Category: Sermons

Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A
January 19, 2020

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40: 1-12
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Gospel: John: 1:29-42

The readings today are filled with promises of light and deliverance, and of Thanksgiving and Grace.

I Saw Your Face for The First Time!

When I read the first line of the Gospel today….” John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John, is so excited, it was, as though, he sees Jesus’ face for the very first time! It reminded me of a story I had seen on the news a few years ago. It was 2016, on ABC News.

His name is Leo, a baby boy whose life changed when a pair of eye glasses was placed on his little face. He has a rare visual disorder since birth. They place his new glasses on his face and you should have seen his face… when he sees his mom. Up until then his vision had been blurry and he never had a clear view of the world, everything was fuzzy and out of focus. 

And then the video shows the moment they first put these little round glasses on and he looks at his mother’s face and that smile, “oh” that smile, when he sees her face “clearly” for the first time. There is no drought in his mind who she is!!  No longer a blurry view, but it became clear to him that day, mom.

The Gospel:

Earlier in the chapters of (John: 19-23), the Jews, the Temple religious authorities; send priest and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John,

“Who are you?” John confesses, I am not the Messiah! And they asked him.

“What then? Are you Elijah?”

To the Jews Elijah was the one they expected to come and prepare the way.

John, “I am not.” Are you the prophet? “He again answered “No” So they then said to him “Who are you?

This is when John let’s them know, in chapter 23. 

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  

John has thousands of followers coming to see… “what it is he has to say!” He also has disciples following him.  What he (John) is doing is not recognized by the religious authorizes and he is engaged in a ritual not sanctioned by them.  

“But,” what better timing. All this is taking place in Bethany across the Jordan where John is baptizing. Imagine, it was a beautiful sunny day, mid afternoon by the river Jordan. And then:

“JOHN SAW JESUS” coming towards him and one of the greatest scriptures we have heard all our lives is said now!

“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

John’s announcement! says it all, that the Son of God, is here for all, the world, all people and not just the Jewish people.

John also testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

This is important…like the little baby Leo, who sees his mom’s face for the first time, it was not blurry or fuzzy! It became clear to the baby, that this was his mom with this loving face. And it becomes clear to John, that when he saw the dove and it remained on Jesus, it was no longer just a talking point, it was not blurry or fuzzy, but it was very clear…this is, “The Son of God”.

The next day was becoming clear to everyone and many were still hanging around, they wanted to see him again and perhaps get more information. 

John’s disciples are hanging around with him, just then Jesus walk by and he again….

” Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 

Today, we know sheep or a lamb, as someplace we get wool, in some cases, they provide for families all over the world, milk, meat and income. In the days of Jesus, that was also the case, but in the scripture, the lamb is more like innocence and purity, much like the image of the suffering servant which we read about in Isaiah 52:7.

Or the lamb was also the image of God’s delivering his people from their bondage in Egypt. Where an event is in the celebration of Passover and the slaughter of a lamb.

Two of John’s disciples heard him say, here is the Lamb of God, and they followed Jesus.

“What are you looking for?”, Jesus said to them!
They said to him, “Rabbi” “where are you staying?” 
He said to them, “Come and see.” 

They stayed with him and later, about 4:00, John brings other disciples with him to see the Messiah and one being Peter.

Conclusion:

In all the Gospel’s, John the Baptist as the prophet who announced that when Jesus comes, the present evil age and finally and fully bring the realm of God, a new world, is which all things would live forever in love, peace and justice.

 What a dove suggests to Jesus…. purity, meekness, innocence.

It is not majestic like and eagle or fierce like a hawk or flamboyant like a cardinal, it was simple, common, innocent, the kind of bird the poor people could relate too. 

Jesus said “Come and See” They want to be like Jesus and to receive what gifts he has to offer, so they can be like him.

As Christians we do not want to impose on others, but! as Christians, we do want to invite people to come and see. We have here at St. Martin’s — as small as we are — a worship life that enriches and strengthens those who come. We want to give people a sense of belonging and a feeling of a community that loves one another, just as God loved us and sacrificed his Lamb for us.

John’s announcement says it all, that the Son of God, is here for all, the world, all people.

“Come and See”

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath 

Sermon
Second Sunday after Christmas Day (Epiphany Sunday)
Year A
January 5, 2020

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 84 
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

Thank you for this opportunity to come and worship with you this morning! Today Epiphany Sunday, The Sunday between January 2 and January 8, on which the Christian church celebrates the Feast of Epiphany.

Epiphany recognizes the revelation of Jesus Christ to the entire world as represented by the coming of the Magi to worship the Christ child.   

Story:

I was raised by wonderful parents that worked hard. My dad was working for the US government in the fish and wildlife and my mother was a cook at a boarding school and she was the one who took us to church.  We didn’t have much, but we had all we needed.

