Gifts given and received...

2 Christmas/Epiphany Sunday/Year C– Jan 2, 2022

Jeremiah 31:7-14; Psalm 84:1-8; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a; Matthew 2:1-12

Gifts Given and Received

Happy New Year to all of you as we begin 2022!

Gifts given and received are on my mind this week…

One reason…is because as one year is ending and a new year is beginning…it’s a pretty common practice for many of us to look back and reflect on the past year…and when we set aside this time of reflection, it often helps us to recall the gifts given and received throughout the year…even in the midst of some troubling and sorrowful times…

It’s also an opportunity for us to think about how those practices of giving and receiving gifts in the past year, have influenced the way we have loved and cared for one another, in this sometimes heart-wrenching, ever-changing, chaotic world we inhabit with one other…

This time of reflecting back and remembering, also gives us the opportunity to contemplate on what gifts we want to carry forward with us, to share with another, in the coming year…

When I say gifts…I’m not really talking about material or monetary gifts; although, surely those are some of the gifts I’m thinking about… but, at this moment, I’m thinking more about the spiritual gifts that influence and transform our everyday lives together… I’m thinking about the people behind the gifts shared…our loved ones, our family and friends, the health care workers, the caregivers, the counselors, the first responders, the teachers, the artists, the musicians, the faith community leaders, the business owners and employees who assured we had the necessary food and material things we have needed and wanted, the too numerous people to name who have shared their gifts with us to help us walk through this last year together without giving up hope…for better days to come…

So, let’s take a moment now to reflect back a bit…on the topic of gifts…

 Looking back to the start of our pledge season this fall…our focus has been on gifts and gratitude…based on the scripture from James 1:17… “Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above…coming down from the creator of lights…”

As part of a year-end reflection time practice, I would invite you to go back to St Peter’s website page that includes all of the letters and reflections on gifts and gratitude from the Every Perfect Gift Pledge campaign this past fall…(https://stpeters-sitka.org/every-perfect-gift-pledge-campaign-fall-2021)... Once you have a chance to re-read some of them…ask yourself a few questions…what is coming to light for you now as you review them? What is it that you want to pay more attention to in 2022? What gifts of time, talent or treasure can you look forward to sharing with the church, the community, and the wider world in 2022?

In the season of Advent…I focused my sermon time on the gifts given in Advent – the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love…I encouraged you to be on the lookout for the signs of these gifts of God all around us, in the scriptures, the prayers, the music, and in the people and places we find ourselves…especially focusing on the greatest gift of all – the gift of God’s love… A love that changes everything and everyone it touches…A love that has the power to transform lives for those who believe…

Think back to some of those messages I shared about the gifts given in Advent…Are these gifts you want to carry forward into 2022? How might God be calling you in 2022 to be bearers of these gifts to others? How might God be inviting you to gratefully and graciously receive these gifts from God and through others?

My Christmas sermons focused on bringing all of these gifts together…shining light on the greatest gift of all, the love of God made known to us in the birth of a Savior, the Messiah, the Lord…the love of God who came down to dwell among us and walk with us…The One we came to know as Jesus.

In the scriptures throughout the Christmas weekend, we heard the good news about this greatest gift of all, proclaimed by the angels, the shepherds, and treasured and pondered in Mary’s heart…the good news that reminded us  that the light of God’s love has always been here…waiting to be born anew in our hearts, and in our lives…not just at Christmas time, but a light that burns in us throughout the whole year…a light that swells within each one of us, when we reach out to one another, to love one another, encourage one another, and support one another…in all the ways that we can…What a wonderful gift to give and receive!

I wonder how you might gather up all of these gifts together, the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that you received in 2021…and use them in the coming year to lead others to the light and love of God who was born for us on Christmas Day, the One whom we call Jesus…the light of the world shining for us and in us, forever lighting the way for us to walk in love, with God, with one another, and with all of creation…

There will be so many different ways that each of us will be called in the new year to give and share our gifts, in gratitude for the greatest gift of all given to us at Christmas…

The wise men opened their treasure chests and offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh….

In our hymn, we are about to sing…the donkey carried the mother up hill and down, to Bethlehem; the cow gave a manger and hay for the Christ child’s bed; the sheep gave them wool for a blanket and coat; the dove used its voice to coo and to comfort…

In 2022…in gratitude to God, and for the glory of God…What gifts will you give and share with others? What gifts are you longing to receive?

