The Word Became Flesh -- A Message for December 14, 2025

  This is the third week in the season of Advent. During this season, our scripture lessons come to us from the prophets. Some of the prophets who foretold of the coming Messiah lived centuries before Jesus’ birth.  For them, the birth of the Messiah was something to dream of far-off in the future. This morning, we are going to focus on the final prophet who predicted the coming of the messiah: John the Baptist. John was only a few months older than Jesus. But, he started his work as a prophet before Jesus revealed himself to the world. John was working to prepare people for Jesus in the immediate years and months before Jesus’ baptism. And, John was the baptizer – he was the prophet who baptised Jesus and proclaimed that he was here.

This morning, we turn to the book of John and read a portion of the first chapter. Listen now to the word of God….

The Scripture John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 He was with God in the beginning. 

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 

7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 

8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 

13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15 (John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)

16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. 

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 

18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b] is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen. 

Let us pray….

The Message – The Word Became Flesh

December is one of the darkest times of the year. The winter solstice is next Sunday, on the 21st. For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the 21st will be the blackest day of the year – the sun will rise around 7:20 and it will set around 4:40.

We live in the twenty-first century – we have electric lights. Our technological advances include HVAC systems and warm coats and snow boots. With the light pollution from the prison up the road, we don’t ever experience total darkness…we always have a bit of light.

Yet, our society still considers darkness scary. We don’t like it when we cannot see our surroundings. Gothic novels begin with statements like, “It was a dark and stormy light…” We are afraid of “things that go bump in the night.” We associate darkness with hiding the truth and concealing our true self – darkness is associated with evil and debauchery and misbehavior. Scary movies often have the bad guys sneaking up on their victims in the dark. The night and darkness is still thought to be scary and dangerous – we crave the light.

In the first century, as was true in the ancient world, people had to be very careful when it was dark outside. The main source of “artificial” light came from olive oil lamps made out of clay pots. The light was concentrated to a small area around the lamp. The lamps were fragile. And, when the lamp went out, darkness prevailed.

In Ancient times, the dark became metaphorically associated with night, sin, and evil. And, light became metaphorically associated with God, truth, virtue and good. 

The first chapter of John is John’s introduction to his evangelistic text. He wanted everyone to know about Jesus – through Jesus, God had come to the world in a wholly new way – choosing to be embodied in a human being. Jesus came to transform how we understand God’s wishes for the people of the world. And, Jesus came to bring truth and love to the world.

John’s words are very philosophical – but the key message is that through Jesus “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus is the “light” of the world. Jesus is the source of spiritual illumination and truth. 

Before Jesus came to earth, all people did not have knowledge about our relationship to our gracious and loving God. The Jewish people at least knew about God, but the world was filled with people who had not heard about our God and didn’t know about our loving creator. Since Jesus’ time on earth, Christianity has spread around the globe to people of every continent. People can learn about Jesus and choose to believe in God and follow Jesus’ teachings.

The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Yet, we are living in a society that is increasingly secular. Many people reject Christianity. Many others don’t understand how or why it could be relevant to their lives. They see pretty churches as part of the landscape of their lives, yet don’t feel the need to walk through the doors.

So, we must work to share the light – the Good News – with our friends and neighbors and family members. We must join with the light to help prevent the darkness from overcoming the light. We must invite people to join us at church for worship – and invite them to join us at church for Bible studies and community meals and special services and potlucks. If you have a friend who is having a hard time with the Christmas holiday, invite them to join us on Thursday at 7 pm for our Blue Christmas service. If you have neighbors without a church, invite them to join us for worship on Christmas Eve at 6 pm. Tell your friends about how being part of a community of prayerful Christians makes a difference in your life. We come here to worship God and to experience and participate in a loving, supportive environment. And, many, many people in our community are lonely and hurting. They need to be embraced by loving, non-judgmental people that are part of churches like ours, churches like Trinity. 

So, as we “wait” for Christmas Eve and recall the birth of the baby Jesus, let us remember to do our work of inviting people to church, inviting people to experience God, and do our part of shining the light of Christ into the world. Together, we will continue to do all we can to not allow the darkness to overcome the world. Amen. 

