Is hope hopeless?

Gracious God, as we draw nearer to Christmas, you call us to remember your message of hope brought to us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to hear your call in our worship and in our lives. Amen.


Wait for the Lord, whose day is near. Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart!

Hope is terrifying. … Just think about that for a moment. … Hope … is … terrifying!

Do you know why I say this?

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

This is a message of hope. Not because of the bad things that are going to happen or the bad things that are happening already, but because of the promise of a future that is different. Hope is terrifying because it is not about things being good right now. Hope is about a future where the evils of today are no more. Hope is a message about the Kingdom of God.

Hope is depressing.

Before this better time comes, we have to live through the bad times. First there is war. Isn’t there always? Then there are natural disasters. We certainly have enough of those. Next we have causes for great distress. Let’s see: famine, poverty, greed, financial collapse, overfishing …. Finally we have “Jerusalem” under siege. God’s church is being attacked from the outside and from within.

From the outside we are being attacked by a number of forces. The society we life in is getting more and more secular. God is being relegated to specific holy days if God is allowed into peoples lives at all. Society is getting more and more individualistic. We are being taught to isolate ourselves from one another. Human contact is being reduced to typing on a keyboard at one another. Spirituality is replacing religion.

From inside God’s people are being divided against each other. We are putting ourselves under siege. Extremists, both conservative and liberal, are trying to impose their views on the whole church. Many have the belief that if you don’t believe exactly what they believe you are wrong and that your belief is a danger to them. Extremists in other faiths are doing the same. Dividing their own faiths and going to war with others.

Hope is tiring.

Our Advent journey is very long. A number of times we have had the war to end all wars. We still have war. For a time, we thought that the whole world was Christian or soon would be. We were wrong. Natural disasters come in waves. Some years there are less than others, but they never truly stop. There always seems to be something that causes us distress.

Is hope hopeless?

No!

Jesus told the parable “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”

We see glimpses of what we hope for. There are times when people work together to bring some justice into the world. In this diocese, we support many refugees as they fight to find peaceful and productive lives for themselves and their families. Just this past week in the Diocese of New Westminster an Anglican Church and a United Church came together to provide sanctuary for a man who faces fourteen years in prison for being gay. Also in New Westminster, a secular authority, a supreme court judge, recognized and upheld church law in civil court. The governments of the world seem to be giving the environment and stewardship of the earth some real consideration.

Hope is a true gift. Hope means that we can get through our fear of what is happening now because of the promise of what is to come. Hope means that
we can live in anticipation of joy instead of the depression of despair. Hope gives us energy today as we look forward to tomorrow.


Could I have everyone 18 and under come forward?

Today we are going to light a candle on the advent wreath as a sign of hope. Can I get some help lighting it? … Thank you.

I need your help teaching everyone a song.

Wait for the Lord, Whose Day is Near.
G G E G G F# F# F#
Wait for the Lord: be strong, take heart.
G A A B B C B E

Reverend Warren’s Advent Message

As we draw nearer to Christmas, we are called to remember Christ’s message of hope and salvation. We live in a time where every advertisement screams “buy this and they will love you.” This is not the message of Advent. God’s gift to us on Christmas day is so expensive that we could never afford to buy it. Instead God comes to us and freely gives all that he is. Remember this as you prepare your own household for Christmas. The best gift we can give is not something that someone could buy for themselves. When we give ourselves to others, give them our time and our love, we have truly given a wonderful gift.

Christ the King

I speak in the name of the one, true and living God: Creator and ruler of the kingdom of heaven. Amen.


Today we celebrate The Reign of Christ or Christ the King.

What is Christ the king of?


How is this different than other kings?


How is Christ different than King David?


King David is the chosen one, the favoured of the God of Jacob. … Both Matthew and Luke talk about Christ being the Chosen one, chosen directly by God.

King David is the anointed of the God of Jacob. … Christ is the Messiah which means the anointed.

King David is the king of all Israel and of Zion, God’s holy city. … Christ is the King of the Jews and the ruler of the kingdom of God. Christ is the king in the new Jerusalem or Zion.

