Rev. Zach

Isaiah 9:2-7      Titus 2:11-14      Luke 2:1-20 As we bask in the glow of Christmas Eve and the relative peace of this night, I’d like to share one of my family traditions with you. I’ve asked my family to help me out tonight by putting together one of our nativity sets. My grandmother made this one for my family when I was a boy, and she left two of the animals for me to paint. I was very young, and being trusted with something so special made me feel very special, too. The pieces of this little scene have brought me so much joy through the years. I used to always place the baby first and set the scene around him. Later in life, I would set the scene for his arrival but wait until Christmas to place him there. When I realized that the wise men did not even get there until after Christmas I started waiting on those guys, too. There are a couple of characters that I’ve always loved that aren’t really in the story. One is this guy who just looks exasperated like he ran a lo

Micah 5:2-5a      Hebrews 10:5-10      Luke 1:39-55 Just the other day I attempted to correct my daughter when she was telling someone about some event or activity, and she said, “Dad, the story works better when you tell it this way!” I don’t remember what the story was about, but I knew two things. She is definitely my child, and she was also right about the story! I’m sure you’ve had a similar experience – or soon will– with family stories over the holidays. This is the season for storytelling, whether it’s personal or liturgical or cultural. It’s what we do to get through the end of one year and move into another. Sometimes these stories take on more life when we tell them together. It’s no wonder that group storytelling – or at least sharing and sometimes even watching – has become the new frontier in social media. Perhaps that’s because it’s the way inspiration often works. Your story informs my storm and our story is born. It’s nothing new, even if it is happening

Malachi 3:1-4      Philippians 1:3-11      Luke 3:1-6 This week, as we draw near to the truth of God’s amazing love for us, let us begin with a message of hope from Sarah Are’s poem, Draw Near to Truth. Truth is like sand— slipping through my fingers every time I turn on the news. So day after day, I gather the dust at my feet and build sand castles of the world I want to see— Sand castle cities with fair housing, no walls, families united and a name like Love. And when the waves threaten to tear them down, I will rebuild. For the truest thing I know is that God is love, and love is stronger than fear. The truest thing I know is that God is love, and love is stronger than fear – that’s a good place to start from, and it’s like a compressed version of the truth we discovered two weeks ago when we heard Pilot ask (rhetorically), “What is truth?” The answer we received from scripture is that there is a God. God is active and present and loving us into greater and g

 – The Rev. Zach Sasser Jeremiah 33:14-16      1 Thessalonians 3:9-13      Luke 21:25-36 As we begin, I invite you to look at the image of the boy on the front of your bulletin. What could his name be? What could his story be? Where does he live? Who are his parents and what do they do for a living? What is he feeling? What is he thinking? What’s going on in his life, and how does it shape his world view? The image was created by one of the artists from the collective of pastors and artists called, “A Sanctified Art.” It’s intended to help you reflect on the scriptures we have received today. I must say that it is a more wholesome image than we could have received, given that this is the third week in a row that the readings have offered apocalyptic prophecies and themes! Between these readings and the guy on the corner, I saw yesterday with a giant cross and a sign that said, “Tomorrow May Be Too Late!” it’s hard not to wonder if God is trying to tell us something. Of c