Poetry Where You Live: sermon, When Love Came Down, by Pastor Ruth Foss, December 9, 2018, Second Sunday of Advent, Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church, Patten, Maine

December 9, 2018

Stetson Memorial UMC

Second Sunday of Advent

Sunday of Love

Worship Theme-

God’s Love in sending a Savior Sermon Series:

“The “Advent”ure…

Where Hope Begins”

Psalm 103

Luke 1:68-79 CEB

Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; 1 John 4:9-11

“When Love Cane Down…”

The Lord be with you…

And also with you…

Let us pray…

(Pray for the Spirits leading as God is heard through me or in spite of me…)

Please stand for the reading pf the Gospel according to Luke. We will be reading Chapter 1, verses 68-79. Listen to and about the Love of God that came down one night…a starry night…so long ago.

Read Zechariah’s prophecy…

Good Morning…We, as a family, have a tradition each year. We have what we like to call a Memory Tree in our home. It is a tree that we decorate together as a family. It is full of ornaments that have special memories for us and we have a wonderful time remembering the love that is found in each ornament.

It is a tradition that reminds us that love still exists. There are many in this world who are looking for love and are unable to find what they are looking for. We live in a world that seems to be void of love and has plenty of hate and chaos. Don’t get me wrong…there is still love in the world, but it seems to be getting harder and harder to find. I think one of my favorite things about Advent is that it reminds me of love…God’s love…even in a world that seems to be losing it’s “love light.”

Today we continue on a most excellent “Advent”ure…as we will travel to the place where hope begins…the hope of all people… Advent is one of my favorite seasons only overshadowed by the season of Lent. This is where Lent began…in a manger. This is where God’s plan of restoration began. Our destination…the manger…is the pivotal place for God’s promise to humanity.

Today is the Sunday of Love. Now this is not just a season of ordinary love. It is one that is about the extraordinary love that came down one silent night. It is about a love that was shown to humanity. It is a love that fulfilled the prophecy I read this morning that Zechariah pronounced right after John was born and he received his voice back.

⁶⁹He has raised up a mighty savior for us in his servant David’s house,
⁷⁰ just as he said through the mouths of his holy prophets long ago.

⁷⁶You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High,
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
⁷⁷You will tell his people how to be saved
    through the forgiveness of their sins.
⁷⁸Because of our God’s deep compassion,
    the dawn from heaven will break upon us,

He knew that is son was going to be part of God’s redemption plan…that God would forgive peoples sins because of His deep compassion…His deep love…

For God so Loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…

Scripture talks about God’s love for us that began even in the Garden when He made coverings made of skin for Adam and Eve…now we know that skin doesn’t grow on trees and there has to be a sacrifice of and animal to produce it…

This amazing love…

† Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

† Ephesians 2:4-5

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved.

†1 John 4:9-11

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Amazing…love…for you and for me…

Today is the Sunday that we remember the love that brought Jesus to earth…the love that kept Him on the cross…the love that will cause Him to return, as promised, to set things right-side up in this upside-down world… Maybe…just maybe…as we remember the love, we will be able to give love to others in need of a little love…show them the love. Perhaps as we remember we will be filled with the joy and love, to over flowing, as we wait and watch for His return. Yes, it truly a night of love unthinkable on that starry night when love came down…

Amen

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December 16, 2018

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Third Sunday in Advent

Sunday of Joy

Worship Theme -

“The Joy of the coming Messiah”

Sermon Series:

“The Advent”ure…

Where Hope Begins”

Psalm 63