Calvary United Methodist Church January 7, 2018 A WESLEYAN COVENANT RENEWAL Rev. Dr. S. Ronald Parks Children s Sermon: Ephesians 4:4-16 This is the Kingdom, God s power and glory forever. We share them with one another as people of faith. We share them with the youngest among us as we invite the children to the front of this worship space to give thanks for God s gift of good news. Good to see everybody! You going to have a two-hour delay tomorrow maybe? Not so sure? (Yay!) Yeah, that s be great, right? It s been a while since we talked about the nativity set which is up on the altar. On Christmas Eve, how many of you guys were here on Christmas Eve? I figured that a lot of you were. We put all of these figures up here on Christmas Eve, but there have been some changes since then. The shepherds, for example, are back watching over their flocks. See them over there on the window sill? And there were three figures and their camels that were over there on that window sill, remember who they were? Three figures and their camels? Evie? (Child speaks.) The Magi! Their names are? (Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasaro.) Balthasaro, yeah, that was one of the dinosaurs during the crustacean period called balthasaro. So, they arrived, however, not on Christmas Eve but on what we think of as January 6, the 12 th day of Christmas. You know that song, don t you? On the first day of Christmas let s sing the whole thing, what do you want? No, let s not.
So, the 12 th day of Christmas is also known as the day of Epiphany. And Epiphany is one of those cool words that comes from another ancient language and it literally means to appear, to show up. So, it s the day when the Magi appeared or arrived at the stable. But there is also a deeper meaning to Epiphany, and it has to do with two gifts that were exchanged when the Magi showed up. The first is God s gift of appearing, of showing up. And we know how that happened; that happened in the birth of Jesus. God shows us His face in the birth of Jesus. That s why we call him Emmanuel, which means God with us. So Epiphany celebrates the gift of God showing Himself to us; He appears to us. That s God s gift of Epiphany.
But what about our gift of Epiphany? When the Magi show up, they show us to do one thing and one thing only. They come to worship him. And because of that they bring an offering. They bring gifts. Do you remember what those gifts were? (Frankincense, myrrh and gold.) Frankincense, myrrh and gold, exactly right. That s like their offering. They gave those offerings to Jesus as the newborn king. So the Epiphany means that they saw God s gift of God s appearance and they wanted to worship him. But they also when they left made sure that they told everybody about the new king that they had seen. So Epiphany is both a holiday, it is a specific day, January 6, the 12 th day of Christmas, right? (My true love gave to me ) Exactly right. What did your true love give to you? (Nothing.) Nothing, exactly. You get what you deserve, am I right? Epiphany is both a holiday or a holy day, but it is a holy way of living And of giving and that s one of the lessons that we learn from the Wise Men. I came across a book not long ago that I thought was pretty cool and I have to have this little prop out here because this figures very very importantly in the story. Let me just scoot this around you. This is a little brown sack. Can you say little brown sack with me? (Little brown sack.) How about you guys? (Little brown sack.) It s a little brown sack. Now, you are going to see very quickly how important it is that you remember Little brown sack. You got it? Say it again: (Little brown sack.)
