As we age, we begin to appreciate parts of our body more. We miss them more when they don’t function properly. Cataract surgery helps us appreciate our eyes. Carpel tunnel – our hands, knee replacement – our knees, hearing aids – our ears, arthritis – our joints. Paul in I Corinthians 12 compares the church to a body that depends on each part to work smoothly and harmoniously. Everyone in the church community has a part to play. We all think of pastors and teachers. Here we have some pretty magnificent gifts of prophecy, healing, and miracles. Paul, however, does a complete turnabout. Those who have weaker gifts to offer are said to be indispensable and those we think less honorable, we clothe with greater honor, so they’ll be no divisions within. In our Luke passage, Jesus declared his mission of reaching out to the weaker of society and caring for them by bringing good news to the poor, releasing the captives, giving sight to the blind, and freeing the oppressed. We are t...

We talked last week about God’s name for you. In this weeks Isaiah 62 passage it talks about giving Israel a new name. Comparing Israel to an unmarried woman who feels forsaken, he gives the name “My Delight Is In Her.” No longer is she desolate but he tells how they will become a crown of beauty and a royal diadem. The land of Israel will be like a woman married, and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride – so shall God rejoice over them. God not only takes the rejected, forsaken, and desolate but also the ordinary to become royal princesses of God. In the story of Jesus first miracle, Jesus takes something quite ordinary – water, but turns it into wine – not just Two Buck Chuck, but as the steward says here – the best wine. This got me thinking about how God can take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. Think about rocks turning into gems, and an oyster’s irritant turning into pearls. God makes grapes to grow by providing sun and rainwater and gives wisdom to the winemakers...

My Pastor, James Dollins told us about a woman named Larinda whose husband called her Lily with each letter standing for Larinda I Love You. In Isaiah 43 God says, “You are mine. I have called you by name. It got me thinking about the special name God might have for us. If I go with the M of my first name and add the “ily” for I love you, I’d end up with Mily. Well, God does in fact love us. It says in this passage, “you are precious in my sight and I love you. I love the song by Kathy Sherman who puts these words into modern ones that apply to us. We are told to not fear when we find ourselves walking in the deep waters of life because God will never let us drown. When we are overwhelmed with troubles and pain, God promises to be with us and to save us. Why? Because of the refrain of the song, “You are mine. I have called you by name. You are precious and cherished in my eyes and I love you. Isaiah is speaking God’s word to the Jewish people who have been dispersed to differen...

  We all know about the gifts the three wise men brought the child Jesus, gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Do you think these were on Mary’s wish list? Many think these gifts were sold, not on ebay though, but used to finance their trip to Egypt to escape King Herod’s terrible decree to kill all children under two. We have a contrast of Kings here. The earthly king, Herod who feared losing his power so he made this awful decree. Then the king baby Jesus whom the wise men brought gifts to who would become the Prince of Peace. In Psalms 72, David prays for his son Solomon who is considered the wisest King in Jewish history. He prays for God’s justice and righteousness. David prays not only for the prosperity of the people but that he will defend the cause of the poor and give deliverance to the needy. He prays that he will crush the oppressors so that righteousness and peace may abound. Would that we had world leaders like this. One who would work on the causes of poverty and work to a...

  Clothed in Favor MJ Buist, Diaconal Minister December 26, 2021 When I studied our Old Testament passage today, it reminded me of a chalk talk my mother once gave. Don’t know if you can remember how some artists would draw in chalk and tell a story. Well my mom was doing one for a Mother’s Day program teaching about Biblical mothers, and on one large sheet of paper she drew one little shirt, then one slightly bigger, and then one even bigger - you get the idea. I was confused, and had no idea who she was talking about when she finally told us it was Hannah who made a new robe for Samuel every year as he grew as mentioned in our Old Testament passage. To refresh your memory on her back story, Hannah, who was barren, prayed for a son and told God that if God answered her prayer she would give her son up to the priesthood. Well, God did indeed answer her prayer and she brought a young Samuel to the temple. But, every year when they returned to the temple to give their yearly sacrific...

  Buist Christmas Newsletter 2021   This year has truly been one of joy for the Buist family. As I compare the Covid year with now, I’m amazed how much busier we’ve been. Let me share some of our blessings. It has been wonderful to return to my church work in person and have regular worship services. I was able to preach twice on our video recorded services in January and in person in July. I will be preaching on December 26 th . I can now finally visit people. We kept the Tuesday night book study I lead during Covid through Conference calls, then on Zoom, and now meet in person. We’ve become a very close group. One of my greatest joys in my ministry this year has been doing a weekly worship service at a Board and Care called Addie’s Cottage. Each Wednesday I read scripture, give a short sermon, sing worship songs, and do prayer. It is the highlight of my week – what can be better than preaching and singing! I did some virtual substituting in the Spring and Summer a...