I want to share with you some changes that you will notice this Sunday during worship. After nine years of service, Michele Pruyn has decided to retire from leading our 9:45 Contemporary worship service. Last Sunday was her last Sunday leading at 9:45. I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Michele. Michele is one of the most talented singers and directors I have ever worked with. Our music program is one of the reasons I love being the Senior Pastor at St. Andrew’s- this is because of Michele’s leadership. The thing I love best about working with Michele is how she brings the best out of the people she works with and leads. I am truly excited that Michele will continue leading our Traditional music program and am thankful for all her years of service to Christ and St. Andrew’s! Here’s to many, many more. Michele will continue to provide excellent direction to our 8:15 and 11:15 Traditional services. Please make sure to let Michele know how much you love and appreciate her. Michael Mobley will be serving as our Interim Worship Leader for our 9:45 service. I want to take this opportunity to say welcome to Michael . Michael has been working with the student ministry praise band on Sunday nights for two years now. He is a student at USF and is on staff at The Wesley Foundation at USF. Michael plays guitar, piano, and drums and has led worship at the Warren Willis Camp, Seminole Heights UMC, and several other churches. Michael has agreed to serve as the Interim Worship Leader at the 9:45 service as we begin the search for the permanent worship leader. This Sunday will be Michael’s first Sunday. Please make him feel welcome. This Sunday we will continue our series “How to Change the World” by exploring the second simple rule, Do Good! I have a friend who lives in Jacksonville who demonstrated the true meaning of doing good for me. I want to wait to share this story with you on Sunday, but I will tell you it involves his willingness to be selfless and generous. When Jesus told his disciples that anyone who wants to be great must become servant to all, Jesus knew that we would be tempted to want the place of honor. This is why he turned the worldview of his disciples upside down. He told them that even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many. This is the example that Christ gave to us in loving God and living for God. We first have to understand the world we live in and make sure that our life glorifies God. We then need to do everything in our power to do no harm to people in our life, especially brothers and sisters in Christ. This week we will learn the importance of doing good. I look forward to sharing the call to do good with you this week in worship. See you in church.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?” Luke 14:28 Several years ago my parents took their granddaughters to lunch. It was meant to be a treat and a time to spend some quality time together. They enjoyed a nice meal together and good conversation between them. I believe that my parents even splurged for some dessert, like grandparents do. At the end of the meal the server brought the check and laid it on the table saying, “I will take this when you are ready.” As soon as the server had left one of my daughters looked at my dad and said she wanted to pay the bill. My dad assured her that it was his treat, but she insisted. She got out her little purse and, after rummaging a bit, pulled out two quarters and set them on the table. “There you go! I’ve got this!” she exclaimed. In the above story my daughter had not counted the cost. She did not fully realize, at about 4, what it took to be able to pay the full price of the meal. Her heart was in the right place, but she was unable to pay the cost. I believe that our journey of faith is similar at times. We have the right heart and we set out with good intentions, but we have not counted the cost. Consequently, when the bill arrives we are unable to pay up. An example of this is when there is a brokenness in a relationship. Usually, we enter into relationships with the right heart and intention. We pour ourselves into the relationship desiring for the best. When the other person lets us down or disappoints us we get angry. We desire to offer grace, but we end up offering anger and judgment. Grace is a costly endeavor. When Jesus tells the parable of the tower builder it is in the context of counting the cost of following him as a disciple. Jesus was asking his followers to consider the cost of following him on their life. He tells them, “… none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.” (14:33) There is a cost to following Jesus; it is a costly endeavor. Jesus is telling them to surrender everything they possess. Surrender your family, your house, your job, and your self. This is the most difficult aspect of surrendering to follow Jesus, surrendering your selfish desires. This Sunday we will be talking about the first simple rule, do no harm. The greatest challenge in “do no harm” is surrendering your ego. As author Rueben Job states, “To abandon the way of the world and follow the way of Jesus is a bold move and requires honest, careful, and prayerful consideration.” I hope you will join me as we continue our message series “How to Change the World.” See you in church.

