Sermon - The Day is Coming (Advent 1C)

1^st Sunday in Advent, Year C                                                        November 29, 2015

Luke 21:25-36, Jeremiah 33:14-16                                        Panzer Liturgical Service

         

As a society, we are terrible at waiting. We want what we want, and we want it NOW!

I would be willing to guess that many of us spend a tremendous amount of time, energy and even money to avoid waiting. And in general, that’s not a bad thing. GPS helps us to avoid traffic problems and sends us to the most efficient route. In the last few months, the Garrison has put online appointments for some of its most time-consuming processes, like car registration and ID renewals. But there are also the times when our unwillingness to wait can be a detriment, even a misrepresentation of who we are and our place in the world.

In the US, we feel like we have accomplished something if we wait until after Thanksgiving to start our Christmas celebrations. We are sucked up in the whirlwind of holiday preparations with our Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, free shipping and here in Europe with our visits to Christmas markets galore. And while none of these things in and of themselves are bad, are we focusing in the right places?

I know we’ve talked about this before, but at the beginning of Advent – the beginning of the new church year – we have an important opportunity to remember something important about time. In early Greek biblical manuscripts, there are two words for “time.”  Each day we count down to Christmas, each door we open on our Advent calendar is measured in Chronos… clock time: we count down the seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks until the day. But what if we were counting down in Kairos… God’s time? What if we experienced this season as preparation for the coming of his kingdom? How do we think about God in this eternal time of Emanuel… the time of God with us…? How do we expand our thinking and our living in this way?[i]

The season of Advent gives us the opportunity to prepare for the amazing news of Jesus Christ. It offers us time to place the birth of the infant savior into a historical and cultural context, and to be reminded that the coming of Jesus is not just a past event, but one which we look forward to in the future.

That’s why today’s gospel reading is not from the birth narratives of Matthew and Luke – we will get to those soon enough. Today’s lesson comes from the end of Jesus’ ministry, Luke’s version of Mark’s Little Apocalypse, which we just studied two weeks ago. His message is proclaimed to those who are waiting - keep hopeful, stand up in the midst of trials, and know that the pain of life will not defeat us. Jesus says, “Take care that your hearts are not dulled…” He is saying that this isn’t the time to give into the temptation or distraction or fear.

We see the news and we are tempted to throw in the towel. It’s not just that the news is negative. It’s disheartening. It makes us wonder if there is anything at all that can turn the world around. I think it’s especially difficult this year, as religion seems to be at the center of the conflicts endangering the world around us. We wonder if there is anything we can do to make it better. In this season of Hope, we wonder is there is anything to be hopeful for.

The reading from Jeremiah tells us that there is a reason to be hopeful. God is faithful, even when those in the world around us are not. God promises that he will restore the world, and this is a promise that we have to trust.

Have you ever participated in a trust fall? You know, the one where people gather around you, promising to catch you when you fall… Have you given in to that trust, allowing yourself to tip backwards into the waiting hands below? If you have, I hope it went well. I’ve instructed others in such activities over the years, and even participated once myself, surviving with only a small head bonk from the process. The two poor youth who were catching my shoulders were so apologetic, stating, “It was just so much harder than I expected it to be.”

I learned a lot from the process about what it means to trust others to catch you when you fall. And I also learned about what it means to have that trust placed in your hands. After my experience, I taught that exercise differently. I didn’t focus on trust from one perspective. Yes, it takes trust to be the one falling, but there is also great responsibility entrusted to the ones helping, to make sure the person makes it safely to the ground. In the same way, being a member of the Kingdom of God is also about being trustworthy, and actively present with people who need God’s love the most.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us to stay alert. And these days I don’t think that’s just about making sure our personal spirituality is in order. I think we are also called to look for the places where the good news is needed. Somehow we have gotten the notion that we will reach out when we have a good handle on our own faith journeys. But time and again I reminded that my best blessings come when I am reaching out to and serving others, even in the midst of my own pain or questions.  In fact, I can honestly say that I would not be with you today if it weren’t for a mission opportunity 30 years ago that led my life in a totally different direction – one that I did not ask for, and sometimes did not want. But being with people so different and yet so alike, I realized that God would use me, if I was only willing to take the first step forward.

