Note: This is un-edited captioning. It has NOT been proofed or corrected.

12‑31‑0

>> GOOD MORNING.

HOW IS EVERYONE ON THIS RAINY DAY?

IF YOU ARE A GUEST, WE ESPECIALLY WELCOME YOU, HOPE YOU FIND OUR WORSHIP MEANINGFUL.

YOU WILL FIND A RED BOOK OF SORTS IN EACH PEW, IF YOU FILL IT OUT AND PASS IT TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, WE APPRECIATE IT.

LET US PREPARE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS FOR WORSHIP.

 

 

>> GOOD MORNING.

LET'S ALL STAND FOR OUR OPENING HYMN NUMBER 164, "GOOD CHRISTIAN FRIENDS REJOICE."

 

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

IF ALL THE CHILDREN WILL COME FORWARD FOR WIGGLE TIME.

HOW ARE YOU GUYS DOING?

WHO KNOWS WHAT TODAY IS?

>> SUNDAY

>> SUNDAY, THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT'S THE DATE?

>> NEW YEAR'S EVE

>> NEW YEAR'S EVE, DECEMBER 31ST.

ANYBODY EVER HEARD THE WORD "RESOLUTION"?

WHAT DOES RESOLUTION MEAN?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN, DO YOU KNOW?

RIGHT, TO MAKE PROMISES, TO DO BETTER, TO CHANGE, TO DO A LOT OF THINGS WHETHER FOR OURSELVES OR OTHER PEOPLE.

SOMETIMES WE MAKE RESOLUTIONS AND THEN WE DON'T ‑‑ THEY DON'T STICK SOMETIMES.

WE END UP NOT DOING THEM FOR LOTS OF REASONS WHICH IS WAY TOO LONG TO TALK ABOUT RIGHT NOW.

I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT RESOLUTIONS THAT I'VE MADE THAT I WANT TO MAKE, THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE MADE OR WANT TO MAKE AND HOW SOMETIMES WE KEEP THEM AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING HOW GOD KEEPS GOD'S PROMISES, GOD'S PROMISE THAT HE WOULD SEND HIS SON AND HE DID IN THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THIS WEEK WE CELEBRATED THAT, AND HOW JESUS PROMISES TO BE WITH US EACH AND EVERY DAY TO HELP US MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH OURSELVES IN KEEPING THOSE RESOLUTIONS, BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT JESUS CAN HELP US WITH THOSE RESOLUTIONS BECAUSE HE IS WITH US EVERY DAY AND HE LOVES US EVERY DAY AND WITH HIM WE CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS.

OKAY, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT.

THAT WITH JESUS WE CAN KEEP THOSE RESOLUTIONS.

YOU ALL PRAY WITH ME.

DEAR GOD, THANK YOU FOR KEEPING YOUR PROMISES.

AMEN.

ALL RIGHT.

TAKE ONE AND PASS IT AROUND.

TAKE ONE AND PASS IT AROUND, PLEASE.

ALL RIGHT, THAT'S GOOD.

GOOD.

DOES EVERYONE HAVE ONE?

 

>> A READING FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT TODAY, PSALM 148 WHICH IS IN YOUR PEW BIBLE ON PAGE 546.

PRAISE THE LORD.

PRAISE THE LORD FROM THE HEAVENS.

PRAISE HIM IN THE HIGHEST.

PRAISE HIM ALL HIS ANGELS, PRAISE HIM ALL HIS HOST.

PRAISE HIM SUN AND MOON.

PRAISE HIM ALL YOU SHINING STARS.

PRAISE HIM YOU IN THE HIGHEST HEAVENS AND YOU WATERS ABOVE THE HEAVENS.

LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD, FOR HE COMMANDED AND THEY WERE CREATED.

HE ESTABLISHED THEM FOREVER AND EVER, HE FIXED THEIR BOUNDS WHICH CANNOT BE PASSED.

PRAISE THE LORD FROM THE EARTH YOU SEA MONSTERS AND ALL THINGS DEEP.

FIRE AND HAIL, SNOW AND FROST, STORMY WIND FULFILLING HIS COMMAND.

MOUNTAINS AND HILLS, FRUIT TREES AND ALL CEDARS, WILD ANIMALS AND CATTLE, CREEPING THINGS AND FLYING BIRDS.

KINGS OF THE EARTH AND ALL PEOPLES, PRINCES AND ALL RULERS OF THE EARTH.

YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ALIKE, OLD AND YOUNG TOGETHER.

LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD FOR HIS NAME ALONE IS EXALTED, HIS GLORY IS ABOVE EARTH AND HEAVEN.

HE HAS RAISED UP A HORN FOR HIS PEOPLE.

PRAISE FOR ALL HIS FAITHFUL FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL WHO ARE CLOSE TO HIM.

PRAISE THE LORD.

A READING FROM THE GOSPEL IS LUKE 2:25‑35.

FOUND ON YOUR PEW BIBLE ON PAGE 890.

NOW THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON, THIS MAN WAS RIGHTEOUS AND DEVOUT LOOKING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL AND THE HOLY SPIRIT RESTED UPON HIM.

IT HAD BEEN REVEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT HE WOULD NOT SEE DEATH BEFORE HE SAW THE LORD'S MESSIAH.

GUIDED BY THE SPIRIT HE CAME TO THE TEMPLE AND WHEN THE PARENT BROUGHT IN THE CHILD JESUS TO DO FOR HIM WHAT WAS CUSTOMARY UNDER THE LAW, SIMEON TOOK HIM IN HIS ARMS PRAISING HIM AND SAYING:  MASTER, NOW YOU ARE DISMISSING YOUR SERVANT IN PEACE ACCORDING TO YOUR WORK, FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN YOUR SALVATION WHICH YOU HAVE PREPARED IN THE PRESENCE OF ALL PEOPLES.

A LIGHT OF REVELATION FOR THE GENTILES AND FOR GLORY OF YOUR PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.

AND THE CHILD'S FATHER AND MOTHER WERE AMAZED AT WHAT WAS BEING SAID ABOUT HIM.

THEN SIMEON BLESSED HIM AND SAID TO HIS MOTHER MARY, THIS CHILD IS DESTINED FOR THE FALLING AND RISING OF MANY IN ISRAEL AND TO BE A SIGN THAT WILL BE OPPOSED SO THAT THE INNER THOUGHTS OF MANY WILL BE REVEALED.

AND THE SWORD WILL PIERCE YOUR OWN SOUL TOO.

THIS IS THE GOOD NEWS.

>> THANKS BE TO GOD.

 

 

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT ANYONE NEEDS TO MAKE?

ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?

PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE A POINSETTIA, PLEASE TAKE THEM AFTER WORSHIP.

ALSO THERE WILL BE NO BRIDGE BEING MAILED OUT THIS WEEK, WASN'T MAILED OUT LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF THE SHORT WEEK, THIS WEEK IS ANOTHER SHORT WEEK, YOU WILL NOT BE GETTING IT IN THE MAIL, JUST ON SUNDAY MORNING.

AFTER NEXT WEEK WE WILL START GETTING THEM OUT AGAIN.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS?

JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

BETTY JOLLY IN THE BACK.

>> I'M HAPPY TO HAVE MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND HER HUSBAND HERE.

>> WELCOME, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

ANY OTHER JOYS?

>> WE HAD A DOUBLE JOY, LITTLE RACHAEL TURNED 3 AND I WON'T TELL HOW OLD HER DAD TURNED YESTERDAY.

>> THANKS.

ANY OTHER JOYS ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

CONCERNS, PEOPLE WE SHOULD BE PRAYING FOR?

RIGHT HERE.

>> I'M SAD TO SAY MY HUSBAND'S BROTHER FROM ORANGE GROVE DIED THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS.

I'M VERY SAD.

>> OTHERS?

>> I HEARD FROM MARTHA SHEETS EARLIER, TED IS NOT DOING WELL AND WE SHOULD KEEP THEM IN OUR PRAYERS.

>> OTHERS?

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS FOR A MOMENT OF SILENT REFLECTION AS WE GO TO THE LORD IN PRAYER.

LET US PRAY.

GRACIOUS GOD, WE COME TO THE END OF THIS YEAR WITH SOME HOPES AND DREAMS, WISHES, NEEDS FULFILLED.

WE ALSO COME TO THE END OF THE YEAR WITH HOPES AND DREAMS, WISHES AND NEEDS UNFULFILLED.

WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES, THERE HAVE BEEN ‑‑ WE CAN LOOK BACK THIS YEAR, SEE SOME GOOD AND SEE SOME BAD.

I THINK WE KNOW THAT LIFE IS NOT FAIR AND THAT OUR LIVES ARE FILLED WITH UPS AND DOWNS, THE KEY FOR US TO BE REMINDED THAT YOU ARE WITH US.

