It was an exciting Christmas in our house. I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas as well. Merry Christmas from Lutheran Grilled Cheese. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a Fantastic New Year!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZlrJpWCRDQ
Tag Archive - 2010
Year in Status
Here is a snippet from my year in Facebook Status’s. It has been a good year — if you would like to friend me on Facebook click here.
Advent Conspiracy
This year St. Mark’s Lutheran Church is participating in the Advent Conspiracy.
Back in 2006, a handful of pastors gathered together to create what they called an “Advent Conspiracy.” Their hope was to revitalize, as much as they were able, the true meaning of the Christmas season and to rebel against the hyper-consumerism to which so many of us Christians so often fall victim. Their Advent Conspiracy proposed to spend less on gifts and give more to the poor—and so they partnered with Living Water International in order to build clean water wells in impoverished areas of the globe.
In their first year, Advent Conspiracy raised $500,000 to build a high capacity well in Nicaragua and 13 more wells in Liberia. By 2008, they were able to donate three million dollars for similar clean water projects. Today the Advent Conspiracy consists of more than 1500 churches and organizations around the globe. That’s a lot of love—a lot of life. All because people spent less on gifts and more on relationships.
The premise is simple. During advent the congregation learns about how to worship fully, spend less, give more and love all. It was my idea to participate in this adventure and I really think there are some people who are considering how they interact with Christmas this year.
I am not saying reject Christmas, I’m suggesting we claim them and participate in them. Instead of allowing them to lead us away from Jesus, perhaps that can point us to Jesus moving our hearts and minds to a deeper, fuller worship of him.
For example:
What if… every time you saw candles or Christmas lights, you let them remind you of the One who has come into this world as the Light of the World?
What if… every time you saw the crowd of desperate shoppers, or were caught in one yourself, you be reminded that by grace Jesus has already provided all we need for abundant life?
What if… every time you saw an opportunity to give to a charity, like the Baldwinsville Christmas burrow or the Salvation Army, you let it remind you that Jesus promised to be found in the least of these, our brothers and sisters?
What if… every time you were tempted to eat yet another Christmas cookie, you let it remind you that we have already been fed by the Bread of Life?
What if… every time you heard a Christmas song, it reminded you of the very first Christmas carol sung by the angels to announce the birth of the Christ child?
What if… every time you went to a Christmas party, you saw that crowd around you as the very people Jesus came to save?
That would be a conspiracy. That could change our holidays. That would change our world. This is the first movement in our Advent Conspiracy. We are being called to a revolution this Advent season.
If you want to learn more about the Advent Conspiracy check out the video below:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yerUGAF1w1w
Sermon: First Sunday of Advent
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Advent Devotions: Spirituality
Read Romans 15: 14-21
What is the role of spirituality in living a happy, healthy, productive life? How much attention do you give to your spiritual side?
Now I’m not necessarily talking about participation in an organized religion, although this may be something that is important to you. I believe spirituality can be expressed and explored in many ways.
In my experience, people who are able to stay energetic and enthusiastic over the long haul tend to have a strong spiritual connection.
So what does that mean? How do you obtain this?
First is to have a sense of a purpose that is larger than yourself. The world does not stop at your doorstep, in fact our connection with one another and with the world is larger than we ever could imagine.
Second is to find a way to think about your spirituality every single day. This could be done through a devotional book like this one (there are many out there) this could also be accomplished by attending church on a Sunday (St. Mark’s is a great church). Many times when people go to church they are uplifted enough where they have enough to think about and ponder about for the next week.
The more that you are connected with your spiritual self, the more your life will seem like it comes together.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, as you call us to see you out as our foundation, and as we prepare ourselves this Christmas season we need you. We constantly get bombarded with life and with outside pressures. Be with us and help us remember that you call us and that you love us. Amen.
Advent Devotions: Meekness
Read Matthew 21:1-7
Our Advent journey continues and, no, we’re not there yet!
I have taken many trips in my life. It did not matter if I was traveling from Vermont to Pennsylvania as a kid to visit family, or From Iowa to Vermont during college. It did not matter if I was traveling in my 89 Toyota Corolla or by jet plane when I traveled I could never get to my destination fast enough.
Thousands of years ago Jesus also traveled. He travelled with crowds making their way up to Jerusalem. Jesus traveled in a very special way, and with the most humble of servants. He was by far the greatest to ever walk those roads. But in the Gospel for this first week in Advent, Jesus took His rightful place at the center of the throne. He rode with praises into Jerusalem for the final festival where He would go to battle for us, laying down His life that we might have eternal life.
At Jesus’ command two of the disciples borrowed an animal on which He would ride into Jerusalem. But He did not choose a towering, powerful, warhorse. No, He rode on a young donkey, a lowly beast of burden.
That is the mark of our King. At Christmas He comes as a tiny baby, humble and lowly, born in a manger. In meekness He came to lay down His life as a sacrifice to save us from our sins.
Today He also comes among us in humility. He chooses lowly water and joins His Word to it to transform lost sinners into children of God.
