As United Methodists we have inherited a peculiar, that is unique, way of working out our theology. My confirmation classes all get to learn and work with it. Albert Outler first coined the name "quadrilateral," in his introduction to the collection called "John Wesley." Our book of polity, The Disciplines, says: "Wesley believed that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. Scripture [however] is primary, revealing the Word of God 'so far as it is necessary for our salvation.'" (The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church-2004, p. 77).

As God's people we are blessed to be able to tap into a multitude of traditions that can enrich and deepen our spiritual journey. They are the practices of our faith that enable us to live as the psalmist says: "They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper." (Psalm 1:3) The practices and traditions that we inherit are the deep streams of water that nourish and surround us and keep us walking towards an ever deepening life of faith. During Advent the first tradition will are emphasizing is our intercessory prayer time. We Protestants can be very passive in our worship practices. With the exception of communion, we are content to let most of our worship service be done to us. We sit in the pew through worship, stand and sit down when told…and if we so choose, let nothing much happen to us. We have lost the richness of ritual and movement in our worship. And so this morning we will be focusing on our intercessory prayer time as a way to bring movement into our worship. In the pew racks are prayer concern cards. If you have a particular prayer concern you would like lifted up this morning and in the coming InLooks, fill the card out. As we begin a time of prayer one of the ushers will come through and collect the cards from the center aisle. You can also join the pastors at the communion rail as we lift up our intercessory prayers this morning. I hope this will offer a more focused way of praying in worship. Secondly, we will be exploring some of the traditions of our faith in the sermon series that begins today. The series is inspired by Richard Foster's book: "Streams of Living Water." In the book he explores the traditions we will be examining in the next several weeks–the life of: social justice, contemplation, holiness, charisma, sacraments and evangelism. Each of those traditions balance each other out and draw us to spiritual maturity. Coupled with each tradition, we've identified a "star" or "hero," that Elaine is sharing during our children's time each week.

This morning's text from Jeremiah reminds us of our first tradition–social justice: "The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness." As United Methodists we stand firmly in the stream of social justice. From the earliest days of the Holiness Club formed when John Wesley was still a student at Oxford to this day, Methodism has been concerned with justice issues. Piety was never separated from concern for the world. In our words, "our ritual must have social relevance." (Foster, page 167)

In my reading of Foster's book this week, two things among many stand out as we are reminded of the tradition of social justice. The first is that the social justice tradition asks us to live appropriately. (Foster, page 162) While at one level we know that we cannot worship on Sunday, praying, singing and proclaiming a way of life without then going out to live that life…it is another thing to go out and actually live authentically. Yet, that is exactly what the social justice tradition sends us out to do. Remember the harsh words that Jesus had for the religious authorities who paraded their religiosity at the expense of the poor and oppressed. I have been long convinced that if God takes sides, God takes the sides of the poor and oppressed. And so, we are sent out to live in our world in ways appropriate to what we say and do here in worship. We have to embody Jesus to the world.

The second thing about the social justice tradition is how uncomfortable it can be. The world does not deal well with prophets. Nor, if honest, do we. No one likes to be called on for questioning the way society is ordered, or looking at systems that oppress. Just think of the disdain the prophets in the Hebrew scriptures received. Think ultimately of the one we follow–Jesus Christ–and you know what you are in for as one who stands in the stream of social justice. The words of the hymn, "You Are the Seed," say it well: "You are the dawn that will bring a new day; you're the wheat that will bear golden grain; you are a sting and a soft, gentle touch, my witnesses wherever you go." The social justice tradition stands as a sting to both self and the world.

Finally it is a tradition that calls us to wholeness. Foster speaks of it this way: It is a tradition that is lived out in the personal arena–again, our lives must embody what we say we are about in our prayer and worship. It is a tradition lived out in our interpersonal relationships–our Christian community must become a model of the social justice tradition. And it is a tradition lived out in institutional structures–we are sent out to envision and work to realize a society where it is easier to good and harder to do evil. (Foster, pages 174-175)

One way we will be having the opportunity to participate in that three fold approach to social justice is in our communion offering. This morning's communion offering is designated for the UMC Global AIDS Fund. In June our Annual Conference passed a resolution setting a goal to raise $1/member for this fund. Appropriately we receive the offering near December 1st, World AIDS Day. While in some parts of the world, HIV/AIDS has become a chronic disease in other places it is still a death sentence. Adam Hamilton, Sr. Pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in Kansas City challenges us to go one step further. Ten dollars will pay for an inoculation, that if given to a pregnant woman with AIDS, reduces the likelihood of her child being born with AIDS from 48% to 2%. I chose the 10 dollar offering this morning. As I receive the grace of Jesus Christ in the sacrament, in however small a way, I hope to embody the grace of God in my gift.

Like a tree planted by streams of living water….may we go forth as those who draw deeply from the streams of living water that give us strength to live as God's people; embodying the love of Jesus Christ for all…going forth to live appropriately so that all may find life in God.