Thursday, November 27, 2014

Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States "This Week in Worship • Time... Interrupted" for Thursday, 27 November 2014

Normal Heights United Methodist Church of San Diego, California, United States "This Week in Worship • Time... Interrupted" for Thursday, 27 November 2014
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! What you'll find in this week's email:
  • This Week in Worship: Time... Interrupted
  • Community Life
  • Bible Study Begins in December!
  • A Service of Healing (12/6 • 5p)
  • Christmas Eve Services (12/24 • 5p & 7p)
Time…interruptedIt’s inevitable.  Something goes wrong with the internet connection at home or the cable service and I have to call to get a repair person to come out and fix it.  So I dial the number and I explain my plight and then it happens…every single time.  They tell me blandly that someone will be out on a weekday “sometime between 8 and 12” or “one and five p.m.”   Yes, the best estimate we can discern for their arrival is literally always a four-hour block of time.
And you know, what drives me crazy about this is not that I have to wait for them to arrive.  I’m fine with that.  I can bring work home and have my laptop there and do plenty of things while I wait. But what bothers me about is just that I never know exactly when the repair person is going to arrive, and so each and every moment is possibly the one when the doorbell will ring.
Here’s why that gets to me.  Say the appointment window is anytime between 8am and noon.  Well, starting at 7:30 I’m starting to wonder if they might show up early and so I feel like I need to be already showered, shaved, dressed for the day, teeth brushed, etc…   (For some reason I feel like I need to be all “put together” for a repair person I don’t know.)  So there I am all dressed up and waiting at 7:30.
About 8am, my anticipation really cranks up.  I do my best to get some work done, but can’t focus because I’m always expecting to be interrupted at any moment.  I’m hesitant to use the restroom on the off chance that that will be the moment when they arrive.  It feels like every car door is them.  Every cough of someone walking by on the sidewalk is their signal they are getting ready to knock on the door. And for the next four hours, I wait.  I sit on the edge of arrival and believe that now is the moment…and now…and now.
And I do this until 12:30 when, inevitably, the call comes.  “Mr. Ross, we need to reschedule our technician. How does tomorrow from one to five sound?”  Sigh…
Anticipation can be a strange thing.  You know, if you are anticipating something wonderful, time spent waiting can be great.  It can sweeten the moment when a child is born or a long-time friend arrives for dinner.  But also, as I have discovered, if you are not prepared to wait then anticipation can be terribly difficult.  It can make the waiting harder than it should be, and even worse it can distract you from the here and now.
The Bible actually has a lot to say about anticipation and waiting, but mostly about how we should wait as people of faith.  So over these next four weeks of Advent, we are going to talk about what it means to wait on God and  how we should wait on God in our lives and the world.  Each week the Scripture will give us a different aspect on how we can anticipate the arrival of God’s grace in our lives without losing the “here and now.”  We will practice waiting and also be talking about how through this holiday season we can be ready for those times and places when God breaks in to our lives.  Be here each week for this Advent sermon series called “Time…interrupted” as we hear how God works through interruptions and we can be ready for those moments.
We’ll see you on Sunday and if you’d like to read the first weeks Scripture before then you can find it here: http://bible.oremus.org/?ql=98348532%20.
Rev Brent Ross
Rev Brent Ross grew up loving the Twilight Zone and the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. For better or worse both of these things enter into writing his sermons every week
Today's Scripture for Sunday, 30 November 2014 is Mark 13:32-37
Mark 13:24-25 “Following those hard times,
Sun will fade out,
    moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
    cosmic powers tremble.
26-27 “And then they’ll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky—no one will miss it! He’ll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.
28-31 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.
32-37 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don’t know the timetable. It’s like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don’t want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I’m saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch.”
John Wesley's Notes-Commentary for Mark 13:24-37
Verse 24
[24] But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
But in those days — Which immediately precede the end of the world: after that tribulation - Above described.
Verse 28
[28] Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
Matthew 24:32; Luke 21:28.
Verse 29
[29] So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
He is nigh — The Son of man.
Verse 30
[30] Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
All these things — Relating to the temple and the city.
Verse 32
[32] But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
Of that day — The day of judgment is often in the Scriptures emphatically called that day.
Neither the Son — Not as man: as man he was no more omniscient than omnipresent. But as God he knows all the circumstances of it.
Verse 33
[33] Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Matthew 24:42; Luke 21:34.
