Category: pastor’s notes

Pastor’s Notes 12/8/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. –Luke 1:39-41

One thing the authors of our “How does a weary world rejoice” want to impress upon us is that in community, our joy expands. Even when personally, we are weary and may find it hard to rejoice, we can carry each other’s joy. Not only are Elizabeth and Mary kin, but they now become deeply kindred spirits for one another.

The good news begins to take shape in Elizabeth’s womb, but scripture tells us that she stays secluded, hiding her pregnancy from others—that is, until Mary arrives at her door, also pregnant. Perhaps Mary’s arrival is the inbreaking that changes everything for Elizabeth, for in that moment, her child leaps in her womb and she is filled with the Spirit. She can’t help but rejoice.

Being around people who aren’t afraid to expose their excitement permits us to do the same. Joy thrives when it can be shared. Joy operates so much better when it is a communal experience. Engaging in moments that connect us is why parents who are expecting invite those they love to gender reveal parties. This is why fans thousands upon thousands of fans fill stadiums for sporting events and concerts, to share joy with others.

Our authors remind us that Joy is fundamentally rooted in connection, but connection expands beyond just human relationships. We experience joy through feeling a deep connection to ourselves, our loved ones, to God, to nature, and to the whole cosmos that surrounds us. As we look to the Gospel text, many sermons may emphasize how Elizabeth provides sanctuary for Mary. However, this year, we hope to highlight a different angle: perhaps Mary’s arrival is what pulls Elizabeth out of her seclusion, allowing her to experience joy and delight.

On Sunday we will celebrate the mutuality of Elizabeth and Mary’s bond—even if they each cannot feel joy for themselves, they are both holding joy for each other. From that connection, joy grows. We are connected as the body of Christ; we are on a journey of faith together! See you Sunday.

Brett

Pastor’s notes 12/1/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.

O Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbors;
    our enemies laugh among themselves.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

– Psalm 80:3-7

How does a weary world rejoice?

Our advent journey to the manger in Bethlehem begins! Our theme “How Does a Weary World Rejoice?” and the supporting materials have been designed by the creative folks at A Sanctified Art.

In this series, close attention is paid to how the Gospel of Luke begins the story of Jesus: by interweaving Christ’s birth with the parallel story of Elizabeth, Zechariah, and John the Baptist. When comparing both birth narratives told side by side, we see the full scope of human emotions: isolation, fear, disbelief, as well as connection, trust, and joy.

The Christmas season is often an emotionally-charged time when we feel many things deeply—sometimes all at once. It is common to experience emotional dissonance amid joy-filled carols and festivities. Identifying ways in which we encounter joy in the midst of our weariness will be the goal of our Advent worship together.

As Advent begins, the creators of this series help up to get started by acknowledging the weariness, grief, rage, and hopelessness we carry—as well as to affirm that we are made for joy. Joy is designed to live in a full house of other emotions.

Scripturally we start the season with Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1:1-23. They have battled infertility and have lived many years steadfast in their faith. Perhaps they feel the weight of hopes and dreams unattained. The angel comes to Zechariah with a promise of good news, but Zechariah can’t fully receive it, and he is cast into silence for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.

Sometimes weariness can harden us and prevent us from living fully. We’ve had hard journeys. Grief has left a scar on us. This is how we show up to Advent. Let us acknowledge the ways we, too, are hardened by disbelief. Like the psalmist, let us ask, “how long?” and plead for restoration.

I look forward to beginning our Advent journey together on Sunday!  

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 11/24/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them: These are the appointed festivals of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations, my appointed festivals.

For six days shall work be done; but the seventh day is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no work: it is a sabbath to the Lord throughout your settlements.  – Leviticus 23:1-3

Time. 

Time can be a fickle friend. Some days feel like they last for an eternity while years can fly by in an instant. Managing our time is a lifelong pursuit. The quality of our lives however, is measured by moments rather than minutes. We memorialize our time through experience as we cycle through the circle of life.

This Thanksgiving holiday has been a wonderful opportunity for me to reconnect with loved ones, create new memories, and cherish the relationships that matter significantly. Holidays tend to be benchmarks for measuring our passage of experiences. Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, and other significant calendar events mark the occasions that help us to not only remember but cherish those moments that are most dear.

This Sunday we will recall the way in which the Church tells time. As early as our ancestral faith roots were planted, we have honored and celebrated God’s presence with God’s people. It is in this active remembering that we are reminded of our calling and purpose.

Leviticus 23 describes the Sabbath together with seven feasts, namely the Feast of Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Firstfruits, the Feast of the Harvest, the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. These feasts of the Lord are ‘appointed seasons’ for ‘holy convocations’.

In antiquity, time was measured from one feast day to the next. Though the celebrations may be different for us as modern day Christians the process and purpose continues to bring us reminders of God’s eternal presence.