"My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!” John 17:9-10 Some things in life are subtle and others are glaring. I was in a store recently that had a sign instructing you how to use their soap dispenser. The sign was very small, blended in with the wall, and was placed under the soap dispenser in such a way that it was nearly impossible to see. It became a little humorous watching person after person try to figure out the soap dispenser, not one of them seeing the sign. I was in another store that has a sign as well, but this one was different. This sign was placed directly above the soap dispenser, was 12 inches high and 12 inches wide, and was bright red. In big letters the sign read, “Use soap and wash your hands!” There was a serious difference in the two signs. One was subtle and appeared to be something we didn’t really need. The second one was glaring and left people a very clear instruction. I feel like this is the world we live in today. There are constant messages being thrown at us all the time. Some are subtle and others are glaring. Students in school receive subtle messages that you have to dress a certain way to fit in. Adults receive subtle messages that they have to drive a certain car to be considered successful. There are thousands more subtle messages we receive every day from the world around us. There are glaring messages as well. The world we live in sends glaring messages that position, fortune, and notoriety are the signs of success. Poverty, homelessness, and struggle are the signs of those to whom success has been elusive. The world bombards us with messages every moment of every day and some are subtle, while others are glaring. That’s what I love about Jesus! In the Scripture passage above, Jesus is very clear. In this prayer to God, the Father, Jesus says, “My prayer is not for the world…” The world are all those who have yet to believe that Jesus is the Messiah. Jesus has a different prayer for them. Jesus came to save the world, but here he is focusing on those who believe in him in this prayer. The difference in how Jesus delineates between the world and those whom God has given him is glaring. Jesus prays for those who believe in him saying, “…so they are my glory.” The world are those who do not believe in Jesus and those who believe in Jesus are His glory. Other translations read, “…in them I am glorified.” A big difference indeed. This Sunday I am looking forward to exploring the following question with you, “Is Jesus Christ glorified in me?” as we begin our new message series “How to Change the World”. Be sure to join us this Sunday.

This Sunday will be the first Sunday of 2016! I hope you are having a Merry Christmas season and a Happy New Year. It is the tradition in the United Methodist Church to participate in a Covenant Renewal Service. We will be sharing in this experience this Sunday. From the very beginning God has entered into covenant with his people. A covenant is a commitment made between two parties. The most popular covenant in our time is a marriage. In marriage one spouse commits to spend their life with the other. There are vows and symbols. I had dreamt about my wedding day long before it happened. I planned, prepared, worked with others to make sure we had everything we needed. And when the day came I was truly ready. I had the perfect dress, the flowers, Kevin had his tux, the church and all three pastors that helped to officiate were all there and ready to go. I can’t imagine showing up unprepared. I encourage you to prepare for Sunday, for making or renewing a covenant with God. In this covenant we are not equal with God, rather we acknowledge our place in God’s kingdom. Below you will find the words to the Wesley Covenant Prayer. I encourage you to read them, pray about them. What parts have been easy this year? What parts are still difficult? How can God increase in your life so that it is possible to live up to your part of the covenant? I am praying for you as we prepare for Sunday together. May God do a mighty work as we renew our commitment to God together. I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you, or laid aside for you, exalted for you, or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty, let me have all things, let me have nothing: I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) Today is the day! Merry Christmas! It was a day that had been foretold many hundreds of years prior to its occurrence. It was a day that the people of God longed for and eagerly anticipated. Perhaps even a day that many wondered if it would ever come. Through all of the anticipation and long expectation for the coming Messiah there was still belief. Today as Christians across the world celebrate the birth of the Christ child, let us remember what joy would have been experienced that first Christmas morning. The prophet was right. Their waiting is over. God has been faithful. The Messiah, our Savior, is born. Hallelujah! Glory to God in the highest! My favorite telling of Christ’s incarnation is found in The Gospel of John. John writes, “In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God…the Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.” John 1:1, 14 I love this telling because it reminds us that our Savior has always been our Savior. Jesus Christ is the second person of the Trinity and He was and is and always will be. What we celebrate at Christmas is the in breaking of the Divine in human form. The Word being born in the form of a baby who could not even speak a word. This is what amazes me. The way God the Father chose to save me, and you, was through the birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of the only Son of the Father. That God, the Father, through Jesus Christ, the only Son, shows that much love and grace toward me is beyond my ability to comprehend. Perhaps it is our inability to comprehend the fullness of God’s love for us that prompted The Apostle Paul to write, “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 4:19 It is my prayer that this Christmas we will all experience the love of Christ and be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. May you live in the promises that come with the birth of the Christ child, today and forever. On behalf of your Pastors, Lay Leaders, and Staff at St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