THAT YOU ARE OUR SOURCE OF POWER, OUR SOURCE OF JOY, YOUR PRESENCE FILLS US AND GIVES US WHAT WE NEED.

THOUGH AT TIMES WE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT FACT.

WE ASK ONCE AGAIN THAT YOU REMAIN IN OUR LIVES, HELP US TO EXPERIENCE YOUR PRESENCE DAILY.

REMINDING US THAT YOU ARE IN OUR MIDST, TO COMFORT US AND TO CALL US TO ACTION.

TO REMIND US THAT WE ARE NOT ALONE.

WE LIFT UP  PERSONS MENTIONED, THOSE WHO ARE IN OUR HEARTS, THOSE IN CRITICAL NEED, THAT THEY MIGHT EXPERIENCE YOUR PEACE, YOUR HEALING, WHATEVER THAT LOOKS LIKE FOR THOSE PERSONS.

HELP THEM TO TRUST IN YOU.

AND AS WE LEAP INTO A NEW YEAR WE ARE FILLED WITH EXPECTATIONS.

HELP US DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO FULFILL YOUR EXPECTATIONS OF US IN 2007.

HELP US TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO EACH OTHER.

HELP US TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE WE DON'T EVEN KNOW.

HELP US TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS.

STRETCH US, REMIND US THAT WE ARE YOUR DISCIPLES CALLED TO DO YOUR BIDDING AT HOME, AT WORK AND AT PLAY.

BE WITH US AS WE CONTINUE TO WORSHIP, LEAD US AS YOU WISH SO THAT WE MIGHT RECEIVE WHAT YOU HAVE FOR US THIS DAY, TRANSFORM OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE MIGHT BE MORE LIKE YOUR SON, JESUS, WHO TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES TO PRAY AND TEACHES US TO PRAY SAYING TOGETHER:  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.

AMEN.

 

NOW IS OUR TIME OF OFFERING, WE REFLECT ON THE GOODNESS OF GOD, THE BLESSINGS YOU'VE RECEIVED THIS PAST YEAR, LET US IN TURN SHARE OUR GIFTS AND TITHES AND OFFERINGS GENEROUSLY.

 

 

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW, PRAISE HIM ALL CREATURES HERE BELOW, PRAISE HIM ABOVE, YE HEAVENLY HOST, PRAISE FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST.

AMEN.

 

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

 

>> BEFORE WE SING THIS I WANT YOU ALL TO NOTICE THAT THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE STANDING UP HERE AS OPPOSED TO THE TWO LISTED IN THE BULLETIN AND THAT IS BECAUSE ONE OF US, THAT WOULD BE ME, LOOKED AT ONLY THE FIRST TWO PAGES OF THIS AND THOUGHT IT WAS A DUET UNTIL I STARTED TO COPY IT AND NOTICED IT WAS A TRIO.

WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE ALAN VOSS WITH US THIS MORNING AND HIS NAME SHOULD BE IN THE BULLETIN.

 

[TRIO SINGING]

 

>> LET US PRAY.

YOUR WORDS, O LORD, AND THE WORDS OF YOUR SERVANTS AMAZE US AND FRIGHTEN US FOR THEIR DEPTH, FOR THEIR TRUTH.

WE ASK THAT WE ALLOW THESE WORDS TO PENETRATE OUR HEARTS SO THAT WE CAN BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE LIKENESS OF YOUR SON JESUS WHO CAME INTO THIS WORLD TO SAVE US.

WE PRAY THIS IN CHRIST'S NAME.

AMEN.

WELL, ANOTHER NEW YEAR IS UP ON US.

AND ALONG WITH A NEW YEAR COMES RESOLUTIONS.

YOU KNOW THAT ALMOST 50% OF THE POPULATION MAKES RESOLUTIONS AT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR.

AND ABOUT 1% KEEP THEM IN THE NEW YEAR.

NEW YEAR'S IS A TIME WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT WHERE WE'VE BEEN, AT WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHERE WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO CREATE NEW PATHS.

THERE ARE RITUALS THAT EACH ONE OF US PARTICIPATE IN AT THIS TIME OF YEAR AND SOME OF THEM ARE NOT VERY RELIGIOUS RITUALS BUT THEY ARE NECESSARY TO MOVE INTO 2007 SMOOTHLY.

