By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Matthew 3:1-12, 11-17

The first year Britt and I were in ministry, a church member shared with us an advertisement for a religious product: "The Bapto Robe."  Now, if you've been a Methodist all your life, this will need a little explaining. If you come from a denomination which baptizes by immersion, it will make more sense.  In those denominations, when an individual is baptized, they are immersed completely under the water. Sometimes this occurs in a lake or a stream. More often nowadays, it occurs indoors in the church's baptistery – a tank of water designed specifically for baptism by immersion.  

By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Matthew 2:1-12

Well, you may not be able to see the nativity scene on our altar but this morning, the shepherds have left and the magi have arrived…
Tomorrow, January 6, is Epiphany.  Epiphany is a holiday or holy day on the church’s calendar.  In fact, it’s more than a day; it’s a season.  But Epiphany is also a word in the English language that means “revelation” or “manifestation.”  At Epiphany, Christians celebrate that, through the baby Jesus in the manger, God has revealed himself or made himself manifest to us.  Now one of the bible stories that became popular in the church at Epiphany was the story of the Wise Men or Magi which I shared this morning.

By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture:  Luke 1:26-45

When Britt and I lived in Gary, we had a Doberman, Eirene.  She was a wonderful dog, although prone to give speeches.  Britt was finishing up his PhD.  He would go in one day a week and spend the entire day attending classes, doing research in the library, meeting with other students or his faculty advisor.  Since he worked from home the rest of the week, Eirene missed him on those days and, around mid-afternoon, she would plant herself on a bench in the living room positioned in front of a big window.  From there should would wait and watch for doggy daddy to come home.  The only problem was her attention was also captured by anything that moved outside that window: the mail carrier, other delivery people, children playing, teens walking down the street, people walking their dogs.  You name it; she felt the need to make a speech about it.  One December evening I had the Christmas lights and decorations up in the living room and wanted to enjoy them as I was reading.  Eirene’s barking was driving me crazy.  I’d scold her each time, she’d stop, but then, in time, something new caught her attention and another speech ensued.  Finally, I’d had enough.  I stood up and walked to my study down the hallway.  The windows were high and at the back of the house.  I firmly called Eirene’s name and she obediently came.  Once she entered the study, I turned on the light and shut the door.  About ten minutes later, I returned and opened the door.  Head low, she trotted back to the living room but didn’t bother jumping up on her bench.  She plopped down on a dog bed with her back to the window and let out a disgusted sigh.
That’s a cute little story because it involves a dog whose “punishment” was nothing more than a ten-minute “time out.”  But it would not be so cute or humorous if it involved people.  In fact, some people spend their lives anxious and on high alert, perhaps even frequently “barking,” for something they greatly desire that seems to keep eluding them.  Their happiness depends on getting what they want.  In their fixation, they become frustrated and miss out on other joys and blessings because they are so obsessed with that thing they want but do not have.