In the East, long ago, a young boy helped his father to tend the gardens of three magi: Balthazar, Caspar, and Melchior. When he was not needed to work among the flowers, the boy would learn from these great men as they studied the world around them and the stars above. They were very wise men. One night, a new star appeared in the sky bigger, brighter, and more beautiful than any they had ever seen before. The wise men knew its meaning at once. A great king is to be born! they cried. Let us take gifts to celebrate his birth. Make haste! We will follow the star. It will surely lead us to him. May I come with you to meet the king? cried the boy. No, replied the wise men. You are too young to make such a journey, and you have no gift fit for a king. The wise men packed their camels with caskets of gold, frankincense, and myrrh and began the journey. They followed the star that shone both day and night. Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a bag he had packed. After many days in the desert, they came upon nomads. Where are you going? asked the nomads. We bear gifts for a new king, answered the wise men. We follow that star to his birthplace. We ll come along, said the nomads. We will bring our best cloth so that he may never be cold. And so they journeyed on
Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack. On an open plain the caravan met herdsmen with their flocks of goats. Where are you going? asked the herdsmen. We bear gifts for a new king, answered the wise men. Then we shall come, too, said the herdsmen. We will bring our goats to provide fresh milk so the new king may never thirst. And so they journeyed on Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack. The caravan stopped at a fertile grove where men were harvesting olives. Where are you going? asked the olive growers. We re following that star to bring gifts for a new king, answered the wise men. Then we shall come, too, said the olive growers. We will bring jars of our best olive oil so that the new king may always have light. And so they journeyed on Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack. After a time the travelers came to a valley where farmers were gathering their crops of wheat, walnuts, and dates. Where are you going? asked the farmers. We bear gifts for a new king, answered the wise men. Then we shall come, too, said the farmers. We will bring loaves of date and walnut bread so that the new king may never grow hungry. And so they journeyed on Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack.
They came to the outskirts of a town where beekeepers were tending their hives. Where are you going? asked the beekeepers. We bear gifts for a new king, answered the wise men. Then we shall come, too, said the beekeepers. We will bring honey so that his life may be sweet. And so they journeyed on Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack. Along the way they were joined by musicians. Where are you going? asked the musicians. We bear gifts for a new king, answered the wise men. Then we shall come, too, said the musicians. We will play for him so that his life may be filled with music. And so they journeyed on Nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack. Presently they came to a fork in the road. There they met shepherds. Where are you going? asked the wise men. An angel told us of the birth of a new king, answered the shepherds. We are bringing him two white lambs so that he may, in time, have flocks of his own. The magi replied, We re following that star to his birthplace. Let us go together. And so they journeyed on And still nobody noticed the boy in the back Who held in his hand a little brown sack. The star shone its brilliant light on a humble stable. Inside they found a baby lying in his mother s arms, just as the magi foretold just as the angel told the shepherds.
The travelers knelt before the newborn child and gave to him their gifts. The shepherds gave him two white lambs. The wise men gave their caskets of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The nomads gave their bright woven cloth. The herdsmen gave gourds of fresh milk. The olive growers gave jars of oil. The farmers gave loaves of bread. The beekeepers gave combs of sweetest honey. The musicians played a lullaby on their instrument. The baby lay quietly in his mother s arms. Then suddenly, everyone noticed the boy from the back, who stepped from the shadows to open his sack. I too have a present for the new king! cried the boy. He reached in the sack and pulled out a tiny tree. It s just a tree! A startled whisper echoed around the stable. But look how it s decorated!! said Balthazar. He made golden bunches of herbs and spices are tied with threads from the nomads rugs! said Melchior. Look how he has strung silvery goat hair with walnuts and purple olives, cried Caspar. He made a gift out of the smallest things things no one else noticed! Everyone leaned forward to see the tiny tree with its tiny beeswax star, nestled at the very top. The boy offered the tiny tree to the baby. The baby reached out his hands to touch it. The star above glowed with renewed brilliance. The heavens turned to gold with choirs of angels as the infant smiled with joy and wonder. Every head was bowed in awe. For the boy who was last as he followed in back Brought the best gift of love in his little brown sack.
You see, that s part what Epiphany is about; it s not only about a holy day and a remembrance of the Wise Men showing up. It s about a way that we re asked to live; to take everything that we find around us, not only and give thanks to God, but gift it to one another. And those gifts should be given no matter how old we are, And how little we may have; whatever gifts we have. This is what God asks of us. And Paul shares these words with his friends in a place called Ephesus. He reminds us: There s one Spirit. There is one God above us and in us. He gives simple gifts to each of us. And why does he do that? Why does he give each of us gifts? So that we can do the work of ministry. That we can build up each other in love. Christ was born to show us how to do that. But his birth, it was just the beginning. And like him, we can t stay in the manger. The stable is not our home. You know, on Saturday morning we have a little get together this coming Saturday where those who are available come and take all the decorations out of the sanctuary that were here for Christmas: the tree and the stable and all the figures, because even though Christmas is the day when God s love was first shown to us, made an Epiphany for us, we can t live in Christmas. We have to live in life. And life is lived out with everyone. We ve got to grow up in grace. We have to worship him and worship means to work in the world Just like Jesus did. He didn t stay apart from the world; he went out into the world. When all our gifts are joined as one in love We re the church. We re the body of Christ.