SOME OF THOSE RITUALS ARE PRACTICING WRITING "2007" SO YOU DON'T MAKE A FOOL OF YOURSELF WHEN YOU WRITE YOUR FIRST CHECK.

SOME OF THEM, ANOTHER RITUAL IS TO BREAK IN A NEW DAYTIMER FOR THOSE OF US WHO AREN'T DIGITAL YET SO WE CAN MAKE THOSE FIRST APPOINTMENTS IN THOSE BLANK SPACES.

ANOTHER RITUAL IS REPLACING THE OLD CALENDARS WITH A 2007.

THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF RITUALS WE PRACTICE AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR AND IN MANY WAYS IT REMINDS ME OF THE RITUALS MARY AND JOSEPH PRACTICED AS THEY MOVED FROM THE NATIVITY TO THE NEXT STAGES OF THEIR LIFE.

THERE ARE FOUR RITUALS THE FAMILY EXPERIENCED QUICKLY.

FIRST, JESUS WAS CIRCUMCISED.

SECOND WAS THE NAMING, MARY AND JOSEPH STAYED OBEDIENT TO THE COMMAND OF THE ANGEL AND NAMED HIM JESUS WHICH MEANS SAVIOR.

AND THEN MARY, JOSEPH AND JESUS JOURNEYED TO THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM WHERE MARY WOULD GO THROUGH A RITUAL OF PURIFICATION WHICH IS PRESCRIBED IN THE ANCIENT LAW.

IT STATES 40 DAYS AFTER A WOMAN GIVES BIRTH TO A BOY SHE COMES TO THE TEMPLE AND MAKES AN OFFERING SO SHE CAN BE CLEAN AGAIN.

AND FINALLY THE PRESENTATION, REDEMPTION OF JESUS.

AGAIN IT GOES BACK TO THE ANCIENT LAW WHERE THE FIRST BORN SON IS CONSIDERED TO BE OWNED BY GOD AND THE COUPLE NEEDS TO MAKE AN OFFERING TO BUY HIM BACK.

NOW, THESE RITUALS MIGHT SEEM HARD FOR US TO UNDERSTAND, BUT THEY REALLY PROVIDE US WITH A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR YOUNG HOLY FAMILY.

THEY TELL US THAT THEY WERE OBEDIENT TO BOTH THEIR PROMISE TO THE ANGEL AND TO THE LAW.

IMAGINE THIS FAMILY, JOSEPH, MARY AND JESUS, THIS YOUNG FAMILY MAKING THEIR WAY FROM THE STABLE TO THE BIG CITY OF JERUSALEM.

THINK OF WHAT IT MUST HAVE BEEN LIKE TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THE VARIOUS BUILDINGS TO JUST GET TO THE RIGHT SPOT TO HAVE THE BABY REPRESENTED AND MARY PURIFIED.

THE ANCIENT TEMPLE WAS HUGE.

IT'S ESTIMATED IT WENT OVER 35 ACRES WITH ALL KINDS OF BUILDINGS AND PORCHES AND ROOMS.

I CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW OVERWHELMED MARY AND JOSEPH FELT TO MEET THE OBLIGATIONS TO THE LAW.

IMAGINE FOR THE MOMENT IF YOU WERE MARRIED TO JOSEPH AND IMAGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CONFUSION AN OLD MAN STEPS OUT OF THE CROWD AND GRABS HOLD OF YOUR SMALL BABY.

AND HOLDS HIM ABOVE HIS HEAD AND STARTS YELLING THAT THE MESSIAH HAS COME.

HE BLESSES YOU AND AFFIRMS YOU IN YOUR JOURNEY BUT HE QUICKLY WARNS YOU ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND THE CONFLICTS AHEAD.

THIS CHILD OF YOURS IS DESTINED FOR GREATNESS BUT HIS GREATNESS WILL ALSO CAUSE YOU AND HIM CONFLICT.

YOUR HEARTS WILL BE PIERCED BY VIOLENCE AND THE SWORD.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THOSE ARE NOT THE WORDS YOU THOUGHT YOU WOULD HEAR ON THIS SPECIAL DAY.

I MEAN, THOSE WORDS WORRY YOU.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT IF I WAS JOSEPH ON THIS VERY STRANGE DAY I WOULD HAVE TURNED TO MARY AND SAID THIS IS CRAZY, LET'S GET OUT OF THIS PLACE RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS STORY IS THAT THIS MESSENGER, SIMEON HELPED JOSEPH AND MARY CLARIFY AND UNDERSTAND THE CHILD'S MISSION AND MINISTRY AND AFFIRMED AND ENCOURAGED THEIR JOURNEY OF FAITH.