I look forward to journeying with you soon into the advent season leading us to Christmas as we meditate together around the theme “A Weary World Rejoices.” See you Sunday.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes – 11/17/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  – Matthew 6:25

Every time I see the words “don’t worry” together in a sentence, my mind automatically goes to the Bobby McFerrin song from my youth, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” I would bop around the house singing the tune incessantly, it was such an earworm of a song. The concept of happiness being the opposite of worry takes me back to a simpler and most likely child-like time.

Life experience has taught me that the opposite of worry is more likely gratitude than happiness, so the lyrics should really be “don’t fret over the things that could go wrong but be grateful in the things that are working out.” This faithful solution runs counter to everything I learned growing up (Iowans by nature tend to be fatalistic I’m afraid).

Our gospel writers try to remind us that anxiety doesn’t add a single hour to one’s life, but apparently people throughout time have been unconvinced. It is easy for us to overlook Matthew’s advice in 6:33, “strive first for the kingdom of God.”

As Fred Craddock and Eugene Boring teach it, Matthew wants to relate his key word dikaiosyne (or righteousness/justice) to the eternal reign of God as well as having trust in God’s providential care as we walk this earthly life.

This Sunday we will celebrate Thanksgiving Sunday. We will focus our attention and prayer on the things we are grateful for having in this life rather than being consumed by that which we don’t. If nothing else, it is a good place to start in our praise for God our creator. I look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 11/10/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.  – Hebrews 12:1-2

Last Sunday we thought about the important role being a community plays in curbing the loneliness we feel. A recent Meta-Gallup survey revealed that 1 in 4 adults worldwide experience feeling very or fairly lonely. Based upon what we know of ourselves already, it makes sense that one of reasons why we exist as a community of faith may be to help folks fend off loneliness.

As followers of Jesus, we are a people of hope. We believe that the presence of the Holy is with us in our earthly lives as well as for eternity. We trust in light outshining the darkness and the good days outweighing the bad. Though it can be easy to forget, loneliness is temporary, and we are never permanently alone.

The Holy Spirit is with us. The realm beyond what we physically see is infinite and this verse from Hebrews reminds us that the Spiritual presence, memory, and impact of our loved ones and ancestors keeps us from being alone.

We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…

This is a Godly promise that keeps us going and serving together. On Sunday November 12th, we will celebrate All Saints Sunday. Marilyn Fidmont with the Christian Church Foundation will be with us as we remember the legacy of those who have gone on before us and to share with us the possibilities for continuing the financial viability that has maintained our church for 50 years.

In your prayers, please lift these beloved members and spouses of our faith community whom God received into eternal life since last November. We will honor them in worship on Sunday. Any omission to this list is not intentional. Please let me know if there are any names that have been overlooked.

We remember:

Carsten Carlson
James D’Avanzo
LaMaryl Shipp
Larry Wilber
Kurt Wolfram

I look forward to worshipping with you and honoring our saints on Sunday! Also, please be aware that members of our faith community, who were present at church on Sunday have tested positive or been exposed to Covid. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes: 11/3/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…
(Isaiah 61:1-2a)

Last Sunday we learned about the year of Jubilee in the book of Leviticus. It was already to be the practice that every 7 years, the land was to have a year of sabbath rest. Then after the 7th sabbath year was to be a year of Jubilee. Every 50 years was to be a celebration of release from sin, a restoration with God, and a reset for and with all of creation.

In a poem from “Dreaming Anew,” Jubilee is described as:

In the day of Jubilee,
the Holy One brings justice to the oppressed
and food to the hungry.

In the day of Jubilee,
the Holy One sets the prisoners free
and opens the eyes of the blind.

In the day of Jubilee,
the Holy One lifts up those who are bowed down
and watches over strangers and widows and orphans.

In the day of Jubilee,
all creation reaps a rich harvest of peace.

This Sunday we will sit with the idea of Jubilee once more (Luke 4:16-21), but from the words of Jesus as he reads the scroll from Isaiah 61. Something interesting happens here and perhaps with it a sense of clarity. Jesus proclaims that he is the one to bring justice and release. That the “year of the Lord’s favor” would be found in him. Jesus would make every year a Jubilee.

With Christ, every day should be a day to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, and a proclamation that God is with us. This is who he was and what we are called to do in the world as a community of those who follows Jesus.

“Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” Jesus said as rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The laws of Israelites and the prophecy of Isaiah has been and continues to be fulfilled says Jesus.

So, for us, 2024 will be an ideal opportunity to remind ourselves of this calling and purpose. We are the body of Christ and we have been called to great things. For 50 years the saints who have gone on before us lived faithfully and established this wonderful space, tradition, and mission for us as Sun City Christian Church. It will be the perfect opportunity to release, restore and reset as a faithful community.

As followers of Jesus, we have much to celebrate and even more to look forward to as we grow the Kindom of God in this place. I look forward to worshipping we you on Sunday!

