Merry Christmas, Everyone.
I hope and pray that God, who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, blesses you today and tomorrow as you celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus’s name means “God Saves” and at this time of year we remember that Jesus is also called “Emmanuel” which means “God is with us”. Have a blessed two days with family and friends. Take time this week to give a gift of love or service to someone outside of your circle of family and friends. Share the gift of the Christ.
Both churches now have Facebook pages. The Grey Eagle UMC page has been up for a couple of week while the Peace United Church page has been up for two days. Please visit these pages and “like” them. If you have something to share, like thoughts, photos, or music that is appropriate to our church pages, please feel free to share. The two pages are here:
Grey Eagle United Methodist Church
Peace United Church
Have a blessed Christmas! Worship today is at 4:00 PM at both churches. Please join us if you are in the neighborhood.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Monday, December 23, 2013
Readings for Christmas Eve and Sunday, December 29, 2013
Hello Everyone,
As we celebrate Christmas, I hope and pray that each of us can remember the meaning of Christmas rather than getting stuck on some sort of “literalness” of the stories. I say “stories” plural because if you read the beginning of each gospel you will see four strikingly different looks at the Christ event.
1. The Gospel of Mark – No birth story. Just a vague start with “The beginning of the gospel . . .” and then right into John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism by the Holy Spirit. For me, that is all I need to know.
2. The Gospel of Matthew – Starts off with a genealogy and then views the birth of Jesus through Joseph who has plenty of visits from angels. Notice that there is no registration for taxes and no travel to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary are there in Bethlehem, their hometown. The magi visit, maybe up to two years after the birth and then the family picks up and moves to Egypt. (Joseph in Egypt – does this story remind you of another Joseph in Egypt?) When it is time to come home, the family ends up traveling north of Bethlehem to Nazareth. Jesus was know as Jesus of Nazareth.
3. The Gospel of Luke – This is Mary’s story. Mary is in Nazareth (1:26) and she and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem to be registered (2:4-5). Angels visit shepherds and shepherds visit Mary, Joseph and Jesus. After naming, circumcising and dedicating Jesus (2:21-24), the family returns to Nazareth (2:39-40). No magi, no death threats, no star in the sky. Jesus is back to Nazareth. Later, people will call him “Jesus of Nazareth”.
4. The Gospel of John – John takes the cosmic view of Jesus who is Word Become Flesh and who existed from the beginning. No birth story, no mention of Mary or Joseph.
What are the similarities of the two birth stories in Matthew and Luke? Jesus was born to two human parents, Mary and Joseph. Jesus was born in Bethlehem (not mentioned in Mark or John). Jesus grew up in and came from Nazareth, which all four Gospels recognize.
While I love to watch Sunday School or Adult Christmas pageants, I recognize, as should you, that those stories are a mash-up of Matthew and Luke. I think we lose the beauty of each story when they are not kept separate. Matthew emphasizes Joseph’s role and responsibility in keeping Jesus safe from a world only intent on money and power and how even Gentiles, foreigners, are welcomed with the Gospel, the Good News. Luke emphasizes the lowly status of Mary, a teenage, unwed, and pregnant girl, and the shepherds who were often viewed like the biker gangs of today. The Luke the Gospel is for the least, lost, and left out in the world.
Tomorrow night, as we hear the various scriptures concerning the birth of Jesus, let us remember the true meaning of the Gospels: God is with us (Emmanuel) and God saves (Jesus). “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Our readings for Christmas Eve, without comment are:
Isaiah 9:2-7 – The Birth of a King
Micah 5:2-5a – The Place of Birth is Named
Luke 1:26-38 – The angel tell Mary of her upcoming pregnancy
Luke 2:1-7 – The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:8-20 – The Shepherd Visit
Matthew 2:1-11 – The Magi Visit
John 1:1-14 – The Light Has Come Into the World.
Readings for Sunday, December 29 are
Isaiah 63:7-9 – God’s Mercy for God’s People Remembered
Psalm 148 – Let Everything and Everyone Praise God
Hebrews 2:10-18 – God in Jesus becomes human and suffers and dies like us.
Matthew 2:13-23 – “The Empire Strikes Back” as King Herod fears a potential rival.
May God bless you this Christmas with family and friends. Merry Christmas and safe travels.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Peace United Church, Long Prairie
Grey Eagle UMC, Grey Eagle
320-732-2242
As we celebrate Christmas, I hope and pray that each of us can remember the meaning of Christmas rather than getting stuck on some sort of “literalness” of the stories. I say “stories” plural because if you read the beginning of each gospel you will see four strikingly different looks at the Christ event.
