"Be Salty & Bright" -- sermon at Burks UMC on February 8, 2026

glow sticks

tie-dye stole

the choir warming up

Below you can read today's sermon I gave at Burks UMC. Since I added something to what was already written, I did go add it to the script. Not everything I said today is in the written portion. I mentioned a special lady named Maxine during the section about "hope and encouragement". Maxine always speaks hope and encouragement. She works the cash register at Food City and recently earned employee of the month. We can all learn from Maxine. Another person I mentioned was Mitch. He and I talked about tie-dye a few weeks ago and he challenged me to wear a tie-dye stole the next time I preached. I happen to have one. Today, I wore my "joy" stole to start with and then changed out the stole, mentioning the story behind both of them. 

Glow sticks were given out as part of the sermon, thus the photo of my glow sticks. :)

All the music today, from Roy Treiyer, the choir, Bradley Bee, and the praise band, added to the service. It always does. But, today, there was a particular sense that I can't name.

“Be Salty and Bright”
Matthew 5:13-20 (CEB)
February 8, 2026
Burks UMC
5^th Sunday after the Epiphany

Good morning! Before we jump into the sermon this morning, will you pray with me?

"God, open our hearts and minds so we can fully receive the Truth we need to hear today. Kindle your Truth in our hearts so others would see it revealed through our lives. Following Christ we pray. AMEN." (Prayer for Illumination)

In the first part of today's passage, Jesus teaches on salt and light. As followers, disciples, of Christ, we are salt and light, we are salty and bright.... Or at least we are supposed to be. What does that mean for us?

Anytime we hear or read Jesus’ teachings, we are challenged to live into the teachings. It can be overwhelming for us to consider all the ways we are to grow, to change, to be the difference, to be the salt and light, to be salty and bright.

However, if we consider just a few practical action steps, maybe one of them will resonate with us and we can go from there.

PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS:

1.   Show unconditional love and grace to ourselves and others. How? Spend more time listening. Listen to God. Listen to others, ask questions. Allow wonder and curiosity to guide your conversations. The phrase: “Tell me more.”, 3 simple words, allow the other person to share. People desire to be heard, to be seen, to belong. By listening to others, asking questions and having a genuine desire to learn, we get to know others. That is one way to show love and grace.

2.   Speak hope and encouragement. Whether it is a spoken word or word through text, email, a card or letter…. Speak hope and encouragement. Everyone can use hope and encouragement. Speak it to yourself and to others. Be intentional in seeking opportunities that allow you to offer hope and encouragement. Think through your daily routine… where can you insert hope and encouragement? Think through your friends and family… the people you see at the grocery store checkout, your pharmacist, your hairdresser, ETC. Who might benefit from a word of hope and encouragement? Write the name down. Reach out this week.

3.   Live out the Micah passage (Micah 6:8) we heard last week from Amanda: act justly/do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God. What are practical ways to do this? When you see or hear something that is unjust, speak up.  Allow yourself the space to grow in your relationship with God, Creator, Divine Mystery. Our lights will burn out if we don’t make time to refill, refresh, restore… we do that through rest, study, worship, prayer, and other spiritual disciplines/practices. Amanda mentioned the labyrinth here at Burks last week. If you’re not familiar with it, it’s at the back of the parking lot. Praying the labyrinth is one of my spiritual practices that helps me grow as a follower of Christ.

I invite you to start with these three or at least one of them.

If you want to go beyond these three practical steps to live into being salt and light, I won’t discourage that. If you’re not sure what a next step would be, let’s chat. Or have a chat with Pastor Amanda.

[I shared writing by a colleague here, titled “Reflection”. Sharon Kay Cochran gave permission for any of us to use what she wrote. To me, her words spoke to how the church can be salt and light. I invited the congregation to hear her words and think about how it connected.]

Her words:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reflection

By Sharon Kay Cochran

“I don’t go to church because it’s not meeting my needs.” That sentence fascinates me—not because it’s wrong, but because it reveals what we think church is for.

