[Propertalk] Sermon ideas Baptism of Jesus - Jan. 9 - Part 1

[Joe Parrish]

My wife worked at a hospital where the medical and administrative departments threw a huge Christmas party for the staff every year. "It was kind of nice," she said, "To have the chief of medicine pouring your coffee and the president of the hospital serving desert." She also confessed that she felt some discomfort when her waiter (who happened to be the chief of neurosurgery) asked, "Ma'am, would you like the chicken or the steak?" 

http://www.lectionarysermons.com/jan10ser99.html

John Jewell, 1999
- - - - -

I would like to tell you a little story about our community. There is one of my friends there who is quite handicapped but a wonderful, wonderful lady. She said to me, "Henri, can you bless me?" I remember walking up to her and giving her a little cross on her forehead. She said, "Henri, it doesn't work. No, that is not what I mean." I was embarrassed and said, "I gave you a blessing." She said, "No, I want to be blessed." I kept thinking, "What does she mean?"
We had a little service and all these people were sitting there. After the service I said, "Janet wants a blessing." I had an alb on and a long robe with long sleeves. Janet walked up to me and said, "I want to be blessed." She put her head against my chest and I spontaneously put my arms around her, held her, and looked right into her eyes and said, "Blessed are you, Janet. You know how much we love you. You know how important you are. You know what a good woman you are."
She looked at me and said, "Yes, yes, yes, I know. I suddenly saw all sorts of energy coming back to her. She seemed to be relieved from the feeling of depression because suddenly she realized again that she was blessed. She went back to her place and immediately other people said, "I want that kind of blessing, too."
The people kept walking up to me and I suddenly found myself embracing people. I remember that after that, one of the people in our community who assists the handicapped, a strong guy, a football player, said, "Henri, can I have a blessing, too?" I remember our standing there in front of each other and I said, "John," and I put my hand on his shoulder, "you are blessed. You are a good person. God loves you. We love you. You are important." Can you claim that and live as the blessed one?

http://www.csec.org/csec/sermon/nouwen_3502.htm

Henri Nouwen, 1991  
- - - - -

...the story about a pastor who was at a downtown city mission on skid row. In order for these transients and homeless people to sleep at this mission, they had to endure a worship service and a sermon. It was part of the bargain in order to get food and shelter. The preacher that night felt he was a gifted orator and had memorized Kipling's poem, 'If" for a high school thespian contest. The pastor recited the poem with great gusto. 
"If you men can keep your heads when all about you, are losing theirs and blaming it on you.  . If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, and make allowances for their doubting too. . If you men can wait and not be tired of waiting. .Or being lied about, not deal in lies..  Or being hated and not give way to hating. Yet don't look too good nor talk too wise. . If you men can dream and not make dreams your master..  If you can think but not make thoughts your aim. . If you can meet with triumph and disaster, and meet those two imposters just the same. . If you men can fulfill the unforgiving minute, with sixty seconds left of distant run. .Yours is the earth and everything in it. And what is more, you will be a man, my son." 
As the pastor recited this poem, the "thespian" in him choked with emotion. He was on the edge of tears and filled with deep feelings. There was a long silent pause. During that pause and silence, a voice from the back of the room piped up, "What if you can't?" 

http://www.sermonsfromseattle.com/series_a_what_do_we_teach.htm

Edward Markquart
- - - - -

...a book entitled The Art of Pastoring, Contemplative Reflections written by William C. Martin. Admittedly, the book was written as a source of spiritual refreshment, primarily for pastors who believe in Jesus Christ and who seek to be his disciples and show his love. But isn't that who we all are as followers of Jesus Christ? And thus I share with you that which I received:
Thought #11 in Martin's series of daily meditations is entitled Emptying. Please hear it for yourself:

"It is the invisible center where the spokes of the wheel meet that allows the wheel to move. The pastor becomes invisible, so that the parish may move freely. It is the empty space within that makes the bowl useful. The pastor empties himself of agenda and expectation so that the spirit of God may fill her. It is the space within the walls of the house that gives a family room to live. The pastor creates a space uncluttered by oughts or shoulds where her people may safely live. It is the invisible, empty, spacious pastor who serves the Word. Don't be misled by much ado. Emptying is difficult for the Western pastor," Martin states, "for it is likely that you have become convinced that your work lies in the fullness of your mind, your schedule, and your congregation's programs. Yet if you do not become empty, you will never be whole."

http://day1.org/1077-baptism_made_real

Randy Calvo, 2008 
- - - - -
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://stsams.org/pipermail/propertalk_stsams.org/attachments/20110108/9b50de6b/attachment.htm>