people come to this service, and this year we also have people attending online again to. Some of these attenders are suffering a loss, some find this time of year to be hard and generally painful, and some are just here to worship with their brothers and sisters. All of these are great reasons to be here, and everyone is welcome. There is so much darkness, so much hurt, and so much pain in this world. With this said, how do we overcome all this darkness? How do spiritually walk into the warmth of light and hope?

When describing the nature of who God is, there are three words throughout the Bible that best describe God. These words are Life, Light, and Love. Once again, these words are Life, Light, and Love. On this the Longest Night of the year, Jesus reminds us in John 8:12, when he says:

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn. 8:12, NRSV).       

          In looking at our scripture reading from Psalm 80:1-7 for tonight, we hear that the people of Israel are crying out to God to restore them and to give them new hope (Ps. 80:1-7, NRSV). How many of us have every cried out to God for restoration and hope? I know that I have, especially in this year of 2021, the second year of COVID-19 Pandemic. Yet, Jesus says he is the light of the world. May we allow his light, life, and love to fill us tonight, and may we share it with others, so that light will over come the darkness, even on this the longest night.

          In our reading once again from the Apostle Paul’s Epistle or letter to the Hebrews for tonight, Paul writes in 10:32-39

“But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward.  For you need endurance, so that              when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet “in a very little while, the one who is coming will come and will not delay; but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.” But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved”                                    (Heb. 10:32-39, NRSV).

          The Apostle Paul reminds us that many people have suffered, and that many people have suffered for their faith in Christ. Whatever we are suffering or have suffered, God is with us. Jesus is with us, and He will be with us for eternity, if we place our trust in him. This rings ever truer in this year of 2021. No pandemic, or anything else can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. We will celebrate Jesus’ birth soon, we can invite him into our hearts anew daily, and one day he will return in glory. All of these things will happen, pandemic, or no pandemic.

          In our short gospel lesson from John 16:31-33 for tonight, Jesus reminds us of suffering and persecution. Jesus once again tells us in this gospel lesson:

“Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (Jn. 16:31-33, NRSV).

          The promise of Jesus Christ is that he will always be with us. Yet Jesus does not promise us that we will not suffer, that we will not have hardships, or that we will not have struggles. This year of 2021 continues to be a magnification of this reality. As we pray, as we are open our hearts and our souls to God, on this the longest night of the year, may the light of Christ fill us anew, may the Holy Spirit fill us, and may when we leave here to go into a cold and dark night, may we carry the light of Christ with us. Be a light to others and may others be a light to you.

          My friends, brothers and sisters, the love of God is in us, and the light of Jesus is in us. Even after two long years of this pandemic, when people ask you “what now?,” may the light of Christ be our answer. Let us share it with each other, and with the world. Let us love each other boldly and serve each other graciously. For in doing this, the light will continue to overcome the darkness. For even on this our Tuesday, December 21^st, the Longest Night of the year, the light of Christ will be shining, and it will overcome the darkness. Even after two long years of this pandemic. Amen.         

Sidney UMC - Fourth Sunday of Advent - 12/19/21 - Sermon - “Jesus' Aunt Elizabeth" ("A Real Advent and A Real Christmas" Series: Part 4 of 5)

Sunday 12/19/21 - Sidney UMC 

Sermon Title:                    “Jesus’ Aunt Elizabeth”                                    (“A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Series: Part 4 of 5)        

Old Testament Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a                                      

New Testament Scripture: Hebrews 10:5-10 

Gospel Lesson: Luke 1:39-45

          Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent. Today, we have lit the love candle, as we are reminded of the love in God, through Jesus Christ. As many of us know, I have been preaching a sermon series the past few weeks called “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas!” Initially when I planned this sermon series, I was hoping that we would be much further along with this pandemic than we are now.

          Even though this COVID-19 Pandemic has persisted though, we are still having “A Real Advent,” and we will soon have “A Real Christmas,” as we are all still here. We are alive, we are all here, and we are all living through this time. As a result, we can wake up every day, Lord willing, awaiting the memory of the birth of Christ, we can invite Christ anew into our hearts daily, as we await the return of Jesus Christ to earth.

          As we all know, we have been living through this pandemic for two years now, and now recently our country crossed the 800,000 deaths from COVID mark. How do we encounter Christ, love each other more fully, and continue the mission of the church through times such as these?

In the first week of this sermon series, I talked about how we will celebrate the memory of Jesus’ birth soon, how we are called to invite him into our hearts daily, as we await his return.

          In the second week of this sermon series, I encouraged us all to continue to love and live like Jesus Christ. Our Christian faith is connected to Christ, not just an institution. Sometimes people fail, sometimes institutions hurt and harm others, but Christ never fails. When the church looks like Jesus, the church is flourishing. People need that love, that hope, that care, now more than ever. This is how we live our church’s mission, especially through COVID.

