Believe me, we’re not including 80’s bands in our rituals anytime. If you want that, I’m afraid you’re on your own. However, after all these years, I still daydream and escape to the majestic sounds of their ballads with a tear.

People like my mother, father and brother were happy to give their pointers on the best songs. Some traditions are enjoyed better together. Like a chain of love, a departure from previous generations still pushes the frontiers. We can’t look into the future and never know what’s next for people.

I’m always entertained by those who misquote pop songs as if their version is the only solution! Anyway you want it, only the young can translate for us.

(Can you find Journey song titles in the above? Answers below.)

It seems like no matter how many times we read a text, there is always more to find. Our Holy Bible is a sacred, transforming work of the Holy Spirit in unity with human hand—what a beautiful book! Some of us can’t remember the first time we heard the Christmas story, but all of us have so much more to hear from the story. This is why I love Adam Hamilton’s approach to that well-known narrative, The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem; he takes us on a journey, walking carefully, mindfully through the travels of the Holy
Family as we traverse Advent Season and Christmas Time. There is so much more to this rich tradition than what we’ve each gathered before.

I hope you may join us for worship or through tape ministry. We will be reading through a devotion based on this book. You may order a copy from Cokesbury.com, Books-A-Million or ask the office to order one for you.

I’m gonna leave you with this thought. Wait patiently; love opened the door and will lead us to that city of hope. Not just beyond the clouds, but here. I pray this Advent offers a message of love and you don’t stop
believing! Enjoy the lights this season,

Pastor Amy

(Answers: Believe, Ritual, Anytime, You’re on Your Own, After All These Years, Daydream, Escape, Majestic, With a Tear, Mother Father, [Here We Are] Happy to Give, Better Together, Chain of Love, Departure, Frontier, Look into the Future, Next, People, Anyway You Want It, Generations, Only the Young In the closing find: I’m Gonna Leave You, Patiently, Love Opened the Door, City of Hope, Beyond the Clouds, Message of Love, Don’t Stop Believing, Lights)

As we approach one of western civilizations best know stories as we observe Advent, a season of preparation for the coming of the King.  The Christmas narrative is written, preached and sung about so much our eyes are dulled by the repetition and familiarity of it.  Like our daily tasks, we may follow the traditions dulled by habit and neglect the sacred hidden in each moment, the unknown or forgotten details.

This year, we will be following The Journey: Walking the Road to Bethlehem a curriculum by Adam Hamilton.

I’ve invited the youth, children and library study to it.  We’ll be following the focus through worship and a related reading in the library Wednesday night group.

In the coming days we will travel with the Holy Family in preparation for meeting Messiah at the manger.

The Theme through Advent is The Journey.

We've begun a new text.  I know, not exciting news... normally.

However, I do sense that our little Sunday Morning group (Bible Basics, 9.45) is embarking on a journey in prayer exploration (The Way of Prayer, Companions in Christ, Upper Room Books).  I am eager to hear what our 5 or 6 folk have to share this Sunday.

In my own silence, serendipitous insights have sprung from our text's observant invitations.Particularly today's exercise #3.  "Think back over the activities of the past week.  Where were you most aware and least aware of God in the midst of your business?  When did you have a sense of acting in concert with God's spirit? Jot down your memories in your journal.

"What would be your response???  Post here or Facebook me. Please, allow me to share my celebration of God's presence with you from my prayer journal.   

"Sometimes, I feel very close to God in conversations with other folk.  God inhabits the praises of His people, and, in my experience, he often takes up residence in his people’s conversation.  Is this what Wesley considered Holy Conferencing?  It's both intensely intimate and tremendously cosmic. 

We reach out to the Spirit who is already stretching toward us like ancient starlight.  When we all meet, the wisdom is there.  It is not light from my own eyes, but the primordial truth leads us, chattering creatures, illuminating a new way of being.

In your exposing and gracious light, I am crude and ignorant, cherished and blessed."

