Arrival Week 2

Starting Catalyst - Arriving at the conclusion that is not my work

I turned 23 this week and I promise you this is going somewhere

Usually that is accompanied by some confused looks

But you are a pastor and 23

And often when people are curious enough to ask they will say “there has to be a story there”

A part of the reason that I ended up in ministry was because of a group friends in high school

We were all kids that were raised in different youth groups in the area

Our parents took us to church from before we could remember

In high school we got together around a dream

The dream was to create at our high school a ministry led completely by students and led completely for students

It was a big dream

Like many big dreams we did what you do you gather in a friend’s basement to talk about it

And I remember for an early stage just feeling defeated and feeling afraid

Is this actually going to work?

Will anyone show up?

We are going to have high school students preaching is that going to be a bad idea?

Is the school going to let us do it?

Is this even worth our time and our attempt?

We decided that we didn’t

We didn’t have the skills or the knowledge or the connections to do ministry to high school students

We didn’t have the resources

And you know it felt like just about anyone would have been more qualified then we were

And one evening sitting in my friend’s basement we had an aha moment

That being followers of Jesus was never just for those people that had everything figured out

And we realized as a group that we truly were relying on God to make this thing work

That if it was relying on our efforts it wouldn’t have worked

And I would say that we arrived at a conclusion that we were just mere messangers, that we were servants of God

I will tell that was one of those sparks that I look back on in my faith journey and remember that specific moment

We section

I don’t know if that has ever happened to you where something is front of you that is so big and so scary that you say you know what I can’t do this…without God’s help

Advent = arrival

We often think about the arrival of Jesus and what means for us and there is a second meaning that phrase and it is our arrival

Our arrival to rely on God

Our arrival God’s love to us

Our acceptance of the Grace that God offers us even if we feel like we couldn’t possibly deserve it

If this is going to happen it is just going to be because of you

End with Arriving at a point where I just say look God I am yours

We know that this we are not going to lead an effective ministry we know that

We gave up all of the we and said you know what God if you want to do this through us allow us to be your vessel

Arrival

Scripture

Luke 1:26–35 NRSV

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.

Mary reacted initially with fear

Perplexed

The lord is with you meaning the fullness of God is here

that God would be here that wasn’t a good thing

in fact most of the times when angels appear to people in the Bible the people become pretty fearful of the angel

Mary was just an average (probably) teenage girl

She didn’t have any kids, we don’t really get the idea that she is the most qualified to be raising the Son of the Most High

Surely God could have picked someone more equipped for the job.

Last week as we read through the lineage we mentioned how of the names that were listed had made mistakes some of them even big mistakes.

That they weren’t people who had it all together and certainly neither were Mary and Joseph

Mary immediately basically says me you sure God me.

I don’t even know how can this

What is possible?

This moment in the story where things are up in the air for Mary I can only imagine she is thinking how can this be? Why me?

Surely we too have stood at similar points and thought God how am I going to get through this.

For me I think I quickly get held up by my own vision (Like Mary I ask how)

I am quick to ask okay but how

Or surely that is symbolic right

Or how much should I do?

Me? Is it really me? I’m sure God to work through people who many more time, or talent, or treasure than me

How God am going to be a good parent these kids are driving me insane. How God will we learn to adapt to new circumstances. What is possible?

And the next question is what is impossible?

Is there anything that God can’t do

This interaction challenges Mary’s very theology

To say with God, why not

With God why not

One of the arrivals in this story is that Mary asks a slightly different question instead of asking what is possible? to Ask what is impossible with God’s help?

Luke 1:36–38 NRSV

36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mary sees in the midst of a ton of darkness just a glimmer of hope

And that glimmer of hope is all that she needs to say those last words

Not my will but thy will

She doesn’t asks that God’s will is changed

She doesn’t ask that she would know how she proclaims to God a recognition

A recognition that she is the servant of the Lord

A way of saying that nothing is possible without God’s help

May I be a part of what God is already doing in my midst

So this story isn’t just about the arrival of Christ and the beginning of the Gospel story

It is about Mary’s arrival

Mary journey much like us from being scared, from being perplexed, from asking of God how is it even possible that I will get through this.

To a point where even Mary arrives at the conclusion that nothing is impossible with God

The end of the Story

Luke 1:46–54 NRSV

46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

Our Arrival Makes God Know

Transition to Communion

God’s Grace has already arrived in the communion elements

We may be using all sorts of things for communion elements, and I promise you God’s grace is already in and around the through the element far before we partake of them

Communion is an outward sign of God’s inward Grace for us.

May we arrive at the table of Grace today

As you leave worship today where ever that is and wherever you are going from this place know that God goes with you. Have a great week.