Dad being a “trapper” would be gone for sometimes weeks, alone in the wilderness. He was a baptized Christian, but didn’t attend church that much. He told us he found God in nature.

We children, would go with dad camping and hunting, being with him, I always wondered how he knew where he was going? He never got lost and always found his way back. He would sleep out many times in just his bedroll and he watched the stars and studied them.

My father, who had a second-grade education, knew the bigger picture about God way before I did. Which brings us to the story of the Gospel of Matthew.

God’s Greatest Gift to Us and The Gifts of The Magi 

A year or more after Jesus’ birth, three kings arrived to worship Him. Their lavish gifts symbolized Christ’s identity and mission; gold for a king, incense for God, and myrrh to anoint the dead.

The mysterious Magi, or three Kings, are mention only in the Gospel of Matthew. Few details are given, and our ideas about them mostly come from tradition and speculation. Scripture doesn’t say how many wise men there were; it is generally assumed three, since they brought three gifts.  

“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”

King Herod was not happy. As a matter of fact he is worried and so are the people of Jerusalem. He calls all the chief priest and scribes of the people, he questions them!!! where was this child, the one they call the Messiah? Where was he born?  “They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; because it had been written by prophets. 

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” 

Herod has worked hard in gaining his kingdoms and he is not about to let someone take it from him so the king secretly summons the wise men and learned from them, the exact time when the star had appeared.  

The Christmas message was first given to the shepherds, considered to be lower class people of Israel. And now it was given to the wise men from the East, they were not Jewish, but Gentiles.

Remember the message from the angels to the shepherds! 

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” Luke 2: 8-11

Maybe the glory of the Lord that shone around the shepherds was the same star…the same light of Jesus. 

The light was the light of Jesus Christ in the world. John 1:5-8 “And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not absorb the light. It was too bright; it was the light that would lead the shepherds to Jesus and later it was the same light that would lead the wise men to him.

Jesus was going to be the true light for everyone, Jews and Gentiles.

“The king sends them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay homage.”

It’s reported that they could have traveled anywhere from 500 to 1500 miles to find the child and some historians and scholars say, it took a year or two before they found him.

They set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. 

Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The Magi had to be very prominent in their regions to bring such lavish gifts. And they were certainly men of great learning.

Today, we would call them astronomers and would have followed the patterns of the stars religiously. Most likely, they would have been rich and held high in their own society by people who were from their region.

Conclusion:

The three gifts had spiritual meaning; 

• Gold as a symbol of kingship on earth. 
• Frankincense (Incense) as a symbol of deity. 
• Myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. 

Why did God choose first the shepherd’s and then the Magi? They were from different back grounds! The shepherds were the poor lower class of Israel and perhaps! the poor shall be first. The Magi were wealthy, but from other regions. They were Gentiles!

The Good news:

Jesus came into the world for all people, for All Jews, Gentiles, Muslims “all people”.  

It sounds pretty fitting to me. God manifest himself through his son Jesus Christ, he comes here not as a King, but as one of us. And, His Kingdom is not of this world, but of the spiritual world. 

On this Epiphany Sunday, where Christians celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ, we have been given the greatest gift of all, the gift of Jesus Christ. The Christmas season begins with incarnation and ends with manifestation.

We are reminded that he brings us Hope, Joy, Love and the promise of our Salvation.

Just imagine the Magi, when they first laid their “tired” eyes on the incarnate Son, and how overwhelmed with Joy they were! 

“They saw the child with Mary his mother; overwhelmed with joy, that they knelt down and paid him homage”.

As I leave you today, a reminder that we are called to follow the bright light of Christ Jesus, rejoicing in the same way of the Magi with overwhelming joy!

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sermon
First Sunday after Christmas
Year A
December 29,2019

First Reading: Isaiah 61:10—62:3
Psalm 147
Second Reading: Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7
Gospel: John 1:1-18

For some people, Christmas was over on December 26^th, after all the presents were opened, the big meal was served and clean up was out of the way. They were done! But we still celebrate Christmas a couple week’s more. That’s a good thing, because after all the chaos, we now have time to absorb and celebrate what has been given to us. The greatest gift from God was the birth of Jesus and God becoming human…God becoming flesh and living among us.

Before I get into the sermon and the scripture; let me say a few words about Frosty the Snowman! I was listening to the song, like I have done before for most of my life, and had one of those one of those haw ha moments!

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the Snowman, He’s a jolly happy soul with a corncob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale they say, He was made of snow, But the children know, how he came to “life” one day.   

There must! have been some magic in that old silk hat they found, for when they placed it on his head, He began to dance around.

Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be, and the children say, he could laugh and play, just the same as you and me.

The lyrics tell us he has a happy soul, a fairy tale, yes, but he had a magic hat and he is alive, he led us with playing, dancing and having fun, until he needs to go, He waved goodbye, saying don’t cry I’ll be back again someday.