This year, I am longing for the gift of wisdom….

This year, I will be praying for the gift of wisdom as I reflect back on the past couple of years of living through these pandemic times and look for guidance in the coming year….

I will pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give us all a spirit of wisdom and revelation as we come to know him, so that, with the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we may know what is the hope to which he has called each one of us, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe. (Ephesians 1:17-19)

And I will not cease to give thanks for each one of you, for all the ways you have shared your gifts with others in this past year…I look forward to walking with you in this new year…full of promise and hope of what is yet to come….

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

*Hymn reflection after the sermon: The Friendly Beasts

The friendly beasts

Heralders Children's Choir (Utah)

https://youtu.be/vPR2ymhtEgg

Christmas Day Sermon: Gloria in excelsis Deo

Christmas Day– Dec 25, 2021

10am (in person)

Isaiah 62:6-12, Luke 2:8-20

On Christmas Day, we gather together to praise God for the gift of God’s love, the gift of God’s light born for us and anew in us, as we pause to celebrate the birth of Jesus, and as we await with hope for his coming again, someday…

Last night, we listened to part of the gospel story you hear today…and ended with verse 14…suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God is pleased!"

We hear those words again in today’s reading….as they sing out with joy…the glory of what has just taken place…a good news story to sing out to the heavens! A good news story about the glorious light of God’s love for every one of us….a love and light too wonderful to keep quiet or hidden…

It was the angel of the Lord…who was calming the fears of the shepherds in the fields…as she announced the Birth of the Savior, the Messiah, the Lord.

It was the glory of God shining through the angel and the multitude of the heavenly host, who gave the shepherds the courage perhaps…to set off on their journey to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to them… They went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

The shepherds were now the ones passing on the glorious good news of God’s love to the others…there was no way to contain the joy any longer….the joy and the love, and the light and the hope and the peace that they were witness to, when the angels proclaimed the good news to them! The good news that led them to the manger…that led them to reclaim the light of God, in their own hearts…

Mary treasured all that was unfolding that night, and was pondering all of what was happening around her…so much to take in… I think of Mary in this moment…as the one who somehow captured the essence of the confusing, and wonderful and joyful night…and held the space for us, held it up for us to see, as a sacred, delightful moment that it was…

And then we turn our attention to the shepherds again…as they returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

In such a simple and profound way…the light of God’s love born anew in us…cannot be contained…it grows larger and brighter with every moment we share it with one another…

That’s how God’s kingdom will come on earth, as in heaven… some day…when each one of us…opens our hearts to receive the love and light of God, who came down to dwell among us and walk with us….

And then proclaim it in the glorious and joyful songs of praise to God…and in the quiet moments with one another….

As we continue in these days of the pandemic…we could all use a little love and light, hope and peace, and surely some joy… to come into our hearts, and into our world…

Here’s the thing…It’s already here…It’s already here for us to re-claim and renew in our own hearts…and then it’s up to us to go out into our communities to share the light and love that the angels proclaimed, the shepherds shared, and that Mary holds up for us as a treasure…

Let us continue now, on this Christmas morning…by singing our praises to God in song… verses 3 & 4 of Angels we have heard on high…

 Come to Bethlehem and see

him whose birth the angels sing;

come, adore on bended knee

Christ, the Lord, the newborn King.

Gloria in excelsis Deo. (x2)

See him in a manger laid

whom the angels praise above;

Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,

while we raise our hearts in love.

Gloria in excelsis Deo. (x2)

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the se Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Christmas Eve Sermon - The Light of Christmas: Inside of us

Christmas Eve – Dec 24, 2021

6pm (on zoom)

Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2:1-14

 The Light of Christmas: Inside of us

Instrumental of “Go Tell it on the Mountain” played immediately before the sermon

Yes!

Go tell it on the mountain,

over the hills and everywhere;

go tell it on the mountain,

that Jesus Christ is born!

I couldn’t help but feel the joy as that hymn was ringing out!

Yet, as we continue with the 1st verse of that hymn… the lyrics settle us down into a quiet moment of reflection…before moving us back to the joyful refrain….

The 1st verse in that hymn begins in this way:

While shepherds kept their watching

o’er silent flocks by night,

behold, throughout the heavens

there shone a holy light.

