LENT III - SIN IS SIN IS SIN

Lent III

Mar 24, 2019

FR. PHIL EBERHART 

Sin is sin is sin!

I had a unique experience yesterday...

I attended to rally at the State Capitol to defeat the currently proposed so-called "sex-ed" bill.  I was watching the speakers from the back of the crowd,  probably 300 folks.  I and my friend were approached by Fox 31 News to be interviewed and we went aside to do that.   As we were being interviewed a young man came and stood just within ear shot and began heckling and calling us names,  so I left the camera shot and engaged him.  As I did so the camera swung around and...

So, I was on the channel 31 news last night engaged in a debate with a former Episcopalian altar boy,  who now rejects God and the scriptures in favor of this radical political action agenda we are seeing at the state house.  

As I read the scriptures to prep for the sermon I was struck by the comments of the Apostle Paul in this paragraph in his letter to Corinth this morning:

6¶Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.

Paul then lists out the sins of the nation as they were in the wilderness...

Idolatry, sexual immorality,  presumption (putting the Lord to the test) and grumbling against God! 

You know,  the more things change,  the more they stay the same!   The further we go down the road of civilization,  the less progress we actually make.   I think we could likely use the same "big 4" list for our modern American culture! 

The interesting thing to me here was the words of Jesus in the Gospel:

2And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?

3No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

Jesus is very clear and concise here.  He always brings the point back to the hearer ... to you and me.  To my individual sin and culpability before God! 

One of the earliest scriptures I was required to memorize as a college student with the Navigators was 1 Cor 10:13...

13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

KJV, of course!

The point here is that we're all responsible for our own sin - all individually sinners in the big picture, all sinners that don't get to point fingers at others and say they are "worse" sinners than I am,  and to thereby justify myself in some way. 

Jesus never let anyone off the hook in that way,  ever. We don't get to compare ourselves to others,  in any way,  for good or ill.  We stand before God like Moses in front of the holiness of God at the burning bush...  each and every one of us will stand there. 

And our sin will be covered or it will be uncovered! It's that simple.  Jesus came back twice to his injunction to his hearers:

unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.

God is no respecter of persons... your sin isn't greater or lesser than mine.  We're both sinners.  And we can both find grace and forgiveness at the cross!  Jesus didn't spend a lot of time mentioning particular sins because he knew we all wanted him to!  We're all anxious to get the light and heat of God's fire off of us and onto the Real sinners!  

Jesus here calls us to the work of repentance,  to name our name,  no one else's!  To stand in the place of Moses in front of God...  take off your dirty sandals,  even the ground here is holy! 

Friends, we are in Lent. The days we're living in are evil,  because of us!  We're studying Nehemiah and his first response was to repent!  That's a good example! Nehemiah spent months in prayerful repentance before he made a move!  It's time for us to spend some time in prayerful repentance of our own and to remember the memory verse...

13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Jesus is the way.  Where you have temptation fix your eyes on Jesus,  the author and the finisher of your faith!  He is the way, He is the truth and He is the life! 

Whether our sin... my sin ... is covered or exposed in God's presence depends on a choice.  Your choice,  my choice.  And the choice is simply to believe what Jesus Christ did and said on my behalf. 

To believe it and to receive it as my own.

And we must do that today!  Today is the day.  Every "today" is the day!  His hands are open wide on the hard wood of the cross.   Won't you and I come into the sweep of his saving embrace?  

This is our task individually and together in our day,  and then to be his hands and feet and eyes and ears and mouth in the world around us.  They're starving for this,  ... hungry and thirsty for they know not what ... or even why! 

As I got to my car I was approached by another individual.  A homeless man panhandling for change,  and he came with the most apologetic manner I'd ever encountered.  I have him all my parking change and touched his shoulder and said,  "I have three words for you... Shame Off You!"  He broke down and cried as I told him he was God's child and that God loved him and wanted him whole and healed.  He hugged me and thanked me and went his way. 

Eventful day downtown yesterday.  Quite an extraordinary day.  Let's pray. 

