Sweet Spots
Ideas and messages from Len Sweet.
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Urgent
A middle-aged Barnes & Noble customer was expressing her obvious annoyance to one of the store clerks. “Every time I come in here to buy a best-seller, you are ‘sold out,’” she scolded. “Why can’t your management learn to stock your shelves more efficiently?” “And what is the title you…
Savor the Season
In these last days of Christmas, it is challenging to stay focused. The world has moved on. Folks are exhausted from the parties, the Valentine’s chocolates have appeared in the stores, and the Christmas decorations are dumped in the back corner of the clearance shelves.
But the lectionary calls us to Christmas themes of rejoicing and revelation. We rejoice because the light of the world has been revealed. Darkness has been pierced by the Light, the one we longed for has come and our waiting is over. read more…
Pastor’s Prayer –Jan 10, 2016
“A new year has begun, O Lord, and again with the turning of the year we begin anew our pilgrimage toward Christmas. Our hearts as ever rejoice in the glad tidings of Christ who is born in Bethlehem to be the Savior of all the word. Yet with all our joy, and the long centuries behind us of hearts made glad by His coming, we know there is much in us that deafens our ears to the sound of angel anthems, much that blinds us to the sight of guiding stars amid the darkness, much that crowds our hearts and minds, leaving little room for the humbler benedictions of this life. If repentance can purify our hope; if for this season we may become pure hearted; if now we can welcome you with all our soul, then grace us with your most wondrous blessing through Christ who was born to be the light of the world forever.”
“Anonymous” prayer in The Secret Christmas: An Anthology of the Hidden Joy of Christmas by Terence Handley MacMath (2013).
Divine Presence
Rabbi Joshua ben Karhah was once asked, “Why did the Holy One, blessed be he, speak to MRabbi Joshua ben Karhah was once asked, “Why did the Holy One, blessed be he, speak to Moses out of a thornbush?” The rabbi replied “To teach you that there is no space…
Keep the Lights On
There is a great sermon lurking in this poem. You could title it “Keep the Light On . . .” “In my dream my child was young again and came to our room, frightened, in the night. I lifted him onto the couch, covering him, tucking, murmuring, love pouring down,…
At Home in the Everlasting Arms
At Home in the Everlasting Arms Lectionary 3 January 2016 The Epiphany of Our Lord The New Year Jeremiah 31:7-14 Psalm 147:12-20 Ephesians 1:3-14 John 1:1-18 Text to Life How many of us “came home” for Christmas? Can I see hands Let me try again. If you were the “home-zone,”…
A Baby is Always a Blessing –preaching tip for January 3, 2016
No matter how or why or where….a baby is always a blessing. Mary became pregnant unexpectedly, but despite the danger of her family, village, and future husband’s reactions, she chose to praise God! Make sermon time a time to celebrate your babies. Schedule baptisms, have special times for people to…
Redeemed
Redeemed Story Lectionary 3 January 2016 The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple Genesis 4: Cain’s and Abel’s First Fruits Sacrifice Genesis 27: The Story of Jacob and Esau and their Father’s Firstborn Blessing Exodus 13: The Consecration of the First Born Leviticus 12: A Woman’s Purification Sacrifice Numbers 3:…
Daddy
A little boy’s father had been killed in the Iraq War before the boy had ever known him. All he had was a picture of his father, which was placed on an end table in the living room right under the light. One day he said to his mother: “I…
Magnificat
When Mary visited Elizabeth’s home in the Judean hills, it was a 70 mile trip on roads filled with residents and transients, bandits and soldiers. But this Jordan road also passed some towns famous in Israelite history: Shechem, where Abram and Sarai built an altar. Jericho, where Joshua led the…