GOD AT THE INTERSECTION

Some of you know my coffee places.  I can often be found at Panera, Pourhouse and Bloomington Sandwich Company.  Less frequently you’ll find me at Feast (a great place!).  Once a week I stop at a K convenience store south of downtown to get a cup of coffee.

Today a weathered looking woman of 60…maybe she was 45…or 50…was standing next to me in a long, black leather coat.  She spilled some coffee and sweetener.  Then, as she wiped things up she said she was in town for a funeral.  She said her father had died.  She said that nothing was going right and everything seemed hard.

In a moment she was gone.

I’m thinking of her as I introduce you to the series of Advent messages that begin this weekend.  GOD AT THE INTERSECTION is the title, and we’ll be exploring how God shows up at the intersections of everyday life.  Right in the middle of those times when our dreams don’t come true, our hearts are troubled, loneliness threatens to swallow us up, or we find ourselves hungry for mercy when life is sliding out of control.

The message titles are less than poetic, and we know they sound a little hokey.  (So forgive us!)

Here is what is ahead:

Dec 2 – First Sunday in Advent.
“Broken Dreams Boulevard.”  The story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in Luke 1:5-18.   Communion celebrated as we enter the season of preparation and expectation.

Dec 9 – Second Sunday in Advent.
“Troubled Trail.”  God shows up and the whole experience is troubling.  Life is upside-down.  Luke 1:26-38 is the text.

Dec 16 – Third Sunday in Advent. 
“Lonely Street.”  Young Mary visits the hill country with the older, pregnant Elizabeth.  How can God use us to break the weight of loneliness in the lives of others?  The text is Luke 1:39-45, 56.

Dec 23 – Fourth Sunday in Advent.  
“No Mercy Place” is the title of the message.  John brings a message that invites us to turn around and find mercy.  Some of us keep running.  The Bible lesson is Luke 1:57-66, 76-80.

Dec 24 – Christmas Eve. 
“No Sign Circle” brings us to Bethlehem.  We all have yearned for, demanded, a sign of God’s presence.  The world is given the birth of a child as a sign?  Is it possible there are signs all around us?  The text is Luke 2:1-4.

Dec 30 – First Sunday After Christmas Day.  
“Angels Gone Lane” brings us face to face with the departure of the angels.  Sort of sad, isn’t it?  The glory and the light and the music leaves the sky.  Shepherds left looking at hills and sheep.  What a letdown!  Or… maybe not…  The text is Luke 2:15-20.

I’m thinking of the woman standing next to me.  Wishing I had that moment back.  I rejoice that we have a God who hangs out on the street, in coffee shops, and where real life happens!  God made the heavens.  And God meets us out on the street.  At the intersection where we can go one way or another.

Invite a friend, family member, or co-worker/roommate to GOD AT THE INTERSECTION.

In Christ and for Christ,

Mark