1. The Gospel of Mark – No birth story. Just a vague start with “The beginning of the gospel . . .” and then right into John the Baptist and Jesus’ baptism by the Holy Spirit. For me, that is all I need to know.
2. The Gospel of Matthew – Starts off with a genealogy and then views the birth of Jesus through Joseph who has plenty of visits from angels. Notice that there is no registration for taxes and no travel to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary are there in Bethlehem, their hometown. The magi visit, maybe up to two years after the birth and then the family picks up and moves to Egypt. (Joseph in Egypt – does this story remind you of another Joseph in Egypt?) When it is time to come home, the family ends up traveling north of Bethlehem to Nazareth. Jesus was know as Jesus of Nazareth.
3. The Gospel of Luke – This is Mary’s story. Mary is in Nazareth (1:26) and she and Joseph must travel to Bethlehem to be registered (2:4-5). Angels visit shepherds and shepherds visit Mary, Joseph and Jesus. After naming, circumcising and dedicating Jesus (2:21-24), the family returns to Nazareth (2:39-40). No magi, no death threats, no star in the sky. Jesus is back to Nazareth. Later, people will call him “Jesus of Nazareth”.
4. The Gospel of John – John takes the cosmic view of Jesus who is Word Become Flesh and who existed from the beginning. No birth story, no mention of Mary or Joseph.
What are the similarities of the two birth stories in Matthew and Luke? Jesus was born to two human parents, Mary and Joseph. Jesus was born in Bethlehem (not mentioned in Mark or John). Jesus grew up in and came from Nazareth, which all four Gospels recognize.
While I love to watch Sunday School or Adult Christmas pageants, I recognize, as should you, that those stories are a mash-up of Matthew and Luke. I think we lose the beauty of each story when they are not kept separate. Matthew emphasizes Joseph’s role and responsibility in keeping Jesus safe from a world only intent on money and power and how even Gentiles, foreigners, are welcomed with the Gospel, the Good News. Luke emphasizes the lowly status of Mary, a teenage, unwed, and pregnant girl, and the shepherds who were often viewed like the biker gangs of today. The Luke the Gospel is for the least, lost, and left out in the world.
Tomorrow night, as we hear the various scriptures concerning the birth of Jesus, let us remember the true meaning of the Gospels: God is with us (Emmanuel) and God saves (Jesus). “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
Our readings for Christmas Eve, without comment are:
Isaiah 9:2-7 – The Birth of a King
Micah 5:2-5a – The Place of Birth is Named
Luke 1:26-38 – The angel tell Mary of her upcoming pregnancy
Luke 2:1-7 – The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:8-20 – The Shepherd Visit
Matthew 2:1-11 – The Magi Visit
John 1:1-14 – The Light Has Come Into the World.
Readings for Sunday, December 29 are
Isaiah 63:7-9 – God’s Mercy for God’s People Remembered
Psalm 148 – Let Everything and Everyone Praise God
Hebrews 2:10-18 – God in Jesus becomes human and suffers and dies like us.
Matthew 2:13-23 – “The Empire Strikes Back” as King Herod fears a potential rival.
May God bless you this Christmas with family and friends. Merry Christmas and safe travels.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Peace United Church, Long Prairie
Grey Eagle UMC, Grey Eagle
320-732-2242
Monday, December 16, 2013
Readings for Sunday, December 22, 2013
Hello Everyone,
First, this past Sunday Grey Eagle UMC began using video projection during our worship services. I have heard a number of good comments about the service but I have not heard any negatives. (Our offering was sharply down on Sunday. Was that the negative comment?) I know that some may have had some contrary views so please don’t be shy; let me know. Our intent is to improve worship in meaningful and heartfelt ways.
Secondly, Grey Eagle UMC is in the process of setting up a Facebook pager. We need 25 “likes” to be able to set a few changes. Please visit Grey Eagle UMC Facebook and “like” us. Once I get this figured out (kudos to Amy Hinman and John Young for helping) I will set up a Peace United Church page.
Third, our sermon series continues with “Awed & Odd: Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness”. I am again looking for photos to be used during worship, this week focusing on “Hope” and “Hopelessness”. If you have any pictures that you are willing to share, please email them to me. You don’t have to be a professional photographer, just someone who takes photos. Just remember the guidelines from last week.
