January 30, 2022
Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song All About Love Steven Curtis Chapman https://youtu.be/YzlCNh7d1v8 Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Bible Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Opening Prayer O God, open our hearts to your transforming love, that your word may grow within us – building a community that bears all things, believes all things, and hopes all things. Amen. Song Help Us Accept Each Other https://youtu.be/PwunC61cIqA Hearing the Word Scripture 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a, 13 (J.B. Phillips Translation) If I speak with the eloquence of men and of angels, but have no love, I become no more than blaring brass or crashing cymbal. If I have the gift of foretelling the future and hold in my mind not only all human knowledge but the very secrets of God, and if I also have that absolute faith which can move mountains, but have no love, I amount to nothing at all. If I dispose of all that I possess, yes, even if I give my own body to be burned, but have no love, I achieve precisely nothing. This love of which I speak is slow to lose patience – it looks for a way of being constructive. It is not possessive; it is neither anxious to impress nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. It is not touchy. It does not keep account of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it shares the joy of those who live by the truth. Love knows no limit to its endurance, no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love never fails. In this life we have three lasting qualities – faith, hope and love. But the greatest of them is love. Sermon What Love Does There was a story on the news this week about how many weddings are expected to take place this year, and how wedding gowns and other items may be in short supply. Like everything else, it seems like, the stores are low on the most desired items. People may have to wait for months to get the dresses they really want to make their special day perfect. It wouldn’t be a great stretch of the imagination to say that many of those weddings would include the reading of 1 Corinthians 13. For many people – maybe for most of us – these words have been so closely associated with weddings, that we take it for granted that they were written about the love between a married couple. But that assumption is entire wrong. The apostle Paul had nothing like that in mind when he wrote this passage. In fact, Paul wrote these words in response to a crisis in the church in Corinth. Church members were in conflict over spiritual gifts. They were arguing over which spiritual gifts were better than others, and trying to use spiritual gifts as a means of claiming higher positions in the church. Paul’s response to all of this quarreling and quibbling was to tell them that there was something more important than any of the spiritual gifts, and that something is love. And he went on to describe what that love looks like. Love means doing or not doing certain things. Love means not losing patience with others, not being possessive, not being anxious to impress others, and not being overly proud of yourself. Love is not being selfish or touchy, it is not keeping a record of the wrongs that other people commit or gloating over their wickedness. Love means having good manners, feeling joy over others who are living by the truth, having no limit to its ability to endure or trust or hope, and being able to outlast anything. Love never fails. This kind of love is not so much an emotion as it is an act of will. When Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37-40 that we are to love God and love others, he doesn’t necessarily mean a feeling in our hearts towards others; but we are to be concerned for their well-being. Frederick Buechner writes in his book, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC, “In the Christian sense, love is not primarily an emotion but an act of the will. When Jesus tells us to love our neighbors, he is not telling us to love them in the sense of responding to them with a cozy emotional feeling. You can as well produce a cozy emotional feeling on demand as you can a yawn or a sneeze. On the contrary, he is telling us to love our neighbors in the sense of being willing to work for their well-being even if it means sacrificing our own well-being to that end, even if it means sometimes leaving them alone. Thus in Jesus’ terms we can love our neighbors without necessarily liking them … This does not mean that liking may not be a part of loving, only that it doesn’t have to be. Sometimes liking follows on the heels of loving. It is hard to work for somebody’s well-being very long without coming in the end to rather liking him too.” It seems like our country could do with some Jesus-kind-of-love right now. As Adam Weber writes in his book, Love Has a Name: Learning to Love the Different, the Difficult & Everyone Else, “now more than any other time (at least it feels this way to me!), love seems absent from our attitudes, words, and actions. We say we love others, but we really don’t. Instead, we’re quick to shake our fists at drivers, judge the stranger who looks strange, and trash the person online who thinks differently than we do. We gossip behind the backs of our coworkers and daydream about body-slamming certain family members. Instead of loving people, we hurt, belittle, and overlook them.” Some of that kind of attitude has come about because of the divisions in our country. We are seriously divided in our politics. We are divided in our theology. We are divided in our stance on COVID and vaccinations. We are divided within our friendship groups, within our families, and even within our own homes. Pandemic fatigue doesn’t help the situation any. People are frustrated and angry, and they are looking for places to take out those feelings. There are angry exchanges in grocery stores or pharmacies. There are incidents of road rage. People are blocked on Face-book. We might begin to ask ourselves, Is the kind of love that Paul described even possible? Loving others is certainly easier said than done. It is one thing to say that we love people, but quite another thing to actually love individual people. Weber writes, “Jesus didn’t just talk about love generally … Instead, Jesus loved people personally. He got face to face with people. He didn’t just talk about love. He loved specific people. Sick people. Bad people. Normal people. Broken people. Religious people. Judgmental people. Awkward people. Overlooked people. Contagious people. Ugly people. Different people, who were different in every possible way. Difficult people, who were so incredibly hard to love. Jesus knew their stories. Who they were. Their names. Their status – or lack thereof. And he loved them anyway.” That is the kind of love that Jesus calls us to. We are to love people no matter what. We are to love people – different people, difficult people – anyway. Whether those people sit across the table from us at dinner every night, or sit in the pew near us in church, or work with us, or attend the same club meetings as we do, or are members of our extended family, we are to love them even if we can’t seem to get along with them. Even if we think they are dead wrong in all of their opinions. Even if we have never voted for the same political party. Even if we believe different things about God. Even if we disagree about COVID protocols and vaccinations. We are to love each other because Jesus said so. And we to love each other the way Paul said to love. Why is this important? Because it is our most important Christian witness. Weber goes on to say, “Hear this: people will know our love for God by the way we love others. Not by our church attendance. Not by how many Bible verses we have memorized. Not by