Archives For Incarnation

Possessing the Peace of Christ

December 8, 2012 — Leave a comment
by Kate Safford

by Kate Safford

“Acquire the Spirit of Peace
and thousands around you
will be saved.”

(Seraphim of Sarov, Russia, 18th cent.)

Our sermon series in Advent at Christ Church is called: Give Them Jesus. We are teaching the themes of HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE through Scripture, art, and personal stories. The series. None of these four virtues are dependent on our circumstances.

Let me say that again: HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE are not conditioned by “how things are going!”

In addition to the provocative quote above by Seraphim of Sarov, here are a few reminders to help us understand that Peace comes only through communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

“God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other. God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing.” – C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” John 20

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace 
at all times in every way.

(2 Thessalonians 3)

In C.S. Lewis, Gospel, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, Peace
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Poetry Monday – Ephrem the Syrian on Christ’s Nativity

December 4, 2012 — Leave a comment

EphremEphrem the Syrian, known as the ‘Harp of the Holy Spirit’ is described as ‘the greatest poet of the patristic age and perhaps the only theologian-poet to rank beside Dante.’ Ephrem was not only a well-known figure in the Syriac-speaking world but also was well known in the Greek East and the Latin West.

I recently picked up a used volume containing Ephrem’s Hymns on the Nativity. It is a gem of beautiful and unending word pictures on the wonder of the incarnation – God taking on human flesh. Filled with quotes and illusions to Scripture, it fills the heart and mind with joy and praise!  Here is a taste from two of the hymns:

 

Blessed be the Child, Who today delights Bethlehem.
Blessed be the Newborn Who today made humanity young again!
Blessed be the Fruit, Who bowed Himself down to our hunger!
Blessed be the Gracious One, Who suddenly enriched
all of our poverty and filled our need.
Blessed is He Whose mercy
inclined Him to heal our sickness.

Today the Deity imprinted itself on humanity.
so that humanity might also be cut into the seal of Deity.

(from Ephrem the Syrian, Hymns - Classics of Western Spirituality, 1989)
In Christmas, Eastern Orthodoxy, Incarnation, Poetry
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Give Them Jesus!

November 29, 2012 — Leave a comment

Christ is come to save the people Whom He has created
and whom He loves.

Eastern Hymn
for the Sunday before the Nativity

Martin Luther, the Reformer, strongly challenged the church of his day (16th Century) over unbiblical practices like indulgences, that were drastically clouding over the Good News. It’s  recorded that Luther’s spiritual father at the time pleaded with him: “But Martin, if we get rid of all these things – the practices so many common people cling to – what will we give them in their place?”

Luther replied firmly and intently, “Why, Sir, we will give them Christ! Yes, we will give them Christ!”

This Sunday is the beginning of Advent – the season that leads us to the Celebration of the Nativity of Jesus.
“In Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. (2 Corinthians 5)

“Give them Jesus!”

The Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love of Jesus!
Not religious rules, but Jesus!
Not shame, but the Healing of Jesus!
Not a new organization, but a Community of Jesus!

Joy to the world!

A book of readings for each day of Advent has been prepared by one of our pastors.
You can read or download through this Christ Church link.
In Christ and Culture, Christmas, Gospel, Incarnation
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Adam and Christmas Eve

December 23, 2011 — Leave a comment

Christ Church in winter

The Story of God and Man begins with the creation of Adam – the first icon, made in the image and likeness of God. Though designed to walk with God and rule the earth with him, Adam (whose name means ‘humanity’) falls and God immediately begins the great cracked-icon-restoration project with the promise of the serpent’s ‘crushing’ defeat. (Genesis 3:15) The Bible puts great emphasis on Jesus as the Second Adam. Replacing Adam One – the New Humanity has begun!

Patrick Reardon puts it this way, as seen not just from the birth, but from the death and resurrection of Christ.

(Christ) stands in defiance of Adam’s Fall…Adam no longer had the final word about the human expectation. On the contrary, a new order had been introduced; an order in which death was no longer the last chapter of history. Jesus…radically remodeled human iconography and changed the content of man’s inheritance. With respect to our ultimate destiny, Christ replaced Adam. Paul elaborates: “And so it is written, ‘The first man Adam became a living being.’ The last Adam, a life-giving spirit.”
(1 Corinthians 15:45). 

Christmas Eve will mark again, the glorious coming of the Second Adam – our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
With the 5th  century hymn writer, we can sing:

Bethlehem has opened Eden, come, let us see;
There a virgin has borne a babe
and has quenched at once Adam’s and David’s thirst.
For this, let us hasten to this place where there has been born
a little Child, God before the ages.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!
Let us Glorify Him!