 Some people come to church expecting it to function like a spiritual customer service desk:

• meet my emotional needs
• meet my social needs
• meet my family’s needs
• meet my entertainment needs
• meet my preferences
• meet my expectations

And when those needs aren’t met, they assume the church has failed.

But here’s the truth I’ve lived:

There was a season when I did go to church because I was in abject poverty and needed help. I needed food, dignity, and a place where someone would look me in the eye and see a human being. And the church did that for me. That was grace.

But now?
Now I go to church to see what I can give, not what I can get.
I don’t expect my church to fill every emotional gap or solve every problem. I expect it to be a place where I can worship, wrestle with theology, and feel safe in my faith. That’s enough.

Everything else—community, belonging, purpose, connection—those are things you have to bring with you.
If you’re looking for a church to magically supply what you refuse to cultivate, you will always be disappointed.

Church is not a vending machine.
It’s a body.
And bodies only function when every part shows up ready to contribute.

If you want a church that feels alive, bring your life.
If you want a church that feels welcoming, bring your welcome.
If you want a church that feels loving, bring your love.
If you want a church that feels like home, bring your presence, your work, your willingness to be part of something bigger than yourself.

The church can hold you, teach you, and walk with you.

But it cannot become what you refuse to offer."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don’t know about you, but music has a way of reaching deeper into my being, teaching me, and helping me grow.

In talking about light today, I wonder how many of you thought about the song “This Little Light of Mine”? We consider that to be a children’s song, but the lyrics really can relate to any of us a children of God, right?

There is a song by Jason Gray that came out in 2015. It resonated with me. The title is “Glow in the Dark”. I invite you to look it up and listen to it. Here is one of the verses from the song:

“Don't be ashamed of your past
If you're shattered like a piece of glass
The more broke you are the more the light gets through
Show your wounds and your flaws
Show them why you still need the cross
Let them see the work He's doing in you”

Shining a light doesn’t always mean things are cheery and bright. Even through the difficult times, even through the pain and mess, we can still shine the light within us. I know this from personal experience. But I also know this from glowsticks. Yes, that’s correct. You know what I like most about them? You have to bend and break the gel inside them in order to get the light to shine, to glow.

As the band makes their way, I want to mention that the glowsticks today are to remind us that we can be bright and shine our lights. If you don’t want it for yourself, maybe there’s a kid or grandkid in your life. You can take a stick and a connector and make a bracelet out of it.

If we are honest with ourselves and God and others, we have all experienced broken places within us. I want you to be encouraged. The light can and will shine in you and through you, through those places.

May your light shine in and through the darkness. May your light join with the light of others to shine more brightly.  Remember, as followers of Christ, be salty and bright.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Here is the song by Jason Gray, "Glow in the Dark":

Here is the song that the praise band led us in at the end of the service: "Fresh Wind":

Some of the lyrics from it that resonated with me: 

"Breath of God, fan us into flame"

verses 3 and 4:

3

For hearts that burn 
With holy fear
Purified in faith and deed
Refiner's fire
Strengthen what remains

4

So we the church

Who bear Your light

Lamp aflame

City bright

King and kingdom come

is what we pray

------------------------------------------

It was a good morning for me. I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. It felt good to live into who I am and my calling.

Peace on this day, 

Rev. Deb

Outdoor time today

I took a walk, or a wandering today at Big Soddy Creek Gulf.  Because of my side trails, I only went to the waterfall and back. I stopped several times to write. The temperature was mid 50s degrees Fahrenheit. 

Here are my reflections. My photos follow. 

"I came to the woods, the creek today for some sunshine, fresh air, and a walk. The clear blue skies hold a few white wispy clouds. The sound of the water soothes my soul. I breathe deeply. Over the roar of the water, I hear a bird or two in the woods behind me as I sit on a bench where the cabin used to be. I wandered, taking side paths several times. At times the wind blew lightly. There were a few bursts that caused remaining leaves to fly through the air and leaves on the ground to move around in a blustery fashion. The wind through the trees made noise, almost matching the sound of the water.

To feel the breeze, to hear the water, to see the sky, to feel the sun. This is what my soul, mind, and body needed today.