You would almost think that King David and Jesus Christ were kings in exactly the same way. The same words are used to describe them both. They are even in the same royal line. Jesus is a son of the house of David, a member of David’s royal line. Jesus is a direct descendant of David.


Can anyone think of ways in which King David and King Jesus are different?


King David had a palace. … Did Jesus? … Not on Earth anyway.

King David had at least nine wives. Two of which he took from their husbands. Michal was promised to David (essentially married) and then given to Pelti as wife and taken back by David. Bathsheba, wife of Uriah, David took as his mistress and when she became pregnant he set Uriah up to be killed and took Bathsheba as his wife. David’s wife Abigail was the widow of one of David’s enemies. David also married Ahinoam, who may have been Saul’s wife. Finally, David married Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, Bath-shua, . We know very little about these wives except that they bore sons for David. David also had concubines. We don’t know how many. David was busy. Who his wives were and how he came to have them was clearly an issue.

The Bible says absolutely nothing about Jesus’ love life. In Jesus’ time it would have been very strange for a Jewish man of his age to be single. It was absolutely expected that a man would marry and have children to carry on his name. Usually when something is unusual or out of the ordinary, the Bible tells us. … Since the Bible doesn’t tell us, I’ll leave it up to you to make your own decisions and to think about what differences those decisions make in how we see and understand Jesus. … It is clear that there were usually women around him. There were often children there. Jesus was obviously comfortable with both. Jesus treated all whom he met and all who travelled with him as his own family. Even those who follow him after his death are his family.

King David had many subjects. These subjects had to obey his decrees or they would be punished. King David had his enemies killed or killed them himself. All of King David’s subjects lived in the boundaries of his kingdom. When King David died, he stopped having subjects. His kingdom passed to his heir.

King Jesus has many subjects. These subjects are asked to obey his teachings and his example. These subjects are asked to love him and to love one another. These subjects are asked to love their enemies. King Jesus died so that we no longer need to be punished. King Jesus’ kingdom has no boundaries in either space or time. Jesus shares his kingdom with his heirs. All of creation shares in the kingdom of Jesus.


Okay, does anyone remember the key similarities between the kingdom of David and the kingdom of Christ?

Both are chosen by God.
Both are the anointed.
Both are king of God’s people.
Both are king of Israel and of Zion.


How are they different?

David’s kingdom is very physical.
Christ’s kingdom is spiritual.

David is very concerned with the continuation of his line (lots of wives and children).
Jesus is also very concerned with the continuation of his line but in a very different way. Jesus’ ‘son’ is the Gospel. Jesus sired a message of forgiveness and hope for all.

David’s kingdom was limited in time and space.
Christ’s kingdom is the Kingdom of God. It is eternal. It is everywhere. It is for everyone.

