Sunday, December 29, 2013

Are You Ready to Praise? -- today's sermon at Fairview UMC


Today I had the honor and privilege of preaching at Fairview UMC on Big Ridge.  It's a small church on a two-point circuit with Grace UMC.  The pastor, Clair Sauer, was out of town with family and had contacted me several weeks back to see if I would be available for today.  My calendar was open, so I said "yes". 

Today there weren't as many folks as normal in attendance, but that is typical for the Sunday after Christmas.  Folks are still traveling, with family, maybe just taking the day off because the regular pastor is gone... ☺  I didn't count, but a "guess-timate" would be about 20-25 folks in attendance.

The church is white on the outside with an intimate sanctuary.  It has a "homey" feel to it.  I've preached once before there and have been there for Bible Studies when our church was a sister church with them.

Our church, along with Fairview and Grace, share in the Mustard Tree Ministries meal once a month on a Thursday evening.

Because of the Bible Studies in the past, having served some of those meals, and having preached once before there, I have met some of the members of Fairview.  It was good to re-connect with folks today.

Our worship time together went well.... from the songs to the Advent candle lighting to the offerings to the special sharing by a member, Eunice.  I can't speak for the sermon from their point of view, but from my point of view on delivery, it seemed to go well.

I had picked Psalm 148 from the lectionary when Clair first asked.  It has been sitting with me and the sermon below is what came out.  I didn't time it this time, but I imagine it was around 15 minutes.  My preaching class this past semester required a 10 minute sermon and I preached another 10 minute sermon this past semester, so I've been used to shorter sermons in the recent past. ☺

What I shared with the congregation isn't exactly what is written below because I added some things during the sermon and probably left out some things too.  But, you get an idea of what the sermon covered.


Are You Ready To Praise?
Psalm 148
Fairview UMC
December 29, 2013

Today is the 1st Sunday after Christmas on the Christian calendar, the 5th day of Christmas.  Can you believe that Christmas is finally here?!?!  After all the waiting of the four weeks during the Advent season, Christmas is here! 

For some, Christmas has already come and gone.  But in reality, Christmas has only just begun.

A quote about the Christmas Season: "Christmas holds the key to unlocking the deepest mysteries of our lives: Who are we, where did we come from, is there meaning to our lives, and where are we going?" (A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God, page 47)

Because we have journeyed through the waiting time of Advent, awaiting the coming of Immanuel, God-with-us, what could be a better Scripture to focus on today than one of the Praise Psalms? 

Let's look at Psalm 148, found on page 550 in your pew Bibles.
NRSV
1Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
    and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever;
    he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
    stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Wild animals and all cattle,
    creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
    princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and women alike,
    old and young together!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his glory is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
    praise for all his faithful,
    for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

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The praise in this Psalm is unending.  It goes throughout all creation, including everyone and everything.  Nothing, no one is left out of the opportunity to praise the Lord.  All of creation is called to join in to praise the Creator of creation.

This includes us today.  Especially during this Christmas season when we celebrate Christ coming to be among us as God with us, Immanuel. 

Rueben Job, a Bishop in the United Methodist Church, writes: "Jesus Christ came and was clothed in human flesh to let us know who God is and what God is really like.  In Jesus Christ we see that God is approachable, and to a degree knowable by creatures like us.  God can understand our condition because God has made us.  We can know God because God has been revealed in Jesus Christ."  (A Guide to Prayer for All Who Seek God, page 49)

THIS is reason to PRAISE GOD!

Praising God isn't something we do out of our own emotional tank.  If that were the case, there would be many times that we simply wouldn't feel like praising God.  Our praise isn't based on how we feel.  But rather it is based on who God is and what God has done and is doing. 

Looking back over the verses of Psalm 148, we see that the call to praise is because

  • "he commanded and they were created" (v. 5)
  • "He established them forever and ever" (v. 6)
  • "his name alone is exalted" (v. 13)

The praise isn't based on anything but what God has done and who God is, both of which call for the praise of all creation.

Yet, the circumstances along the journey don't always make it easy to praise.  There are difficult times and situations.  What do we do in these times?

We strive to keep a proper perspective and focus on the One who has come to be among us, the One who Created all for us.

You may have your own situations or stories of this...  Some friends of mine have been going through a very dark and difficult time these past 4 weeks.  The husband contracted a blood disease and has been fighting for his life in ICU.  He has had several surgeries, been on ventilators and dialysis and in a coma.  The wife has been waiting in the ICU waiting room.  While waiting, she has been praising God the Creator, lifting up praise for the progress and prayer for continued situation.  As Advent moved into Christmas, my friend has made some significant progress, but remains in ICU.  He opens his eyes now.

I have two other friends battling cancer, getting their dosages of chemo, both of them fighting like superheroes, both of them continuing to praise God throughout the process.

These aren't easy situations... Yet, because of who God is to each of these persons, they are praising God through their circumstances.

Whether we are at the heights or in the depths, we are called to praise.  Today's praise Psalm takes us on a praise journey throughout all of creation.

Sometimes it helps to look at a different version of the Scripture to get a different view of it.  There are also Psalm Prayers that have been written based on the Psalms by different people.

Listen to this Psalm prayer of Psalm 148 by Jerry Webber (Fingerprints on Every Moment: 40 Psalm-Prayers in Contemplative Voice).

Alleluia!

 
Praise to You, Lord God, from the heavenly heights;

Praise to You from the unseen spiritual world;

Praise to You from the angel hosts.

 
Shine your praise, Brother Sun;

Glisten your praise, Sister Moon;

Sparkle your praise, far-away stars;

Burst your praise, distant constellations;

Thunder your praise, storm-clouds and winds.

 
Receive praise, Lord God,

     the praise of all You created above,

     everything made to offer You praise!

 
Praise to You, Lord God,

     from the earth below,

Praise from ocean depths and swimming creatures,

 
Burning, freezing, raining, misting praise,

     windy praise we feel but cannot see;

Mountains and hills that praise You in stillness,

     waving harvest fields that praise You by bearing fruit,

 
Trees that praise You in growing through the cold mid-winter,

     household pets and wild creatures in the woodlands,

     crawling things and flying things,

All praise You in their being;


The world's leaders and all her peoples,

     young and old,

     all with a heart's-bent to praise You.

 
Receive our praise, You who alone are God.

     Your beauty and renown stretches beyond

     the heaves and the earth,

     recognized by all.

 
Give us, Your people, the will to praise You always,

     to weather each season of life in praise,

     to find in You a peace that never falters.


Alleluia!  Praise to You, God!

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As we leave here today, how might we continue to live into this Christmas season these next 7 days of Christmas with an attitude of praise?

Let's pray.

Closing prayer:

Psalm prayer by Judy Holloway, #367 Upper Room Book of Worship

O God, creator of the universe and worlds beyond,

     we lift our praise to you.

You bless your creation with faithfulness,

     and you desire only the goodness of harmony and peace.

May we carry your praise into the world

     so that all creation is blessed by your goodness.  Amen.


Benediction: Go now in peace and praise and may the God of Creation go with you.

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Blessings on your journey,

Debra

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