December 4, 2011

Texts: Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85: 1-2,8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8

“Beginnings without End.”

One of the things I dread is the day when I will no longer be able to hold and read a paper copy of the Denver Post with my morning coffee. I know I can access the daily news in other ways, but I’ll miss the ritual of starting with the sports pages for my daily dose of Tebow mania and ending with my favorite cartoons -- especially “One Big Happy” -- the family that includes “Ruthie” who always makes me a smile. Earlier this week, it even gave me a starting point for this sermon on “Beginnings without end” when Ruthie was offended by her brother who crowed after beating her in a board game with the baseball phrase “Strike Three, You’re Out!” When she complains about this, saying the baseball season is over, he defends himself with the claim that baseball has been part of the universe since “day one” -- referring, of course, to the opening words of Genesis: “In the
“Big Inning.” (Beginning)

We are in the “Big Inning” of the church year as we light the Second Candle on our Advent Wreath this morning. And on this day we are also in the “Big Inning” of a new phase of life at Atonement as we welcome Pastor Chris and his family to begin their ministry with us. So it is a good day to think about “beginnings” and thankfully, that is the theme of several of the Readings for this morning which remind us that God is a God of “beginnings without end.”

The first reading, from Isaiah 40, speaks of this God of beginnings as a God of “2nd chances” -- A God of steadfast love offers forgiveness who enables us begin again even in times we feel we have so offended Him that He has abandoned us. The passage opens with these words: “Comfort, comfort my people says your God.” The promise of comfort is given to a people who have vivid memories of seeing their beloved city of Jerusalem and the Temple they thought was invincible going up in smoke when the Babylonian Army breached the city walls, reducing everything to rubble, and took those who survived into exile in a foreign land. In the early years of that exile, some wondered if the God of Israel was powerless against the gods of Babylonia while others wondered if the destruction and deportation meant that God had become so angry he had given up on them. The God they had known as a loving Father, they now felt had disowned them, with-drawing his love and concern.

November 27, 2011

Texts: Isaiah 64:1-9, Mark 13:24-37

“The Care and Feeding of a New Pastor”

A week ago today, you voted to call a new pastor to Atonement. That was a vote of hope and confidence for the future. It was a vote that said loud and clear: God is not finished with us yet; there is more to come for us as a family of God. And at mid-week we received the welcome news that Pastor Chis Davis has accepted that call, and will be with us within the next week to begin a time of transmission as I wind down my time as your interim pastor and he begins his ministry at Atonement.

In the midst of such hopeful notes, it may be a bit discouraging to hear these words from the Gospel of Mark and Isaiah that seem to be telling us to hunker down, cover our heads, and wait for everything around us to collapse and come to an end. I’m not ready -- nor do I suspect you are ready -- for God to tear open the heavens and come down so that the Rockies quake at his presence. I’m getting ready to rediscover what retirement feels like and you are getting ready to join your new pastor in discovering what God has in store for this congregation in the years to come.

But the message of this first Sunday in Advent, like it or not, is a reminder that the world might end tomorrow. It could well end for me personally for although my doctor was very pleased with my most recent checkup, and although I feel perfectly fine today that’s no guarantee that the plans I make today will actually come to fruition. And that is true for you as well. The world might end tomorrow (and the operative word here is “might” not “will.”) As this passage from Mark reminds us, no one knows when that day will come, not the angels in heaven, not the son, and certainly not any of the self-proclaimed Biblical “experts” of our day. Only the Father knows, and since he has not purchased any billboards telling us when any of this may take place, all we can do (indeed all we are told we need to do) is to stay awake and be ready.