Week One - Christmas at the Movies Advent Devotion - Community United Methodist Church of Columbia, Missouri

Community United Methodist Church of Columbia, Missouri

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Week One - Christmas at the Movies Advent Devotion

Movie: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

November 30, 2022 • Pastor Angie Olsen • John 3:2–3

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Scripture: John 3:2-3 (The Voice)

John: "Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is near." John’s proclamation fulfilled a promise made by the ancient prophet Isaiah, who had said, “There will be a voice calling from the desert, saying, Prepare the road for the Eternal One’s journey; repair and straighten out every mile of our God’s highway.”

Movie Quote

Cindy-Lou Who says, “But the book does say the Cheermeister is the one who deserves a backslap or a toast. And it goes to the soul at Christmas who needs it most. And I believe that soul is the Grinch. And if you’re the Whos I hope you are, you will too.”

Reflection

The people of Whoville gave up on the Grinch. They became so wrapped up in the consumerism and sparkle of Christmas, that they forgot what Christmas is all about. It takes a little girl to point them back to the right path. She is the only one remembering the true hope of Christmas. She sees how connection and forgiveness can change everything, even in one as cynical and mean-spirited as the Grinch.

She is like John the Baptist. She is a voice crying out in the darkness showing the power of hope to bring transformation. Her willingness to expect the best of her people and her unwillingness to give up on the Grinch changed them all. The Grinch saw the error of his ways (repent for the kingdom is near). The Grinch embraced the hope and his “heart grew three sizes that day.”

Questions

How can you be a Cindy-Lou Who expecting people to share Christmas hope with those who need it most?

How can you be a John the Baptist pointing others to the good news – salvation, forgiveness, hope - of Jesus Christ this Christmas?

How does your heart need to grow like the Grinch this Christmas?

Prayer

God, please help us see others the way Cindy-Lou Who saw the Grinch. Let our lives point others to you with the passion of John the Baptist. Open us up to your hope, so our hearts will grow and be transformed this Christmas. In the hope of Christ Jesus, amen.

Weekly Devotion - Christ's Presence

February 8, 2023 • Pastor Curtis Olsen • Matthew 18:18–20

Scripture: Matthew 18:18-20 18 Remember this: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 And this: if two or three of you come together as a community and discern clearly about anything, My Father in heaven will bless that discernment. 20 For when two or three gather together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Quote from Leonard Sweet: "If Christ's presence is at work between members of the church, then the outcome will advance the health of the Body of Christ." Reflection: Over the past four weeks, we focused on forgiveness and the need for it in our lives as Christians. For forgiveness to be real, Christ needs to be a part of it. That's why I appreciate this scripture so much! It strikes me that in the middle of Jesus' teaching about forgiveness, he reminds us that "when two or three gather together in my name, I am there in the midst of them." It reminds us how we need to invite God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit into all our interactions. The conversations are more powerful, meaningful, and effective with God's presence. Awareness of God's presence is vital when dealing with conflict. Too often, we let our anger or anxiety overwhelm the confrontation and forget our need for the Holy Spirit's wisdom and grace. Without the Spirit's guidance, we often cannot find patience, compassion, and the ability to compromise. In difficult conversations, I realized there's no way forward without asking for God's help. Pausing for prayer has transformed the interaction during a church meeting, with my family, or with friends. These moments of transformation illustrate how working together with God; we can advance the health of the Body of Christ. No matter the situation, remember God's peace and hope is available when we intentionally wrap our conversations in prayer. Questions: - What are areas of conflict in your life you need to wrap in prayer? - When have you experienced a conversation transformed by God's wisdom? Prayer: Everpresent God, thank you for being present, even if we forget to invite you into a conversation. Remind us to invite you into every encounter. May your Spirit help us start each day with "Dear God" and end the day with "Amen" as a reminder to live each day in prayer. In the Holy Spirit's power, amen.

