Saturday, December 24, 2022
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service is Canceled
Due to tonight's extreme weather forecast and current road conditions, our in-person Christmas Eve service is regrettably cancelled for tonight. There will be a virtual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service posted online later this evening. You are invited to light a candle during the appropriate time in the service.
If you have a poinsettia at the church, feel free to pick it up anytime this week. Please also contact Debbie Izor or any of the trustees if you need to be let into the church. You are also encouraged, if possible, to wait to pick up your flower until warmer weather arrives later on this week, as the poinsettias could potentially be damaged by being exposed to the cold air if taken outside.
Wednesday, December 21, 2022
Love Packages Donations Welcome
Just a reminder that we are still collecting for Love Packages! If you have any Bibles or other religious materials you would like to find a new home for, please feel free to bring them to the church, where they will be picked up by Love Packages to be sent to Christians and potential Christians overseas. Thank you for your donations!
Hands Against Hunger, December 2, 2023
Registration is already open for Hands Against Hunger on Saturday, December 2, 2023! Since registration fills up fast for this particular time of year, please let Pastor Jon know as soon as possible if you plan on coming that day, so he can register you online! Thank you very much!
Monday, December 19, 2022
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Sermon Text for December 11, 2022: "Be Patient, Refreshment is Coming"
“Be Patient,
Refreshment is Coming”
December 11,
2022
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and
peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Amen.
It occurred to me the other day that
this is actually the last sermon I’m going to be preaching this year. So what I
wanted to do this morning was basically give a brief summary of what’s happened
with us this past year. But before I do, it also occurred to me that I haven’t
really talked about what things are like in Southern California in a long time.
And one of the things about Southern California is there are a lot of mountains.
And the thing about mountains is, it’s impractical to try to drive over a lot of
them, so the solution instead is to drive under them.
Which means there are a lot of tunnels under
different mountains. Some of these tunnels are really quick and short, others are
longer and take a bit more time to get through. These particular kinds of tunnels
can seem a little intimidating: there’s one in particular near where I grew up that
seems to go on and on and on, with no end in sight. If any of you play the hold
your breath until you get to the end of the tunnel game, you’re probably going
to be turning purple by the time you get through this tunnel. Especially since
the more you hold your breath, the longer the tunnel seems to go on. Also, if
you happen to play that game, you know the extreme relief you feel when you can
finally breathe. Especially when you see the literal light at the end of the
tunnel, and you know your relief is coming. You know you can relax, and you can
finally be relieved, because you see the tunnel being over. Also, having gone
through the tunnel means you know you’ve passed through a landmark on the way
to your destination, so you know your journey will now be even shorter, and you’re
much closer to where you’re headed. Which is another thing that is relieving
and refreshing, knowing that you’ve gone through another stage and you’re well
on your way to where you need to be.
This last year, indeed, in the last
couple of years, as individuals and as a church family, we’ve had to go through
a series of tunnels, some long, some short. We’ve had health issues, unexpected
injuries, surgeries, and diagnoses, deaths in our families, financial difficulties,
major life decisions, and either long-awaited or unexpected events which have
changed our directions. Some of these we’ve gone through together, others we’ve
had to struggle with on our own. It’s also been hard for us to breathe at times,
probably literally and figuratively, since we’ve been nervous and anxious about
whether how things as we’ve had to deal with are going to end, or if they’re
ever going to end. Whether we’ve realized it or not, we’ve been in an almost
constant mode of having to keep on top of certain things while trying to make
it from day to day. Which has meant we’ve been stressed out, exhausted, worried,
and even afraid, again, probably more than we’ve recognized, just because we’ve
gotten used to it. But because we’ve gotten used to it, it’s been hard for us
to see the light at the end of the tunnel, so we’ve been holding our breath
trying to see the end, when, again, we’ve had our focus taken off by being
distracted by so many problems.