Verse 34
[34] For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
The Son of man is as a man taking a far journey - Being about to leave this world and go to the Father, he appoints the services that are to be performed by all his servants, in their several stations. This seems chiefly to respect ministers at the day of judgment: but it may be applied to all men, and to the time of death. Matthew 25:14; Luke 19:12.
Sermon Story "Everyone Will Know" by Gary Lee Parker for Sunday, 30 November 2014
On this first Sunday of Advent, we hear the story of Jesus talking about His return to earth to set up His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. He specifically tells them that everyone will see His return, but you are not to sit back and just wait while doing nothing. Too often, there have been people over the centuries who attempted to set up a time of Jesus' return, but what happens if this time is when we leave our earthly bodies and take on our Heavenly Body or that He is calling us to continue His work to assist Him with bringing the Heavenly Kingdom on Earth as it is in Heaven. There is a reminder of many people who have attempted to build communities on earth that were separate from the larger communities ignoring the needs of the people in society. We continue to look at ways that we can separate ourselves from the world without getting involved in the needs and problems. We have an example of this with the events that have happenedstarting with the killing of Michael Brown II by a Police Officer Wilson. Yes, it was found out that Officer Wilson would not be tried for Michael Brown's murder, but let us look at the situation through the eyes of God and the countries policies which continue Institutional Racism. We see that Officer Wilson pulled the trigger and killed an unarmed young man who is Black, but the policies that created this attitude is the cause of societies' policiies. We even have to look at the church to see if the church's policies have contributed to this event? Our answer comes out Yes. There have been people in the church who listened to the teachings of Jesus and followed His teachings in including all people as equal, but too often there have been policies to support the white people and the wealthy over other cultures and economic status inlcuding the dealing with people who are diabled. We arealize that the church is not perfect, but the God who created the church is and is calling us to trust Him in living out His Holiness towards all people. Yes, there is a connection between Institutional Rascism and the excluding of people who are LGBTQ or different color or different beleifs or different economic Social stauts or even people who are differently abled/disabled. How do you see your life in response to the different people in these stories? What is God calling you do to transform society with God's Holy Love? How is God calling you to repent individually and corporately? May we sing this Hymn "We are God's people, the chosen of the Lord" by Bryan Jeffery Leech (1976)
1. We are God's people, the chosen of the Lord, 
Born of His Spirit, established by His Word; 
Our cornerstone is Christ alone, 
And strong in Him we stand: 
O let us live transparently 
And walk heart to heart and hand in hand.
2. We are God’s loved ones, the Bride of Christ our Lord, 
For we have known it, the love of God outpoured; 
Now let us learn how to return 
The gift of love once given: 
O let us share each joy and care, 
And live with a zeal that pleases Heaven.
3. We are the Body of which the Lord is Head, 
Called to obey Him, now risen from the dead; 
He wills us be a family, 
Diverse yet truly one: 
O let us give our gifts to God, 
And so shall his work on earth be done.
4. We are a temple, the Spirit’s dwelling place, 
Formed in great weakness, a cup to hold God’s grace; 
We die alone, for on its own 
Each ember loses fire: 
Yet joined in one the flame burns on 
To give warmth and light, and to inspire.
ORNAMENT SHARING
During Advent, we would like to add a new time of sharing during coffee time. We have set up our Christmas tree in the sanctuary, and we are inviting people through December to bring in one ornament that is particularly meaningful to them to add to our tree. Then on Sundays, one or two people can stand and let us know what kind of ornament they brought and why. So bring an ornament this week or another and if you’d like to share your “ornament story” let Pastor Brent know on Sundays!
 FOOD COLLECTION A GREAT SUCCESS!
Wow! We were absolutely overwhelmed with your generosity in bringing food and personal care supplies this past Sunday in response to the call of the message. All of this food and supplies will go to local people in need and we are just so thankful for your response. Thank you!
 EXCEL HELP NEEDED
The office could use about 1-2 hours help next week in putting some forms into an excel format. Do you have skill in this area and would you be able to help? This work could be done from home and would be a really big help. If so, please let Pastor Brent know this week at brent@nhunited.org, or let Nancy Palmer know at nancy@nhunited.org. Thanks for donating a couple of hours!
TERMITE TENTING REMINDER
Just a heads up that next week over Thanksgiving the church will be closed from Wed - Sat as the church (yes, the whole church) is being tented for termites. As far as we know, the church has never been tented for termites so this work is clearly long overdue. We will be ready for church as usual on Sundaymorning, and a huge thanks to the Trustee group and our building manager, Bert Hanlon, for all of their hard work on this serious undertaking!

