"A Time of Purification" December 31, 2017

Isaiah 62 Luke 2: 21-40 On New Year’s Eve, we stand on the precipice between the year ending and the new, literally where Past and the Future meet. I want to challenge us to live into the New Year boldly, with hope, optimism and confidence. We must chose whether to live as in A Time of Mourning over losses or a Time of Purification for what God may do? Either way, the past is over and done, we cannot go back and change things; the future is yet to be, and all we can be certain of, is that the future will be different. In preparation, do we grieve, do we wish with longing to return to our old lives, sad and great, when everybody pulled his weight… or do we look to live into the future, cognizant that doing so we must leave behind our dreams, wishes and expectations, for something different? As a parent, I recall snowy holiday weekends like this for reading to our children, one of my favorites was the Winnie the Pooh Series, in particular whether we want to be an Eeyore or a Tigger. Eeyore forever had his head down, looking back, certain only that the future would never be as bright as the setting sun. Tigger, well Tiggers bounce, bright and happy, hopeful and idealistic without a care to carry. December 31st 1999, the world was poised for technological catastrophe, all the computer systems everywhere had been established in the 20th Century, and no one knew if elevators and traffic lights, banks and telephones, weapons and satellites, could/would transition as we entered the new Century. I recall a Winter, when all the properties in our Township were re-assessed and everyone was in shock at what the Assessors believed our homes and properties could be worth, instead of what we knew about our homes. On September 11th 2001, all the world was shocked, because the isolation and dominance of the United States was attacked. Sixteen years and more have gone by, as our economy, and government, the World Order have been established anew. Growing up, I thought my family enjoyed playing games, but we were babes in the woods compared to my wife’s family. They not only played games, they developed strategies for how to win, and keep the other from winning. That is a lesson we learn playing TicTacToe, that there comes a balance of competitors where it is no longer about who is better or who wants to win, only chance; and yet while you cannot be assured of always winning, there is a strategy for playing to deny the other ever has the ability, and all either can do is stalemate. Nostalgically, it seems there once was a time of compromise, of competitors working together for a common good. We pick up the Gospel of Luke 40 days after the birth. There is much of Ancient Judaism we have forgotten and no longer comprehend. Many have suggested I have a love for History, which actually is not accurate, the truth is that I love Systems, and without knowing history we lack understanding of meaning, of core purposes and relationships. Part of the importance of a Time of Purification, is a time of reflection and cleansing apart from living the past, in order that we can chose our future wisely, with less mistakes. We celebrate Christmas from sunset on the 24th through sunset on the 25th, as Labor and Delivery for the Birth of the Savior; while the for Centuries the Church named TWELVE DAYS for Christmas. In Judaism a birth is a private family thing between husband and wife, the child does not even have a name, is not part of the community until brought out into the world for the Circumcision and Gifting of a Name, as in the Covenant of Abraham. The ending of private, intimate, family claiming, and the claiming by the whole Community, was this Time of Purification. According to the Law of Moses, all Creation Belongs to God. We belong to God as Creatures, and are given dominion only in relationship to our claiming: God as God… Do you believe this? When we receive a Gift from God, any Blessing in life, we owe a debt of First Fruits, demonstrating thanksgiving to God, making an offering of the first and best of what we have received, in hope that God will continue to be generous in the future. Judaism and Christianity never practiced child sacrifice, although other cultures in the Ancient World had done so. Instead, like a graduated Income Tax, there were expected offerings for the birth of the firstborn to a couple of substance and those in subsistence. A Heifer, a Lamb, or two Pigeons in the Carol Two Turtledoves. Only after the Sacrifice and Offering was made, only after the Community had claimed the child, could life begin. As much as we place emphasis on Mary and the Incarnation, on Shepherds and Strangers from the East, Anna and Simeon, two individuals at worship, bear the greatest similarity to our roles. Like each of us, Anna and Simeon are WITNESSES. These two do not passively ignore or tolerate the strangers who come before God. Anna and Simeon commend and encourage, offering blessings to the parents for this child, this gift. Would that instead of our critiquing others, we could be so bold as to offer them blessings and affirmations. As the year ends, we complete our Stewardship & Pledging Seasons. Through careful spending, we end the year $11,000 Under Budget on Expenses; and through your Generosity we received $10,000 more than anticipated! Eight years ago, our Session made a bold move, that instead of continuing as we had always been, we might Call an Associate Pastor. In this way to offer a youth program and technology, a solo pastor could not provide. After studying this, and prayer, our Session chose to intentionally enter into a time of spending from the Reserves we had accrued over the prior twelve years. Yet since that time, there have been grave concerns and dire fears of using Reserves HOWEVER, OVER HALF of those making a pledge did so with significant increases. Where churches across the Nation are closing, and cutting back; where the pundits are afraid because changes in the Tax Laws might reduce incentive for giving to NonProfits, we continue to have new believers take up the mantle of those who have laid this foundation. Like old stories, especially at the Holidays I enjoy old Movies. One recently described a parable of a couple in a Village who received the gift of a child. Everyone said “What a blessing!” and the Priest replied “We’ll see…” And the father gave his son a horse and Everyone said “What a blessing!” and the Priest replied “We’ll see…” Then the boy fell from the horse Everyone said “What a tragedy!” and the Priest replied “We’ll see…” And war came Everyone said “What a tragedy!” and the Priest replied “We’ll see…” Because of his bad leg, the boy could not fight and Everyone said “What a blessing!” and the Priest replied “We’ll see…” The reality is none of us know what the future will be. We live in a time of preparation a time of purification for what will be. May this be a time of hope, a time of purification, in order to embrace the future as new and exciting, filled with possibility.