by Anne Robertson | Dec 18, 2020 | Conversations
To celebrate the last week of Advent this coming Sunday, the sermon and children’s message have been combined into one. I’m still preaching, but there will be guest appearances by some very special Crawfordites—both human and non—to help get the point across. And if you’re watching, don’t just click off after the sermon. The special music toward the end is a carol written by Rev. John Grenfell, performed and turned into a beautiful video by Tallessyn Grenfell-Lee. And don’t click off after that either, so you can see the Crawford Christmas Card and my Christmas message to you all, mixed in with some photos of the church all lit up.
While we’re at it, don’t skip the beginning either. Helena’s preludes are not to be missed, and if you’re with us live on Zoom worship at 10:00 am, you might want to shut off your webcam during the opening video if you don’t want people to see you cry. So, yeah, watch the whole thing! And if you can join us at 10:00 am on Zoom, it would be great to see you. Invite your family from around the country; invite friends; bring the kids. It’s Christmas Sunday—and you can do it all without leaving the house.
by Anne Robertson | Dec 11, 2020 | Conversations
Chester, Bananabell, and Laaaaaambert were my three sheep. I’m not sure if having just three qualifies me to be a shepherdess, but across time you’ll hear the things I learned about biblical references to sheep and shepherding from my years with them. This Sunday I am turning my sheepishness toward some shepherds abiding in a field near Jerusalem on a night filled with angelic music and stars. Why did God choose shepherds for an audience? Join us Sunday at 10 am to find out.
by Anne Robertson | Nov 25, 2020 | Conversations
It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was written by Unitarian Minister Edmund Sears in 1849 while serving a parish in Wayland, MA. Both angels and people do a lot of bending in that carol. Why? And why did they cut out the third stanza back in 1935? What did it say, and what might we gain if we put it back?
Join us Sunday for the first Sunday of Advent and we’ll talk about the carol and what it might have to say to us today. And if you want to join in lighting the first candle of the Advent Wreath at home, have it ready and we can light it together. It’s the candle of Hope—one of the purple ones. Don’t have a wreath? That’s not a problem. Just grab a candle and lighter or a battery-powered candle and be ready to flip on the switch. The weary world needs the hope your light can bring.
by Anne Robertson | Nov 20, 2020 | Conversations
This Sunday brings us the intersection of a secular holiday (Thanksgiving) and a Christian Holy Day (Christ the King or the Reign of Christ). The first celebrates gratitude and the second the day when human power will give way to the rule of Christ in the realm of God.
Viewed separately, each has its pitfalls. Counting our blessings might make us think that they are an indication of God’s favor instead of tools for the work set before us. We might think ourselves more righteous—more deserving—than those who have less. And thinking of Christ’s ultimate reign of glory might leave us daydreaming about streets paved with gold and mansions on a hilltop instead of remembering that we are meant to build a world right now that is ready and willing to let justice reign.
But when we look at the two days together—the holiday and the Holy Day—the key to protecting ourselves from both errors comes into view. Join us Sunday to learn about the humble mind of Christ.
by Anne Robertson | Nov 13, 2020 | Conversations
Veteran’s Day is a time we often think about courage. We almost never talk about the men and women in uniform without adding the word “brave.” But military service is not the only place we find bravery, and courage comes in many forms. There are those who run into physical danger to save another without batting an eye but who buckle when trying to summon the courage to ask for help themselves.
It takes deep wells of courage to face a life-altering disease, to admit we were wrong, to leave home, to speak truth to power, to become vulnerable enough for real relationship, to live with grief, to turn the other cheek. For many it takes enormous courage just to get out of bed and face a new day.
The call to courage comes to all of us in many forms throughout our lives. But how do we get there? How do we actually develop the courage to face what a life of faith asks of us? That’s what we’ll talk about on Sunday. Join us!
Blessings, Anne
by Anne Robertson | Nov 6, 2020 | Conversations
As we come to the end of a tumultuous week, let us breathe and consider the words written on the wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in Calcutta and widely attributed to her:
People are often unreasonable and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you;
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten;
Do good anyway.
Give the world your best and it may never be enough;
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.
Blessings,
Anne
