12/12/2019
The words of the Advent wreath...Peace, Hope, Joy and Love. Isn’t that what all of us want or our lives? If we had those, could we feel like we had it all? I thought that I would spend my midweek blog for the next 4 weeks of December reflecting each week on one aspect.
Let’s light the candle of peace…
Peace too often is a word or concept of the absence of conflict or troubles. I believe that we seek much more than that when we ask for peace.
I believe that what we really desire is Shalom-peace. Shalom speaks to having harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity and tranquility. Is that what you desire? I know that is what I am asking for when I seek peace in my life...in my soul.
I don’t believe that shalom is humanly created or accomplished by us. I believe that this kind of shalom comes when we have a right relationship with God. I believe that this is a gift of the Holy Spirit and that we can only realize and receive this gift when we have that relationship with God. What does it take for this kind of relationship? A stillness...an openness...an availability.
So during this crazy season of parties, shopping and decorating...if you want peace, shalom peace, remember to take time to be available, to be open and to be still.
I know that this hymn is a very old hymn for in fact it is as was written by Frances Ridley Havergal in the 1800’s but I can’t help but feel the poetic words beautifully describe shalom peace as I believe we desire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhLti2q0lCo
May your life be filled with peace, shalom, this Advent season. Pastor Patti
Archived Posts
One Final Scene About Scrooge
There was one more scene in Dickens’s novel that reveals something of what has happened to Scrooge over the years. I did not have time to share it on Sunday, but I believe it reveals a great deal about the regrets in Scrooge’s life....
What Jacob Marley Would Do,
If He Could Do It…
I thought about using the following for a benediction—since Jacob Marley was warning Scrooge about the danger of loving money and what it could buy. Ends up with the Cantata and everything else going on, I didn’t have the time. So here is what you might have heard if the sermon itself was 5 minutes shorter!
A Confirming Word on Old King Herod
I just want to echo what Rick said in his fine sermon yesterday (Nov. 23). Herod was a ruthless tyrant and skilled politician. When the Magi don’t report back to him, he decides to kill all the male children of Bethlehem under the age of 2. That’s one paranoid dude.
Power Without Conscience?
I ran out of room for this vignette in Sunday’s sermon. Remember the quote that could be the headline for Ahab and Naboth: “All that’s needed for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” The following reinforces that truth.
The Cars Are Looking for A King
I don’t have a thing to add to Pastor Jessica’s excellent sermon this last Sunday. The fable/parable she shared has been one of my favorites for all the lessons she pulled from it in her message. I was playing around with my friend Chat GPT and after several abortive attempts, we came up with the following modernized version of Judges 9:7-15.
The Lost Benediction
Depending on the length of the sermon, I try to add a little something extra in my benedictions. This week I wrote up a benediction but then realized we’d be singing and waving our umbrellas to some New Orleans jazz.
Change of Focus This Week
Instead of sharing with you about yesterday’s sermon I’d like to invite you to do some background reading for next Sunday’s “Only Murders in the Bible.” Seeing that it is All Saints Day this Sunday, we are going to look at the very first Christian martyr, Stephen.