Rev. Carl Speaks

“I was provoked ...” Yup, earlier this week ... story of the car/garbage. It proviked a very ... pause ... uncharitable - yes, that’s the word - response from me! Mayor John Morgan ... was asked some questions in an interview ... now he’s facing trouble with the bar because of his reponses. Was he provoked? My wife told me the story of lady whose face and hands were torn off in an chimpaneze attack ... Oprah had her on ... questions like surely the chimp was provoked? The fact that this poor lady had to hire police to stand outside door ... to keep people from trying to sneak in and get a picture (for money for the tabloid) ... certainly her situation provoked an awfully terrible response - agreed? So, have you ever been ‘provoked’? What does it usually mean when we talk about being provoked? Not my fault, they started it, I have a good excuse from my behaviour ... When we talk of provoked ... is it our best that comes out or our worst? Usually we talk about provoked and worst. But today ... I want to talk to you about the Bible’s understanding of ‘being provoked’.
The first reading from Samuel talks about Hannah. Childless. She wanted a baby so bad. Her predicament ... provoked four different responses. Her rival ... was provoked to taunt her cruelly and rub it in her nose, to never let her forget her ‘failing’. Uhmmm ... pleasing to God? Nope. But Hannah’s husband ... was provoked ... did you hear how he was provoked? He gave her a double share of the sacrifice ... not because he pitied her (pity is not bad) ... but because he loved her and in love he showed her kindness and favour. Pleasing to God? Yes sire. You are smart folks. Then there was Eli the Priest ... he sees her lips moving but no sound ... and is provoked to tell her ... smarten up woman. You’re drunk. Pleasing? Not so much - but who here hasn’t done and math and come up with the wrong answer. But that is not Eli’s final response. Nope. After he listens to her ... he is provoked again to respond ... “Go in Peace ... may God give you what you ask.” Better? Much. But there is in this passage a fourth provocation ... who? God. God is moved by the tears and the prayer and earnest desire and we are told that “the Lord remembered her and in time she conceived and bore a son.” Not just an old son ... but a son who would become great priest and prophet of the Lord. God is provoked ... His response ... the best. Pleasing? Absolutely - for Hannah, for her husband and for God!
So what the point? What insights am I provoking in you? My hope is ... We are all capable and able to give people our best ... even when they act their worst ... we are capable of giving our best. No matter the moment or the situation ... we can choose ... between what is pleasing to God or what is no or even somewhere in between. We have no excuse when it is anything less than pleasing to God. But the Lord remembers us .... blesses us, love us, forgives us, pities us. And so He provokes to keep trying. That is why I think that even when Hannah was provoked severely ... what did she do ... not strike back but year after year ... bore it and brought it before God ultimately. I wonder ... what would have happened if she had been provoked to come before God earlier ... would it have been different? Spared years of suffering and torment? Maybe. How often do we do the same ... carry stuff around ... suffer needlessly before we are finally provoked to bring it to God? I would suggest ... stop waiting. You may not get what you want but you will get an answer and you will know God’s favour. And when you know God favour ... well that leads to our next point.
The reading from Hebrews puts ‘being provoked’ into a whole different light. With confidence ... for He who promised is faithful ... let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, but encouraging one another. Did you catch that? Our christian duty and the requirement of living for Christ ... is ... provoking others ... (not a licence to dirt disturb, noooo) to provoke to good deeds and love! When you know God’s favour ... you will show God favour ... provoking good from others. So do you know how to push people’s buttons? Oh yes. We are god at that ... well, I am! But are you as good as pushing people’s good buttons? What would it take to for you to be willing and ready to give your best ... then do that for others ... at least try, and try and try. Think about that line ... for the one who promised is faithful ... meaning Jesus/Father ... faithful ... even when we offer worst ... They offer best/blessing/favour. Sooooo did you not promise ... proclaim the good news of Christ in your words and example (BAS)? You Promised!!! The one who promises is faithful ... am I provoking you? I hope! Awhile ago ... people talked about random acts of kindness ... we are not supposed to random in our kindness. We are supposed to be midful and purposeful in our kindness.
Which brings us to our last reading - the gospel. Jesus is provoked ... what set him off? The disciples ... they have come from worshipping God and not even off the steps ... the dsciples turn to worshipping the big stones (the building). Wow! I wonder if Jesus response is so strong because the disciples response in worship wasn’t wow, what an awesome God we have (or better, what an awesome God love me). Those disciples ... they are unique right ... we never ‘worship our stones/buildings’?) House and home shows ... the new addiction, the new modern idol! Jesus is provoked ... to encourage them to love ... not the temple but the God who is over it, in it, through out and beyond it. In essence Jesus says ... this will wont be here some day ... what will you worship then - will you still worship God? And the disciples are provoked ... responding ... when (want a sign). Was their response pleasing to Jesus? Not so much. Jesus again tries to provoke them to faithfulness. Forget what else is happening .... it is in God ‘s hands. Jesus provokes the disciples ... stop looking for the sign of kingdom come and be the sign the Kingdom come ... love and good deeds.
May Jesus love provoked you ... renew your commitment to try and try and try to offer people what is pleasing to God. Let whatever the world offers you provoke in you a faith-full response, full of God favour. May God provoke in you the intent each day to provoke from others their best, what is pleasing to God. And finally, may the incredible sacrifice of Jesus provoke in you again incredible gratitude and thanks so much so that you are willing and ready for kingdom come ... kingdom may come in you and through you.