The Christian life is not about speculation or observation. It is not about living outside the fray and watching it all unfold before us. It is about behavior and relationships, living with faith that God is with us, even when we aren’t sure where we’re going and what it will all look like in the end.

Jeremiah reminds that Emanuel is coming – God is with us. We sang this morning, “O come, O come, Emmaunel…” We know that Jesus is that Emanuel. He is the hope in the midst of despair, the light in the midst of darkness… this is enduring message of the gospel.

So in this season of Advent, remember that hope is all about waiting. Hope is active patience, working while we wait, reaching out even in spite of our fear, and expecting that God will show up. And to remember that to wait faithfully is one of the hardest and most important things that we can do.[ii]

I hope that each of you is incorporating some kind of Advent practice into your life. Maybe it’s an advent calendar, or lighting an advent wreath at home, or reading an advent devotion each day, or planting an amaryllis or paperwhites. But in addition to those things, I ask you to consider digging a little deeper and looking at how God is calling you to take the next step.

Over the next four weeks, I hope you’ll think about how you or your family or we as a community can live in expectation of his coming. We know that Jesus came before, and we have his promise that he will come again, we just don’t know when it will be. It could be an hour from now, next month, next year or long after we are gone from this world. But what we do know is that God wants us to spend the time we have making sure that we are ready for his coming – that we have lived in such a way that others want to know and follow him, too.

In that process, we can ask ourselves these questions:

     1.     Am I willing to examine my life, celebrating the good and repenting and turning away from the things that are not life-giving?
2.     Am I living in the ways that Jesus has asked me to live? Am I taking the lessons that Jesus taught and applying them regularly in my life?
3.     Am I participating in the healing of the world?
4.     Am I offering the hope, peace, joy and love that Jesus was born into this world to share? and lastly,
5.     Do I live as if I believe in the promise of everlasting life?[iii]

My friend Kelli is a United Methodist chaplain. After moving to NC this summer, she settled into her job on campus with the students around her. But in the process, her ministry has expanded outside of her official duties. This fall, her office sponsored a special speaker. Through the generosity of donors, she was able to open the program and luncheon, not just to students, but to anyone on campus who wanted to attend. A thank you note some weeks later revealed that a campus employee and his wife felt particularly blessed by the program. They were especially thankful for the lunch that they were served, as they usually go without each so that their children will not suffer from their underemployment – meager salaries and several part-time jobs.

Kelli and her husband feel called to help provide ministry to this part of her community, and are collecting money to purchase $5 gift cards for local restaurants in their area. These will be shared with those who work, those who most people would never know often go hungry in order to support their families. “Lunch is on Me” is just getting off the ground, but I am blessed by her willingness to go beyond what is expected of her to live out the love of Christ.[iv]

Today’s Psalm 25 is about trust. It is a reminder that God keeps God’s promises, just not always in our timing and not always in the ways that we prefer. But even more important, we must remember that God chooses to see the fulfillment of his promises in us. We are his hands and feet and voice in the world, and with them, Advent calls us to live that promise. “The day is coming,” says the Lord. Are we ready?

Amen.

Additional resources to for Advent:

MARANATHA! Come, O Lord! - a cooperative effort between the East German and West Pennsylvania United Methodist Conferences - In English and German.

"Creators of the Stars of Night" from Luther Seminary

2015 Advent Calendar for ministry with children and families from UMC Discipleship

Advent Practice - Pray with your camera by Alive Now Magazine

Advent Family Devotions on Pinterest

Peace, Deb

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[i] David F. Sellery, This Week’s Focus, “As Time Goes By,” November 27, 2015, http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dbffd2070718c7bb6a1b9b7e0&id=987d4ee8f9&e=880e8ae56e.

