Scriptures:
Judges 4:1-7
Psalm 123
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
Theme: Extravagant Opportunity
Sermon Title: Seasons of Faith
Hymns: #25 Our God, Our Help in Ages Past
#432 'Tis Winter Now, the Fallen Snow
#436 God of Grace and God of Glory
I don't remember ever hearing my name read aloud in church. I was teaching Sunday School, as a sophomore in high school, when I first read about Deborah, the prophetess, one of the great leaders of Israel, who teamed up with Barak, a military captain, to lead troops into battle against... whoever it was the Israelites were battling in that particular chapter.
The book of Judges follows this rhythm: The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; so the Lord punished them by letting their enemies oppress them; then the people of Israel called out to the Lord, and the Lord sent them (insert name of hero) to defeat their enemies. And there would be peace until the next time the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the cycle would repeat itself.
Deborah and Barak and a woman named Jael are the heroes of the fourth chapter.
Psalm 123 is a plea for mercy.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 is the text the Reverend Cleophas chose for his sermon in the Triple Rock Baptist Church scene of the movie The Blues Brothers. "Don't be lost when the time comes... for the Lord cometh like a thief in the night."
Matthew 25:14-30 is the parable of the talents. Contrary to popular opinion of those whose messiah is Adam Smith, this is not an admonition to go forth and earn as much money as you can by any means you can. No! It's not!
Think of the talents entrusted to the servants as the wealth of scripture and tradition, the wealth of the holy wisdom entrusted to us by God, given to our keeping, as a legacy, a trust for future generations. Faithful servants will do what they can not only to preserve the trust, but also to increase it. In my mind, those who attempt to protect scriptue and tradition from modern interpretation are like the one who burries the talent in the ground. It does not profit, it does no one any good. Adding our own interpretation to the inheritance entrusted to us-- this is the intrest accrued for the sake of future generations.
This Sunday we will acknowlege the changing of the seasons: from Fall to Winter, and from Ordinary Time to Advent. This time of year generally tugs at my heart, reminding me of the passage of years. I am haunted by memories of those with whom I spent childhood Thanksgivings, who are now part of that great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us and cheers us on-- my sister, my parents, my grandmother, aunts & uncles. And when I say haunted, I don't mean in a spooky Halloweeny way, nor a scary, late-night B-movie way-- I just feel a presence, or maybe a lack-of-presence, and it is comforting, but bittersweet.
James Fowler took the disciplines of Human Development and Theology and synthesized them into Stages of Faith. His book of that title describes how our faith changes as we grow. I believe that in addition to stages of faith, we experience seasons of faith, similar to the seasons of the church year. We experience periods of insight and great growth, green seasons of our faith that might be descibed as a Pentecost season. We experience seasons of anxiety, hope, and anticipation, which is precisely the mood of Advent. We experience birth as Christmas; Epiphnies when the lights shine in the darkness; we experience grief as deep and dark as Good Friday, and resurrection as brilliant as Easter.
The church year can help us to understand that these seasons of faith are cyclical, that nothing lasts forever, all things must pass, and give way to what comes next. This wisdom is comfort for those who mourn, and humility for those who rejoice. "It's not always going to be this way," is good news, or cautionary. It depends on how you feel about the "now."
What season are you in? How do you feel about coming to church when the season of the year does not correspond to the season of your faith-- for example, if you are grieving while the church rejoices, or rejoicing when the liturgy of the church mourns?
It is my hope that we can participate in each other's seasons, and encourage one another in the hope of the Easter to come.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
For November 9, 2008
Scriptures:
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Psalm 78:1-7
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13
Theme: Tending God's Light
Hymns: 55 Rejoice, You Pure in Heart
376 God, We Thank You for OurPeople
369 Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
Sermon Title: From Generation to Generation
A summary of the scriptures: The reading from Joshua is about a crossroads for the Hebrew people: Chose this day whom you will serve; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The psalm is a celebration of the faith of generations: Tell your children what you learned from your parents, so that they set their hopes on God. The epistle lesson is a comforting message from Paul to the church in Thessalonica, regarding those who have died. The gospel lesson is the parable of the bridesmaids with thier lamps-- some brought extra oil and some didn't and those who were prepared met the bridegroom and those who had to go shopping for more lamp oil were left out in the cold. So keep your lamp trimmed and burning.
