A monologue titled Saving Joachim (though the first part will really be a dialogue with a special guest)! The monologue is based on the father of Mary, a non-biblical character, but one who is identified in apocryphal literature-writings of the same time period as biblical books but not included as Holy Scripture. In this case, the story of Mary‘s parents, Joachim and Anna (for whom there is a church dedicated in her name in Jerusalem built over the site where their house was believed to be) is told in the apocryphal Gospel of James.

Children really make the Christmas story. Literally.

It starts with the baby Jesus, which is kind of amazing if you think about the way the world viewed children in that time. Listen as Pastor Rob reminds us of why Jesus came to the world as a baby and this is often how we find hope for ourselves, that look beyond, we look ahead, we act now in ways that will bless those far beyond the horizon we see and experience the miracle of Christmas to bring a light that never dims.

It might not be all that appealing, but wouldn’t it be refreshing to write a Christmas letter that’s honest? It can be hard to wish people a Merry Christmas when we are living in a Messy Christmas. Christmas, of all times, is when we want the messes of the world to go away, if only for a few weeks. Cover the trees and shrubs in twinkling lights. Deck the house with garland. Play Christmas music.

What if God wants to meet you in that place to use that in some way that can bring light and hope to other people. Light that can redeem pain is a light that never dims.

Today we start a new sermon series called, The Light that never dims. In this series we are going to look at the story of Advent through a missional lens. Here is the question we are trying to answer, “In what ways does Christ’s presence in the world inspire us to look outward in order to be the hope, peace, joy and love for others? This will be different for some of us because society places us in the mind frame of being receivers during this time. What can we get? How can we be blessed? But maybe the story of Christ coming into the world has practical implications on we live out our faith for others. And today we are highlighting our continued commitment to our neighbors in work with Afghan relief.

Often at Thanksgiving we are sanctioned to be grateful as if the feeling of gratitude is created by our determination. Just be thankful! But what if gratitude sometimes comes as a surprise, something we don’t generate? What if it’s more serendipitous, like happiness, something we find not because we set out for it, or made it our object, but simply because we are open to experiences that leave us thankful and actually help us?

We’ve been looking at Paul’s discussion of giving with the Corinthians, noting that Paul is trying to inspire the Corinthians to return to taking a collection for the poor in Jerusalem. And we’ve noted several points Paul has made in these chapters:

• Generosity involves everything we have. Its not just our money. Stewardship

involves all God gives us which God can use to better the world.

• God is the source of our blessings. Everything we have comes from God. We are

just temporary renters.

• Generosity is contagious. Others get inspired by generous people

• When we live generously, life is generous to us.

• Generosity should come from a desire, not guilt.

• God doesn’t expect us to do more than we can.

• Generosity gets to the heart of spiritual maturity. That’s why we called this series

For Mature Audiences. Paul’s main concern was helping people mature in their faith, which meant becoming like Christ, which meant being people of grace.

Sometimes we get a little tripped up with this word “saint” and even get uncomfortable with being called one ourselves and seeing the idea that a saint is something we should live up to. Some believe being a saint means being holier than others, someone to be revered or honored or great. But in reality a saint is nothing more than a person who allowed their lives to be melted down and used as currency in God’s economy of mercy, service and justice in the world. Listen as Pastor Rob talks about saints on earth and how what you do today can make a difference tomorrow.

Paul wrote 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9. He heard something that was very concerning, the Corinthians no longer had a desire to give to the poor in Jerusalem. Maybe times were tight and they didn’t feel they could afford to keep giving. Maybe they questioned whether the poor in Jerusalem were really all that poor. Perhaps they could do something to better their situation and weren’t. For whatever reason they stopped giving. Listen to Pastor Rob as he explains how Paul instructed us to give ”according to what one has.”

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians, he spends the most amount of all of his letters, two whole chapters(!), to address the offering because many in the church have grown weary with the focus on money in church. They’ve started coming with their hands on the wallets and they’re getting tired of it. Join Pastor Rob as he talks about the grace of giving at church.

Worship is an expression of our love for God made public.  Worship is the outward expression of the inward beliefs and emotions that we have about the character and nature of God. At its core, worship is a response. It’s not an expression of our desperation.  It’s not because we want something from God.  It’s not because we need something from God. Join Pastor Jevon as he invites you to worship for an audience of one.