all the good religious things we do. Not even by our theology … People will know our love for God by the way we love them and others and ourselves.” I asked earlier if it was possible to love like this. Jerry Irish, a professor of religion at Pomona College in Claremont, California answers the question: “As an individual character trait or personal attitude, no; but as the presence of God’s love in Christ … and in a community of believers that live in that love, yes. To belong to God’s church … is to be an agent of God’s love in the world … working on behalf of others.” Practicing Christ-like love is transformational. It changes the person who gives the love. In showing love to others – especially to those whom it is hard for you to love – you open your heart for God’s love to come through you, and your faith and your love grow immensely. You begin to see the world as God sees it, and to see people as God sees them. Not as adversaries or as difficulties, but as children of God, as brothers and sisters. That love can also transform those to whom we show the love. As they experience the grace in our love, and the grace of the God who gives us the love, their lives may be changed. As our acts of generosity and mercy and assistance in their times of need are experienced as sincere and authentic expressions of love, it will make an im-pression on them. But practicing Christ-like love can make an even bigger difference than just on individual lives. It can change the world. Marcus Borg, in his book Convictions: How I Learned What Matters Most, talks about how loving God means loving what and whom God loves. We are to love all creation and all people, especially “the least of these” – the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the sick, the naked, those in prison, the oppressed, and the poor. We are even to love our enemies. He says, “Imagine that Christianity is about loving God. Imagine that it’s not about the self and its concerns, about ‘what’s in it for me,’ whether that be a blessed afterlife or prosperity in this life. Imagine that loving God is … about loving what God loves. Imagine how that would change our lives. Imagine how it would change American Christianity and its relation to American politics and economics and our relationship to the rest of the world. Imagine how it would change our vision of what this world … might, could, and should be like.” Over the next couple of weeks, we will hear a lot about love as the advertisers focus on Valentine’s Day. And romantic love is a wonderful thing. But the love that Paul described for us in 1 Corinthians 13 is an even more wonderful thing, and it is a love that every one of us can experience and practice. It is the way to live out Jesus’ call to love others. It is a love that is greater than any of us may achieve, but we are certainly blessed and become a blessing as we aspire to live up to its full potential. Song The Gift of Love Becky Messer https://youtu.be/DV5ygs_rUvE Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Loving God, We pray today that you will teach us to love like you. Let love flow out of us and touch everyone we meet; let us not be afraid of running out of love, but share it willingly and freely. Let us not love only those who are lovely, but especially those who are unlovely, for they need love the most. Let us love not only those people who are like us, but also those with whom we have nothing in common except being your children. Let us love without condition, without limit, with only reckless abandon. Let us love the sick and the healthy; the rich and the poor; the liberal and the conservative; the people who look like us and the people who are from other parts of the world; those who are young and those who are old; those who practice our faith and those who practice no faith at all and those who worship differently than we do. Show us that we can love deeper and wider and harder than we think we can. We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication God of love, you protect us and comfort us; you call us on new adventures; you bless us with your love. We bring these gifts, and we bring our lives, as offerings of our love. Teach us to hope in all things, to be faithful to you, and to be known by our love in everything we do. Amen. Song They’ll Know We are Christians By Our Love Jars of Clay https://youtu.be/cfg5VTyDkyA Benediction Go as God’s love into the world, bearing burdens and enduring challenges. Go as Christ’s children into the world, hoping for goodness and believing in miracles. Go with the Spirit into the world, letting love be your guide. We are God’s love to the world! Amen.
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January 23, 2022
Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song High Hopes Frank Sinatra https://youtu.be/S94Bh3Qez9o Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Bible Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Opening Prayer Gracious God, we give thanks that you have called us to be your people. Set before us now the joy of discovery and a vision of future possibilities. Unite us in friendship with one another, with Christ as our center and inspiration. Amen. Song Beauty Will Rise Steven Curtis Chapman https://youtu.be/rJynET3b3PM Hearing the Word Scripture Philippians 3:13b-14 (NIV) But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Isaiah 43:18-19a (NIV) “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” Sermon Usta Done Died (Play Youtube video – Dr. Bertice Berry) https://youtu.be/N_sIwaja5yQ In case you didn’t catch that, “Usta done died!” The way things used to be isn’t any more. We are now living in the present, and the past no longer exists. That is something that is hard to accept in these days of pandemic. As Kay Kotan writes in her book, Being the Church in a Post-Pandemic World, “Since March 2020, when our lives were turned inside out, many have craved returning to the ways things once were. We continually heard comments like, ‘I can’t wait to get back to normal!’ … Reality check: Life will never be the same. The world, and therefore our lives, have changed forever. There is no going back. Our new reality is yet to be determined. The effects will take some time to settle in. Adjustments will continue to have a ripple effect for years to come.” For those who were comfortable with the way things were before March 2020, this is not good news. And for those who were comfortable with the way the church was before March 2020, this is not good news either. But we can no longer do things the way we used to do them. “Usta done died.” The church as we knew it before the pandemic started doesn’t exist anymore. Right now we are in a kind of in-between time, and we don’t really know what the church of the future will look like. We just know that it will be different. And if we’re honest, we know that it needs to be different. It needed to be different before the pandemic started. Because the church before the pandemic wasn’t working anymore. Most churches were in a decline before March 2020, and had been for years. Ours was no different. If you look at membership, attendance and giving, you will see basically a slow but steady drop in numbers over the past 20 years or so. Kotan writes, “The pandemic certainly didn’t cause the decline of the church, but it made the decline more obvious and accelerated the decline for those that were already struggling. Therefore, the pandemic has created a sense of urgency for some churches …” In fact, some churches have been forced to close as a result of the pandemic; they just could not survive. I would include both Lake Sunapee and Grantham as churches that have reached a point of urgency about them. And, to be blunt, some changes, perhaps drastic changes, are going to be needed if we are to survive into the future. As one