40 Days 02.16.2024

Lent is a season of 40 days, not counting Sundays, in which there is an intentional focus on reflection, repentance, and an openness to the Spirit of God shaping us into the person and servant that God sees us to be.  40 days seems like a familiar number doesn’t it.  Where else do we hear of 40 days in our faith tradition?  

In Genesis 7 when the earth was flooded, it rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on Mt. Horeb in the presence of God receiving the 10 Commandments-Exodus 24.  When the spies went into the Promised Land to check it all out, they gathered information for 40 days-Numbers 13.  In the story of David and Goliath, it was 40 days that Goliath kept coming to the battle line and called out the Israelites to send someone to fight him-1 Samuel 17.  When Elijah was exhausted, overwhelmed and depressed because of a threat from Jezebel, he ate a simple meal and then ran 40 days and 40 nights to the Mountain of God to be in God’s presence-1 Kings 19.  Jonah the prophet, when he finally made it to Nineveh, proclaimed the message, “40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” Jonah 3:4   Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by satan. Matthew 4/Mark 1/Luke 4. Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days after his resurrection-Acts 1:3.

As you can see, 40 days has a significant place in God’s story.  So, the reason Lent is 40 days is because it is patterned after Jesus’ time in the Wilderness.  Since Jesus’ wilderness experience was spent fasting, praying, and being tested, Lent still today focuses on fasting, praying, testing, and repentance in order for us to draw closer to God.  

Now in our culture and church tradition, Lent is often seen as a very heavy season.  There’s a “Woe is me!” attitude about the season because we tend to focus on our brokenness and sinfulness.  We start out Lent hearing the message, “From dust you have come and to dust you shall return.” Those aren’t light words either. 

But just recently I heard a preacher make a comment about what happened immediately before Jesus’ time in the wilderness and how that might have impacted him during his time of testing.  Just before the wilderness, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.  The heavens opened and a voice was heard to say, “This is my beloved son, with you I am well pleased.”  Think of how those words might have encouraged and helped Jesus through the time of testing.  Consider how Jesus might have clung to those words, repeated them to himself when the physical, emotional, and spiritual pressure of testing was getting to him.  “This is my beloved son; with you I am well pleased.” Those are life giving words.  I still remember the words of “blessing” my father gave to me shortly before he died.  Powerful words that still strengthen me when I feel the pressure of life.  

What if this year as we begin this season of Lent that rather than feeling, “Woe is Me!”, that we might remember and cling to the words, “I am a beloved child of God!”  Certainly, repentance is needed in each of our lives to turn back to God.  It is likely we all need to give up or fast from something to draw closer to God.  Yes, we all could probably spend more time in prayer and reading God’s Word to listen for God’s Spirit stirring in our lives.  But maybe we should start this journey from a place of love – God’s love for us, rather than from a place of fearfulness and thinking God is angry with us.  After all, John 3:16 reminds us – “For God so loved the world..”  That’s all of us!!

During this season of Lent, hang on to God’s message of love for you, me, and all of us.  I feel it gives repentance and fasting a new focus when it’s based out of love rather than fear!

Pastor Keith

Serving 02.09.2024

Did you know that the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed and Love Feast have something in common?  They do, and it’s more than both dealing with something edible.  Actually, Shrove Tuesday, Love Feast, our One Thing, our Mission Giving, and Meals on Wheels all have something in common!  Plus, you can throw into this mix part of our United Methodist belief about the Sacrament of Baptism.  Now you’re really wondering what on earth all these things have in common.  The answer is one simple word, “Service.”

One of my favorite activities at our church is the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Feed.  It’s not just about the pancakes, though I really do like pancakes.  It’s not just about Chris’s Cakes and the fun the pancake flippers have with the guests coming to eat, though that is really fun to watch.  It isn’t just about the smiles and the enjoyment that the people coming to eat seem to be expressing and experiencing.  All of that is a part of what makes Shrove Tuesday a special event.  But what I really like about Shrove Tuesday is watching our church family work and serve together to make the event happen…and to serve the community.

The same is true with Love Feast.  It’s great to see guests come and share in the meal.  It’s great to talk with the guests and hear stories of how their day is going.  It’s great to visit with the different people that come to help prepare and serve the meal.  It’s fun to hear the banter among the drivers and delivery helpers as they get their allotment of meals to take into the community. But what is really great is to see the way people from the community and different churches work together to serve the Mitchell community.  