So
today, after all the stress, anxiety, and everything else we’ve had to deal
with for this past year, it’s time to hear some good news: there is light at
the end of the tunnel. Whatever we’ve been having to go through is going to be
resolved, and we’re going to get to where we’re meant to be. Why? Because of
something that has remained true all year: God is with us. We’ve had to go through
a lot this past year or two, but the reason we’re here where we are now is because
God has been standing by us, directing us, and guiding us every step of the
way. Even though we’ve felt like at times we’ve had to deal with our problems
on our own, without any sympathy from anyone else, or even someone willing to
listen, God has been the one who’s been in control all along. We might have
felt like He’s been far away sometimes, but God has always been there for us,
supporting us, carrying us, and refreshing us. When we’ve been tired out,
discouraged, and unable to want to go on, God’s caused something to happen to lift
us up at just the right moment. He’s never let go of us, and He never will. When
things have seemed overwhelming and impossible, and our resources have been
spent, God has come to restore us. In fact, that’s exactly what God promises in
Isaiah: the desert will bloom again because God will cause growth to happen; those
who have been weakened by fear will be made strong; the lame will walk; and water
will spring up in dry places. Danger and uncertainty, using ferocious beasts as
an allegory, will disappear, because God will be victorious. Sadness will be
replaced by gladness, and sorrow will be replaced by joy. God will bring new
life to a dying place – just as He’s already done for us. This world is still
His, and we are still His. We
That’s
even what this whole Advent season is about: remembering that God is with us.
The word “Immanuel” means just that – God is with us. More importantly, we are
reminded that God came to be with us in Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem as a
human being just like us, but at the same time had full divine powers and
authority. In today’s Gospel reading, John the Baptist has just been arrested
and is in prison, awaiting execution. Knowing he’s about to die, John is
wondering if what he’d been proclaiming all along was actually true, and
whether what he’s suffering for is actually worth it: is this Jesus person he
pointed out as the promised Savior really who He says He is? John’s afraid that
there’s a possibility this Jesus person might not be the promised one. So He
sends a couple of his followers to ask Jesus if He really is the Messiah. And Jesus
responds by encouraging John – and us – to look at what’s going on: the sick
are healed, lame are made to walk, dead are raised, and the poor and forgotten
are hearing good news. Even though the story doesn’t say it, this probably gave
John great comfort and relief, knowing what he had said about Jesus was true –
and now he wasn’t afraid any more. Like John the Baptist, we too may wonder if
what Jesus promises is true, and He is who He says He is. The reason we hear
the Bible being read and explained every week is because we need to be reminded
constantly of who is really in charge. We say the Bible is our authority – but the
reason for that is because it points us to Jesus, who is our true authority, fulfills
everything God promised before He was born, and who makes everything He says He’s
going to do happen now. So since we have this assurance and encouragement, the
time has come for us to do something about it.
It’s
time for us to focus not only on surviving, but on reaching out, on growing, and
getting back to where God had us before. It’s time for us to realize that we’re
almost out of the tunnel, and to get back on the road to our true mission: to
be the hands and feet of Jesus, and to be a positive force and influence in Farmersville
and everywhere we live and go. We are to give sight to the blind, especially helping
those who are blinded by fear or untruth see the true perspective, that God is
with them and is on their side; to help the lame walk, especially those
crippled by doubt or hopelessness, by bringing the power of God into their
lives; bring those who are dead in sin, addiction, or despair by bringing them
to a healing and restoring relationship with Jesus; and preaching good news to
the poor, both those in poverty and those who lack stability or encouragement,
by giving them what they need, whether it’s food, clothing, rescue, or . It’s
time for us to realize that even though things have changed, circumstances are permanently
different, and aren’t going to be exactly the same as they were before, we
still have a mission to fulfill: God is actually working on putting us in an
even better position to carry out His ministry than we were before. Most of
all, it’s time for us to recognize that we have never been alone, we’re not
alone now, and we’re never going to be alone: God has always been with us,
because, ultimately, this is His church. We need to be focusing on what God can
do. You may recall that a couple of months ago, I quoted Mike Bradley, the
Service Coordinator for LCMC, who, at the last Annual Gathering, asked us all
to keep on asking, “What can God do?”. Even though we’ve had a lot of setbacks,
we’re now in a position for God to move us forward again – and the direction He’s
putting us in really is a positive one. To put limits on ourselves is to try to
put a limit on what God can do, especially what He can do through us. And the
reality is, there is no limit to what God can do, there is nothing impossible
for Him.
