"Good Shepherd" Sunday
Scripture:
Acts 4:5-12
Psalm 23
1 John 3:16-24
John 10:11-18
Sunday Bulletin Theme: Enfolded by Love
Hymns: 277 "Holy, Holy, Holy" (because it's Joe Freeman's birthday this weekend and that's his favorite hymn); 252 "Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us;" 348 "Jesus Is Here Right Now; " 342 "Be Known to Us in Breaking Bread"
The sermon theme will be from the 23rd psalm, "you have prepared for me a table."
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
For Sunday, April 26, 2009
Scriptures:
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
The white robes have arrived. I unpacked them this morning and hung them up in the coat room to work out the wrinkles and make them ready for Confirmation day on Sunday.
The purpose of the "faith formation" class (which they have been participating in for two years) is to prepare young adolescent children for the Rite of Confirmation. This is the day that we anticipate when we, as parents, bring our babies to the baptismal font and promise to offer "the nurture and support of the Christian church so that they may affirm their baptism." That affirmation of the promises made on their behalf, when they were infants, is central to the Rite of Confirmation. By their own free choice, they come to claim in our presence, their covenantal relationship with Christ and the members of the church.
I have known all five of the members of the confirmation class for a very long time; most of them I have known since they were in pre-school, one I have known all her life, and so I have shared a considerable part of their faith journey with them. It will give me great pleasure to introduce them to the congregation as full adult members of the church.
I will take as my sermon text an expanded reading of the Gospel appointed for Sunday, beginning with the story of two disciples, who met Jesus on their journey down the Emmaus road. When these two disciples return to Jerusalem to tell others about their experience, Jesus appears to them again and greets them with "Peace be with you." He ate with them, and opened their minds, and he gave them a purpose, and promised to clothe them "with power from on high."
Wherever we are on life's journey, whether just starting out, or well along the pathway, we have a common purpose, and a common promise, and a common blessing in the presence of Christ.
Acts 3:12-19
Psalm 4
1 John 3:1-7
Luke 24:36b-48
The white robes have arrived. I unpacked them this morning and hung them up in the coat room to work out the wrinkles and make them ready for Confirmation day on Sunday.
The purpose of the "faith formation" class (which they have been participating in for two years) is to prepare young adolescent children for the Rite of Confirmation. This is the day that we anticipate when we, as parents, bring our babies to the baptismal font and promise to offer "the nurture and support of the Christian church so that they may affirm their baptism." That affirmation of the promises made on their behalf, when they were infants, is central to the Rite of Confirmation. By their own free choice, they come to claim in our presence, their covenantal relationship with Christ and the members of the church.
I have known all five of the members of the confirmation class for a very long time; most of them I have known since they were in pre-school, one I have known all her life, and so I have shared a considerable part of their faith journey with them. It will give me great pleasure to introduce them to the congregation as full adult members of the church.
I will take as my sermon text an expanded reading of the Gospel appointed for Sunday, beginning with the story of two disciples, who met Jesus on their journey down the Emmaus road. When these two disciples return to Jerusalem to tell others about their experience, Jesus appears to them again and greets them with "Peace be with you." He ate with them, and opened their minds, and he gave them a purpose, and promised to clothe them "with power from on high."
Wherever we are on life's journey, whether just starting out, or well along the pathway, we have a common purpose, and a common promise, and a common blessing in the presence of Christ.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
For Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009
Scripture:
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Mark 16:1-8
"A funny thing happened on the way to the tomb" seems an irreverent title for an Easter sermon, so I will not use it this year, just as I have refrained from using it in years past. But it does seem apt, especially when the Easter story is told according to Mark. Mark ends the story with a great cliff-hanger, worthy of The Perils of Pauline or an episode of Alias. The tomb is empty, except for a stranger, oddly dressed, who tells the three women that Jesus is not at tomb, presently, but that he has been raised, and further, they should go and tell his disciples (and Peter) that he is going ahead of them to Galilee, and will meet them there.
And that is how the story ends.
Leaving the listener with the questions:
Is Jesus raised?
Will the women get the message to the disciples in time?
Will they see Jesus in Galilee?
