December 28, 2014 "PRAISE, PLATITUDES OR PROPHECY"

AN AFFIRMATION OF FAITH FOR ALL SEASONS
We believe in God, the creator of all things, the giver of life and breath.
We believe in Jesus Christ, born Emmanuel, God with us, baptized and revealed the beloved Son of God.
He sought to heal humanity by taking our brokenness upon himself, suffering for us and dying for all our sakes.
God raised Jesus from the dead and in so doing, made it clear to all the world that God can and will make all things new.
We believe in the gift of the Holy Spirit, continually poured forth from God to refresh our souls.
It is the Holy Spirit who leads us into a new day, renewing our faith, transforming us in mission and revitalizing the church.
The Holy Spirit is our soul companion, the counselor of truth who reminds us of God’s ever-presence, and God’s promise of eternal life.
All thanks and praise to God! Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Glorious God, how very grateful we are for the opportunities the Christmas season offers to each and every one of us. We seem to change our perspective about a lot of things. Perhaps because we are looking around at colorful lights, eyeing lavish decorations that we notice things not noticed before. Are there actually more smiling faces in the madding crowd this year than last year? Dearest LORD, every year someone says they wish the feeling of Christmas would last the whole year through. Help us understand that the music of the spheres is all around us everyday, and choirs of angels would be very rusty if they only sang on Christmas Eve. There is not end to your LOVE. We carry your gift of the Christ child with us. Our hearts are warmed by his presence and our hopes and dreams brightened by his light. The smile of knowing can be worn on our faces all the year round, for we are a new creation, born the children of light in him. We give you thanks in Christ’s name. Amen.
THE OFFERING INVITATION
The gift giving frenzy is winding down for this year. Was their a favorite gift you gave to someone or received from someone this year? I received gifts that made me chuckle, gifts that warmed my heart and my innards, and gifts that brought an oh-so-grateful-tear of nostalgic remembrance to my eye. Did you ever think how each gift you receive holds within it the presence and essence of the giver. When I hold a gift or look at it, or use it or wear it, I see the face of the giver and smile. In the give of the Christ child is the presence and essence of the giver, who longs for everyone alive to receive him. Even better we can share the gift of the Christ anytime.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, these gifts are an act of worship as important as praying, singing and attending to your word. Ever seeking to discern your will and way for us, our hearts are full as we labor side by side with our brother and sister Christians. As you have entrusted us with much, we respond in kind, lending our hearts and hands to heal a broken and hurting world. Help us build ministries that glorify your name, empowering us to serve wholeheartedly in Christ’s name. Amen.

December 24, 2014 "WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH THE BABY?"

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER AND LORD’S PRAYER
Glorious God, this is a night we look forward to the year round. The lights of welcome shine in our streets and our sanctuaries beckoning to you, proclaiming our sincere adoration, praise and thanksgiving for all your wondrous deeds. Here is where the hustle and bustle of the days leading up to this night come to an end. We fix our hearts and minds upon the Christ child. We confess our need to be reminded, why we have given special significance to this season. The colorful lights that adorn our homes both inside and out symbolize the light that was coming into the world. They beckon to you announcing that we are ready to be your children of light, to receive into our hearts the Wonderful Counselor, the Prince of Peace, our Emmanuel. In this sanctuary we are reminded that it is the birth of our savior and Lord Jesus that calls us to declare this season holy. Let us linger here washed in the light of your love, resting in yet another of your promises fulfilled. We thank you, O God for this precious gift, of yourself, come down to earth, love lying in swaddled in a bed of straw. We are humbled by your willing vulnerability and innocence. Tonight, Dearest Abba Father, in heaven, we hallow your name offering our thanks and praise. May your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We ask no more than our daily bread and that you forgive our faults and trespasses, empowering us to forgive the faults and trespasses of others. Let us not be overcome by the temptations of the world, and deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
PREPARING OUR GIFTS
As God has given us the gift of the Christ Child, so too we honor God, offering our gifts so that people throughout the earth will have the opportunity to hear what we have heard, to know what we have come to know and receive the blessings and assurances we have received.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Wondrous God, giver of the greatest gift of all; bless the gifts we have brought to your service. May they help to transform lives and brighten the hearts of all the people we seek to serve throughout the world. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.