Even our One Thing and Mission Giving opportunities are a way for us to work and serve together to make a difference in the community.  That’s also what is so great to experience on Sunday mornings.  We all enjoy the sounds of the children in the hallways and classrooms, but I also appreciate the faces and faithfulness of all the adults and youth that arrive before the children to make sure the classrooms are set up, the lessons are prepared, copies made, and the welcoming smiles and hugs are ready when the children show up.  It’s how we as a church family work together to serve one another…and this is where baptism enters the picture.  

You see, the United Methodist understanding of baptism is that we are baptized or born anew “for” something not just “into” something.  Some traditions hold that baptism is about being born into salvation.  And that’s OK…that’s a piece of it.  Some traditions emphasize being born into a new family.  Again, yes that is a piece of our understanding.  But we hold that baptism is about being born anew for service.  This is in part why we generally don’t do private baptisms because every time we celebrate a baptism, it is a reminder to us all that we are baptized into a life and family of service.  After all, this is why Jesus came to this earth, to show a better way to understand God’s love and what it truly means to serve.

There’s a great story in the Bible, it’s found in both Matthew and Mark’s story of Jesus’ life.  Jesus is heading toward Jerusalem to offer the greatest act of service for all humankind.  The disciples are arguing as they travel about who will be the greatest when Jesus establishes his kingdom.  Jesus calls them on it and tells them very pointedly that his kingdom is not about power and authority, his kingdom is about service.  

I’m looking forward to Shrove Tuesday. I’ll have all the pancakes I can eat that day!!  But what will really fill my soul is seeing our church family work and have fun together through serving.  So, if you haven’t been able or won’t be able to help with Shrove Tuesday, that’s OK.  There are so many other opportunities for us to work and serve together.  And just remember, every time we serve here in our church, in the community, or out in the world, we live out the meaning of our baptism and the real presence of God’s Kingdom here on earth.  
Pastor Keith

Season of Reflection 02.02.2024

A part of my morning routine most days consists of doing some morning exercises and running 3 miles.  Of course, my preference is to run outside but in these colder months I run on the treadmill in our basement.   I’ve noticed, while on the treadmill doing my thing, one of our cats almost always walks by and heads into one of the rooms in our basement.  Yes, it’s where the litter box is.  

Then just a bit later the cat comes tearing out of that room and skirts the outer edge of the family room; running behind the entertainment center, in front of the fireplace, under a table, and finally runs upstairs.  My question is always, “Why does she do that every time?”  Of course, maybe our cat is looking at me and thinking, “Why does he run on that thing and not go anywhere?”  Fair question!

The truth is we all have habits and rituals that we have made a part of our lives and part of our faith.  Sometimes we have good reasons for the habits we practice…and sometimes we just do them because we are used to doing them without really thinking about the why or the meaning.  

In just a matter of ten days, our church along with many of the churches of our community, will be celebrating Ash Wednesday, which represents the beginning of the Church Season of Lent.  When Lent is mentioned most often people think of “giving something up” such as coffee, candy, chocolate, soda, social media, etc.  This is supposed to represent our “sacrifice” or “penitence” to go along with Jesus’ time of wrestling with temptation and his “humanness” in the wilderness.  

Maybe this year a better practice would be to make a list of the habits that are present in our lives and then ask the question “Why?”  Why do we do these things?  Is there meaning behind it?  Is it a harmful or unhealthy addiction? Is it just meaningless repetition? Is there purposeful development taking place?  But what is the why??

You see, Lent is intended to be a season of reflection and self-examination for Jesus followers to consider our personal faith growth.  Jesus successfully dealt with some obstacles and temptations during his 40 days in the wilderness that helped prepare him for his public ministry.  For us the 40 days of Lent are about asking God to show us where we need to weed out meaningless habits and replace them with meaningful faith practices intended to help us grow closer to God.

On February 14, 2024, Valentines Day and Ash Wednesday, our church will be holding Ash Wednesday services at 6:30 pm.  I invite you to attend our service to receive the imposition of ashes and to reflect on your faith journey…and your faith habits.  If you attend our service, you will hear the Bible verse Isaiah 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”  Good words to hear and reflect on during Lent as we consider our faith habits.  May God’s voice nudge us all to grow deeper in our faith and draw closer to God’s presence through the disciplines of our faith and the habits of our life.

