Sunday December 15th, Advent week #3: The Conspiracy of Generosity.  There is a beautiful story in the Bible about ‘seeing.’  When Hagar, an Egyptian servant of Sarah’s, is pregnant by Abraham to begin to build a family through Abraham – all of this sanctioned by Sarah who has been unable to bear children with Abraham.  Sarah begins to mistreat Hagar after she becomes pregnant with Abraham.  It gets so bad that Hagar flees.  And while in the desert, an angel appears to Hagar and reassures her of the Lord’s blessing to her and through her child Ishmael, which means, “God hears.”  And Hagar responds by giving the Lord the name, ‘The God who sees me.”  And then names the well of this place, ‘Beer Lahai Roi’ which means, ‘well of the Living One who sees me.’  And then, crazy as it is, after Sarah does become miraculously pregnant with Abraham and she gives birth to Isaac, Sarah, now that she has her own family, tells Abraham to send her away.  So they sent Hagar and Ishmael away from them into the desert – really banishing them from the Abraham clan to fend for themselves.  And Hagar, soon is without food and water in the desert.  She places Ishmael under a bush in the shade, wanders off about a bowshot away and says to herself, “I cannot watch the boy die.”  Can’t imagine – and then God shows up, “Don’t be afraid.  God has heard the boy crying.  Lift up the boy, take him by the hand.’  When she opened her eyes, there was a well of water.  Again, God sees and engages. God calls on us to ‘see and engage.’      
 For two weeks we have been challenged by God’s word to consider our anxiety, our worry… our preoccupations… our self focus… or hyper other focus (what others are doing or not doing)… our busyness… could it be, that all of these things are keeping us from seeing our neighbor in need?  And once we actually ‘see’ our neighbor, keeps us from engaging?  
We will tackle two parables on Sunday – The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)and the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46).  Both of them are calls of Christ to ‘see’ the needs of others and respond with generosity.  Looking forward – we will celebrate communion together Sunday!  And enjoy a church-wide fellowship feast after the service.  Bring food to share!  Unto us a Gift of God’s generosity has been given.

Pastor Mark