Even as we continue our journey toward Jerusalem, our King comes right alongside us in great gentleness and humility. Since He is humble, we too are moved to meekness toward each other, knowing He has made our future certain in our eternal home.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus, our Savior, thank You for coming to us in such humility. You have saved us and now You ride with us to keep us and protect us. Reassure us by Your presence and guide us safely to our home. Amen.
Advent Devotions: Christmas Lights
Read Romans 13:11-14
During this time of year the nights grow longer. That makes being a kid riding in a car pretty tough. Though it certainly helps when video and DVD players and iPods light up the night. As a kid during Christmas many times we would make the trek from Vermont to Pennsylvania to visit family. During that trip one of my favorite things to do was to look out my window and see the Christmas lights we’d see every once in a while.
From time to time as we make our way along God’s path through this Advent season we catch glimpses of the light of our heavenly home. These hints come to us as a favorite hymn or song in worship. They also come as a renewed awareness of the forgiveness, acceptance, and peace God offers through the pastor. They especially come as that wonderful taste of the heavenly feast when we celebrate the Sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.
These glimpses thrill our hearts and remind us of the wonderful place waiting for us. The lit candle on the Advent wreath-and the three that remain to be lit in the coming weeks remind us how little time is left to prepare for the day that is rapidly approaching. Paul reminds us of this same fact in our Bible reading today.
Like a beautifully lit house at Christmas time, Jesus shatters the darkness and fills us with the warmth of His glorious light. He is the Light of the world who came into the darkness and vanquished it through His suffering, death, and resurrection. And each of us who were reborn in His image in Baptism shine like stars in this dark night of sin, giving those who do not yet know Jesus Christ a brief glimpse of God’s love through our words, attitudes, and actions. How brightly are you shining in the crowded store aisles, in the long checkout lines, in the jammed parking lots, and on the busy roads?
THE PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we would be Your lights, shining brightly in this dark and selfish world. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live as You choose, bringing the light of Christ’s love to this dark world. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Advent Devotions: Gathering
Read Isaiah 2:1-3a
Holidays are great fun, especially when brothers and sisters who are scattered across the country gather together for Christmas. Imagine getting a message from a family member in Michigan: “I can’t wait to spend Christmas with you at Mom’s!” Then you get an e-mail from a brother in California: “Looking forward to catching up when we get in for Christmas!” And then there’s a text from a third in North Carolina: “3 1 /2 wks & counting-can’t wait …” Our excitement builds when we realize we will be together again.
In this week’s Old Testament Lesson our brothers and sisters in Christ are excited to share a similar message with us: “Let’s go up to the house of God!” But it isn’t a once-a-year invitation just for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. This invitation is given to us every weekend. Their joy won’t be quite as full unless you are there with them!
One of the best examples of this is the National Lutheran Youth Gathering that was held in New Orleans during the summer of 2009. In the days, weeks, and months before the event you can bet texts, and e-mails were flying across the country among friends who were looking forward to spending the week together. And in the weeks after the get-together many more e-mails, texts, tweets, and posts crisscrossed the nation and the world: “That was so great! Wish we could do it again!” Now imagine a worldwide gathering that won’t end after a few days but will last forever! That’s heaven. I was completely amazed at how that one event changed the lives of so many youth.
It took a lot of hard work and planning by dozens of dedicated people to put the National Youth Gathering together. But to put our heavenly reunion together it took Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection: He suffered and died to take away our sins so we would be fit to come, and He is now preparing a place for us to stay eternally.
THE PRAYER: Lord, open my ears to hear my brothers and sisters calling me to join them, and let me join my voice with theirs. Especially lead me to call those who have not yet heard Your invitation. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
*Adapted from the LHM 2010 Advent Devotions
First Sunday in Advent Devotions
Read Psalm 122
Did you receive a Thanksgiving invitation this year? I guess all of us who regularly have the chance to gather with family and friends for the holidays take it for granted. The wonderful smells of the holiday meals, the laughter filling the house, and everybody catching up with events in each other’s lives make the holidays so special.
But today Thanksgiving weekend comes to an end and all those happy get- togethers must break up. Roads are packed with travelers scattering their separate ways. Of course in a few short weeks, we’ll hear a new invitation: “Come on up for Christmas!”
The church is sending out its own invitation this Advent. In the next few weeks people in churches all over will be decorating, learning parts for the Christmas pageant, and practicing anthems for Christmas Eve. We are doing all of this because we want to invite you to come on up for Christmas as together we will celebrate our Savior’s coming.
This invitation is unlike any other that you will receive. You will not have to worry about getting stuck at the kids table or not having enough mashed potatoes. There is room for all and your cup will overflow with wonder and amazement.
That’s what Advent is all about, and that’s what these Advent devotions are all about. We will recall why the Lord Jesus came down from heaven so long ago. We will recall that the only way we can call heaven our home was because Jesus took our guilt and sin upon Himself and suffered and died in our place. Then, putting our faith in Christ, we will join our brothers and sister in Jesus Christ in joyful expectation as we journey on together. So light the first Advent candle, and accept our invitation. Prepare the way of the Lord.
THE PRAYER: Gracious and Loving God, thank you for the opportunity to gather with family and friends. Thank you also for always being there for us even when we might not see you there. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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