[ii] Robb McCoy & Eric Fistler, Pulpit Fiction podcast, http://www.pulpitfiction.us/show-notes/143-advent-1c-nov-29-2015

[iii] Dawn Chesser, Preaching Helps for the First Sunday in Advent, November 23, 2015. http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship/lectionary-calendar/first-sunday-of-advent-year-c

[iv] https://www.crowdrise.com/lunchonme/fundraiser/kellitaylor

Sermon - Just the beginning... (25th Sunday after Pentecost - Year B)

25^th Sunday After Pentecost – Year B                                                                   Mark 13:1-8

November 15, 2015                                                                            Panzer Liturgical Service

I finished my sermon early this week, but after the terror attacks in Beirut, Baghdad & Paris, I was more convinced than ever that even the Revised Common Lectionary is equipped to handle whatever happens in the world. My reference to events in Paris in no way lessens the tragedy of terror around the world... but it is a place where many of my friends and family have visited, so it feels especially relateable to those who might hear or read this message... Deb
,  

One of my favorite
"What if?" novels...
creepy and thought
provoking, all at
the same time.

One of the most popular genres of movies, books and graphic novels is the theme of doomsday – or as the rock band REM says, “It’s the end of the world as we know it.”  From the zombie apocalypse to political docu-dramas and international intrigue novels, we are obsessed with anticipating worst case scenarios.

In the real world, if you watch the TV news or read the news online, the impression is reinforced - the world is pretty messed up. There are not just wars and rumors of wars, but it seems that there is trouble in every direction. Religious wars, culture wars, political war, wars between the races, genders and among people of different ages… It’s really easy to get lured into a pessimistic state; in fact, staying positive and unafraid is really quite hard.

Of course, we are not the first generation to feel this way. For centuries after the fall of the Kingdom of Israel and before the birth of Christ, communities were expecting the end of the world. The prophets of the Old Testament, and especially Daniel, were all about instructing the people of God in the art of trusting and living for God. Their writings challenged the people to see God with them, even in the midst of trouble, even when it looked like hope is gone.

The Hebrew bible reading for today is one such writing. The book of Daniel was probably the last book written before Christ’s birth, and was penned at a time of severe persecution of the Israelites. It is the clearest Jewish writing about physical resurrection… the promise is that even in death, the righteous can receive the justice due them because life for those with faith transcends death.[i]

The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that human kings and leaders are just that… human. We can put trust in them to accomplish goals and succeed in the short term, but only Jesus Christ, seated at the right hand of God, can be trusted for everything. The Jews looked to the priests to be their mediators to God, but through Jesus Christ, we all have access to the Almighty. But the question often remains, what does that do for us – or maybe even better – what do we do with that knowledge?[ii]

Our gospel lesson is our last reading from Mark for the next two years. Our passage today is often called “the little Apocalypse” (which means revelation, not doomsday, BTW), a precursor to the Apocalypse or Revelation of John, written about thirty years later, during a time of intense Christian persecution. This passage finds Jesus in Jerusalem in the last week of his life. He has been teaching in the Temple, where he noted the behavior of both the haves and the have nots. Last week we heard the story of the widow’s mite – she gave only two coins, but it was everything she had.

As Jesus and his followers walk outside, he continues to teach on this point. Looking at the Temple behind him, he foretold – not predicted – its destruction. Now I’m willing to bet that this was almost unbelievable to the disciples. The Temple was the one established symbol of the presence of God. It was built under the instruction and direction of God by the Israelites to mark the end of their exile, wandering and establishing their Kingdom as God’s Kingdom. For the Jews, the Temple represented the pinnacle of power for both religion and government. The Greeks and then the Romans may have taken over the land, but the Temple represented the hope that the reign of God would be re-established. For Jesus to talk about it being destroyed… well, it’s no wonder they killed him. That was enough to push the Jewish leaders right over the edge.

The disciples’ concern is much more immediate: When is it going to happen? And how will they recognize it when it comes? Whether they are trying to figure out how to stop it or just get away from it, Jesus’ answer reminds us of the finite nature of our understanding about the multi-faceted nature of the Kingdom of God.

Surely we can empathize with them. Many of us have lived in Europe during a time when we have felt safer here than we did in the US. We travel unafraid, but cautious. But terror attacks in cities not too far away, and tourist communities targeted make us wonder, too, “When is the next bad thing going to happen?”

In the world of religion, it seems that there is always a new prophet on the horizon claiming the end of the world is at hand, often giving years and dates and times. We worried about the end of the millennium (remember Y2K?). People worry aloud that earthquakes, wars, famines, fires, and floods surely must be signs that the end is near. We want there to be some way to prepare for the end and to recognize it when it comes.

