praise of God's glory

Good afternoon friends,
Today's reading continues yesterday's. Paul continues to give thanks for the faith of the Ephesians. What I notice is that he bases all the rest of his discussion on faith. Everything for Paul comes back to theology. When we know God and God's love, and live according to that love, everything else falls into place. I love the poetry with which Paul praises God. I hope it inspires your evening too.

God bless,
Sam

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 

²⁰God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²²And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

righteous prayer

Good morning friends,
Today's reading features James teaching about prayer. It's a good reminder that we can pray both when things are going well and when they're not. Prayer does matter, even if we don't understand it.

God bless,
Sam

James 5:12-20

¹²Above all, my beloved, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. 

¹³Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. ¹⁴Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven. ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. 

The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective. ¹⁷Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth yielded its harvest. ¹⁹My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, ²⁰you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

singing praise

Good morning friends,
At our cafe on Saturday a week ago one woman said she would like to come to church but needs a ride. She lives near Laurelton in the Merchants/Winton area. If you'd be willing to pick her up this Sunday or another Sunday, please let me know by phone or email.

We've been following the story of Hannah and her prayer for a son. As she promised, when God granted her a son she brought him to the sanctuary at Shiloh to serve God under Eli the priest. Our passage for today is Hannah's song of praise to God. Many scholars believe Mary's song of praise in Luke 1 was influenced by Hannah's song. We see similar themes like God favoring the poor and bringing down the proud. What does Hannah's song teach us about God's justice?

God bless,
Sam

1 Samuel 2:1-10
Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. ²“There is no Holy One like the Lord, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. ³Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. ⁴The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. ⁵Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn.

⁶The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. ⁷The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. ⁸He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world. ⁹“He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. ¹⁰The Lord! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed.”

praising God

Hi friends,
Sorry for the long lack of readings. Today's reading is a Psalm of praise, which seems appropriate in this season of celebration of God's amazing love in Christ. I especially value the reminder that human plans and power are very limited. Only God is eternal; whatever good or bad we see is only temporary. In the end God's love will prevail. Along the same lines, please keep the families and communities of Webster and the West Webster Fire Department in your prayers.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 146:1-10

¹Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!

²I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

³Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.

⁴When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

⁵Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,

⁶who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

⁷who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;

⁸the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

⁹The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!

Go tell it!

Good afternoon sisters and brothers,
Laurelton will be hosting our living nativity on Saturday and Sunday from 6-7:30 pm both nights. We could use more people who want to dress up, so if you're interested, it's a cool way to see the story of Christ's birth in a different way. The costumes are at the church so all you need is something warm to wear. Come and bring a friend to see the story of Christmas.
 


Today's reading finishes the section from yesterday where God announces Israel's redemption through the prophet. Today, God sends Jerusalem up the mountain to share the good news. I wonder if this is where the Christmas song God Tell it on the Mountain comes from. In any event, this is a song of praise for God's power and love.

Blessings on your weekend,
Sam


Isaiah 40:9-17
⁹Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” ¹⁰See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him. ¹¹He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.


¹²Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? ¹³Who has directed the spirit of the Lord, or as his counselor has instructed him? ¹⁴Whom did he consult for his enlightenment, and who taught him the path of justice? Who taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding? ¹⁵Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as dust on the scales; see, he takes up the isles like fine dust. ¹⁶Lebanon would not provide fuel enough, nor are its animals enough for a burnt offering. ¹⁷All the nations are as nothing before him; they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

singing praise in the dark

Good afternoon friends,
This poem/song of praise is Zechariah's Spirit-inspired response to the birth of his son, John. Not only does he look ahead to his son's ministry as a prophet preparing the way for the Lord Jesus, he also sees Jesus' role of bringing God's kingdom in a new way. It's a beautiful passage and may help us see Jesus and John in a new way.

At the same time, someone mentioned on Sunday that he might need a redefinition of God's "tender mercies" in light of the Newtown, CT shooting on Friday. There are times we wish God would just come down and fix our troubled world; then there are other times (if we're honest with ourselves) that we mostly want God to leave us alone to do what we want. We trust that someday God will make his rule very obvious and will bring the peaceful kingdom we long for. Most of me wishes that would happen soon, and part of me is afraid of what Jesus will say about how I have used my time, resources and opportunities. In all that, and in judging the world at the end, I trust God to be tender and merciful. I know that the one who rules and will judge knows our suffering not only from watching the world, but especially in Christ's journey to the cross.

God bless,
Sam


Luke 1:67-80
⁶⁷Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: ⁶⁸“Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ⁶⁹He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, ⁷⁰as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, ⁷¹that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.