Seek the Lord -- A Message for December 7, 2025

Friends, today we begin the second week in the season of Advent…the first month in the Christian calendar. This is a season of waiting…we remember the 9 months Mary waited for her baby to be born….we remember the almost 10 centuries the people of God waited for the Messiah after the death of King David…and we are reminded that we are also people of God waiting for the return of Jesus and for the world to turn away from sin and turn towards the Lord.

In the season of Advent, we often reflect on the words of the prophets…instructive guidance for people who didn’t always get things right and who were waiting, like us, for God to intervene in the world and make things better. 

Last week, Laura preached on the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abeindigo – three followers of God who were loyal to the Lord despite their own great personal risk.  They refused to worship a false god, the king of Babylon, and were thrown into a fiery furnace in punishment. God saved them – their story is a reminder that despite impossible odds, and personal risk, loyalty to God will lead to both salvation and rescue. 

This morning we read from the book of Isaiah. The name Isaiah means “the Lord saves.” A very fitting name because when Isaiah walked the earth, the people of God were worried God would not save them. The Holy Land had been conquered by the Babylonians – their leaders and priests and royal family and the majority of their population had been forced to walk to Babylon as captives of war – the heroes of last week’s scriptural focus were children of Israel born to the captives in Babylon. The Jewish captives were not sure they would ever return to their homeland – they were not sure they would ever be free – they were not sure they would be able to worship freely or govern themselves again.

In the midst of their despair and their hopelessness, Isaiah offered a word of promise….a word of hope.

Today, we turn to the fifty-fifth chapter of the book of Isaiah. Listen to these words of hope in the midst of despair and darkness. 

Scripture Isaiah 55:1-13

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.

Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me;
    listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
    my faithful love promised to David.

See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander of the peoples.

Surely you will summon nations you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.

Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

Here ends this reading of the word of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Amen

Let us pray….

The Message Seek the Lord

When we are struggling, it is hard for us to have hope. We know this from our own experiences – we can look back over times in our lives when things were bad – perhaps we were looking for a job when nothing seemed available; perhaps we were in a failing relationship and nothing we did seemed to make it better; perhaps we were failing a class in school and we just couldn’t understand the material; perhaps we were struggling with an addiction and no matter how we tried, we couldn’t kick it; perhaps someone we loved was sick and they weren’t getting better. When we are struggling, it is hard for us to have hope.

When Isaiah prophesied, the people of God were in exile. People who once were prosperous, were now struggling. They had little to eat; they lived in squalor; they were far, far away from their former homeland. They didn’t know if they would ever be free again. When people are struggling, it is hard for them to have hope.

Similarly, the situation when Jesus was born was also grim for followers of God. The Holy Land was an occupied territory. Their land had been conquered by the powerful and brutal Roman empire. The majority of people lived hand to mouth. The Roman army policed their towns and cities. They had to pay unfair taxes to the Romans, and the tax collectors took money off the top to enrich themselves. A handful of people thrived by colluding with the occupiers, but the rest of the people suffered. When people are struggling, it is hard for them to have hope.

 The people of God who heard the prophesies of Isaiah were also struggling. They were in exile – forced to leave the Holy Land and live in Babylon…hundreds of miles away from home. They had lost their freedom, their sovereignty, their ancestral homes. They were transformed from being the rulers to being the peons – they were slaves who were ruled by the whims of their Babylonian overlords. The kings of Babylon were tyrants who were cruel to the people who lived in their land – last week’s story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abindigo is just one of many examples of their brutality.  When people are struggling, it is hard for them to have hope.

So, what was Isaiah talking about? His words invite the exiled Jews to come and be refreshed by living waters and free food. He calls them to embrace the everlasting covenant God made with David. He claims God will pardon even people who are wicked and unrighteous.  And, his words promise restoration – the exiled Jews will return to Israel. These words offer hope to people who are struggling – everything will turn out all-right.

And, it did in many ways….the descendants of the exiles returned home and rebuilt Israel. Over and over again, the Jewish people have returned home and rebuilt Israel.