I will say more at the end.

The Word… Life… and Light

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

God’s creation was not just in the beginning and it’s not meant to be in past tense, God’s creation is ongoing! The earth and God’s creation, is so much a part of us, that when it breathes and moves, we breathe and move with it, God’s creation bringing us Joy, Love, Hope!  Is this, the earth, God’s magic hat? 

“He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being.”

What has come into being… in him was… Life AND the life… was the light of all people.

God’s Word is “a lamp for my feet and a light for my path” (Ps 119:105) 

The light in the Bible, stands for spiritual illumination and truth and it encompasses all that is pure, good, and holy……… “as opposed to the darkness of evil.” 

The light that Jesus brings, guides us into, following his commands throughout our lives. 

In the ancient days of religion, it was a dark time, the people have been hearing the old prophets and believing that a savior would come and reveal himself and he would save them. 

If Jesus would have just showed up and “said” — here I am! The one who you have been waiting for! — I am sure more people would have been reluctant to believe that He was “really” the savior.

In the OT

(Isaiah: 19-20) 700 years before Jesus “It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them”.   

In the NT

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. (John: 1-6)

After the birth of the Messiah!

On Christmas Eve the Romans occupied Jerusalem as the Jews desperately waited for the Messiah, and later you hear how Harold has innocent children killed because of his jealousy of the Savior’s birth. God has plans for Jesus, his son:

 “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave them power to become children of God.” (John 1:9-12)

Forerunner:

God sends John the Baptist and he “catapults” us into the future. He is the forerunner to Jesus…to pave the way…so when Jesus reviles himself, people might believe. John is crying out in the Judean wilderness, yelling…” He is here, He is here”.  

I woke up the other night at 3:00 am, thinking about John. Mary Pregnant with Jesus, had visited, Elizabeth, John’s mother, he (John still in his mother’s womb) leaped for joy! John has been preparing for this moment and waiting for the right time, when he could announce that Jesus was here, saying:

“This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me”.

Conclusion:

As we celebrate this Christmas season, we should be humbled to think how God has become human and how he is trusting us with this Holy of Holy intention of becoming part of God’s family and becoming children of God. When you think about it, we humans are beings of God’s inward and spiritual presence in our lives. We are the outward and visible signs of God’s inward and spiritual presence, in each of us.

Can you imagine how different life would be if we all realized that WE are the image of God and every time we look at someone, we also see them as God!

God has trusted us, thousands of years later, to carry on like John and remind people that “Jesus” is here! He has been born; he brings new light into our world. He is your hope and your salvation. He is there for you when things get dark. You just have to ask and believe that “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

So, let’s also rejoice and like Frosty, be a happy soul, put on the magic hat of God, dance, be joyful and sing praises to the birth of our Lord and Savior.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sermon
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Year A
December 22, 2019

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80: 1-7,16-18

Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-25

Three Angel’s…. A Dream, Obedience and the Birth of a King

“Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way.”

On this Forth Sunday in Advent, we are just two days from Christmas Eve, the night a Child is born, but not any Child, “The Messiah.”

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save the people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Before the story begins let’s talk about Angels the “Messengers” from God. 

The first angel visited Mary of Nazareth.

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph.

A descendant of David, the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:26-28) 

Mary goes on to tell; what the angel of the Lord, told her, she was going to conceive a child, and this child was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. In two thousand years, no other story of a birth, has ever captivated us like this one. This is no ordinary child, this was the Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins.

The second angel was a visit to Joseph, the soon to be the Father to Jesus. 

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 11: 20)

The third angel I would like to talk about, who becomes part of the story later on, is the Angel that visited the Shepherds.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you; he is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

The Holy Family:

Mary had been engaged, promised to Joseph and now, she has to tell him that she is carrying a child, a child conceived from the Holy Spirit. Joseph is taken back a little by the news, and what man wouldn’t be. All of a sudden, she is pregnant! Now what? Like anyone he would have been angry and upset.

Joseph is a carpenter from Nazareth, he is considered to be an honorable man with an honorable trade. The gospel says, Joseph being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. “God” has other plans for Joseph, “The Son of David.” 

Just when Joseph thought he had the answers, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” 

Why did God choose Joseph? Was it because he was a descendent of David? Was it because God knew he would be obedient to him? 

Here is a young man, he is betrothed to a very young women…she is promised to him.  The decisions they both had to make at such a young age, is beyond what we could ever imagine doing.  I feel Joseph realizes; he doesn’t have to worry about Mary. “No blame there! God choose Mary, just like God chose him, to be a father to Jesus, to raise him as his own, and to be the savior to all of us. 

Joseph and Mary both know that God will help and direct them. You see, they were both young, Mary a child herself, Joseph a young man, but God chose them! they were touched by an Angel, a messenger from God 

In the Old Testament, the book of Daniel, he speaks to the angel Gabriel and referred to him as the man. In Luke’s Gospel, Mary speaks to the angel Gabriel and he appeared as a stranger, a stranger with no wings. In today’s Gospel, Matthew, the angel speaks to Joseph in a dream.

