Advent: "A Season of Transformation"

The liturgical colors of the advent season are purple and or “advent blue.” Purple is a royal color, a color that in ancient times could only be afforded by the wealthiest people. It is also the color of penitence denoting that Advent is a season, like Lent, of individual and communal self-examination and reflection. Blue is the color of the glory of God. During the season of Advent we ponder the significance of the words Hope, Peace, Love, Joy and Grace. We ponder: God’s Hope for the world and for each of us, and the same with God’s Peace, God’s Love, God’s Joy, and God’s Grace. When God considered the need to connect anew with the world that was distancing and disconnecting itself with distractions, God, as God always does, got creative. God turned our attention to consider the hazardous and harried birth of an infant the midwives for whose birth were cows, donkeys and doves. Emmanuel was promised and was born, our hope, our joy and our peace, to love us and be loved by us, God with us. No lush purple blankets were provided to warm him only his mother’s arms and faded blue mantle; he started life no worse or better than the rest of us.
When you take time during this season of penitent self-examination take time to ponder your own spiritual re-birth; look into your heart and give some thought to where your heart is. Mark tells us that in the last days of his life Jesus urged his disciples to have courageous and ready hearts, hearts of transformation; what heart do you have?

The Baptized Heart: This is our heart at the very beginning of our discipleship journey. It is a heart cleansed and ready to hear and receive the good news of God’s grace.
The Confirmed Heart: This heart is ready to speak up and claim the faith, professing publicly a conscientious commitment to be a disciple of Jesus and follow the commandment of love.
The Burning Heart: This is the heart that has connected at once with the presence of the Holy Spirit and burns with a fire of love. John Wesley describes this moment of clarity and connection as the moment when an individual feels quite literally the presence of God within.
The Connecting Heart: This is the heart that understands the importance of gathering together in community, that the commandment to love and to work for the transformation of the world is best accomplished by many hearts working together not just one alone.
The Committed Heart: This is the heart of the disciple who knows that the world around us is constantly changing, that our community of faith changes, we change, our relationships change as people move in and out of our lives. This heart remains steadfast working, serving, through all change, expected or unexpected, committed to Jesus Christ and the church’s mission to make disciples of Jesus.
The Courageous Heart: This is the heart of the transformer. This heart is a mature heart a contemplative, thoughtful heart, a heart that sees the world through compassionate eyes, sacrifices for the greater good, and keeps Christ at the center even in the midst of change. It is a heart that is able to face fear and difficulty praying its way through it. This heart strives not to be driven by ego or selfish aims. This heart is the heart Jesus called his disciples to cultivate; theirs must be hearts that can see the Big picture understanding the past, envisioning the future, trying diligently not to be daunted by the turmoil of the present or fear of what is to come. They must stay focused on the Commandment to love one another even as God loves them….us.
God has blessed us with much and continues to bless us. We don’t hesitate to give thanks, but honest discipleship calls us to give of ourselves, our wealth, the work of our hands, the prayers of our hearts, the presence of our bodies, and the witness of our words. Let us strive to accomplish our mission together, to live, work, walk and talk as mature Christians, people of courageous hearts; we have work to do as a community of disciples. It’s a big job, transforming the world, and we need all the help we can get!
Amen.

Prayer for the Sermon on December 6, 2009 "The Hidden Gift of Giving"

Wondrous and Loving God, our desire is to understand the steps we must take to accomplish peace in our world, in our time, in our lives and in our relationships. We confess that most often when we meditate on the word peace, our thoughts gravitate to visions of a world without conflict, a world in which people can readily let go of their prejudices and misunderstandings, and work as one for the well-being of all. When we think about inner peace our thoughts move in the direction of tranquil states or quietude. In truth dear Lord we spend a lifetime searching for that peace that passes all understanding, even the peace that is found not in a tranquil soul, but that which is found in the vital and energized human spirit ever connected to yours. Make us leaders in service to your Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.

Prayer for the Sermon on Thanksgiving November 22, 2009 "Giving Good Measure"

Sovereign God, our creator and redeemer we offer our deepest thanks for all that you have bestowed upon us. We confess that there are times when we take our comparative good fortune for granted and for that, and more, we humbly beg your pardon. Help us, Lord; inspire us, Lord to love and serve you so to heal broken hearts, give purpose to flagging spirits, and encouragement to those who are building their connection with you everyday. Thank you for walking among us in the person of Jesus Christ and showing us by his example how you want us to live and love in this world. Let us be those who discover that every time we give you thanks the light of Christ within glows ever brighter. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.