Aaahhh….the silent flocks by night…a holy light…

A moment of rest for our weary hearts and bodies…a moment for us to “behold”…to just sit in the quiet presence of the light that pierces the dark night skies, with a moment of quiet wonder and peace…

Yet…what we heard in the scripture reading tonight…is that the shepherds weren’t exactly feeling peaceful or restful at that moment…they were terrified…

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

I get a sense that the angel somewhat quieted their fears for a moment with this bewildering good news of great joy for all the people…the angel even assures them that there will be a sign for them…so they know for sure that what the angels were proclaiming was true about the birth of a Savior…. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”

Aaahhh….OK…all is well now…the shepherd’s fears are put to rest…

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God is pleased.”

What, what, what? What is all of this? What is happening? What is this joyful, glorious sound we hear? Where is all this light coming from? What does it all mean? Now what?

I imagine the shepherds are a bit terrified and joyful all at once right now, AGAIN……and at tomorrow’s Christmas Day service, we will hear a continuation of this gospel story…to find out what they do next….

For tonight, as we listen to this beloved Christmas gospel, in the midst of a pandemic that we thought would be all over by now… this is what I’m wrestling with and wondering aloud with all of you….

I’m wondering if you, too can relate to the fluctuation and flurry of the shepherd’s emotions in tonight’s gospel reflection….the ups and downs, the fears and wonderment, the joy and the hope and the unknowing…and the how can this be…what is all this that is happening…the good news that rings out in joyful song that prompt us to Go tell it on the mountain…yet at other times…the good news that allows for us a moment of rest in quiet awe and wonder of the light that has always been there, waiting to be born anew in our hearts, and in our lives….

That is the good news I’m hearing tonight as we celebrate the birth of Jesus …that in all the ups and downs, the joys and the sorrows, the knowing and unknowing…The light of God’s love has always been here…waiting to be born anew in our hearts, and in our lives…not just tonight on Christmas Eve….but a light that burns in us throughout the whole year…a light that swells within each one of us, when we reach out to one another, to love one another, encourage one another, and support one another…in all the ways that we can….

Most especially….as we continue in these times of the pandemic…

Throughout our lives, there will always be a new baby being born, and another life that is ending, there will be someone who is celebrating, someone who is grieving, someone who is feeling joyful and someone who is feeling sorrowful….But, in the midst of all these human emotions and the messiness and chaos of our intertwined lives…is the fulfillment of the promise of hope, peace, and joy being born for us this night and anew every day…God is with us … God has always been with us….God will be with us for all of our days to come….

That is what we celebrate on this special night: God is with us … The light of God’s love, the Love of Christmas that is inside each one of us….

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Music Offering: The Light of Christmas (an original piece by Kevin Keating – Dec 19, 2021)

 This year

I'm alone in the wintertime

And the snow isn't falling

And the world doesn't smell of pine

This year

All the carols are sung silently

And the candles are all snuffed out

But a fire starts inside of me

It's the light of Christmas burning

The flames of joy and peace

The warmth of knowing no matter how cold

The love of Christmas is inside of me

This year

We might not be all together

And the churches might be empty

And the distance feels like forever

This year

Might be harder than any other year

And the night sky might be cloudy

But a single star shines clear

It's the light of Christmas burning

The flames of joy and peace

The comfort of always feeling like I'm home

The love of Christmas is inside of me

And I can feel it swelling up

And reaching through the void

It's Christmas as no matter what

I am with you

You are with me

We are with everyone

The light of Christmas is burning

With flames of joy and peace

And life everlasting and world harmony

The love of Christmas is inside of me

And inside of you

God's love...the greatest gift of all

4 Advent/Year C

Dec 19, 2021

Micah 5:2-5a; Canticle 15; Luke 1:39-45 (46-55)

How can it be, that today is already the 4th Sunday of Advent…

How can it be, that Christmas is less than a week away now…

It seems like it was just last Sunday that I was shouting out Happy New Year to all of you, as we began the new church year on Nov 28th!

