Good News, Bad News

Luke 4: 21-22 “Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”

Have you ever been asked: ‘Do you want the good news or the bad news first?” We might wonder if hearing good news first makes the bad news not as bad or we might think hearing bad news first will make the good news even better. When we are processing and reacting to news, it probably does matter how we receive it and who we receive it from. In a world of information overload, we need to discern carefully everything we hear.

In the Bible, Jesus preached the good news of God’s love and mercy for the whole world. Yet, the people in his own hometown considered that to be bad news because they wanted special privileges and blessings kept for themselves. They didn’t understand that the greater mission of Jesus was actually good news for all of them, and for all of us. Good news is good news when it lifts up, honours, and includes all people. Thanks be to God.

Moved by the Spirit

Luke 4: 14-15 “Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.”

What motivates you to help someone? What gives you the courage to act? Maybe it’s your conscience, your moral compass, or your kind and compassionate nature. Christians believe that God has given the gift of the Holy Spirit to strengthen, motivate, and move people to action. The Spirit is mysterious and hard to explain. And yet, it could be that its presence is known in your conscience, moral compass, and kind and compassionate nature.

In the Bible, Jesus is said to be ‘filled with the power of the Spirit’ as he began his ministry. He declared that he had come to fulfill what God had started and he would be good news to the poor, the captives, and the oppressed. In his life, Jesus would continually be moved by the Spirit to act out that good news through his love and compassion for all people. We too can be moved by the same Holy Spirit to act with justice, peace, and bring good news to the world.

First Impressions

John 2:11 “Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.”

Isn’t there a saying that goes something like “You can never have a second chance to make a first impression”? I guess that might in true in some circumstances. The way we dress, what we say, and how we act in a new situation can have a lasting impression.

In the Bible, Jesus was just beginning his ministry and one of the first signs or miracles he performed was turning water into wine at a wedding. It seems an unusual start to the work of God in the world through Jesus. Wouldn’t a miraculous healing or feeding the hungry have been more impressive? Maybe, but perhaps a sign of God’s abundance at a wedding was just the impact God was trying to make. Maybe, the miracle of making water into wine did reveal the power of Jesus. Maybe, Jesus’ first impression was enough to make people take notice and to believe in him. The wedding miracle at Cana was the beginning of what Jesus would do and say. There was much more to come that would reveal God’s love and grace and would change lives and even change the world.

Have Faith!

Mark 1: 9-10 “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.”

It’s a new year and we had been hoping that things would be better. As we face another wave of the pandemic and re-instated restrictions, it’s hard to believe that we will get back to normal. However, we are resilient people who can make the choice to keep ourselves and others safe. We can make the choice to stay connected and positive even when it’s difficult. We can make a choice to have faith that this year will bring about new and good things.

This week, we will be looking at the story of the baptism of Jesus. Baptism is a Christian sacrament that involves making a choice to have faith in God. Using water as a symbol to wash away the old, believers in Christ are made new and joined together with others in a shared commitment and faith.

Happy New Year!

Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

As we begin 2022, let us pray that the pandemic that has changed our lives, will finally come to an end. This past year has been one of hope as the vaccine roll-out has turned the tide against the virus and we have slowly started to do all the things we used to do and see all of our loved ones again. We are not done yet. It is still the time to continue to be safe and to connect with those who have struggled in the past 2 years with all the changes we’ve seen. As we welcome a new year, may we all know the light of God’s love and compassion and share it with others.

We will continue to worship online only for the month of January.

Filled with Love

Luke 1: 47 “With all my heart I glorify the Lord! In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.”

God loved the world so much, God came to be with us through Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. God chose to dwell in the midst of his people, to show a new way of being in relationship with each other and with God. Jesus was born into a world like ours, where poverty and hunger, injustice and violence still cause suffering today. The infant Jesus is the sign of the eternal love that God has had for all of us from the very beginning. God’s love stirs us to action, to care for the broken-hearted, to feed the hungry, to work for justice, and to be examples of peace. Jesus is the living promise that the world can be changed for the better when we are filled with the love of God.

The Possibility of Joy

Luke 1:37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Classic Nativity sets contain all the main characters of the first Christmas: kneeling shepherds, bowing Wiseman, a barn animal or two, singing angels, attentive Joseph, the baby Jesus, and of course Mary. Mary was the young woman chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. We assume she was fairly young, and we hear in the Bible that an angel visited her with what seemed to be impossible news. Mary would have a special baby through the power of the Holy Spirit. We’re told she was surprised and confused by the news, but she was reassured by the angel that nothing is impossible with God. With all the uncertainty surrounding her circumstances though, it’s hard to imagine that she was happy or joyful at first about how her life would change. However, Mary accepted her role as the mother of Jesus and lived out one of the most well-known stories in history that we celebrate today. God made the impossible happen, and in the birth of Jesus, Mary knew the possibility of joy.

I’m sure we have all experienced times when unexpected news causes us anxiety and confusion, and we don’t feel happy or joyful about it. In this holiday season, with its unexpected stresses and worries, I pray that we will all know at least the possibility of joy. Perhaps we’ll find joy in the beauty of the lights, a delicious meal, a surprising gift, or a long-awaited visit from a friend. Or maybe we will find it in the good news from an angel to a young woman, that her child would be cause for celebration and joy for years and years to come.

Advent 2 – A Place for Peace

Luke 1: 78-79 “By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

The holiday season is not generally thought of as a peaceful time. We are often stressed about getting everything done: the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the visiting, etc… Our world is not a peaceful place either. Groups and peoples always in conflict, over power, money, control, land, and religion. It can feel like we are always at odds with someone or something.

At Christmas, we celebrate the first coming of Jesus, the one called the Prince of Peace. The Prince of Peace showed us new ways to be in relationship with God and each other. Through Jesus and his love for the world, God gave us a plan where there can be peace in our souls, peace in our relationships, peace within our community, peace between nations, and peace among those with differing opinions and interests. As we celebrate this season, may we all be a little more patient, a little more understanding, and a little more compassionate as we make a place for peace.