⁷²Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, ⁷³the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us ⁷⁴that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, ⁷⁵in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. ⁷⁶And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, ⁷⁷to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. ⁷⁸By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, ⁷⁹to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” ⁸⁰The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.

a child is born

Good evening friends,
Today's reading tells the story of John the Baptist's birth. His father, Zechariah, had been told about him by an angel. Because of his doubt then, and perhaps to give him an opportunity we rarely give ourselves to take time to reflect, the angel took away Zechariah's speech "until these things take place." Well the child is born and he is named John, despite the community's best efforts, so Zechariah get's his speech back. Immediately he breaks out in praise for God.

My your evening be a song of praise as well,
Sam

Luke 1:57-66
⁵⁷Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. ⁶⁰But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.”

⁶¹They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” ⁶²Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. ⁶³He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed. ⁶⁴Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

risen indeed

Good afternoon friends,
Sorry it's been so long since I sent out a reading. Today's reading picks up after the two disciples met the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. They didn't recognize him until he broke bread with them. Right away they came back to Jerusalem to share what had happened with the other disciples. Amazingly, the other disciples were already talking about Christ's resurrection because he had also appeared to Peter. Then, in our passage today, Jesus appears to all the disciples and promises to send the Holy Spirit to equip them for ministry. We'll be hearing more about the promise of the Spirit in a couple of weeks, for now, let's consider the transforming presence of Christ in our lives.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 24:36-50

³⁶While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate in their presence. 

⁴⁴Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

emptied himself

Good morning friends,

Yesterday we saw how the Roman rulers and religious authorities used power. To protect their interests they nailed Jesus to a cross because they felt threatened by him. In direct contrast, today’s reading shows how Jesus sees and uses power. Jesus had all the power in the universe but instead of clinging to it he gave it up for us.

Many scholars believe the core of this passage may have been an early hymn of praise. It is certainly beautiful and memorable poetry as well as powerful truth. I pray Christ’s love would fill your heart today and every day.

God bless,
Sam

Philippians 2:4-11

⁴Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ⁵Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, ⁷but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form, ⁸he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. ⁹Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ash Wednesday

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the reflective season of Lent. Seasons in the church year are great opportunities to renew our focus on our faith and discipleship. At Laurelton we're kicking off the season with two reflective (and short) worship services and a 24 hour prayer vigil. The first service and the vigil starts at noon today in the sanctuary, and the second service begins at 6:40. Folks will be taking hour-long "shifts" to pray. Feel free to come by whenever, and to pray for whatever is on your heart. I'll be at the church the whole time so you never have to be alone.

Today's reading is a good reminder for Lent, when it's traditional (and still often useful) to fast as part of our spiritual preparation. God tells the people that denying themselves isn't any good if they use it as an excuse to be cranky or to show off their devotion. The point of fasting and worship is to come closer and glorify God. All our devotion is meaningless if it doesn't lead us to work for justice for those in need. We can't praise God and ignore our neighbor.

God bless,
Sam

Isaiah 58:1-12

¹   Shout out, do not hold back!
          Lift up your voice like a trumpet!
     Announce to my people their rebellion,
          to the house of Jacob their sins.
²   Yet day after day they seek me
          and delight to know my ways,
     as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness
          and did not forsake the ordinance of their God;
     they ask of me righteous judgments,
          they delight to draw near to God.
³   “Why do we fast, but you do not see?
          Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?”
     Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day,
          and oppress all your workers.
⁴   Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
          and to strike with a wicked fist.
     Such fasting as you do today
          will not make your voice heard on high.
⁵   Is such the fast that I choose,
          a day to humble oneself?
     Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush,
          and to lie in sackcloth and ashes?
     Will you call this a fast,
          a day acceptable to the LORD?

⁶   Is not this the fast that I choose:
          to loose the bonds of injustice,
          to undo the thongs of the yoke,
     to let the oppressed go free,
          and to break every yoke?
⁷   Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
          and bring the homeless poor into your house;
     when you see the naked, to cover them,
          and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
⁸   Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
          and your healing shall spring up quickly;
     your vindicator shall go before you,
          the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
⁹   Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
          you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am.

     If you remove the yoke from among you,
          the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
¹⁰  if you offer your food to the hungry
          and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,
     then your light shall rise in the darkness
          and your gloom be like the noonday.
¹¹  The LORD will guide you continually,
          and satisfy your needs in parched places,
          and make your bones strong;
     and you shall be like a watered garden,
          like a spring of water,
          whose waters never fail.
¹²  Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
          you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
     you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
          the restorer of streets to live in.

prophets and ritual

Happy New Year,
Our first reading reminds us of God's loving care and the second reading tells the story of Jesus being presented as an infant at the temple. I love reading about the two old saints recognizing Jesus as God's salvation come to earth. I'm excited to begin a new year with you following God's calling together.