December 21, 2014 CHOIR CANTATA "LOVE CAME DOWN" by Joel Raney

AFFIRMATION FOR ADVENT
We believe in God, the giver of life and grace, whose wondrous acts of mercy
and love offer eternal hope in a troubled and hurting world.
We believe that Jesus came to us as God’s love, God’s hope and God’s gift to humankind.
Jesus is present among us still and always, because he lives in our hearts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who whispers words of hope, peace, joy and love to ALL.
We believe in Christ’s church, the living body of Christ in the world, to which we belong.
We believe that we are called to minister to God’s people in Jesus’ name and for his sake,
today and tomorrow as this is, once again, the beginning. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Loving and Merciful God, fill us this morning with the brightness of your presence, that we may reflect the true light of your being. Protect us in our travels wherever we are headed, whether we are driving, flying, biking or walking to visit with those dear to us, or just to see the sights of your wondrous creation. We confess that most of us are looking forward to our journeys in the days ahead. But as we go, remind us, O LORD, of the long, arduous journey of Joseph and Mary who traveled, not for pleasure. Help us remember that they were obliged to make their way to Bethlehem for the express purpose of being counted in the Roman Emperor’s tax census. Let us be humbled by the determination of Mary and Joseph, to do the will of God and endure the law of the land. There was no bitterness, resentment, or frustration when the time came for Mary to give birth. We pray that you will give us hearts like Mary’s to do and be your servants in this world. All this we pray in the name of the Christ child, born for us and for all. Amen.
THE OFFERING INVITATION
There is a feeling in the air this year. Folks are embracing a spirit of goodwill. They are once again joining in, paying it forward and participating in random acts of kindness. At least two friends have reported that when they arrived at the drive up window of their favorite fast food restaurant the cashier reported that their meal had already been paid for by the person in line just ahead of them. In turn, they bought the meal of the person in the cue behind them. According to the cashier it had been going on all day. A few years ago I took a photo of a lone red Christmas bulb hanging on the limb of a denuded (that’s winter-naked) tree outside the Starbucks in my neighborhood. By the second week of December I noted that no Christmas bulb appeared on the pitiful little tree by the drive-up window, so I decided to bring a decoration from home and place it on the tree. One or two people saw me. Last Monday when I went for coffee there were three more Christmas bulbs on the tree keeping my bulb company. We could say that the Christ child was God’s random act of kindness. Let him be born in us anew today.

Clayton Christensen THE CHURCH IS IMPORTANT!!!!!!

December 14, 2014 "WHO CAN TESTIFY TO THE LIGHT?"

AFFIRMATION FOR ADVENT
We believe in God, the giver of life and grace, whose wondrous acts of mercy
and love offer eternal hope in a troubled and hurting world.
We believe that Jesus came to us as God’s love, God’s hope and God’s gift to humankind.
Jesus is present among us still and always, because he lives in our hearts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who whispers words of hope, peace, joy and love to ALL.
We believe in Christ’s church, the living body of Christ in the world, to which we belong.
We believe that we are called to minister to God’s people in Jesus’ name and for his sake,
today and tomorrow as this is, once again, the beginning. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Gracious God of ALL, Wondrous Sovereign of the Universe, Giver of light, life and joy, when we come into your sanctuary we are gladdened as we feel the thrill of your presence. We are strangely warmed by the welcoming voice of an usher, the embrace of friend, or the eager smile as somebody who makes room for us in the pew right next to them. Dearest Lord, we confess that in this troubled world, when confronted every minute by crisis oriented news, we are comforted by the gaudy trappings of the holiday season. When we look at the bright and twinkling lights and the gentle flicker of the Advent candles, we trade in the angst for nostalgia. We are thankful as we take a moment to linger near the smell of pine on a real wreath. We chuckle as we recall bright red pajamas with feet, divinity, ribbon candy, fudge, and kindness that seems to overflow from everyone everywhere. We indulge ourselves singing our favorite carols at the top of our voice while driving. We thank you, gracious God, for memorable moments that restore not only our trust in you, but our trust in each other. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
THE OFFERING INVITATION
I don’t know about you, but I have a tendency to buy gifts all year round. I see something and say to myself, “so and so would really like that; I will buy it now and give it to him or her for Christmas or their birthday.” When the birthday or Christmas comes around, I have forgotten about the gift that I knew, So and So, or What’s His Name, or Fulana de Tal, would treasure. Inevitably I find them in a bag or a box in that special spot, in my guest room closet, obviously reserved for future gifts. I guess what I need to learn is not to save gifts for future giving, reserving them for the right season or the right occasion. If someone is on my mind and in my heart, perhaps the gift ought to be given in the moment with no special occasion in mind. God’s gifts to humanity were never designated for a special time or season. They were given to us because God was had us in mind, and hoped we would treasure the gift in the moment and always. We are the ones who gave God’s occasion its special significance.

December 7, 2014 "WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY?"