It seems like we just started lighting the candles on the advent wreath…beginning with Hope on week 1…but today, seemingly in the blink of an eye, here we are lighting the 4th candle for Love…along with the other candles for Hope, Peace, and Joy…

It seems like I was just getting started with singing the praises of the Advent season and its’ abundance of gifts that it has to offer us when we take the time to slow down, to be here now, and take the time to meditate and reflect more deeply on the scriptures, the stories and the songs of Advent…

It seems like it was just yesterday that I was encouraging you and reminding you, in this season of Advent, in this season of waiting and preparation… to set aside time each week to read and re-read the scriptures, the canticles, and the music appointed for each Sunday that sings out joyfully with the good news of what God is about to do…and is already doing in our lives today;  and to be on the look-out for the opportunities that are plentiful to share the gifts of this advent season with others… the gifts of hope, of peace, of joy and of course, Love…God’s love…the greatest gift of all…

Yes, I do believe that with all of my heart, my soul, and my mind that this Love, God’s Love…is truly the greatest gift of all…

It is this Love, the gift given and meant for all of us of God’s own self, who came among us, as the One we have come to know as Jesus…whose birth we celebrate each year on Christmas Day and whose coming again we anticipate with joy and wait with hopeful expectation….   

In today’s gospel reading, we are witness to an incredible moment of joyful anticipation and hopeful expectation between Elizabeth and Mary…Both pregnant…and in humble awe and wonder of it all…

Elizabeth is bubbling over with joy at the visitation of Mary and the news she has shared with her…

Mary is full of hope and breaks out into her own song of praise…proclaiming the greatness of God’s love…

A love that her spirit rejoices in, a love that has pronounced a blessing upon her, a love that has done great things for her, a love that is merciful, a love that is about to turn the world upside down and therefore right side up…

A love that is about to change everything and everyone it touches….

A love that has the power to transform lives for those who believe….

I believe with all of my heart, my soul, and my mind that Love, God’s Love…is truly the greatest gift of all…

I hope this Advent season has affirmed this belief in your own hearts, in your own souls and in your own minds too.

And as we journey together throughout this last week of Advent, pondering all the gifts this season has to offer us, and as we draw near to Christmas Day….I wonder if you too believe, that in addition to sharing the gifts of hope and peace and joy with one another,  the greatest gift we can give and receive in this Holy season and in all the seasons of our lives…is the Gift of God’s love….

Let us pray now, as we begin this final week of Advent with joyful anticipation and hopeful expectation…in the words and music of Hymn 66 – Come, thou long-expected Jesus…

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

The Hymnal 1982 - #66 Come, thou long-expected Jesus

1        Come, thou long-expected Jesus,

          born to set thy people free;

          from our fears and sins release us,

          let us find our rest in thee.

2        Israel’s strength and consolation,

          hope of all the earth thou art:

          dear desire of every nation,

          joy of every longing heart.

3        Born thy people to deliver,

          born a child, and yet a king,

          born to reign in us for ever,

          now thy gracious kingdom bring.

4        By thine own eternal Spirit

          rule in all our hearts alone;

          by thine all-sufficient merit

          raise us to thy glorious throne.

The Questions on the 3rd Sunday of Advent

3 Advent/Year C

Dec 12, 2021

Canticle 9; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18

What then shall we do? Teacher, what should we do? And we, what should we do?

Those questions are what stood out for me this week as I was preparing my Advent reflection to share with you today.

Of course, John’s words at the beginning of the gospel always stop me in my tracks…But this year…the questions of those gathered at the Jordan River to be baptized and to hear what John had to say…kept pulling me in…

What then shall we do? Teacher, what should we do? And we, what should we do?

I don’t know…maybe I’m drawn to these questions because of living in these pandemic times the past couple of years…With all the uncertainties and ever-changing flow of information associated with this time of the pandemic…lots of new questions have come up on a daily basis…

At first these questions really frustrated me and has made me inpatient at times…and they still do every once in a while…

But, living in these uncertain times has also broken open a spirit of longing and hunger in me to ask the “Where are you, God?” questions and the “God, what should I do?” questions…This time of questioning and wondering aloud has awakened in me a strong desire to seek and recognize the signs of God’s hope, peace, joy and love present in our collective lives now, and as we wait for what is still yet to come… I’ve experienced a yearning, like no other time in my life before, to see and hear the good news about God’s saving grace and mercy in this moment of time…And, my prayers have been unceasing in asking God to ease the worrying and the anxieties of the human family in this time of the pandemic, and in this time of social unrest and political division. With thanksgiving and gratitude, I’ve let my requests be known to God, often…trusting and believing that it is the love of God, the Hope of God, the Peace of God, that will be the beacon of light and joy that will guide us through these pandemic times…

All these questions and wonderings…can inspire us to be on the lookout for signs of new life and new beginnings waiting to be born anew in our own lives, and of course, in the lives of all we share this sacred earth with…

In the season of Advent, we hear a lot about endings…but we also hear the good news proclaimed about new beginnings, as John balances it out for us in today’s gospel reading…He points others to the One yet to come…and gives his questioners some simple suggestions to help re-orient their lives to the creation of new beginnings, rooted in loving actions that will help prepare the way for a new kingdom that will come…here on earth….as in heaven….