"All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished." Luke 2:18 (NLT) Advent is a time of preparation and expectant waiting. Preparing for the coming of the Christ child. Preparing our hearts, minds, and lives for God breaking into the world. It is a time of expectant waiting, not knowing the fullness of what God will bring for all humanity. It is a very special time. Christmas is one week from today. It is the culmination of the expectant waiting of Advent. The Christ child is born and the shepherds and others know the Good News of great joy for everyone has arrived. The angel was right. The child is born. The star led them right to him. For unto us a child is born and the shepherds could not keep quiet. Luke says they told everyone about what they had experienced. The waiting was over! The most amazing thing about the shepherd's story for me is the reaction of those who heard it. Luke tells us that "all who heard the shepherd's story were astonished." The story is amazing for sure. There also had to be something about them that made the story astonishing. I am sure that their faces lit up, their voices got excited, and they became more animated. They were sharing a story that literally changed them. All who heard it were astonished. So how do we tell the story? Do we tell the story? The move from Advent to astonishment is a journey from introspection to proclamation. We prepare ourselves for Christ's birth, waiting expectantly for the day to come, and then we are to do as the shepherd's did and tell everyone; to proclaim the Good News of great joy. So who will you tell this Christmas? Who will you take from Advent to astonishment this Christmas? I pray that this Christmas we can all astonish people with the story of what God has done for us!

St. Andrew’s Justice Ministry would like to introduce you to Jesid Acosta. Jesid is our new HOPE representative working with St. Andrew’s and other Brandon congregations. Jesid is a native of Ecuador and moved to Florida while a teenager. He recently moved to our area from West Palm Beach, Florida. Jesid is a graduate of the same High School as Pastor Tim (just a couple of years after) and earned his bachelor’s degree at Florida State University. He is very enthusiastic and has a lot experience in volunteer work with migrant students in the school system. He is now working to engage congregations in Hillsborough County to make our community fairer for everyone.

“He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18b-19 (NLT) When we are away from home our youngest dog (Lilly, a 110 pound lab mix) stays in her crate. It is better this way for her and for our house. She often times can be found in her crate when we are home and when I put my shoes on she goes in without even having to be asked. She knows I’m leaving and that is where she will be. When she was little we had to train her to know that her crate was her place to stay. At first, she wanted nothing to do with it. You had to coax her to even come near the crate. So we employed a very powerful technique, bribery. We used a treat and lured her into the crate. Once she was in, we gave her the treat and closed the door. From that point on she was confined. The lure of the treat was more than she could resist and she paid the price with her freedom. This is the way it is with the lure of sin. It’s difficult to resist because a lot of times it looks so tempting. We get fixated and in doing so get lured in. But before we know it we have lost our freedom. When we give in to the lure of sin we find ourselves trapped, shamed, guilty, and in bondage to that very thing that looked so alluring. We become captives, blind to the very sin that enslaves us, and oppressed by our own hurts, habits, and hang ups. We buy into the lie that being able to do whatever we want is freedom. In all reality it is exactly what causes us to be trapped. Advent is a time to reflect on God’s unfailing love for us through Jesus Christ, our Savior. God loved us enough to make a way to set us free, free from sin and death. That way is Jesus Christ. Jesus sets us free. How amazing is it to spend time anticipating the coming of the One who has set us free? Even more amazing is helping those who do not yet know what this freedom looks and feels like. Stop and think for just a moment how absolutely incredible it would be to be a part of leading someone who is trapped see the light. Freedom is an amazing reality that not everyone has experienced. It is our privilege to be sent by God to join with Jesus in leading people to freedom. Who are you sharing this Advent season with? Who are you showing the light? What captive are you helping to set free this Advent? I look forward to continuing our series, Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope, with you this week as we look at how Jesus was sent to set us free.