of my former Church Council chairpersons used to put at the top of every meeting agenda, “If nothing changes, nothing changes.” And the pandemic, this horrific crisis, has created an opportunity for us to make some necessary changes in order to more our churches forward. We should not allow ourselves to become frightened at the prospect of making changes. Everything changes sooner or later. There have been changes made in this church before now, some good and some not so good, some successful and others less so. Change is a sign of life. Thom S. Rainer writes in The Post-Quarantine Church, “Be excited and encouraged. Don’t let the unknown become a source of fear. You are not entering this new era alone. Not only is God with you; he has gone before you.” Bishop Bruce R. Ough, who is the Executive Secretary of the Council of Bishops, writes, “What I observe among us, and what I certainly have racing around in my soul, is both lament and rejoicing. I lament that there will be no return to normal; … Yet, I rejoice in the opportunity to re-envision, re-create, re-invent, re-imagine our congregations.” So if we can’t be what we used to be any longer, if we need to re-invent what we do and how we do it, where do we start? We start with prayer, and lots of it! When the early followers of Jesus were waiting in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit, they spent their time in prayer together. And after the Holy Spirit came, they also devoted themselves to corporate prayer. Our district superintendent challenged the Grantham church in particular to spend time in prayer this year. But I believe it is necessary for both churches. We must make prayer a high priority. We must pray for discernment. We must pray for ears to hear what God would say to us. We must pray for ears to listen to what our community asks of us. We must pray for the willingness to be flexible and open to the leadership of the Holy Spirit. And then we wait. We wait until God answers our prayers. Sometimes it takes a while to get those answers. And waiting can be hard for some of us who are not naturally patient. But waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing. Second, while we wait, we connect with the people around us. We ask the people in our community what they need from us. We ask them how we can be of service. We look for ways to partner with other organizations in the community, such as the schools. We get creative about ways to invite people into our building, and we work to remove obstacles in using our facilities for community activities. We build relationships with our neighbors. And we look at our building as a tool for reaching our community. Third, we develop a vision for our church. A vision is different from a mission. Our mission is our reason for existence, and, as stated by the United Methodist Book of Discipline, is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Our vision is something different. Our vision is how we live into that mission in our unique context. I am in my second year of a three-year program called Creating a Culture of Renewal. I am in the process of selecting a Vision Team, people who will help me create a vision for our church. (Grantham: I will work with our Visioning Board to develop a vision for our church.) And once we have that vision, we will lay plans for implementing it over the following year. This vision will certainly take into account the ways that the world has changed since March of 2020. And it will remember that “usta done died.” Bishop Laurie Haller of the Iowa Conference said, “The current disruption is actually a gift that will lead churches into new possibilities …, thus transforming their communities and the world.” We have to remember that God is in the business of making things new, of re-creating. God is not content to just leave things as they are, or to leave people as they are. Think how many characters in the Bible underwent incredible changes in their lives as God used them for his purposes. And think about how the world was changed through those who served God. Kay Kotan writes near the end of her book: The post-pandemic church must be different than what it was prior to 2020. To lead the church forward, leaders can’t be frozen in a pre-pandemic world. The future church and its leaders will need to be flexible, relational, visionary, spiritually grounded, highly committed, innovative, resilient, and courageous. These were likely not the practices most churches regularly practiced or valued prior to the pandemic … But friends, please hear me. For us Christ followers, trying to do our part in living out the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, we must release what we have previously been and done. It no longer works. We must do better. We must be better. We must begin to re-imagine what it means to be the church. The pandemic was a horrific, historical, and devastating long-term occurrence. It will take years, possibly decades, to discover the totality of the ripple effects of this pandemic. Yet conversely, this sudden disruption of life as we once knew it has given the church a wonderful, unprecedented opportunity to re-think, re-imagine, and reinvent the church. While it is true that “usta done died,” we don’t know what will be yet. I, for one, am excited by the possibilities before us. People are looking for something different from the church. And that means that the church must be and do something different. Don’t be afraid of the change. Embrace it. And know that the God who makes all things new is working with us to make this church ready for the post-pandemic world. Song All Things New Steven Curtis Chapman https://youtu.be/oKx_hx5itIM Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Gracious God, we find it hard to forget what is behind. We sometimes look back and think about how comfortable the past was. Even the things that were hard were at least familiar. But now we find ourselves in uncharted waters. This pandemic has made everything unfamiliar, and all we want is for things to get back to normal. But things will never get back to normal. And that is okay. Because you are already creating something new. Help us to eagerly participate with you in this new creation. Let us re-imagine what it means to be your people in the world. We would re-think how we can be church. We want to be relevant, and we want to be essential to the life of our community. Give us ears to hear what you call us to and what they need from us. We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication Faithful Giver of Life, you have done so much for us. Help us open our hearts to others, that we may be ever more willing to offer our hospitality, our support, and our material resources wherever they are needed. Bless these offerings in Jesus’ name. Amen. Song Pick Yourself Up Nat King Cole https://youtu.be/20ViFpURIDk Benediction Go now, believing in the power of God to make all things new. Pray and wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Don’t look back, but look forward to all that God has planned for us. Amen. January 16, 2022
Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song Together Steven Curtis Chapman https://youtu.be/N-U7X2DR2C4 Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Bible Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Hearing the Word Scripture 1 Kings 19:1-18 (NIV) Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself when a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him.” Sermon Taking Care of Yourself When the World Has PTSD Last May I had the privilege of participating in a Zoom conference resource day with Leonard Sweet as the guest speaker. I first encountered Len when I was still a pastor in South Carolina, many years ago, and he came to speak to our pastor’s retreat. He is a dynamic speaker, a prolific writer, a former professor at Drew University, and has an incredibly creative mind. Len talked about what a hard time it is to be a pastor in this pandemic world, where everyone has PTSD, and quoted from the hymn “A Charge to Keep I Have,” “to serve this present age, our calling to fulfill.” Len understands that part of our calling as clergy is to be healthcare professionals. He bases that on the fact that when Jesus walked this earth, he did three things: he preached, he taught, and he healed. His church is, therefore, in the health business, and clergy are called to heal mind and soul and body. Our role is just as important as any other healthcare professional. We are to mend the brokenhearted and to help restore people to what they were intended to be. As pastors, we don’t run away when there is hurting and a crisis; we run toward the hurting and the crisis. That was exactly my feeling when COVID first hit, that I should have been on the frontlines, right along with the doctors and nurses and EMTs. I feel that clergy could have been extremely helpful in sitting with dying patients, freeing up nursing staff to do medical things. We are trained for that; they are not. So everything that Len had to say that day really resonated with me. And it also made me recall a program that I did years ago for a cancer support group in my hometown. I had become good friends with the nurse in charge of the chemo unit where my mom went for treatment, and she asked if I could put together something for her cancer support group. And so I decided on the topic of Biblical models of self-care. There are examples in scripture of ways that we can take care of ourselves when we are going through stressful, difficult times. Even times when it would seem that the whole world has PTSD. Do you think I’m being overly dramatic in saying that the world has PTSD? Well, I consulted the Mayo Clinic’s website to find out more about PTSD, and I am more convinced that ever that most, if not all, of us are probably experiencing some of the symptoms as we enter our third year of the pandemic. They list four basic categories of symptoms. First, there are intrusive memories. These might include recurrent, unwanted, distressing memories of the traumatic event; reliving the traumatic event as if it were happening again; upsetting dreams or nightmares about the event; or severe emotional or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event. Second, there is avoidance. That means trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event; and avoiding places, activities, or people that remind you of the event. Third, there are negative changes in thinking and mood. Those include having negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world; feeling hopeless about the future; memory problems; difficulty maintaining close relationships; feeling detached from family and friends; lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed; difficulty experiencing positive emotions; and feeling emotionally numb. And fourth, changes in physical and emotional reactions. This might include being easily startled or frightened; always being on guard for danger; self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast; having trouble sleeping; having trouble concentrating; irritability, angry outbursts, or aggressive behavior; or overwhelming guilt or shame. I won’t ask you to raise you hand if you have experienced any of these symptoms over the past two years. But I will say that things are much more complicated by the fact that we are not reacting to one event in time, such as 9/11 or December 7, 1941. We are still experiencing the trauma, nearly two years in. The prophet Elijah experienced PTSD and his immediate response was to run for his life and practice major avoidance. He had been quite victorious in a show-down with the prophets of Baal, and all of them had been put to death. But when word got back to Queen Jezebel, who was a Baal-worshiper, she promised to do the same to Elijah. So he took off into the desert, laid down under a tree, and wished he were dead. An angel of God came and provided him with food and water, and then Elijah traveled for 40 days and 40 nights until he came to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. And he went into a cave and fell asleep. The next day, God confronted Elijah. “What are you doing here?” God asked. Elijah responded by telling about how unfaithful the Israelites had been and how they had broken down the altars and even killed all the other prophets, and now he himself was the only one left and they were trying to kill him too. God’s response to that was to tell Elijah to watch carefully, because God was about to pass by. In other words, God was going to reveal himself to Elijah. And God revealed himself, not in a great and powerful wind, not in an earthquake or in fire, but in a gentle whisper. And then God asked Elijah a second time, “Why are you here?” And Elijah gave God the same answer. God then gave Elijah a mission. Go back the way he came. Anoint Hazael to be king over Aram, and anoint Jehu to be king over Israel, and anoint Elisha to succeed him as prophet. Oh, and by the way, God said: There are still 7,000 people in Israel who are faithful to me; you’re not the only one. For Elijah, dealing with his PTSD meant finding strength in his faith and also facing the real facts of the matter; he was not the last one who was faithful to God, there were others. And God still had work for him to do, important work. And God provided for his immediate needs, with food and water and sleep. As I look through scripture, I find many examples of ways that we can take good care of ourselves as we deal with PTSD. But one thing that seems especially clear is that we need to express our emotions, not hold them in. And we can be honest as we do that. One way to express our emotions is through prayer. We might think that the Biblical characters always prayed respectful, dignified, calm prayers. And yet, that is not the case. Sometimes they prayed as if they were shaking their fists at God, demanding an answer. Other times they prayed as if they were weeping. For example, listen to the words of Job: Only grant me these two things, O God, and then I will not hide from you: Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply. How many wrongs have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin. Why do you hide your face and consider me your enemy? Or how about these words from Jeremiah, the weeping prophet? O my Comforter in sorrow, my heart is faint within me. Listen to the cry of my people from a land far away … Since my people are crushed, I am crushed; I mourn, and horror grips me. Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? When then is there no healing for the wound of my people? Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people. Sometimes, if I find it hard to pray, I pray the Psalms or prayers written by other people. I have recently been using a book of prayers by Walter Brueggemann during my morning reflection time. One of my favorite prayers is called “Even on such a day,” and was written on September 11, 2001 while reading Isaiah 1: We prattle about your sovereignty … especially we Calvinists; all about all things working together for good, all about your watchful care and your severe mercies. And then we are drawn up short; by terror that strikes us, in our privilege, as insane; by violence that shatters our illusions of well-being; by death that reminds us of our at-risk mortality; by smoke and fire that have the recurring smell of ovens. We are bewildered, undone, frightened, and then intrude the cadences of these old poets: the cadences of fidelity and righteousness; the sounds of justice and judgment; the images of Sodom and Gomorrah; the imperatives of widows and orphans. Even on such a day we are not minded to yield on your sovereignty, We are, we confess, sobered, put off, placed in dread, that you are lord as well as friend, that you are hidden as well as visible, that you are silent as well as reassuring. You are our God. That is enough for us … but just barely. We pray in the name of the wounded flesh of Jesus. Amen. Another example that scripture gives us for taking care of ourselves and being honest in expressing our emotions is through creative writing. The entire book of Psalms gives us words of joy, words of pain, words of confession, words of fear, words of anger, words of passion, words of love, words of judgment. Listen to these examples: From Psalm 140 Let the heads of those who surround me be covered with the trouble their lips have caused. Let burning coals fall upon them; may they be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, never to rise. From Psalm 51 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me … Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me … Restore to me the joy of your salvation … From Psalm 121 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. He will not let your foot Slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. If you aren’t sure about your talents at creative writing, try re-writing a Psalm in your own words; write a paraphrase. That is essentially what the Bible version called The Message is; it is a paraphrase by Eugene Peterson. For example, think of Psalm 23. Peterson’s version reads like this: God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life. Creative writing doesn’t necessarily need to be in the form of a poem or a prayer. I try to journal as often as I can, at least four or five days a week. That is my way of reviewing what is going on in my life, checking in on myself, thinking about my inner life, my spiritual life, and what I need. It is a way to process what I’m going through. Some people write fiction; others write prayers. Another example in the Bible of a way to take care of yourself is to listen to or make music. You might remember how David played the harp to soothe Saul, who apparently suffered from depression. Music has a way of reaching into the depths of our souls and touching us in ways that nothing else can. I love music that has words that can express what I want to say, but haven’t been able to. Hymns, popular music, even music from Broadway shows. And I love instrumental music, too, whether it is classical or jazz or someone like Jim Brickman, Chris Botti, or Yo Yo Ma. Music without words can sometimes be even better, because there are times when I have no words. It’s like Paul wrote in Romans about prayer: In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. Sometimes I listen to music that mirrors my feelings, like when I’m feeling sad or depressed, as a way to let those feelings out. One of the pieces I often listen to is Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor, which draws out my grief, my despair, my longing for God’s presence. Here is a brief sample: https://youtu.be/XMbvcp480Y4 Other times, I listen to music to lift my spirits, to pull me up out of the depths and make myself feel better. I love to listen to the Manhattan Transfer: https://youtu.be/_Sr5F4r2Urs There are times when I choose to praise God, even when I’m not sure I really feel like it, because God is always worthy of praise and worship. Of course, one of my favorites is Steven Curtis chapman: https://youtu.be/7mIvihsm_sY And when I really need a lift, there is no more joyful piece on the organ than the Widor Toccata, which my mother requested as the last piece to be played at her funeral service. https://youtu.be/pdrwazpZvAQ One of the things I found particularly uplifting during these years of pandemic was listening to the virtual choirs, such as this one, made up of 300 people from 15 countries: https://youtu.be/6gpoJNv5dlQ In his book, The Jesus Prescription for a Healthy Life, Len Sweet adds a few more examples from the life of Jesus. One is to hang out with your friends. While PTSD can sometimes make you want to withdraw, that can be the worst thing to do. Jesus spent time with his friends, with his disciples, in relaxed settings. He loved to share meals with friends, and with strangers. Sometimes even with enemies! But always with those who loved him. He often visited the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary in Bethany. And he stayed in the home of Peter when he was in Capernaum. Jesus was not a lone ranger; he needed the company of other people. Who are the people that are your closest friends? Who do you call when you really need someone to listen? Who can you just hang out with and not talk and know that they understand? Spend time with those people; just being together can give you encouragement and strength for difficult days. Another example in the gospels is to spend time with children. Jesus spent time with children, and he even scolded his disciples when they tried to prevent the children from coming to him. Jesus never lost touch with his inner child. And he pointed out that there is something about a childlike faith that is necessary to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus was loved by children; they wanted to spend time with him. I can imagine Jesus playing games with them. During the years that my mom was so ill, I lived in a house right behind the church next to the playground. On Wednesday afternoons, we had a slate of activities for the kids, and they always had some playtime outdoors. I started clearing my schedule on Wednesday afternoons so that I could spend time with the children. I needed that time as stress-relief. I laughed, I played, I giggled, I listened to silly jokes, I helped with homework, I drank Kool-Aid. It was the best time of my week! Are there children in your life? Can you “adopt” some? And finally, Len says that we see in Jesus a model of coming apart so we don’t come apart. In other words, Jesus sometimes needed time to be alone. He would sometimes withdraw to a lonely place by himself – to the mountains, or by the lake, or to a garden. He would pray. He would retreat. He would enjoy times of solitude. He would regroup. And it was always outdoors. He connected with himself while he was connecting with nature. I have found retreats to be an enormous help when I have been stressed out, even if was only for a day apart somewhere. Sometimes I go to Silver Bay YMCA up at Lake George in New York, where they have a pastoral care program that provides for clergy to stay for free in the off-season. I sit by the lake in an Adirondack chair and read, take walks, take naps, rest, and just be for a while. The same kind of thing can be healthy for you, too. We are all suffering from some degree of PTSD these days. And the Bible can give us some examples of how we can deal with it in a healthy way. I am also here to help. I can listen. I can work with you to find some ways to deal with it that feel comfortable to you. And if necessary, I can find a referral for more in-depth counseling. But, please, don’t hesitate to ask for help. I remember a seminary classmate in my preaching class giving a sermon called, “If You’re Hurtin’, Holler.” Let me know if you need help. We’re all in this together. And part of my calling is to be a healer. Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer O God, we are fearful folk, and we dwell in the midst of a fearful people, fearful of our world falling apart, in terror and moral decay, fearful of too many “dangers, toils, and snares,” fearful of not doing well, of being found out, of being left out, of being abandoned, of our own shadow. And then we hear, astonishingly in the midst of our fearfulness, your mighty, “DO NOT FEAR” do not fear, I am with you, with you in wealth and in poverty, with you in success and in failure, with you for better or for worse. We hear, we trust, we receive your comfort and are made new. We thank you for the newness of our identity, of our trust, of our calling. Because of your new utterance of life to us, we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea. We, your new people, thank you for your newness and notice that you work newness among us, for we know about being, lame people who walk, blind people who see, dead people who live, poor people who are unburdened. We rally around your newness that is both our hope and our work. Your fearless newness into which we are immersed is beyond our expectation; But we are not offended by it; not scandalized by you; not ashamed of your newness; not embarrassed by your healings. We ask now for energy and freedom, rooted in your fearlessness, that we may live toward and from and for your newness that bubbles up, even in the midst of us, all around us to the uttermost parts of the earth. We pray in the name of your fearless gift of newness who scandalizes the world and makes all things new, even Jesus. (Walter Brueggemann) The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication We worship you with our offerings, O God, and we seek through them to bring good news, comfort, and healing, to the afflicted, brokenhearted, and oppressed. May all the ministries and outreach of our church honor you and use well the resources you entrust to us. Amen. Song Together For King and Country https://youtu.be/lR1Hk0FVi_k Benediction 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. Amen. January 9, 2022
Baptism of the Lord Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus Fernando Ortega https://youtu.be/0dmO8UPlWoo Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Bible Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Opening Prayer God of cleansing waters and purifying fires, remind us of the power of our baptism and reconfirm our commitment to Jesus Christ. Name us again as your own people: precious, gifted, created to glorify you in fullness of life, in peace with ourselves and one another. Send your Holy Spirit to energize our worship and enliven our witness in the world. Hear us as we pray for one another and for your church in every place. Amen. Song I Have This Hope Tenth Avenue North https://youtu.be/oncIQo5ub0c Hearing the Word Scripture Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 (NIV) The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ. John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Sermon A Reason for Hope One of Steven Curtis Chapman’s songs asks the question, “Where is the hope, where is the peace that will make this life complete for every man, woman, boy, and girl looking for heaven in the real world?” I know what he means. I wonder some days, Where is the hope? Where is there a reason for hope? I just finished reading a terrific book by Jane Goodall, called, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times. In the Introduction, Jane writes, “We are going through dark times. There is armed conflict in many parts of the world, racial and religious discrimination, hate crimes, terrorist attacks, a political swing to the far right fueling demonstrations and protests that, all too often, become violent. The gap between the haves and have-nots is widening and fomenting anger and unrest. Democracy is under attack in many countries. On top of all that, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused so much suffering and death, loss of jobs, and economic chaos around the world. And the climate crisis, temporarily pushed into the background, is an even greater threat to our future – indeed, to all life on Earth as we know it.” She seems to read the gloomy situation about the same way I do. But then she goes on to say, “You may be thinking, If [Jane] is aware of what is going on in the world, how can she still be writing about hope? She is probably giving in to wishful thinking. She is not facing up to the facts.’ I am facing up to the facts. And on many days I admit that I feel depressed … Over the last eight decades I have been no stranger to disasters such as 9/11, school shootings, suicide bombings, and so on, and the despair that some of these terrible events can elicit. I grew up during World War II, when the world risked being overrun by Hitler and the Nazis. I lived through the Cold War arms race, when the world was threatened by a thermonuclear holocaust, and the horrors of the many conflicts that have condemned millions to torture and death around the globe. Like all people who live long enough, I have been through many dark periods and seen so much suffering. “But each time I become depressed I think of all the amazing stories of the courage, steadfastness, and determination of those who are fighting the ‘forces of evil.’ For, yes, I do believe there is evil amongst us. But how much more powerful and inspirational are the stories of those who stand up against it. And … their voices still resonate long after they are gone, giving us inspiration and hope – hope in the ultimate goodness of this strange, conflicted human animal …” When asked what she means by hope, Goodall gives this definition: “Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement … The cumulative effect of thousands of ethical actions can help to save and improve our world for future generations … Without hope, all is lost. It is a crucial survival trait that has sustained our species from the time of our Stone Age ancestors … Hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. It is what we desire to happen, but we must be prepared to work hard to make it so.” When asked about her specific reasons for having hope, Jane Goodall lists four: the amazing human intellect; the resilience of nature; the power of young people; and the indomitable human spirit. The human intellect is the part of the brain that reasons and solves problems, and includes our ability to use language. She suggests that what humans also need is a universal moral code, and states that every major religion already has some version of the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you want them to do unto you.) The problem is getting people to honor it. The resilience of nature is nature’s ability to recover after destruction. Goodall gives two examples of this. One is a tree that survived the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. It was a 500-year-old camphor tree. It has great black wounds in it, and only the stump survived, but every spring it puts out new leaves. The people of Nagasaki consider it to be sacred. The other example is The Survivor Tree, a Callery pear tree that was found a month after the collapse of the Twin Towers on September 11. It was crushed between two blocks of cement, and was almost tossed in a dumpster. It was half a trunk that was charred black and had broken roots. But it was sent to a nursery in the Bronx, and the tree eventually made it. It was planted at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum and every spring it blossoms. The power of young people is seen in their activism. Goodall writes about the Roots and Shoots program, which stresses that every individual has a role to play and can make an impact on the planet every single day. Each group chooses three projects to help make the world a better place (for people, for animals, and for the environment). They are to start in their local community. There are hundreds of thousands of members of these groups in 68 countries. And finally, there is the indomitable human spirit. Goodall writes, “It’s that quality in us that makes us tackle what seems impossible and never give up. Despite the odds, despite the scorn or mocking of others, despite possible failure. The grit and determination to overcome personal problems, physical