As an example, in the second church this past Sunday, Simpson UMC, I felt led to add that I had just visited the day before in the hospital with a very special lady. We had a special visit and a good time of prayer. I also shared that she shared that she had a vision that God was going to do great things in the church(es) through Pastor Tommy and my leadership and the people. That was humbling. And powerful. May it be so.
Here is the sermon from Sunday:
"Christ is Born... Now What?"
December 27, 2015 (1st
Sunday after Christmas Day)
Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV)
Fort Oglethorpe UMC, Simpson UMC
Colossians
3:12-17 (NRSV)
12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 13 Bear
with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each
other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 Above
all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect
harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to
which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. 16 Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one
another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns,
and spiritual songs to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or
deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the
Father through him.
THANKS BE TO GOD.
----------------------------------------------------Today is the 1st Sunday after Christmas Day. It is the 3rd day of Christmas. The twelve days of Christmas last through Epiphany, which is January 6th. For many people, it is enough to make it through the holiday time and "get through" Christmas. Even many of the stores already have the "next season" on their shelves-- Valentine's Day. It's as if we go through four weeks of waiting during the Advent Season and then it's over. But it's really not. The celebration of Christmas truly continues through Epiphany. More importantly than the celebration, however, is the challenge to each of us with how we are going to engage with the Christ child. Are we going to keep living the same as we have always lived or will there be something new and fresh in our lives as we have come into the presence of the Christ child once again?
Christ is born...now what?
In today's passage from Colossians, Paul speaks to the believers reminding them of who they are, whose they are, and how they are to live. We can appropriate these verses for ourselves today.
Verse 12-14: "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another, and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other, just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony."
In these first three verses of this passage, Paul clearly states who, whose, and how to live it: CHOSEN, HOLY, BELOVED..... CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH-- compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, love. Bear with one another. Forgive each other.
This is living with intentionality and focus. By doing these things, we are setting ourselves apart. The "clothing" is an outward perspective. We are called to put on these things. In order to put on these things, we must take off other things. Things that no longer fit us or are not purposeful for Christ's kingdom. This too requires intention as well as prayer and discernment. What are the things that need to come off us so that we have room to put on something different?
We are reminded here of our Baptismal vows in that we put off our old selves and take on the new. In the Thanksgiving over the Water, (p. 36) it says: "Pour out your Holy Spirit, to bless this gift of water and those who receive it, to wash away their sin and clothe them in righteousness throughout their lives, that dying and being raised with Christ, they may share in his final victory." When we take our baptismal vows, we vow that we faithfully participate by our prayers, our presence, our gifts, our service, and our witness (38).
One tradition is that people would be given a white robe after baptism to symbolize their new identity having being raised with Christ. There are other ways to express this symbolic time and to help people reflect on their new identity in Christ.
That is what we are doing today. Reflection on our new identity in Christ. In truth, that is something we can do daily. If not daily, it's something to reflect upon periodically to assure that we are growing and changing in our relationship with Christ. If we are not changing, we might want to reassess our relationship.
Today's passage goes from the outside to the inside in verses 15: "And let the peace of Chrsit rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful." This inward attitude is crucial to what happens on the outside. Without the inside transformation, the outside action won't take place for the kingdom. It's an ebb and flow of an inward and outward journey. Just as Jesus spent time teaching, healing, feeding others, etc., he also took time to rest, pray, be in community with the disciples and to be in silence and solitude. As we live into the rhythm of following Christ's example, our relationship with Christ and others can grow deeper and wider and more meaningful.
Verses 16 and 17 remind us how to live out our faith: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
This is a great summation of how we are to live, isn't it? But it's not easy to live into this calling. I can say that I'm going to put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and love and that I'm going to live like Jesus would have me live. But will I really? What about when the phone call comes?
Two weeks before Christmas we got a phone call on the answering machine. It wasn't the first person that has called. But there was something different in her voice. I called the other person back too and helped them as I felt led to help as well, with information and some numbers. But when I called this person back, well... she answered the phone and I asked how she was. She said not so good and she was heading to Parkridge East ER. She was having severe pains in her side. She didn't mention the reason she called earlier (rent help). I told her I'd check in with her. I went to Parkridge that evening and saw her in the ER room. I prayed with her and talked with her. On Monday I went by her apartment complex which is just down the road from FOUMC. In meeting her landlord, I learned that she was as I thought she was. I told him I planned to go by her place of employment to see if they might help. You see, when people work paycheck to paycheck get sick and have to miss work for a few day or a few weeks, they get behind on their rent. She had been in the hospital earlier in the fall for some health reasons too. The spiral can start to spin pretty fast. What God revealed to me was that she, too, is one of God's kingdom children and needed some love and encouragement. The landlord connected me with the Christ Chapel in Ringgold and we got her some food. Through another church, her rent got caught up.
God challenged me with the fact that the harvest is plenty. At our Charge Conference, Brenda Carroll, our D.S., noted that the high school is right across the street and how that is a huge mission field. I still have in my possession the Sonic Gift Cards to hand out when the time is right and I have had two people step up to say that they will go with me. I look forward to sharing the love of Christ in a small way with those kids.
Pastor Tommy and I will be meeting in January with the leaders and all interested folks at each church individually for a 'dreaming and visioning' session. We will get together to pray, to look at some questions (that have already been sent out to leaders to get out to people), and to share where we see God at work in our communities. We are tying down the dates and times for each church, but you'll soon hear about that. Meanwhile, be praying. Pray about what God would have the church as a community be and do in and for the community. Consider doing a prayer walk either physically or mentally in an area of the community. While doing the prayer walk, ask God to show you what breaks the heart of God in that area. As we gather together to share and pray, we will begin to see a plan for how God will transform us in the upcoming year.
In closing, I want to share some words from Mother Teresa
(Words to Love By):
Dear Jesus,
Help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our
lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us
and be so in us
that every soul we come in contact with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us
but only Jesus.
Stay with us
and then we shall begin to shine as you shine,
so to shine as to be light to others.
The light, O Jesus, will be all from you.
None of it will be ours.
It will be you shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best
by shining on those around us.... Amen.
May it be so.
Amen.
-------------------
Blessings on your journey,
Debra
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