Have you ever felt this old and renewing Wisdom?  When? How?

The Wisdom of Christ Guard Your Hearts and Minds!

Aj

Well, well, well. Where do you go for great conversation?

In our graduate school evangelism class, we were asked to go to a pub and talk with people about their lives and our faith. The model for this conversation was Jesus’ with the unnamed woman at the well. This was the final assignment after completing a study on Emmanuel, or the incarnate God. We had to note what methods we used to be present to the other.

Asbury Seminary cherishes their holiness tradition. We all had to sign an agreement that we would not drink, use tobacco or participate “in questionable amusements” (too bad, some of us loved Trivial Pursuit and Jeopardy 8*) while attending the seminary. So, this was an intimidating assignment. First of all, if you are in a pub drinking from a Coke can, you are a somewhat divided from the others enjoying beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks. I ordered a Coke in a beer mug… perhaps dishonest, but effective camouflage. It was bad enough that I looked like a lost twelve year-old in a bar. I kept my promise to the seminary and, yet, blended into my surroundings just a bit better.

That night, I was affirmed in three observations I had always suspected to be universal. First, people will talk about themselves with very little encouragement. All people. Try it. Be a detective. If they are dressed in a suit, ask where they work. If they are getting out of a car with a car seat, ask what it’s like raising children in
this town/ school system. If they are wearing their team jersey, ask how the next season looks. If they have a unique tattoo, accessory, or hairstyle compliment them and ask if they may tell you their inspiration for it. Sometimes their keychain or phone cover will be clues to their life. Most anyone will want to talk about her job, dog, children or school. There are some exceptions to this rule, but the worst they can say is nothing, then you just move on.

Second, if you receive his sacred life stories with some interest and respect, then he will also hear what you have to say. Don’t we all carry a few hallowed experiences that made us who we are? What is it like when someone tunes-in to our telling of these formative moments? It was amazing how well I was received and how easily they listened, once I had been present to their concerns and sharing.

Thirdly, at this point, telling them you are actually drinking Coke is a great way to connect and have a laugh. Being flawed or human can actually be an attractive trait… at least having the integrity to admit to it is. Eventually, I told a table of people why I was there. One woman even offered to call my professor to claim she’d giving her life to Christ simply because of my presence—she said it may give me an “A” for the course!

My regret about that assignment was that I never returned to the pub. However, I did learn a lot about sharing our lives together and the places we go to do that. It was not the television, music or drinks that attracted us to that place—we had those at home. Gathering with others is a comfort.

This week, we will be visiting the local watering hole with Jesus in John’s gospel (chapter 4). He runs into an outcast person who soon is sent as his preacher to her village. After Jesus shows interest in her life and shares his heart and life with her, she is transformed. In this week’s text, many come to believe in Jesus because of the testimony of a woman who was so recently ostracized and alone at the well.

How can we be incarnate to our neighbors? Where will we go to engage? First-Centenary does an hourly communion service on Christmas Eve at a local tavern. They want to meet people where they are. Where are the people you need to meet?

People may see churches as places where people who (pretend to) have their lives together meet. Many are not willing to come to us. It is our work to seek out other groups to meet people outside our church and outside our faith who may need someone to hear them, someone to invite them to a new life.

Jesus does not meet this woman at the temple. They would not have met there because their faith traditions worshiped in separate places. I would imagine, because of her well-known lifestyle, she could have been forbidden or, at least, unwelcome at even her people’s worship.

He goes outside of where and whom he knows, right to where she is waiting.

Where are people waiting to be heard? Who needs to know he or she is still dear to God’s heart, despite a checkered past? Who are you able to empower to speak God’s truth as Jesus ordained the woman at the well?

Seek the questions.
Live the Mystery!

Pastor Amy

PS: Be thinking of a friend who could use a moment and a listening ear or a place where people may accept the gift of water (a city park, perhaps). You will be given a gift to share Sunday morning.

