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Trying to practice what we preach

Luke 1:26-38

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Regifting

These last weeks we’ve talked about the power of RE-gifting. We talked about what it would mean for us to embrace the idea of regifting. No, it’s not the brick of a fruit cake making the rounds, the ugly tie, or the weird knickknack. We’re talking about gifts that have been given to us by God and passing those gifts on. Gifts like comfort and forgiveness. Last week Pastor Pam talked about regifting the good news that Jesus shared when he proclaimed relief for the poor, sight to the blind and freedom for the oppressed. This was actually a message re-gifted from the prophet Isaiah. If it’s good enough for Jesus…

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Hopes and Fears

Luke 4.14-22a

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Regifting “Good News”

I’m not sure when the phrase “re-gifting” became popular. We know that it goes back at least to the 80’s – to that Seinfeld episode we saw a couple of weeks ago where accusations flew and being caught in the act as a “re-gifter” was an embarrassment. Even though it might have been known by a different name, re-gifting happened long before Seinfeld – I can attest that it was alive and well in 1975. Suffice it to say, that was the summer of weddings – ours as well as many of our friends. And the hot commodity that year was the new and magical crock-pot – the perfect answer for fuss-free, economical meals and the perfect wedding gift. Or should I say wedding gifts…three…red…crockpots. One red crockpot held an honored spot in our small kitchen. The other two were…well, you know…lovingly re-wrapped. And yes…re-gifted. We even came to find out that one of our three crockpots had been re-gifted to us. So it was really re-re-gifted!

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Shout what?!

Isaiah 40.1-11

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Regifting Redux

Last week we began Advent Season by talking about regifting; but the regifting we are talking about is MUCH different from how we think about regifting Christmas presents from one year to the next. Reading the traditional Advent scriptures this year I noticed time and again how nearly all of the scriptures reflect the gifts we are given by God. We are thinking about the gifts of Jesus life and love, spiritual gifts, a way to live abundantly. With all of these good gifts, we should be regifters!

Today we move to regifting God’s comfort and forgiveness.