Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22

 

                                                                                                     

Allow me to reintroduce this man, his name is Jesus.  Jesus the loving Messiah, Jesus, God made flesh, becoming human that God might meet us in human history.  Jesus the savior of all the world. Jesus, the one who granted us salvation with his grace.  Jesus the one who died for our sins that we might find new life in his resurrection.  Jesus, the one also known as Jehovah. And for those who might have picked up on the reference to Jay Z’s  song “Public Service Announcement,” allow me to reintroduce Jesus, not as HOV, but the REAL Jehovah, the Son of God.  The one who sacrificed his life that we might be extended God’s grace.

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Psalm 22:23-31; Mark 8: 31-38

                                                                                       

Cheltenham United Methodist Church.  The Little Church with the Big Heart where our mission statement says that we seek to grow in faith, serve others, and share the love of Jesus Christ.  This means that one of our first priorities is to grow in faith, strengthen ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ, to deepen our relationship with God, that we might genuinely be the people of God within the world, doing the work of Jesus Christ that the world might be led to him.  We have already professed that all year round this is our main goal, to grow in faith, however, during the season of Lent, we are intentionally seeking to grow in our discipleship with Jesus Christ, we are seeking grow in our faith, to better understand God in this moment, so we take on a time of prayer and fasting that we might establish a deep relational connection with our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston

Psalm 25:1-10; Mark 1:9-15

                                                                             

 

What is God doing in this moment? Where is God leading us in this season?  What is God saying to us personally? And what is God saying to us as the church, the people of God?  These are the questions on our heart this morning as we are standing before God, looking for direction and at some points, probably even, wondering where to go and what to do next.  As we enter into this Lenten season, this special moment within the liturgical calendar of the church, we are looking to God to reveal Godself to us that we might be able to grow closer to God in this season.  But we are also taking this opportunity to hear from God, that we might be led to build Beloved Community, that spreads the love of Jesus Christ to those around us, and be led to proclaim the Kingdom of God here on earth. So, for Lent we turn to Jesus as an example on how we can learn and hear from the Lord in this season.  We look to the place in scripture where Jesus fasted and prayed as he prepared for the journey of the ministry ahead – that we might also be able to prepare for the journey and ministry ahead as we wait and prepare to hear a word from the Lord.  

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

2 Kings 2: 1-12; Mark 9:2-10

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Have you ever had a moment or experience that showed you, without a shout of a doubt that Jesus Christ is Real, that he can be felt deep in the soul, that he is our salvation, our liberation, that even in our darkest hour, Jesus can bring about light? Have you ever felt the presence of Jesus right there with you, soothing your pain and bringing about comfort, even within the deep guttural moans of the deep darkness of midnight?  Have you ever witnessed a moment where Jesus so deeply touched your heart that you knew that Jesus was real and that in your relationship with him, everything was changed, that your life was transformed, to the point that you felt like you had to follow that man from Nazareth, a place where it was rumored no good could come from?  Have you ever had a revelation that reveals what some might think is unthinkable, but presents the truth of Jesus Christ, even if it presents something that lacks all common sense? Has something so miraculous happened to you that it was extremely evident that Jesus is real and present within your life?  If so, you are witness to the transformational power of Jesus Christ, and you have a testimony to share with the masses.

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Psalm 147:1-11, 20; Mark 1:29-39

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Throughout our years within the church, we have seen the narratives within the scripture, where Jesus moved throughout his ministry healing people.  He saw their wants and needs and showing them a divine love that is found only in God.  Just last week we saw a narrative where Jesus was willing to dig through the muck and the mire to genuinely see a woman in pain and a man in desperate need of a miracle.  Jesus was not only willing to provide healing, but fully see them in all that they were to affirm, restore, and transform each of them.  And this week’s narrative is no different, we see that Jesus heals over and over, seeing the needs of the people and providing healing.  But how often do we pay attention to what Jesus is actually doing?  How often do we see the actions of Jesus as a guide for our lives?  Jesus heals, but we also see that Jesus stepped into a secluded space that he might enter into that sweet hour of prayer – that moment of deep seclusion and vulnerability to connect with God – that moment where relationship is built with God – that moment where we give our praise and thanksgiving to our God – that moment where we bear our soul before God that God might comfort our moans and groans and wipe away the tears that fall from our eyes.  How often do we follow the actions of Jesus Christ and enter into that sweet hour of prayer, just like Jesus sought out to do? Jesus went out to a deserted place, out to a sacred place, alone, a place not interrupted by the chaos of the world and began to pray.  Entering into the sweet hour of prayer.  What might life be like if before anything, before we take a step out into the chaotic world, before we step out on faith, after we have achieved great things, when our soul grieves, or just throughout the journey of life, we take it before God first and enter into that Sweet Hour of Prayer.