I don’t know about you, but I pretty much forget my dreams and if I happen to remember a dream after waking up, I do not take it seriously…it’s a dream! Joseph took it seriously his dream! And he listens to the angel more than just once.

In Matthew’s Gospel, the angel speaks to Joseph four times in his dreams. The angel not only tells him about Mary and the Holy Spirit, the child that was to come, but also in the second dream, Joseph is to take his family to Egypt to save the child, thirdly, the Holy Family are in Egypt and Joseph is told to go to Nazareth, and the forth time, Joseph is warned not to return to Judea.  

“They shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”

Why do I look forward to Christmas, the birthday of our Lord and Savior? Because, no matter how dark things are, and there is darkness, either in someone’s life or the world. Every time we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are reminded that He always brings hope, Joy, Love and our promise of salvation. 

God’s greatest gift to us is Jesus, He was not born in a palace, but in a manger. If we connect the thread, we find the Holy Spirit, we hear from the angel, “Don’t be afraid”. 

God intervenes in our lives, He cares, He came and manifested himself by reviling himself through the birth of Jesus, as scripture tells us! God is with us!

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sermon
Third Sunday of Advent
Year A
December 15, 2019

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm: 146: 4-9
Second Reading: James 5:7-10
Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11

A Messenger:

Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year; the season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas. It may be a time for new beginning for us as Christians; it lets us focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

Change is among us in this time of Advent expectation. Many of us may have already experienced the kinds of change that faith can bring, but that doesn’t mean the change is over, we will continue to grow. 

Advent is also that unchangeable season when the same concepts, the same words rise over and over again, year after year, to challenge our hearts and minds as we wait in expectation and preparation for the coming of the Lord. We know that Jesus will be born soon and it’s a time to rejoice!

John the Baptist:

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11 

In the past two Sunday’s of Advent, our attention is turned to John the Baptist in our Gospel readings.  

John, the last of the old covenant prophets, is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth who preached a message of repentance and salvation. John also saw himself as the forerunner of God’s promise, and to the savior of the world, who will be coming soon. He was what we might call today… a little quirky; a character that is peculiar, with unexpected traits. He wore camels’ cloths and ate locust’s and honey.

After paving the way for Jesus to come, John was arrested and is in prison and he has been there for quite some time. He hears rumors about Jesus, his ministry.  

Gossip! He begins to have doubt’s, is this the Messiah, that he expected? Perhaps another Messiah was coming and he was mistaken.

“When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for anther?” (Matthew 11:2-3) 

John had been preaching and prophesying and waiting for Jesus the messiah to come with a fiery of judgment and even, possibly to come over and get him released from prison. After all, look at what he had done for Jesus.

He is puzzled, because he expected another King like David, a King that would deliver Israel, but here he finds out that in Jesus is out in the country side, performing miracles, and preaching mercy and compassion and love.

“John, look at the evidence of what I have done, it will match what has been promised hundreds of years before, that God’s arrival to redeem his people, and yes! that is me”. 

After John’s disciples question Jesus, He says to them. 

“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receives their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” 

Jesus goes on to remind and reaffirm to the crowd of people that John the Baptist was the voice sent out in the wilderness. He wasn’t dressed in soft robes and lived in royalty,  but he was the prophet the one about who it is written…

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.”

Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist.  

John’s purpose was to prepare the people for the arrival of Jesus who would be coming. Jesus was not coming to destroy Rome, for later they would do that all by themselves, Jesus was coming here to establish the Kingdom of God. 

Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. But now my kingdom is from another. (John 18:36)

Conclusion:

Be patient, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.

Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:7-10)

In this Advent season we are reminded that we are also called to be messengers for Jesus Christ the one who is coming.  How will we receive him? God looks to us to fulfill his mission in this world, in this town and in this state.

This Advent, we pray for forgiveness and we wait with patience’s, for the coming of Christ our Savior, who is the greatest gift that God has given us. 

May you be happy, joyful and in good spirits this Sunday in Advent.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sermon
Year A
Second Sunday of Advent
December 8, 2019

First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7,18-1-19
Second Reading: Romans 15-4-13
Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

A New Hope We have in Jesus Christ:

Advent

The word Advent means “coming” it is a time to slow down, be quiet and mediate about the real meaning of Christmas.

There are two and a half weeks before Christmas and we still have time to prepare our hearts and our lives as we wait for the coming of Jesus. 

Let’s focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

Advent is also the beginning of the liturgical year. The season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas. It may be a time for new beginning for us as Christians. 

Change is among us in this time of Advent expectation. Many of us may have already experienced the kinds of change that faith can bring, but that doesn’t mean the change is over. 

