Sunday, December 25, 2016

Peace (Christmas Eve)

• Christmas Eve
with Luke 2:1-20  and  Titus 2:11-14
www.FirstChurchBville.com   @FirstUMCBville   @kerrfunk
• Another Christmas Eve, another retelling of the ancient story, perhaps another gathering with family and loved ones, perhaps painfully aware of an empty place, new or old.
Always glad to be in touch with each other and with God and with life, sacred time or not.
And sacred in some senses is what we make it by being fully present.
• “In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone should be taxed…”
We get a couple, the woman pregnant and likely young and poor, traveling via beast, finding shelter in someone’s garage. We get shepherds – the migrant workers of the day – working the night shift, and we get angels.
      A little bit of everything. A congruence of people that would have nothing to do together normally. Maybe not unlike a church service? Or maybe an AA or NA meeting? Variety of people with different needs, concerns, strengths, worries, abilities, at the same place at the same time.
      Sharing a need for peace. Like us.
      At the sunset of one president, hated and beloved, and on the dawn of a new president, hated and beloved. In a community filled with hope strength and dignity and plagued by addiction violence and poverty. In a nation and in a denomination with great passion and with great division. In a world (((Same)))
• Birth of a baby levels status. Contains hope, necessitates selflessness, cooperation. Kindles heart. Possibility of peace. Birth of Jesus Lord of Lords, Messiah, Savior, Prince of Peace.
• Peace. Biblically shalom. Completeness, soundness. Wholeness of life or body, right relationship. Success. Absence of war.
      Both greeting and farewell. A wish for you from me.
• Celebration of Advent not only preparation of celebration of birth of Jesus but also anticipation of the return of Christ, of the power of God living in our mixedup circumstances, blessing gracing us with his presence, guiding us as we live God’s kingdom as witnesses and heralds.
• 1967 Peace My Friends looks back and forward, through variety of circumstances.

      Peace I leave with you, my friends.                      1. To share his love is why I came.
Shalom, my peace, in all you do.                           To show his kindness to all lives.
Peace I leave with you, my friends;                      Go now, my friends, and do the same
I give to you so you can give to others, too.      Until I come again.
      2. Take my hand and be at peace.                       3. With this love all folks will know
The spirit of our love I send,                                That loneliness is at an end.
And with this love you will be free                    Rejoice, my people, though I go,
Until I come again.                                                For I will come again.
                                                                                         Words and music by Ray Repp, © 1967
For those who are struggling with some sort of personal problem, it is a promise of healing.
For those who don’t believe Jesus Christ is the son of God,
it is a glimpse of God’s love for all God’s children.
For those who feel like the whole world is in the violent throes of chaos and confusion,
it is a moment of respite and reflection.
For those who live in darkness and fear, it casts great light: the pledge that a new day,
a new week, a new year, a new life, is coming for each and every one of us.
For those who imagine that this world isn’t worth saving, it speaks a word of hope.
And for those who on this night find themselves at odds with someone or something,
it offers a promise of peace that passes all understanding, now and forevermore.
• into Communion liturgy

Titus 2:11-14 New International Version (NIV)
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. X

Luke 2:1-7 Common English Bible (CEB)

In those days Caesar Augustus declared that everyone throughout the empire should be enrolled in the tax lists. This first enrollment occurred when Quirinius governed Syria. Everyone went to their own cities to be enrolled. Since Joseph belonged to David’s house and family line, he went up from the city of Nazareth in Galilee to David’s city, called Bethlehem, in Judea. He went to be enrolled together with Mary, who was promised to him in marriage and who was pregnant. While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. She gave birth to her firstborn child, a son, wrapped him snugly, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the guestroom. X

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