Tending the light, passing the torch, these are the images for the day. Light is a metaphor for wisdom, and a sign of God's presence, and a symbol of the Holy Spirit. God spoke to Moses from a burning bush, and guided the Hebrew people as a pillar of fire. The Holy Spirit appeared on pentecost day as tongues of fire. The motto of my alma mater, Elmhurst college, is taken from a psalm: In lumine tuo, videbimus lumen. In your light, we shall see light.
Have you been thinking of those people in your life who have shared the love of God with you? On Thanksgiving Sunday, November 23, we will be collecting an offering of thank you notes, to be mailed to those people. These are some the "saints" who have tended the light of God's love to keep it for future generations.
How are you engaged in tending the light, and sharing God's love with the next generation?
Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25
Psalm 78:1-7
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13
Theme: Tending God's Light
Hymns: 55 Rejoice, You Pure in Heart
376 God, We Thank You for OurPeople
369 Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning
Sermon Title: From Generation to Generation
A summary of the scriptures: The reading from Joshua is about a crossroads for the Hebrew people: Chose this day whom you will serve; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." The psalm is a celebration of the faith of generations: Tell your children what you learned from your parents, so that they set their hopes on God. The epistle lesson is a comforting message from Paul to the church in Thessalonica, regarding those who have died. The gospel lesson is the parable of the bridesmaids with thier lamps-- some brought extra oil and some didn't and those who were prepared met the bridegroom and those who had to go shopping for more lamp oil were left out in the cold. So keep your lamp trimmed and burning.
Tending the light, passing the torch, these are the images for the day. Light is a metaphor for wisdom, and a sign of God's presence, and a symbol of the Holy Spirit. God spoke to Moses from a burning bush, and guided the Hebrew people as a pillar of fire. The Holy Spirit appeared on pentecost day as tongues of fire. The motto of my alma mater, Elmhurst college, is taken from a psalm: In lumine tuo, videbimus lumen. In your light, we shall see light.
Have you been thinking of those people in your life who have shared the love of God with you? On Thanksgiving Sunday, November 23, we will be collecting an offering of thank you notes, to be mailed to those people. These are some the "saints" who have tended the light of God's love to keep it for future generations.
How are you engaged in tending the light, and sharing God's love with the next generation?
Thursday, October 30, 2008
For November 2, 2008
Scriptures:
Joshua 3:7-17
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Matthew 23:1-12
Theme: Partners in Service
Hymns:
#299 For All the Saints
#539 Won't You Let Me Be Your Servant
#783 As the Grains of Wheat
#377 Forward Through the Ages
The Gospel lesson should take all of us religious leaders down a peg. Because we all have to confess, that from time to time, we do enjoy the "perks" of the clergy-- being called "reverend," having that half a hog delivered to the parsonage freezer every autumn (remember, I once served a church in Iowa), and realizing that people check their language carefully when they realize they are talking to a pastor.
We all know the same cautionary tales of sinister ministers and priests, those who abused that authority granted to them as a matter of office, who victimized the people whom they were meant to serve and instruct. The damage they have done to their victims, and their churches, is immeasurable. The psychological scars of abuse are lifelong, and visited upon generations. These are the heaviest of burdens.
Jesus' lesson is a caution to the church: the word of God is not meant to be a burden. The work of the church (and of church leaders) is not to bind up burdens, heavy to bear. Remember that in another place Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." The church should be a place where God's weary people can be unburdened.
"Leave it there, leave it there, take your burden to the Lord and leave it there," goes the old gospel hymn (which is not in our hymnal, sorry). "Every burden will be rolled away," is a Swahili folk song, one which I taught to children at peace camp a few years ago. These are the lyrics rolling through my brain this week (along with a couple of Bob Marley songs, and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times." These last few are from a Johnny Cash "Unearthed" cd I've been listening to. A prize will be awarded to anyone who can tell me who sings "Redemption Song" with Johnny. It's Joe Strummer (late of The Clash). I just want to know if anyone is reading this blog. Say "Joe Strummer" to me at church on Sunday and you will win a beautiful new Butterfinger bar.)
In what ways are we, as a congregation, prepared to engage in a ministry of "unburdening." In what ways do we need to repent from "binding up burdens" and not carrying our own weight?