So this celebration of Epiphany reminds us that giving our gifts Is an act of worship. Every time you share with somebody, every time that you take time to touch somebody, to talk with them, it s an act of worship. Epiphany also reminds us that giving our gifts Is the key to our witness. This is what we are about. If we are not about being generous and gracious with one another, if we are not going to share our gifts with one another, then we have no reason to be together. The witness we have is that God has given you great gifts and has put us together to share those gifts one with the other. And Epiphany reminds us that the giving of gifts, this is how we work together. If we withhold our gifts from each other, the work doesn t get done. But when we join together great things happen. Epiphany reminds us of a holy way of living and of giving
Our gifts to one another every day. Thanks for sharing in our time this morning. Message: (VIDEO) It is by the power of God that we hold fast to the promise: Behold, I make all things new again. The order for the Liturgy of Renewing our Covenant together as a congregation of Christ is found as in insert to the bulletin. You are invited to turn there as we prepare our hearts to receive the sacrament that God has provided, a symbol of His presence with us. A WESLEYAN COVENANT RENEWAL Throughout his ministry, John Wesley invited worshippers to examine their hearts and renew their commitment to Christ. In his later years, he incorporated an opportunity for personal & communal renewal into services conducted on the first Sunday of each year. THE PROCLAMATION: One: Brothers and sisters; when we give our lives to Christ, we become a new creation. Through baptism, no matter when it occurs in our lives, we leave behind the sins that estrange us from our Creator and each other. Through confirmation, we freely choose to walk with our Savior. In the Lord s Supper, we claim him as the Good Shepherd who will lead us in paths of righteousness. Through our participation in the life of the church, we are challenged and comforted as we grow in grace and wisdom. ALL: As we worship together on the first Sunday of 2018, we are privileged to gather as the congregation called Calvary. We are not here by accident. God s invitation calls us together. God s claim upon us binds us into a family of faith. Our ministry and mission grants us a shared identity and a common responsibility. We joyfully renew our commitment to our Lord.
We humbly affirm our dedication to the work and witness we have accepted. THE INVITATION: One: We commit ourselves to Christ as his servants and disciples. ALL: There are many ways to serve Christ. Some forms of service are easy and comfortable. Others are difficult and unpopular. Some are suitable to our inclinations and interests. Others are contrary to both. In some, we can please Christ while pleasing ourselves. In others, pleasing Christ means denying ourselves. One: For each of us, the path of service will be as unique as our abilities to serve. What unites us is our desire to learn what following Jesus means in the unfolding of this new year. Let us pray: ALL: God of the Way, help me to keep my feet upon the path you would have me to walk. God of the Truth, dispel my ignorance and teach me what I need to know. God of the Life, help me stay focused on that which is eternal. Inspire me by your sacrifice, so that I may stop living for myself. Let me live for you in you. Amen. One: No matter where we go or what we do, Jesus will be with us. Let us pray for the courage to trust in his care: ALL: Master, I can t make it on my own. I place my life in your hands. If there is work for me to do, help me accomplish great things. If there is suffering along the way, bless me with endurance and hope. If I become an obstacle to your will, move me out of the way. Fill me up. Pour me out. Give me all things. Give me nothing. Remove me from the center of my own life. Take your rightful place in my heart and soul. Whatever I have is yours. Give me the faith and courage to release it all to you. Amen. THE CHALLENGE: One: A disciple of Christ is one who chooses to follow him. Each day requires a new decision. Discipleship is not an accident; no one serves Christ unless they choose to. Discipleship is not an inheritance; the faith of those who went before us is their confession. When we proclaim The Lord is my shepherd, we speak only for ourselves. Once we decide to follow Jesus, we share his vision of