Silence. Solitude. Soul care."

It was a good time in creation!

Debra

(The pics loaded in reverse. Start at the bottom for correct order. )

Week 4 Advent Journey-- Love

Today is the day after Christmas, or the "2nd Day of Christmas".  The Advent season is gone, but the Christmas season remains until January 6, Epiphany.

I was able to walk and pray the labyrinth at Burks UMC on Christmas Eve day in the morning.

The Advent journey begins with hope and ends with love. 

Burks UMC labyrinth

It was 59 degrees Fahrenheit when I walked and prayed the labyrinth on Wednesday morning. There was lots of birdsong-- chirping and singing. Unlike last week, there was no dog barking from the nearby houses. That was a reprieve. 

As I walked to the center, various people and situations came to mind. I lifted them up in prayer. The statement from Sunday's sermon was part of my journey: "Where God guides, God provides." Though I don't know if that was generic or specific, it was something that came to mind as I wandered the labyrinth path.

As I walked and prayed, I reflected on the week's theme of love. What IS love? Love is many things, to many people, in many situations. What came to mind on Christmas Eve day is that love is "letting go". Letting go of what exactly? Maybe people, situations, circumstances, things, etc. Love is serving others, listening to others, caring for others, spending time with others, doing things for others. 

Because the greatest commandment is 'love God and others as yourself', love is also doing those same things for God and self. 

Only as I grow in loving myself can I adequately love God and others. It's a life-long learning process. It involves self care and soul care. 

My Advent practice of walking and praying the labyrinth was one way for me to live into self care and soul care. 

Hopefully the end of Advent won't end my labyrinth practice. Truthfully, it is sporadic. Unless I have a specific goal (like walking and praying for Advent or Lent), my labyrinth time tends to be random. It would be a great spiritual practice to include more often. We will see. 

Whether you joined my Advent adventure for one week or more (or not at all), I hope your Advent season was full of hope, peace, joy, and love.

Rev. Deb

from the center looking toward the back

from a bench looking to the front of the labyrinth

Week 4 Advent link:

A Labyrinth Journey Through Advent--Love

A Labyrinth Prayer Journey Through Advent--Love

"love" mug, part of the Advent mug set

Donna Godwin, artist

The Advent season has continued to pass by more quickly than anticipated. But that's how it is every year. It seems to start off slowly and then it's almost over. That's why it's important to me to be intentional with my practices, to make the most of the season, to ensure that I slow down at least a little bit so I can reflect.

Here is the devotional material for week 4:

WEEK 4—Love

SCRIPTURE:

1 John 4:7-8 (CEB) “⁷Dear friends, let’s love each other, because love is from God, and everyone who loves is born from God and knows God. ⁸The person who doesn’t love does not know God, because God is love.”

QUOTE:

“I want to be more loving in my heart! It is often easy to see it with my mind, and give assent to the thought of being loving. But I want to be more loving in my heart! So I must ease the tension in my heart that ejects the sharp barb, the stinging word. I want to be more loving in my heart so that, through both unconscious awareness and deliberate intent, I shall be a kind, gracious human being. I want to be more loving in my heart.” ~Howard Thurman

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 Love is the theme for this week, the fourth and final week in Advent. As you reflect on love, here are some questions for reflection:

• What brings you love?
• How do you share love with others?
• What symbolizes love for you?
• How does love shape your perspective on life?

Love can mean different things at different times. It can also depend on the situation and relationship. As we enter this fourth week of Advent, the love we are referring to is the love God has shown us and the love we are to show God, others, and ourselves. Mark 12:28-31 (CEB)—²⁸One of the legal experts heard their dispute and saw how well Jesus answered them. He came over and asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹Jesus replied, “The most important one is Israel, listen! Our God is the one Lord, ³⁰and you must love the Lord your God will all your heart, with all your being, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ³¹The second is this, You will love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”

Walking/Praying the labyrinth

During this fourth week of Advent, I invite you to walk and pray the labyrinth with the theme of love. You might try the following suggestions or you might create your own love journey. (If you need a refresher on one way to walk/pray the labyrinth, you can go back to the explanation in week 1 for “hope”.)