Lyle

In Ancient-Future Faith, Bible as Story, Christmas, Incarnation, Jesus
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Christmas Eve Preparation – an early Christian ‘sermon hymn’ on the Nativity

December 21, 2011 — Leave a comment

If you want a deeply spiritual treat this Christmas season, let me urge you to listen to or read one of the best loved ‘hymns’ of Eastern Church music called the Kontakion of the Nativity.  listen to Frederica Mathewes-Green reading the full Kontakion with background music.

The written version can be downloaded and read.

This Kontakion is the work of the 6th century poet and singer Romanos and is in dialog form involving Mary and the Magi. This text document has all the biblical references and background to the work.

I love this sermonic and poetic hymn because it is filled with rich biblical imagery and ties the themes of the whole Bible together, especially Christ as the ‘Second Adam,’ which is the theme of my Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sermons.

EnJOY!

In Ancient-Future Faith, Fully Human, Incarnation, Jesus, Poetry
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The Picture Comes Alive

April 2, 2010 — Leave a comment

This Holy Week – Thursday and Friday at Christ Church, the building was transformed into a series of Tableaus or still and dramatic scenes.  The tableau pictured here is Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Below are words I wrote for the program. It seeks to capture the Spirit’s many colored gifts at work in the Body of Christ – employing all the senses and again celebrating the arts in the Christian community.
Well over 100 volunteers and staff worked amazing hours
with a real sense of joy and service to Christ.

Tonight we experience with all the senses
scenes from Holy Week;
from the entry into Jerusalem to the cross.

God created and came into His world.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Tonight we enter the climactic scenes of
The Story We Find Ourselves In
through words of Scripture;
music in voice and instruments;
art born of imagination, canvas, and paint;
drama, alive and still;
set design and costumes;
sacrament of bread and cup;
prayer and silent contemplation;
awe and wonder.


He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross,
so that free from sins, we might live for righteousness;
by his wounds you have been healed.
For you were going astray like sheep,
but now you have returned
to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

(1 Peter 2:24-25)

In Ancient-Future Faith, Fully Human, Gospel, Incarnation, Jesus, Lent
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Listen to a 4th Century Nativity Hymn

December 24, 2009 — Leave a comment

If you want a deeply spiritual treat this Christmas season, listen to Frederica Mathewes-Green reading the Kontakion of the Nativity here. I have listened to this many times and referenced some of the verses at Christ Church.

The written version can be downloaded in pdf form here.  It is in dialog form involving Mary and the Magi. This text document has all the biblical references and background to the hymn.

I love this sermonic and poetic hymn because it is filled with rich biblical imagery and ties the themes of the whole Bible together.

Enjoy!

In Ancient-Future Faith, Fully Human, Incarnation, Jesus
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the Snowy Night with C.S. Lewis video

December 21, 2009 — 1 Comment

Here is my first video attempt on my Mac that  I made on a snowy Saturday night before Christmas week 12.20.09.  [It has since been used by our staff to deservedly poke fun at me!]

In C.S. Lewis, Incarnation, Jesus
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“The glory of God is man fully alive.”

August 13, 2009 — Leave a comment
thanks to Bob Sloan for this pic of a orthodox church dome

Byzantine orthodox church dome, from Bob Sloan

I’ve become passionate about how the Christian world view provides the best answer to the question, “What is a person?”  or “What does it mean to be fully human?”   Jesus is called the Second Adam and the implications are enormous.  For example, our proclaiming of the Good News needs to start with Creation and our being in the image of God.  Then our fallen and broken selves can point to Christ as the one who redeems our humanity.  Some of this will be “fleshed out” (no pun intended) in our 2009-10  series on the Letter to the Romans.  Here’s an example of the kind of vital reminders I keep coming across.  It is from Image Journal – a publication committed to the intersection of Art, Faith, and Mystery.  Let me encourage you to read this blog post from the editor.  Not an easy read, but worth the effort.  It begins with a quote that is in the title of this post.  Click here to read.

In Bible as Story, Christ and Culture, Fully Human, Gospel, Incarnation
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Where Hopes and Fears Collide

January 2, 2009 — Leave a comment

christmas-candleThe  sermon title on Christmas Eve ’08 was When Hopes and Fears Collide, a take-off of  O Little Town of Bethlehem, “The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in Thee tonight. “

A few days later, I was surfing the cable news channels and a commentator, gazing into the new year that includes a new President, said something like this:  “Never in our lifetime have we faced this  degree of  new hope  and intense fear at the same time!”

One Excerpt:

In times of difficulty and hardship (to paraphrase Barbara Butler Bass in the December ’08 Sojourners)  we are marked, especially in the Christian community, by a holy insecurity.  It is the sure knowledge that “our wisdom is not an economic strategy;  our power is not financial, and our trust is not in princes.”

May your New Year be filled with the Hope of Christ who is indeed “in our midst!”

In Christ and Culture, Incarnation
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