Yes, a year older this Advent season, one more year of knowledge, another year immersed in the life of faith. Advent is a reminder that change is upon us, and while those changes may cause some temporary tears, they also will have moments of joy! 

Advent is also that unchangeable season when the same concepts, the same words rise over and over again, year after year, to challenge our hearts and minds.

Advent is the season of waiting. And who hasn’t waited? As children we waited to open presents, although as adults I think we are just as impatient about gifts. We wait in lines at the bank, the store and DMV.

But really in the season of Advent, it is important that we slow down, wait patiently and realize the real Christmas gift in Advent is the process, as we learn to calm our hearts and minds and focus on Gods promise. The birth of a baby, the savior born in Bethlehem. 

John the Baptist

The Second Sunday in Advent and our attention is turned to John the Baptist in our Gospel reading today. 

John the Baptist is the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth who preached a message of repentance and salvation, John saw himself as a forerunner of God’s promise of the savior of the world, who will be coming. 

John is the last of the old covenant prophets. Since he was in his mother’s womb, he was chosen by God and he has been expecting Jesus, so why shouldn’t he be the one in Advent to help us prepare the way? 

In a book called Peculiar Treasures, describes John the Baptist with a little humor. 

John the Baptist didn’t fool around. He lived in the wilderness around the Dead Sea. He subsisted on a starvation diet, and so did his disciples. He wore clothes that even the rummage sale people wouldn’t have handled. When he preached, it was fire and brimstone every time.

The Kingdom was coming all right, he said, but if you thought it was going to be pink tea, you’d better think again. If you didn’t shape up, God would give you the axe. 

Your only hope, he said, was to clean up your life as if your life depended on it, which it did, and get baptized in a hurry as a sign that you had. Some people thought he was Elijah come back from the grave, and some others thought he was the Messiah, but John would have none of either.

Our reading in Isaiah: A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord. (Isaiah 11:1)

The spirit of God and the branch a new life, is Jesus, the new life that is coming into the world, becoming incarnate in the womb Jesus is the one appointed King of Kings and Lord or Lords.

God didn’t come into this world with a fortune of money and power and influence, God chose to become human and live among us. 

and 

The Savior of the world was born a vulnerable child. He entered this world, with a very humble family, born in a manager, lying on straw surrounded by animals. The King who will rule all of creation lies in a humble manger. The world He entered was far from perfect, full of sin, pain and darkness.  But he was sent with promise of a new life of hope. 

The Apostle Paul explains it in his letter to the Romans (Romans 15:13)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.

Advent and Christmas calls us to praise God as we actively await the coming of Christ, prepare our hearts and lives for his arrival, and claim and celebrate the new hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Amen

Rev. Lola Culbreath

Frederick Buechmer, Peculiar Treasures

Sermon
Year C
Last Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29
November 24, 2019

First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Canticle 16
Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20
Gospel: Luke 23:33-34  

The Feast of Christ the King
The Final Walk

Jesus in his last three years, had been on a walk from Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum to Jerusalem, north to Tyre to Sidon and south to Jerusalem, thousands of miles covered on foot.

Sometimes Jesus was in a boat on the sea of Galilee and on donkey in Jerusalem. 

But most of the time he walked, this was the only way he could get his message out to the people, otherwise they would not have known him. 

The word spread around the region, he was healing and teaching and He had disciples that followed him everywhere. He was as genuine as the people whom he met. A kind humbly man with great strength and courage, he would go off by himself and pray for long periods of time. But wait, he was different…he was able to change water into wine at a wedding in Cana? I can’t do that! 

Throughout the Gospel’s, His signs or miracles were many. Healing the royal official’s son in Capernaum and healing the paralytic at Bethesda. We can’t forget, He helped a blind man from birth, see for the first time and Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. 

Jesus walked on water and then fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish all the while teaching about love, compassion, forgiveness. He said to his followers, How the one who sent him, is in him, and in you. And throughout the Gospel of Luke, how to depend on God through prayer and how to pray!

Thousands of people witness his miracles and followed him from place to place to see him, to touch him, to ask questions and some were curious and angry and perhaps jealous.

Who is this King? The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of trying to make himself a king. A name that was given to him and a title that hung over him on the cross. He did not claim to be a King, besides, when do we treat Kings or Queens like this?

(John 18:36), Jesus says “My kingdom is not from this world”.

What he is saying is his kingdom is eternal. He is not! The temporal king…but he is an eternal king.

And now, Jesus this man believed to be the Son of God and the second Person of the Holy Trinity, has been turned over to Pilate, by some of those people who followed him. Instead of the leaders and the people who followed him, giving him praise and glory. They are mocking him, taunting him, hitting him and forcing Pilate to crucify him. 

His Final Walk:

“When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals one on the right and one on his left.”