WE ARE TOLD BY LUKE THAT SIMEON WAS GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR THE PURPOSE OF HELPING THE HOLY FAMILY, HELPING THEM IN THEIR JOURNEY.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STRANGE STORY, BUT IT HAS SOME LESSONS THAT APPLY TO US.

AS WE EMBARK TO THE NEW YEAR I BELIEVE GOD WILL PROVIDE MESSENGERS OR GUIDES TO HELP US ALONG THE WAY, THEY ARE VOICES OF GRACE STRATEGICALLY PLACED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO BLESS US, ENCOURAGE US AND, YES, TO WARN US ABOUT THE DANGERS THAT LIE AHEAD.

BUT WHAT WILL THEY LOOK LIKE?

AND WHO WILL THE MESSENGERS BE?

AND WHAT MIGHT THEIR MESSAGE BE FOR US?

FIRST THE STORY TODAY, FROM THE STORY TODAY WE KNOW FOUR THINGS.

FIRST, MESSENGERS SURPRISE US.

THEY WILL BE PEOPLE WE DON'T EXPECTED AND ARE NOT THE EXPERT LEADERS WE WOULD NORMALLY CONSULT.

THEY ARE PEOPLE JUST LIKE OURSELVES WHO ARE OBEDIENT AND OPEN TO BEING GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.

THE MESSENGER IN TODAY'S STORY, SIMEON IS A MEMBER OF A SEGMENT OF SOCIETY THAT IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN OUR CULTURE TODAY, THE ELDERLY.

OUR CULTURE DOESN'T LIKE TO LISTEN TO LESSONS FROM THE PAST.

SO MANY PEOPLE, SO MANY OF US THINK THAT IF WE DON'T KNOW HOW TO E‑MAIL OR INSTANT MESSAGE OR TEXT MAIL, THEN YOU HAVE NOTHING MEANINGFUL TO SAY.

BUT THE SIMEONS OF OUR DAY STILL HAVE VISION AND WISDOM TO BE SHARED AND IF WE COULD ONLY SLOW DOWN LONG ENOUGH TO LISTEN.

EVEN THOUGH THE ROAD HAS CHANGED TO AN INTERNET SUPER HIGHWAY, THE LESSONS OF THE JOURNEY ARE STILL THE SAME.

AND WE WOULD ALL DO WELL TO BE SURPRISED BY OUR SENIOR SIMEONS.

THERE IS SIMEON IN THE CROWD.

JUST JUMPS OUT AND SAYS, LOOK, I HAVE NEWS FOR YOU.

YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHO THE MESSENGER WILL BE.

SECOND, WE DISCOVERED THAT THESE VOICES OF GRACE AFFIRM OUR JOURNEYS AND HELP US TO UNDERSTAND OUR PURPOSE AND MISSION IN LIFE.

SIMEON HELD THE BABY JESUS IN HIS HAND AND BLESSED BOTH PARENTS.

AND THEY NEEDED THIS BLESSING AND AFFIRMATION, THEY WERE STILL TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF ALL THE STRANGE THINGS THAT HAD BEEN OCCURRING IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY HAD HEARD THE WORDS OF GABRIEL AND THE SHEPHERDS, BUT THE EVENT AND PROPHESIES WERE STILL ONLY CLUES TO A PUZZLE THAT WAS HARD TO PIECE TOGETHER AND SIMEON PROVIDES ANOTHER FEW PIECES.

YOUR CHILD IS THE SALVATION FOR ALL PEOPLE, ISRAEL AND GENTILES, HE WILL CAUSE SOME TO RISE WITH HIM BUT SOME TO FALL BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT ACCEPT HIM.

THERE WILL BE CONFLICT AND PAIN AND YOU WILL FEEL IT AS WELL AS HIM.

VOICES OF GRACE.

WHEN I WAS STRUGGLING WITH WHAT TO DO WITH MY LIFE I NEEDED A SIMEON OR TWO, I NEEDED SOME MESSENGERS, I NEEDED VOICES OF GRACE AND THEY CAME OUT OF THE MOST BIZARRE PLACES.

