Sunday thoughts:
The readings for Sunday are HERE
Our EfM Online group reflected on this passage using this Mosaic. It shows a sea full of fish - as full as the net.

I have been thinking about the imagery of the fish and the net. The saying - "In whom we live and move and have our being" always makes me think of fish in the sea. We eat and breathe and move in the sea of God. God who is as much in us as outside of us (as we are 60-78% water, depending on our age) Perhaps there is some sense that all those fish are already living in God - those netted are just brought closer. The problem for me with this is that netted fish will die out of the sea. However, the Greek word that we have as "fishing" has the meaning of capturing alive or restoring to life.
Maybe, though, there is something about the awareness of death and Jesus teaching that we need not fear it that frees us to move out into life and tell others about this freedom?

Another thing that stands out is the overwhelming numbers of the catch - they had to ask for help to bring it in. A task that is too big for one boat.

William Willamon, chaplain at Duke U. tells of his vestry being captured by this sense of being able to do a task bigger than he (the pastor) thought was possible. The church had a 5% deficit, yet when the vestry met - they were so excited by the power of the Spirit among them and the ministries they felt were needed - they voted a 10% increase in the budget for the next year. He was shocked when the church rose to the challenge of the vestry - through their ablility to communicate their excitement - and the the budget was met and more so the next year. The vestry did not let fear block their vision.

We have been caught up in a life that offers freedom from fear, freedom to live, freedom to love ourselves, our neighbor, and God. It is a gift that grows as it is given away - a paradox we hear about from St. Francis - it is in giving we receive. Will we share it with others?

There is a blog called Of Course I Could Be Wrong written by one who calls himself Mad Priest. He writes from England:
You, are to be catchers of people. You, must not be afraid.

And we should be telling people about God’s love for them, and we should not be afraid of doing this.

The reason why the Church is dying in our land is because we, who call ourselves the people of God, are afraid to tell our neighbours that God loves them. We are afraid to tell them with words because we don’t want to be laughed at or thought of as strange. We are afraid to tell them in our actions because we are afraid to let go of security and luxury. And, please, believe me, I am as guilty as anybody else, which is why I can’t go down there and get Betty to dance round the church. I am afraid that I might fail and look silly in front of all of you. I am afraid that if I try to walk on the water I will sink.

But, hang on a second. Jesus didn’t ask Peter if he would consider catching people for the rest of his life or all the other stuff that Peter had to eventually face. No, as I said, it was a performative statement. Jesus simply said, “You will be catching people,” and so it came to be.

The same applies to us. Those of you who have knelt at the knees of Jesus have no option either. Those of you who have the Holy Spirit inside cannot now evict him. You will be catchers of people. You cannot stop it. It comes with the package. That is why this church, full of people who love each other and who love God, is a healthy growing church in spite of our fear. We catch people and bring them into the Kingdom of God, and life doesn’t get more miraculous than that.

Mystical Seeker puts it this way.
Building a just world will not happen in an instant. It is a long, tedious process, much as the evolution of the universe and of life on this planet has been a long, tedious process. We don't always know how what we do influences the world in the long term. We can't know this, really. All we can do is our small part. It would be nice to see the results of our actions, and to see them now. But we build the Kingdom of God, not for the instant gratification of seeing all our dreams realized in the here and now, but because to try to build the Kingdom of God is the right thing to do. Maybe just acquiring patience is the real miracle.

The Bible says that Moses never made it to the promised land. But that didn't stop him from going on the journey with his people. Jesus was executed as state criminal without ever knowing what would result from his ministry. Most of us will never see anything but the tiniest and most immediate effects of our actions. But the reward lies not in the immediate results, but in the longer term processes of which we are a part. And that, to me, is the ultimate miracle.

In case you are resisting taking the Anti-Racism Training, watch and weep.




You can order the video HERE from Reel Works Teen Film Making.

Sermon as perhaps preached - no church for me - the roads are closed from here to Rock Springs and Eden due to snow. Instead of reading 1 Corinthians from the Bible we planned to read it as edited by Mark Schowalter and made to fit our church by me. Thanks to Luiz Coelho for the image.

