December 25, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
Christmas Day
“A Sacred Moment”
Sermon Series
Psalm 98
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14
“Beloved...”
A prayer of illumination so that God will
speak through me or in-spite of me…
I would ask that you would stand as you are
able for the reading of the Gospel according to the apostle Luke Chapter 2,
verses 1-20. Listen to the word of God for His people…you and I… (Read the
gospel from the NIV Bible)
Merry
Christmas. I don’t know about you but I have been waiting all year to say those
words. Those two words shatter what the world around us and bring the sacred
near. These two words change our lives. These two words are words of love and
redemption. With these two words God shatters the strong holds of the enemy.
Without these two words, there is no happy Easter…no day of atonement. Without
these two words, there is no hope or light in the darkness… Merry Christmas to
you all.
Over
the past few of weeks, we have been talking about the sacred. We have talked
about the sacredness of the season we are in…the season of Advent when we
expectantly wait to celebrate Jesus’ birth and wait expectantly for His return.
But at times we can get so busy that we lose that sense of wonder we had and
everything becomes a chore…a box to be checked off…
We
have talked about the fact that if we don’t find a way to slow down, we are
going to miss the best part of this season of giving that we call Advent. We
are going to miss the best gift that we could ever receive. The gift of God’s
own Son in the form of a baby on a cold and silent night. When we slow down, we
will see the sacredness all around us.
We
know that the sacredness of something should be revered and respected but awe and
wonder of this season seems to get lost in the lights and glamor. If we want to
see…to feel…to touch the sacred, we need to slow down our pace and just be for
the moment…lest we miss the awe and wonder of the manger.
This
Advent season, we have slowed down…even if for but a moment…to see what might
be missed in the hustle and bustle of the season. I pray that you and I have
been able to see this season through the kaleidoscope, the display of beauty
within the sacred space of Advent…
I
would ask that we again would stop for a moment and just breath in the
sacredness of the space we are in right now…this sanctuary where God shows up
to meet us each Sunday… I have asked that
each of us would continue to spend some time each day…even just five minutes
and focus on…meditate upon the Sacredness we talk about each week… Let each
build upon each other until we embrace genuine purpose within this sacred
moment…
We
rediscovered that Advent is a sacred time. The time of heaven intersecting the
time of the then and now. We have even talked about sacred people within the
Christmas Adventure…remember…sacred people…set apart by and for God. We heard
Mary and Joseph’s stories and discovered they were just ordinary people who
“showed up” and God did the extraordinary in and through them…and we too have
the same chance of the extraordinary…but we need to show up…that is when the extraordinary things
happen…we heard the story of Mary and Elizabeth and how when they showed up
hope was birthed within that sacred place.
And
so here we are today…the day of Christmas…the day that we have waited for…the
day that we celebrated the that Sacred Moment that love came down and the
Sacred lived among us. What joy there was in heaven. Listen again to the angels
greeting to the shepherds…
“Do not be afraid. I bring
you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the
town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in
a manger.”
And
what happened next…
13 Suddenly a great company
of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the
highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his
favor rests.”
They
knew that had happened to and for humanity and they celebrated. Now I am going out on a limb here but it
seems to me that they were more over joy not so much about the birth of Christ
but what that birth would mean to you and to me…
I
think my favorite piece of scripture about Christ’s birth is found in John 1,
verses 1-14. Let me read this account for you…
The
Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the
beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made
that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all
mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome
it.
6 There was a man sent
from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that
light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light;
he came only as a witness to the light.
9 The true light that
gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and
though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He
came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all
who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to
become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human
decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one
and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
“Yet
to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the
right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor
of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth.” This is Christmas…this is the meaning behind the sacred moments…this is
the joy of season. Immanuel…God with us. This is the story we, as Christians,
should be telling instead of Santa Clause and his 8-tiny reindeer. This is the
hope beyond all hope. This is the reason for the season…This is the greatest
gift of all that we sang about just a few minutes ago, love wrapped in
swaddling clothes lying in a manger. The sacred among us…
I
continue to challenge you and I to take a road far different than the highway
that leads to the Bethlehem Stable and continue to go back as we begin a New
Year. I continue to dare us…you and I…to allow God to make something sacred out
of our ordinary lives. The Sacred still walks among us, living in you and in
me. We need to take that light into a world in need of light in the darkness.