New Year's blessings,
Sam

Isaiah 61:10-62:3

 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
     my whole being shall exult in my God;
   for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
     he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
   as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
     and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
     and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
   so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
     to spring up before all the nations.

^62:1 For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
     and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest,
   until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
     and her salvation like a burning torch.
²  The nations shall see your vindication,
     and all the kings your glory;
   and you shall be called by a new name
     that the mouth of the Lord will give.
³  You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
     and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

*Sunday

Luke 2:21-40

²¹After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. ²²When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ²³(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), ²⁴and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

²⁵Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. ²⁶It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. ²⁷Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, ²⁸Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ²⁹“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; ³⁰for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, ³²a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

³³And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. ³⁴Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed ³⁵so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

³⁶There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, ³⁷then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. ³⁹When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

praise and power

Good evening friends,
Maggie and I are safely back in Rochester after a lovely few days with my family and an easy flight home. As we get ready for New Year's and continue to celebrate Christmas, we think about the limits of human power and God's wonderful love for the powerless. This Psalm reminds us of these things and encourages us to trust God while we give him praise.
Blessings on your evening,
Sam

Psalm 146

¹Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!

²I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

³Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.

⁴When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.

⁵Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,

⁶who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;

⁷who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free; ⁸the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.

⁹The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow,

but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

¹⁰The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!

praising God

Good morning sisters and brothers,
I chose this Psalm of praise for today so we could spend some time just praising God. Christ is born and rather than moving on to learning something else in scripture I'd rather dwell in the amazing love and surprising grace we see in the birth of our savior. So read the Psalm slowly and give yourself a moment to just sit in praise. Our God is amazing and full of love.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 147:1-11

¹  Praise the Lord!
     How good it is to sing praises to our God;
     for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.
²  The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
     he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
³  He heals the brokenhearted,
     and binds up their wounds.
⁴  He determines the number of the stars;
     he gives to all of them their names.
⁵  Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
     his understanding is beyond measure.
⁶  The Lord lifts up the downtrodden;
     he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷  Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
     make melody to our God on the lyre.
⁸  He covers the heavens with clouds,
     prepares rain for the earth,
     makes grass grow on the hills.
⁹  He gives to the animals their food,
     and to the young ravens when they cry.
¹⁰ His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
     nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner;
¹¹ but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
     in those who hope in his steadfast love.

a child's potential

Good morning brothers and sisters,
Before we dive into this morning's reading I'd like to introduce you to our new website. My friend Chris Montesano has redesigned the site with help from my brother, Will Picard. I'm grateful to David Hoover for getting us started with the great website we've been enjoying for the last year. I'm also grateful for Chris and Will's expertise that will give us more functionality and a new look. I'd love to hear your feedback on the site and look forward to getting more pictures up on it. The new web address is laureltonchurch.org. We felt like that might be an easier site for visitors to find since "Presbyterian" is notoriously difficult to spell. The old site will be up for the next couple of weeks and then will simply redirect people to the new site. I hope you'll enjoy the site; more importantly I hope it will welcome visitors to our virtual and real door.

Our reading this morning continues the story of Elizabeth, Zechariah and John the Baptist. It also speaks to the God-given potential in each of our children and our calling to help them reach it. I hope you'll be in worship on Sunday to hear Sue Maddock share information about tutoring opportunities in our area. Sue will also be around after worship to talk more with anyone who's interested.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 1:57-66

⁵⁷Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. ⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. ⁵⁹On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. ⁶⁰But his mother said, “No; he is to be called John.” ⁶¹They said to her, “None of your relatives has this name.” ⁶²Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. ⁶³He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And all of them were amazed.

⁶⁴Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. ⁶⁵Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶All who heard them pondered them and said, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.

without honor

Good morning friends,
Today we get a break from Genesis to hear from Jesus. He returns to his hometown, Nazareth. There the people take offense at him because they think they know him. I wonder what voices in our midst we might be undervaluing because we think we have someone all figured out?

Blessings on your weekend,
Sam

Matthew 13:53-58

53When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place. 54He came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? 55Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?” 57And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor except in their own country and in their own house.” 58And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

this is the day that the Lord has made!

