“You Are My Beloved”

 by The Rev. William G. Lamont, Pastor

“Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’”  Luke 3:21-22

Last summer, a friend of mine lost his wallet…all his cash, his driver’s license, his credit cards, his health insurance card…everything gone!  It was a real nightmare.  He went to the DMV to get a temporary driver’s license and the lady behind the counter said to him:  “I’ll need two pieces of ID.”  He said, “But I just told you I’ve lost my wallet with all my identification.”  “Well the rules are the rules - I need two pieces of identification before we can proceed.”  He was without credentials.

It’s a helpless feeling to be without credentials.  A few years ago there was a commercial for American Express Traveler’s Checks on the television.  It pictured a couple on vacation in a foreign country who had been pick-pocketed…all their cash was gone.  The couple was frantically rushing here and there trying to get the necessary funds, and not even able to identify who they were to authorities.  It then showed another couple, who also had been robbed, but they had lost traveler’s checks!  They were lounging by the pool sipping tropical drinks while new traveler’s checks are personally delivered to them.  The point was clear – if you carry American Express traveler’s checks, you might get robbed but you’ll never be completely without credentials.

Having credentials is important.  We want them so badly that sometimes we’ll even chase after false credentials.  Back in the 16th century, Pope Leo X was rebuilding St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  The cost of the project was huge and he needed a way to fund it.  He came up with the idea of selling indulgences to church members who gave alms to the church.  An indulgence is the full or partial forgiveness of temporal punishment for sins that have been committed.  If a person had neglected Mass, absconded funds from work, or cheated on their spouse, they could go to confession, and ask for forgiveness.  The priest would grant forgiveness, after assigning penance – a temporal debt to be performed…prayers, fasting, or charitable work.  The sale of Indulgences was a way to sidestep or shorten penance.  It was said – I don’t know if it’s true, but I’ve heard that it was even possible to buy an indulgence for a sin you hadn’t committed yet!

“The Word Incarnate”

by The Rev. William G. Lamont, Pastor

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.  John 1: 1,14

We live in an age where words have been devalued.  “Talk is cheap,” they say.  “A picture is worth a thousand words,” they say.  “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” they say.  All expressions that point to the diminished value of words.  If words were a commodity on the Dow/Jones, they’d be penny stock.  It’s a visual era now.  “Hey, have you read the book?  Uh, no, but I saw the movie!”  “It’s not what a man says but what he does that really counts.”  “Seeing is believing.”   Words are out, pictures are in.

And that’s bad news to one who deals in words, like myself.  We preachers are heavily invested in the spoken word.  Not only do we communicate in words, but we point people to “The Word”… to God’s Word in the Bible.  It is a word above all words…the source of truth and life, but it has lost value in this day and age.  The Bible is seen by many as just another book among books…nothing special.  So even the Word of God has been diminished. 

"Choices"

by The Rev. William G. Lamont, Pastor

"Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word.'"  Luke 1:37

The porch light is on and the Christmas decorations have all been strung. Supper is warming in the oven, and the table is set, awaiting the assembly of the family. The hands on the clock move slowly past the appointed hour.  Your ear is tuned to every car that drives past the house. Finally a car comes along that does not pass by but pulls in the drive and stops. A car door slams and the front door opens and the empty house is filled with suitcases, bags,  and the cacophony of greeting people…laughter, hugs, and lively chatter.  Your family has arrived home for the holidays…Advent preparation gives way to Christmas joy.

"Prepare the Way of the Lord"

by The Rev. William G. Lamont, Pastor

Back in October Hidenwood hosted the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia here for a day-long presbytery meeting. Over 200 people came from far and wide for that gathering and we provided for their every need while in the building: registration, morning coffee and refreshments, elders to serve communion, an organist and soloist, a pork barbeque lunch, audio-visual support, photocopying and administrative support. We were commended for the great job we did hosting the event because an event of that size and caliber doesn’t just happen magically. Betty Sink and Penny Taylor had been planning for presbytery since last June and they recruited an army of volunteers to help. The secret to their success, they would tell you, is preparation.