Pastor Keith

Connections 01.26.2024

Every now and then I mention in this Friday Reflection, my own personal bible reading and how it is speaking to me.  Usually, I tell of some story that I’ve read or something that Jesus said that really speaks to me, or something the disciples are wrestling with that I can relate to…because I’m wrestling with a similar issue or reality myself.  There is really so much “good stuff” in the Bible to help us all grow in our faith and reflect on God’s wisdom for our lives.  

However, there are some sections of the Bible that at times I wonder what the point of it is and why it’s included in the scriptures.  It doesn’t seem to have anything important or relevant to say.  I’ve come across such a section in my current reading.  You see, I’m currently reading in the Old Testament book of 1 Chronicles.  Now there are a lot of great stories in 1 and 2 Chronicles.  But the part that I’m reading now, is the first chapters of 1 Chronicles, which contains a listing of people’s names and genealogies.  

So, as I’ve been reading through this section I’ve been wondering, “What is the point? What is there for me to gain in these names? What does God have to say through genealogies?”  As I was pondering these questions, an online resource came to mind.  It’s called “The Bible Project.”  You can google it and go to the website.  It’s a great resource providing videos, articles, and even online classes that give insights and explanations for the books of the Bible.  

The video from the Bible Project on 1 Chronicles talked about the genealogy being a bridge or a connection in God’s great story from Adam all the way to David.  And the end of 2 Chronicles (The 2 books at one point were just considered one book) is pointing forward to the Messiah.  So, the genealogy is showing that God’s plan is at work and being carried out through people in the world.  

But as I’ve thought more about it, I feel there are several other things going on in this and other genealogies given in the Bible.  In part it shows that God works through lots of kinds of people.  Sometimes we have an image in our mind of what we think the kind of people God uses look like, but God’s story is such that God uses all sorts of people…even imperfect people.  

If you follow the family line, I believe the genealogy is also telling us that it isn’t just major stories that God works through, it’s also the small stories, stories that maybe never get recorded or retold, yet God is still at work and those stories are also important and necessary as a part of God’s plan.

Finally, what struck me about this genealogy is that it tells us we are all connected.  A number of years ago my son was very interested in genetics, so he had us all do DNA testing.  Once the testing was done it showed us the hundreds, thousands, even millions of people we were related to – past and present.   Really this is such an important truth, we are all connected.  Just as what the genealogy shows in 1 Chronicles, family members didn’t always see eye to eye or even get along…but they were still connected.  

The same is true in our world today.  We may not always see eye to eye, as they say, with other people in this world.  We may not always get along.  But we are connected.  We are connected as Children of God.  We are connected as people God loves and continues to work through…even yet today.  These days, that is an important truth to hear and remember. God is at work AND we are connected!!!

Pastor Keith

Influences 1.19.2024

What do you do when there is a negative influence in your life?  Do you talk about it? Do you admit and recognize its presence? Do you ignore it and hope it goes away?  Do you come up with a strategy to deal with it?  Do you tell others for support and accountability?? There are so many possibilities!  Yet this is such an important question to ask, especially now at the beginning of a New Year during a time in which people are often striving to make changes in their life.  So again, what do you do when you identify a negative influence in your life??

I found myself pondering this question just a day or two ago because of a chapter that I read in the Bible during my devotion time with God.  I’m currently reading from 2 Kings in the Old Testament.  The book of 2 Kings tells the story of the various kings that served in Israel and Judah.  Some served for many years.  Others served just a short time.  The shortest I’ve found so far is just 3 months.  

What struck me is how one king, Josiah, ruled in Judah.  The simple summation that is given is that he did what was pleasing in the sight of the Lord.  Now for Josiah’s story to make sense you have to understand that the Torah, or the holy scrolls authored by Moses and given by God, had been lost in the temple for many years.  They were covered over and forgotten about.  But during Josiah’s reign, some attention was being given to the Temple and the scrolls were uncovered.  Whether it was the entire Torah or Book of the Law, or just part of it, that was read, we don't know.  But Josiah tore his robes (a sign of deep mourning) because he realized he and the nation had not been following God’s Law.  

