We hear and echo the plea that God’s power might come with great might to save us because we, in our weakness, are unable to attain God’s grace. We ask for God’s bounty to come on us so we can not lose heart. Our Hebrew Scripture from the Prophet Isaiah helps us transition from the world of judgment to restoration. Isaiah offers an image of the desert and wilderness being restored and filled with abundance. Isaiah also serves the reminder that our strength truly comes from God. Our Psalmist helps us sing the song that gives thank to God for the help provided for people and creation. God cares for those whom society discards because that is what God is. Our Epistle was from James and provides encouragement to wait and be patient for God’s grace to be made clear.

Our sermon today was based on the gospel reading from Matthew. In this, we have John the Baptist interact with Jesus to verify that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus also asks the crowd what they came into the wilderness looking for. The gospel encourages us to not be so set in how things will happen so that whatever is supposed to happen can – to stop pushing of God into our box. Those of faith will be rewarded in the final accounting. How do we admit to ourselves and to God what we are looking for?

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:4-9; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:1-11

Video of Sermon: https://youtu.be/TTskEQGTSlk

Video of worship: https://youtu.be/3ayr2SnpYd0

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There was a technical difficulty and the sound went out on the video at about 15:30. With regret, the video was taken down.

In worship today we are invited to look for God’s messengers, the prophets who invite us to change our course (repent) and prepare ourselves to receive god’s salvation. There is a warning which we can hear to lead us back to relationship with God. Our reading from Hebrew Scripture in the Prophet Isaiah declares that one will come to save the chosen people of God, one who will set things right. As part of this process, there will be restoration of community like that which was present in Eden. Our Psalmist sang a song calling for God’s justice and helping people see the prosperity which people have when the defend the poor and care for those on the margin. Our Epistle from Paul to the Romans reminds us for a second week that we have hope in Jesus and our faith in the promises offered by God through Christ.

Our sermon was based on the reading from Matthew’s gospel where we are introduced to John the Baptist. John was one that came to proclaim Jesus as Lord. John was distinct enough (weird enough) to engage people. As he engaged them he proclaimed the need to repent and return to relationship with God. We are invited to actively wait for God’s clearer guidance and do what we can in the now.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

Video of sermon: https://youtu.be/KxNjqBh8Q2Y

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We continued our journey in Advent and focused on our preparation and the work of the messenger. Isaiah helped remind us of the hope he offered to his generation – restoration after exile and return to being the chosen people of God. Yet we heard the story of John (the Baptist) and his offering of the restoration of hope in his time (the time of Jesus) based on the promise of God. We realize and declare that we are still waiting with hope for restoration to God that we will realize years from now. Yet, our preparation helps us and our community to stay the course of hope. I invite your comments,

Advent blessings.
Les+

Readings: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8, 19-26

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Today marked the continuation of our journey with John the Baptist, although this week his role is from the borders of the story. John, who has been faithful doing his job and pointing at the coming Messiah wonders if Jesus, who doesn’t look anything like the expected Messiah, is really the one. John’s future did not mesh with the future he envisioned and he, like us, asked if what he had seen was correct. Jesus reminds John, and us, that the future we envision is a starting point for us but that God’s future may be different. Our question today is “what do we do when what we hope for isn’t what happens?” Our faith and Advent journey are means by which we weather the disconnection between the two.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: 35:1-10; Psalm 146:4-9; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

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We’ve been looking at the season of Advent as a time of preparation. While, on the one hand, that is a good thing; yet on the other, considering we know the rest of the story (Jesus’ birth celebrated at Christmas and Easter) it is hard to truly prepare. Yet the gospel holds John the Baptist up as the prophet who tells Jesus’ story – the kingdom of Heaven has come near and prepare the way of the Lord. Not because God can’t prepare a way to come to us, but because we need to prepare a way for God to come so we see God’s presence. That is the preparation we are invited to do: prepare to realize the weight of God’s desire to actually be present with us and all creation – just as we are and just as we have been prepared.

I invite your comments,
Les+

Readings: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12

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