Miracle at Cana - God's Extravagant Vintage

Scripture: Isaiah 62:1-5  • Psalm 36:5-10  •  1 Corinthians 12:1-11  •  John 2:1-11

On this second Sunday of Epiphany, why do you suppose that we study Jesus performing his first miracle at Cana? Read what Peter Woods has to say in "Vintage extravagance," and David Lose in "Learning to Tell Time." Compare this with "Isaiah 62: 1-5 The Politics of Marrying God," by Timothy F. Simpson.

The image on this page is a picture of a lamp from the first century A.D. (C.E.) which Alex unearthed on an archaeological dig at Khirbet qana (the original sight of Cana) in Israel.

Remember, Sunday School is at 8:30, followed by worship in the little church at 9:30.

"You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

The second week of Epiphany we return to the baptism of the Lord - Luke's account in Year C. Luke treats us to the marvelous picture of the dove descending, and those beautiful words "This is my son in whom I am well pleased." What is happening here? See "God Believes in You" by the Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams.

I especially liked the following story from the Fred Craddock Stories about the man who lived ashamed and ostracized because of the status of his paternity: "One day, before I could escape, I felt a hand on my shoulder.  It was the minister.  He looked closely at my face.  I knew that he too was trying to guess who my father was. 'Well, boy, you are a child of. . .' and then he paused.  When he spoke again he said, 'Boy, you are a child of God.  I see a striking resemblance.'  Then he swatted me on the bottom and said, 'Now, you go on and claim your inheritance.'  I left church that day a different person," the now elderly man said.  "In fact, that was the beginning of my life." "What's your name?"  Dr. Craddock asked.
He answered, "Ben Hooper.  My name is Ben Hooper."  Dr. Craddock said he vaguely recalled from when he was a kid, his father talking about how the people of Tennessee had twice elected a fellow who had been born out of wedlock as the governor of their state.  His name was Ben Hooper.

The Rev. Jane Bearden finds the answer to these questions in the baptism of Christ Who am I?  Am I really a vital part of family?  Do I have any gifts that are valuable?  Where do I belong?  Am I really deserving of love? See "The Baptism of Christ."

How many times have you told your children, grandchildren, or for that matter, all God's children, "You are a child of God, whom he loves, claims, and in whom he is well pleased?"

 

Searching for the Christ Child. The Long Reach of Grace.

Scripture: Isaiah 60:1-6; Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14; Ephesians 3:1-12; Matthew 2:1-12

This is the Sunday of the Epiphany, with the gospel account of the wise men following the light of the star, consulting with an evil King, searching for the righteous King. What did they find? Compare or contrast King Herod with the King of Kings. Even David, in Psalm 72, envisioned Matthew's account of the wise men and the righteous King of Glory.


The Rev. Ken Kesselus, in "'Us,' and 'Them'," considers the gospel and today's passage from Paul's letter to the Ephesians and tells us that the story of wise men paying homage to the Christ child marks the beginning of a new understanding. It is the story of a God of all people, a God of unity, a God who moves his people beyond the trap of “us”  against “them.” This is especially relevant in the pervasive divisiveness in our country, and the world today.

The Rev. Kate Huey, in "Where is the Child?" tells us "There are many ways that we 'find our way' to God, to the little baby born King of Kings: nature does indeed point to the glory of God, the care of God, the presence of God, but we need the Bible, too, and the community that helps us understand all those gifts. She asks "When were times that you felt you were seeking God in your life? Was it only at times of need or suffering, or was it an intellectual search, or did it come from a deep, personal hunger for meaning? How faithful were you, and diligent, in the search? How do you think people seek God today? What are the paths and things and methods that help people "find" their way to God? How might the star in the Matthew reading represent nature as it "points" to God, personal experience, and the community that helps us understand all those gifts?"








* Remember, Sunday School meets at 8:30 during the season of Epiphany, for the next six weeks.

 

Family and the Book of Life

Scripture: 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26  •  Psalm 148  • Colossians 3:12-17  •  Luke 2:41-52 • John 1: 1-18 

This first Sunday after Christmas, also known as Holy Family Sunday, we get a brief glimpse - the only glimpse we have in the gospels - of Jesus' life as a boy, and his relationship with his parents, and with God in Luke's gospel. We also learn, from the first chapter of John, that Jesus was the "true light," as we say together the Nicene creed , reaffirming our faith, and that although he was sent to his own people, he was not accepted by them, and the world did not know him. The Rev. Dr. Steve Griffiths tells us we can take the opportunity this Christmas, and every day, to welcome the Christ into our lives? What can we do to welcome Him? How must we be to welcome Him?