Our Father and our God

We come with repentance and humility before you today, asking for forgiveness and for reconciliation.  Help us to remove our dirty sandals in your presence. Give us clean hands and pure hearts to do your work as you send us into the world as your ambassadors.  Help us to see our own sin, not that of others first.  Go with us as we go and stand and speak and heal in your heart name, Jesus Christ.   Amen and amen. 

Lent I - WHOSOEVER !!

Lent 1 2019

Lent 1
March 10, 2019
Fr Phil Eberhart

Deut 26:(1-4),5-11
Ps 91 or 91:9-16
Rom 10:4-13
Lk 4:1-13

Whosoever !!


Good morning!

Welcome back so soon. Many were here for a grand occasion last night for the double ordination and confirmations we had here. What a beautiful night! What a short night! I think i got about 4 hours sleep. Speaking of temptation! Almost rolled over and went back to sleep. Then i remembered... oh yes... you're preaching this morning!

I want to talk about a word this morning. It's a word that comes up in our epistle reading. The letter from Paul to the Roman church. Chapter 10 is in the middle of a section about Paul's heart's desire! The word is WHOSOEVER.

It's a great King James word. Others translate it who ever or whom ever. Whosoever occurs 163 times in the OT and NT. What I discovered is that the word mostly means "all." And as we all know "all means all!" So in Romans Paul is quoting the prophets when he says " whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved."

It's interesting that this is in the middle of his letter to the gentile church in Rome! He returns for a moment to remind both his gentile readers and the eventual Jewish readers that the Jews are included in his whosoever! In fact he goes so far as to say that the salvation of the Gentiles is tied to the salvation of the Jews and vice versa

"A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved."

Whosoever is a very inclusive word! We hear a lot today about inclusion ! Everyone wants to be a part of something big. And we have the biggest deal going! God so loved the world ... that whosoever could come, Jews, Gentiles, slave, free, Male, female, ... black, white, brown, yellow, red, green or blue! There's no more need for discussion! It's time to simply GO ... do it. Go in any way you can, at all times, to every place. Go tell the story, your story, His story! And how they come together!

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

And Paul goes on to commission each of us...

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Let me repeat myself... It's time to simply GO ... do it. Go in any way you can, at all times, to every place. Go tell the story, your story, His story! And how they come together! People are dying to hear!

The WHOSOEVERs of this world are empty and restless, "looking for love in all the wrong places." And ours is the ultimate message of God's love, for all the world, all the who - so - evers that we run into every day - and never say a word to.

Bishop Bill talked last night about the power of the gospel coming through relationships. Through connections. Do you know that is our written mission. Www.rezanglican.org "Connecting people to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!" Let's just go and do it.

Let's pray...

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross, that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace! So clothe us in your Spirit, that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you,  for the honor of Your Name.

Amen.

Face to Face Transformation - Fr. Phil Eberhart

Transfiguration Sunday - Last Epiphany

March 3, 2019

Fr. Phil Eberhart

Ex 34:29-35 Ps 99 1 Cor 12:27-13:13 Lk 9:28-36

Face to Face Transformation

Have you ever looked in the mirror and tried to see Jesus?  I have to tell you... it's kinda hard!

One of my favorite things is to collect pictures of Jesus.  I have about 6 or 8 paintings and need to expand the collection and put them back up in my office some day... but I want to see what people think Jesus looked like.

I'm a little jealous of the painting that Brian and Barbara Felt have in their home, the Head of Christ that is referred to in Heaven is For Real, as the person that the young boy, Colton, met in heaven.

So what's the point of all the ramble here?  This morning is the Sunday of the Transfiguration - you probably figured that out from the readings!  Lots of talk about mountains and shining faces, clouds of glory with voices coming out of them and ... 

disciples who didn't get it.

My point is that Jesus wants to transform us into His image and likeness.  No we're probably not going to look like Him in a mirror sort of way - we will look just like we do now, for better or worse - but there will be an inner change, an inner transformation or transfiguration into His image.  So what IS THAT IMAGE?

