Remember I went to Costco a week and a half ago. And I watched a video of the 93 inch bear and me.

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Calvary United Methodist Church December 24, 2017 LITTLE DO THEY KNOW Rev. Dr. S.

brother. Good morning! How s everybody doing? Are you all set? Big day! Good to see everybody.

I want to talk about something we talked about last week.

1 Calvary United Methodist Church December 24, 2017 LITTLE DO THEY KNOW Rev. Dr. S. Ronald Parks Children s Sermon: John 15 To God the glory for the gift of the Kingdom and the power of the Spirit which is always with us. We welcome the children to the front of this worship space to give thanks to God for the gift of a brother. Good morning! How s everybody doing? Are you all set? Big day! Good to see everybody. You all look so festive. Beautiful! I want to kind of go back seven days, right? I want to talk about something we talked about last week. Remember I went to Costco a week and a half ago. And I watched a video of the 93 inch bear and me. Do you remember that from last week? The video is sort of the visual story of a little girl with her 8 foot tall bear, who she plays with because she loves him. But she also then makes a decision to give the bear to a child who is a patient at a local cancer center. And the reason that I shared that video is because it so impressed me with the idea that love and giving go together.

2 We talked a little bit about Russell Wilson who was the person featured in that video. And the fact that he goes to the Seattle Children s Hospital every Tuesday. They call it Blue Tuesday there in Seattle. And he distributes all sorts of gifts and presents to the patients there. The question was asked of him, Well, why do you do that? And this is what he said; he said simply If I can find a way to share love and to give it back to God, to bring a smile to somebody, then there s hope.

So last week the lesson that we kind of talked about and shared

into the world, to teach us how to do that, Because loving and

We also talked about the fact that we had ordered a couple of

Now, those of you who were a part of the 8:30 service didn t get

as the morning wore on, I realized that we probably ought to open

the 11 o clock service and they went over in Fellowship Hall with

3 So last week the lesson that we kind of talked about and shared was that to share love and to give it back Is why God sent His Son into the world, to teach us how to do that, Because loving and giving is (Christmas). Exactly right. We also talked about the fact that we had ordered a couple of bears that we wanted to give away. Now, those of you who were a part of the 8:30 service didn t get to do this, but as I thought about opening up these boxes of bears as the morning wore on, I realized that we probably ought to open one up to see what happens when you release an 8 foot bear from a tiny little box. So I gave one of the boxes of bears to the kids who were here at the 11 o clock service and they went over in Fellowship Hall with protective head gear and everything and they opened one up. And then we brought it back into the sanctuary where people had the opportunity to have their pictures taken. This is Mrs. Bodenhorn.

This is Alice Shrauder who by the way is over at Hershey Med

She has pneumonia and our hope is that she will be able to be

So a lot of the people here that were at worship last week had

unloaded it and then carried it up 11 flights of sta no, I got

Jillian is our church member who has been down there for the

4 This is Alice Shrauder who by the way is over at Hershey Med this morning. She has pneumonia and our hope is that she will be able to be released sometime today. So a lot of the people here that were at worship last week had the chance to have their picture taken with Bear #2. Bear #1 was still in the box. So right after worship I hauled it to the car. Fender made a little bit of room. And we took Bear #1down to Johns Hopkins Hospital, Where I unloaded it and then carried it up 11 flights of sta no, I got on the elevator. And we stopped by Jillian s room. Jillian is our church member who has been down there for the last couple of months. That is her and her mom. And on Thursday of last week she received her stem cell transfusion. So when I got to Jillian s room she had a fever and she was sleeping because she was somewhat sedated. So she didn t get to be a part of delivering Bear #1.

Then I went two doors down to Maive s room.

Maive had her bone marrow transplant last Thursday.

box, she curled up so tightly against her grandpa that I realized this was not the

So, I left the box in the room along with the two cards that you folks had filled out

were going down the hall to sing to the rooms whose doors were open.

And so I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to see her open that thing up,

5 Then I went two doors down to Maive s room. Maive s the little girl being held by her mom there. Maive had her bone marrow transplant last Thursday. She also had a fever and her grandpa was with her because Mom was at home with her brother and her father. And when Grandpa came to the door with Maive in his arms and Maive saw me with a huge box, she curled up so tightly against her grandpa that I realized this was not the time to bother her. So, I left the box in the room along with the two cards that you folks had filled out and Jillian s mom and dad talked for a little bit, And we enjoyed the carolers who were going down the hall to sing to the rooms whose doors were open. Jillian s door and Maive s door were closed. And so I was kind of disappointed because I wanted to see her open that thing up, right? Didn t happen. So, later on in the week Bear #2 got delivered. Now, you probably saw on Facebook that Bear #2 was making his presence felt around here in the first couple of days of last week. He worked a little bit at the receptionist s desk. He checked to see who had not picked up their offering envelopes yet. And he was also assisting with some of the music that you are going to enjoy today.