We have much to tell for we are the beloved of God for He loved us so much that
He sent His only begotten Son and whoever believes in Him shall not die but
have eternal life… You Are Loved! We are not loved because of something we can
do or earn, we are simply beloved, first born of God. The proof…God took on
flesh and lived among us…that’s all the proof we need…
I
continue to challenge you and I to slow ourselves down and sit within the
Sacredness of the manger where we can see and feel the sacredness of space not
only in our sanctuary but as we take our “tent of the Meeting” out into a world
that is in need of a “sacred, safe place” to be…to see the sacredness of the
ordinary…and bring what we find there to the world through the sacredness of
our lives, within the sacred space…the
witness of what we find there…in and through the manger to the cross of our
Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas…may you have a God-inspired New Year!
Amen.
--------------------------
December 25,
2016
edited
December 25, 2016
leave the
presents – v2
December 25,
2016
leave the
presence
December 25,
2016
May we gather
in worship
December 25,
2016
Christmas Day
worship theme:
Sacred Among Us
Psalm 98
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14
Communion
Advent sermon
series based on Marcia McFee’s series “Sacred”
and sermon, “Beloved…”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth Foss
sermon blog
meditation blog
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 25, 2016
Christmas Day
&
December 24,
2016
in the
presence of the divine
December 24,
2016
we enter the
stable
edited
December 24, 2016
only because
of Christ – v2
December 24,
2016
in the manger
December 24,
2016
only because
of Christ
and musings on
the article
“The True
Meaning of Christmas, According to the Wesleys”
by David
Watson
&
December 24,
2016
On this most
holy of nights – v3
Christmas Eve
Prayer for our candlelight worship service
edited
December 24, 2016
Light entered
the world – v2
edited
December 24, 2016
Light entered
the world
December 24,
2016
Love entered
the world
edited
December 23, 2016
we gather
around the manger
December 23,
2016
brought back
to the stable
edited
December 23, 2016
can you hear
the song of the angels – v2
December 23,
2016
can you hear
the song of the angels
edited
December 23, 2016
we gather at
the manger – v2
December 23,
2016
we gather at
the manger
December 23,
2016
gather in the
stable
December 23,
2016
being, in this
moment
December 24,
2016
Christmas Eve
worship theme:
Sacred Being
Luke 2:1-20
John 1:1-14
Advent sermon
series based on Marcia McFee’s series “Sacred”
Christmas Eve
Prayer
On this most
holy of nights – v3
Raymond
A. Foss
Christmas Eve
Greeting (sermonette)
text
video
image
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 24, 2016
Christmas Eve
&
December 22,
2016
preaching to
us
December 22,
2016
singing to
heaven
December 22,
2016
shining like
the star
December 21,
2016
sharing the
message
December 21, 2016
Transform my heart
December 19,
2016
whispering,
shouting
December 19,
2016
The angel’s
announcement
December 19,
2016
The angels
sang
December 19,
2016
love was alive
editing
December 18, 2016
a sacred
knowing – v3
December 17,
2016
if this was
Christ
December 17,
2016
this is the
Christ - 3
edited
December 17, 2016
a sacred
knowing – v2
December 17,
2016
a sacred
knowing
December 18,
2016
Fourth Sunday
of Advent - Love
worship theme:
Sacred Knowing
Luke 2:1-15
Advent sermon
series based on Marcia McFee’s series “Sacred”
Worship
In Song Service
Centering Song
= Surely the Presence
Opening Prayer
Worship Video
Lighting of the Advent
Wreath
= Amen
= Hark, the Herald Angels
Sing
= Angels We Have Heard On
High
Offertory
= Offering
Prayer of Thanksgiving
SMUMC Sacred Dance Ministry
= Away In A Manger
Special Music
= Why Can’t Christmas Just
Be Christmas
= Silent Night
= Adestes Fidelis (O Come
All Ye Faithful)
= O Holy Night
Closing Music
= Carol of the Drum
= How Many Kings?