Josiah made the commitment that he and the nation would follow the direction of God, but it wasn’t just a commitment of words.  Josiah went about tearing down and destroying all the other altars, shrines, poles, and other emblems and places that pointed to the various other god’s that the people had been worshiping.  In fact, 2 Kings 23 tells that in many cases Josiah tore down the “sacred” objects for the false gods, burned them, ground up what remained turning it into dust, and then sometimes scattered the dust in a cemetery.  This was the ultimate desecration or doing away with a foreign god.  In other words, Josiah was serious about making changes.  

What struck me about this is that some of the other kings also made a commitment to return to God, and sometimes they destroyed a few of the “sacred places.”  But a lot of times they just left the little shrines and idols in place that were scattered around the region.  In fact, the story tells of one king actually saying he and the nation would serve Yahweh (God), but then he also offers a sacrifice at one of the pagan altars still in place.  God was not pleased or amused!  But Josiah took a different approach.  He did everything within his power to get rid of the influence that was pulling the people away from God.  He wasn’t half hearted about it…he was serious and fully committed to getting rid of the negative influences in their lives.  And because of his commitment, effort, and faithfulness, God smiled upon Josiah.  

There’s a great lesson for us all in King Josiah’s actions.  He didn’t ignore the negative influences in their midst.  He acknowledged them and removed them, even to the point of destroying them so they could never be put back in place or have the same level of influence or importance in people’s lives.  Today, as we make changes in our own lives to love and serve God, may we consider the path that Josiah took.  May we be as committed to removing the negative influences from our lives, even to the point of making it impossible for them to be restored.  Sometimes that will mean getting rid of something, and sometimes that will mean bringing in others to offer support, encouragement, and accountability too, or doing both…and more!!

Yes, change and self-growth can be hard, especially when it means giving up something that we’ve become comfortable with in our lives.  But that doesn’t mean it’s healthy or a positive influence in our lives.  As we seek to take positive steps in life and faith, may we remember Josiah; take action, remove the negative influence, bring in outside support, and move forward in a new direction.  I believe God will smile upon each of us too when we show our level of commitment to make positive change as we seek to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves.  

Pastor Keith

Epiphany 1.12.2024

About 25 miles from Mitchell is the little community of Epiphany, South Dakota.  I don’t believe Epiphany’s population breaks the 100-person mark these days.  But did you know that years back, in the early 1900s, the town of Epiphany at times had 300-400 guests, not residents…but guests, staying wherever they could find shelter, just to receive treatment at the famous Epiphany Clinic.

The clinic was started by Father William Kroeger who also happened to be a trained physician.  Fr. Kroeger came to South Dakota to get away from the stress and struggles of life (and ministry) that he was experiencing in Ohio and Indiana.  He began serving the parish in Epiphany and soon discovered that Epiphany and the surrounding area had no medical doctor and thus very limited medical care.  Kroeger’s Bishop, Fr. Martin Marty in Sioux Falls, encouraged Fr. Kroeger to not waste his medical knowledge but to put it to good use by caring for the sick and poor in the region.  

That’s exactly what the good Father / Doctor did.  He started treating the people of the community…and they started telling others of their being cured at the hands of Fr. Kroeger, and word began to spread, and spread, and spread.  People began flocking to Epiphany, South Dakota to experience the healing of the miracle worker.

Epiphany is more than just a town; it is also a date and season in the Church year.  Epiphany is always January 6, though in the Church it is often celebrated on the Sunday closest to January 6.  This view of Epiphany focuses on one of two things.  1) The arrival of the Magi/three kings in Bethlehem and finding the “newborn king.” That’s the Western Church tradition.  2) Epiphany focuses on the baptism of Jesus and the voice from heaven declaring, “This is my beloved son, with him I am pleased.”  This is the Eastern Church tradition.

But Epiphany is more than a location, still present here in South Dakota, and it is more than just a date in the church year.  Epiphany is also an encounter…an experience…a moment in time in which something is revealed or made clear.  The word means manifestation or appearance.  

Technically, from a Church Calendar perspective, we are in the season of Epiphanytide, or the Sundays after Epiphany until Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which this year is on February 14, Valentines Day. Yet, an important realization for each of us to make is that we are to be living in “Epiphany” all year round.  As followers of Jesus and as ones connected to the Church, part of what our faith is about is helping people see, understand, or realize who Jesus is through how we live our lives and live out our faith.  