What then shall we do? Teacher, what should we do? And we, what should we do?

I invite you to spend some time with those questions this week… Go back and read and re-read the scriptures, the canticles, and the hymns appointed for today…they sing out joyfully with the good news of what God is about to do…and is already doing in our lives today…  And then, look all around you, for the opportunities that are plentiful to bring about some hope, some peace, some love and some joy into each other’s lives….

When we ask these questions together, when we keep awake to the ways God is showing up in each other’s lives now…we slowly, but surely usher in a new way of living in this world together…a way of love that will bring us all through these pandemic times together….with a renewed hope, a renewed peace, a renewed joy in the Lord and a renewed love and respect for the dignity of every human being…

What then shall we do? Teacher, what should we do? And we, what should we do?

Right now, we should pray…with these joyful and hope-filled words of this advent hymn …Hark! The glad sound!…

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

The Hymnal 1982 - #72 Hark! The glad sound!

1        Hark! the glad sound! the Savior comes,

          the Savior promised long:

          let every heart prepare a throne,

          and every voice a song.

2        He comes, the prisoners to release

          in Satan’s bondage held;

          the gates of brass before him burst,

          the iron fetters yield.

3        He comes, the broken heart to bind,

          the bleeding soul to cure;

          and with the treasures of his grace

          to enrich the humble poor.

4        Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace,

          thy welcome shall proclaim;

          and heaven’s eternal arches ring

          with thy beloved Name.

God's peace to come on earth as in heaven....

2 Advent/Year C

Dec 5, 2021

Malachi 3:1-4; Canticle 16; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6

This morning, I’m going to ask us to pause after each reading…to take a moment to reflect briefly on what we just heard…

After the Malachi 3:1-4 reading: (From Feasting on the Word Worship Companion)

The prophet Malachi says that God is “like a refiner’s fire and like fuller’s soap” (Malachi 3:2). Reflect on events of the past year. How has God been working to refine and purify your life or your community of faith?

After the Philippians 1:3-11 reading: (From Feasting on the Word Worship Companion)

Paul writes to the church at Phillip: “I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil.1:3-5). Think about people in your life for whom you give thanks, who have brought good news and joy to you this year. Consider writing them a letter or card to express your gratitude.

After the Gospel Reading: Luke 3:1-6 (From Faith at Home – Erin Sample)

Reflect: This chapter in Luke starts off with what feels like another lineage, but it does two different things. First, it helps to determine the time in history when these events occur. Second, it shows John’s authority but also the difference between earthly and heavenly kingdoms.

John has begun traveling and talking about a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” (Luke 3:3, NRSV) Then he talks about the world being a path for peace for God. The mountains are obstacles, egos, or systemic injustices. The low valleys are the way the country treats marginalized communities. John is giving us the instructions on how to create that path that turns us to God’s peace.

If the mountains are made low, the paths made straight, the rough ways made smooth, then the flesh (humanity) will be making the kingdom of Heaven on Earth. (end)

In a world that is full of so much chaos and unrest right now…is there any hope for peace…is there any hope that God’s kingdom of peace will reign here on earth, as in heaven?

Yes…“The word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” And the Word of God is still being proclaimed for us today, in the hearing of the scriptures this Advent, and through others who have brought the word of God alive for us, through their words and actions…inspiring us…to go out and do the same…to proclaim the Word of God to others and to be co-creators with God in bringing God’s peace to this world…

In today’s gospel reading, John is giving us the instructions on how to create the path that turns us to God’s peace...the path that will lead us to creating the kingdom of heaven, here on earth…

John’s crying out in the wilderness is to help us prepare for the One who is coming again, who will usher in the reign of God’s peace and freedom, and justice, truth, and love for everyone…

I invite you again this week…to set aside some time with today’s scriptures, the stories, the questions that arise in your wonderings, and the Advent hymn I will share in just a moment…This week, ask yourself a few questions on the theme of God’s PEACE… Where do I see signs of the path that turns us to God’s PEACE in this week’s scriptures, stories and song? How is this turning towards God’s PEACE changing me? What is this path to God’s PEACE calling me to do?

