Last week I shared some rambling thoughts about what I might preach about during Lent this year. After giving it a bit of thought I have pretty much abandoned those ideas.
This is mostly because of the great reactions that I got to my sermon last week. I preached about forgiveness and, as I explored the theme, I found myself digging deep into the Old Testament notions and practice of sacrifice. I realize how essential it is to understand where these kinds of concepts, like forgiveness, came from in the first place.
The fact of the matter is that when the early church tried to understand what the life and, especially, what the death of Jesus really meant, the first place they looked was to Old Testament practices and concepts. Jesus, in their reflections, became the sacrificial lamb, the scapegoat, the passover lamb and much more. How can we possibly think that we will be able to realize the true significance of what Jesus accomplished on the cross if we have misconceptions about the central concepts of ancient religion that the Christian understanding was based on.
The early Christians could assume that their members knew what a sacrifice looked like, what it smelled like and even what it tasted like. That is no longer the case. So we're going to go back and take a crash course on these Old Testament practices. I hope you find it enlightening.
And, don't worry, I'm not planning to build an altar and bring in a fatted calf...
... but not that you mention it....
SPY KITS NEEDED!
The STARS are taping this Sunday, January 13th and we need to borrow some spy kits. If you have one would you please bring it with you on Sunday? Thank you, Joni
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CAMP FAIR
Is it time to think about Lent?
I know exactly what you are going to say to me. Didn't we just make it through the Christmas season? Isn't Christmas actually not even over yet until the season officially ends on the sixth of January with the start of Epiphany?
That is all very true. But it doesn't change the fact that the season of Lent will begin just a little bit more than a month from now. I have considered mounting an appeal on the grounds that Easter is clearly coming far too early this year, but I understand that the scheduling is all tied up with other matters (something to do with full moons and solstices) and so I expect it will be denied.
So really, Lent will be upon us before we know it and so I am turning my thoughts to my preaching during that very important season. Today I had a bit of inspiration. I was thinking of the traditional practice associated with the season of Lent (mostly practiced by Roman Catholics) of "giving up" something for Lent. The idea is that you are supposed to give up something that you like (like chocolate or meat or coffee) for the season as a kind of special personal sacrifice. It is a fine practice, but I have never really taken it up because it is not really part of my traditions.
But I have been thinking of using the practice to spur my preaching in the upcoming season. I want to ask the question, "What do I want to give up for Lent." But I don't want to talk about giving up things. It is maybe too easy to give up things and I'm not sure it always gives the right message -- the idea of giving up something but not because it is a bad thing, merely because it is a certain time of the year. What I want to talk about giving up is certain attitudes -- particularly those attitudes that we sometimes cling to because they make us feel good but that are generally not all that helpful. Perhaps we could use this season to try and see what living without those attitudes could be like. We may find that we could all do a lot better without them.
What kind of attitudes am I talking about? How about, for example, the attitude where we want everything to be always organized to our liking and we don't ever allow for spontaneity. I think that attitude can sometimes be deadly in a church. Sometimes, I think, God is more present in the spontaneous moment or reaction that in anything we can ever plan. But that is just one example that comes to my mind.
What do you think? What attitudes do you think that we could take a break from during Lent? I'd love to hear your suggestions.
Also need some pithy titles!
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That is all very true. But it doesn't change the fact that the season of Lent will begin just a little bit more than a month from now. I have considered mounting an appeal on the grounds that Easter is clearly coming far too early this year, but I understand that the scheduling is all tied up with other matters (something to do with full moons and solstices) and so I expect it will be denied.
So really, Lent will be upon us before we know it and so I am turning my thoughts to my preaching during that very important season. Today I had a bit of inspiration. I was thinking of the traditional practice associated with the season of Lent (mostly practiced by Roman Catholics) of "giving up" something for Lent. The idea is that you are supposed to give up something that you like (like chocolate or meat or coffee) for the season as a kind of special personal sacrifice. It is a fine practice, but I have never really taken it up because it is not really part of my traditions.
But I have been thinking of using the practice to spur my preaching in the upcoming season. I want to ask the question, "What do I want to give up for Lent." But I don't want to talk about giving up things. It is maybe too easy to give up things and I'm not sure it always gives the right message -- the idea of giving up something but not because it is a bad thing, merely because it is a certain time of the year. What I want to talk about giving up is certain attitudes -- particularly those attitudes that we sometimes cling to because they make us feel good but that are generally not all that helpful. Perhaps we could use this season to try and see what living without those attitudes could be like. We may find that we could all do a lot better without them.
What kind of attitudes am I talking about? How about, for example, the attitude where we want everything to be always organized to our liking and we don't ever allow for spontaneity. I think that attitude can sometimes be deadly in a church. Sometimes, I think, God is more present in the spontaneous moment or reaction that in anything we can ever plan. But that is just one example that comes to my mind.
What do you think? What attitudes do you think that we could take a break from during Lent? I'd love to hear your suggestions.
Also need some pithy titles!
And now, folks, here are the results of the final round of voting! Thanks to everyone who participated. Please join us for the sermons you chose in January!
These were our previous winners:
January 6: How can we learn to forgive others, "as the Lord has forgiven us"?
