The people walking in darkness have seen a great light. — Matthew 4:16 We’ve seen the great Light: The Christ of Christmas. But so what?  Too many of us are still walking in that same darkness. It’s time for a change. We’re invited to make our next step be one that takes us closer to the great Light of…

I want to walk as a child of the Light  —- title and first line of hymn #206 in  The United Methodist Hymnal Advent, the time of preparation and waiting, is behind us. Epiphany, the time of revelation and inclusion, is ahead of us. It’s Monday of Christmas Season. Will we be any different today because…

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant — familiar Christmas Carol It’s Christmas Sunday. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”  (Isaiah 9:2) Really? At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, Matthew’s Gospel Account cites that verse as the reason…

O come, all ye faithful, joyful — that Christmas Carol For some, this is The Third Day of The Christmas Season. Back on The Third Sunday of Advent, many churches lighted the one pink candle amid the three purple ones in their Advent Wreath.  That lighter colored candle is called The Candle of Joy. This…

O come, all ye faithful — opening phrase of a Christmas Carol with that title “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you may say to this mountain, ‘Move from here’, and it will move, and nothing will be difficult for you.”   That’s the Aramaic Bible in Plain English translation.  I like it…

Second grade, in the school gym, my first day back after having my tonsils out. It was the final rehearsal for our Christmas Program, but it was my first rehearsal. I was just happy to get to be in The Bleachers.  When my cousin talked about basket ball games, she talked about The Bleachers and she was all grown…

Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.   Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. — Luke 2:10 & 11 Can it get any better? Merry Christmas!

The fourth weekend of Advent our Choir presented their Cantata, “The First Noel.” Pastor Leanne and I were honored to be the narrators. I was also thrilled to get to preach an introductory homily.  In it, I reminded everyone of two groups in the Christmas story. There were shepherds at the manger.  They were there in response to…

The third weekend of Advent, our Drama Team presented “Arrest These Merry Gentlemen” as a key component of worship. It was excellent. It was a fresh retelling of the Nativity from the perspective of a Dragnet-style detective.  Profoundly moving, it was also clever and funny. It was my honor to introduce it with a homily. …

Looking back from this fourth weekend in Advent and it’s a good time to reconsider and remember some basics. The second weekend in Advent, I preached from James 5 on patience while waiting for Christ’s return. That includes being patient with God, even as we ask difficult questions. Patience with the people in our lives…