But not before he was asked by the criminal who was also suffering in pain, Jesus “remember me when you come into your kingdom” 

Jesus doesn’t hesitate, He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Conclusion:

St. Paul wrote to the Colossians (1:12-13)

Giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the lights.

He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in who we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 

Through suffering, redemptive, love and forgiveness, we are led from darkness into the power of light. This is why Jesus’ was sent into this world, because of his death and resurrection, we will find salvation and eternal life. “And now”, we are waiting for: The Prince of Peace to be born.

Next week starts the Advent season. And for four weeks we prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ.  It is a time of reflection and a time set aside to renew our connection to Christ.

Story:

Dad and Mother had four children. My sister Glenda was 10 years old when my sister Shirley was born.  Three years later, I was born and three years later, mom was expecting again. They didn’t have anyway in those days of knowing the sex of the child.

Daddy was waiting in anticipation, hoping that this baby would be a boy.

Traditionally, when mom was in labor, dad would stand outside the room.  He always worn a big cowboy hat and when the baby was born, he could hear the cry of the new born baby. His tradition was to throw the cowboy hat on mom’s bed, if it was a girl, she kept it, if it was a boy, she tossed it back at him. Three times mom kept his hat, “but” this time she was able to toss it back at him. 

Joy filled the room; their little prince was born.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

November 20, 2019
Public Healing Service

UNEXPECTED HELP

Animals that travel in herds act as families. If one of them falls behind, they all fall behind to ensure the safety of the individual and the pack. 

If one member falls behind and gets stuck, then the needs of the many to keep moving outweigh the needs of the one.  Sometimes, in times of trouble, there is seemingly nothing that can be done.  That’s what almost happened to this helpless baby elephant when he was abandoned by his herd. 

This elephant herd lived in a Wildlife Sanctuary in Africa. It was a perfect and beautiful day. They had stopped at a pool of water or I suppose a muddy pond. Some to cool off, drink life staining water and some to roll in the mud. Both activities help to mitigate the intense African heat.

The baby started to play and started slipping in to the banks of the pool but he began to sink! The more he tried the more he got stuck and the more noise he made by calling out for help.

The herd, wanted to move on, but they won’t leave the baby elephant behind. A few of the adult elephants attempted to free the elephant by pushing him. No matter how hard they tired they couldn’t free him. With no progress they started calling out to the rest of the herd. With all this power, they still could not free the baby.

Someone else heard this cry for help. It was moving fast toward the herd. Suddenly a Jeep appeared, speeding towards them, this frighten the adults and they surrounded the baby elephant to protect him. 

Two men in the Jeep who were rangers kept circling around the elephants to break up the herd so they could see what was wrong. 

This confrontation went on for what seamed like hours and to top it off, tourists had also come around to see what the commotion was. They had seen the elephants before, so watching in the distance, they decided to stay back.

The younger elephants in the herd took off. This prompted the older elephants to make a decision, do we go with the younger elephants or stay behind to protect this one?

 After what seemed to be hours, they chose to leave and go with the herd.

The two men tried several methods to free the baby elephant and he was getting weaker and weaker; he had become frantic and desperately tried to free himself. They continued to try and help. Then on the verge of giving up, the elephant freed himself. 

In the end, the rangers, had to locate the herd. They had to tie the baby elephant up. He was not happy and lashed out to free himself using his remaining strength.

His fate was in their hands and they knew they needed to save this baby and gain his trust.

After so much time struggling in the African heat they realized the baby was dehydrated.

A ranger grabbed a mini pool and filled it with water. The baby put his trunk in the water and began to drink and bath himself.  

The Herd. Where were they? And who helped them find the herd? The tourists did. They knew where the herd was and told the rangers. 

The rangers lead the baby near enough that he could hear them calling and he went running back to them. 

The herd didn’t go far… they had circled back around.

(Note: on line posting from A baby Elephant Abandoned by its herd was rescued by the most unexpected source.)

I related this story as a Trinity

WHERE DOES OUR HELP COME FROM?

(Psalm 121:1) I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.

When I read this story, I was extremely touch by the love of the herd for one of their own.

How they refused to leave… this child of theirs.

He didn’t just have one set of parents; he had a herd that loved him and wanted to stay and help.

A family that was risking their own safety to stay behind.

When they finally were forced to leave, they didn’t go far.

And they cried out!

God the Father:

It became apparent to me; we experience the same is in our lives.

For some of us, God had provided us with a sanctuary, a safe place to live.

And for others, that safe place, might only be with their herd or family relying on God’s divine love and protection.

(1 Peter 4;10)

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

“Water” to the elephants helps them with survival from the African heat, to drink, to cool off, pack their skin with mud to protect them.

Water is crucial to our survival as well.  In scriptures “Living water” In the Old and New testament, is symbolizing a Christian life for survival.