With the promise of HOPE and PEACE waiting to be born anew in our hearts this Christmas…let us pray with the words of an advent hymn for the 2nd Sunday of Advent…Prepare the way, O Zion…

The Hymnal 1982 - #65 Prepare the way, O Zion

Prepare the way, O Zion,

your Christ is drawing near!

Let every hill and valley

a level way appear.

Greet One who comes in glory,

foretold in sacred story.

Oh, blest is Christ that came

in God’s most holy Name.

He brings God’s rule, O Zion;

he comes from heaven above.

His rule is peace and freedom,

and justice, truth, and love.

Lift high your praise resounding,

for grace and joy abounding.      Refrain

Fling wide your gates, O Zion;

your Savior’s rule embrace.

His tidings of salvation

proclaim in every place.

All lands will bow before him,

their voices will adore him.  Refrain

YouTube recording: St John’s Episcopal Church, Boulder, CO (2012)

https://youtu.be/7XPCgsN1PTw

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Watching for signs of HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE in the Season of Advent

1 Advent/Year C

Nov 28, 2021

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36

Happy New Year! Today we begin a new year according to our church calendar, or more formally known as the liturgical calendar…And every new year on the church calendar begins with the season of Advent…a four-week season that invites us to slow down and reflect on the true purpose and meaning of the upcoming Christmas season…. I say “upcoming” …because on the church calendar…The Christmas season begins on Dec 25…and lasts for twelve days from that day…

But you all know what usually happens…we often get busier, and busier in the weeks before Christmas…we do a lot of “Christmas” celebrating long before Christmas Day ever arrives… we want to skip right past these four weeks of Advent and get to the good stuff…the celebrations, the feasting, the family get-togethers, and the singing of all our favorite Christmas hymns and songs…

You will absolutely find me preparing for the Christmas holidays during Advent…by decorating the house, putting up the tree, making Christmas cookies, and yes…playing and listening to Christmas music…

But that’s not all I do to “prepare” for Christmas…

My main preparation time for Christmas is spent focusing on the scriptures, the stories, and the songs of the Advent season…

The Advent season has an abundance of gifts to offer us, too …the good stuff is right here, in the midst of this season that invites us to slow down, to be here now, and to take time to meditate and reflect more deeply on the scriptures, the stories and the songs of Advent…

Yes, we hear a lot about end times and judgement and darkness in the season of Advent…but nestled in the messages of this season are signs of hope, peace, joy and love…signs of the coming of a new kingdom, here on earth, that will burn bright with the light of Jesus Christ…with the promises fulfilled in the coming of the Messiah, the Savior of the World…the love of God coming down to earth, to dwell among us…and walk with us…

I invite you in these next 4 weeks…to set aside some time with the scriptures, the stories and the songs of Advent….use the bulletin and the inserts in the coming weeks to do just that…and ask yourself a few questions this week on the theme of Hope…Where do I see signs of HOPE in this week’s scriptures, stories and song? How is this HOPE changing me? What is this HOPE calling me to do?

And now, let us start anew this Advent, to prepare our hearts and minds to welcome the coming of Christ into our lives once again…listen here for HOPE in this song of Advent: “People, look East” (WLP) #724

WLP 724- People, look East (vs 1,2,4,5)

1        People, look East. The time is near

          of the crowning of the year.

          Make your house fair as you are able,

          trim the hearth and set the table.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the guest is on the way.

2        Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,

          one more seed is planted there:

          Give up your strength the seed to nourish,

          that in course the flow’r may flourish.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the rose is on the way.

4        Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim

          one more light the bowl shall brim,

          shining beyond the frosty weather,

          bright as sun and moon together.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the star is on the way.

5        Angels, announce with shouts of mirth

          Christ who brings new life to earth.

          Set every peak and valley humming

          with the word, the Lord is coming.

          People, look East and sing today:

          Love the Lord is on the way.

