December 4, 2016
Stetson Memorial UMC
2nd Sunday
of Advent
“A Sacred Moment”
Sermon Series
Psalm 72:1-7; 18-19
Matthew 1:1-25
Luke 1:26-38
“In the Ordinary. .
. ”
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 Matthew and Luke. We will be
reading chapter 1, verses 1-25 and from Luke Chapter 1, verses 26-38. Listen to
the word of God for His people…you and I… (Read the gospel from the Message
translation)
Good
morning. Ok show of hands, how many of you think that you are ordinary? Why do
you think that (give time for people to
answer. Also, answer that question for myself)? We see and hear about these
people who do these extraordinary things and we think that are so awesome and
exceptional, we want to be just like them. Why can’t we just be special for
even just a moment? You can be…I will
tell you the secret later in my sermon and how to take your ordinary life and
turn it into something that is extraordinary…it is going to blow your mind…
We
started talking last week about how we, as people, as Christians need to find a
way to slow down, otherwise 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. As we slow down, we will see the sacredness all around us.
This
Advent time, is the season we expectantly await the celebration of His birth
and wait expectantly for his return. Unfortunately, this time of sacredness,
gets drowned out by the secular business. The word sacred itself means set
apart and holy. This sacredness of something is to be revered and respected but
this time of reverence and awe seems to get lost in the lights and glamor.
You
see for us 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. How did it go this week with my challenge to
take even just 5 minutes a day to just sit and be…contemplating on the
sacredness of the time we are in at this very moment?
This
Advent season, we have begun slowing down…even if for but a moment…to see what
might be missed in the hustle and bustle of the season. I would challenge us…you
and I…to take a spiritual journey to see all things through the
kaleidoscope…the display of beauty within the sacred space of Advent…I would even suggest that we might even journal
through this journey. It would be something that we could turn back to when the
hustle of life gets in the way of the rustle of angel wings around us.
Ok…so
the places of Sacredness…the moments
that can tend to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season are:
©
Sacred Time
©
Sacred People
©
Sacred Space
©
Sacred Knowing
©
Sacred Being
©
Sacred Doing
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…And as I have said…in
order to really enter into the Sacredness of Advent…we need to do it more than
just on Sunday’s so I would ask 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…
Last
week we rediscovered that Advent is a sacred time and how John the Baptist
spoke about time. The time of heaven intersecting the time of the then and now.
The time had come for a heart and life change. The time had come…and continue today…to prepare the way of
the Lord. We are that thunder in the
desert. We are that message of sacredness. We are the voice calling out in the
desert “make way for the kingdom of God…it is right before us…do you not
perceive it?”
This
week it is all about sacred people…set apart by and for God. We heard two
stories of the ordinary becoming extraordinary… Mary and Joseph.
Come on Pastor Ruth…these
were Jesus’ parents, of course they were and are Holy.
Ok…you are right they were God incarnates parents but what is the definition of
sacred we talked about? Sacred itself
means set apart and holy. We too can lead the life of sacred as we set
ourselves apart for God…we become holy as the Holy One of Israel uses us for
His glory. What did Mary answer when
called by God? “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me
be fulfilled.” What did Joseph do after the dream? When Joseph woke up, he did what the
angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Those
people we talked about earlier…live ordinary lives…just as you and I live
ordinary lives…but something is and was different about them. What made Mary
and Joseph so special…even though ordinary like you and me? Here we go…here is
the answer I promised you…it came to me when Rebecca Gallis was with us…I am
forever grateful for her giving me this one extremely important insight to my
life…the ordinary turned into something so much more…because they showed up…they said yes. . . God used them and continues to use them…use us. We
sometimes forget those in the background and not think much of them…we too have been in the background. But
those in the background humbling themselves are the ones that God will use for
His glory. . . we too become. . . "sacred",
set apart for and by God… (do mind
blown thing). Told yah it would blow your mind…
How
are we going to spend this “holiday season”? Are you and I going for the
superficial…or is there something more…is there a better way? I challenge you
and I to take a road far different than the highway that leads to the Bethlehem
Stable. I dare us…you and I…to allow God to make something sacred out of our
ordinary lives.
Perhaps
as we contemplate of the sacredness of people this week that we would walk in
our own call to sacred as we usher in the presence of peace. You were all given a safety pin this
morning. The symbolism is this. On Saturday, while we were creating this
beautiful vision we have in the sanctuary this morning, Sara Hill was wearing a
safety pin. When I asked her about it she said “it was on Facebook. There are
so many people who don’t feel safe anymore in the country they live. The pin is
a symbol we wear to let them know they are safe with us.” I challenge you to
wear it and be that sacred place others can run to. I challenge you and I
to slow ourselves down and sit within the Sacredness of the manger where we can
see the sacredness of the time…the sacredness of the ordinary…and bring what we
find there to the world through the sacredness of our lives…the witness of what we find there…in and
through the manger to the cross of our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
--------------------------
December 5,
2016
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
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
sermon blog
meditation blog
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
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
sermon blog
meditation blog
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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