How many of you read the Gospels through regularly? I know many read the Bible regularly but do we do what James encourages us to do:

[Jas 1:22-25 NLT] 

22 But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

"If you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free" - there is the challenge isn't it? And then do it!

Jesus said that the one who DID His Word, was the one whose house was built on bedrock.  No storm can assail it!  Let the storm's come as they will.

Paul gives us the secret in Rom 12:

12 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? I encourage you to surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.

2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,[a] but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. (The Passion Translation)

How do we start to look like Jesus?

The writer of Hebrews gives us a giant instructional clue...

Chapter 12 

As for us, we have all of these great witnesses[a] who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us[b] and the sin we so easily fall into.[c] Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race[d] with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us.[e]

2 We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection.[f] His example is this: Because his heart was focused on the joy of knowing that you would be his,[g] he endured the agony of the cross and conquered its humiliation,[h] and now sits exalted at the right hand of the throne of God!

3 So consider carefully how Jesus faced such intense opposition from sinners who opposed their own souls,[i] so that you won’t become worn down and cave in under life’s pressures. (The Passion Translation)

There we have it again:   Consider Carefully , Fasten your gaze, ... "Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and the Finisher of your faith!"

What do spend time with?  How do you read the Bible? Just a verse here and there, a glance in the morning, the verse of the day?  Sure God speaks to us through these "snacks" but do you ever sit down and have the full meal deal?

Look intently - Consider carefully - Fasten your gaze!

On the mountain top, the disciples saw a lot - they saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus - in all His glory - shining face, clothes like lightening and all - kind of a pre-cursor for the Apostle John who would have another of those kinds of revelations late in his life on Patmos.  Read Rev. 1 some day!

They saw and apparently heard what they were talking about!  How Jesus was going to bring to fulfillment all that they stood for - the Law and the Prophets - in his soon departure from Jerusalem.  That may be why he said, "IT IS FINISHED!"

But the disciples, just like us so often, completely missed the point of the conversation, so God just makes it plain:  We're not going to make a new tabernacle - it's not about camping here on the mountaintop and staying in the glory - It's all about Jesus!  "This is my beloved SON ... LISTEN TO HIM!"

This is about Jesus and His Word to us.  Daily Bread!

What does Jesus look like, face to face?  Have you gazed?  Have you heard, read, marked, learned and inwardly digested?

Let's just look at 3 verses: Our reading from 1 Cor 13

4 Love is large and incredibly patient.[f] Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous[g] when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. 5 Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated[h] or quick to take offense.[i] 6 Love joyfully celebrates honesty[j] and finds no delight in what is wrong.[k] 7 Love is a safe place of shelter,[l] for it never stops believing the best for others.[m] Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up. Love never fails!

If you ever wonder what Jesus looked like, try this portrait!  This is the kind of portrait that will lead us to look like HIM!  And its all over the place in the New Testament - and its the fulfillment of all the Torah teaches and all the Prophets speak about - in Him it was FINISHED.

Paul tells us that Jesus is the "visible image of the invisible God!"  And we are charged with coming to look like HIM.  We are HIS BODY, Paul says, "The fullness of Him who fills all in all!" (Eph 1)  

One final scripture, where Paul is talking to the Corinthians about Moses and the veil we read about this morning in Exodus 34.

2 Cor 3 (TPT)

16 But the moment one turns to the Lord[i] with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see.[j] 17 Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit,[k] and wherever he is Lord, there is freedom.

18 We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus.[l] We are being transfigured[m] into his very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another.[n] And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Friends, I don't want you to make the mistake that the boys did on the mountain.  Take the sermon and make it into a religious exercise!  The key is what God said on the mountain, "This is my beloved Son, listen to Him."

The work of the Holy Spirit is called that because it's NOT OUR JOB to make ourselves look like Jesus. It's our job to LISTEN TO HIM and the Holy Spirit will make us new, different, transformed, Spirit-filled - all the things we want in our character, all the changes we need in how we live with others, all the ways others see us, here in the church and out in the world - will be transfigured when we "mirror" Jesus face to those around us.