• Take a copy of the Scripture verse and/or quote and read them as you walk, reflecting on what comes to mind. Ask yourself where you have love these days, where you see love. Reflect on these things. Ask yourself what might show you love or how you might show love to others. Reflect on these things. 

• Take the verse and/or the quote with you. Notice where and how you sense love as you go to the center. Remain in the center for a moment to reflect on love. As you head back out of the labyrinth, what is your focus? What do you notice?

Additional practices:

• Contemplative Photography. Take a photo of something that signifies “love” to you.
• Research. What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “love”?
• Write a prayer on peace.  What might a prayer on love look like for you?

Journal. Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In my preparation of the material for week 4, I came across a "new-to-me" song entitled "Mercy in a Manger" by Evan Craft, 2022.

I invite you to listen to the song: (lyrics are included in the video)

Peace as you continue the Advent adventure! Here's a quote for reflection that brings together the entire Advent journey:

"The Advent journey: Hope becomes peace. Peace becomes joy. Joy becomes love. Love becomes Christ." ~Bobby Schuller

May Advent hope, peace, joy, and love be yours as you journey to the birth of the Christ child.

Rev, Deb

Week 3 Advent Labyrinth-- Joy

Week 3 of Advent has flown by for me. Has it for you? How is your Advent season going (besides it going by quickly)?How are you celebrating Advent? Are you able to make time to slow down, to focus on the waiting, the preparation, and the expectation that Advent offers us? If so, that's great. If not, then know that there is no condemnation. Truly there are no expectations for Advent other than the coming of the Christ child.

I was able to go walk and pray a labyrinth today. I went to the Burks UMC labyrinth this afternoon before the sun starting going down. It was turning a bit cooler again, but the sunshine and fresh air felt great.

I took this week's word into the labyrinth with me-- "joy". I also took a small bottle of bubbles. Bubbles give me joy. Yes, you read that correctly. It bears repeating. Bubbles give me joy. I blew some bubbles as I started the journey, but found that it was becoming colder by the minute. I was having difficulty blowing the bubbles. 

I put the bubbles away and focused on the path.

As I rounded the turn on the outside portion of the labyrinth, I was very glad that my eyes were on the path and I was aware of my surroundings. Because of that, I was able to avoid a horrible misstep into a pile of poop. Yes, you read that correctly. There was a pile of poop on the path.

Oddly enough (or maybe not), that caused me to reflect on life's path and how there is poop along it. When we are aware of our surroundings and keep our eyes open, we are more likely to avoid the poop, whatever that might be.

When I arrived in the center, I spent some time blowing bubbles and found that I had to modify how I was getting air to the bubble wand. Who knew that cold lips could prevent good bubble blowing. 

There were other things that came to mind that bring me joy: friends, family, community, serving others, the outdoors... it's interesting how reflecting on joy and the things that bring us joy can bring us joy in the moment. It's difficult to not have joy when our focus and perspective is on such things.

Choosing joy doesn't necessarily mean everything is going to be all "bubbly". However, it's a perspective that will guide us. Much like that deep peace that passes all understanding, joy can run deep. It has roots that spread out and can sustain us through much of life's situations. 

Joy is a response. It's a way of being. It's a gift. Joy is something that we can offer others and receive from others. 

May joy be a part of your daily journey, as well as your Advent adventure.

Rev. Deb

AN ADVENTLINK:

A Labyrinth Prayer Journey Through Advent-- Joy

A Labyrinth Prayer Journey Through Advent--Joy

"joy" cookie (my photo)

Advent is going by a bit faster than I expected or hoped for. The weeks seems to start slowly, yet somehow speed up. The third week of Advent is upon us, the week of joy.

Here is the devotional material for Week 3:

WEEK 3—Joy

SCRIPTURE:

Philippians 4:4 (NET-- New English Translation)--"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!"

QUOTES:

"Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." --Henri Nouwen

"When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy." --Rumi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Joy is the theme for this week, the third week in Advent. If we were lighting an advent candle during our practice, it would be the pink (rose) candle on the Advent wreath. The third Sunday in Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin term meaning “rejoice”.

