Reunion 2017

Fully Awake and Ready to Respond

ALEX WAKE SCRIPTS

Created by John Rounds

“Awaken”

Hi, my name is Alex, Alex Wake. Last year my cousin, Alex Water was here to talk with you about his favorite subject…water. He said I should come and talk with you about the importance of being awake.

I like to sleep, but when you are asleep, you miss out on stuff.I remember when I was a teenager, I really liked to sleep.My mom would yell at me to wake up for school; I would yell, “I’m up, Mom!” And then I would roll over for a few more zzzz.Sometimes I even missed the bus because of that!Not being awake caused me to have to walk to school on those days.

Just like my Mom would call me to “Wake up,” sometimes God calls to us.If we don’t awaken, we might miss our “spiritual bus” or a special message, an opportunity, or a challenge.

In the Old Testament, Samuel heard God calling in the night. He opened his eyes and heard God’s message for him.Our world is waiting for us to wake up and open our eyes to the opportunities God has for us.

I’m A. Wake and I’m ready to serve.How about you?

“Awaken to God’s Invitation”

Good morning, Alex Wake here! I was sound asleep this morning when the phone woke me up.When I answered the phone, it was an invitation to receive a free cruise to the Bahamas.I get one of those invitations every couple weeks; they aren’t so much an invitation as a marketing ploy.So, in frustration, I turned off my phone and went back to sleep.Later, when I got up and turned on my phone, I learned that friends tried to call to invite me to play bridge.I LOVE playing bridge, but I missed that invitation because I wasn’t awake.

I wonder if it is like that with God.God’s invitation is even more exciting than bridge!Is the Holy Spirit trying to lead me somewhere and I’m not fully awake and ready to respond?Do I miss out on opportunities to invite others to Christ because I am asleep?Maybe I should pray that Mission Prayer more often so I don’t miss out.

I’m A. Wake and I’m going to go think about that.

“Awaken to Spiritual Transformation”

Hi, it’s me again, Alex Wake. I don’t mind telling you, I am starting to get sort of fed up with this whole “Awaken” theme.I woke up this morning at 4:45 a.m.!I was wide awake, so I went ahead and got up.

Yesterday I waited to have my morning wake-up beverage after I got here at reunion, but I knew I couldn’t wait four hours for coffee, so I drove over to Starbucks.When I walked inside someone called my name.I looked around but didn’t recognize anyone, so I started up to the counter when I heard my name again.It was a man I didn’t think I knew.It turns out he was an old friend whom I hadn’t seen in years.I didn’t recognize him because he had lost 70 pounds.What a transformation!He told me he had to make a lot of changes in his life.He started waking up early to go walk; he started eating a healthier diet.He even got rid of junk food!He said it was really difficult changing old habits, but it was worth all of the struggles.

When we follow Jesus we have to make radical changes like that.Spiritual transformation comes when we wake up and do something for others.Spiritual transformation occurs when you put healthy spiritual practices in your life.Spiritual transformation happens when you get rid of the junk that clutters your life—likeall those messages we tell ourselves. Many of us think we are too old, too young, too poor, or not smart enough.Spiritual transformation requires that we change the habits that prevent us from becoming true disciples.

Apostle Paul talked about our becoming “new creatures.”I’m A. Wake and I’m ready to become a new creature.

“Awaken to Unfolding Mission”

Hi, Alex Wake here with some incredibly exciting news.Sources close to President Steve Veazey have told me that the church is about to launch a new program to send missionaries all over the world.Because of the church’s financial position and the cost of airfare, they are going to gather volunteer missionaries, fold them into boxes and ship them all over the world.The friends of the church who receive those boxes will open them to unfold the missionaries to spread the Word.That’s where we get this morning’s theme, “Awaken to Unfolding Missionaries (point to theme in bulletin or on PowerPoint).

Oops, it is “Unfolding Mission, not missionaries.I’m sorry; you can forget what I just announced.You make those mistakes when you are really tired.

I told you that I woke up early yesterday, so I have been exhausted.In fact, I fell asleep watching TV last night.I missed one of my favorite programs because I fell asleep!I woke up in the middle of the night with the TV still going.It was about to start a rerun of the old Mission Impossible show.You remember the song (hum it).And, of course, there was the challenge that seemed impossible.As the mission unfolded there was always incredible action and excitement and ultimate victory.

Our unfolding mission with Christ is just like that.Sometimes the challenges of mission seem impossible.How can we impact the mission of Christ?After all, he’s the Lord and we are just “us.”

As the mission of Christ unfolds in our lives, it will be exciting and it always leads to victory.Oh, and our songs even have words (hold up Community of Christ Singshymnal).When you are on a mission with Christ, nothing is impossible!

I’m A. Wake and I can hardly wait to see how my mission with Christ unfolds.(Exit humming Mission Impossible theme.)

“Awaken to Sacramental Living”

Good morning.It’s Alex Wake again.I woke up early this morning and took my wake-up beverage out onto the patio.Sitting there, I saw the sun rise over the lake [field, mountain, valley or other feature appropriate for your setting].WOW!What a sacred moment of awe and beauty!It was a moment that happens every day, but I usually miss it because I am asleep.

Life is full of such moments if we are awake to see them.The ordinary stuff of life that vibrates with unseen harmonies reminds us of who God is and what we are made for.That is what the sacraments do for us.Like sunrises, the sacraments leave us bigger than they found us.They take our hopes and fears and melt them into a greater vision of wholeness and possibility.They give us a glimpse of what kingdom living must be like.

I’m A. Wake and that’s the way I want to live.

“Awaken to Living Sanctuary”

Is anyone tired?When I got home yesterday I was exhausted and thought about taking a nap.But, instead, I went to the Riparian Preserve [or a special setting at any reunion grounds] a few miles from our house.That is an area right in town, which is a wetland and bird sanctuary.It is a refuge from the noise and bustle of city life. It’s a place of peace and reflection.Walking its paths energized me and allowed me to become fully awake.

In several of the psalms, David tells us that God is his refuge.He didn’t need a special, physical place to go in order to find peace.Peace was a constant part of David’s life because God was a constant part of his life.When we live in harmony with God, all of life is a sanctuary—a sacred awakening.You don’t have to walk the paths of a Riparian Preserve [or other special place associated with your context].You just have to walk path as a disciple.Doctrine and Covenants 163 tells us that the entire church is called to be a sanctuary of Christ’s peace.

There’s a Taize song where we sing, “In God alone, my soul is at rest.”I’m A. Wake and that is all the rest that I need!