The whole world is waiting for it.

Please pray with me...

Loving Father God, Beloved and Beautiful Jesus, Indwelling Holy Spirit - envelop us this morning in the cloud of Glory and let us hear Your Voice speaking to us deep inside our hearts.  Speak to us of your love that transforms us into your likeness. Overshadow us and give us your glory, wave after wave of glory, glory upon glory, by the power of Your Spirit.  Come, Holy Spirit and touch our hearts and lives - change our minds in transformational renewal.  We want to see Jesus when we look in the mirror! And let others see Jesus in us!

For His Kingdom's glory and the fame of His Name.

Amen

The Gift and Role of Prophet

Jer 1:4-10 Ps 71:12-21 1 Cor 14:12-25 Lk 4:21-32 

 Good morning friends.

It's good to be back in the saddle again after a month down with pneumonia.  I want to thank everyone for the prayers and for the way that you all have stepped up to do things that needed to be done.  Keep it up!

The Lord has used this time, as He does with many of us, to re-prioritize some things for me, not the least of which is the way I see myself - especially in relation to Him and in relation to the work that I'm called to do.  As a result you will be seeing more of me here in the pulpit and in a direct teaching role with Bible in hand.  I'm still really unable to sing very much so, Valerie and the worship team have taken over the music.  I'll be doing a little guitar work, but the team will be leading vocally, and we have a newly forming choir!!  Praise the Lord.  I understand that slots are still open for singers!  Rehearsal is at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

This morning, our readings are very instructive - regarding the work of the prophet in our midst and prophecy in general.

Last week's message by Deacon Ethel had a prophetic 'edge' to it.  I use the word 'edge' advisedly because the prophet is supposed to, is called to, speak to the Body of Christ with God's Word, the "sword of the Spirit" - in the present tense!  There are several here who have been used in that way, and it is a fearful thing!  It is a fearful ( and I use that word in the sense of filled with awe) because this is the one time that we are, as a Body, allowed to and encouraged to "judge."  Now judging here isn't the kind of condemnation we typically experience - it IS Enhanced Listening !   The word of a prophet in a local body or a regional Body is one that is to be heeded with careful scrutiny.

When any of us "speak for God" we are putting ourselves out on a line - open to criticism (like Jesus experienced in his hometown) or open to rejection (which is a hard place, especially when people want to throw you off a hill!)  That is probably the reason that so few avail themselves of this gifting.  It's a gift we often want to take back and return for something else!

The life of Jeremiah is a testimony of the hardship and persecution that comes along with this gift.  It's never an easy calling, but the prophets are unanimous that the calling is like a "fire, shut up in the bones!"  Prophets, yesterday, today and forever, are called to "tell forth" God's Word in the moment - there is less "foretelling" than Forth Telling.

In our modern culture the place of Prophecy has often been limited to those who stand week by week in the Pulpit.  Telling forth the Word of God, which is itself described as a fire or a sword, has been the purview of the preacher.  Last week the prophetic part of the sermon was a call for us to be aware of a creeping spirit of fear in our midst.  Fear is the opposite and the enemy of faith!  And of all people - of all congregations - we need to be moving in faith right now, not in fear!  We need to be speaking, as Lawrence is quick to remind us, "what we want, not what we don't want!"  

This coming Tuesday evening, we have an opportunity to speak "what we want" as we go before the Greenwood Village Planning and Zoning Commission.  I urge your prayers for us as you watch the State of the Union address on TV, or you can come to something that is "really interesting."  Our time is 7 pm at the GWV City Building.   And I would like to ask us to consider fasting a meal that day as a church, if you can.  Take that time and pray into Favor for us who are presenting.

Prophetic ministry is something that is being restored to the Church these days and Paul's advice to the Corinthian church is worth heeding.  In fact, one verse in 1 Cor 14 kind of says it all:  [1Co 14:12 RSV] "12 So with yourselves; since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church."

And isn't that what we all need to do?  EXCEL in building up the church!  