= Mary’s Little Baby Boy
= Joy to the World
= Feliz Navidad
Departing Blessing
======================
Praise Team
Leader Chuck Loucka
Praise Team
Members: Chuck Loucka, Pastor Ruth Foss, Chrissy McCarthy, Shanequa Foss,
Theresa Schmidt, Sharon McPhee, Shyanne Foss, Ken Perkins, Ted Pettengill
service led by
Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 18, 2016
Fourth Sunday of Advent
&
December 17,
2016
we are touched
by the sacred
December 17,
2016
every place we
go is sacred
edited December
17, 2016
the vessels of
our bodies – v2
edited
December 17, 2016
joy
overwhelmed them – v2
December 16,
2016
joy
overwhelmed them
edited
December 16, 2016
shouting for
joy – 2 – v3
edited
December 15, 2016
shouting for
joy – 2 – v2
December 15,
2016
shouting for
joy - 2
December 14,
2016
this was Jesus
- 2
December 14,
2016
they knew
December 13,
2016
filled with
the Holy Spirit - 3
December 12,
2016
peace is
birthed
December 12,
2016
He knew this
was the Christ
December 12,
2016
set aside for
God
December 12,
2016
the vessels of
our bodies
December 11,
2016
carrying the
sacred within us
December 11,
2016
Mary sang a
song of praise
December 11,
2016
They showed up
December 11,
2016
when God
needed them
December 11,
2016
joy in their
knowing
edited
December 11, 2016
sensing the
holy – v2
December 11,
2016
sensing the
holy
December 11,
2016
Knowing this
place is holy
December 11,
2016
Worship in
Song
December 11,
2016
John leapt for
joy
December 11,
2016
Mary sang the
Magnificat
December 11,
2016
hope was
birthed
December 11,
2016
in the
sacredness of that moment
edited
December 11, 2016
we rejoice in
our Lord – v2
December 11,
2016
the holy
within them
December 11,
2016
leaping in the
sanctuary
December 11,
2016
John sensed
the Christ
December 11,
2016
A sacred
moment
December 11,
2016
we rejoice in
our Lord
December 11,
2016
we light this
third candle
December 10,
2016
in the joy of
our Lord
December 10,
2016
a sacred space
for Advent
edited
December 10, 2016
we will find
God – v2
December 10,
2016
a holy space
set apart
edited
December 10, 2016
within the
vessel of Mary’s womb
edited
December 10, 2016
within the
vessel of her body – v2
December 10,
2016
within the
vessel of her body
edited
December 10, 2016
in the
sanctuary of her womb – v2
December 10,
2016
in the
sanctuary of her womb
December 10,
2016
in the
response of John, of Elizabeth
December 10,
2016
in the refuge
of her home
December 10,
2016
in the
sanctuary of her bosom
December 11,
2016
Third Sunday
of Advent - Joy
worship theme:
Sacred Space
Psalm 146
Psalm 47:2a
Luke 1:39-56
(Mary’s visit
with Elizabeth)
Advent sermon
series based on Marcia McFee’s series “Sacred”
and sermon
“Birthing Room. . . ”
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 11, 2016
Third Sunday of Advent
&
edited
December 10, 2016
the response
of Mary, of Joseph – v3
(editing
original again)
edited
December 10, 2016
matching our
steps – v2
December 10,
2016
they said yes
to God
edited
December 9, 2016
their faith
made them holy
December 9,
2016
their actions
made them holy
December 9,
2016
Christ’s holy
parents
December 9,
2016
they did the
extraordinary
December 8,
2016
at peace in
submission
edited
December 8, 2016
we are called
to be sacred – v2
December 8,
2016
we are called
to be sacred
December 7,
2016
the sacredness
of the ordinary
edited
December 7, 2016
sacred people
– v2
edited
December 7, 2016
our own call
to be sacred – v2
December 7,
2016
our own call
to be sacred
December 7,
2016
sacred people
December 7,
2016
humble
servants
December 7,
2016
those in the
background
December 6,
2016
God used them
December 6,
2016
those ordinary
people
December 6,
2016
eternity and
time
December 6,
2016
because they
showed up
December 6,
2016
to touch the
sacred – 2
edited
December 6, 2016
I am the
Lord’s Servant – 2 – v2
December 6,
2016
sacred
December 6,
2016
matching our
steps
December 6,
2016
we are special
December 6,
2016
same as all
the others
edited
December 5, 2016
the response
of Mary, of Joseph – v2
December 5,
2016
we will find
God
merged
December 5, 2016
the response
of Mary, of Joseph
December 5,
2016
following
God’s command
December 5,
2016
I am the
Lord’s Servant - 2
December 4,
2016
King and God
and sacrifice
December 4,
2016
remembering
the cross
December 4,
2016
In the storms,
in the darkness
December 4,
2016
guide us in
the way of peace
December 4,
2016
They answered
God’s call
December 4,
2016
going makes
the difference
December 4,
2016
the ordinary
are made sacred
December 4,
2016
nothing
special
December 4,
2016
Second Sunday
of Advent - Peace
worship theme:
Sacred People
hymns:
Tell Me The
Story of Jesus
Where Shepherds
Watched Their Flocks
We Three Kings
of Orient Are
What Child Is
This?
