A Prayer for a New Year

Prayer:
Eternal God, you have placed us in a world of space and time, and through the events of our lives you bless us with your love. Grant that in the new year we may know your presence, see your love at work, and live in the light of the event that gives us joy forever – the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (ELW, p. 63)

A Homecoming of Sorts

During the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany, the church consistently hears wonderful readings from the prophet Isaiah. Tonight I am reminded of words from chapter 60, which begins, “Arise, shine, for your light has come!” The chapter goes on with the prophet Isaiah envisioning the gathering of the nations to behold God’s glory. “Your sons” and “your daughters” will come, recognized, protected, and carried by the love of family and of the faith community. This reading comes alive for me on Christmas Eve, because one of my greatest joys on this evening is to see the families who come to worship together: Parents with children whom I remember from confirmation, adults over whose weddings I presided, many, now coming home with children of their own. They have grown up. They may live far from their parents, but when they come back to visit, their parents’ homes shine with the light and joy of their presence. When I hear about what they’re doing these days, I hear of their Christian vocations and of the many ways they’re engaged in work that will make this world a better place. Tonight I see them holding their Christmas Eve candles, with the light reflected in their beautiful faces. And they are living the blessing that the God gave them through the church when they were baptized, “Let your light shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Tonight, they and all of us have come to worship the newborn Christ child…

Prayer:
Almighty God, you made this holy night shine with the brightness of the true Light. Grant that here on earth we may walk in the light of Jesus’ presence and in the last day wake to the brightness of his glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (ELW, p. 20)

A Backwards Christmas

One of the highlights of this weekend was the children’s Sunday School Christmas Program, presented during the 5pm Saturday worship service. The children were well-prepared and filled with excitement for telling the story. Over 500 people were present as the story of Christ’s birth was told backwards – yes, backwards. The plot of the program’s story goes like this: some of the characters, the Magi specifically, need to leave the Christmas program early, and ask the director if they can tell the story backwards. The director agrees, the story begins with the visit of the Magi, and unfolds – backwards - from there.

It was a wonderful reminder of how many things in life come to us kind of backwards: decisions and family responsibilities for instance. Then again, there are things that occur in life – sickness, loss, unexpected changes - that suddenly turn everything else backwards. In fact, the Christmas story itself is about what happens when God does amazing and unexpected things, and turns backwards and upside-down the lives of Mary & Joseph, shepherds & Magi, humans schemes, and logical expectations, and comes to be with us as Emmanuel – God-with-us. Come to think of it, it is the very backwards nature of this Story that, from beginning to end, truly makes it “Good News.”

Prayer:
Gracious God, thank you for the children who lead us by telling the Story, your Story, with genuineness and joy. Bless all of your people with your presence so that we might grow in grace and faith even when things in life seem backwards and turned around. Out of our confusion, bring your order and peace, and shine around us the Light of your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Anything but Boring

Some people believe that Church Council meetings and Congregational meetings are boring. Some find them unimportant. Others believe that meetings bring out the worst in all of us. And for still others, meetings are one of the necessary evils of the church’s bureaucracy.

Some of that may be true. In some places, people may use these meetings as occasions to fight about anything – from the color of carpeting to the number of pickle forks that have disappeared from the kitchen!

But I must say that here at Bethlehem, congregational meetings are quite amazing and are always opportunities for the working of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 15 describes one of the first church meetings, held in Jerusalem. The agenda was of monumental importance: whether or not Gentiles had to become Jews before they became Christians. The answer of course, was no! And in the account of that meeting, we hear that people presented their testimony, listened to one another and to the Holy Spirit, and then took action.

At Bethlehem’s semi-annual meeting today, huge decisions were made. The congregation approved a million-dollar budget, as well as the provision to proceed with unplanned, yet necessary repair of our roof. Many leaders had done their homework to prepare for this meeting. We began with prayer. People listened, asked wise questions, then took action. And God’s mission, I believe, was well served. No fighting. No unnecessary red tape. Nothing boring about it!

Prayer:
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy catholic church. Fill it with all truth and peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it; where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in need, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (ELW, p. 73)

Light for This Darkness

Today is the First Sunday in Advent, and the 6 inches of snow that fell on Saturday have now made it rather difficult to put up my outside Christmas lights. You need to know how surprising it is for me even to have this thought, because for a long time I have been a purist about Advent and Christmas: save the lights and the celebration for the 12 days of Christmas and keep the Advent “decorating” to a minimum. But I’ve found that as I get older, I’m much less zealous about certain things (and I pray for the grace to discern the things about which I must remain zealous!) One of the things that have shifted in my mind has to do with lights in Advent. Life is filled with much night: the loss of those we love, the death of dreams, the persistent sinfulness that permeates our hearts and minds, the needs and troubles of people we meet or know. The lights of Advent are a powerful statement of hope and trust that the light of Jesus Christ will continue to shine to overcome the nighttime of our spirits and of our world. And when we light those lights in our yards, in our homes, or in worship, it is a powerful statement that we are siding with the Light and taking up the call to shine Christ’s Light for all we’re worth.

Tonight Bethlehem hosted a fabulous concert by the Great River Chorale, Cantabile Girls’ Chorus, and the Central Minnesota Youth Chorale. Because Saturday’s concert was snowed out, it was a packed house with 650 people welcomed to this event; and I wish that many, many more might have experienced our sanctuary during the last song. The room was darkened, but shining in the night were the 4 candles on stands in the front, the first candle high on the Advent wreath, and the hand candles of nearly 200 singers in every aisle, their song coming to us in “surround sound.” Their song is my prayer as this Advent season begins:


"Night of Silence" by Dan Kantor, arr. John Ferguson
Cold are the people, winter of life; we tremble in shadows this cold endless night.
Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping, flowers that will echo the sunrise.
Fire of hope is our only warmth; weary, its flame will be dying soon.

Voice in the distance, call in the night, on wind you enfold us, you speak of the light.
Gentle on the ear you whisper softly, rumors of a dawn so embracing,
breathless love awaits darkened souls, soon will we know of the morning.

Spirit among us, shine like the Star, your light that guides shepherds & kings from afar.
Shimmer in the sky so empty, lonely, rising in the warmth of your Son’s love,
Star unknowing of night and day, Spirit we wait for your loving Son.