Pastor Donna shares about the close family connection between Jesus of Nazareth and his cousin, John. Each child is born to a holy, historical purpose to advance the mission of God in the world. 
From this Sunday on our calendar when we annually recall Jesus' baptism by his prophet cousin, we find our own acceptance and claiming by a Heavenly Father. Jesus' baptism removes the separation between the heavenly realm of his origin and the human realm of creation. 
What does it mean that Jesus came into his creation to bring the love of God to our lives? Consider in our own baptism how each of us is brought into the family of God through connection with the self-giving love of Jesus. Our own baptism is a kind of removal of any separation between our realm and the heavenly one - as we follow Christ as his committed disciples, beloved by the Heavenly Father.

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On Epiphany Sunday we carry on the tradition of the Church over the ages in recalling the journey of the "Wise Men" from the Far East to find the special child born in ancient Israel. From Matthew 2:1-12 we read about them and their journey with gifts for the Holy Child in Bethlehem. Despite little details, the unquestioned fall out of their arrival and news would directly devastate the town, including causing the Holy Family to flee for their lives to Egypt. The travelers had faith in the signs to lead them into the unknown. 
We disciples of Jesus step into the unknown terrain of a new year. We hold and nurture the spiritual practices of discipleship and deepen our commitment to love our neighbor. Then we pursue with diligence the leading of Christ's Spirit. 
We are especially heartened by this as we confront the outcome of next month's called General Conference for our denomination (our branch of the worldwide Church). The specific focus for those representing us is to direct how we will relate to the LGBTQ community going forward. No one knows the outcome, but all United Methodists will be affected by decisions made at this highest level gathering. Those whose convictions of conscience prevent them from aligning with how we will relate to this dimension of human sexuality will be seeking a new connection. So we find ourselves on a journey where the only clarity is the Lord whom we seek to follow faithfully in His rescue mission of love and ultimate healing. 

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We began 2018 with 5th Sunday services featuring testimonials from our congregation. Individuals tell their experiences and how taking such actions to serve has so positively impacted their faith in Christ. Those gathered for worship get to hear from friends about the value and the witness of God's grace evident in their short term mission experiences. We all gain when serving and are inspired often from hearing from others' impactful experiences. As you listen, consider the arena where Christ may be leading you to explore serving Him. It will positively change your life.

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     When one spends time reading through the gospel accounts we find the uncommon concern of Jesus caring for those on the margins. Even in the events captured in Luke's gospel about the major happenings surrounding Jesus' birth in ancient Bethlehem of Judea, nobodies are included. Shepherds remind us how no one is outside the care and knowledge of God. He loves all he created and sends a redeemer to rescue all stuck in brokenness who respond in commitment to faithful relationship.
     In what areas of your life experience have you felt invisible and unimportant? Where have you been and suddenly realized no one knew your name?
     Like the shepherds out in the nameless countryside away from the action of town, we are never outside of God's gracious care. He knows your name and he cares for you. What amazing grace that inspires joyful reactions like, "Let's go and see!"

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The incarnation of Jesus, that God came into the world in Christ to reconcile the world to Himself, demonstrates an unconditional offer of life in rescuing fellowship with our Heavenly Father. Looking at the key elements of the birth of Jesus, we disciples find the most important quality for our part in the rescuing purpose of God is to be truly available. Like young Mary, we offer ourselves to be a way for God to reach out to the world around us with his message of forgiveness and restoration in Jesus Christ.

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It seems everyone is looking for peace of mind, contentment. But we perhaps only want to find it within certain limits. We still insist on our right to be in control of ourselves. 
Then someone comes along and tells us the only way we have any shot at attaining real peace is to turn around. Repent. Admit we do not have it all together already. That's hard. 
This morning we focus on the disruptive event in the life of an older couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah. Instead of permitting them a smooth slow down into retirement, God sends a supernatural messenger named Gabriel to tell them the big news. God seems to place a higher value on the good for the group rather than the preference of a few. 
John the Baptist is a disrupter of status quo complacency, yet gifted with the Holy Spirit so powerfully that people are still drawn to him and his passionate message, challenging all who gather to hear him. He calls all to come clean about living such self-directed lives, in order to embrace and be transformed by real peace. And this peace is a person: Jesus Christ. What will you do to attain real peace with Jesus?

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For the first Sunday in Advent we focus on the "Second Advent," as in the promised return of Jesus to complete the restoring and renewing work achieved historically in his execution and resurrection. So what is your reaction to reading (or hearing) the phrase, "The Second Coming of Christ"-? 
Do you hear the words of Jesus in Luke 21 as gracious and hopeful reassurance? Or do you get lost in all the descriptions of destruction?
And how then should we live in the meantime? What does it mean for us as Jesus' disciples to "watch and wait?"

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The title for part 4 never settled in and so could easily be "Suffering for the Kingdom." Focusing on two passages, Jesus' responding to Pilate when on trial (John 18:33-38), and Peter calling fledgling collections of disciples to look to Jesus for understanding and inspiration in the midst of suffering for their faith (1 Peter 2:13-25). 
Our current season is an American society as polarized politically and socially as perhaps the Vietnam War protest era of the late 1960's and early '70's. Where do we turn for Christ-honoring direction to navigate this complex socio-political landscape? Jesus explains and demonstrates with his physical experience in his human life in that ancient Middle Eastern setting. Jesus appears to be the only one in his society who could see another depth of Kingdom, beyond the familiar earthly nationalistic expressions. "My kingdom is not of this world..." What will it mean for you and me as present day devoted followers of Jesus to following in the footsteps of Jesus in relating to our kind of suffering for the advancement of his Kingdom order of life - one which combines both love and truth?

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"What kind of letter are you?" Pastor Dave asks the question for reflection after considering the ways our outlook on life can be compared to a letter communicating to the world around us - and to God. In 2 Corinthians 3:1-3, the apostle Paul commends the Corinthian disciples for their spiritual growth and responsiveness to his preaching and teaching. He points to their lives as the "letter" vouching for his credentials as a faithful and effective apostle for Jesus Christ. Others appeal to their titles and rely on letters of recommendation for esteem and credibility as leaders and teachers. Not Paul. He says he does not need any of those since he can merely point to the churches and their fruitfulness in advancing the Kingdom of God in their communities. 

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     "First Fruits" is the concept that not only defines the unique covenantal (contractual) relationship God provides to ancient Israel. This concept of demonstrating to ourselves what we really believe about our faith relationship. We may say anything - and say it well, with conviction - and mean it. But what we do is the final word on faith because it requires something big from us: trust beyond our knowing.
     We start with the first covenant God extends to Israel's descendants, with blessing conditioned on their faithful behaviors to become their culture. God proscribes specific activities of worship, words to be said, and places and things to be used as symbols to learn and remember the big moments of God's provision.
     One significant point: God does not command "a" tithe (tenth) of the harvest he made possible, but "the" tithe -of the first and best of the beginning of the crop harvest. Jesus calls for nothing less from those who would be committed followers, disciples. He calls for total trust and obedience, because of his demonstrated love and mercy toward us. Only fully devoted disciples are effective and desirable to Jesus. Nowhere do we see him suggesting those he encounters just "live their own life" or "find their own authentic path." Neither is fully possible apart from total connection with Jesus at the center of our lives.

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