Joshua 3:7-17
Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13
Matthew 23:1-12
Theme: Partners in Service
Hymns:
#299 For All the Saints
#539 Won't You Let Me Be Your Servant
#783 As the Grains of Wheat
#377 Forward Through the Ages
The Gospel lesson should take all of us religious leaders down a peg. Because we all have to confess, that from time to time, we do enjoy the "perks" of the clergy-- being called "reverend," having that half a hog delivered to the parsonage freezer every autumn (remember, I once served a church in Iowa), and realizing that people check their language carefully when they realize they are talking to a pastor.
We all know the same cautionary tales of sinister ministers and priests, those who abused that authority granted to them as a matter of office, who victimized the people whom they were meant to serve and instruct. The damage they have done to their victims, and their churches, is immeasurable. The psychological scars of abuse are lifelong, and visited upon generations. These are the heaviest of burdens.
Jesus' lesson is a caution to the church: the word of God is not meant to be a burden. The work of the church (and of church leaders) is not to bind up burdens, heavy to bear. Remember that in another place Jesus said, "Come to me, all who are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." The church should be a place where God's weary people can be unburdened.
"Leave it there, leave it there, take your burden to the Lord and leave it there," goes the old gospel hymn (which is not in our hymnal, sorry). "Every burden will be rolled away," is a Swahili folk song, one which I taught to children at peace camp a few years ago. These are the lyrics rolling through my brain this week (along with a couple of Bob Marley songs, and Stephen Foster's "Hard Times." These last few are from a Johnny Cash "Unearthed" cd I've been listening to. A prize will be awarded to anyone who can tell me who sings "Redemption Song" with Johnny. It's Joe Strummer (late of The Clash). I just want to know if anyone is reading this blog. Say "Joe Strummer" to me at church on Sunday and you will win a beautiful new Butterfinger bar.)
In what ways are we, as a congregation, prepared to engage in a ministry of "unburdening." In what ways do we need to repent from "binding up burdens" and not carrying our own weight?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
For Sunday, September 28
Hebrew Bible: | Exodus 17:1-7 |
Psalm: | Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 |
Epistle: | Philippians 2:1-13 |
New Testament: | Matthew 21:23-32 |
Sermon: God at Work (for God is at work in you... Phil 2:13)
Hymns:
#27 From All That Dwell Below the Skies
#488 Take My Life, God, Let It Be
#565 God Whose Giving Knows No Ending (v. 1 and 4 only)
This is our Stewardship Sunday, the day we offer our "estimate of giving" forms along with our offering for the day. It is an expression of faith, to submit ourselves to the discipline of regular giving. It is perhaps even more meaningful when it is more difficult.
Generosity is counter-cultural. The messages of the marketplace are "more for me." Advertising is designed to make us feel anxious about what we lack. Jesus advises: do not worry about your life, what to eat, what to wear. God knows what you need, and God provides.
Giving obviously blesses those who receive; but generous giving also blesses the giver with an inexplicable peace. Opening our hands to the poor relaxes our grip on the possessions that possess us. To be able to let go, and then realize, that we are still OK, that we actually have more than enough to live, that is a priceless insight.
God is at work in us. We are not complete, perfect disciples, but we are able to do more than we can ask or imagine when we acknowledge that God is at work within us and through us. Blessing us and blessing others through our generosity.
Monday, September 15, 2008
For Sunday, September 21st
New Testament: Matthew 20:1-16
(The parable of the laborers in the vineyard.)
Sunday Bulletin Focus: Tension in the Wilderness
Our Focus: God is Generous
Hymns:
#22, Sing Praise to God (tune: LOBE DEN HERREN)
#18, Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer (tune: CWM RHONDDA)
#370, What Gift Can We Bring (tune: ANNIVERSARY SONG)
(The parable of the laborers in the vineyard.)
Sunday Bulletin Focus: Tension in the Wilderness
Our Focus: God is Generous
Hymns:
#22, Sing Praise to God (tune: LOBE DEN HERREN)
#18, Guide Me, O My Great Redeemer (tune: CWM RHONDDA)
#370, What Gift Can We Bring (tune: ANNIVERSARY SONG)
Monday, September 8, 2008
For Sunday, September 14
Hebrew Bible: Exodus 14:19-31
(The parting of the Red Sea.)
(The parting of the Red Sea.)
Psalm: Psalm 114 or Exodus 15:1b-11, 20-21
(Both are hymns of celebration, commemorating the parting of the sea.)
Epistle: Romans 14:1-12
(Caution against judging the faith-practice of others. "We belong to Christ.")