*Recording: Zozulenka - People look east

https://youtu.be/sWto2RKNdMI

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church, Sitka, AK

Thanksgiving Day Reflection

Thanksgiving Day/Year B

November 25, 2021

Joel 2:21-27; Psalm 126; Matthew 6:25-33

Matthew 6:25-33

Jesus said, "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? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

REFLECTION

This morning, I would like to pause here and use this time for a few moments of silence…to reflect on the words of Jesus we just listened to…to just be comforted by his words…to stand in silence in the awesome wonder of all creation…to let the good news of this scripture encircle us in the warmth and love of God’s all - encompassing embrace…and to let our hearts be filled with gratitude for the gift of this new day…a new day to give thanks and praise to God with our whole selves and to be inspired to give thanks in the actions of our everyday lives…the little and big tokens of “giving thanks” that bless all of our lives and unite us to one another as we reach out in love for one another, and for all of creation, as we have been so loved by God…

It’s been a difficult year for so many… the noise and chaos of the world in which we live in, can overwhelm us at times…we are missing loved ones, we are grieving many losses…yet…still…as we pause and look around at the people, at the created world among us…God is always here with us…in all that we see, yet often don’t notice…

So, for today…let’s just be still for a moment…and open our hearts and minds to see the abundant signs of the love of God that have been around us all along…those signs of God’s love that surround us today….and those signs of God’s love, and hope, and joy and grateful blessings that will be poured out for and will be with us until the end of the ages….

Take a moment of silence today to give thanks to God for the gift of this new day.

Take a moment to give thanks and praise to God for all our blessings.

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Thy kingdom come

Last Sunday after Pentecost/Christ the King Sunday/Year B

Nov 21, 2021

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 93; John 18:33-37

Opening prayer: (from Faith at Home)

Everlasting God, you show us love through the life of Jesus, the King of Kings. Guide us to follow Jesus’ example and love others, as you have first loved us. Amen.

Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday of the church year. It’s a day to honor and celebrate Jesus, as the King of kings, as the One who we believe has come into this world, to testify to the Truth of God’s love, through his life, death and resurrection. We honor and celebrate Jesus, as King of kings, the Lord of lords, of a kingdom, not of this world. But of a kingdom of love, God’s beloved community, where all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God. (https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community/)

In the words of the Lord’s Prayer, we recite each week, we pray with persistent hope, that this kingdom of love, God’s beloved community, will come when we boldly say…thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…

I don’t know about you…but I am so ready for this kingdom to come right here and now…I truly long for the day when violence and oppression no longer rules the hearts and minds of humankind…I truly long for the day when hatred and injustice no longer divides the people of this world. I truly long for the day when all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God.

I truly long for the day, when God’s kingdom will come, when God’s will, will be done, here on earth, as in heaven…

Here’s the thing…when we pray for God’s kingdom to come among us, when we pray for God’s will to be done here on earth, as in heaven….it takes us all…we need to atune our hearts and minds and hands and feet to the One who is already revealing God’s kingdom of love in this world - Jesus…the One who has already testified to the truth, time and time again, as is revealed in the scriptures, and as revealed in the lives of those who have listened closely to Jesus’ words, and have followed in Jesus’ footsteps before us… and even those among us now…who are part of the kingdom-building work of proclaiming and testifying to the truth of God’s love, as revealed to us in the loving, liberating, and life-giving way of Jesus.

We don’t usually talk much about Kings and kingdoms in our everyday lives now…but, in today’s language…we might think of Kings as our leaders…the ones we look up to, the ones we want to seek guidance and direction from, the ones who inspire us and encourage us to keep on keeping on…the ones who provoke us to boldly and persistently pray with hope in our hearts, and in the loving, liberating, life-giving actions of our lives,  for God’s kingdom to come, for God’s will to be done, here on earth, as in heaven…

Today, as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday…We are all invited to turn our focus once again towards Jesus, the King of kings, a compassionate, loving, world-transformational leader who invites us to follow Him, in walking in a way of love, that seeks to build up God’s kingdom, God’s beloved community here on earth, as in heaven; a kingdom of love where all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God.

(https://www.episcopalchurch.org/beloved-community/)

Prayer to the King of Glory - written by Rev Abi

Lord, we pray for your Kingdom to come here now,

bringing a kingdom of justice, righteousness, hope, love,

peace, mercy and grace for all.

Lord, we ask that you rule in our hearts,

lead in this world and govern over your kingdom.

Jesus, You are the King of Glory,

You are the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings.

And we pray that your Kingdom will reign forever

in our hearts and in this world. Amen.