FROM CORINTHIANS
"We Are All One"
Text taken from 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 (NRSV)

V1: I'm one.

V2: I'm one.

V3: And I'm one.

V4: And I'm one.

V5: And I am one also.

V6: And I am one, too.

All: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.

V1: For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.

V2: Males and females, peoples of all ages, tongues, and races,

V3: and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

V4: Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.

All: If the foot would say,

V5: Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,

All: that would not make it any less a part of the body.

V6: Because we are the Youth Group and Sunday School and do not have the experiences older members have,

All: It does not make them any less part of the body of Christ.

V1: And if the ear would say,

V2: Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,

All: that would not make it any less a part of the body.

V3: Because we are the saints and sages of the church and not full of the energy like the young folk,

All: It does not make them any less part of the body of Christ.

V4: If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?

V5: If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

V1. If it weren't for the Bible Study groups where would Adult study be?

V2: And if it wasn't for the congregation, what would the Vestry do?

V3: If it weren't for Sunday School teachers who would teach the children?

V4: If it weren't for the choir, who would sing for the congregation?

V5: If it weren't for the ushers who would help us find our way?

All: But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

V6: If all were a single member, where would the body be?

V1: As it is, there are many members, yet one body.

All: The eye cannot say to the hand,

V2: I have no need of you,

All: nor again the head to the feet,

V3: I have no need of you.

V4: On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

V5: and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor,

V1: and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;

V2: whereas our more respectable members do not need this.

All: But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another.

V3: If one member suffers, all suffer together with it;

V4: if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.

V5: So when arguments and disagreements go unresolved,

V6: We all suffer.

V1: And when one group does something that gains praise,

V2: We all praise God for that accomplishment.

V3: When someone's feelings are hurt,

V4: or something is said that is spiteful,

All: We all suffer.

V1: I'm one.

V2: I'm one.

V3: And I'm one.

V4: And I'm one.

V5: And I am one also.

V6: And I am one, too.

All: Now we are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

Gospel from Luke == followed by this (if they decide to use it)

To me the people who put together the Sunday readings should not have divided this week’s Gospel from next week’s Gospel as they are so much a part of each other.
Jesus is home visiting and is called upon to read in the synagogue. He proclaims the great liberating texts of Isaiah

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And then it says:
"And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

All seem to be nodding, "oh yes, very nice young man, he grew up here you know, but he hasn’t done any of his famous miracles here in his own hometown.”
So he goes on to say: "Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’ “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."
When the hometown folks heard this, “all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.”

Once he started saying that the widow of Zarephath and Naaman, foreigners and not even of the correct religious tradition, have received God's grace and are welcomed at the table, he was in big trouble with those who knew who is "in" and who is "out." They want to toss him off the nearest cliff, but he passes through them like Obi Wan and the droids in Star Wars

(Note to reader: you can drop this if you don’t want it – have to act it out – the storm trooper starts out gruff but sort of loses his mind as when Obi Wan waves his hand)
Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don't need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along


These passages about bringing good news to the poor, liberating the captives, lifting the burden of oppression and giving sight to the blind are the foundational basis for Jesus' ministry and message. Always - he brings us up short when we think we can box him into being our Jesus, our homeboy, our god. Jesus is the incarnation of the wild creator God, the Spirit who goes where she wills as the Gospel of John says. He cannot be limited to our pet. He will reach out to all who cry for liberation, healing, and freedom from the oppressive systems that keep them from fully becoming that which God intends.
Where do the words of Jesus meet us in our lives? Perhaps we are poor in spirit and need feeding on the word of God. Perhaps we are on the edge of poverty due to medical bills or unexpected emergencies and need help to find our way out. What things hold us captive – a need for education? Do substances - drugs, alcohol – whatever keep us captive? Are we burden by others’ prejudices? Around the world and here in Rock Springs people are suffering to a greater and lesser degree –but it is all suffering and where ever it can be taken away – the more are free to help others. Jesus’ promise is that he brings good news of the promise that this can happen.
Jesus proclaims sight for the blind. I think he is speaking mainly of blindness to the fact that we are all brothers and sisters of the human family. Blindness to the opportunities to help one another around the world to live life as though the kingdom of God has already come. We suffer from blindness of imagination – imagination that can lift up out of wars and greed to a world that has a place at the table for all.
In this Gospel reading, Jesus reminds us that God cares for all and invites all to the banquet. St Paul in the letter we read together reminds us that we are all one but all have a part to play.
Let us pray that we receive this sight to see the abundance in our midst. And seeing the abundance of love, of gifts, of abilities, we join in ministry of reconciliation of the world as we promised in our baptism. Pray that we begin, in whatever ways, large or small, beginning within our families and communities and spreading out to all the world, to see the opportunities that abound. Amen.