O Come, O
Come, Emmanuel
Let There Be
Peace On Earth
Psalm 72:1-7
Psalm 72:18-19
Matthew
1:18-25
Luke 1:26-38
Advent sermon
series based on Marcia McFee’s series “Sacred”
and sermon “In
the Ordinary. . . “
text
video
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
December 4, 2016
Second Sunday of Advent
&
edited
December 3, 2016
breathing in
Advent – v2
edited
December 3, 2016
sit within the
sacredness of the stable – v2
December 3,
2016
are we voices
crying
December 3,
2016
thinking about
the Christ-child
edited
December 3, 2016
this sacred
time of now – v2
edited
December 3, 2016
within the
sacred time – v2
edited
December 3, 2016
the time of
heaven – v2
edited
December 2, 2016
walking
barefoot – v2
edited
December 2, 2016
taking off our
shoes – v2
edited
December 2, 2016
walking in
sacred time – v2
edited
December 2, 2016
a closeness of
heaven – v2
December 1,
2016
walking in
sacred time
December 1,
2016
Have we
forgotten Christ
December 1,
2016
we carry God’s
message of hope
December 1,
2016
we are heralds
in the darkness
December 1,
2016
we light this
candle
December 1,
2016
God’s promises
endure - 2
edited / new
name December 1, 2016
we live in the
light of the holy
December 1,
2016
we live in the
light of hope
December 1,
2016
we have
forgotten God
December 1,
2016
sit within the
sacredness of the stable
December 1,
2016
walking
barefoot
December 1,
2016
taking off our
shoes
December 1,
2016
this sacred
time of now
December 1,
2016
the gift of
our days
December 1,
2016
the gift of
now
December 1,
2016
within the
sacred time
December 1,
2016
trappings of
the season
December 1,
2016
the time of heaven
December 1,
2016
a closeness of
heaven
December 1,
2016
we are God’s
voice
November 30,
2016
prepare the
way of the Lord
November 30,
2016
removing God
from Advent
November 30,
2016
removing God
from Christmas
November 30,
2016
the sacred
space of Advent – v2
edited
November 29, 2016
the light of
the manger – v2
November 29,
2016
removing God
from the sacred
November 29,
2016
within this
sacred time
November 29,
2016
the light of
the manger
November 29,
2016
God incarnate
- 2
November 29,
2016
a sacred time
November 29,
2016
are our hearts
open
edited
November 29, 2016
are we waiting
for Jesus – v2
November 28,
2016
the sacred
time of Advent
November 28,
2016
breathing in
Advent
November 28,
2016
breathing in
these minutes
edited
November 28, 2016
to touch the
sacred – v2
November 28,
2016
slowing our
steps in Advent
November 28,
2016
journeying on
a dirt road
November 27,
2016
to touch the
sacred
November 27,
2016
the wonder of
the manger
November 27,
2016
the sacred
space of Advent
November 27,
2016
lost in the
lights and glitter
November 27,
2016
set apart and
holy
November 27,
2016
we will
celebrate his birth
November 27,
2016
we wait for
His coming
November 27,
2016
before the
turkey is cold
November 27,
2016
The day is
almost here - 2
November 27,
2016
The night is
almost over
November 27,
2016
put on the
armor of light
Romans
13:11-12
November 27,
2016
change your
life - 2
November 27,
2016
preaching in
the desert
November 27,
2016
our hope is in
His word
November 27,
2016
hope in that
flickering candle
edited/ new
name November 27, 2016
we light this
candle in the hope
November 27,
2016
going doing
the Magi and
John the Baptist
November 27,
2016
there is hope
in the promise
November 27,
2016
are we
waiting for Jesus
edited
November 27, 2016
where is Jesus
– v2
November 27,
2016
awaking in
Advent
November 26,
2016
we light this
candle in hope
November 26,
2016
coming to
Christ
November 26,
2016
crying with
John
November 26,
2016
why aren’t we
shouting
November 26,
2016
where is Jesus
November 26,
2016
do we listen
to John
November 26,
2016
a voice of
hope
November 26,
2016
preparing our
hearts - 2
November 26,
2016
we join him at
the Jordan
edited
November 26, 2016
we stand
convicted – v2
November 26,
2016
we begin in
hope
November 26,
2016
we feed the
flame
November 26,
2016
we begin in
advent
November 26,
2016
we light the
spark
edited/ new
name November 26, 2016
we light a
candle of hope
November 26,
2016
lighting a
candle of hope
November 27,
2016
First Sunday
of Advent - Hope
Prepare Ye the
Way
worship theme:
Sacred Time
Psalm 130
Romans
13:11-12
Matthew 3:1-12
Advent sermon
series based on Marcia McFee’s series “Sacred”
and sermon “In
the Business…“
text
video (partial
before disk was full, 11:47 minutes)
by Pastor Ruth
Foss
and Children’s Message
by Pastor Ruth Foss
Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church
Patten, ME
November 27, 2016
First Sunday of Advent
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