Remember to Remember

I speak to you in the name of the one who died so that we might be free. Amen.

I can remember growing up without any real understanding of remembrance day. I was born in the United States during the Vietnam war. This war left many people with anger and distrust which was aimed at the US government and bled over onto the military. It seems to me that from this time until just recently, the importance of having people who are willing to die for our freedom was lost. It just wasn’t necessary. The need for remembrance was dead, or so we thought.

I’m sorry that this is not true. These men and women deserve to be remembered, but I wish that the rolls did not need to get longer. Once again soldiers are being called to die for the freedom of others. It is even more upsetting to realize that this need has always been there, we just ignored it. As the world becomes more connected, it becomes harder to hide from the reality that there are people who are not free: people who are unable to go to school, children who are forced to fight to protect drug crops, men and women who are convinced that it is somehow a good thing to blow themselves up in a marketplace full of women and children. The world is not at peace.

Two thousand years ago a poor man from the region of Galilee went to battle with the weapons available to him. He used his words, his message, to fight for the rights of the downtrodden. He fought for those who couldn’t fight for themselves. He fought and he died for this cause: for our freedom. Our brothers and sisters in the military fight this same fight. They carry this cross. They march in front of us, protecting us on our way to God’s Kingdom. We thank them for their service. We remember their sacrifice. We look forward to seeing them again.

Abundance

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.


Abundance. – Can anyone define this word for me?


Dictionary.com lists 4 definitions:

1. an extremely sufficient or over sufficient quantity or supply
2. overflowing fullness
3. affluence; wealth
4. the number of atoms of one isotope of an element divided by the total number of atoms in a mixture of the isotopes.

Let’s not worry about that last one. That leaves: a huge number, overflowing fullness, and wealth. Which of these meanings did we see in today’s Gospel?


“Truly I tell you, this poor widow put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

They rich put in from their wealth. This meaning of abundance appears a number of times in the Bible and it usually is not a good thing. Take the 5th and 6th verses of psalm 49 for instance: “Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me, 6 those who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?” The Bible is not a welcoming place for the rich. Remember just a while ago when we heard how hard it is for a rich man to enter heaven? Easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

If this is the message here for us, I am in trouble. I consider myself to be rich. I don’t have a huge amount of money, in fact if I include my student debt I don’t have any, but I do have an abundance of things. I don’t have to worry about where my next meal will come from. I can give without it changing my lifestyle.


Maybe if we look at another meaning of abundance things will be better. – Let’s try the first one: lots and lots. When the Bible uses this meaning it is usually talking about food; some sort of harvest (an abundance of grain) or about livestock (sheep in abundance). In Canada we have this abundance. We have enough food to go around and more. Unfortunately this doesn’t mean that everyone gets what they need. I think that as a country we are getting better at this but we’re not there yet.

How does this meaning of abundance lead us toward Christ? -- How does it either help or hinder our ability to live Christ’s message? -- Any thoughts?


So far we have the abundance of wealth and the abundance of over sufficiency. Shall we try to go three for three?


Overflowing fullness. What does this really mean? I’ve given Biblical examples of the other two. Can anyone think of an example of this one? You don’t need to reference it, just a couple of words are fine.


What comes to mind for me is God’s abundance of love or God’s abundance of grace. From psalm 106 we have “For their sake he remembered his covenant, and showed compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” This meaning is usually used to talk about God, but not every time. Matthew says “You brood of vipers! How can you speak good things, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

This abundance overflows. For God this means overflowing love, grace, salvation, and more. For us it means that what is inside will come out. It’s what we are full of. – We all have this abundance too. It can be a good thing. It can also be a bad thing. Likely it is some of each.


Let’s go back to our Gospel. What was the abundance in the widow’s heart? Her heart was bursting with trust in God’s abundance. She trusted that God would provide for her in her poverty. Because of that trust she didn’t need to hold on to the little money that she had because she had everything that she needed.


What do we hold dear in our hearts? What do we have such a passion for that it will overflow? Where does our abundance lie?