The outward and visible sign in Baptism is water, in which we are baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

(John 4:10)

“if you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water”

The Son:

We have a Father in Heaven that cared for us so much, he sent a savior to save us from ourselves.

Just like the baby elephant, two strangers, in this case rangers, were there to help and save the baby elephant.

God sent a Jesus his only Son, to be with and among us.

(John 1:14)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

The Elephant knew they were going to have to leave, to save them all. This was a difficult decision for the adult elephants.

Jesus knew he was only here for a short time and that he would have to leave us.

Jesus told us in scriptures that God would send and advocate to be with us to show us the way.

The Holy Spirit

(John 14:16)

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.

The elephants didn’t go far, as a matter of fact they were still there, they circled around, back to the pool of water.

He struggled to free himself, but wait he hears their cries. He struggles more to the point of exhaustion.

The tourist, the advocate for the Elephants helped the rangers to reunite the baby elephant with his hear, as he heard their cries he ran and was reunited with his family.

God hears our cries when we ask for his help.

(1 John 5:15)

And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

No matter what our struggles are in life, God hears our cries, our prayers and we are given, by the grace of God, family, friends.

And the

 All Mighty God, The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, to be with us and remain with us always.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Sermon
Year C
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 23
October 13, 2019

First Reading: Jeremiah 29:1,4-7
Psalm 66:1-11
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Gospel: Luke 17:11-19

Your Faith has made you well.
A reading from the Paraclete Press.

With the eyes of the Spirit, and with the gift of faith, St. Francis could see Jesus present under the appearance of bread and wine in the Eucharist. 

The same could be said about the way he saw Jesus in others. Francis was able to see Jesus in the leper. He was told to embrace the one he was most afraid of, and turned off by, and he found that real presence of Jesus in that person. 

St. Mother Teresa said the same about the poorest of the poor, and the dying. But it is true of all people. Who are the lepers in our lives? Who are we most afraid of, or turned off by? It is only by embracing them that we find Jesus in everyone.

The Gospel:

Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Jerusalem. They are traveling in the border area at the south of Galilee, and this area is where the Samaritans lived.  He has and is traveling in a racially-mixed area.

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!

Leprosy at the time of Jesus was a terrible disease. A disfiguring skin disease with soars and a difficult disease to cure. Once a person caught this disease and was diagnosed, they were banned from the rest of society. They could attend synagogue (staying in an isolated area). They must be first to enter and last to leave, and stay at least six feet away.

“The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkept, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp” (Leviticus 13: 45-46)

Story:
2000+ years later

Some might remember my brother was diagnosed with HIV in the late 1980’s and later died in 1993. It was in the early years, when not too much information was out about the disease and everyone thought if you were in the same room you could contract this deadly disease.

He was just sick, but did not have any outward visible signs.  I took him to one of his appointments. His own primary care doctor (there was only one who would treat patients in LV at the time), she was gone for that day and Everett had to see someone covering her practice. We were in the exam room and when this doctor opens the door, he stood near the door, about 6 feet away, to ask questions and do his exam.

I don’t remember the details of the visit, only that he would not come near us.

Everett often discussed how he and others were treated in those years, the lack of compassion and sympathy that many people and doctors had, send them away! Let them all die; it is their own fault!! But Everett remained faithful to God and our Lord and Savior to the end.

Luke:
“As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him.” (17:12)

“They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (17:12-13)

Master= Teacher or Rabbi have mercy on us! 

In other words, have pity on us! You see they can’t come near the Teacher; they have to stay back and yell out! Have Mercy on Us!  Have pity on Us!

Have pity, a familiar cry that they have been uttering ever since they were diagnosed with leprosy and cast out of the villages.  Having pity, is to have compassion on the lepers. They are not asking to be healed, just asking for mercy, or what ever the Master can give them. They know the reputation Jesus has when it comes to compassion.

They were made clean: Jesus has compassion and when he heard them and saw them, he said to them.

“Go and show yourselves to the priest.” And as they went, they were made clean. 

As they walk away, they all realized that they had been made clean. This also means they can return to society and be part of society they no longer have to live apart from their families.

There were 10 lepers that had been healed and nine walked about to go back to the villages to let everyone know they had been cleansed and were healed. Most likely these nine were Jewish and the one that went back to Jesus and fell on his knee’st was Samaritan.

“One of them, when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was Samaritan.” (17:15-16)

All ten had cried out for help, but only one has cried out in a loud voice, praising God!

The Central Lessons:

Our first lesson, a letter from the prophet Jeremiah-sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles.

 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” (Jeremiah 29:7)

Our second reading. (2 Timothy) 

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

As disciples of Christ, we are to look out for the welfare of others and then we can find our true self. Pray always and give God the praise and Glory. We can learn from others outside our own church. 

Faith and Compassion for others. 

We are all created by God in his image. What would we do if God stayed 6 feet away from us? 