We are nearing the end of Advent and it will soon be Christmas. Our readings for this coming Sunday are:
Isaiah 7:10-16 – King Ahaz of Judah is fearful of two rival nations, Israel and Aram. Isaiah asks Ahaz to trust God and to ask God for a sign. Ahaz refuses to put God to the test. Isaiah persists and say that there will be a sign: a young woman will give birth to a son named Immanuel and that before he is weaned the two rival nations will be gone and replaced by a bigger, badder nation, Assyria (verse 17). What does Immanuel mean? Who was the young woman? Why do you think Matthew (below) used “virgin” instead of “young woman”?
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 – The Psalmist pray for the restoration of Israel that they may be redeemed from their enemies.
Romans 1:1-7 – This is Paul’s opening to his letter to the church in Rome. Here Paul sets his “bona fide” or why the Roman Christian Church should believe him. He is:
Matthew 1:18-25 – The very short story of Jesus’ birth and a longer story of Joseph’s willingness to do the right thing. It was not all that unusual in those days as these days for an engaged couple to participate in a little “hanky panky” and for the woman to get pregnant. They would just get married a little sooner then the families originally planned. If the woman got pregnant and the father was not her fiancé then he could publically denounce her and have her stoned. The fact that Joseph was willing to quietly walk away shows his care for her. It also show us that he was not the father of the child. Fortunately, God has a different plan and sends the angel to him. Joseph is to do two things: go through with the wedding and name the boy Jesus. Matthew then quotes Isaiah from our passage above. The Hebrew word meaning “young woman” gets changed into the Greek word meaning “virgin”. Don’t get too hung up on that fact. The most important fact of this passage is “Emmanuel”. God became human. And God as human will save God’s people and all humanity.
Have a great week serving God by serving others.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Peace United Church, Long Prairie
Grey Eagle UMC, Grey Eagle
320-732-2242
First, this past Sunday Grey Eagle UMC began using video projection during our worship services. I have heard a number of good comments about the service but I have not heard any negatives. (Our offering was sharply down on Sunday. Was that the negative comment?) I know that some may have had some contrary views so please don’t be shy; let me know. Our intent is to improve worship in meaningful and heartfelt ways.
Secondly, Grey Eagle UMC is in the process of setting up a Facebook pager. We need 25 “likes” to be able to set a few changes. Please visit Grey Eagle UMC Facebook and “like” us. Once I get this figured out (kudos to Amy Hinman and John Young for helping) I will set up a Peace United Church page.
Third, our sermon series continues with “Awed & Odd: Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness”. I am again looking for photos to be used during worship, this week focusing on “Hope” and “Hopelessness”. If you have any pictures that you are willing to share, please email them to me. You don’t have to be a professional photographer, just someone who takes photos. Just remember the guidelines from last week.
We are nearing the end of Advent and it will soon be Christmas. Our readings for this coming Sunday are:
Isaiah 7:10-16 – King Ahaz of Judah is fearful of two rival nations, Israel and Aram. Isaiah asks Ahaz to trust God and to ask God for a sign. Ahaz refuses to put God to the test. Isaiah persists and say that there will be a sign: a young woman will give birth to a son named Immanuel and that before he is weaned the two rival nations will be gone and replaced by a bigger, badder nation, Assyria (verse 17). What does Immanuel mean? Who was the young woman? Why do you think Matthew (below) used “virgin” instead of “young woman”?
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 – The Psalmist pray for the restoration of Israel that they may be redeemed from their enemies.
Romans 1:1-7 – This is Paul’s opening to his letter to the church in Rome. Here Paul sets his “bona fide” or why the Roman Christian Church should believe him. He is:
1. A Servant of ChristWhat does it mean to be a servant? Or to be an apostle? Or to be “set apart”.
2. Called to be an apostle
3. Set apart for the gospel of God to be delivered to the Gentiles
Matthew 1:18-25 – The very short story of Jesus’ birth and a longer story of Joseph’s willingness to do the right thing. It was not all that unusual in those days as these days for an engaged couple to participate in a little “hanky panky” and for the woman to get pregnant. They would just get married a little sooner then the families originally planned. If the woman got pregnant and the father was not her fiancé then he could publically denounce her and have her stoned. The fact that Joseph was willing to quietly walk away shows his care for her. It also show us that he was not the father of the child. Fortunately, God has a different plan and sends the angel to him. Joseph is to do two things: go through with the wedding and name the boy Jesus. Matthew then quotes Isaiah from our passage above. The Hebrew word meaning “young woman” gets changed into the Greek word meaning “virgin”. Don’t get too hung up on that fact. The most important fact of this passage is “Emmanuel”. God became human. And God as human will save God’s people and all humanity.
Have a great week serving God by serving others.
Peace in Christ,
Pastor Gary Taylor
Peace United Church, Long Prairie
Grey Eagle UMC, Grey Eagle
320-732-2242
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