disability, abuse, discrimination. The inner strength and courage to pursue a goal at any cost to self in a fight for justice and for freedom. Even when it means paying the ultimate price of giving up one’s life.” She mentions Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill, Mahatma Gandhi, and Jesus as embodying this kind of spirit. I thought about her book as I thought about this Baptism of the Lord Sunday. And I thought about how the world of Jesus was also going through dark times. The people of his day had a really hard world to live in. They were a people beaten down by life. The economy was divided into the very rich and the very poor, with very few in the middle. Religion had become tedious and irrelevant, and people stayed home from worship in droves, although there were some who were seeking alternatives to organized religion. Politics were corrupt, and there was no one to speak up for the average citizen. Every pocket was lined, every palm was greased, and everyone knew it. Anyone who tried to buck the system was quickly and harshly dealt with by the authorities. But every once in a while, someone came along who called out the hypocrisy of it all and challenged people’s expectations. One of those people was a man named John. He was attracting large crowds out by the Jordan River, preaching and teaching and talking about repentance from sin. In recent years, a sense of expectant waiting had grown among some – perhaps many – or the people regarding the Messiah that had been promised by the prophets hundreds of years ago. And now there were people in the crowd wondering if John might just be the one that the prophets had been talking about. He gave them something to think about. He gave them a reason to consider their faith again. He gave them something they hadn’t had in a long time: John gave them hope. Pastor Larry Duggins of White’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas, writes, “John the Baptist put on quite a show, and the people noticed … Excitement would have been in the air as the people wondered who this preacher was … Scripture says that they ‘were filled with expectation,’ and that they asked John whether he was the Messiah … John was clearly an extraordinary person; so, in their longing for an end to their oppression and discomfort, the people wondered aloud whether he was the one, THE extraordinary person. The crowd was looking for a star, a leader to take them away from their troubles, and they looked to John with hopeful eyes.” John began to pick up on the rumors going around about him, and he was honest enough and humble enough to put a stop to them. He told the people that he might baptize them with water, but there was another man coming along soon who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. That man would be greater than John; that man would be the Messiah. But when he came, Jesus did not come in a big clap of thunder or lightning bolt; he just came along with the rest of the people who were being baptized by John, and he got baptized too. After Jesus got baptized, Luke records that Jesus then prayed. And, as Duggins says, when Jesus prayed “all heaven breaks loose.” The Holy Spirit became visible, taking bodily form as a dove, and settled on Jesus. And then a voice from heaven affirmed Jesus as the Son of God, a Son with whom the Father was well pleased. Jesus participated in the baptism of John, a baptism that wasn’t just a passive thing, but an event that then called people to action. They were to show mercy and justice, they were to treat the poor and weak with compassion. And those were the hallmarks of the ministry of Jesus. The hope that Jesus brought was not passive; it required action on the part of his followers to make the world around them a better place. If you believe, as I do, that the coming of Jesus meant the beginning of the coming of the kingdom of God on earth, then you have to believe that we are to be about the business of God’s kingdom now. When we do what Jesus did, when we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, clothe those who need clothing, tend to the sick, visit those in prison, work for justice, practice radical hospitality, and challenge the system that elevates the rich and the unjust, then we are helping to bring God’s kingdom into the world. The rest of Steven Curtis Chapman’s song goes like this: There is a hope, there is a peace that will make this life complete For every man, women, boy, and girl looking for heaven in the real world It happened one night with a tiny Baby’s birth God heard creation crying and He sent heaven to earth He is the hope, he is the peace that will make this life complete For every man, woman, boy, and girl looking for heaven in the real world Heaven has come to the real world, heaven has come, come to the real world He is the hope, he is the peace, he’s heaven, he’s heaven, Heaven in the real world There is a reason for hope. His name is Jesus. The same reason for hope that walked along the shoreline of the River Jordan. The same reason for hope who called disciples to come and fish for people. The same reason for hope who healed the sick, raised the dead, and welcomed all who came to him, regardless of who they were or what they may have done. The same reason for hope who spoke truth to power and courageously faced off against the religious and political authorities for the sake of righteousness. The same reason for hope who died because of his insistence on speaking that truth and living that truth. And the same reason for hope who was raised from the dead on the third day and lives still in each of us. Jesus is our reason for hope. No matter what you are going through, no matter where you are or what you are facing, no matter what you think you’ve done that God would never forgive, there is a reason for hope. Hold on to that hope. It’s not just wishful thinking. It’s real. It’s solid. It’s trustworthy. Jesus is our hope. Song When Hope Came Down Kari Jobe https://youtu.be/kH7gXYUmoKE Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Hope of the world, thou Christ of great compassion, speak to our fearful hearts by conflict rent. Save us, thy people, from consuming passion, who by our own false hopes and aims are spent. Hope of the world, God’s gift from highest heaven, bringing to hungry souls the bread of life, still let thy spirit unto us be given, to heal earth’s wounds and end all bitter strife. Hope of the world, afoot on dusty highways, showing to wandering souls the path of light, walk thou beside us lest the tempting byways lure us away from thee to endless night. Hope of the world, who by thy cross didst save us from death and dark despair, from sin and guilt, we render back the love thy mercy gave us; take thou our lives, and use them as thou wilt. Hope of the world, O Christ o’er death victorious, who by this sign didst conquer grief and pain, we would be faithful to thy gospel glorious; thou art our Lord! Thou dost forever reign. (Georgia Harkness) We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication We worship you with our offerings, O God, and we seek through them to bring good news, comfort, and healing, to the afflicted, brokenhearted, and oppressed. May all the ministries and outreach of our church honor you and use well the resources you entrust to us. Amen. Song Hope in Front of Me Danny Gokey https://youtu.be/9KIhYZQ_ovw Benediction 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. Amen. January 2, 2022