          Last week, I talked about if we were to create a perfect person to make this world perfect, what would that person look like? Would we pick a superhero or a military general? What if the Messiah, the savior would, conquered the world with love, not the sword? Jesus came to die on a cross for our sins, so that we might see heaven one day. Yet, Jesus brought heaven to us here on earth, in the sense that we know him. Jesus came to change us mind, heart, body, and soul. We can be changed here on earth, as we live, love, and serve like him. We do not need to have faith in Christ only to go to heaven, but faith in Christ also changes us here on earth, as well. We can daily become more perfected in love, hope, kindness, and mercy. Jesus came to transform us in the here and the now, and the world in the here and the now. When we respond to Christ, we inherit God’s kingdom here on earth, and the one to come in heaven.

          This morning however, I am talking about Jesus’ Aunt Elizabeth. Some people might think they come from holy families. Well Mary is going to give birth to Jesus, and her cousin Elizabeth is going to give birth to John the Baptist. John the Baptist will prepare the way for Jesus and will even baptize Jesus. Elizabeth’s husband Zechariah is a holy man of God. That is a pretty holy family.

As it turns out Elizabeth and Zechariah were getting older and were worried that Elizabeth could not have another child. The Angel Gabriel then appeared to Zechariah, as he did to Mary and Joseph. The Angel Gabriel told Zechariah that Elizabeth will have a child, but Zechariah does not believe the Angel Gabriel. As a result, Zechariah loses his ability to speak for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist.

          So, Zechariah could not talk for the full nine months of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. The fact that Zechariah could not talk for nine months during Elizabeth’s pregnancy could have been great news for Elizabeth, but who knows!

          This morning my sermon title then is called “Jesus’ Aunt Elizabeth,” as many believe that Elizabeth was Mary’s cousin. Sometimes I think of Elizabeth and Mary’s aunt, as she was much older than Elizabeth. Whether Elizabeth was Mary’s aunt or cousin, they were definitely related. This is why my sermon title is called once again, “Jesus’ Aunt Elizabeth.” It also makes me wonder if Elizabeth visited Jesus after his birth, and if her and Zechariah watched Jesus grow up?

          What is also interesting about today’s gospel lesson from the Luke 1:39-45, is that Mary seems to know about Elizabeth’s pregnancy with John the Baptist, but we have no reason to believe that Elizabeth knew anything about Mary’s pregnancy. What is also amazing about our gospel lesson for this morning, is that a pregnant Elizabeth has John the Baptist in her womb, as Mary has Jesus in her womb. So as Mary and her cousin Elizabeth are talking, John the Baptist is facing Jesus, as they are both in the womb.

          Speaking of Jesus, our reading for this morning from the Old Testament Prophet Micah, reminds of who this Jesus, our savior will be. It says once again in Micah 5:2:

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days (Mic. 5:2, NRSV).

          Jesus, who is in Mary’s womb will come forth to transform the world.

          In our reading from the Book of Hebrews 10:5-10 once again, we are reminded of Jesus in Hebrews 10:10 once again:

¹⁰ And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

          Jesus will die for us all, but this morning he is a baby in the whom, like his cousin John the Baptist is.

          Once again, what is the encounter with Mary and Elizabeth like that occurred this morning? In looking again in our reading from Luke 1:39-45 it says once again:

³⁹ In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, ⁴⁰ where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit (Lk. 1:39-41, NRSV).

           So, Mary visits her cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah. Mary knew that Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, but we have no indication that Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant with Jesus. I would certainly think that John the Baptist inside of Elizabeth’s womb would also not know that Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Yet, John the Baptist, the scripture says, leaped in his mother Elizabeth’s womb. I wonder if this was good news or not for Elizabeth’s body. Not only this, but Elizabeth was also filled with the Holy Spirit. It is as if the power and the majesty of Jesus Christ was so apparent that even in Mary’s womb, John the Baptist recognized Christ inside of Elizabeth’s womb. Further, Elizabeth knew right away as well, as the scripture says that she was filled with the Holy Spirt.

          The gospel of Luke reading for this morning concludes once again, with Elizabeth speaking. This is what it says:

⁴² and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³ And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? ⁴⁴ For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Lk. 1:42-45, NRSV).

          The power, the majesty, and the love of Jesus Christ, as this is the Sunday of the candle of love, is so significant that John the Baptist in the womb of Elizabeth, and even Elizabeth herself recognize Jesus immediately. I have to believe then that to have encountered Christ in the flesh, must have been an amazing thing. To look into his eyes, to see him as fully God and fully human. Well, how powerful is this? Well powerful enough to make a baby leap in the womb, and powerful enough to make his mother Elizabeth know immediately that the baby in Mary’s womb was Jesus.

          In this season of “A Real Advent and A Real Christmas,” how are we seeing signs of Jesus Christ? How are we seeing Jesus, his love, his hope, and his joy amidst this great pandemic? How are we sharing the love of Christ, and seeing the love of Christ in others?

Just because we are two years into this pandemic during this “Real Advent and Real Christmas,” does not mean that Jesus is not present. I mean after all, John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb recognized him immediately this morning. How are we seeing and acknowledging Christ then, and how are we seeing Christ in others during this “Real Advent and Real Christmas”? Pandemic or no pandemic Christ is alive, alive in us, and alive in Mary’s womb. Come Lord Jesus! Amen.