You see, at Jesus’ baptism, God announced to the world, “This is my Son…”  But the rest of the New Testament is filled with story after story of people making this realization for themselves of who Jesus is.  This usually happens through the person’s encounter with other Christ followers and how they tell or live their unique faith story.  This is why God wants and needs each of us to be telling and living our story and sharing our gifts, because it just might be that through our unique story, or through the use of the gifts that we have, that someone might see or experience Jesus and have their own Epiphany moment.  

So, don’t be surprised if at some point in May, July, or September, or whenever, that I wish you a Happy Epiphany.  No, I’m not losing touch with reality…I’m just taking the time to remind myself and each of us that we are to constantly be an “Epiphany People,” living our lives is such a way that someone might come to see, understand, and realize just who Jesus really is.  I have a feeling that Fr. Kroeger would have said that Jesus is the real healer and miracle worker…it’s just that Jesus gave him special abilities to use to reflect the presence and the power of Christ in the world today.  The same is true for each of us!  Let’s keep on reflecting Jesus in this community and world.  We just might help someone else experience…Epiphany!!

Pastor Keith

PS…Fun trivia fact - Epiphany, South Dakota is the only town in the WORLD named as such…Epiphany!

Wise Choices 01.05.2024

Nancy and I have a daughter, Melissa, who is a nurse, so it is understandable that she works in the healthcare field.  She has great gifts for caring for patients, but she also has quite a bit of knowledge and experience that gives her insight into the impact that life choices might have on a person’s life.  In fact, on more than one occasion I’ve heard her softly speak the words, “Make wise choices, people!” when she comes upon a situation in which there are potentially unwise choices being considered. 

One such occasion was when our family was on vacation in north central Minnesota.  Melissa and I were on a bike trail for an afternoon bike ride.  There are a number of bridges along the bike trail taking us over streams and small bodies of water.  At one bridge, kids were jumping off the railing of the bridge into the water below.  I could tell this made Melissa a bit uncomfortable, wondering if the kids knew how deep the water really was and what obstacles might be invisible under the surface of the water.  As we were riding close to this group of youth I could hear Melissa, in almost a prayer-like whisper say, “Make wise choices, people!”

What got me thinking about this is I’m reading from the Book of 2 Kings in the Old Testament of the Bible for my personal quiet time.  I’m reading in a section that gives a listing of the kings of Judah and Israel.  There is usually a brief listing of the accomplishments of the king or the way he fell short.  So often the king’s life or reign is summed up with one of two phrases.  It will say, “King So and So did what was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord.” Or “King So and So did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.”  Whichever phrase describes the king’s leadership depends totally on the decisions and the choices the king made.

I’m reminded of one of my favorite authors and preachers that I like to listen to.  His name is Rev. Andy Stanley.  He’s written a book and given sermons on decision-making in life and faith.  In his book he shares that the secret to making good or wise decisions is to ask good questions…and to answer them honestly.  One question Andy Stanley suggests we ask ourselves regarding choices and decisions we have to make, is what he calls “The Legacy Question” which is, “What story do I want to tell?”  

In other words, when the particular moment in time one is currently dealing or wrestling with is in the rearview mirror of life, or in the past, what story do I want to tell?  He is saying that we can determine, in part, our legacy, or the way we are remembered, by the choices and decisions we make now.  Yes, it’s true there are always certain elements of life that are beyond our control.  Yet, how we respond in those moments is always within our control.  We do have choices that we make.  How life unfolds for each of us is constantly about the choices or the decisions we make.  So, a great question to continually ask ourselves is, “What story do I want to tell?”

As we begin this new year another great question to ask ourselves is, “What is the story I want to tell in 2025 about my life in 2024?”  Grab a sheet of paper or a computer.  See if you can fill up a page or a screen of what you want your story to say next year about your life this year.  Once you have a sheet or two written up, read it over and start living it out.  Our actions today will impact what happens tomorrow…which will impact the story we are able to tell next year.  As we continue on in this new year, may we hear the words of my daughter being whispered in each of our ears, “Make wise choices, people!”  Happy New Year!!!  Let’s make it a great year!!!

Pastor Keith

Happy New Year 12.29.2023

There’s an interesting passage in the Old Testament book of Joshua, that I believe can speak to us in our current moment in time in which we find ourselves with one year ending and another about to begin.  The story can be found in Joshua chapter three.  