But Jesus tells his disciples (and us) that while that’s natural, these kinds of prophets lead people astray. We will have wars and rumors of wars – nations and kingdoms will assert themselves against one another – and earthquakes, famines and other natural disasters will occur – but they are not a guarantee that the end has come.[iii] 

In the hours before Jesus’ death, the disciples and most of his followers scattered. It must have felt like their world was indeed ending. But Jesus’ words here, just a few days earlier, give his death a new perspective.  He ended with this phrase, “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” It’s important to focus on this because Jesus knew he was going to die, but didn’t see his death as the end of everything, but as a kind of birth.  Over and over again, Jesus proclaimed, “The kingdom of God is at hand.”

Babies are born every day. They are conceived and nurtured in the water of the womb, and then one day the labor starts. It is for most moms and dads, a day of great pain and anxiety, or at the very least a day of great anticipation... then the miracle of birth. And new part of life begins.

We want so desperately to know what’s going to happen in the future. Originally, I was thinking about the overwhelming feelings that we are combating as we look down the road a few years to Shawn’s retirement from the Air Force. There are days when we want to know what it will look like so we can stop worrying about what it’s going to look like… it’s easy to peer into the future and feel afraid.

But then the most recent terror attack happened in Paris, and I had something new, something more immediate to worry about. Traveling to cool places is one of the blessings of living here, so far away from family and friends. And when that joy is replaced by fear, well that is exactly what Jesus is warning us against.

Jesus wants us to be ready for whatever comes our way. Change is not the exception – it’s the rule. As Christians, we should be the ones who are not just prepared for change, but those who expect it. After all, Jesus started a new way of living and was arguably the single greatest agent of change the world has ever known. His leadership and his teachings toppled one of the most power military empires. And all this was accomplished after his death by followers that initially deserted him, and without even picking up a sword.

His ideas have lived through his followers and brought us to today. The world has not remained stagnant during these 2000 years. But the message of grace and love and peace has survived even the turmoil of complex world dynamics, even wars and rumors of wars, and helps us continue to live and speak a word of hope. 

Early in him ministry, Jesus told his followers, “Do not be afraid.” He wanted them to know that life wasn’t going to be free and easy, but that would be filled with unexpected joy. Jesus calls us to see the chaos around us and be unafraid. Dawn Chesser writes,

We can’t ourselves get completely swept away in the excitement of change, but neither should be afraid of it. It doesn’t help to sit around weeping and wailing and beating our brows against the walls of the past. We should strive to live in the present and look forward to what the future holds.  And in the meantime, we must be alert, vigilant, and involved in the world around us while keeping our faith in the timeless, living message of Jesus Christ, who said, “Repent. Turn around. Change and believe the good news from God. The right time has come.  The right time is right now. The kingdom of God is very, very near. Turn away from your self-centered, fear-driven controlling ways and believe in the good news!” Because at the very worst, our present trials and tribulations are only the first pangs of childbirth. Something wonderful is always being born. The old is always giving way to make room for the new![iv]

I call it living in the grey… seeing and feeling uncertainty around us, and still acknowledging the presence and power of Christ in the world. It was hard for the first Christian followers and hard for us today. God promises us eternal life, but it’s not by the means that we expect. We can be tricked into believing that if “we work hard enough, are pious enough, make ourselves acceptable enough, or attain enough we’ll leave all our uncertainties and insecurities behind.”[v] 

But that’s just not true. Choosing Christ does not put an end to uncertainty or insecurity at all. What is does is promises to help us understand who we are as children of God, not as children of the world. God created us in his image, sustains us in the midst of trials and joys, and loves us unconditionally.

It turns out that the antidote to uncertainty isn’t certainty, but courage; and the best response to insecurity is the confidence that comes from knowing that God esteems you worthy of dignity, honor, and love. Rooted in these promises, we are better equipped to resist all pretenders to throne and give our allegiance to the One who gave all things for us. (David Sellery) [vi]

Friday night as we were preparing for bed, the word of the Paris attacks began to filter through. Quickly, photos and memes and posts appeared on Facebook asking for prayers for the victims, their families and the people of France. Within an hour, the President of France asked people to leave the streets and find shelter. And then a remarkable thing happened.