That was the point of last week's sermon - the point of this week's sermon - the point of all the sermons preached in this place... is to build up the church.  All of us, in whatever gifts we employ by the Power of the Spirit, are to make the end of our use of the gifts the purpose of edification, of encouragement in the Holy Spirit, and of greater and greater growth into the image of Jesus, by both individuals and all of us together.

So with Paul and Deacon Ethel I say, Let us be eager to be used by the Holy Spirit, without fear and let us push toward the goal of building up the Church, both as individuals and as a whole Body of Christ!

Let me finish with a word from another place about our gifts:

[1Pe 4:10-11 NLT] 10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Shall we pray...

Glorious and everlasting God...

You have called us and gifted us by Your grace with many gifts of grace, each one supplied by Your Spirit's power.  Give us grace and wisdom to employ all that we have been given for your Glory and for the up-building of your church, the Body of Christ.  

Help us to be mindful of your direction and guidance in our service, and to look to you, who came to be servant of all.  Use us Lord, individually and severally, to bring encouragement, comfort and edification to all we meet, both in and outside these walls.

To the glory of your Name, Jesus, and for the sake of Your Kingdom come.

Amen and amen.

Epiphany 2019 - Arise! Shine !! Your light has come ...

Jan 6, 2019

Epiphany Sunday

Fr. Phil Eberhart

Isa 60:1-9

Ps 72:1-11

Eph 3:1-13

Matt 2:1-12

Good morning and Happy New Year!

Welcome to EPIPHANY!!

This is the season of light!  The light that has dawned on the whole world!  

I was happy to see our Isaiah reading this morning as it is one of my favorite passages.  One that has been sung over this church for nearly two decades!!  It was sung as I was Instituted as Rector of St. George's and has become a bit of a theme song for us.  We will end our worship this morning with it!

I want to expand the passage a bit.  Our reading was a portion of the chapter, but I want to extend our reading both backward by two verses and forward by two verses.  I wanted to see what was "around" this chapter as I thought about what to say this morning...

Isa 59

[Isa 59:21 ESV] 21 "And as for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD: "My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring," says the LORD, "from this time forth and forevermore."

[Isa 61:1-3 ESV] 1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

So the context of Isa 60 is set in between the reiteration of the OLD COVENANT PROMISE and the NEW COVENANT FULFILLMENT.  All in three chapters.

 

Epiphany is about the shedding of the light into the world, the whole world!  Jesus himself used these verses as His "job description" when He read from the scroll of Isaiah in his hometown synagogue one sabbath, highlighting these verses from Isaiah 61.

And then Jesus looked up and said, "Today, in your hearing, these verses have been fulfilled!"  His family and his friends from his home town, understood fully what He had claimed that morning.  And they rejected him, because of familiarity with him and his family.  

These verses are clearly the foretelling of the Messiah's coming.  And THAT was what they knew Jesus was claiming.

So they took him and were going to throw him off the cliff!

Jesus faced opposition to himself and his message from the very outset, it wasn't something that was a surprise, about which Jesus was suddenly dejected.  

Isaiah 60 is the description of the Messianic Kingdom - the promise of what is coming...

Keep in mind that this age described is the one that we are in right now.  An age where Darkness covers the earth and we are the "shining light."  What is being described is the rising of the Messiah.

We are the "reflectors" of His glory!

the LORD will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you. 

the LORD will be your everlasting light,

and your God will be your glory.

I'm reminded of the verses from 2 Cor 3 as Paul writes of this age...

[2Co 3:14-18 ESV] 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 

This season is about the spread of the glory and the knowledge of the Lord, "as the waters cover the earth."

But the spread of the light is set in the context of battle.  Just like Jesus in His hometown synagogue, we will face the opposition of those who love their darkness.

There should be no surprise when we come up against this in our culture.  Jesus encountered it almost from Day One and so will we...   so DO we!

We are in darkness but the light has dawned on us.  And so we reflect the light into the darkness around us.

We are not the light!  Matthew tells us that we are like a "city on a hill."