This Sunday we begin a new series and a new liturgical season! It’s Advent! We’ll be preaching a series based on Jorge Acevado’s book, "Sent- Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas." Many of our Sunday School classes as well as some other groups will also be studying the material. What a great way to connect with others during this busy holiday season and remind ourselves of why we celebrate. Traditionally, each year we begin Advent by singing the song O Come Emmanuel . Here are the lyrics: O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. As we gather and sing this hymn once more on Sunday may our hearts rejoice that Emmanuel has come and shall come again. Let us rejoice that the good news of great joy that was told to Shepherds in a field is still true – The Messiah, the Lord has come to reconcile us and ransom captive Israel. This is great news for ALL PEOPLE as the Angel said. Come Sunday as we listen to the familiar story of Shepherds and angels and hear once more the still small voice of God reminding us that God not only sent his one and only son for us, but also sends us out – just as he did those shepherds to share the good news with all.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (NLT) A couple of years ago Debbie and I purchased our first brand new vehicle as husband and wife. I don't really enjoy the car buying experience. It's a lot of pressure to make sure you are getting a good deal and not paying for things you don't really need. Our intention was to buy a car we could drive for a long, long time. We were at the end of the deal and we were stressed about one part of the deal when the salesman said, "I will personally take care of that." It was meant to assure us the matter would be done right. Call me crazy, but I believed him. That phrase seems so simple. It is simple and very reassuring. Of course, if someone is just saying it and doesn't mean it ... it's of no value. That's what I love about this Scripture. It's not just anyone who will personally go ahead of you ... it's God! Moses is telling Joshua that God will personally go ahead of him. How cool is that? God had chosen Joshua to go ahead of the people of Israel as a spy. Now God personally goes ahead and prepares the way for Joshua. That's pretty amazing. So what have you been afraid of doing? Where have you been afraid of going? What have you been afraid of saying? Who have you been afraid of seeing? Don't be afraid or discouraged! God personally goes before you. God will be with you, God will not fail you or abandon you. You don't walk into the unknown because God has gone before you and prepared the way. Be brave. Have faith in the Lord your God. Walk into those things that are uncomfortable with the assurance that God will personally take care of it. In The Gospel of John, Jesus tells his disciples that he goes to prepare a place for them- he will not leave them as orphans. The truth of Scripture is that God personally goes before, with, and behind us. That is God's personal touch toward us. Do not be afraid. Go with God.

“God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NLT) The passage in which this verse is found talks about being faithful to the end. The premise and the promise is that when the people of God remain faithful, God is faithful to keep God’s promises. In this passage the people of Corinth have been faithful to support Paul and to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul tells them that because of what Christ has done, their devotion to the Gospel, and their faithfulness in living it out … God will be faithful to see them through to the end. He has invited them into partnership with God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I am reminded through the words of Paul that we are those same followers today. We are invited into partnership with God’s own Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. I am continually humbled by the faithfulness of God’s people. Just looking over the past several weeks and seeing all the ways that the people of St. Andrew’s continue to be faithful to this invitation. Over the past several weeks we have provided blankets for families that cannot even afford coats, we have given change that will save over 750 lives from the ravages of malaria, we have hosted our Fall Craft Fair to benefit missions, sold pumpkins to benefit youth, hosted Trunk or Treat showing radical hospitality to over a thousand folks in our community, and hosted Jazz Under the Stars which has come to be a true community outreach event. The people of St. Andrew’s have truly been faithful in so many ways. I thank God each and every day for all of you. We have been called to the same mission. We are all to be found faithful in all that God has entrusted to us. When I look at the people of St. Andrew’s I see God’s gifts in abundance. There are gifts of musical talent, creativity, teaching, leadership, mercy and compassion, craftsmanship, evangelism, outreach, and more. I thank God for each of you every day. Keep on being faithful to use your gifts and talents given by the one who invites you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Do not let anyone, or anything, detract you from this faithfulness. The promise is clear... your faithfulness to God releases God’s faithfulness to keep his promise. God will do this.

We are so quick to discount our abilities and our leadership. We are familiar with our own shortcomings, familiar with our past. We can tend to focus on our mistakes and hold those up as proof to God that God selected the wrong person to lead. And yet, in every generation, God calls leaders to step out of the shadow of their past and lead with courage. This is what David did. A promising youth who made some terrible mistakes as a man returned to God and became the greatest king of Israel. He was known as a friend of God, the anointed leader from whom the promised Messiah would eventually come. David wasn’t perfect. He was flawed and yet he yielded to God’s work in his life to the very end. At the end of his life, the end of a long tenure, David stepped down from power and empowered his son – the son of Bathsheba – the one with whom David committed one of his greatest sins. He empowered Solomon – who rose to even greater heights than David. Solomon the wise king was empowered by King David, the friend of God, to build for God a home on earth, the temple. Part of that temple remains today (the wailing wall in Jerusalem). Can you imagine having a legacy like that? And indeed from David and Solomon comes Jesus the very one who sets us free from all those things we lift up as reasons we should not lead. Jesus sets us free from our sins and stands on our behalf. What will your legacy be? Who are you empowering to lead for you and continue the work God has called you to?