Sunday: The Year of the Lord's Favor
Click here for the readings.
The lectionary folks did this pericope a disservice by dividing it between 2 Sundays.
Jesus is home visiting and is called upon to read in the synagogue. He proclaims the great liberating texts of Isaiah

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And then it says:
"And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

All seem to be nodding, "oh yes, very nice young man, he grew up here you know" but he won't do miracles for them and he goes on to say:
"Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself!' And you will say, 'Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.'" And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown. But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way."

Once he started saying that the widow of Zarephath and Naaman, foreigners and not even of the correct religious tradition, have received God's grace and are welcomed at the table, he was in big trouble with those who knew who is "in" and who is "out." They want to toss him off the nearest cliff, but he passes through them like Obi Wan and the droids in Star Wars

Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don't need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along


These passages are the foundational basis for Jesus' ministry and message. Always he brings us up short when we think we can box him into being our Jesus, our homie, our god. Jesus is the incarnation of the wild creator God, the Spirit who goes where she wills as the Gospel of John says. He cannot be limited to our pet. He will reach out to all who cry for liberation, healing, and freedom from the oppressive systems that keep them from becoming that which God intends. Jesus proclaims sight for the blind. If it is our prayer that we receive sight to see -we will continue to be amazed by the abundance in our midst. Abundance of love, of gifts, of abilities to join in ministry of reconciliation.

A fun quiz for today:

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The West   Your accent is the lowest common denominator of American speech. Unless you're a SoCal surfer, no one thinks you have an accent. And really, you may not even be from the West at all, you could easily be from Florida or one of those big Southern cities like Dallas or Atlanta.
The Midland
Boston
North Central
The Inland North
Philadelphia
The South
The Northeast
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

FRIDAY: Since I am not preaching this Sunday, I am not working on a sermon on the Wedding at Cana. I preach on it at most weddings because I like the idea of the Spirit turning our watery relationships into fine wine.
This morning I was listening to NPR and heard their Story Corps for today. I was reminded of the story of the Persistent Widow in the Bible. In the NPR story the woman tells of her ordeal trying to register to vote. The registrars did not want to register a black woman. They tried all sorts of trick questions to keep her off the rolls. One time they asked her how many red jelly beans were in a large jar of jelly beans. It went on like that for a long time but she kept coming back. Finally they asked a question about the preamble to the Constitution to which she knew the answer. She had that memorized and passed. But the registrar told her as he handed her the voter's card,
"You're going to pass today. Because we are tired of looking at your black face," Burroughs recalls him saying.
Then he handed over the slip of paper that meant Burroughs was a registered voter.
This is the same story of the Persistent Widow who was seeking justice from the unjust judge in the Bible. She kept coming back. The Judge grants her justice not because he is a just judge but because she wears him out - actually the Greek says he worries about her giving him a black eye - a boxing term that is not just metaphorical.
Like water dripping on a stone (as the song says) the persistence erodes injustice. It is wearying work and often we are tempted to give up. The woman voter almost gave up but someone encouraged her to keep at it. She learned all she could about her oppressors to trip them up in their own ways. She used her anger for energy to keep going.
I don't usually comment on the church in this blog -but the recent events by the Panel of Reference sent by the Archbishop of Canterbury to the Diocese of Fort Worth have put me over the edge. Here is the story from Episcopal News Service. The Episcopal Church decided many years ago that women and men are called to the priesthood and can be ordained. Fort Worth and a couple of other dioceses have said they can't do it - something about our body parts make us unfit in their eyes. Nothing personal they say - just too bad. Along comes the Panel of Reference to tell us we have to make allowances for these misogynists. Can you tell I am angry about a bunch of mostly men, from places that don't ordain women, deciding what TEC should do? You betcha! Sorry we are not buying. We are staying and persisting until justice prevails. I take strength from previous and ongoing struggles for recognition of full humanity of all persons. The Persistent Widow and the Woman Voter are my heroes. A luta contuinua
For more on Fort Worth and one of the persistent ones Click Here

