The onion of my sermon. (Advent A1)

I want my sermons to be multi layered. I want them to reach people with the depths of Christ regardless of where they are in their development. I want it to reach kids and adults alike with a vision that will inspire them to true worship. And I want it to be seamless.

Is that too much to ask?

Well, yes. If I ever master it I will have to turn to teaching the method because it will have to be a marvel.

For kids, I want my message to be one- a one-point sermon. Isn't that the bugger? So often my three points could be three sermons.

This week what is the point? I'm going with: We have a great hope, so we should live awake in the light of that hope. I think I am going to use Christmas lights and the image of waiting for Christmas morning as illustrations.

Now the trick will be to so fully integrate the illustration into the sermon that is part of the truth, not some aside for the kids. I want to engage the kids, and use them to minister to the rest with out loosing them or disjointing the message. Ah…

What of this amazing hope we have? The night will end! And at the end, a joy bigger than any Christmas present, or rather the first and the last Christmas present, the very presence of Christ! What a fun message to preach.

Christmas Lights! (Advent A1)

It has been suggested that "It is highly significant that the lectionary readings begin the Advent journey with a reminder of who we are before rehearsing the story of Christ's coming." This will preach. It is a beautiful use of Beuchner's gospel as tragedy, comedy and fairy tale. Unfortunately I have to disagree a bit, the darkness of the human condition is not central to these readings.

The days of Noah are understood in context of such wide spread evil that the race would be destroyed were it not for Noah's family. Dark days, but look at Matthew's context. The darkness is of sight, not of evil oppression, here the people are in the dark not the heart of the darkness. Jesus points out that up to the time of the flood people went about their daily lives and celebrations, apparently happy and completely unaware of what was to happen. His point is that so unexpectedly will the Son of Man come. The lectionary affirms this context, it doesn't point to Genesis as the Hebrew text with its judgment, but to a hopeful call to "Walk in the light of the Lord."

What is central to all the readings is an expectant hope that sheds its light abroad and gives us reason to live!

We are to keep watch - keep awake. We rail against the darkness that would lull us to sleep. It reminds me of diving through the night. No matter how awake I am, I get sleepy. It is good to remind ourselves about the darkness and the daze it creates, but let us hold high, in worship, in celebration that great day of light!

This passage and the second Sunday after Christmas are bookends for this season. Light, light, light!