Epiphany Sunday Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song The First Noel Andy Williams https://youtu.be/lYRsgcVUTvk Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Bible Study via Zoom Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Opening Prayer Lord, we see your star and we seek your presence in our midst. Draw us to you, guide us by your light, that we, too, might become witnesses to the great Good News. Amen. Carol Sing We Now of Christmas Prestonwood Choir & Orchestra https://youtu.be/sKzdaEd6Ths Hearing the Word Scripture Matthew 2:1-16 (NIV) 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.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem, in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Sermon What Can I Give Him? Children’s Time on Epiphany Sunday is always a fun and unpredictable experience. I have had so many laughs over the years as I have tried to explain the story of the Magi, or Wise Men, to the younger members of my congregations. Of course, I ask them a lot of questions to see what they already know about the story. And I get all kinds of interesting answers. For example, one time when I asked the kids if anyone knew what gifts the Wise Men brought to the baby Jesus, one little boy said, “Gold, and myrrh, and …” He had to think about the last one for a minute. Finally, he blurted out, “And Frankenstein!” Well, he was almost right! And one morning the kids and I were talking about how strange those presents were to give to a baby, and what kind of gifts might be more appropriate. Some of the suggestions were a rattle, a blanket, some bottles. And one little girl, who had a new little sister at home, stated loudly, “I know what I’d bring baby Jesus. I’d bring lots and lots of Pampers!” The story of the Wise Men – often called the Three Wise Men, though the Bible doesn’t tell us how many of the Magi there were – is both wonderful and terrible. It is a wonderful story of how God’s revelation of his activity in the world was extended even to the Gentiles, who were the first to worship the newborn King. But it is also a terrible story of a jealous king who brutally murders innocent children in an effort to preserve the throne for himself. We often picture the Wise Men showing up at the stable and bowing before baby Jesus lying in the manger. But this is probably not accurate. Matthew states that they found the child in a house; apparently Joseph and Mary were staying in Bethlehem indefinitely and had sought out a more permanent place to stay. There are some who believe that Joseph had extended family in Bethlehem and that he worked there for some time – perhaps two years or more – after Jesus was born, based on the fact that Herod killed boys two years old or younger. I have a friend who never places her Wise Men at her Nativity set; she has a shelf in her hallway, and that is as far as they get. When Epiphany rolls around, she moves the stable and animals and shepherds, and has the Wise Men with Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus. A strict follower of the Biblical account, that one! And the gifts that the Wise Men bring do sound like strange presents to give to a baby. But they weren’t really baby gifts as we would understand them. Gold was used as a form of currency, as well as to make jewelry, ornaments, or other objects. Incense, or frankincense, was burned to produce a pleasant odor for both secular and sacred purposes. In Israel it was used ceremonially as part of the recipe for the only incense permitted on the altar in the Temple. Myrrh is the sap that comes from a small tree found only in Arabia, Abyssinia and India, and was used in incense, as a perfume, or in preparing dead bodies for burial. In traditional interpretations, gold has been seen as representing the kingship of Jesus; incense as representing his deity; and myrrh as representing his sacrificial death and burial. But there are probably more practical reasons that these gifts were given. They showed the great esteem that the Magi had for the Christ-child and show the honor they believed was due to him as the king of the Jews. Plus, the gifts were probably very helpful in supported the family when they had to flee to Egypt to escape the murderous plot of King Herod. One of my favorite Christmas carols is “In the Bleak Midwinter,” the words written by Christina Rosetti in 1872. The last verse is my favorite: “What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; yet what I can I give him: give him my heart.” I have pondered many times the question, what can I give him? Of course, I give him my heart. I gave Jesus my heart when I was 10 years old. I was baptized and became a member of the church. And my heart has belonged to Jesus ever since then. But what can I give to Jesus now? What do I have that Jesus could possible want? During this time of year when people make New Year’s Resolutions, maybe I can make resolutions about giving of myself to Jesus, and to others for the sake of Jesus. Maybe I can give Jesus my time. You might think that as a pastor Jesus gets all of my time. Well, I can tell you that over the past six weeks, the Boy Scouts have gotten more of my time than Jesus has! I had 15 meetings between Thanksgiving and Christmas related to the BSA settlement. I routinely spend a lot of my time on administrative tasks, making phone calls, returning emails, designing bulletins, putting together newsletters, preparing Bible studies and sermons. Sometimes my time with Jesus gets squeezed out. But this year I can make my first priority every day the time I sit and read my Bible – not for work, but for my own spiritual growth – and journal and pray. I can give Jesus my time. Maybe this year I can give Jesus my gift of music. I haven’t taken the time to play the piano or guitar in months. And God gave me the gift to do so. I have not been using that gift. I have not used it to honor him or to take pleasure from that gift. I have not written any new music in years. And so this year I give Jesus the gift of music. What can you give Jesus this year? What are you holding back? What have you allowed to get squeezed out of your schedule? Maybe you just need to give Jesus more time? I invite you, when you come to receive Communion in a few moments, as you approach the altar, to make a pledge in your heart to give Jesus something of yourself in this New Year. What can you give him? Only you and Jesus know the answer to that question. Carol In the Bleak Midwinter Gloucester Cathedral Choir https://youtu.be/QAjT9df1lko Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer O God of stars and stables, of angels and shepherds, we celebrate you for the gift of the Christ-child and we sing your praises for your humble dwelling among us. Give us hearts filled with your presence, so that we might become children of light in a world of darkness. Teach us to speak of your greatness and help us to reflect your glory. Bring hope and love and joy into our midst, and help us to share with others the faith that moves mountains and the belief that banishes sorrow. Anoint our sick and surround our children with care and protection. Show us how to live in peace with one another. Enable us to give without assessing the worthiness of the receiver, and to love without counting the cost. Let us give thanks with all our hearts for the real meaning of Christmas, that you have come among us in order that we may live with you forever. Through the One who was born in Bethlehem, Jesus our Savior. (John Killinger, adapted) We pray this in Jesus’ name, as we pray the prayer he taught his disciples: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication God of light and promise, we bring our gifts to further your work in a dark world. May they bring your light to those overwhelmed by darkness, pain, and loneliness. Accept these gifts of money and time, and our very selves. Let them shine for all to see. Amen. Carol We Three Kings Steven Curtis Chapman https://youtu.be/MXbkKQ-7LvY Benediction Go out as one body, Christ’s body. Love. Forgive. Show mercy. Make peace. And tell the good news of Christ, the world’s light. Amen. |
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