In your prayers, continue to lift up Joe Emmerson and add the health of Burnell Babcock as their return to Arizona has been delayed until after January.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 10/27/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee for you: you shall not sow or reap the aftergrowth or harvest the unpruned vines. For it is a Jubilee; it shall be holy to you: you shall eat only what the field itself produces.
Leviticus 25:11-12

As we continue our worship focus around the practice of Sabbath, we will turn to Leviticus 25:1-12 and find the first scriptural reference to Jubilee. In the law handed down from Yahweh to the Israelites, a land Sabbath year was to take place every seventh year. Consequently, after the seventh Sabbath year or once every 50 years, a time of rest was to take on even greater significance known as the year of Jubilee.

As scholar Melody Murton teaches, Jubilee is an economic, cultural, environmental, and communal reset. Biblically it was to be a time when the land and people rest, and all those who are in slavery are set free to return to their communities. The Jubilee laws are essentially concerned with social relationships, economic security, stability, and the wellbeing of the community. They seek to ensure that people live in ways that reflect good relationships with God, with each other, and with creation.

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday as we will kick-off what will be a special year of celebration as we head into a modern year of Jubilee! In 2024, Sun City Christian Church will celebrate our 50th anniversary as a congregation.

During our year of celebration, we will focus our energies on the ways in which we are stewards of our resources, time, and talents to build up the kindom of God. We will seek to live in ways that reflect the faithful relationships, as followers of Jesus, we wish to share with one another and our community. We will commemorate our achievements and begin plans for our next 50 years of ministry.

See you Sunday!

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 10/20/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation
–Gen 2:2-3

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
–John 15:9-11

God rested.

Possibly the most affirming words in all of scripture. Only to be outdone by the fact that God created, rested, and then looked around and declared it good. In the act of rest, God appreciated creation. And in so doing, eliminated any question as to why “remembering the sabbath and keeping it holy” is one of God’s holy commandments.

When we make time in our lives and schedules to enjoy and appreciate God’s creation, we honor the sabbath and engage with God in life giving ways. Appreciation is an act of praise. There is joy to be found in noticing God’s handiwork when we allow ourselves to be awed by mountain views, glorious sunsets, and a sky filled with stars.

We are actively in relationship with God when tears flow as our newest grandchild curls their hand around our finger, we rest in God’s promise.

When the smile from a stranger alters the course of our day, we rest in God’s promise.

When we see an animal in its habitat and all we want to do is observe it for a minute more, we rest in God’s promise.

When we step aside from the toil of labor of our daily commitments and permit ourselves to find joy in and with the blessings of creation that God has surrounded us with, we rest in God’s promise.

I look forward to worshipping with you on Sunday as the words from Genesis 2:1-3 and John 15:9-15 remind us of who we are and whose we are. We will find joy together as we abide in the presence of the holy. God created it all and took time to rest and enjoy. May we create a moment this weekend to do the same.

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 10/13/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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.”
–Matthew 11:28-30

Outside of Trish bringing home the unwanted souvenir of Covid from our vacation, we had an amazing trip to Alaska. It was a perfect time of rest, renewal, and experiencing the wonder of God in creation. We observed the northern lights in all their glory, got up close with reindeer, and saw both black and grizzly bears in the wild for the first time.

Our guide for our bear watching excursion encouraged us to buddy up. “On three, pick someone you think you are faster than.” The old joke being, you only need to be faster than one person when being chased by a bear! I had several offers to be hiking partners (good to feel loved).

“Take my yoke upon you,” Jesus said. “Buddy up with me.” He promised to be with us in and through anything. Connecting with Jesus will give us the tools necessary to live and love in the world. Two oxen can pull more than one, thereby making the plow easier to move. But also, when they are yoked together, they will pull together. The yoke keeps them in sync with each other so that one does not fall behind the other.

On Sunday we will explore further, the ways in which being yoked to Christ can lighten our load and help us to find rest for our souls. 

Brett

Pastor’s Notes 10/6/2023

Posted on by Wende Gonzales

“Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy.”  –Exodus 20:8

It is so easy to get caught up in the daily grind and the rhythm of our work. We busy ourselves with doing and easily forget to make time to just be. Taking rest is an imperative spelled out in the Bible, and yet we brush off any such thought as crazy talk.

Sabbath.

God commands us to rest. It is right there in the big 10 that were etched in stone so Moses wouldn’t forget to share it with the people when he came back down the mountain after being in the shining glow of God’s presence.

Of all the commandments mentioned in Exodus 20, more detail is put into honoring sabbath. It is the longest entry in this section, perhaps as some of the other laws of God are pretty obvious: don’t kill, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t covet what your neighbors have and honor the authority of your parents. But taking time to rest is a nebulous concept that we often fail to deem as a holy commandment.

Exodus 20:8-10 says this, “Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. For six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.”

Sabbath, or shabbat in Hebrew, means to cease, to end, to rest. It is a valuable gift from God that we often fail to put into practice. So, over the next few Sundays we will remind ourselves of the commandment to rest, refuel, and to sit with God in life giving ways.

It is good to be home after a most wonderful vacation (indeed, having taken sabbath rest, I am reminded of the value and importance). I am rejuvenated and ready to creatively lead Sun City Christian Church into the next chapter of our ministry together! See you Sunday. 

Rev. Brett