2nd Sunday of Advent, 2020 - December 6, 2020 - Lighting the Candle of Peace - Mark 1:1-8

 

Photo by Christian Begeman

Mark 1:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Proclamation of John the Baptist

1 The beginning of the good news[a] of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.[b]

2 As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,[c]

“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,[d]
    who will prepare your way;
3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
    ‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
    make his paths straight,’”

4 John the baptizer appeared[e] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with[f] water; but he will baptize you with[g] the Holy Spirit.”

Footnotes:

1. Mark 1:1 Or gospel
2. Mark 1:1 Other ancient authorities lack the Son of God
3. Mark 1:2 Other ancient authorities read in the prophets
4. Mark 1:2 Gk before your face
5. Mark 1:4 Other ancient authorities read John was baptizing
6. Mark 1:8 Or in
7. Mark 1:8 Or in

Luke 12:49-53 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jesus the Cause of Division

49 “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 53 they will be divided:

father against son
    and son against father,
mother against daughter
    and daughter against mother,
mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law
    and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

First Sunday of Advent 2020 - The 'Hope' Candle - Psalm 42

 

This past Sunday (Nov 29th) was the 'First Sunday of Advent', which in our faith tradition means it is the Sunday when we light the candle of 'Hope'.  I chose to preach the message of 'hope' from the words of the 42nd Psalm.  Please take a listen and I hope this message brings you some comfort in these crazy days that we find ourselves embroiled within.

God bless and...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love,

Roy

Psalm 42 NRSV

Longing for God and His Help in Distress

To the leader. A Maskil of the Korahites.

1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
    so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
    for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
    the face of God?
3 My tears have been my food
    day and night,
while people say to me continually,
    “Where is your God?”

4 These things I remember,
    as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,[a]
    and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
    a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help 6 and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
    therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
    from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
    at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
    have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
    and at night his song is with me,
    a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock,
    “Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
    because the enemy oppresses me?”
10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
    my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
    “Where is your God?”

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
    and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
    my help and my God.

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 42:4 Meaning of Heb uncertain

Sermon from November 22, 2020 - Ephesians 1:3-23

 

My apologies but with last week being Thanksgiving and all of the other things going on, I didn't get the sermon from the 22nd transferred from the phone and uploaded to YouTube until today.

Please take a listen and please...

Be a blessing to someone today!!

In Christ,

Roy

Ephesians 1:3-23 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ[a] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,[b] having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this[c] is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Paul’s Prayer

15 I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love[d] toward all the saints, and for this reason 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17 I 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, 18 so 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, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God[e] 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, 21 far 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. 22 And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Footnotes:

1. Ephesians 1:4 Gk in him
2. Ephesians 1:11 Or been made a heritage
3. Ephesians 1:14 Other ancient authorities read who
4. Ephesians 1:15 Other ancient authorities lack and your love
5. Ephesians 1:20 Gk He

Manuscript for the Graveside Service for Clarence Krause - November 28, 2020

Below please find the manuscript for the graveside service for Clarence Krause, Sr. 

May the Lord strengthen and comfort his family.  God bless them all.

In Christ,

Roy

Committal Service for Clarence Dean Krause, Sr.

Call to Worship:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and the God of all consolation, who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ. (2nd Corinthians 1:3-5)

Greeting:

We have gathered here this afternoon to praise God for the life of Clarence Dean Krause, Sr. and to mourn our loss with one another, to comfort each other in our moment of grief; to celebrate Clarence's life and all that he meant to all that loved him; to celebrate God's love for Clarence, and His love for each of us;

And to commend Clarence to God's everlasting love and care.

Opening Prayer:

Let us please pray:

Father of all mercies and God of all consolation, You pursue us with untiring love and dispel the shadow of death with the bright dawn of life. Give courage to this family in this their time of loss and sorrow.

Secure in Your refuge and strength, O Lord, reassure them of Your continuing love and lift them from the depths of grief into the peace and light of Your presence.

Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by dying has destroyed our death, and by rising, restored our life. Your Holy Spirit, is our comforter, You speak for us in groans too deep for words. Come alongside Your people, remind them of Your eternal presence and give them Your comfort and strength.  Amen.

Let us hear now this excerpt from the 3rd Chapter of Ecclesiastes:

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.

Message:

When I spoke briefly on the phone with Becky the other day she told me that Clarence was a simple man, that he loved his family, he loved animals, and that he loved to dance.  She said that his was indeed a happy life.

She also sent to me a link to a video memorial for Clarence and I saw a man who looked to have indeed lived a very happy and loving life.  A man who served his country, and who loved his family.  Last night you all met and shared stories and memories and that I'm certain... was a precious time, a sacred time.  While at the visitation last night I saw the oh so precious photo of Clarence and his twin brother Clifford with their mother, such a great photo... what an absolute treasure.  Our loved ones are truly treasures in our lives and our hearts.

But, our loved ones pass from our lives far too quickly, time seems to race by us all and before we realize it our loved ones have gone on to be with their loved ones.  A never ending chain of love and influences passed from generation to generation.  A chain with nearly a life of it's own... for you see as long as we hold dearly to our loved ones memories, all those precious and sacred stories and events, as long as we allow their wisdom to mold our lives, as long as we remember... we are never truly parted.  And we know in our hearts that this physical parting that we experience today... is only temporary, for someday you each will see your loved one Clarence, in fact all of your loved ones, in your Father's home.