EPIPHANY
Matthew 2
The Visitation of the Wise Ones is one of my favorite stories (I know, I say that about most Bible stories!). I like this photo of kids as Magi as it has more than 3 and a girl and several Santa hats. There is no record of the number although the 3 gifts have encouraged people to assume one per visitor. The nature of Greek plurals is that if there is even one male in a group the plural is masculine. As Elisabeth Schussler-Fiorenza says - the hermeneutic of suspicion should assume female presence in such cases unless there is further definition. The visitors seem to be from non-Jewish lands - tradition shows each one from a different racial group (although these groupings did not have the same meaning in the time of Christ as for us - people around the Mediterranean Sea came in all colors- very few blue eyed blonds, however. There is also no indication that they abandoned their religious traditions although they saw holiness dwelling in our midst in the house (no stable in Matthew) of Mary and Joseph.
The point of all this prologue is that the Magi represent, to me, seekers of all countries and ages. All those who would follow their dreams and look for stars to lead them closer to the Holy.
It is the anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood -- hopefully a vocation to point to the stars and encourage the dreams of all.

CHRISTMAS EVE
Click here for Readings
This year I have a question - what are we doing here so late at night anyway? Sometimes I have gone to church late on Christmas eve because my parents dragged me there. Sometimes I came dragging my children. I still remember the middle of a flute solo when Matthew, about 3 years old, fell asleep and rolled off the pew - that long moment of silence before the howls that still echo. Or that moment when John sang the solo for one of the Magi - he did it for years and even when he stopped, one time was called upon minutes before the Magi procession to fill in for a boy who panicked at the last moment. Or to see Kristin dressed in red cassock and white surplice carrying the cross or singing with the choir. Sometimes I did not go at all but sat home knowing something was missing but not able to get myself to church. Often I went for the music and the candles and the dark mystery of it all. As I became more active in church I went because I had a role to play - choir, eucharistic minister, priest.
Always it is about wonder - either wondering or experiencing wonder about our God who became one of us in the birth at Bethlehem. Strange name - Bethlehem - House of Bread - where God is so helpless as to depend on us for feeding and yet feeds us eternally. Wonder and Hope -- awaiting the birth and rebirth of hope in our time.
The time into which Jesus was born was a time of Empire and oppression. The Roman rule was meant to keep people in their place, the religious people both rebelled against that and cooperated with it. Some of the religious establishment feared that not cooperating would mean the end of their people, some read the scriptures as a book of rebellion against foreign rulers. There was hope that one would come to free them from Rome - a new David. Just as in our day we look for a leader to save us from ourselves. If only we have the right one - in church, in government, in communities - everything will be all perfect. How can a helpless infant show us the way? I wonder.
I wonder what the shepherds and magi were thinking when listening to angels and following stars? Who are angels we hear and what are the stars we follow to find ourselves kneeling once again in the dark this night. They lived in times of war and divisions and yet they heard and saw beyond all the chaos - heard the cry of an infant and his family gathered in a cave where the animals were kept - a place out of the way of the raucous travelers filling the inn. Heard and obeyed the angel who spoke of peace and good will. Wise ones from afar caught a glimpse of a star that proclaimed a new king - one that drew them onward across the desert and dangerous places. The shepherds and magi felt that surge of hope - is this the one - will we see a time of peace, a time when all are fed, when the hurting are healed, when we are freed from our prisons - constructed by us and by others - prisons that keep humankind from becoming all the God desires. They came to the place where Love was born into our midst, love that warms and melts our cold, hardened hearts. Love that opens us up to the love of God and love of neighbor - coming into us and going out from us. Love that clears the channels of debris of anger, self doubt, fear to allow the free flowing of that love.
This is true story from Larry Graham of a father who understood all this:
The classroom was quiet and cheerless on that dark December day, lit
only by cool fluorescent lights. Students were hunched over their final
exam papers. A secretary appeared at the door and said, "Professor
Graham, you have an urgent telephone call. I'll proctor for you while
you take it."