January 13: What do I say to my Atheist friend? (Ammunition for a friendly debate)
January 20: Don’t look back cause you’re not going that way
January 6: How can we learn to forgive others, "as the Lord has forgiven us"?
January 13: What do I say to my Atheist friend? (Ammunition for a friendly debate)
January 20: Don’t look back cause you’re not going that way
10 votes | Where is Eden? (Divine Geography) |
13 votes | Have you ever known God?? How do we find him? Where do we find him? |
11 votes | "Sometimes I wish I could be like a preacher in the movies" |
12 votes | I think you should preach about what led you to this ministry |
42 votes | Prove Jesus exists without using the Bible as a Reference |
54 votes | Why do good things happen to bad people? |
18 votes | Modern Day Prophecy |
19 votes | How does God hear all our prayers? |
45 votes | Preach about the significance and symbolism of the numbers 3, 7, 12, 40 and how they unify the Old and New Testaments? |
18 votes | Prayer |
9 votes | The encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well (John 4) – how does it relate to other stories in the Bible that take place at wells? |
16 votes | "Out of Egypt I have called my Son." What role does Egypt play in the birth of Christianity? |
66 votes | Depression and Anxiety: How to bring hope peace and comfort to the people we love who suffer through times of darkness. |
And the winning suggestion, chosen for January 27 with 66 votes is Depression and Anxiety: How to bring hope peace and comfort to the people we love who suffer through times of darkness.
Thanks to everyone for participating!
Whew, got the bulletin done for tomorrow. Here's part of the cover and a bit from inside. Guess we'll have to have a service after all!
The Longest Night Service
While a lot of people get caught up in the hustle and bustle and joy of the season, others struggle. It is a difficult time of the year for some. Some people are grieving, some have experienced family challenges and tragedies, with others deal with the loss of a job.
The Longest Night Service is a beautiful, contemplative experience in a quiet, dignified setting.
Please join us tonight as we worship together at 7:30 pm.
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The Longest Night Service is a beautiful, contemplative experience in a quiet, dignified setting.
Please join us tonight as we worship together at 7:30 pm.
An Advent Meditation …
... from Our Light and Our Salvation – Advent reflections from the works of Henri J. M. Nouwen. A timely meditation ...
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“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” John 9:3
We spend a lot of energy wondering who can be blamed for our own or other people’s tragedies, and there is a strange satisfaction in being able to point our finger at someone, even ourselves. It gives us some sort of explanation and offers us some form of clarity.
But Jesus doesn’t allow us to solve our own or other people’s problems through blame. The challenge he poses is to discern in the midst of our darkness the light of God. In Jesus’ vision everything, even the greatest tragedy, can be an occasion in which God’s works can be revealed.
How radically new my life would be if I were willing to move beyond blaming to proclaiming the works of God in our midst. All of us have tragedies. We seldom have control over them. But do we choose to live them as occasions to blame, or as occasions to see God at work?
But Jesus doesn’t allow us to solve our own or other people’s problems through blame. The challenge he poses is to discern in the midst of our darkness the light of God. In Jesus’ vision everything, even the greatest tragedy, can be an occasion in which God’s works can be revealed.
How radically new my life would be if I were willing to move beyond blaming to proclaiming the works of God in our midst. All of us have tragedies. We seldom have control over them. But do we choose to live them as occasions to blame, or as occasions to see God at work?
Prayer – Lord, instead of blaming others, may we spend that energy seeking God and being grateful for God’s many works of grace and nature. Amen.
And now, folks, here are the results of the third round of voting! Thanks to everyone who participated. One more week of voting to come and the race can still change substantially!
These were our previous winners:
January 6: "How can we learn to forgive others, "as the Lord has forgiven us"?"January 13: "What do I say to my Atheist friend? (Ammunition for a friendly debate)"
| 9 votes | Where is Eden? (Divine Geography) |
| 12 votes | Have you ever known God?? How do we find him? Where do we find him? |
| 10 votes | "Sometimes I wish I could be like a preacher in the movies" |
| 11 votes | I think you should preach about what led you to this ministry |
| 26 votes | Prove Jesus exists without using the Bible as a Reference |
| 36 votes | Why do good things happen to bad people? |
| 16 votes | Modern Day Prophecy |
| 18 votes | How does God hear all our prayers? |
| 59 votes | "Don’t look back cause you’re not going that way" |
| 40 votes | Preach about the significance and symbolism of the numbers 3, 7, 12, 40 and how they unify the Old and New Testaments |
| 15 votes | Prayer |
| 7 votes | The encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well (John 4) – how does it relate to other stories in the Bible that take place at wells? |
| 15 votes | "Out of Egypt I have called my Son." What role does Egypt play in the birth of Christianity? |
| 50 votes | Depression and Anxiety: How to bring hope peace and comfort to the people we love who suffer through times of darkness. |
And the winning suggestion, chosen for January 20 with 59 votes is "Don’t look back cause you’re not going that way"
Here it is, folks, the amazing four part Christmas drama created by the St. Andrew's Stars at Crieff Hills Community. The following link will take you to a Youtube page with all four parts of the story!
Link to Four Part Video: "A Stranger Came to Bethlehem"
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Link to Four Part Video: "A Stranger Came to Bethlehem"