AFTER A COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS AT THE ACADEMIC LIFE THAT DIDN'T GO TOO WELL, I FOUND MYSELF SELLING REAL ESTATE WITH MY FATHER.

STILL WANTING TO MAKE IT BACK TO SCHOOL AND DO SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION I WAS GOING.

I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING NOWHERE TO BE QUITE HONEST.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I RECEIVED A PHONE CALL IN MY FATHER'S OFFICE FROM A PODIATRIST, A FOOT DOCTOR.

DR. GERSHIN, WANTED TO BUY SOME LAND, WANTED TO KNOW IF I COULD SHOW HIM SOME LAND.

SO I MET THE DOCTOR AND WE TALKED AND HE GOT THE IMPRESSION I WAS GOING NOWHERE IN MY LIFE AND HE INVITED ME TO HIS HOME.

HE SAID I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT A CERTAIN SCHOOL, I GRADUATED FROM THERE IN THE 60'S, IT'S A GREAT SCHOOL.

SO AFTER A GLASS OF WINE AND SHORT VIDEO I LEARNED ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHARLESTON AND I THOUGHT IT WAS THE GREATEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD, I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS THE VIDEO OR WINE BUT I THOUGHT, WOW, DIRECTION.

AND I ENDED UP GOING THERE AND MY LIFE CHANGED.

AND WHILE I WAS THERE I WAS A POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR AND THAT FIRST SUMMER I TOOK A RELIGION CLASS FROM DR. NEWMAN WHO HAPPENED TO BE A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER, EVERY SUNDAY HE WOULD PREACH IN THE PRESBYTERIAN COUNTRY CHURCHES IN WEST VIRGINIA AND I WOULD GO WITH HIM EVERY SUNDAY.

I THOUGHT, HEY, THIS IS PRETTY INTERESTING.

MESSENGERS COME OUT OF NOWHERE ‑‑ MESSENGERS COME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THERE WERE MESSENGERS PUT IN MY LIFE TO DIRECT ME BACK TO GOD'S PLAN FOR ME, PEOPLE I WOULD NEVER HAVE EXPECTED.

I REMEMBER WHEN I STARTED ATTENDING ST. AGNES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH STILL WONDERING WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE, NOT UNDERSTANDING REALLY WHERE I WAS GOING, AND ONE NIGHT AFTER BIBLE STUDY LITTLE JACK BROWN STOOD UP AS I WAS LEAVING AND SAID:  BROTHER REBELO, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE MUCH BUT THAT THREW ME FOR A LOOP, BROTHERS?

HOW ARE WE BROTHERS?

THAT MADE ME RETHINK WHAT MY RELATIONSHIP WAS WITH CHRIST IN THE CHURCH.

AND THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY I CLAIMED CHRIST AND JOINED THE CHURCH AND THAT VOICE OF GRACE HELPED ME AFFIRM MY CALL TO MINISTRY.

VOICES OF GRACE COME OUT OF NOWHERE TO AFFIRM US AND SEND US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THIRD, SOME MESSENGERS ARE PLACED ALONG THE PATH TO SIMPLY REMIND US WE ARE LOVED AND THAT GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR US.

THIS GREAT STORY ABOUT RABBI MARK AND HE RECALLS ONE OF THE FIRST BAR MITZVAHS HE PERFORMED, A BOY NAMED LEWIS, HE WAS AWKWARD AND SAD, HIS PARENTS WERE INSENSITIVE AND DIDN'T THINK HE WAS SMART ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE PRAYERS AND PSALMS HE NEEDED TO FOR A BAR MITZVAH, THEY THOUGHT HE WAS TOO DUMB TO LEARN THE HEBREW PASSAGES THAT A BOY HAS TO RECITE, BUT THE RABBI WAS DETERMINED TO BRING OUT THE BEST.

HE TOOK TIME TEACHING HIM THE PSALMS AND PRAYERS, HE DISCOVERED LEWIS WAS SMART AND HAD A FANTASTIC SINGING VOICE.

ON THE DAY OF HIS BAR MITZVAH LEWIS PERFORMED BEAUTIFULLY, HE RECITED THE PASSAGES PERFECTLY AND SANG THE SONGS BEAUTIFULLY.

AT THE END OF THE CEREMONY THE RABBI TURNED TO LEWIS AND SAID:  LEWIS, THIS MORNING YOU MET YOUR REAL SELF, THIS IS WHO YOU ARE.

YOU ARE GOOD AND YOU ARE GRACEFUL AND YOU ARE TALENTED.

