Christmas Eve, 2020
Into our world — and year — of fear the angel proclaims: Do not be afraid, for a I bring you good news of great joy for all the people!
What is this news and where we can find joy, joy that finally overrules the pervasive fear in our world?
Advent 4
December 20, 2020
Pastor Rob requests permission to be joyful. That might seem like a strange request, but in a world awash in grief, fear and anger, Pastor Rob felt the need to ask and to extend permission to be joyful!
But you might ask, why can we be joyful when we cannot gather for Christmas Eve worship?
Reflecting on 2 Samuel 7, Pastor Rob offers a message of a God who does not need buildings to be worshiped. Our inability to gather as we are accustomed has not stopped nor will it stop God’s joy in Jesus’ birth from entering into our world, into our homes and into our hearts.
December 13, 2020
Christmas is all about love, right?! In contrast to much of pop culture music, the love in the Christmas story is neither sentimental nor romantic. It is a long-suffering, enduring and generously given to us by God. Pastor Rob reflects on the love demonstrated by Joseph to reflect on the nature of love in the Christmas story.
The hard truth about love and Christmas, though, is that this year we don’t feel all that loving…nor all that lovable. Perhaps this is the best preparation of all for Christmas, though, that we recognize our profound need for a savior, one whose love is enduring, long-suffering and freely given.
December 6, 2020
“Comfort ye my people…” These are words near and dear to my heart, as they were played every year (on a record!) in my childhood home to announce that Advent was beginning.
They are not simply words we hear every Advent, but they are words that speak anew to our situation. The ancient prophet Isaiah was addressing a people who lived at a time of living with a future hope while suffering a dismal exile. Likewise, we find ourselves in a time of hope (a vaccine is coming!) but also exile (covid!).
What can we learn from Isaiah (40:1-11) as well as Mary (our nativity person featured today) about pursuing God’s peace in times of hope amid struggle?
Advent 1
November 29, 2020
This Advent we being with a message of hope. But hope is not on the minds and hearts of many this holiday season. So we turn the Gospel of Luke, chapter 1, to find hope. Unfortunately, there meet Zachariah (Luke 1:5-25) a priest whose small faith disappoints the angel Gabriel. The story is story of hope though, because the story isn’t about Zachariah. The story is about the coming of Christ and the community of expectant faith. May we, as we struggle with our own frustrations and disappointments in 2020, find hope in Christ and the community which Christ has given us.
