Which of the following two types of personalities fits you best: type A or type B? To those not quite sure what the differences between these two personality types are, simply put, type A personalities are the task-oriented movers and shakers, the follow-the-schedule-they-themselves-create type, whereas the type B personality often asks, "What? There's a schedule? Now huh, that's funny. I wasn't aware of that."

Hopefully none of us here today fall completely in one type or the other. We can see the advantage to both types and, depending on the situation, amalgamate to both.

I draw attention to type A and type B personalities because sometimes there can be two types of church people—those who hang around 'a' little after church—we'll call these the 'a' people—and then, of course, there's the 'b' people who make a beeline for the church door as soon as church is over. No one should be placed into pigeon holes, or nice neat little boxes because no one ever fits into one nice, neat little box or category, but, for the time being, go ahead, ask yourself, which are you: type 'a', hanging around 'a' little following worship, or type 'b', you're apt to make a beeline for the nearest, quickest exit?

Now we all know the social types buzz buzz around any gathering, church being no exception. These are the extroverts I talked about in a sermon a couple months back. Wherever there's a group of people, these naturally adept socialites shine.  They get a charge out of being around others. Conversely, there are our introverts who aren't as comfortable in social situations and, based on who they are and where they place their value, they really respect their privacy and the privacy of those around them.

Again, I imagine (to greater and lesser degrees) that we here at First Congregational-UCC are a little of both. It can be a real party, celebration or special time when we are among friends and family. Likewise, we respect people's boundaries. While in a doctor's waiting area, for example, we don't get all up in a stranger's face wondering about all sorts of things, including why they are visiting a doctor in the first place. [Okay, it's rumored that Bill Mitchell carries our blessed candy bucket around wherever he goes including hospital emergency rooms where yes, there's been a time or two when security's been called...but he's working on it!]

I kid here, but I want you to take something seriously. It's something Jesus did in our scripture this morning. Whether you're a type A or type B personality, or an introvert or an extrovert or most likely hold a combination of all four traits, here's the hook, line and sinker in our message today. Do want Jesus did. Hang around church. Take time, as our sermon title suggests, take time to talk.

Okay, yes, then it was called synagogue, but this intelligent, compassionate individual realized what we realize—that there is gain when we speak and listen to those around us here in the house of God. Now today, and into this next year, I want you to make a concentrated effort, okay? Taking what we talked about on Christmas Eve—how celebrating Christ is best not alone but with a community who supports, appropriately challenges and companions with you—I invite you to embrace this particular scripture so much so that you take it to heart. Engage those around you. Here I mean to say ask and then listen to more than conversation about the weather or the upcoming college football bowl game (Go PSU in the New Year's Day Capital One Bowl against LSU). Here I mean to say ask them more than what they'll be doing for New Year's Eve. You know where I am going. You know what I am asking. Share your faith story. In turn, listen well as others share theirs. As Jesus did there in the synagogue, lift where God is in their lives and, in turn, listen as others share where they hear God in your life.

True Christian fellowship is not two old grumps gabbing about the pot roast or the new, nifty clay pots they plan to use this year to start their indoor gardens in a few months while shuffling off to their car here in the parking lot; Christian fellowship is when the conversation itself doesn't allude to Christ, Christian fellowship is when the conversation purposefully engages Christ. There are three ways we'll look at to help us with this.

Here is the first. It's the first point on your sermon notes. Open up.  It isn't enough to sit quietly. It isn't enough to swap casual greetings, share recipes or talk about the weather. It isn't enough. In faith and in fellowship, we are as strong as the weakest one here. Don't hush up—you're cheating yourself and others—no, open up. Engage.

"Well," some could think, "we don't do that at First Congregational." To those who think that or hold that from what some consider the cold, old days, I invite you to look around because, ah, yes, we do just that: we open up. We reach out—not just for someone else, but we also reach out when we ourselves need care, prayer, and attention.

Again, our model for opening up is Christ. As a boy of twelve, Jesus attended Passover with his parents. According to Jewish law found in Deuteronomy 16:16, every male was required to go to Jerusalem three times a year for the great festivals. Passover was considered the most important of the three annual festivals.

And Jesus, comparable to a fifth or sixth grader today, was considered almost an adult, so he probably didn't spend a lot of time with his parents during the festival. Those who attended these festivals often traveled in caravans for protection from robbers along the Palestine roads. The woman and children usually would travel at the front of the caravan, with the men bringing up the rear. A twelve-year-old boy conceivably could have been in either group, so both Mary and Joseph probably assumed that Jesus was with the other one. But when the caravan left Jerusalem, Jesus stayed behind, absorbed in his discussion with the religious leaders. He was one, even as a boy, who opened up.

And this naturally leads to our second point this morning. Become absorbed in discussion. For Jesus, this took three days. For us today, let's find three people this week we can share with. Let's find three people we can talk with this week about...well...here's an example: the Advent candles. In seven days find three people to talk about hope, peace, joy and love and you will what you've already seen, feel what you've already experienced—and it's this: we need each other to lean on in tough times, and, when strong, we need to share that with others here around us.

Become absorbed in discussion. Become involved in it. Type a, type b, introvert, extrovert...it doesn't matter, we have a model, Jesus, and as he stayed in the temple, we can stay in or create our own church-like moments with our family here.

Here's a suggestion how this can start here and now. Now we haven't done this in church and I run the risk of someone not liking what we're about to do, but I'll run with that risk. This is what I'm asking. Invite someone here today to be a prayer partner for the day. In a moment, I'll be asking you to exchange personal prayer requests, perhaps one we've shared earlier during our pastoral prayer time, share this prayer with a pew mate, a family member sitting beside you, a friend or maybe even someone you don't know all that well. There are no hard and fast rules here. Perhaps you'll share your prayers with more than one person. Perhaps you know now that there's someone not here whom you'll share your prayer request with later.

We are a family here. I'm not asking you to leave your comfort zone. Instead, I'm asking you to increase it. We'll do this in two steps. First, take a silent moment and think of a prayer you'd like to share with someone. I encourage you to do this now. (Pause.) Now here's the second part: invite a prayer partner into your day. Take a minute and quietly share your prayers, and, in turn, hear or even overhear the prayers of those around you. Do this now, and, when finished, return to silence.

From the silence, we conclude with our third and final point this morning. Praise God.  Praise God that you opened up and both heard and shared a prayer.

I'm sure some of you never imagined that a moment like the one we just had would be a part of today's service—it's something I didn't plan when writing this—but through the Spirit of Christ it's here. Share. Care. Listen. Take time to talk as Jesus, there in the synagogue, took time to talk, pray, listen, and learn. Hold each other up in love and in understanding as God himself holds us up in love and understanding. God is enacted when we act on—and through—his mighty love.

I trust you have—or you will have—been entrusted with a prayer from someone else. I hope it's a new prayer, one you didn't walk in with, but will certainly carry when you leave.

And when you leave, do it slowly. Chatter up a storm and praise God. Praise God for this family here who truly does love and appreciate your being here. You are special and loved in God's sight as you are precious and loved in the sight of those here around you.

Whether you're more of a type A or a type B personality, you have a challenge. Spend time with each other after church. Open up. Point one. Become engaged in discussion. Point two. Become engaged not about the superficial things, but on what really, truly matters—and that's your time with God. And yes, finally and always, point three, praise God, the three-in-one. Praise God that we have time to talk with each other and with God, the giver of our greatest gift, Christ Jesus.