We are also people of hope and promise. Jesus came to earth in the first century to offer hope to people who were struggling then and his words and teachings still bring hope to people who are struggling now. 

And, we currently live in a time when people are struggling. Our immigrant neighbors are worried they will be accused of a legal infraction and be deported. The prices of food and toiletries and cleaning supplies have risen quickly for everyone. People’s health insurance costs are also quickly rising, making insurance less affordable. Wars continue to be fought in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Tensions continue to be high among people of different political views, causing disputes between families and neighbors. Every time we turn on the news, we watch and hear more and more stories about how hard things

In the midst of these scary times, we must rely on our God. In the midst of our struggles, God promises us abundance. In times of trial, God promises peace. Jesus’ words to us echo down from the centuries: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Our relationship with God provides comfort and respite no matter what we face. We can depend on God. And, our faith guides us through times of trial and persecution. We can depend on God to never leave us alone. Isaiah’s words remind us of God’s great love for God’s people: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God created the world to be full of abundance – delicious food, fresh waters, building materials, people who love each other and support each other. Our faith reminds us that no matter what we face, God is with us. And, the promise of God is that we will also experience abundance….things get better. And, we will always have a home with God, the source of our strength and our salvation. 

Thanks be to God. Amen.

 

God Chooses David -- A Message for October 19, 2025

  Last week, we focused on the call of Samuel to become a prophet for God. When God first started appearing to and communicating with Samuel, he was just a boy…probably around 12 years old. 

Samuel became the primary prophet in the land of Israel. He lived his whole life in service to God. God had Samuel anoint Saul to become the first king of Israel. Samuel was a mentor for Saul….he nurtured Saul as the first king of Israel. Samuel worked alongside Saul for many, many years. Whenever Saul had to lead the army against their enemies, Samuel would be on the sidelines, praying and offering sacrifices to God. Before each battle began, Samuel led Saul in prayers and offering sacrifices.

And, this was how Saul fell-out with God. Once, when Saul and his army were facing a great foe, Saul was waiting for Samuel to arrive….he was anxious to get the battle started.  And, Samuel didn’t come when Saul expected him. So, Saul offered the sacrifices and prayers before Samuel arrived. As soon as he was done, Samuel appeared. And, Samuel told Saul he had broken covenant with God – he hadn’t followed the proper procedure. God was so angry that Saul had broken the rules that God decided to reject Saul as king, reject Saul’s family so that his descendants would also not become rulers, and was going to anoint another person to become king instead of Saul. Saul was contrite after he learned of his mistake, but it was the final straw that broke the camel’s back – he had been disobedient to God’s will and God decided he needed a different person to rule over Israel. 

This morning, our first reading is the tale of how that next ruler was selected. God had Samuel go to the province of the Benjaminites and anoint a son of Jesse to replace Saul as king. Listen to the story as we read from 1st Samuel chapter 16.

Scripture 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 51:10-14

16 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

2 But Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears about it, he will kill me.”

The Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 

3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate.”

4 Samuel did what the Lord said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, “Do you come in peace?”

5 Samuel replied, “Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me.” Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and had him pass in front of Samuel. But Samuel said, “The Lord has not chosen this one either.” 

9 Jesse then had Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, “Nor has the Lord chosen this one.” 

10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 

11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.”

Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.”

12 So he sent for him and had him brought in. He was glowing with health and had a fine appearance and handsome features.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.

Amen.

Let us pray….may the words of my mouth and the mediations of all of our hearts be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer. Amen.

God chose David to rule, not for his outward appearance or his height, but for his heart.

David was just a kid when he was selected. He was the youngest son in a culture where birth order was important – as someone with 8 older brothers, he was not expected to become a leader in his family or in the outside world. And, he was just a kid – so unimportant that his family left him to watch the sheep while they went to make sacrifices with the great Samuel. But, God cares about our hearts – not our family position, not our appearance, not our education or professions or prestige.

Our hearts.