AFFIRMATION FOR ADVENT
We believe in God, the giver of life and grace, whose wondrous acts of mercy
and love offer eternal hope in a troubled and hurting world.
We believe that Jesus came to us as God’s love, God’s hope and God’s gift to humankind.
Jesus is present among us still and always, because he lives in our hearts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who whispers words of hope, peace, joy and love to ALL.
We believe in Christ’s church, the living body of Christ in the world, to which we belong.
We believe that we are called to minister to God’s people in Jesus’ name and for his sake,
today and tomorrow as this is, once again, the beginning. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Wondrous and Merciful God, as we ponder your presence with us this morning, we dare to ask that you imbue us with a spirit of peace. We confess that this week has been one of some frustration with traffic tie ups and roads closed because of the rains, along with untimely road repairs. For many who are out and about driving their cars in the wet and rain road rage became a reality on this side of the mountain. Because getting from one place to the next has taken 3 times longer than usual, with greater effort than expected, tempers are short. Some of us were even tempted to lean on our car horns throwing caution and common sense to the wind. Give us patience, gracious LORD, while we wait . Cause us to consider those whose plight is to stand, sit, lie down, and sleep in the rain, wet and cold. Let us not become inured to the needs of those all around us; let us hold each other in prayer while we are waiting. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
THE OFFERING INVITATION
One of the most beautiful Tenor Arias in Handel’s Messiah and in my opinion one of the most beautiful ever written. It is based on the Isaiah 40 passage: Comfort Ye, My People. It begins as a loving lilting lullaby, the soothing voice of God as if holding a tiny infant close in his arms, invites us to be comforted. As the aria progresses its as if God’s voice cannot contain the excitement of what he has to say to his people and the aria morphs into a triumphant almost jolly piece as the tenor sings, “Every Valley, Every Valley shall be exalted (lifted up) and every moment and hill made low. The crooked will be made straight and the rough places a plain. It is God promising that the path his people must walk in this life, they will not walk alone. The Glory of the Lord is about to be revealed. Surely it is here in this place that we embrace the comfort God promises and gives.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, these gifts are an act of worship as important as praying, singing and attending to your word. Ever seeking to discern your will and way for us, our hearts are full as we labor side by side with our brother and sister Christians. As you have entrusted us with much, we respond in kind, lending our hearts and hands to heal a broken and hurting world. Help us build ministries that glorify your name, empowering us to serve wholeheartedly in Christ’s name. Amen.

November 30, 2014 FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT "WHAT DO YOU EXPECT"

AFFIRMATION FOR ADVENT
We believe in God, the giver of life and grace, whose wondrous acts of mercy
and love offer eternal hope in a troubled and hurting world.
We believe that Jesus came to us as God’s love, God’s hope and God’s gift to humankind.
His presence among us is still and always, because he lives in our hearts.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, who whispers words of hope, peace, joy and love to ALL.
We believe in Christ’s church, the living body of Christ in the world, to which we belong.
We believe that we are called to minister to God’s people in Jesus’ name and for his sake,
today and tomorrow as this is, once again, the beginning. Amen.
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER
Eternal and Merciful God, hear our prayer. Humanity cries out for relief from the madness born of fear and enmity. Lead us in the ways of righteousness and tolerance, seeking to embrace justice and fairness. All too often we depend upon threat and restraint, or withholding as a means of managing our relationships. Like foolish buggy drivers, we believe that if we hold the reins tight enough, the horses at the other end of the tether will never bolt and run away. In our fever to be in control of everything, we are often mislead by machines that are imperfect, and we can fall prey to innuendo and rumor. Our children bow their heads, but not in prayer. Rather we are all bowing our heads to read and text, often oblivious to those around us. We no longer talk to each other face to face, but sideways, our eyes fixed on a screen. In this Advent season, empower each one of us to be engaging messengers of hope. Inspire us to meet the eyes of the stranger behind us, and offer them the greetings of the season. Let us be their Good News Hope, in the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
THE OFFERING INVITATION
Advent comes from the Latin ad + venire meaning, to arrive, to come to, but it refers to the coming of something really, really big; something momentous — something the world has been waiting for. Some of us have witnessed the advent of cars with automatic transmissions, dial-up and push button phones used on a private line, not a party line, and televisions. We have witnessed the advent of the computer from ENIAC to PCs and Macs, the bulky cell phone to the awesome smart phone. We have witnessed the division of the Atom, and along with that advent of Atomic bombs, nuclear submarines, ICBMs and Drones. Invenire, which means to come upon, to devise, or discover is a more appropriate term for these human inventions. I personally will keep the word Advent linked to the God’s promise and the momentous arrival of the Christ child.
UNISON OFFERTORY PRAYER
Gracious God, these gifts are an act of worship as important as praying, singing and attending to your word. Ever seeking to discern your will and way for us, our hearts are full as we labor side by side with our brother and sister Christians. As you have entrusted us with much, we respond in kind, lending our hearts and hands to heal a broken and hurting world. Help us build ministries that glorify your name, empowering us to serve wholeheartedly in Christ’s name. Amen.