John 21

​Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

In these weeks after Easter, we are considering what this good news of Jesus’ resurrection means for us. We start with the simple facts ... the empty tomb; the cast aside grave clothes; the witness of the angels; the appearance to Mary and the other women and finally the disciples, including Thomas, who like us all, struggled to accept the completely unheard of news that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

We then begin to understand that Jesus’ resurrection is the start of something new -- a new creation, a new covenant and relationship with God, a whole new world, and of course, a new us. But how, how can we who have grown old be born again?

This year at our family Christmas Eve services I was telling the Christmas story to a bunch of our children. (Now maybe it was because my own boys were getting to the age where we should be having “the talk,” but the story took on a new life this year.) I start the story by telling how the angel Gabriel comes to the Virgin Mary and tells her that she will conceive and bear a child, and she will call him Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. Then Mary asks, How will this be since I am a virgin? Gabriel explains that the Spirit of the Lord will overshadow you, and you will conceive and the child within you will be the child of most high God.

And I'm thinking that one good question from one of the children will change the course of this whole talk.

Digital detox is now a thing. It used to be just a handful of cranks warning us that the constant use of mobile devices would break our brains, but now even power users are bearing witness to the dark powers of ubiquitous technology. In many ways, tech has changed our lives for the better, but like most innovations that promise to improve life, there are unintended consequences with which we must reckon.
Here are some of troubles people are experiencing (perhaps you are as well) as we try to come to terms with our digital reality.

1. A sense loneliness.
   
2. Feelings of isolation.
3. Fear of missing out and a sense that there’s something wrong with us, our life, our experiences.
4. Lack of focus, clarity and the inability to concentrate for long periods of time.
5. General dissatisfaction with life, work, people and the world.
   

But perhaps the greatest negative impact of technology comes when we come to the realization that in some mysterious way, the way we relate to ourself and others has changed for the worse. We are no longer civil, patient or kind. It is increasingly difficult to listen to the human being sitting next to me. We are losing a lot of what makes us human.

Luke 6:17-26
Recall your happiest times. Not simply giggly times, but deep, satisfying happiness where you felt overwhelmed, maybe to the point of tears. Recall that feeling, that scene. Chances are that you were being generous in some significant way. We hear from time-to-time that happiness, joy and blessing are found where your gifts and the world's need meet. Scratching evening deeper, we might even say that we are happiest when we are giving, contributing, being generous. Here is a place, among others I am sure, where scientific research affirms spiritual wisdom: It is a happier thing to give than to receive. But it is also true that we happiness in receiving what need and long for the most.

Romans 12:3-13
Dear fellow members of Christ’s one body,
This coming weekend (December 1-2) marks the beginning of our observation of the season of Advent. Advent is the anticipation of God coming into our world and dwelling, abiding, being present among us ... being with us and for us. To observe Advent is to both remember and to hope for Jesus’ coming for us, to reconcile our lives, this world and the whole creation to God’s will and good purposes, according to God’s ancient promises.

As God’s baptized people, we are a community that remembers what God has done for us in Jesus Christ and longs for the day when God’s purposes are fulfilled for all people and for all creation. As a member of St. Paul’s you are part of a particular, local community of people that God gathers to remember and to hope together. We also are assembled to embody God’s will and loving purpose for the whole creation as we love and serve each other.

This leads me to believe, however, that there’s so much more to church membership than we might have ever taken the time to realize. At the beginning of a new church year and in a season that is about anticipation, expectation and hope for God’s will to be done in our lives, it may be a good time to rediscover together what we mean when we talk about membership at St. Paul’s. Who knows, a better understanding of our own membership in this body may help us better invite others into the benefits we share as part of this community. So, what does it mean to you when you say you are a member of St. Paul’s?

Make a one-time gift, or reoccurring donation to St. Paul’s today. God’s grace and your generous gifts keep the light of God’s love shining in this neighborhood.

Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ,

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
​
I am grateful to serve as a pastor of so diligent, loving and generous a congregation as St. Paul’s. Because of your presence, your work in and your commitment to this congregation the light of Christ overcomes the darkness that grips so many. Your financial commitment can literally and spiritually keep the light on ... and that makes all the difference. This is what I mean.​

Over the next week, we will hear read in worship the story of Jesus' last supper with his disciples, his agony and betrayal in the garden, his trial and condemnation, his crucifixion, death and burial, and then his resurrection from the dead. We call this story, the Passion of our Lord because it speaks of Jesus' suffering and death for us. This story is also called the Message of the Cross. This story is central to faith and life, and it is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. In one way or another, all Christian preaching and action flows from the message of the cross, but this time of year we tend to let this story, as we find it in Holy Scripture, simply speak to us directly -- in passion reading, song and liturgical action.

As we prepare to enter into the mystery of faith, here are some things you can keep in mind as you hear again for yourself the wonderful story of God's love and grace in Jesus Christ. You can read the story for yourself in Mark 11-16.

• The cross is God’s chosen and intentional way of redeeming us as God’s beloved children.
• The message of the cross proclaims Jesus Christ as the way to salvation for the whole world.
• It is not our failing or our worst that call for Jesus’ crucifixion, but our best; not our weakness, but our strength.
• Pay special attention to how religion and power (Empire) conspire to drive away  God with us, using its ultimate weapon -- death.

So what does this mean for us?

• Saved by grace through faith — means that God and Christ has done all that is needed to free us from the powers of sin and death … so life is faith in God through Jesus Christ.
• As we live from the cross, we look to align our thoughts and actions with the love of God in Christ Jesus.
  • Faith: Trust in God and in God’s own methods and God’s own means
  • Grace … Generosity: Salvation is all God’s doing … it is not ours by our own works, by receiving a gift
  • Hope: Stronger than death … and our actions.
  • Love:The message of the cross reveals God love for us
  • Obedience: Faithful obedience leads us to accept suffering in hope … even as we work to alleviate suffering in others and in the world.​

Mark 1:21-28
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The gift of God in Jesus Christ is so truly amazing that it seems almost unbelievable that people would find it offensive.

The grace we receive in the Gospel is the gift of a relationship with God that sustains us in this life and through death to an eternal life. This relationship with God is a gift that gives our life purpose, meaning and direction. In accordance with God’s will and God’s purposes, it is a gift that sets us free, truly free, to live as God’s children, whole and well in God’s praise. And so it seems almost incomprehensible that this word, this grace, this promise would evoke such violent reactions and responses in the hearts of the very people it sets out to love, save and bless.