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Psalm 111; Mark 5: 21-43

                                                                                                   

 

 Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Psalm 62: 5-12; Mark 1:14-20

                                                                                               

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet.” Words from William Shakespeare from the famed tragedy Romeo and Juliet as Juliet expresses her lament at her love being of the Montague household.  But what is in a name?  Our name is how we identify ourselves, if we contemplate it, it is everything that makes up who we are narrowed down to a couple of words to define who we are.  Our name uniquely belongs to us and identifies who we are and all of the things that make up who we are, both things seen and unseen, things known and unknown.  Some may have our name, or a similar name, but it is our own specific name that defines who we are, all that is unique and complex about us – our name, while simple it may be encompasses all that things that make us.  It tells a story of who we are, what we have been through. People may not see the whole story behind what is in our name, but it points to us, the being that has been through our own journey. 

 Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18; 1 Samuel 3: 1-10

                                                                                         

It has been said that the hour of midnight is the darkest point of the evening.  It is when the peace sets in, the light of day seems to be long gone, the deepness of the darkness of night seems to have the ability to consume you. When you experience the stroke of midnight, out in the country, it is only the twinkling of the starlit sky that brings any sense of light.  The darkness holds all the things we cannot see and may not wish to see. But it allows the freedom of things to roam around in the darkness, good or bad. Or if you are experiencing midnight within the city, it is the bewitching hour as many things begin to shut down, the lights from the city drown out the stars, but businesses and restaurants begin to shut down. Also there are corners and areas that become enlivened, the things that veer on the side of what some say is the side of the forbidden, the scandalous, the things we don’t like to talk about or bring attention to.  The profane that lives in the darkness comes to life in the midst of the darkness of midnight.  It is the moment of the darkness of the night, that has the ability to encapsulate and surround us, because darkness is all that is there, in the deepness of the midnight hour.  The midnight is the point in the day where that portion of the earth is furthest from the sun, so it covers the world in darkness.    A deep, cloaking, thickness of blackness that surrounds our entire being. It is the darkest moment of the day.  Quite often our perception is that there is absolutely no comfort in the darkness of midnight, only our fear and our waiting for the dawn to arise.

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Acts 19:1-6; Mark 1:4-11

                                                                                 

It should be no secret that this week was a difficult week in United States History.  The events of this week likely left many of us pondering, how much crazier can life get, and some are even wondering if this is a sign of the final times on this earth.  The chaos that ensued this week at the Capitol Building and the processing and commentary around it, have gotten many of us questioning what is happening within the borders of our country.  And probably even has other countries, even our allies, wondering what is happening in the United States.  It may be no mystery, that it was difficult for me to pull the sermon out this week.  As I watched the television on Wednesday, in a state of shock and awe, with my jaw-dropped and my eyes wide open, I immediately went into a prayerful moment, praying over the safety of those in the Capitol, but also praying to God saying Where are you God? And What is the message you are trying to share with us?  What would you have us to do?  The sixth of January was a date in which we, in the Christian world, were supposed to be celebrating the Epiphany, the moment in which the wise men were led to our Lord by a star, bringing him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  A time where we acknowledge the world being drawn to Jesus Christ, who is the savior of the world, the acknowledgement of all being able to receive the blessing of our King. And yet January 6, 2021 held what some may say showed our need for Christ within this world as people moved with violence, hate, and vitriol as they stormed the Capitol building, seeking to thwart a governmental vote.  I wrestled back and forth with God on what God was saying in the midst of all this.  God where are you? And what are you doing in this moment?

Pastor Rachel B. Livingston 

Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:2-12

 

                                                                                   

 

For many of us we have concluded our Christmas season, as we have celebrated Christmas day and marched into the new year.  In many households, the trees have come down, the stockings have been taken off the fireplace, the lights have gone into the box and back into the attic, all of the decorations have been put away.  Because to many the Christmas season is over.  December 25^th has come and gone, Santa Clause has come to visit the children, we have all received our gifts, we have waited for the ball to drop as it signifies the ushering in of a new year, we have wished our family all the blessings that can come in the new year, we have made our resolutions that will bring about the new us in the new year, and the time has come for us to return back to business as usual.  And for some of us, we are moving into a new year, with the desire of trying to leave all things that happened in 2020 behind, shedding all the negativity, our heartbreak, our sorrow, and pain, and we are stepping into the new year of 2021with new possibilities, new thoughts, and a new perspective.

But for us Christians, the Christmas season is still continuing, and it will continue on until January 6^th, which is the date in the church that we call epiphany.  And while the 6^th is a few days away, this is the Sunday that we celebrate this day of Epiphany, the conclusion of the saga of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Magi, or as some of us know it as the three wise men, arrive and present Jesus with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  The virgin Mary and Joseph have already arrived in the city of David, Bethlehem – there was no room for them in the inn – and yet they were given space to sleep in the barn.  Mary gave birth to this Holy Child and laid him in a manger.  The angels came and spoke to shepherds in the fields and told them of the new born King.  And shepherds traversed the land to visit and sit at this Holy King’s feet as he laid in a manger amongst the animals in the stable.  And now we are in the portion of the story in which the three wise men from the east have come to the see the Child who is the King.  These three kings of orient are, bringing gifts they have traversed afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star.