As you reflect on joy, what brings you joy? How do you share joy with others?

When I consider “joy”, there is a song that pops into my memory. The first verse goes like this:

I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I've got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay

Walking/Praying the labyrinth

During this third week of Advent, I invite you to walk and pray the labyrinth with the theme of joy. You might try the following suggestions or you might create your own joy journey. (If you need a refresher on one way to walk/pray the labyrinth, you can go back to the explanation in week 1 for “hope”.

As you walk and pray the labyrinth, consider doing something that brings you joy, such as singing a song that brings you joy or blowing bubbles. Yes, you read that correctly. Bubbles bring joy. They do. If you haven’t blown bubbles recently, I invite you to do so. Blowing bubbles is a way to breathe in and out deeply, to allow your focus to be on the bubbles floating away through the air.

• Take a copy of the Scripture verse and/or quote and read them as you walk, reflecting on what comes to mind. Ask yourself where you have joy these days, where you see joy. Reflect on these things. Ask yourself what might bring you joy. Reflect on these things.

 

• Take one or both of the verses with you, the quotes, or the song into the labyrinth as part of your journey. Notice where and how you sense joy as you go to the center. Remain in the center for a moment to reflect on joy. As you head back out of the labyrinth, what is your focus? What do you notice?

Additional practices:

• Contemplative Photography. Take a photo of something that signifies “joy” to you.
• Research. What other Scripture verses or quotes can you find on “joy”?
• Write a prayer on joy.  What might a prayer on joy look like for you?
• Journal. Consider writing about your labyrinth experiences. 

An additional link for consideration:

"Rejoice in the Lord Always"

Week 2 Advent Labyrinth-- Peace

I had hoped to get to the labyrinth sooner this week. It didn't happen.

I stopped by the Burks UMC labyrinth on my way to Dalton this morning.  

It was 33 degrees Fahrenheit, but I had my coffee with me, so that kept me warm. 😀

I started my journey at the entrance with a few deep breaths. 

I allowed myself to be open as I walked and prayed. So many thoughts covering a myriad of topics.

I came upon a leaf that caught my attention. I picked it up, noticed its frozen state, and put it back on the path.

I remembered my friend and colleague in the recent loss of her Mom. I took a moment to reach out.

I continued my journey and found myself on the last leg of the journey before the center. It had gone much more quickly than I thought.

I decided to sit a while. Those concrete benches are cold! 

As I sat there reflecting on peace, this prayer bubbled up and out: 

"Divine Mystery of deep abiding peace,

Are you so deep that I do not see or feel you? There is much turmoil, conflict,  and simply bizarre happenings all around. There is death, pain, aging, loss. I question your presence,  yet know you are as near as my breath that shows in the cold air. You are nearer than that. You are within me. You are my breath. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Even though the chaos swirls around me, may I know your shalom.
DD 12/11/25"

I knew that peace was within me. I sensed it, even as I sensed chaos. 

I was reminded of Jesus and the disciples in a boat. A strong wind tossed the boat around.  The disciples were anxious. They woke Jesus up and told him their fears. His response to the turmoil: 'Peace, be still." The winds calmed. The disciples calmed. 

It is good for me, for us to remember the deep, abiding presence of peace through the Holy Spirit. 

As I headed back out of the labyrinth, I saw the leaf again from a different angle. The hole inside the leaf almost looked like a heart. 

#SeeAHeartShareAHeart 

Hmmm... interesting how things can look different from a different angle. That was a good reminder to look at things from different perspectives. 

As I neared the beginning, I took some more deep breaths.

I exited the labyrinth and headed to the car. 

Where or how have you felt peace this week?

Where do you need peace this week?

Remember that it is within you, and as near as your breath.

Try a breath prayer, if the chaos is too wild:

Breathe in peace and calm.

Breathe out chaos. 

Breathe in Divine Mystery. 

Breathe out turmoil and stress.

May your Advent adventures be filled with peace. 

Deb