The background of the story is that the Hebrew people have left Egypt, they have been wandering in the wilderness getting Egypt out of them. (Remember, they’d been in Egypt for over 400 years.) The time has finally come for the Hebrew people to enter the Promised Land that God has promised to Abraham so many years before.  The only thing that was in their way was the Jordan River.  Also keep in mind that Moses has just died and Joshua has been appointed as the new leader of the Hebrew people.

Joshua sends the officers, or his leadership out among the people with a simple message, “When you see the Chest of God, or the Ark of the Covenant (which represented God in their midst), move…follow it.  Then you will know the way you should go, even though you’ve never traveled this way before.” Then the rest of chapter three and four in the book of Joshua tells of the Hebrew people crossing the River Jordan (the second time a miracle happened that caused the water to be separated so the Hebrew people could walk through on dry land) and enter into the Promised Land.  

What strikes me about this story from the book of Joshua, is that it is fitting for us as individuals, and also as a church family, as we are about to enter a new year.  We are about to leave something behind as we also enter into something new…that we may not fully know or realize.  

What I mean is that the past several years have been very difficult for churches.  The Covid pandemic brought new realities that many of us couldn’t anticipate or fully understand.  Our own denomination’s struggles and splintering have been very painful and even unsettling to go through.  And the fallout isn’t over yet as General Conference will be meeting in just a few months.  

For many churches this has been such a difficult time that it has been easy to lose one’s purpose while dealing with so much turmoil.  I have talked with our church leadership about this and we all feel the same, that we too have lost a bit of the sense of our purpose as a part of the Body of Christ here in Mitchell, South Dakota.  So, during 2024, we are going to be undergoing a process of asking lots of questions, praying a lot, and asking God what our purpose is to be as a part of God’s Kingdom work here on earth and in this community. 

I believe Joshua’s words are fitting for us as we prepare to enter a new year.  We all need to be watching the “presence” of God in our midst…and when we see God on the move, we need to follow along.  This way we too will know the way to go even though we’ve never traveled this way before.  I ask that we all join together in prayer as we say goodbye to 2023 and enter into 2024.  There will be a focused prayer opportunity coming up in mid-January that I invite our entire church family to participate with.   

Like the Hebrew people of old, may we be ready to move when and where we see God on the move.  And may we allow God to speak to us as we seek the purpose that God has for us as we live out God’s Kingdom here in Mitchell.  Happy New Year Everyone…it’s going to be a great adventure and journey!

Pastor Keith

Let Your Light Shine 12.22.2023

Don’t blink or you’ll miss it!!!  But it is happening!!!  You see, yesterday, Thursday, December 21, was the shortest day of the year.  That means today, Friday, December 22, the days have started getting longer.

According to a chart I found online at timeanddate.com, today will have about a second more sunlight than yesterday.  So, like I said, don’t blink or you will miss it. Tomorrow there will be about 5 seconds more, and that number will keep growing.  Before you know it, we’ll be back in the long days of summer.  

This yearly ritual of the change from days getting shorter to then getting longer is a part of our Christmas tradition.  Let me explain.  You see, Christmas has not always been celebrated on December 25.  It was only in the 4th century that the “Church” decreed that Christmas would be celebrated on a consistent date and December 25 was set, and it has been observed on that day ever since in most of the Christian world.  

Part of the reason for choosing December 25 was that it corresponded with the date of the winter solstice on the Roman Calendar.  At that time there was a big festival held at the time of the Winter Solstice.  The Church was trying to take pagan holidays and turn them into Christian or faith-based holidays for the people of the church and for society in general.  

Part of the significance of December 25 being observed as Jesus’ birthday is shrouded in the symbolism of that date…the fact that the days are getting longer.  This means there is more light or daylight filling each day.  What difference does that make, you ask??  Let me refer us all to John’s version of the Christmas Story.

Ok, right now some of you are thinking, “John doesn’t have a Christmas story.”  And generally speaking, you’d be right, at least John doesn’t have the same kind of Christmas story that Luke and Matthew have.  John’s Christmas story is wrapped in symbolism.  In John’s opening sentences, Jesus is referred to as “The Word.”  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1.  By the end of verse four the metaphor to describe Jesus has become “light.”  And then verse 5 states… “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” John 1:5

So, with the Winter Solstice, there is a switch from the days getting shorter, or having more darkness, to the days getting longer, or there is more light.  Do you see the symbolism?  The light is pushing back the darkness.  The light of the world overtaking the darkness.  Thus, John 1:5 is being lived out physically in our world every Christmas Day.  Elsewhere in John Jesus refers to himself as the “light of the world.”  So, Christmas being celebrated on December 25 simply emphasizes the reality that Jesus is the light of the world, and the darkness cannot overwhelm or overtake the light…Jesus, the true light of the world.  

