Rev. Zach

Isaiah 40:1-11   •  2 Peter 3:8-15a   •  Mark 1:1-8 Last Sunday we lit a candle for hope, and we talked about the hope we have in Jesus that is expressed through our “God-sized dream.” This dream is an expression of our identity and an expectation about what it means to live in the kin-dom – the household and family of God – which is both present and yet to be. Today, our hope bears the fruit of peace. Amid busyness and conflict – amid wars and rumors of wars – we proclaim peace. I might even take it a step further to say that we wage peace. We are actively engaging in things that make for peace!  While that might mean creating safe spaces without conflict, I like the way Todd Parr defines it. He wrote a book for children called, The Peace Book , and it says things like, “Peace is everyone having socks to wear” and “Peace is everyone having a home” and “Peace is being who you are!”  I think we can all agree that these are things we are working on. Now, befo...

Matthew 1:18-24 We lit a candle for peace. Yay! So, what? What does that word even mean today – peace? I don’t mean to be rude or dark or cynical, but I feel like it’s one of those words we throw around a bit too easily sometimes...or maybe not enough. Sometimes we say it in parting, “Peace!” [flashes sideways peace sign] but what do we mean? Do we really want the other person to have peace? Do we want peace between us? Do we just want to be left alone and no longer bothered by the responsibility of interaction? Of course, some of us never say it at all – except maybe in church. That doesn’t mean that we don’t want peace between us. Maybe it’s just that some of us think that peace is a given as long as no one rocks the boat. Maybe some of us think that talking about peace – wishing each other peace – suggests that we don’t have it, and the idea of needing peace is threatening. Maybe some of us even think that peace is an outdated notion, or that it’s something personal and private, lik...

Malachi 3:1-4      Philippians 1:3-11      Luke 3:1-6 Well, you’ve survived another Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday. Some of us ignore these days. Some of us embrace them. A colleague and friend recently noted a theological response his session made to these attempts to frame our experiences of consumerism and generosity. They resolved to call last Wednesday, “Give it a rest Wednesday.” In like manner, today could be called “messenger Sunday”. Our Old Testament reading is from Malachi, whose name means, “my messenger.” Our New Testament reading from Philippians is a message of love and hope from Paul, and our Gospel reading is confirmation that John is the one preparing the way of the Lord as promised in Isaiah. We hear this same message about this time every year, and I think that – if we aren’t careful – it can become like the Christmas music in the shopping mall. We hear it, but we don’t listen. It makes us feel good to know it’s there, ...

Jeremiah 23:1-6      Colossians 1:11-20      Luke 1:68-79 Well, the holidays are upon us. As proof, I recently saw a commercial with children acting ridiculously happy over toothbrushes. It reminded me of stories from mission coworkers about children receiving washcloths and toothbrushes in hygiene kits that were prized like gold because they had not seen one in a while. It occurred to me that even a toothbrush can hold the tender mercies of God. The tender mercies of God are mediated by relief workers sorting clothes, by a hospice chaplain visiting the still living, and by you and me in our everyday interactions. In the case of Zechariah, the tender mercies of God can even be found in our limitations and the opportunities they hold within. Think of it this way. If your mouth had been sealed and your tongue shut for nine months, what would be the first thing that you might say? Maybe it would be related to a need that you had not been able to communicate....

Malachi 3:1-4 Philippians 1:3-11 Luke 3:1-6 Are you ready? There are only 14 days left. Can you believe it? Are you ready? And what does that even mean – to be ready? Does it mean decorations? Does it mean shopping? Does it mean relatives and visitors? What is it that you are preparing for, and where is the space for Jesus in all of this? Last night my family went to LARC’s Acadian Village light display. We were skipping and running around the displays, and we almost ran right past an outline of the Holy Family. I told my kids that they almost missed Jesus. One of them doubled back in reverence and the other said, “Squirrel!” Because there was an illuminated squirrel running up the tree. How much are we all like that during this time of year? How much space do we leave open for Jesus? How easily distracted are we by the spectacle of Christmas. Today we hear from one of the spectacular characters in the story of Jesus. In fact, all of our readings are somewhat spectacular. B...

First Presbyterian Church - Lafayette, Louisiana December 4, 2011 - Advent (B1) Isaiah 40:1-11 2 Peter 3:8-15a Mark 1:1-8 "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well... " Julian of Norwhich wrote these words in the 1400’s after a near death experience in which she claimed to have received them from God in a series of revelations. I believe these words to be a summary of the scripture lessons we have read today. "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well... " One of my favorite examples of this phrase in action is from a scene from the movie Men In Black . A giant alien cockroach has just grabbed the female lead and jumped up into a window that is a good 20 feet off the ground. Will Smith’s character holds up a gun and tries to sound authoritative while saying, “Don’t worry - everything’s OK!” She responds, “What part of this is OK?!” He readjusts, “It’s gunna be OK!” How many...