The citizens of Paris began posting invitations for those looking for a safe place to  
come and stay with them.  OpenDoor – PorteOuverte… strangers housed strangers, and cab drivers offered people free rides to their homes or hotels.[vii] In the midst of tragedy and uncertainty, it was a reminder that just because it looks like it might be the end, we don’t have to act like it is.

Jesus call us to be aware – the Kingdom of God is near. And until he comes again, we are called to be salt to flavor the world, leaven to raise us above the evil around us, and light to a world where darkness seems to be pressing in. Go, be the hands and feet and voice of Christ! Go, be love!

 Peace, Deb

---

[i] Gail Ramshaw, Lectionary Notes, Lectionary 33, Year B, https://members.sundaysandseasons.com/Home/TextsAndResources/2015-11-15/0#resources

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Dawn Chesser, Discipleship Ministries, 25^th Sunday after Pentecost, Year B, http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship/lectionary-calendar/twenty-fifth-sunday-after-pentecost-B#notes3

[iv] Ibid.

[v] David F. Sellery, “That’s All Folks,” This Week’s Focus, www.davidsellery.org

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] Sebastian Murdock,” Parisians Can Use A Twitter Hashtag To Seek Shelter During Terrorist Attacks”, Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/paris-france-terrorist-attack-trending-twitter_5646676ee4b0603773491b7a

I admit it... Clemson football makes me happy!

I've worn a lot of orange this fall... it's not my favorite color so much as it is a visible reminder of my connection to the university that I love so much.  When I wear my Clemson sweatshirt in my village, people ask, "What's a Clemson?" People on post say, "You must be from South Carolina, because I don't know many Clemson fans from outside the state." As me about Clemson and I am very happy to brag about my university, its programs, its community, its students, and yes, its football team.

I loved football before I loved Clemson. My dad taught me everything I know about sweeps, pitches, blitzes and holding. I feel blessed that while I eventually stopped following the NFL, watching college football has remained a favorite way to pass the time.

I've been a Clemson fan since my first game as a student in 1977. We lost to Maryland in the first home game, so there wasn't any reason to think that season would be different from the ones before. There had not been a winning season at Clemson since the 1960's but our new coach, Charlie Pell, brought a lot of enthusiasm to the student body. It helped that we could attend the games for free. We went to a bowl game that year, losing to Pitt in the Gator Bowl (that Tony Dorsett can run!). Even so, Clemson football had turned a corner.

In 1978, we only lost one game, to Georgia at Georgia. We went on to beat Ohio State in the Gator Bowl... there was lots of excitement, even though our coach left to go to the University of Florida before the end of the season. In 1979, we had a winning season, but lost to Baylor in the Peach Bowl. In 1980, my senior year, we ended up 6-5 but beat South Carolina at home, which always makes things better.

The 1981 season was my first as a graduate and season ticket holder. My tickets were in the end zone, but I usually found my way into the student section to sing with the Chorus (yes, we sang at every game). That was an amazing year. And by the middle of the season, we knew that team was special. We went undefeated that year, and had a great time in Miami, winning against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl and taking home the National Championship.

In 1983, Clemson opened the new upper deck, and my 45 yard line seats were just the ticket, even though they were 2 rows from the top of the stadium. In 1987, I left South Carolina for Duke Divinity School, and when asked by people what the hardest part of making the decision to go was, I always said without hesitation, "Giving up my season Clemson football tickets". And I was serious.

Since then, Clemson has only had a few losing seasons, but we've all longed for the magic of 1981. Maybe this is our year. Maybe it's not. But even more than winning football games, I'm excited to see the way that our team is being coached and living out good life values in the world.

I'm posting four links here. They are the essence of what I love about being a Clemson Tiger. And while we have a big game this weekend (and every weekend afterward), I most proud to be connected to a university sports program that wants its students to be good citizens of the world, not just good athletes.

ClemsonLIFE visits Clemson Football - grab a tissue!

Clemson Football Etiquette Class

Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity

BONUS: Deshaun Watson (quarterback) talks about growing up in a Habitat House... 

it made all the difference!

Go Tigers!

Deb
Clemson class of 1981!