To maintain the life that God intended us to be, it is important, we continue to move closer to our heart’s desire, where the Holy Spirit lives and dwells.   St. Mother Teresa reminds us about the poorest of the poor, and the dying. 

Who are the lepers in our lives? Who are we most afraid of, or turned off by?  It is only by embracing them that we find Jesus in everyone.

See Jesus present under the appearance of bread and wine in the Eucharist.

Bringing the Kingdom of God to life in the world around everyone. This is an example of how we are to love one another, serve one another, and know that love and compassion is the way that Jesus wants us to be.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath

Year C
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 20
September 22, 2019

First Reading: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
Psalm 79:1-9
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

Haves and Have Not’s

The reading in Luke today 16:1-13, follows the parable, The Parodical Son 15:11-32. 

Both lessons are about money and who has the money and who does not. 

When Jesus spoke in parable’s, he was reaching out to his followers, the believers who might be able to understand his message more than the non-believers.

However, the pharisees are listening very closely to what he is say. 

Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges are brought to him that this man was squandering his property.

 So, he summoned him and said to him,

 “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.”

Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me”

 I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

 I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ 

So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?”

He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’

Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’

What the manager was doing, was securing his future with people outside his work, just in case he was fired or let go. He didn’t have any other skills to provide for himself. And by doing this he was stacking up favors, that he could possibly draw on later.

Story:

We watched a movie recently on Netflix, starring Melissa McCarthy. The title was Can you ever forgive me? 

A true story, Melissa was portraying Lee Israel. Lee Israel is a frustrated, hard-drinking author, who had published one book, that did not sell. She lived in a small apartment in the 1990’s in New York City. Her one friend, a flamboyant gay man, also with a drinking problem.

But her true friend, the one that understood her the best, was her 12-year-old cat whom she loved and the only thing, she had to live for. 

Ms. Israel’s cat was sick and needed to be treated by a vet, but she owed money on her last bill, and they refused to see the cat. She was 3 months behind in her rent, along with multiple other expenses.  

When visiting her publicist, again, she tells Lee to find a job, another job, no one will give her money for a book she has not written; she is a poor risk. Plus, she is very unkept, dirty and rude! So, go do something else to make money.

Not only does Ms. Israel have writers block, but she has no other skills! 

A description on the internet about her went like this.

Lee Israel is frustrated and desperate for money, she soon hatches a scheme to forge letters by famous writers and sell them to bookstores and collectors. When the dealers catch on, Lee recruits a dubious friend to help her continue her self-destructive cycle of trickery and deceit.    

She forged over 400 letters, and was paid hundreds if not thousands of dollars for each letter.

With the money, she was able to take the cat to the vet, pay her rent. But she continued drinking and leading a life of self-destruction.

I felt sorry for her.

After she was caught by the FBI the first time and arrested, she was before a judge who was lenient on her.

Lee, was remorseful in a way, but she was also so proud of the work she had put into the letters, the thing in her sad life she was really proud of doing. Like the manager in the parable, she had no other skills so she got creative at the expense of someone else.

The rich man in verses 8-9 goes easy on the manager. 

And his master commended the dishonest manager, because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are shrewder in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.  And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.

Is it ever okay to be dishonest? Is it okay to use your skills to get ahead?  Let’s consider a natural disaster.

If you are forced to leave home to avoid the next hurricane that is coming and you and thousands of people all travel in the same direction, guaranteed the prices for gas are going up, the hotels and motels will raise their rates, and restaurants will elevate the price of food.

Are they just making a living? Yes, but it’s exploiting people to benefit themselves.

I personally don’t agree with this. 

A couple of years ago, somewhere in the south, I remember a man who owned a motel, and instead of rising the price of a motel room, he let family’s stay in his motel free of charge.

He caught the attention of the news and was interviewed on the local and national news, because of his kindness, people from around the county started sending him supplies and money to help care for the people staying in his motel.  

His actions are what God see’s and his reward will be greater in the Kingdom of God.

The steward in the parable was dishonest and he made a mess of his life and he knew he was responsible for his own misery. 

Just like Lee Israel, she made a mess of her life and she knew she sold her own soul by being dishonest.

Conclusion:

Did the manager hurt anyone when he gave them a break on their bill? 

Did Ms. Lee Israel hurt anyone? Not really, was it right in what she did? No! absolutely not! 

Do we help others to ensure safety into the Kingdom of God, like the manager to ensure safety in homes? 

(Hebrews 13:16) Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Good news:

By the grace of God, everything has been provided for us with all we need, we do not have to be anxious about anything. 

Each person is precious to God, in hard times and in good times, God is with us and will not forget us and we will be taken care of.

By Faith we realize that, sooner or later the time will come when possessing money will cease and the only thing, we will be focusing on is our salvation and the Kingdom of God. 

Just like in the parable, the Prodigal son, God our father, rejoices when we return to him.

Amen
Rev. Lola Culbreath