12-22-19

Tim’s Tidings

One of the greatest gifts of Christmas is to experience the peace and presence of God. We all need that!

When the angels appear to announce Jesus’ birth, the first response is fear, for God is awesome and God’s glory is great.  Yet the message which comes is about “good tidings of great joy.”  The message is about God entering a troubled world and troubled lives and calming the waters of our souls.  The message is about salvation.

As you hear and read Scripture and reflect upon your lives this Christmas, it is my hope that you experience the glory, the hope, the wonder, the majesty, the mystery and the brilliance of Christmas.  I hope you glimpse inside of an all too real squalid stable and know that if God’s hope, peace, love, joy and salvation can enter such a place, it can definitely enter our hearts, lives and world today.

As we worship in word and song, may that peace enter in.  That peace of knowing that God has the world in God’s hands, that the loose ends will be tied up, that even in the turbulence of our times, “joy comes in the morning” and in the end, love wins.

One of the greatest gifts we have from God are each other.  I am truly grateful to God for you, and grateful for the way Eastminster ministers to one another and to the wider world.  Eastminster’s pastors, elders, and care teams are here for you in the season and beyond, even as there are countless acts of love and grace passed on by members which knit bonds of love on a daily basis.

If your heart longs for a church home, I’d love to speak with you.  As importantly,  I pray you experience God’s presence, peace and assurance as we worship, live and serve. Our praise teams and choirs have prepared special music for the season.  Even as David’s harp music calmed the soul of King Saul, it is my hope that our worship brings peace and an abiding presence to yours today, on Christmas Eve, and in the days ahead.  Many persons have prepared for worship and lead us in worship.  Thank you!  May God’s love shine through what you do, shape who you are, and inspire all to be the people God intends us to be at worship, work and play.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Tim

12-15-19

Tim's Tidings

 

My heart is joyous as I walk down the hall of our Christian Ministry Center and see all the toys donated for the Salvation Army Angel Tree, as I smell the goodness of lunches served after an excellent Music and Meditation service, as I interact with special needs youth in a newly formed program, “Unique People of Purpose” learning to practice culinary arts under the direction of our members, as I hear the laughter of preschool kids down the hall and laughter at the other end as friends greet coming into the Ministry Center.  There is vitality and health in Eastminster, and I can’t help but believe the Lord has anointed us shine God’s love in dark times every single day.

 

The other day I was kayaking in a dense fog.  The fog blanketed me and I could only go forward by looking at the pattern of wind-blown waves on the water and listen carefully for sounds coming from shores I could not see.  I was in the middle of the lagoon and there was no land in sight.  It made me think of how many navigate life today.  It’s hard to maintain direction—not just on the kayak, but for all of us in life.

 

It made me remember a story told of a famous pastor who was traveling by boat from France to England on a foggy night.  The pastor was up on the bridge with the captain.  He remarked, “It is amazing how you get your ship home safely in the fog through the rocks of the channel.”  The captain pointed through the fog to a dim light.  He said, “Do you see that light?”  That’s actually four lights and when they line up as one, I know I am heading safely.”  The pastor thought, “That’s how it is with navigating life in God’s will.  It’s a lining up of the lights. When we listen and hear the voice of God, when we read God’s Word, when we get the counsel of Christian friends and when circumstances of life line up together, we can be reasonably sure we are in God’s will.”

 

I hope you use the days ahead to “line up your lights.”  Worship will be very rich in the coming weeks.  I particularly invite you to bring friends to the Sunday December 22 “Glory of Christmas” concert where orchestra, choir and singers of all ages will bring home the reality of God’s love in sending God’s only Son Jesus.  This is a message which will be expanded upon Christmas Eve at 4, 6 and 8 p.m.  Again, bringing friends and family will only make the experience richer.  Read the Bible versions of Christmas found in Matthew chapters 1-2, Luke 1-2, and John 1.  Reach out to others with the love of God as God leads, and chances are the lights will “line up.”

 

Blessings in the Holy Season!  I look forward to experiencing the love of God together and continuing to live our purpose in the church and world as we head into 2020.  Thanks be to God for your faithfulness, generosity, and love without which the vitality at Eastminster and God’s light in the world would not be present in mission and ministry to the extent it is today!

 

With Love at Christmas,

Pastor Tim

12-08-19

Tim’s Tidings

One of the hardest things to do in today’s world is to listen. There is so much noise from a multitude of sources.  TVs, stereos, cellphones, traffic, construction, well-meaning people wanting to tell us what to do … and ill meaning people wanting to take advantage …. And perhaps in the midst of the noise, comes … the voice of God. As we read through the Bible and encounter The Bible in 52 stories in worship, we experience that:

God is.

God speaks.

Humans can understand.

God has a will and purpose for us in community.

 

It is true that sometimes the voice of God is hard to hear.  It is also true that God has ways to get our attention.  Most of us know that first-hand.

 

Samuel encountered the voice of God as a young child.  In his story God called to him in the quiet of the night.  Fortunately for Samuel, Eli, a trusted mentor and spiritual guide was there to help him not only listen for and hear the voice of God, but also to respond.  Zachariah heard the voice of God in old age.  He was struck mute for nine months which probably increased his listening skills tremendously, only to respond to God in obedience in the naming of his child John.  Joseph was probably middle age or younger when he heard the voice of God in dreams.  Joseph quietly obeys God to the extent no words of Joseph are recorded in scripture.  Only actions.

 

Learning to listen, to hear, to share and to respond are all important parts of spiritual formation.  We need God and one another to hear and respond.  My prayer this Advent Season is that you take time to listen, that God speaks in ways you understand, and your response is living in the light of God’s will in community with the very love and compassion of Christ.

 

Where might you start?  When I have asked groups of people to pray for direction in silence and then speak a “Word from the Lord” if heard, many heard the Scripture from Psalm 46:1: “Be still and know that I am God.”

 

“Be still and know that I am God.”  This is an invitation to experience God.  Today in worship and through the Advent Season at home, in the world, as well as at church, I invite you to a journey of “Holy Listening.”  One good way to begin is to get in a quiet place and reflect on this Scripture adding a word or two at a time as you slowly read or speak them, pausing between the phrases, listening, and hopefully hearing:

BE…

BE STILL…

BE STILL AND KNOW…

BE STILL AND KNOW I AM …

BE STILL AND KNOW I AM GOD….

 

May we all listen, hear, share what is heard, and with discernment … respond to God faithfully, even as Samuel, Zachariah and Joseph did before us.

 

Blessings for a Holy Advent,

 

Pastor Tim