6 But most of the time he just kind of laid around with several other people that you might recognize. So on Wednesday, Pastor Jeff and I loaded Bear #2 up, Into the car, And as you can see, it was an easy fit. We then hauled Bear #2 over to Hershey Med Center, But in particular we hauled him to the Ronald McDonald House, which is just down the street. And there he got a chance to meet Ronald McDonald,

And as I carried him in the door, it was about 3:30 in the afternoon.

So all of the families of course in the middle of the afternoon were where? Visiting their loved one over at Hershey Med.

In both cases I didn t get a chance to really have any fun because giving gifts is fun, isn t it? You like giving gifts; you like getting gifts. It s a lot of fun.

7 And as I carried him in the door, it was about 3:30 in the afternoon. Now, one of the things that I forgot about what happens at the Ronald McDonald House: the Ronald McDonald House is for all the families of the kids over at Hershey Med. So all of the families of course in the middle of the afternoon were where? Visiting their loved one over at Hershey Med. So there was literally no one in the entire place but the receptionist who opened the door. So I propped the bear on a couch and left. In both cases I didn t get a chance to really have any fun because giving gifts is fun, isn t it? You like giving gifts; you like getting gifts. It s a lot of fun. But, here s the important thing to remember: giving gifts though it may be fun and getting gifts though it s fun too, it s not joy. Joy is something much bigger. John 15 shares these words: I ve love you the same way God loves me. I m here to invite you to live in His love. And when it lives in you, Everyone you meet sees what God s love looks like. Let love lead the way every day. Everything I say and do has one purpose: Joy, right? Joy is what happens when you love like I do. I want you to know how joyous your life can be. So this is my command: Love one another and rejoice. It s fun to give gifts, but it s not joy until love makes the connection. Take a look at what happened when Maive felt better the next day: (Video)

It was great to watch that video that Susan sent

Didn t you feel a sense of joy when you watched

to watch someone connect with something that you

love, because Jesus reminds us that everything he

and to love others, it s for the sake of joy,

8 This is nice, Maive s brother said. Yeah, it was great! It was great to watch that video that Susan sent to us in order that we could share in the joy. Didn t you feel a sense of joy when you watched that? You weren t even there and how joyous it is to watch someone connect with something that you have given in the spirit of love. That s when joy happens. Fun happens all the time, but joy is connected to love, because Jesus reminds us that everything he s done and said, and that commandment to love God and to love others, it s for the sake of joy, right? It s fun. But it s not joy until Love is shared. So, think about this: when you re getting gifts either later today or tomorrow,

Giving the love of Christ, however, That

9 You know that getting gifts is a lot of fun. When you are giving gifts later today and tomorrow, right, Giving gifts is even funner. Giving the love of Christ, however, That s what joy is all about and that s what this Sunday morning is all about. For the last couple of weeks we ve been lighting the candles on the Advent Wreath. We lit the Candle of Hope three weeks ago, The Candle of Peace two weeks ago,

The Candle of Love last week, And I need somebody who has a little

Can I have you, young man, help us out here while we sing the

Now, the Joy Candle is the final Advent Candle on the wreath, but

The big white candle in the center is whose candle? (Jesus.

And as we give the gift of Christ s love, as we celebrate over the

10 The Candle of Love last week, And I need somebody who has a little bit of a reach to help me with the Candle of Joy. Can I have you, young man, help us out here while we sing the Advent Candle Song for almost the last time. Ready? Let s do it. Now, the Joy Candle is the final Advent Candle on the wreath, but not the final candle. The big white candle in the center is whose candle? (Jesus.) It s Jesus birthday candle. And as we give the gift of Christ s love, as we celebrate over the next day or so, All of the joy that God gives to us, we remember that joy and love go together. For when we love like Christ we know his joy. Thanks for sharing in our time this morning.

The building programs mentioned in previous reports continue to progress, including the improvements to the Port at Caesarea and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem.

11 Message Herod: Scribe! Come. Write this down. My Lord Caesar; it is with gratitude I provide this month s report for your consideration. Blessed with the power of Rome s mighty army, Judea continues to enjoy the peace of the empire and the prosperity that issues from your wise governance. The building programs mentioned in previous reports continue to progress, including the improvements to the Port at Caesarea and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. With your permission, I will suggest to the priests that this new building bears your name and mine to distinguish it from the former temple. And I assure you they can be persuaded. A few incidents of unrest and political dissent have been encountered since I last wrote. You can be assured that these uprisings were met with swift and fierce justice. Only fourteen executions were required to subdue the rabble. Now, all is quiet. The census you ordered is proceeding without resistance. And as you anticipated, the pilgrimages to the towns of the Jews birthplace, it has generated a huge increase in revenues. The resulting taxes will undoubtedly lift the size of your monetary tribute to even greater heights. It continues to be my joy to represent your divine presence here in this region. I serve at your direction and I appreciate your faith in my leadership. I expect nothing of any consequence to happen anytime soon. We are in control. Signed: Your Servant, Herod, King of the Jews. December 24 th. Gaspar: Thank you King, for this opportunity to share the recommendations of the magi on this day, December 24 th. The passage of the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of the season of Capricorn. Capricorn is an earth sign, meaning that its power comes from the material elements around us and it generally has a negative effect on spiritual and visionary activities.

