All Souls Bangor

This message is a reflection on the Sermon on the Mount as a whole.  During this section of Matthew, Jesus offers some teachings that seem to set the bar impossibly high.  Rather than trying to explain this difficulty away, perhaps it is best to remember that in these teachings Jesus is revealing God's character not just a human ethical ideal.  Perhaps the role of these teachings is to prepare us for grace.  Paul suggests that the law is meant to reveal sin as sin.  Perhaps Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount accomplish the same.  While Jesus does call us to strive toward obedience, his teachings here also remind us of our need for grace.  It is this need which God graciously meets through the cross of Christ.

As we reflect on the call of the first disciples we are reminded that following Christ often requires leaving something behind.  Indeed this is the case in almost any pivotal moment in our lives.  It is not enough know the direction we ought to go, we must be willing to lay down that which is holding us back.

Reflections on the Baptism of Christ

As Christians we are called to be a light unto the world.  While we can't cast out all the darkness we can make a difference.  The world is full of darkness, but with God's help we can make it a little less so and often this is enough to make a real impact in the life of another.  Sometimes shedding just a little light and making things just a little less dark is enough for someone to find their way home to God. 

Today we consider a challenging text.  The "murder of the innocents," as it is called, is a horrific thing to imagine.  While this particular event may seem distant, happening so long ago in a distant land, we continue to live in a world full of suffering and injustice.  Sometimes it even comes close to home.  Though Christ is born, the world has not changed in this regard.  Though we have welcomed Christ in our lives, they too are not immune from trouble and trial.  Our text reminds us that even while such thing persist, God remain in our midst and his purposes for our world and lives stand unthwarted.  

A few reflections on the nativity of Jesus as we gathered for worship on Christmas day.

This message, given for the final week of Advent, reviews the previous advent themes of hope, peace, and joy but then draws a connection between these gifts and our capacity to love.   Joy has a way of liberating us, and what greater cause for rejoicing than the good news of the God who comes to set right our lives and world.  What greater cause for Joy than the good news of the peace-making God who even now draws near.  In trusting in this good news, we claim the joy of God and are set free to love as never before, to love others as God has loved us.

As we continue our advent journey we consider the gift of peace that comes to us in Jesus Christ.  This peace includes our reconciliation to God through the cross of Christ but so much more.  It includes not only a relationship set right but a life set right as well.  Indeed one day God's peace will reach into every corner of creation as God's redeeming power is brought to bear upon it and all things are made new.  A world set right, this is peace.  As we wait and pray for that today, we are called to let God's peace reach into ever corner of our lives.  We are also called to join in God's working peace-making in the world around us as a witness of God's love and intent.  

Today we start the advent journey toward Christmas.  Our first thematic stop is hope.  We consider the faithfulness of God in history, his coming to us in Jesus, and reclaim a bold hope for the future.  We proclaim our hope that God will come again and bring his redemptive work to its culmination.  That day is not yet, but even now God comes.  This too is part of our hope.  We hope not only for God's coming again at the close of history, but for God's coming into our hearts and lives here and now.  As a people of hope, we prepare him room.

The disciples marvel at the beauty of the temple only to have Jesus tell them it will be destroyed.  We often forget that even that which appears to be enduring is not.  The only thing that will truly endure is God which is why God alone is worthy of our trust.  Key texts include Luke 21:5-19

This message consider the wider hope of the Christian Faith which includes not just a place we go when we die, but the restoration of all things.  Key texts include Luke 20:27-38.

A message for Stewardship Sunday in the life of our Congregation.  We thank you for your support of our ministries.

A reflection on Luke 18:9-14.  

In examining some passages which seem to be in tension, we are are reminded that only in Christ can we hope to understand who we are truly are.  

Why would God command us to observe a day of rest?  Is it for God's benefit, or for ours?  If not for God's benefit, perhaps all God's commands are meant to lead us toward a place of blessing?  Yes indeed.

Jesus calls us all away for the routine of our lives.  He call us to proclaim the gospel and to share the love of God in word and in deed.   Faithfulness to this calling is more important than ever.

In today's reading Jesus offers his first public sermon, as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.  At first the people seemed pleased, but Jesus pushes further.  He suggest that while the people may indeed share a hope, they lack the faith to see how God is working toward its fulfillment, let alone the faith necessary to participate in that working.  This exchange reminds us that we cannot bind God to human assumptions.  God always works in ways that catch us off guard.  If we aren't open to this possibility and aren't willing to trust, the hope we herald could pass us by.

This weeks message is a reflection on the Baptism of Jesus.  In subjecting himself to John's baptism, meant for sinful humanity, Jesus aligns himself with us.  In so doing he transforms the water of baptism into a meeting place for the new covenant people of God of whom Christ is the head.  Baptism reveals the mystery of our having been joined with Christ.