The promise of Christ soothes our wounded spirits with the knowledge that He conquered death and that the promise of life ever-after is available to us all.

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

Praise be to God!

Let us pray,

We selfishly want to hold on to Clarence. It brings great pain to let him go. Living in the resurrection hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the trust of a loving God and in the promise of eternal life, we now commit Clarence's body to its place of rest. We will continue to mourn our loss, but his laughter will now warm the kingdom of God. We will continue to love Clarence, but God will now take care of him. We will continue to carry Clarence in our thoughts, but he will be kept safe in God's hands. Receive him in the arms of your mercy, O God, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace.  Amen.

Let us hear now these words of reassurance from our God:

PSALM 121

We lift our eyes up to the hills.

From where does our help come?

Our help comes from the Unseen One,

The Maker of the heavens and the earth,

Who will not cause our feet to stumble,

Our protector who never sleeps.

The Abundant One preserves us,

The Watchful One is our shelter and support.

The Vigilant One guards us from evil,

And keeps our Life-breath safe.

The Shepherd guards our going out

and our coming in from now unto eternity.

Hear now these words from our Lord Jesus Christ himself:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled.

Believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.

If it were not so,

Would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

And if I go and prepare a place for you,

I will come again and will take you to myself,

So that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.

I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.

In a little while the world will no longer see me,

But you will see me;

Because I live, you also will live.

I have said these things to you while I am still with you.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,

Whom the Father will send in my name,

Will teach you everything,

And remind you of all that I have said to you.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”  

(John 14:1 – 4, 18 – 19, 25 – 27)

God has called you each to console the other, please accept this calling in the days, weeks, and years to come and be His comfort one to another.  Through your love for one another, He has shown His love for all of you, and for Clarence.  Praise be to God.

Closing Prayer and Benediction:

Let us pray:

In sure and certain hope that, as Christ lived and was the first to rise from the dead, we too shall have new life and will join our heavenly Father along with all the saints in a new and better place. We, therefore, commit our brother Clarence to the earth from which he was made, and lay to rest this mortal body that it might put on immortality. The Lord bless him and keep him; the Lord make his face shine upon him and be gracious to him; the Lord look upon him with favor and give him eternal peace.  Amen

Believing in the Resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we now entrust Clarence to the care of Almighty God and we ask Our Father to lead Clarence to the room made ready just for him. As we now commit his body to its final resting place; we commend his spirit to its new home. Rest eternal grant him; and let God's light perpetually shine upon him. Almighty God, as you once called our brother Clarence into this life, so now you have called him into life everlasting.  Praise be to God indeed.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and may His strong arms uphold you and comfort you in the days, weeks and years ahead.  May God's peace be forever upon your hearts.  Amen.

 

The service this past Sunday was a virtual service only.  The Councils met and decided to close worship for two Sundays (Nov 8 & 15).  We are holding nightly 'Prayer Vigils' virtually in the Sanctuary with prayers for deliverance from the virus that is plaguing so much of the World.

Last Sunday's sermon covered the parable of the "Talents".  Please take a listen to the video attached and as always...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,  Roy

Matthew 25:14-30 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Parable of the Talents

14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents,[a] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Matthew 25:1-13 - Sermon from Sunday, November 8, 2020

Last Sunday's sermon was over the parable of the "Ten Virgins".  This is a message of being 'prepared'.  We need to remember to live each day as if the Lord may come that very day, that very minute.

Please take a listen and please remember to...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,

Roy

 Matthew 25:1-13 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids 25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids[a] took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.[b] 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those bridesmaids[c] got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other bridesmaids[d] came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13 Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.[e] Footnotes: a) Matthew 25:1 Gk virgins b) Matthew 25:1 Other ancient authorities add and the bride c) Matthew 25:7 Gk virgins d) Matthew 25:11 Gk virgins e) Matthew 25:13 Other ancient authorities add in which the Son of Man is coming

Sermon, Sunday November 1, 2020 - 1st Thessalonians 2:9-20

 

Below please find the link to my Sermon from this past Sunday, November 1, 2020.  Paul here talks about urging and encouraging the Church in Thessalonica.  Let us remember to also urge and encourage each other in our daily walks in the Faith.

Please take a listen and I pray that some portion of the message might bless you today.  Thank you for coming through this tiny corner of the internet.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,

Roy

1 Thessalonians 2:9-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

9 You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters;[a] we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11 As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12 urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God’s word, which is also at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers and sisters,[b] became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you suffered the same things from your own compatriots as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets,[c] and drove us out; they displease God and oppose everyone 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. Thus they have constantly been filling up the measure of their sins; but God’s wrath has overtaken them at last.[d]

Paul’s Desire to Visit the Thessalonians Again

17 As for us, brothers and sisters,[e] when, for a short time, we were made orphans by being separated from you—in person, not in heart—we longed with great eagerness to see you face to face. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, wanted to again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 Yes, you are our glory and joy!

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 Gk brothers
2. 1 Thessalonians 2:14 Gk brothers
3. 1 Thessalonians 2:15 Other ancient authorities read their own prophets
4. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 Or completely or forever
5. 1 Thessalonians 2:17 Gk brothers