David led a complicated life. He developed a special father-son relationship with King Saul (who didn’t know at first David was going to replace him)...David played the lyre to soothe King Saul’s headaches. David also became best friends with Saul’s son, Jonathan. Then, David used his skills as a sling-shot master to kill the Philistine warrior Gollith. Afterwards, Saul had his daughter married off to David. But, when Saul realized David had been chosen by God to replace him as king, Saul spent many years chasing David around the Middle East and trying to kill him. Eventually, Saul was killed and David became king.

God anointed David to be king because God could see that David had a good heart. But, David was not always a good person or a good ruler. One of the worst things David did was rape a woman – a married woman named Bathsheba. A pregnancy resulted from the rape. Uriah, her husband, was a loyal soldier who found in David’s army – David tried to bring him home to sleep with his wife, but Uriah was so loyal to David he refused to have relations with his wife until the war was over. So, David told his generals to intentionally place Uriah in harm’s way so that he would be killed. After his death, David forced Bathsheba to marry him. The baby who resulted from the rape was born, and he died in infancy. God was displeased with David. 

We all would be displeased with David.

What made David different – different from Saul – different from other followers of God – was that he was capable of repentance. By the time David’s disaster with Bathsheba took place, Samuel was long dead. Nathan was the prophet and advisor who supported David. He confronted David for his massive error–his colossal mistake–and David was contrite. David repented. David understood he had done a series of wrongs, each one leading to the next, with terrible consequences.

David wrote Psalm 51 in response to his transgressions. Listen to a few stanzas from David’s prayer admitting his guilt and asking for repentance….he said:

10 

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 

Do not cast me from your presence
    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation
    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
    so that sinners will turn back to you.

14 

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
    you who are God my Savior,
    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Amen

Message God Chooses David

How could God pick such a flawed man to lead the people of Israel? He was a rapist, a murderer, and a sinner. His lust led to the death of both a loyal soldier and a baby. His lust led to the destruction of Bathsheba’s content life and threw her into a chaotic mess. How could God pick a man like David?

David’s story is the very human story of a person who makes many, many mistakes, but truly repents and works to change his life for the better. David repented and actively worked to be a more loyal follower of God. David repented and actively worked to be a better leader of his family. David repented and actively worked to be a better leader of his country. 

In ancient Israel, the role of a shepherd was always used as a metaphor for a king.  God knew David’s heart was a shepherding heart – he had the qualities of a good shepherd, even though he made mistakes. Like David, we are called to embody the qualities that will make us good shepherds – and compassionate members of the Christian faith. We may not be called to lead a country, or an army, but we are called to put our Christian faith into action, and work to embody “shepherd” attitudes and care for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.

A good shepherd is trustworthy – their people, and sheep, can rely on them. They treat their followers consistently with care…their followers feel safe and valued.

A good shepherd leads by example – demonstrating the behaviors and values they wish to instill in their followers. They embody dedication and integrity.

A good shepherd is compassionate and caring. They are attentive to the needs of their people (and sheep), provide support during difficult times, and celebrate the successes of their people.

A good shepherd establishes boundaries.  They create safe environments where their people can thrive without fear of harm or confusion.

A good shepherd has endurance and commitment.  What if David decided after a few months that being a king was no fun, so he ran away home? A good shepherd perseveres during challenging times. They remain committed to their people, even when faced with difficulties, and are willing to put in hard work. 

A good shepherd listens and is understanding. They take time to listen to their people, understanding their concerns and aspirations. 

A good shepherd provides guidance and direction. They lead their people towards positive paths and help them navigate challenges.

A good shepherd has humility. They recognize that their role is to serve their people, rather than dominate or control them.

The qualities of being a good shepherd were embodied by King David, even though he was a flawed person. The qualities of being a good shepherd were embodied by Jesus, even though he sometimes blew his fuse when he was exhausted or hungry. And, as followers of Christ, even though we have all made mistakes in our pasts (and will make mistakes again), we are called to embody the qualities of a good shepherd in our lives and as we serve God in the world. We are all called to be trustworthy; live out our values; have healthy boundaries; be compassionate and caring; have endurance and commitment; listen attentively to others and be understanding; provide valuable guidance and direction; and seek to be humble.

God judges people by their hearts. Let us work to embody God’s love and compassion in our hearts and as we live out our faith on earth. 

Amen.