The Rev, Dr. Brett Patterson reflects on the passage about Hannah and Samuel, and Paul's letter to the Colossians offering incites about life after we welcome the Christ into our lives in "The Book of Life."

* Remember - Sunday School class is at 8:30 this Sunday and for the next six weeks of Epiphany.

"My soul magnifies the Lord - for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant"

Scripture: Micah 5:2-5a  •  Luke 1:46b-55 or Psalm 80:1-7  •  Hebrews 10:5-10  •  Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)

In preparation for the coming of God's good news we have spent time in the wilderness with John the Baptist, and considered scripture about the second coming of the Messiah - the Christ. This week we consider all of the hopes, fears, doubts, anxiety, joy and love of Mary, the God bearer and Mother of God who magnifies the Lord from her lowly, humble state. "Little, lowly, humble" are words we see in this week's scripture, from "Bethlehem, a little clan of Judah, to an unwed, pregnant teenager, who "left in haste," to go to her cousin Elizabeth, as Fr. Rick Morley tells us in "from shame to blessing with haste."


And it is from and to the lowly the Holy One comes - the hungry are fed, the rich are sent away empty, the powerful are removed from their homes, as Mary sings to us the Magnificat. How are we to receive this gift of the Christ child, and, in turn, offer his gift of love, compassion, forgiveness, peace and wholeness to others? See Morley's remarks about Elizabeth in "from shame to blessing with haste," Dan Clendenin's "Blessed is the Child You Will Bear - Advent and Anxiety," and Theme and reflection, Call to Worship and Reading for the Lighting of the Advent Candles, 4th week from Anna's Hosannas.

"We MUST set aside an empty space, even if it is only a feeding trough in a stable somewhere, that God can visit us.  Emptying ourselves is the greatest act of love we can offer; we make space for the other to enter us and live in us.  Since love is the traditional theme for this Sunday of Advent, it's a perfect match."

 

 

 

Anger and Joy. Preparing for the Lord's coming.

Scripture:Zephaniah 3:14-20  • Isaiah 12:2-6  • Philippians 4:4-7  • Luke 3:7-18

Anger and joy. Amid the hustle and bustle of the season, year's end work to finish, cleaning, baking, decorating, shopping, wrapping presents, meetings, choir practice, addressing Christmas cards, office and church dinners, worshiping, reading, checking off our lists and agendas, thinking of others...thinking of others? There are a lot of emotions which come into play during Advent and Christmas.

We again encounter John the Baptizer, crying out for repentance in the wilderness, preparing the way of the Lord, and this time, in addition to the urgency of his message, we see can hear anger in his voice. Why? In preparing for the Lord, what are we called to do? See Reflections by The Rev. Kate Huey.

Yes, we have all experienced or witnessed the full range of emotions and human conditions during the Christmas season. Great joy, wonder, surprise and sadness, loneliness, nostalgia, and anger. And in the midst of all of our humanity, the Lord comes to us, the giver of life, to share all that is life with us. Read Joy- the Colour of Grace by Christopher Burkett, and the story of the grandmother, Gagi, to see why anger is not enough, as we prepare for the coming of the Lord, who is doing something wonderful and new.

“This isn’t the way it’s supposed to be”

Scripture: Baruch 5:1-9 or Malachi 3:1-4  • Luke 1:68-79  • Philippians 1:3-11  •  Luke 3:

In the second Sunday of Advent we read about the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."  We read of him in the prophesy of Malachi, and in the Song of Zechariah, the no-nonsense, urgent message of John the Baptist, clothed in skins of wild beasts, sustained on a diet of locusts and honey - Repent of your sins, for the kingdom of God is at hand!

We are in the season of Emmanuel, God come near, and John the Baptist prepares us by telling us to "Repent!" How is this "good news?" See "This isn't the way it's supposed to be," by The Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Pagano. John prepares us for the good news of the gospel, which is Greek for "good news." Pagano has a good discussion of what sin is, and why it is good news that we know that something isn't what it should be, and the liberating power of forgiveness along with a vision of hope and a way to  "shalom," God's peace.

It wouldn't be Advent without "Anticipation." As Lance Moore tells us In "Anticipating the Advent," children know it. If only we adults could reclaim some of the anticipation and surprise, the excitement and wonder, of a child’s Christmas . . . or of the very first Christmas. And yet, today's lesson is about preparedness. How do we prepare to be surprised?