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Hymn after sermon: The Hymnal 1982 - #544 Jesus shall reign where’er the sun

Hold fast to HOPE

25 Pentecost/Year B

Nov 14, 2021

Daniel 12:1-3 ; Psalm 16; Mark 13:1-8

We all want to know, right? We want to know (yesterday)…what’s going to happen today…We want to know today, what’s going to happen tomorrow, and the next day, and the next month…and the next year….and we want to know all of that…(yesterday!)

We’ve become experts these past couple of years during the pandemic with asking all kinds of questions and living with the tension of not having clear answers….especially the ones that capture our longing and desire to know “when”…Early on, we wanted to know when we would be able to visit loved ones in facilities again…to know when the kids would be able to resume in person school again…to know when we could sit down in our favorite restaurants again…to know when it would be safe to travel again…to know when there would be a vaccine or treatment available for the COVID-19 virus…Early on, and now…we want to know when this pandemic and the various restrictions will end…we want to know when we can get back to gathering like we used to…we want to know when those without jobs will be able to start work again….we want to know when those who had to put off surgeries and treatments because of the pandemic will be able to finally get some relief…

The “when” wonderings can trouble us…yet they can also lead us to learn to hold fast to HOPE…The HOPE that reminds us that God has been with us all along, that God is with us now…and that God will be with us…when the new day dawns…

Every day, we wake up…we want to know…we want clear answers to our questions. We want to know all the who, what, when, where, why details to set our minds and hearts at ease.

In today’s gospel reading, Peter, James, John and Andrew want to know “when” and what…and Jesus’ response to their questions, doesn’t exactly come through as a clear answer, in their minds…(or ours)…or at least not the answer, they or we wanted to hear…

The reading starts off with Jesus coming out of the temple, and with one of his disciples saying to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

Then Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?”

Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.”

If we look and listen carefully to this passage of scripture…we do see glimmers of hope in the uncertainty of the times that Jesus is talking about. He doesn’t give them a “set time” or even a whole long list of specific signs so that they would know exactly when something would take place….but he assures them…in the midst of all that looks like destruction and end times…that they need not be alarmed…that looking around at the suffering and the destruction, yes, there will be endings….but endings with the promise of giving birth to something new…something new that we can’t quite know yet…something new that can only arise out of the ashes of death, and the dust of the earth…something new that is birthed in HOPE: hope and trust in The Word of God, and the promises being fulfilled in our hearing of the scriptures through Jesus Christ, and by the inspiration  of the Holy Spirit.

Hope is what Jesus is asking the disciples and us to hold onto…Hope when we don’t know when…Hope when we don’t see the signs, yet…Hope when we can’t understand what’s happening now…Hope when the answers we desire seem so far off and out of reach…or beyond our understanding….In the midst of all the unknowns, Jesus is inviting us to HOPE and trust in His words and his promises…

The bible is full of stories that teach us about hope and trusting in His words and promises…It’s important that we take time often to read and meditate on God’s Holy Word…so that we may embrace and ever hold fast to this blessed Hope…

In our opening collect today, we prayed:

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ…

The scriptures, are the living Word of God…they continue to inspire us, and equip us for the many difficult days we endure in our lifetimes…and they can help us as we navigate the many mysteries, and the unanswered “who, what, when, where, why” questions, that rest heavily on our hearts…

The scriptures are meant to inspire and inform our lives, guiding us and leading us in ways to provoke one another to love and good deeds…They are meant to remind us of the importance of meeting together regularly…to worship with one another, pray with one another, encourage one another, build up hope for one another, not only with our lips, but in our lives….

Hope is built in community, where Jesus is the center of all creation, and the love of Christ unites us….

And in this community, we learn together, and we are strengthened by our presence with one another, what it means to continue to hope, even when we hear of wars and rumors of wars, even when we hear of destruction, division, turmoil, violence, disasters…even when all the signs of endings are all around us…

As we move closer to the end of this liturgical year on the church calendar, and prepare to begin a new season of Advent, a season of preparing for the coming of Christ to be born anew in our hearts…let us hold fast to HOPE…

The HOPE that reminds us that in all our questions and wonderings and in all our endings… God has been with us all along, that God is with us now…and that God will be with us…when the new day dawns…when the dream of God’s beloved community will come…here on earth…as in heaven….

What a morning that will be…

My Lord, what a morning,

My Lord, what a morning,

My Lord, what a morning,

When the stars begin to fall.

Rev Julie Platson

St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church

Sitka, AK

Hymn after the sermon: My Lord, What a Morning

RECORDING: My Lord What A Morning  (The Golden Gate Quartet)