And if we
believe God can do anything through us, then there won’t be any limit to what
we can be able to do. The key, though, is we have to believe. We have to trust.
Jesus keeps encouraging us to trust Him, and not fall away, not give up, and
not stray from the direction He’s leading us, because we can’t wait for Him to
act. So that means, as challenging as it may be, we have to keep being patient.
As James encourages us in today’s Second Reading, we have to be patient and
stand firm – because God is coming to move and restore us. While we wait, we
have to avoid becoming so impatient that we grumble against each other, and so lose
the direction God is leading us in. But we can be patient because we know God
can do what He wants to do. So we can breathe, relax, and be refreshed, knowing
that God truly can do anything.
Now may the peace of God, which passes
all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Sunday, December 4, 2022
Sermon Text for December 4, 2022: "That's the Spirit!"
“That’s the
Spirit!”
December 4, 2022
Dear brothers and sisters, grace and
peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Amen.
I’ll just come right out and admit
it: the past few weeks, for various reasons, it’s been a bit more of a
challenge to have the “Christmas spirit.” When we think of the “Christmas
spirit,” we think of an attitude of almost permanent joy, happiness, and peace
that comes with the overall atmosphere of the season. There are different kinds
of sights, sounds, and even smells, especially lights, decorations, trees, Christmas
carols, Santa Claus going “ho ho ho,” pine, mint, chocolate, everything else
which we usually associate with Christmas. In other words, because it’s the
Christmas season, we want to feel happy, cheerful, and upbeat all the time. But
different things can tend to get in the way of doing so, because, even though
it’s the Christmas season, we still have to deal with everyday life. We still
have our usual daily duties and worries: bills to pay, assignments to complete,
tasks to accomplish, places to go. And I imagine for many of us, it’s also been
a bit more of a struggle anyway because we’ve had to deal with so much this
past year: rising prices, having to balance our budgets, our favorite stores
and restaurants being short staffed, unexpected health diagnoses, covid still
being with us, struggling to get back to normal even with two years after the
pandemic, all kinds of other things which have made us, as we get to the end of
the year, stressed out.
I can tell you, though, that at
least a couple of things have happened to me this past week which have helped
me get in the spirit of Christmas again. There were a few events taking place
over the past couple of weeks which were causing me a bit of stress, and which
were causing me to be stuck in a cycle of worry. Seriously, especially this
past week it was a bit hard for me to look at Christmas decorations and hear carols
and feel a cheerful spirit. So what did I do? I finally decided I’d had enough,
I was tired of being stuck, and so I prayed. Specifically, I prayed, as I’ve been
encouraging all of you the past few years, for God to come and take control. And
He did. He resolved a number of things I’d been having to deal with, in ways I
didn’t even expect, but He still came through, like He always does. And not
only that, He gave me opportunities to experience Christmas in another, more
rewarding way – by helping other people. I got to help pack the Christmas boxes
for CAMP this past Monday, which will be given to everyone who comes in this
months: and by the way, CAMP would like to thank us for generously donating
bottles of pancake syrup for the Christmas boxes, which will be a blessing for
all those who need extra food for the holiday. And then, just yesterday, I got
to go with many of you to Hands Against Hunger, and was really happy we all were
able to do it again for the first time since before covid started. Along with
over three hundred other people, we all prepared food packets which will be
sent overseas to Somaliland, a region in northeast Africa where many people
live in constant fear and hunger. I am also really encouraged by an anonymous
donor who offered to buy gifts for the Valley View Giving Tree, so we as a church
family can be able to help children in our local community that we as well,
just as we’ve done in the past. This afternoon, we’re welcoming Damac, who will
bring the good news of Jesus to us in a different and exciting way. Next week,
we’re going to be caroling and bringing cheer bags. This is what Christmas
really is all about: bringing hope to people, especially those in dire need, by
blessing them in special ways with the love of Jesus. These are also all ways
that the Holy Spirit has been leading us, during this holiday season, to share
God’s healing and life-changing power with others.