I am glad that the days are getting longer, even if it is just by 1 second today.  It gives me the hope that spring and summer are coming, and our world will be filled with more and more light.  Our world seems to have quite a bit of darkness in it these days.  Christmas, being celebrated in just a few days, is a simple yet powerful reminder that the light of the world has come…and no matter how dark it may seem, the darkness CANNOT and WILL NOT overtake the light.  In the end, Jesus, the light of the world, will overwhelm and defeat the darkness of our day.  That is the great hope of Christmas!!  The light of the world has come!!  It is our task as followers of Jesus to do our part to keep the light shining, growing, and pushing back the darkness.  Maybe a Christmas tradition needs to be that we sing a special children’s song, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.  Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!!!”  My friends…let’s let our light shine!!!  Merry Christmas!!!

Pastor Keith

A Little Bit of Heaven on Earth 12.15.2023

It was just a week ago that I believe I experienced a bit of heaven here on earth!!!  No, Chocolate was not involved.  Well, there was one cookie that had some chocolate in it…but that was just a bonus to what was going on.  After several years of talking about it, Nancy, Mom and I finally found a free evening to take in the Nora Store Christmas experience.  

In case you aren’t sure what the Nora Store Christmas is all about it, I’ll tell you.  You can also go to Facebook and do a search of Nora Store Christmas.  Nora is a tiny community about 12 miles southeast of Beresford, SD.  The Nora Store was an actual functioning general store from 1907 until 1962.  The current owner, Mike, purchased the building in the mid 1980’s.  Mike happens to be a music lover and he had the opportunity to acquire a pipe organ from USD in Vermillion.  He decided to have the pipe organ assembled in his “store” front room.  That would be sort of like putting a pipe organ in the Gathering Area space of our church.  

Mike decided, since the organ had been a gift to him, he decided that he would give back to the community, thus, the Nora Store Christmas experience came to be.  So, for three to four weekends before Christmas, Mike opens up his store to anyone who shows up, to sing Christmas Carols and simply share in the joy and love of Christmas.  Mike said that this was the 34th year that he has been doing this and over those thirty-four years, he has never missed a weekend due to sickness, etc.  

We arrived at 5:30, expecting the program to begin at 6:30.  Everyone says that if you want a seat, you’ve got to get there early.  So, we did, and we weren’t the first to arrive.  Yes, we got seats for the three of us, but within 15 minutes of our arrival, all the seats that were set up were filled.  Then they started pulling out folding chairs and setting them up anywhere there was an opening.  And people kept coming!  What struck me as so wonderful is that the crowd that gathered last Friday evening, and it was a crowd, all appeared to be in such a good mood.  

The joy and spirit of the singing was truly infectious.  In fact, why I say I experienced a bit of heaven in the moment is that everyone involved seemed focus on one thing…Christmas.  There was no sense of…Ok, Methodists sit here, Lutherans over there, Catholics in this section, Baptists in that area, etc., etc.  No, we all sat together, young and old alike, shoulder to shoulder, and I do mean it was shoulder to shoulder.  We didn’t talk politics, the economy, or global events.  We simply sang Christmas songs and allowed the joy of the moment to fill us and inspire us.  I didn’t see a frowning face as people left the store.  There were smiles all around with words of “Merry Christmas!” and “Happy Holidays!”

As the evening progressed, Mike, the master musician and master of ceremonies for the evening, even commented at one point that the one thing we all had in common that evening was Jesus…and that’s all that mattered.  I know, in a crowd of that size, it is likely there were different understandings and beliefs about who Jesus was (and is).  But that’s OK.  Because that is a part of the Christmas Story too…not everyone in Matthew or Luke’s story of Christmas understood or even accepted who or what this tiny baby represented.  But still, Jesus came…for one and for all, making God’s love and presence real in this world.  

So, if you haven’t had the Nora Store Christmas experience, I believe this is the final weekend.  You might give it a try.  If you do, by the end of the evening you’ll likely find your heart overflowing with the gift of music and the joy of the season, all because of the most incredible gift of all…Jesus.

Pastor Keith