Coming to REZ sometimes in the morning I happen to be driving up Yosemite when the sun rises.  It's a bright place with the sunrise reflecting off of all the mirror windows in the office buildings.  And so as I come here I pray that God will begin to be reflected in the life and work of the DTC!

We have been given a unique perch!  God has sent us to this place, to pray, to bless, to enter into the war over this city. As you know there is much yet to be done, for us to fully acquire this property, and we trust that God has brought us this far by faith, and so we move forward.

Please be in prayer daily for us in this battle - but pray the verses of the song at the end of your bulletin.

God has called us to Arise & Shine!  Welcome to 2019.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, as we enter a new year we look even more fully to You for all you have ordained for us to be and do.

We give you thanks for the way you have led us thus far and pray you will open our eyes to see your hand at work, on our behalf, throughout the days to come.  You are faithful and You are the one who has done it.  Let there never by any doubt about your Presence and Your hand of provision and favor.  We commit our way to You, Lord and know that you will bring it to pass.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen!

 

Christmas Eve 2018 - Fr. Phil

Christmas Eve
Dec 24, 2018 - 9 PM
Fr. Phil Eberhart
-----------------------


We want to welcome you all again tonight to our first Christmas celebration as REZ in this new facility.  Isn't it amazing what God has done?!!

Christmas is about bringing the hope of salvation to the world.  It's what the whole Church is to be about!  It's our work, together with God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit - all active together in the world with one purpose.

God so loved the world, that He sent His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, that those who believe in Him might have eternal life.

I got a post this morning from one of our members who is with family elsewhere tonight.  It told a story of a elderly lady who accidentally ran her grocery cart into a display of dishes, knocking them over and breaking many.  Everyone was standing and watching her try to gather up the shards, murmuring about "how are we going to pay for this?"

A good Samaritan knelt beside her to help her.  Then another.  Finally a young man, came and helped her up, saying: We can clean this up ma'am.  You have a cut on your hand we need to get taken care of.  And you owe us nothing - we have insurance for this kind of thing.

The Gospel message for this evening is that when we make a mess of our life, or life just happens and its messy, painful, cutting...
God has an answer.  Grace!  

John said in his gospel:  
[Jhn 1:14 KJV] 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Grace... is God's policy!  It's not exactly like insurance - some would say Fire Insurance!  I would say LIFE insurance - eternal Life insurance.

Jesus was sent as a baby - I don't think I can do that justice in a few sentences.  What we celebrate here tonight takes a lifetime to contemplate - to wrap our minds around - if ever!  The best gift ever given!

In the midst of the rush and over-stimulation of the season in our over-commercialized culture, we hear moments of the message.  We see glimpses of hope, like the story we just heard.

After Jingle Bell Rock or Rockin around the Christmas Tree, comes O Holy Night on the play list.

I want to urge you to stop there!  I want to encourage you to consider the meaning of the season!  In the rush and crush of the season, we need to stop and breathe.  We need to recall why all this ...  IS all this?

It's about a baby!  It's about a miracle.  
It's why you're all here tonight in this place, at this time.  A miracle has happened in God coming among us, full of grace and truth.  He is bent down and helping us pick up the broken pieces.

But this baby wants to come in to live at your house.  ... to live at your address ... to live in your heart. He's waiting for an open door.  

Tomorrow or Wednesday the radio stations will all return to normal!  Christmas will be over.  But for us Christmas begins tomorrow - 12 days of meditation until Jan 6, the Feast of Epiphany.
The shedding of light.   

I hope that you will take some time to read and re-read the Gospel from tonight or the other accounts of Jesus birth.  Tonight we just make a beginning!

Our opening prayer this evening said it well...

O God, you have caused this holy night to shine with the brightness of the true Light: Grant that we, who have known the revelation of that Light on earth, may also enjoy him perfectly in heaven; where with you and the Holy Spirit he lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Another of the Christmas Day prayers will be a good way to close it tonight, as we go into our communion and contemplation time.

Almighty God, you have given your only-begotten Son to take our nature upon him, and to be born of a pure virgin: Grant that we, who have been born again and made your children by adoption and grace, may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit; through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with you and the same Spirit be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.