The call was not an unexpected one. Even so, my heart was filled with
dread as I sprinted up the stairs to the office. It was my mother
calling. My father had been hospitalized at the Kansas University
Medical Center for over a month while the doctors battled daily with
death. His youth, spent in the lead mines, the mustard gas during
World War One, and the shrapnel that still occasionally surfaced, had
all taken their toll. Now, in his late seventies, it was time.

"The doctors say come at once if you want to see him before he goes."

I graded my last papers as quickly as I could, turned in the grade
sheets, packed a bag and caught the shuttle that took me from Athens
to Atlanta, the airport and the plane to Joplin Missouri. Mother was
waiting at the tiny airport. I drove us the thirty-some miles across
the Kansas border in the darkness and bitter cold. By the time we got
to Columbus, it was almost eleven o'clock. We agreed to catch a few
hours' sleep before setting out on the long drive north to Kansas
City.

The telephone rang at 2:30. It was the hospital. He had died
peacefully in his sleep. I replied mechanically to the questions that
began the process of "final arrangements." Mother had emerged from her
bedroom and stood there quietly. Her face was peaceful and serene.

"He's gone then?" she asked.

"Yes"

"God bless him on his way."

The casket was a simple one. The body, embalmed but otherwise
unprepared, showed the ravages of his final illness. It was dignified,
though, by the Army uniform and the many medals won during his
lifetime of service; and his progress through the ranks from private
to colonel.

This gentle man, my father, filled with love and acceptance for his
gay son, was gone and death was real. "Goodbye," I said. Mother kissed
him gently on the forehead and the undertaker closed the casket. The
military funeral was short and dignified.

When invited to return to our house, the military escort officer, the
sergeant and his men complied with only slight surprise. At the house,
the dining table was laden with food brought by friends and family. A
buffet luncheon ensued. There were stories, and laughter, and tears.
It ended with popping Champagne corks.

Mother gave the toast, "God bless Rusty," she said.

Cards were arriving in the mail. Some were Christmas cards, some were
condolence cards and some were 50th wedding anniversary cards. Dad had
died on the evening of that important event.

"What about a tree?" Mother wanted to know. I said I didn't feel like
putting one up, but I knew that dad would want us to soldier on. "He'd
have a fit if we didn't." was Mother's response to that. So we decided
on a small one.

I was just putting the last of the ornaments in place when the UPS
truck stopped in front of the house. A very large box, shipped from a
Kansas City department store, was delivered to the door. I signed for
it and brought it inside.

"What on earth?" Mom said.

"Dunno," I replied and began to open it. From his deathbed, dad had
contacted a personal shopper. Orders were given and complied with.
After church on Christmas eve we sat near the tree, opening gifts from
a dead man. The love that conquers death warmed my heart then.

It warms it still.

This is the hope we have - that the Love of God in Christ conquers death and frees us to become the people of God. That in this birth we are renewed in that love.

Children know it - they know that kisses make things well. Even at their worst they can suddenly turn to us and say "I love you." One little boy came to the altar one Christmas with his palms up to receive communion -- he had "I love" on one palm and "You" on the other - all neatly written upside down so it would be readable to the one giving him communion. He knew what it was all about. That's it - simple.

As Christina Rossetti says in the words to our hymn #84

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and neighbor,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

Or as Fra Giovanni, wrote in 1513:
No heaven can come to us unless our hearts can find rest in today…
No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present little instant.
Take Peace!
The gloom of the world is but a shadow.
Behind it yet within our reach is Joy.
There is radiance and glory in the darkness,
could we but see and to see we have only to look.
Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering,
cast them away as ugly or heavy or hard.
Remove the covering and you will find it a living splendor,
woven in love, by wisdom, with power.
Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the Angel's hand that brings it to you.
Life is so full of Meaning and Purpose, so full of Beauty -
beneath its covering -
that you will find earth but cloaks your heaven.
Courage then to claim it: that is all!
And so, at this Christmastime, we greet you.
Not quite as the world sends greetings,
but with profound esteem
and with the prayer that for you now and forever,
the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.