This is not an appropriate time for a military campaign or for sweeping social change. Find joy in the monotony of the status quo. Rejoice in the way things are.

12 This is not an appropriate time for a military campaign or for sweeping social change. Find joy in the monotony of the status quo. Rejoice in the way things are. Along with Malchior and Balthasar, your magi have dispatched messengers with gifts to the following houses to mark significant occasions and achievements: First, sixty gold coins have been sent to the ruler of Macedonia as payment for services rendered in delivering us from the hands of thieves while in that region. Second, four pounds of frankincense was sent to the priests of the royal Temple in Ethiopia in exchange for borrowing their prophetic books. And thirds, eight measures of myrrh was sold to the court of Benjamin in Syria to be used in the King s coronation ceremony. According to the religions of the nations, we are entering a particularly uneventful period of time. Nothing of consequence can be foreseen. Kings and monarchs are safe on their thrones. Empires are solid. The estates of the wealthy are secure. The poor are quiet, subdued and calm. Things are as they should be and they should be left alone, My King. Josiah, the Shepherd: Nephew! My watch is over. Let me give you an update: The count at sunrise was 167. That s up from 161 yesterday morning. I think we may have picked up a couple of lambs from the flock under Dalaris. We passed them at the spring two days ago. So, we ll compare brands on the sheep when we see him tomorrow, but I ve already noticed that these lambs don t recognize my voice. About three hours before sunset, I could have sworn that muffled voices of two or three men as they passed not far away. I would have awakened you if the voices had gotten closer, but I don t think we were seen; at least, I hope not. No other predators were observed. The moon set early, so I was able to see a fair number of shooting stars between midnight and 3. With little or no chance of rain during this dry season, we may need to find some shade by the middle of the day.

I realize that you probably miss your home, that you miss the company and friends. This shepherding is a solitary occupation. Apart from the sheep, God is really the only one around to talk to.

13 I realize that you probably miss your home, that you miss the company and friends. This shepherding is a solitary occupation. Apart from the sheep, God is really the only one around to talk to. Some people find that unsettling, but I experience His presence in the silence. I m able to listen to that still small voice that calls in the wilderness. And it speaks tidings of comfort and joy. He s our companion when we re away from those we love. And out here, no news is good news. Out here is the only place you ll ever find peace on earth. Joseph: Sure, let s rest. Good morning, Lord. Thank you for the traveling mercies that we have enjoyed so far. Although we left Nazareth more than a week ago, our arrival in Bethlehem has been delayed by Mary s condition. She is unable to walk far on her own and riding on a donkey is difficult and tiresome. With your blessing, I hope we can arrive in town by noon. I m sure we ll find a suitable place to stay so she can get some sleep. The time for her delivery is almost here. Even though you know every thought that is in my heart, I have a confession to make. Since Mary first told me that she was going to have a child, I ve done my best to do what your messenger asked of me. I took her home as my wife against the advice of my family and under the ridicule of my friends. My customers are polite when they come into my shop, but they look at me with pity in their eyes. I often defend both my wife and my commitment to her by telling others that you have a plan for my son but then I remember that the child she carries is not my son. It s been almost nine months since you spoke to me. I need to hear your voice again. I pray that you will keep alive in me the wonder of your plan and your purpose. It is a joyous thing to be asked to serve you even though I am only a carpenter.

I have no gifts or offering worthy of your grace, but I will give you my heart and my life and I

Live in me, God, that my child, your child, may live in you. Amen.

As our Lord has told us, everything He said, everything He did was for one purpose: that we may know

14 I have no gifts or offering worthy of your grace, but I will give you my heart and my life and I promise to raise this child to follow in your footsteps wherever they may lead. Live in me, God, that my child, your child, may live in you. Amen. Benediction: The wonders of his love, poured out for you and for me on Christmas morning. As our Lord has told us, everything He said, everything He did was for one purpose: that we may know the joy that comes in being one with Christ. Joy is what happens when we love like God loves. And this is the time to celebrate God s gift of love. He is our joy. Amen.

At Costco. Exactly right.

At Costco. Exactly right. Calvary United Methodist Church December 17, 2017 CHRISTMAS CANTATA NIGHT OF THE FATHER S LOVE Rev. Dr. S. Pastor Ronald Parks Children s Sermon: 1 John 4:7-12 The people of God have come together to celebrate