Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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*Joy for the Journey*
* *
The last few weeks have been a real highlight
For our family (for some more than others)
As we travelled to “the other Holy Land” –
Paraguay - for the Christmas Season.
As I reflect back on that experience
I can’t help but draw some spiritual connections
With our Journey of Discipleship here at SHMC.
And the message I want to share with you today
Is that the Journey of Discipleship
Is supposed to be a journey filled with Joy and Vitality.
Over a year ago we began to make plans
To go visit our families in Paraguay.
Since moving to Canada over 22 years ago
We have been back home to visit
About every 5 years.
Once we were clear that we were going to go
We started to get excited…
In our mind’s eye we were starting to visualize
Some of the main attractions that we wanted to visit.
My brother and his family were gracious enough
To take us to the Iguazu Falls
Where we were blown away by the beauty
And majesty of God’s creation.
On the way we stopped to try
some of the sumptuos Mangos that were in season,
and some Chipas – which are always in season.
After a good time relaxing at my brother’s place in Asuncion
We went to Loma Plata, in the Chaco.
Hedi’s parents celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Just before Christmas.
All the Children and grand-children were present
Except for two grandchildren.
What a wonderful time of celebrating and reconnecting…
Telling old stories…
Making new memories…
Teasing and playing…
Going on hunting and fishing trips…
Visiting grandpa’s farm…
Enjoying way too much good food…
…well, you get the picture.
As I think back to our travelling experience
I’m reminded that the people of Israel
Were required to make their “pilgrimage” to Jerusalem
At least once in their lifetime.
And so it should be with everyone
who has some Mennonite blood in them.
At least once in a lifetime
Every able-bodied Mennonite
Should be expected to travel to the other Holy Land –
Paraguay.
And, the perfect occasion might just be
The Mennonite World Conference
That will take place in Asuncion in 2009.
So, start saving!
The last few weeks we have looked at
the values that we hold dear in our church.
First we said that our church is a *praying church*.
Our strength and witness grows out of
A deep and personal communion with God in prayer.
The challenge for us as a church is
to grow in our intimacy with God
so that we may know better
what God is up to in the world,
and how we might fit into God’s plan.
At the same time
prayer is a source of encouragement and support
as we face challenges and share each other’s burdens
on our joint journey as a community of faith.
Our Communion with God forms the basis
for our *communion with other Christians*.
The church, as imperfect as it is,
is God’s own design for loving relationships
between people.
The church is a “covenant community”
that shares the journey together
in success and in failure.
In good times and in bad times
We affirm that we belong together…
And just like in a biological family
We rejoice with those who are happy
and we weep with those who suffer…
we encourage one another
and we hold each other accountable for our actions.
* *
Another Value that we hold dear as a congregation
Is a deep *concern for the lost and the brokenhearted*./
/
Our hearts are touched by stories
Of people who have lived in sin
And have come to know and follow Jesus
Through our witness.
Our hearts also reach out with compassion
To those in our church and community
Who are suffering.
As we explore together
what God is up to in the life of our church
we need to check our attitudes
toward the lost and the brokenhearted,
and we need to pray unceasingly
for strength and courage
to live out God’s values.
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