 
It’s here! We are thrilled to announce that our Bible Study is starting in December. We will start by studying the Gospel of Luke, and learning not only the historical context of the book, but (more importantly?) how we can live the same message in our day and age. Here are the specifics:
When: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month - beginning December 3rd from 6pm - 8pm
Where: The home of David and Kathy Lorden 
What: Bible Study on the book of Luke using the Wiersbe series of books
If you are interested in participating, here is what to do. Start by sending Pastor Brent your email (or phone) to brent@nhunited.org, so that we can plan accordingly. That will place you on our Bible Study email list to give you information, updates, etc..
Next, this week we will begin having the study books available for sale for around $10. (Or I can send you the info to order from Amazon, etc..) If you need assistance in paying for the book, please don’t hesitate to let me know. We can take care of that for you. Finally, we would like to have a “potluck” feel to the study and so we will be organizing that people bring some snacks, sides, etc…nothing complicated!
We are very excited about this and look forward to this time with each other!
If you are struggling to find joy during the holiday season, you are not alone. Christmas can be a painful time for many people. It may be the first Christmas without a beloved family member who has recently passed, or it may be a time that has always been difficult. Maybe you are experiencing a broken relationship, loss of employment, or other significant loss. If you are finding the holidays to be a challenge to your spirit, you are invited to a special worship experience that offers a message of encouragement and welcomes God’s Word to shine light into the spiritual darkness of our world. NHUMC is offering a Blue Christmas Service on Saturday, December 6 at 5:00pm. In this service of lamentation, prayer, and healing, we will turn to God in our sorrows and welcome the promise of Emmanuel, God with us. All are welcome to worship and support one another as the beloved community.

If you would like to participate as part of the acapella choir for this service, please email Robin Wells at roblation@gmail.com. Choir participants will receive links to lyrics and tunes by email, and gather in the sanctuary at 4:00pm for rehearsal before the service.
 
Children & Family Service @ 5:00pm
On Christmas Eve, the children will help us tell the story of Christmas… ALL of the children! Each child will get to dress up and be a character in our informal Christmas story. The Christmas carols we love will be sung, and the story of Jesus' birth will be told by the kids of our church body. This will certainly be a Christmas Eve to remember!
 
Candlelight & Communion Service @ 7:00pm
 Looking for something a little quieter and more reflective this Christmas Eve? Be here for our Candlelight and Communion Service. Our 100-year-old sanctuary will be glowing with candles and filled with Christmas music, as we celebrate the birth of Christ.
Facebook
Email Pastor Brent
NHUnited.org
Our mailing address is:
Normal Heights United Methodist Church
4650 Mansfield Street
San Diego, California 92116 United States
____________________________

No comments:

Post a Comment