Tomorrow we remember our Baptism. Before we start worship tomorrow, let me ask you. Do you remember you baptism? What do you remember about it? Who was there and where did it occur?
If you do not remember on your own, what do you know about it? What have you been told about it and who told you? If it is possible, call someone today who was there and find out what you can about the moment. I only found out last year the day I was Baptized. I enjoy knowing when my baptismal anniversary was so each year I have a day to remember it and give thanks.
To be counted as a baptized child of God means you are intitiated into a life of faith and as a part of the family of the church. This marking of baptismal water is an outward sign of a miracle occuring with in the life of the baptized and the Body of Christ.
God pours in to our lives grace to both clease our life from the power of sin and equip us to live as the redeemed and blessed children of God. It is a time of blessing and a sign of fulfilled hope.
As the baptized, we seal our connection to each other with vows of mutual support and fellowship.
Tomorrow we are celebrating Baptism in worship. We are inviting those who have not been baptized to hear the call of Baptism and receive this free gift of God's amazing grace. For those who have already been baptized, we are inviting you to come forward to remember your baptism as you feel the water and give thanks for this priceless gift.
Prepare your self for worship tomorrow by thinking and remembering your baptism. Come and be part of the family of faith as the holy water is stirred and showers of joy pour upon us all.
Come to waters and let us give thanks to the Lord.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Money Questions
Today, Pastor Amy and I had a conversational sermon on money. Or more to the point, it was on the worry, stress and power money has in our lives. It is so hard to have a genuine conversation about money. Many assume if clergy are talking about it they are just trying to get more more money for the church. This is understandable since part of our responsibility is to help make sure the ministry we share is adequately funded.
But there is a desperate need for a honest faith based conversation about money. So much of our life is impacted by the underlying assumptions we have about ourselves, our future, our security and our worries as they get lived out in our financial lives. The passage for today from Matthew 6: 24-34 that we read in church speaks of our inability to serve God and wealth. It called us to not live with worry. It also suggested God will provide for our needs. But I have worries in my life. I am not always at peace when I think about the financial picture of my life or the church I love. So how can I find the peace and joy of this passage of scripture and set my mind and soul at ease on every aspect of my life, including my finances?
This coming week, I hope we can have a conversation about faith and money.
I will share what we considered this morning. John Wesley suggested a template for Christians to follow for their financial lives. He said, "Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can". If you want to read his sermon on money, you can find it here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/50/ (Be aware it is written in 18th century English)
The power in his message is the integrity of how our faith in Christ is demonstarted in both how we earn our money, how we save it and give it. Faithful discipleship can be reflected in how we earn our income. The telling question is does the way we earn our income bring us peace? Are we injuring our health, our spirit or our relationships with others? Does our work reflect the integrity of the faith we desire?
As we strive to save, are our purchases in balance not only with our income but also our life as stewards of God's intent for life? John Wesley challanges us to consider if what we buy reflects genuine Christian character. Are we honoring God with our purchases? Are we pleasing instead the desires of our eyes, stomach, whims? Are we trying to impress others or keep status instead of reflecting balance and holy perspective?
Giving is both the inevitable fruit of our faithful stewardship and the foundation. Wesley rightly assumed Christians would want to invest in the kingdom work of God. But even that is expected in balance to the rest of our lives and the immeasurable grace we receive from God.
Some have taken this threefold mantra of Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can and put an equation to it. It is live on 80%, save 10% and give 10%. More on this tomorrow.
But there is a desperate need for a honest faith based conversation about money. So much of our life is impacted by the underlying assumptions we have about ourselves, our future, our security and our worries as they get lived out in our financial lives. The passage for today from Matthew 6: 24-34 that we read in church speaks of our inability to serve God and wealth. It called us to not live with worry. It also suggested God will provide for our needs. But I have worries in my life. I am not always at peace when I think about the financial picture of my life or the church I love. So how can I find the peace and joy of this passage of scripture and set my mind and soul at ease on every aspect of my life, including my finances?
This coming week, I hope we can have a conversation about faith and money.
I will share what we considered this morning. John Wesley suggested a template for Christians to follow for their financial lives. He said, "Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can". If you want to read his sermon on money, you can find it here:
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/50/ (Be aware it is written in 18th century English)
The power in his message is the integrity of how our faith in Christ is demonstarted in both how we earn our money, how we save it and give it. Faithful discipleship can be reflected in how we earn our income. The telling question is does the way we earn our income bring us peace? Are we injuring our health, our spirit or our relationships with others? Does our work reflect the integrity of the faith we desire?
As we strive to save, are our purchases in balance not only with our income but also our life as stewards of God's intent for life? John Wesley challanges us to consider if what we buy reflects genuine Christian character. Are we honoring God with our purchases? Are we pleasing instead the desires of our eyes, stomach, whims? Are we trying to impress others or keep status instead of reflecting balance and holy perspective?
Giving is both the inevitable fruit of our faithful stewardship and the foundation. Wesley rightly assumed Christians would want to invest in the kingdom work of God. But even that is expected in balance to the rest of our lives and the immeasurable grace we receive from God.
Some have taken this threefold mantra of Earn all you can, Save all you can and Give all you can and put an equation to it. It is live on 80%, save 10% and give 10%. More on this tomorrow.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Our own worst enemy
Our confessions continue this week. We have taked about our questions on sin, heaven and hell, Jesus and prayer. This week we look in the mirror and face a truth that is difficult to admit.
Christians are the reason many chose not to be Christian. Some possible examples are:
Christians are the reason many chose not to be Christian. Some possible examples are:
- Our imperfections become reasons others use to say we are hypocrites.
- Our religious behavior may seem strange to others and quite frankly seem unrelated to what Jesus said and did.
- When Christians align with special interests or political parties and claim their stance is the only faithful one possible we weaken the cause of Christ.
- When Christians fail to act boldly in the face of injustice, with mercy to those who are vulnerable, with compassion those who hurt, or live with hope in the face of adversity we give others reason to doubt.
What must we confess about the behavior of Christians that get in the way of others accepting Christ?
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sin Thoughts
This past Sunday, I kidded about how Amy was better prepared to preach than me on Sin this coming week. Fact is, I have enough experience with the topic. I expect you do also.
Having said this, we may not be speaking about the same thing. Or at least the same manifestation of sin. Our sin thoughts often go to specific behavior. Early Methodist classes weekly asked each other this question, "What sins have you committed lately?' Their interest was not embarrassment and voyeuristic interest. They knew the power of sin was strong and was dangerous to take on alone. What people did was important, but the cause and impact was more important.
It is important to remember another question they asked that was related to the sin question. "How is it with your soul?" They understood we could keep listing our sins and unless we address the health of our soul, our relationship with God, we will be doomed to continute to list broken and sinfilled behavior.
What sins have you committed this week? How is it with your soul? Who have you told? Who has offered forgiveness to you?
Having said this, we may not be speaking about the same thing. Or at least the same manifestation of sin. Our sin thoughts often go to specific behavior. Early Methodist classes weekly asked each other this question, "What sins have you committed lately?' Their interest was not embarrassment and voyeuristic interest. They knew the power of sin was strong and was dangerous to take on alone. What people did was important, but the cause and impact was more important.
It is important to remember another question they asked that was related to the sin question. "How is it with your soul?" They understood we could keep listing our sins and unless we address the health of our soul, our relationship with God, we will be doomed to continute to list broken and sinfilled behavior.
What sins have you committed this week? How is it with your soul? Who have you told? Who has offered forgiveness to you?
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