AND YOU ARE SMART.

WHENEVER PEOPLE ‑‑ WHATEVER PEOPLE TOLD YOU YESTERDAY, AND WHATEVER HAPPENS TOMORROW, PROMISE ME ONE THING, REMEMBER, THIS IS YOU, THIS IS YOU.

REMEMBER AND DON'T EVER LOSE IT.

A FEW YEARS LATER LEWIS WROTE TO THE RABBI, THE BOY'S PARENTS WHO PREDICTED HE WAS TOO DUMB TO PERFORM A TRADITIONAL BAR MITZVAH, WAS STUDYING FOR HIS MEDICAL DEGREE AT HARVARD.

HE WAS ALSO ENGAGED TO BE MARRIED, AND LEWIS ENDED HIS LETTER BY SAYING:  I KEPT MY PROMISE, RABBI, I ALWAYS REMEMBERED MY BAR MITZVAH MORNING WHEN YOU SAID THIS IS WHO I AM, THIS IS WHO I AM, AND FOR THIS I THANK YOU.

GOD INSPIRES MESSENGERS TO REMIND US WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE BEEN CALLED TO BE AND TO DO.

FINALLY, SIMEON WARNED MARY AND JOSEPH TO PREPARE FOR THE TOUGH TIMES AHEAD.

HE TOLD THEM THEY WOULD FEEL PAIN THAT COMES WITH CONFLICT THAT WAS HEADED THEIR WAY.

SIMEON HAD LIVED LONG ENOUGH TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SMALL‑MINDED PEOPLE RISE TO POWER, AND HE KNEW THAT JOSEPH, MARY AND JESUS WOULD BE THREATENED.

HE KNEW THAT THOSE SMALL‑MINDED PEOPLE WOULD BE THREATENED BY THE LIKES OF JESUS.

HIS WORDS WERE FILLED WITH CAUTION, REGRET AND CONCERN.

TOO OFTEN WE ONLY HEAR THE WORDS OF BLESSING AND WE BLOCK OUT THE WARNINGS.

TOO OFTEN WE GO BLINDLY ON OUR JOURNEY AND GET BATTERED AND BEATEN BY AN ENEMY WE NEVER SAW COMING AND THEN WE SAY:  WHY DIDN'T SOMEONE WARN ME?

I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS IN THE FINAL STAGES OF PREPARATION TO GO TO SEMINARY, MY PASTOR BECAME MY SIMEON.

HE INVITED ME TO INTERN AT SAINT ANDREWS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH THAT SUMMER BEFORE I WENT TO SEMINARY.

HE INVITED ME TO WITNESS THE AMOUNT OF CRAZINESS THAT CAN GO ON IN A CHURCH IN A TYPICAL WEEK.

I REMEMBER THAT SUMMER FILLED WITH FUNERALS AND SERMONS AND PRAYERS AND HOSPITAL VISITS.

IT WAS AN EYE OPENING GLIMPSE AND AT THE TIME I ADMIT AND WONDERED ABOUT THE WISDOM OF MY PASTOR, BUT AS I LOOK BACK, IT WAS HIS WAY OF WARNING ME THAT THE ROAD AHEAD WAS GOING TO BE ROUGH AT TIMES AND HE, LIKE SIMEON WAS TESTING ME, TESTING ME TO MAKE SURE I WAS READY FOR THE JOURNEY AHEAD.

THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT GOD SENT SIMEON TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR THE LORD.

OLD MAN SIMEON JOINED THE RANKS OF GOD'S MESSENGERS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS GOD IS STILL NOT DONE CALLING MESSENGERS.

GOD IS CALLING THEM EVEN AS I PREACH AND PLACING THEM IN YOUR PATH THIS YEAR TO GUIDE YOU WITH THEIR WISDOM, TO INSPIRE AND INFORM YOU ABOUT YOUR PURPOSE, TO AFFIRM YOU, TO REMIND YOU THAT YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

AND TO WARN YOU ABOUT THE DANGERS AHEAD.

MY PRAYER FOR US THIS YEAR IS THAT WE WILL LISTEN FOR THOSE VOICES.

WE WILL REALLY LISTEN.

MAY YOUR JOURNEY OF FAITH BE BLESSED THIS YEAR.

AND ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN SAID:  AMEN.