All this is also what Paul encourages us
in today’s Second Reading from Romans, verse 13: “May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The true spirit of Christmas is the Holy Spirit
– the spirit and power of Jesus. The reason we celebrate Jesus’ birth in the
first place is to remember He is the one true God who came into the world as
one of us – to bring the life-changing power of God right into our own very lives,
and, again, so we can bring that same power into the lives of other people. And
Jesus can change our lives, minds, hearts, and attitudes, especially if we are
stuck in negativity because we think our situation, or the world is hopeless. The
Prophet Isaiah, in today’s First Reading, actually helps us to see that,
because of Jesus, the Savior and Messiah who was promised at that time, nothing
is hopeless. Even in Isaiah’s time, things seemed out of control: God’s people were
being attacked on all sides by their enemies; they were living under kings who
were leading them astray; and they were scared about their future. But Isaiah
actually gives us a vision of what would almost seem impossible: the poor
receive justice; there is no more war or conflict, and people and animals don’t
harm each other. In other words, there is hope for the present and the future.
In Jesus, there is always a reason to be encouraged. As Paul also says in verse
4, “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that
through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
The best ways we can hold on to hope with everything going on right now are to
pray, and to read our Bibles every day, to hear again and again God’s
uplifting, affirming, and encouraging words for us – that He is still with us, on
our side, and is at work for us.
If we really do trust God, and we are
staying close to Him, then we are promised that we will experience joy and
peace. Trusting is more than just believing God exists: it’s letting Him rule
us, even as He rules the whole world. The God who causes the wolf and lamb to lie
down together in peace can also bring peace to us, and our troubled lives and
world. One of the many sights of Christmas we see are signs saying “peace on
earth” – and this peace not only will come when Jesus comes back in glory, but
this peace is already here. We can have peace if we ask Jesus to come into our
hearts and minds and give us the peace we need, removing all obstacles to our
peace and happiness.
In this Advent and Christmas season,
and as we hear John the Baptist in today’s Gospel reading, we are also called
to repent – but not in the way we would think. Usually, when we hear the word “repent,”
we think of stopping doing wrong things and starting to do right things. It
would be easy to try to point out what we think everyone else is doing wrong, to
criticize what we think are certain errors in society, and how everyone else ought
to shape up. But that’s not what that means for us today.
Instead, it means: Time to get back on
track. We’ve had a lot of things happen in the past couple of years that have
knocked us off track, and have caused us to take our focus off of God and what
He promises. Up until covid, we were living in a fairly secure kind of way, but
then everything happened, and threw us into a near constant state of stress and
insecurity. Covid, its aftermath, and a number of other events of the past
couple of years, mostly social and political, caused us to turn inward and go
into survival mode, where our focus has gone off of looking forward with hope and
optimism to what God can be able to do, and instead looking at everything which
seems to be going negatively, losing hope in what God can accomplish. But if we
are asking “What can God do?”, then we are glorifying God. Like the people of
Isaiah’s time, we may be scared about our future, even feeling under attack,
but we still have the same promise as back then: God has planted His banners of
victory in our world. Jesus was born, died, and rose again victorious over
death and every enemy, and so God is glorious and reigns supreme over all, and
over us.
So are we glorifying God? What we mean is,
are we living according to the Holy Spirit, who helps us live according to the spirit
of Jesus? Are we letting Jesus rule over us, to take control of our cares and
struggles, so we can be free to live in peace with ourselves and each other?
And, in living in peace, to be free to live for other people, and bring peace
and comfort to them?
So do you want to get into the true
Christmas spirit? Well, it’s actually one we live year round: letting who we
are and how we live show who Jesus is and what He wants for all of us. It is
living in peace and unity with each other, accepting each other as we are, just
as Jesus accepts us as we are. It is also being hopeful and optimistic, not in
some sort of naïve way, but believing that even though things may be difficult
right now, Jesus is still going to turn everything around, and maybe make it even
better than it was before. And it is one, as we trust in Jesus, where we live to
give what we have to others – our time, our material blessings, and in many
other ways we can help someone’s needs. In just a few minutes, we will be receiving
Communion, and, as we eat and drink Jesus’ body and blood in the bread and
wine, we will be filled with the power of Jesus and with the Holy Spirit once
again. If we want to experience the Christmas spirit all the time, that’s how
to do it – to let ourselves overflow with hope, hope that comes from believing
in Jesus and living that same hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Now may the peace of God, which
passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Amen.
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