So why do we come? We come, once again - to have our hope restored, to enter into another year, to know the One who enters our lives, walks the journey with us, and loves us beyond all knowing.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just COPY (NOT FORWARD) this entire email and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you. Tis the Season to be NICE!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Bags because I am a terrific gift wrapper but lazy and procrastinate to the last minute.

2. Real tree or artificial? Real - we cut our own in the Shoshone National Forest a few minutes from home.

3. When do you put up your tree? Whenever - but never take it down until Epiphany - Jan 6.

5. Do you like eggnog? YUCK - artery clogging glop that sticks to your mouth.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? a bike

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes- made by Barbara Hughes plus a bunch of odd ones I have collected.

8. Hardest person to buy for? everyone I know.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Our grandson, Lander - he is only 6 months old

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? more doll clothes when I wanted a mitt and cowboy boots.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? both

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story --- Jean Shepherd - just like our childhood!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Argghh is it time to shop??

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I will never tell!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Norwegian Rommegrot

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored! Flashing!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Angels we have heard on high -- but most all carols and the opera - Amahl and the Night Visitors

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Going to the Oregon Coast with all the kids and grands following Midnight mass at Rock Springs, WY

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yep!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning (only heretics open presents on Christmas eve!! unless you are a child and can't wait)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? staving off the memories of childhood

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Theme - never -- we hang ornaments from all the eras of our lives - handmade ornaments from the kids when they were in pre-school -- fading glass balls from the "dime" store -- bits and pieces from all over. NO tinsel!!!

ADVENT 2
Ready or not here I come. In the long evenings of summer in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland (see Beverly Cleary books for stories of our time and place), the kids on our block would play hide and seek. As you know the person who is IT counts to 20 or 30 or some number - long enough for others to hide. Most of our backyards were linked by paths known to all of us so there were plenty of hiding places in the bushes and behind the buildings. If you were found you joined IT to find the others.
Last night after writing my previous blog and reading Dylan's Lectionary Blog on Advent 2, I awoke thinking about the line "Prepare ye the way of the Lord" -- and thought - "Ready or not here I come!" That's it - that's what he is saying - God is coming and it does not matter where you are hiding - in the depth of addiction, in meanness of spirit, in self doubt, in disbelief - God is IT - in Jesus, seeking us out wherever we may be.
The freedom of not hiding anymore, not crouched down, curled up - but free to stand with God who stands with us.

Thinking about Sunday and preaching. For readings click here.
Chewing on this bits - hoping they will coalesce into a sermon.
From the Process and Faith website. "The function of Advent is to focus on this aspect of life, the always-to-be-expected coming of Christ into our experience, and the specific contribution of repentance-texts is encourage reflection upon all the ways in which our lives do not in fact manifest the love and devotion that are appropriate to relationships with God and our neighbors."
From Harry Mozolak
_gift among gifts_
Harvey S. Mozolak

time is not the treasure
but the wrapping for the gift
God at Bethlehem

we too come
from later years
crowned by aureate achievements
drawn from distant cathedrals
mitered by incensed right and ritual
from other epochs
turbaned by tempting technologies

to make homage
join the journey
of ageless adoration
to the timeless God
born today a child

So far I am thinking about the birth and re-birth of hope -- Jesus is born in his day and in our day and in all the days of creation from the beginning to the end. John speaks of preparing the way, Malachi speaks of refiner's fire. Who can read the words of Malachi "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?" and not hear Handel's Messiah becoming an ear worm that will stay with one all day until sleep?
Who can stand? and yet the promise is that Christ makes us "worthy to stand" (BCP Eucharistic Prayer and St. Paul). The hope we have is that no matter what life brings we will be able to stand - maybe needing a lot of help or maybe only in our minds - but stand in the fullness of our creation. We will see the salvation of God not in some far distant future but wherever Christ appears - wherever 2 or 3 are gathered in his name or serving as his hands in the world or being served by others.

Having trouble finding a Christmas gift for someone who has everything? GIFTS FOR LIFE