Sermon: Waiting (now with more hope!)

“Waiting (now with more hope!)”

(December 9, 2012) Waiting is never easy, and becomes more difficult the deeper our present darkness and the more wonderful the thing for which we wait. In the midst of the agony and anticipation of waiting for something magnificent (like, say, the end of oppression), can we wait with hope and joy? (Malachi 3:1-4, Luke 3:1-6)

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This week’s music for reflection comes from the British folk band Mumford & Sons and is the best example of joyful waiting I’ve ever heard. I hope my Advent waiting can be like this! Listen to “I Will Wait” on YouTube.

Sermon: Dwelling in Darkness

“Dwelling in Darkness”

(December 2, 2012) Before we rush to celebrate the light that is coming into the world, we pause to first take sock of the darkness in ourselves and in the world around us. The powerful stories of the Advent and Christmas season are not always easy to hear, and for those of us dwelling in a season of darkness, we may feel that Christmas is anything but Merry, the Holidays anything but happy. The journey begins here. (Luke 21:25-36; Isaiah 64:1-9)

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The music for reflection I played following this sermon is “The Sound of Silence,” by Simon and Garfunkel, on YouTube here. Or, you can listen to the 2011 live performance by Paul Simon at ground zero in NYC.

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If you are grieving, separated from loved ones, struggling with a health concern, or otherwise in need of light in the darkness this holiday season, and you are in the Montpelier, Vermont area, please consider joining us for an observance of The Longest Night. This special service of light for those dwelling in darkness will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Trinity UMC, 137 Main Street, Montpelier, on Wednesday, December 19 at 7 pm. If you wish, you may bring a flower, memento, or picture to represent whom or what you are grieving. 

 

Sermon: Mighty Bright

“Mighty Bright”

(December 18, 2011 – Fourth Sunday of Advent) Christ’s birth brings the light of joy to the world– but joy is not a surface-level happiness. True joy acknowledges the sorrow and pain of life and shines forth anyway, rising up out of our faith and courage. How can we bear the light of joy to one another this Christmas, allowing for the good and the bad of life to be held side by side? (Luke 1:46-55)

In the spirit of holy humor and play, I prefaced the sermon by showing this clip from YouTube.

(due to a recording glitch, the original sermon was lost, and this is an approximate reconstruction)

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This is the third sermon in a four-part Advent series, “Light Bearers,” where we explore how we can bear the Light of Christ– the lights of grace, love, justice, and joy– to the world.

Sermon: Light the Way

“Light the Way”

(Dec 11, 2011 – Third Sunday of Advent) Jesus gives us insight into a primary thrust of his ministry in his selection of Isaiah 61 as his opening salvo. Since his life and teaching center so much around justice, we proclaim that Christ is the light of justice coming into the world. How do we bear and share this light, which we so desperately seek? (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11)

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This is the third sermon in a four-part Advent series, “Light Bearers,” where we explore how we can bear the Light of Christ– the lights of grace, love, justice, and joy– to the world.

Sermon: Where the Love-Light Gleams

“Where the Love-Light Gleams”

(December 4, 2011 – Second Sunday of Advent) We are in great need of love– of knowing we are loved and of giving love to others. At Trinity UMC, we do a pretty good job of sharing the light of love with our community through our hospitality and welcome and openness to all people, regardless of where they come from. How might we increase our love for others and let the Love of Christ shine in and through us? (Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13, Isaiah 40:1-11)

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This is the second sermon in a four-part Advent series, “Light Bearers,” where we explore how we can bear the Light of Christ– the lights of grace, love, justice, and joy– to the world.

Sermon: Let Your Face Shine

“Let Your Face Shine”

(November 27, 2011 – First Sunday of Advent) Like people throughout history, we find ourselves living in days that are growing darker and colder, and like those before us, we hope for a little warmth and light. As we bear witness to the promise that Christ is the light of salvation and grace that is coming into the world, we also hear the call to be bearers of that light. How do we at Trinity help bear and share the light of grace? (Isaiah 64:1-9; Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19)

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This is the first sermon in a four-part Advent series, “Light Bearers,” where we explore how we can bear the Light of Christ– the lights of grace, love, justice, and joy– to the world.

Sermon: Stretched to Healing

“Stretched to Healing”

(November 20, 2011) Part of growing is stretching and challenging ourselves so that we can find greater strength, healing, and maturity in whatever we are practicing. This is true in our spiritual journey no less than any other practice. Our giving of time, talents, and treasure is another way we can challenge and stretch ourselves to grow in faith. How is God challenging you? (Matthew 6:19-34 [The Message], 1 Timothy 6:6-19)

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This is the second of a three part series called “Navigate Your Giving,” focusing on how and why we practice stewardship of our gifts through Giving thanks, Prioritizing, and Stretching in our faith.

Sermon: Pick Your Priority

“Pick Your Priority”

(Nov. 13, 2011) Placing God as the most important thing in our lives has a curious way of making all else fall into place. We find ourselves less worried about the future and more in touch with the things that really matter. How are you being invited to free yourself from the “rat race” and make God your ultimate concern? (Deuteronomy 14:22-29; Luke 12:22-34).

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This is the second of a three part series called “Navigate Your Giving,” focusing on how and why we practice stewardship of our gifts through Giving thanks, Prioritizing, and Stretching in our faith.

Sermon: Gratitude Ahead

“Gratitude Ahead”

(November 6, 2011) Sometimes, no matter how wonderful a gift the present moment seems, we have difficulty staying in it with thanksgiving and joy. Rather, we worry about the future or regret the past, or simply fear that what is good can be lost. Perhaps that’s why only on out of ten of the people healed by Jesus turns back to thank him, but in so doing he is truly healed. How can we give thanks for the glorious gifts we have received? (Luke 17:11-19)

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I kept part of my invitation to communion following the sermon, because it was relevant.

This is the first of a three part series called “Navigate Your Giving,” focusing on how and why we practice stewardship of our gifts through Giving thanks, Prioritizing, and Stretching in our faith.

Sermon: Defined by Generosity

“Defined by Generosity”

(November 23, 2009) In the end, the question of how we use our resources comes down to this: how do we want our lives to be defined? By fear? By scarcity? By self-indulgence? Or do we want to be defined by our generosity and our single-minded pursuit of God’s vision for us and for the world?I personally find that the only way to silence the voices of fear and greed is to put money in its place by giving it away– back to God to accomplish God’s purposes in the world. God challenges us to put our priorities in order, to give our full gifts to God, and to see what amazing blessing and abundance is in store! Will we rise to this challenge? (Malachi 3:6-12, Mark 12:38-44)

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Part four in a series addressing faith and finances, based upon the study and program series “Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity” by Adam Hamilton. Statistics, quotes, and general outlines are taken from that work and used with permission. I of course add my own interpretation. Sermon titles include: “When Dreams Become Nightmares,” “Wisdom, Vision, and Finance,” “Cultivating Contentment,” and “Defined by Generosity.”