 

OUR HYMN OF REFLECTION IS "AWAY IN THE MANGER" AS WE REFLECT ON THE MESSENGERS THAT HAVE ALREADY COME OUR WAY AND AS WE PREPARE FOR THE MESSENGERS THAT WILL COME OUR WAY IN THE NEW YEAR, LET US STAND AND SING HYMN 147.

 

 

>> YOU MAY BE SEATED.

NOW COMES OUR TIME OF CELEBRATION OF COMMUNION.

SHORTLY YOU WILL BE INVITED TO COME FORWARD ON YOUR RESPECTIVE SIDES DOWN THE MIDDLE, PARTAKE OF THE BREAD AND CUP, TAKING PIECES OF THE BREAD AND PUTTING THEM IN THE CUP AND GO AROUND.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO COME FORWARD, PLEASE DON'T WORRY, IT WOULD BE AN HONOR AND BLESSING FOR THE ELDERS ON EITHER SIDE TO COME AND SERVE YOU.

ALSO, DURING COMMUNION, IF YOU WISH TO SING, WE HAVE HYMN 398 AND 399.

JESUS INVITES ALL WHO SEEK HIM AND WHO DESIRE TO BE IN PEACE WITH THEIR NEIGHBOR TO THIS TABLE.

COME AND EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF GOD REPRESENTED IN THIS BREAD AND IN THIS CUP.

LET US SILENTLY NOW REFLECT ON OUR TRANSGRESSIONS, LET US PRAY.

WE PRAY IN CHRIST'S NAME, IN THE NAME OF CHRIST WE ARE FORGIVEN.

LET US REMAIN SEATED AS WE SING OUR COMMUNION SONG 415, NOW THE SILENCE.

 

 

>> FOR I RECEIVE FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO HAVE GIVEN UNTO YOU, THAT JESUS ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS BETRAYED TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS HE BROKE IT AND SAID:  THIS IS MY BODY THAT IS FOR YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

IN THE SAME WAY HE TOOK THE CUP ALSO AFTER SUPPER SAYING:  THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD, DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

>> GRACIOUS GOD WHO IS ALWAYS WITH US, WE COME IN YOUR PRESENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF ANOTHER YEAR TO GIVE THANKS.

OPEN OUR EYES TO SEE THE SALVATION, OPEN OUR EYES TO SEE YOU.

MAY WE IN THE MOMENT OF COMMUNION RESOLVE TO LIVE EACH DAY OF THE COMING YEAR SEEKING TO FOLLOW MORE CLOSELY IN YOUR WAY.

WE EAT THIS BREAD IN REDEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO MAKE THIS A NEW BEGINNING.

AMEN.

>> HEAVENLY FATHER, AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR, WE CONTINUE OUR THANKSGIVING FOR THE FRUIT OF THE VINE.

WE TAKE THIS CUP SIGNIFYING JESUS AND SEEK YOUR WILL FOR OUR LIVES.

SINCE WE ARE HUMAN, WE KNOW HOW EASY IT IS FOR US TO STRAY FROM THE PATH THAT YOU WOULD HAVE US FOLLOW.

IN THE QUIETNESS OF THESE MOMENTS, MAY WE, EACH ONE, DEDICATE OURSELVES TO YOUR SERVICE.

FORGIVE US, FOR IT IS IN YOUR SON'S HOLY NAME THAT WE ASK.

AMEN.

 

>> WILL YOU COME?

 

 

>> WILL YOU JOIN ME IN OUR PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING.

LET US PRAY.

GRACIOUS GOD, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR THE POWER OF THIS MEAL, GROW THIS POWER IN US, THAT WE MAY SEEK WAYS TO SERVE OUR NEIGHBOR.

REMIND US DAILY OF YOUR ABIDING PRESENCE.

IN CHRIST'S NAME WE PRAY.

AMEN.

 

OUR FINAL HYMN IS HYMN 143, "JOY TO THE WORLD."

PLEASE STAND FOR THE BENEDICTION.

AS WE GO FORTH INTO THE NEW YEAR, LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD IS SENDING US MESSENGERS AND GOD IS MAKING US MESSENGERS.

LET US LISTEN TO HIS CALL AND LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF HIS MESSENGERS.

AND AS WE GO FORTH INTO THIS NEW YEAR, LET US ALWAYS REMEMBER THE GRACIOUS WORDS OF OUR LORD JESUS:  BE NOT AFRAID, BE NOT AFRAID, FOR I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN UNTO THE END.

AMEN.