EChurch@Wartburg – 12.2.12

Welcome to Our Gathering of EChurch@Wartburg

Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim in the winter sun. The photographer, Morten Dreier, should always be credited.
Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway by Morten Dreier

Here is our order of worship

A Prayer Against Depression by St Ignatius link

O Christ Jesus,
when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love, and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust
in Your protecting love
and strengthening power,
so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You,
we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
Amen

Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Morning Prayer link

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Amen

If you are new to EChurch, please click on this link for an explanation


Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:36-40 (NASB Bible Gateway)

"and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.  And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect."

A Prayer for Advent by Online Ministries link

My brother, Jesus. It happens every year.
I think that this will be the year that I have a reflective Advent.
I look forward to Sunday and this new season, Jesus.
But all around me are the signs rushing me to Christmas
and some kind of celebration that equates spending with love.

I need your help. I want to slow my world down.
This year, more than ever, I need Advent,
these weeks of reflection and longing for hope in the darkness.

Jesus, this year, help me to have that longing.
Help me to feel it in my heart and be aware of the hunger and thirst in my own soul
. Deep down, I know there is something missing in my life,
but I can’t quite reach for it. I can’t get what is missing.

I know it is about you, Jesus.
You are not missing from my life,
but I might be missing the awareness of all of the places you are present there.

Be with me, my dear friend
. Guide me in these weeks to what you want to show me this Advent.
Help me to be vulnerable enough to ask you to lead me to the place of my own weakness,
the very place where I will find you the most deeply embedded in my heart,
loving me without limits.
Amen

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement
give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6 (NIV)

Comments

EChurch@Wartburg – 12.2.12 — 15 Comments

  1. Pastor Burleson,
    Great message! And the more I think about it, faith is what’s left after human assurance of hope is gone.

  2. Good songs Dee! I especially liked Joseph’s Song because it paints a good portrait of what a righteous man looks like. I remember what a Jesuit said many years ago:

    “…Would that men everywhere put into practice the heart of St. Joseph. It would go along way in preventing the vines of ugliness from taking root when the seeds of cruelty and mistrust are sown in the fatherless…”

  3. Well, you did it again, Wade. Tears flowed as I listened and realized that God smiles on me, and is not mad or disappointed in me. thank you, I needed to hear that. During this Advent, it is so helpful to keep focused on God and His Son so the sickness and troubles of this world does not overwhelm us. I will ask my sister to watch this sermon.

    FYI – I thought last week you said you were going to talk this week about God’s feminine side??

  4. Thanks, Scooter’s Mom! 🙂 As Dee and Deb pointed out, I spoke on the subject you mention this week (at our church), but Wartburg Watch is a week delayed.

  5. Dee,

    “It is a sidewinder of a sermon!”

    Wait till the one next Sunday (December 9). It may be a megatonne bomb if last Sunday’s was a sidewinder. 🙂

  6. Wade

    I have made a prophesy. Only Deb knows what it is. I shall let you know if I need to be appointed to the ranks of the prophets if it pans out and all indications seem to point that way. 

  7. Dee,

    I already consider you and Deb elders, teachers, leaders, and bishops extraordinaire, so I would gladly welcome you to the rank of “prophet” if your prophecy, whatever it may be, were to come true.

  8. Deb, Dee, & Wade

    I can’t wait to hear the sermon!!!! as for 12/9 – I might have to fly out to Enid and hear it in person (oh, if only I could!)

  9. I am listening to risky business now on the podcast and not quite crying. You’re right. It’s a game changer. And it gives me peace and another brick in my mental “wall of serenity” which shelters the small bruised shrub as it dares to believe again… the things like this give me hope that there is still light and life in this world.

  10. mary,

    I am grateful that you have been encouraged. I have heard that message twice, and it is quite revealing.

    Patriarchy under the guise of complementarianism is getting way out of hand, and it’s way past time to push back. I’m thankful that Wade Burleson is leading the way.

  11. Wade –

    Thanks for confirmationing beliefs that I dearly hold to. Sometimes I think we see more traditions of men today than when Jesus walked the earth.