Good morning friends,
Today's reading is from Psalm 118, which was a praise song in Israel for the crowning of a king. This is a great fit for today since Jesus shows that he is God's king in his resurrection from the dead. Today is a great morning to praise the Lord for the resurrection. It's easy to feel like the excitement of Easter is over and to loose momentum in our faith. The resurrection is a beginning, not an end. Christ has broken free for all of us, so we are free to begin again with joy, hope and love.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his steadfast love endures forever!

2 Let Israel say,
“His steadfast love endures forever.”

14 The LORD is my strength and my might;
he has become my salvation.
15 There are glad songs of victory in the tents of the righteous:
“The right hand of the LORD does valiantly;
16 the right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.”

17 I shall not die, but I shall live,
and recount the deeds of the LORD.
18 The LORD has punished me severely,
but he did not give me over to death.

19 Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the LORD.

20 This is the gate of the LORD;
the righteous shall enter through it.

21 I thank you that you have answered me
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone.
23 This is the LORD’s doing;
it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

winter praises

Good morning sisters and brothers,
Our reading for today is a Psalm of praise. The psalmist calls on humanity and all of creation to praise God for God's might and creativity. This Psalm lifts up Israel as God's special people, but it also affirms that God is Lord of all people. The joy of this praise is a good fit for the joy of Christmas, as we remember God's salvation through Jesus Christ. It's also a good reminder that even the winter weather is part of God's creation. May your day be filled with joy and praise.
God bless,
Sam

Psalm 148:1-14

1Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!
2Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!
3Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars!
4Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!
5Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.
6He established them forever and ever; he fixed their bounds,
which cannot be passed.
7Praise the Lord from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps,
8fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling his command!
9Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!
10Wild animals and all cattle, creeping things and flying birds!
11Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!
12Young men and women alike, old and young together!
13Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
14He 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!

sing a new song

Good morning friends,
This morning's reading is a Psalm of praise. It gives thanks for God's amazing power and redemption for Israel and for us. In particular this Psalm lifts up the fact that God is the creator and Lord of the universe. Other gods and powers might tempt us to worship them, in our society money might be the best example of that, but those other powers are only idols. The Psalm also looks forward to God's righteous judgment. Judgment can be a scary idea, but only God's power and justice can fix the mess we make. In the end we trust that God's justice, love and wisdom will make all things right. We see that judgment in Jesus Christ, and we long for his return to finish the salvation he began at a manger in Bethlehem.

God bless,
Sam

Psalm 96:1-13

1O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
2Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples.
4For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be revered above all gods.
5For all the gods of the peoples are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
6Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.
7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts.
9Worship the LORD in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.
10Say among the nations, "The LORD is king!
The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
He will judge the peoples with equity."
11Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13before the LORD;
for he is coming, for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

praising God with Mary

Good morning sisters and brothers,
This morning's reading is a traditionally known as Mary's song, though it's not clear whether Mary sung or spoke these beautiful words of praise. It's also called the Magnificat, which is the first word of the song in Latin. Luke tells the story of the angel announcing to Mary that she will have a son who will be called the Son of God. Right after this announcement, Mary goes to visit her older relative Elizabeth, who is also pregnant in a miraculous way. Elizabeth has never been able to have children and now is too old. Nevertheless, she is pregnant and will give birth to John the Baptist.

Mary goes to see Elizabeth, and Luke tells us that when Mary greets her, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and feels the baby inside her jump for joy. She praises God for Mary's faithfulness and for the salvation Mary's child will bring Israel. Mary responds with this song of praise that proclaims how God is turning the world upside down and caring especially for the poor and oppressed. God's saving love breaks into the world in a new way in Jesus. Let Mary's praise guide your day as we prepare our hearts for Christ.

God bless,
Sam

Luke 1:47-55
47"My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

warning and praise

Good morning friends,
Today's reading concludes Romans. Paul warns the church that there are people in the church who try to gain from twisting faith, by changing the message to suit their desires. Any idea can be misused by people to gain power and the Christian faith is no exception. We've seen big church pastors use the gospel to get rich; we've seen small church pastors twist the message to justify hatred. Corruption in the church is unfortunately as old as the church. True faith seeks God's will.

Paul also praises God for revealing God's love in Jesus Christ to the whole world. This revelation of the mystery of God is an exciting new phase in human history, a movement Paul is thrilled to be a part of. For all the places where we need to change as a church we ask God's guidance. For the chance to be a part of sharing the joy of God's love we give God glory.

God bless,
Sam

Romans 16:17-27

17I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions and offenses, in opposition to the teaching that you have learned; avoid them. 18For such people do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the simple-minded. 19For while your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. 20The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


21Timothy, my co-worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my relatives. 22I Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.


25Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.