What does it mean to be born again?

Many of us join Nicodemus in his hidden conversation with Christ. Under the cover of night, he asks, acknowledging Jesus credentials as “a teacher who has come from God.” The Pharisee has seen many signs and knows God is with Jesus, although I doubt he actually could grasp that God is Jesus.

This conversation is the prelude to that familiar testimony, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3.16) If we are to fully meet the truth in any scripture, it is helpful to read the text both before and after that scripture. Here we see a searching teacher asking a simple question to the Almighty, probably unaware of his audience.

In the buckle of the Bible Belt, we hear the phrase, “Born Again” like a mantra. It’s echoed everywhere, but do we understand it or is it churchy white noise? Do we want to seek out The Rabbi to ask the simple question and hope for our ignorance to remain hidden like our forefather, Nicodemus? What is it? Why are we being asked to bring baby pics to church and share favorite childhood memories on facebook?

The most basic, and perhaps, most overlooked element in that classic, John 3.16 is: it’s God who so sought to love the world, not the world whom so desired God’s love. We are fully relying on God for our new life, new birth, eternal destiny and present fate.

Ever seen an early ultrasound? We all begin life looking a lot like a bean. I heard a conversation over coffee at Panera. A new mom-to-be had just gotten a follow-up ultrasound and was excited to report that her unborn baby was looking more like a tiny truly human being and less like a lil black-eyed pea.

Before birth and as children, whatever our environment contains, whatever our parents or guardians expose us to is our lot. It’s a relationship beyond trust; as children, we have no choice except total reliance on those around us. Some of us have suffered from being under the care of careless ones. We may have some hesitation in relying on another, even our creator who so loves his creation.

As we struggle to be born again, made anew from the inside out to rely on God perfectly, what hinders us? Fear? Self-reliance? Addiction? Guilt? Regrets? Broken relationships with self, neighbor or God?

On Sunday, we will be asked to name something in our lives that may keep us from being fully God’s. We will have a private response. In lent, we come to Christ in secret with our questions and our burdens. We gather as a community to encourage, confess, strengthen and receive forgiveness to live in joyful obedience.

Join us Sunday for a new look at our baby pictures and how we can live into the call of “Born Again.”

Live the Mystery!
Pastor Amy

PS: We will also have a special prayer time for the people of Japan and an update on UMCOR’s work there. If you would like to give to the financial effort, then please write “Japan” on the subject line of your check or on the offering envelope, and we will forward 100% of your gift to work in Japan.

On March 20, 2011 bring your baby picture to church. We will have it on a board on the altar table and you can pick it up after service.

Also think about what is your fondest memory of being a child. This will be a great time of sharing.

"If you could ask God one thing, what would it be?" I've posted this on my facebook page and offered the question in conversation and Sunday school classes. I love the responses.

Some that stand out include the following: If "ask and it will be given to you" is true, then why do I not get the desires of my heart when I pray for them? Why do people who seem less righteous receive blessings while the righteous starve or go without basics, employment or relationships?

Why does Comcast put me on hold for hours then ask why I want to switch to EPB? (Seriously, this WAS a real question.) Why do people (men/ women) who are selfish have a spouse and I do not? Why did a loving God do nothing as Japan was hit by a tsunami?

With the possible exception of Comcast inquiries, many of the questions I've heard are in great company-- the prophets had the same frustrations and pondered very similar mysteries. As promised, I will address many of these questions in the message on Sunday and several of them in lessons and conversation.

I don't have all the answers and would warn you against following any teacher who claims to have easy answers to the mysteries which have perplexed and guided people of faith for centuries. The Reality of Christ is too vast for our limited minds to overcome, and his creation more interconnected, complicated than our being can contain. However, I do enjoy being on the journey with you, and thank you for your thoughtful searching.

Let me leave you with a quote on questions, "Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves." Rainer Maria Rilke


Live the Mystery!

Pastor Amy