who we are and whose we are. He will not accept anything except full consent to all he requires. Christ will be Lord of our lives or he will be nothing. The challenge before us in this new year is to commit to drawing closer to our Savior and to one another. ALL: Grant us, O Lord, a willing spirit to place you at the center of our lives. Help us to treasure these affirmations and to regard them with seriousness in the days ahead: One: I confess my need to spend time alone with God. In prayer and study, in working and worship, in contemplation and confrontation; be thou my vision, O God. Grant me the gifts of your forgiveness, guidance, and inspiration. ALL: Search me and know me, O Lord. I am not perfect. I know I have sinned. I might be able to fool those around me, but you see me as I am. Left to my own resources, there is no hope. But you are a God of mercy. Do not leave me as you find me this morning. Change my heart. Change my life. One: Let us affirm the covenant that unites us as a community of faith. Together, we can accomplish more than we can through our singular witnesses. May we rejoice in the gift of this congregation and appreciate those who gather to share their faith. ALL: We are one in the Spirit. We are one in our confession. Remove all prejudice from our souls as we commune with one another. Recreate us as we worship you. Reconcile us to those whom we have harmed. Repair the brokenness in our fellowship. Restore your divine image in us, that we may see you in each other. Make all things new in our hearts and minds. THE CHOICE: One: Let us rejoice in our place in the Kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven, as we humble ourselves in contrition and confession: ALL: Lord God, see me as I bow before you. Forgive my unfaithfulness in not having done your will. One: Help me set aside all idols and distractions. ALL: I renounce them all. I repent of my sins. I confess that my love and devotion is divided between your will and the world in which I live. In your power, I will resist all temptations that will lead me away from you. One: Through Christ, God has offered to be with us, if we will let him. It s a choice we must make. No one can do it for us.
ALL: Before all heaven and earth, I acknowledge you as my Lord and God. I claim you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as the foundation of my existence. To you I offer myself, body and soul. Make me a living sacrifice in the presence of the Word made flesh. One: God has given the Lord Jesus Christ as the way and means of our salvation. He is Emmanuel God with us. ALL: Jesus, I bow before you as my Savior. I come to you hungry, thirsty, broken, and empty. I bring no gift to lay beside the manger. I renounce my own wisdom, and take you for my guide. I renounce my own will and take your will as my law. One: If we follow Christ, we will bear a cross. ALL: I take up my cross. Grant me perseverance to carry it. One: If we follow Christ, we will carry his yoke. ALL: I put my neck under your yoke. Grant me strength to make the burden light. Lead me. I will follow. One: If we follow Christ, we are ambassadors of God s love. ALL: And if we love as he loved us, we become the Word made flesh; the body of the Living Lord the Church. THE CREED: One: As a family drawn together by the love of Christ, let us confess our shared faith: ALL: Glory to you, O God the Father, the Source of my life. Glory to you, O God the Son, who comes to me with gifts of love. Glory be to you, O God the Holy Spirit, who turns my heart from sin. Thank you, O God, for being my Covenant Companion. Grant me the blessed assurance of a steadfast faith, that I may follow in your footsteps wherever you may lead me. Be my hope in the uncertainty of this new year. Be my peace when I am torn with doubt and fear. Be my joy when despair and disappointment overwhelms me. Be the love that finds expression in all I say and do. My life is in your hands. Amen. THE SACRAMENT (Please hold the bread and cup until all have received and the words of institution are given.) Great is Thy Faithfulness #140
I Have Decided to Follow Jesus (edited) #2129 This Is a Day of New Beginnings (vs. 1, 5, 2-4) #383 Benediction: This is not the only act of worship we will do this day. To worship means not only to be here together, but to work in the world As Jesus did, among those who are hurting, who are suffering, who are poor, who are lost, who have no hope. When all our gifts are joined as one in love, Then were the church and we have been called to be The light of the world. Amen.