Weekly Devotion - Forgiveness is a Choice

February 1, 2023 • Pastor Angie Olsen • Matthew 18:21–22

Scripture: Matthew 18:21-22, the Voice Peter: Lord, when someone has sinned against me, how many times ought I forgive him? Once? Twice? As many as seven times? Jesus: You must forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven. Quotes: "Actually, no one has to forgive—forgiveness is a choice. Forgiveness means that we release our suffering over difficult situations; it does not mean we have to put ourselves back into hurtful situations. Forgiveness means that even though what happened is not okay, you can move on and make peace for yourself." “When we choose forgiveness, we release our past to heal our present.” ― Fred Luskin, Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness Reflection: Choice … What a powerful word. We make thousands of decisions consciously and unconsciously daily. They can be as simple as oatmeal or bacon for breakfast; and as infinitely complicated as choosing a partner for life. As Christians, we celebrate this gift of free will. Our all-knowing and all-powerful God could have designed us to be robots following a pre-designed script, but instead, our loving Creator offers us the opportunity to respond to this gift with our lives. God could force us to play specific roles, yet instead invites us to respond to love and grace with each moment we choose what to do and think next. Jesus, God with us, says one of the choices we are continually asked to make is forgiveness. He asks us to forgive someone who sins against us 7 x 70 times, which is an absurdly large number, to make a point. Forgiveness matters! We are redeemed and forgiven through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This forgiveness empowers us to make more Christ-like choices. Our Creator is teaching us how unforgiveness in our past stops the fullness of life today. God is saying that when we forgive, we can live healthier lives in our present. It doesn’t mean condoning hurtful and evil action, but it does mean freedom from its hold on your soul. Jesus is offering us something incredible; we get to be partners with God in our healing by choosing forgiveness. Questions: - If forgiveness is a choice, why is it sometimes so hard to make? - What do you need to let go of in order to allow for the powerful healing of forgiveness in your life? Prayer: Dear God, thank you for free will. Guide us as we navigate this powerful and challenging gift of choice. So often the need to ask for forgiveness and offer forgiveness is a tough choice for us. Help us choose your will and your way. Please do your powerful, healing work of forgiveness in us and our daily choices. In the Holy Spirit’s power, amen.

Weekly Devotion - I Am the Vine

January 25, 2023 • Pastor Angie Olsen • John 15:5–8

Scripture: John 15:5-8 (The Message) “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples. Bishop Robert Farr: “Growing a garden takes work, just like discipleship takes work.” Reflection: During the Covid-19 shutdown, this scripture became a prayer for me. This version says stay joined with me in intimate relations, and the version I repeated says, “abide in me, and I will abide in you.” Bishop Farr reminded us Sunday that a vine cut from the roots quickly starts to wither and die. This was what my soul was crying out, saying, “stay connected, stay connected.” Even though the pandemic has eased up some (I write that with tongue in cheek after just recently struggling with Covid-19), many life experiences can disconnect us from Christ and others. Overly busy schedules, illnesses, relationship struggles, financial hardships, anxiety over the future or the past, and/or our own self-centeredness. These are just naming a few; you likely have a few to add. It takes intention and work to stay connected to Christ and others. For United Methodists abiding in the vine is essential to who we are and how we live. This life begins with being Christ-centered. This happens through a deeply rooted faith learned through scripture, bible study, worship, serving others, and spiritual disciplines. It means we are connected to the body of Christ, we are grace-filled, and we prioritize inclusively sharing the good news of salvation in Jesus with others. This is a beautiful life. I visualize such an abundant life that we look like a vine full to bursting with grapes. Questions: How are you staying connected with Jesus? How are you staying connected with others in an intentional and Christ-like way? Prayer: Dear God, let us abide in you, and you abide in us. We long to be deeply connected to you and others. Give us the intention to do the work to be your disciples and to help your love abound in our lives. You are our source, and for this, we give you endless praise. Unite us, Lord, in your grace. In Christ’s love, amen.