Tune in next week....
We can logically assume that the women (Mary, and Mary, and Salome) must have recovered from their terror and amazement, and eventually must have told someone, otherwise, how could we be reading the story now, a few thousand years after the fact?
And when they recovered themselves, and drew up the courage to tell their story, might they have begun with... "Peter, a funny thing happened on the way to the tomb this morning."
Acts 10:34-43
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Mark 16:1-8
"A funny thing happened on the way to the tomb" seems an irreverent title for an Easter sermon, so I will not use it this year, just as I have refrained from using it in years past. But it does seem apt, especially when the Easter story is told according to Mark. Mark ends the story with a great cliff-hanger, worthy of The Perils of Pauline or an episode of Alias. The tomb is empty, except for a stranger, oddly dressed, who tells the three women that Jesus is not at tomb, presently, but that he has been raised, and further, they should go and tell his disciples (and Peter) that he is going ahead of them to Galilee, and will meet them there.
So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.
And that is how the story ends.
Leaving the listener with the questions:
Is Jesus raised?
Will the women get the message to the disciples in time?
Will they see Jesus in Galilee?
Tune in next week....
We can logically assume that the women (Mary, and Mary, and Salome) must have recovered from their terror and amazement, and eventually must have told someone, otherwise, how could we be reading the story now, a few thousand years after the fact?
And when they recovered themselves, and drew up the courage to tell their story, might they have begun with... "Peter, a funny thing happened on the way to the tomb this morning."
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
For Thursday, April 9, 2009
Traditionally, Maundy Thursday is observed as the anniversary of Jesus' last supper with his disciples, and the institution of Holy Communion.
What did this meal of bread and wine signify to the first Christians? In Saving Paradise, authors Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker assert that it was a celebration of the presence of the living Christ. The scriptural models for the meal were the manna in the wilderness, the feeding of the multitude, and the Emmaus road encounter.
What did this meal of bread and wine signify to the first Christians? In Saving Paradise, authors Rita Nakashima Brock and Rebecca Ann Parker assert that it was a celebration of the presence of the living Christ. The scriptural models for the meal were the manna in the wilderness, the feeding of the multitude, and the Emmaus road encounter.
Writings from early church leaders and from the apostle Paul indicate that the “breaking of bread” was more than a bite-sized sample. The bread and the cup were shared in the context of a meal, which included the “fruits of paradise.”
This Thursday, we will celebrate Communion as a Feast of Paradise. It will not be a historical reenactment-- but an act of worship that seeks to be true to the spirit of the feast.
We will receive an offering, not of cash, but of bread, fruit, nuts, cheese, flowers for the table (but no meat)... bring your offering on a serving platter or basket. We will have a table for you to set it on just outside the sanctuary, where we will gather for the first part of the worship experience. After the sermon and prayers, we will have our offertory processional from the sanctuary to the fellowship hall. Pick up your offering on your way out of the sanctuary as we move to fellowship hall for part two-- the meal.
In fellowship hall, we will pray the Great Thanksgiving, break the bread, share the feast, and afterward lift the cup, and drink to the new covenant. Then there will be a prayer of thanksgiving after the meal, before a benediction.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
For Palm Sunday, April 5, 2009
Scriptures:
Isaiah 50:4-9a "The Lord has given me the tongue of a teacher...."
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 "Open to me the gates of righteousness...."
Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus did not exploit the power of God, but took the form of a servant.
Mark 11:1-11 The entry into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The story goes that the hoi polloi (the common people) shouted the greeting reserved for the heir to King David's throne:
It was a political statement-- a calculated demonstration of resistance against the power of Rome, its governor and occupying forces, and its vasal king.
Isaiah 50:4-9a "The Lord has given me the tongue of a teacher...."
Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 "Open to me the gates of righteousness...."
Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus did not exploit the power of God, but took the form of a servant.
Mark 11:1-11 The entry into Jerusalem.
Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The story goes that the hoi polloi (the common people) shouted the greeting reserved for the heir to King David's throne:
Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!
It was a political statement-- a calculated demonstration of resistance against the power of Rome, its governor and occupying forces, and its vasal king.
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