Throughout the season of advent we emphasized the coming of God into our midst.  In these first weeks following Christmas we are confronted by the humanity of his coming.  Today's messages wrestles with the mystery of Emmanuel.  The one who comes to us as one of us, the Eternal Logos who while here on earth grows in both wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man. 

Today we consider a scene from Jesus' childhood.  He is brought to the temple, still an infant.  Even so Anna and Simeon discern his presence and give praise to God.  How sensitive are we to the leading of the Spirit that helps us to discern God's presence among us.  How can we become more so?  The first step is to pray.  Lord, make yourself known. It is the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, that makes such things know.  Let us ask God to do so and let us then watch with expectant hearts for Emmanuel to be revealed in our lives today.  Let us watch knowing that he will be.

Our scripture lesson recounts Mary's angelic encounter and her faithful and humble response.   Mary is called to do far more than bear a child but to raise one.  Mary is called to love the one who is love, the one who will one day reveal God's love to the world.  Though we are not called to raise the Christ child, we are called to love those around us as if they were the Christ himself.  We too are called to love.

Years before Jesus, the prophet Joel offered words that describe the impact of Jesus' ministry.  Peter would quote those words in the first sermon of the church.  In using those words, Peter reminds us that Jesus came to reconcile us to God and to make peace.

In today's consideration of Daniel we see a clear demonstration of faithfulness.  Daniel's faithfulness?  Yes, certainly.  But even more so, we witness the faithfulness of God, whose strong arm reaches and upholds us even in the midst of exile.  

Jeremiah lived during a tumultuous time.  He not only warned of the coming Babylonian exile but watched it unfold.  His words were not all doom and gloom, however.  Even as exile drew near, he had words of hope to offer too.  He reminded the people that impending hardships would not last forever.  His words can provide encouragement to us as well.  In them we find a reminder, that God does not abandon his people, and that better days will come.

This week we look at the call of Isaiah and find there a threefold process that ought to be an ongoing part of our lives:  Holy encounter, an assurance of grace, and the calling of God.  

Today's message reflects on the powerful message of a small book, the book of Jonah.  Far from a children's story Jonah offers one of the most challenging aspects of the Christian ethic.  The idea that God loves even our enemies and that we are called to do the same.  But what precisely does that mean?

We often question our ability to meet the demands of life or to make a lasting difference in the world.  On our own, our doubts may indeed be well founded.  However, when we are responding to a true call from God, God meets us and makes whatever it is we have to offer enough to advance his purposes.  Is it enough?  Who we are, what we have to offer?  Perhaps that is the wrong question.  Perhaps the right questions is this, "Is God enough?  To be at work in me?"  The answer is a resounding "yes."

Today's message considers briefly the promise of God to David.  While it is David who offers to build a house for God, God opts instead to build a house for David.  This house is not a place but a people of whom we are a part through Jesus Christ.   In Christ and through Christ, the promise to David is fulfilled but that house is still expanding even today.  Through God's work in and among the body of Christ, the church, more and more people are being enfolded into God's great house every day.  To this work, we are called.  

Today's message focuses on Hannah of 1 Samuel.  We learn of her role in Old Testament history but we are also reminded of two important truths.  This is that we ought to include God in every season of our lives, not just the bad and not just the good.  We ought to include God in both of these, as well as everything in between.  Secondly, we are reminded that our God is one who hears us, even when others cannot.  God hears us even when can't find the words to speak.    

We look today at an important episode in the wilderness between Egypt and Canaan.  The Israelites did not know what had become of Moses and in his absence they built an idol.  This message explores what may have led them to make such a grievous mistake and suggests how we might increasingly avoid the same.  Our best bet is simply this, to trust that we belong to God and that God is with us even when he is hard to discern.  It is through faith in the promises of God that we are freed from fear, and only in the absence of fear, can we live the faithful lives to which we are called.

The Passover refers to that event, during which the ancient Israelites are spared God's judgement over all of Egypt. This was the straw that broke the camel's proverbial back and led to their liberation from bondage.  Even so, what a great cost, the death of the firstborn.   Today's message considers that cost.  How are we, as people of faith, to respond.  Our liberation from sin and death, it too was won at great cost.  We rejoice but there ought to be in our celebrations a solemnity as well as we consider the suffering that made that liberation possible.  

There are many places in the Old Testament where we can see hints of what is to come, of what God will do in Christ.  The life of Joseph is a fine example.  Similarities include betrayal for a few pieces of silver, being thrown into a pit/grave, but also the rise to a place of power.  And from that place of power, both choose mercy over judgement.   

God made some pretty incredible promises to Abraham.  God makes incredible promises to us as well.  Often it is hard to trust in promises.  We have been let down so many times before.  But God's promises are trustworthy, not because they are easy to wrap our minds around, but because it is the Lord, the God of Heaven and Earth, who makes them.

Week 1 in the 2020-2021 Narrative Lectionary, this message explores the second account of creation in Genesis 2 and 3.

An exploration of Agape love which God extends to us and which we are called to extend to one another.

An introduction to some of the ideas contained in the Letters of John.

As Christians we celebrate and proclaim the grace of God.  Sometimes, however, we can get preoccupied with trying to outline the limits of that grace.  Our assurance of grace is not dependent on the condemnation of others.  Perhaps God's grace will reach further than we think.  This possibility should make our hearts glad.  This message is offered as a call to focus on grace, to celebrate grace, to proclaim grace; and leave the work of final judgement to God. 

Early on in the pandemic, when our suspension of in-person services were just beginning, we drew upon the Babylonian exile as a way of speaking about our experiences.  As we resume services and schools prepare to reopen, we would do well to think about the experience of those who returned from exile.   Things were not as they once were.  We are realizing the same is true for us.  This sometimes harsh reality can be a cause for grief, yet there is hope for the future.

Today's message looks to the life of Joseph.  We find there a message of hope and encouragement, a reminder that we cannot judge our lives by any one moment.  The story of our life is still unfolding.  Even now, God has a new chapter in mind.  Knowing that, we ought never despair; but instead, trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God.

This message explores unity, the call to be of one mind, and the power of agreement.  It also touches upon the reality of disagreement and suggests that even in the midst of disagreement we can cling to unity and display the power of God to the world around us.

As he did during his earthly ministry, Jesus still equips his disciples and sends them out to do the work of the Kingdom.  Each of us is equipped in a unique way and God is at work in our efforts.  We are right to trust that God is at work in our lives.  We are right to trust in this even when things are not going as well as we might hope. Even then God is at work and God's purposes for creation will not be undone.  Though he is at work in our lives, his hand extends far beyond them.

In the second message on the book of Ruth,214 we explore Mosaic law as a way to better understand what is happening between Ruth and Boaz. While many of these practices may seem strange to us they were very much a part of the culture in that place and time. By understanding these practices we better understand what is meant by calling God our Redeemer. Through Christ, we are restored to the promised inheritance of God. 

This message is the first of two focused on the book of Ruth. Like Jonah it may have been lifted up during a time of ideological tension; but also like Jonah, it points us to Christ and the manner in which we ought to respond to the gospel. In this message we discover that Ruth's words can serve as a great model for us. As she clung to Naomi, so too, we cling to Christ.

The book of Jonah is often considered a story for children, yet it communicates to us some very important and challenging messages.  Jonah reminds us that God's care and concern extends far beyond our own lives and the lives of those like us. Indeed God cares even for those we might consider enemies. Like Jonah, we often find it difficult to accept this truth and let it shape the living of our lives.

Pentecost marks the outpouring of God Holy Spirit upon the world. Pentecost marks the birth of church. Today's sermon explores the Pentecost event and what it means for our lives.

As we approach Pentecost, we revisit the Easter proclamation of Christ's resurrection. in particular we examine the repercussions of worldview fully focused on the here and now, a worldview that rejects any spiritual or metaphysical reality, a worldview that dismisses even the possibility of life beyond the grave. Though we are prone to avoid or deny these repercussions, such a worldview can lead us only to one place, the ultimate and utter meaninglessness of our lives in the undoing of any enduring hope.  The gospel provides another possibility, the possibility that our lives are full of meaning and of a hope that can endure even in the face of grave.

In today's message we consider a portion of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, where he address divisions that had taken root in that community of believers.  Are we prone to the same?  What is the impact?  What can we do to strive for unity in Christ's Church?

Today we find Paul sharing the gospel in Thessalonica.  Many come to faith but others do not respond very kindly.  We are reminded in our passage today that the gospel is by nature a troublesome thing.  It challenges systems of power and the status quo.  It challenges us as well, to reexamine the living of our lives.

Today we consider the two fold healing of a man whom Peter had found begging outside the temple.  The first aspect of his healing was physical.  The other aspect was the healing that comes with reconciliation to the community.  This later healing is something all Christians can and should freely offer to the world.

Just before his ascension, Jesus tells the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit.  Jesus also tells them that after the Spirit has come, they will be his witnesses.   After his ascension the disciples then devoted themselves to prayer.  In this way, they waited for, welcomed, and even sought the promised Spirit.  During this time of isolation we would be well served by doing the same.  We ought to be inviting a fresh encounter of God's Holy Spirit that we might be guided and equipped to serve him in a changing world.