(Both are hymns of celebration, commemorating the parting of the sea.)
Epistle: Romans 14:1-12
(Caution against judging the faith-practice of others. "We belong to Christ.")
New Testament: Matthew 18:21-35
(How many times should I forgive? Parable of the unforgiving servant.)
Sunday Bulletin Theme: Road to Freedom
Stewardship emphasis: Gifts of time & talent.
We are following the Exodus journey in our Old Testament readings. We began a few weeks ago with the story of baby Moses being rescued from the River Nile; now the hero leads his people through the Red Sea waters from slavery to freedom.
The New Testament readings remind us that we are not the boss of each other; we are all slaves (or servants, if you prefer) accountable to another master. The epistle lesson begins: "Welcome those who are weak in the faith; but not for the purpose of quarreling." Anyone who has verbally sparred with someone whose faith journey takes an alternate route (to put it kindly) will know how fruitless and hurtful it can be. Who is to say whose faith is weak and whose is strong? Best to keep our eyes on our own exam book, and do our own spiritual work.
The group working on our church's annual stewardship campaign selected the hymn, "Here I am Lord," to accompany an appeal for gifts of time and talent.
(How many times should I forgive? Parable of the unforgiving servant.)
Sunday Bulletin Theme: Road to Freedom
Stewardship emphasis: Gifts of time & talent.
We are following the Exodus journey in our Old Testament readings. We began a few weeks ago with the story of baby Moses being rescued from the River Nile; now the hero leads his people through the Red Sea waters from slavery to freedom.
The New Testament readings remind us that we are not the boss of each other; we are all slaves (or servants, if you prefer) accountable to another master. The epistle lesson begins: "Welcome those who are weak in the faith; but not for the purpose of quarreling." Anyone who has verbally sparred with someone whose faith journey takes an alternate route (to put it kindly) will know how fruitless and hurtful it can be. Who is to say whose faith is weak and whose is strong? Best to keep our eyes on our own exam book, and do our own spiritual work.
The group working on our church's annual stewardship campaign selected the hymn, "Here I am Lord," to accompany an appeal for gifts of time and talent.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
For Sunday September 7
Hebrew Bible: Exodus 12:1-14
(Moses institutes a holiday-- the observance of Passover.)
Psalm: Psalm 149
(Sing and dance, praise the Lord who delights in the humble.)
Epistle: Romans 13:8-14
(The one who loves fulfills the law.)
New Testament: Matthew 18:15-20
(Tell it to the church.)
Sunday Bulletin Theme: Remember, Restore, Renew
Our Focus: "Welcome" Sunday
I remember how, when I was a little girl, I expressed sympathy for Reverend Mellish, our pastor, because, it seemed to me, he always had to be so serious. Somehow I equated a religious nature with a dour expression. I have observed over the years that many of us form that theory, and never experience anything that disproves it.
But here in the scriptures we are commanded to celebrate! We are encouraged to sing and dance! We are ordered to cease from work at regular intervals, to rest and recreate.
Anyone who thinks "churchiness" is serious business should come to a council meeting, and note how much laughter we share around the table. Yes, there is serious work done there too, but we never take ourselves so seriously that we can't laugh at ourselves.
I wonder how many people avoid church because they think it must be morbid. We could do a great service to God and to our neighbors by sharing our joy in worship.
This is Welcome Sunday, which is a good time to call up friends and invite them to church. Choir practice begins at 8:45 a.m., Worship is at 10:00 (as always) and Church School for children begins after worship with an Open House for parents. Adult Forum will start next week.
See you in church.
(Moses institutes a holiday-- the observance of Passover.)
Psalm: Psalm 149
(Sing and dance, praise the Lord who delights in the humble.)
Epistle: Romans 13:8-14
(The one who loves fulfills the law.)
New Testament: Matthew 18:15-20
(Tell it to the church.)
Sunday Bulletin Theme: Remember, Restore, Renew
Our Focus: "Welcome" Sunday
I remember how, when I was a little girl, I expressed sympathy for Reverend Mellish, our pastor, because, it seemed to me, he always had to be so serious. Somehow I equated a religious nature with a dour expression. I have observed over the years that many of us form that theory, and never experience anything that disproves it.
But here in the scriptures we are commanded to celebrate! We are encouraged to sing and dance! We are ordered to cease from work at regular intervals, to rest and recreate.
Anyone who thinks "churchiness" is serious business should come to a council meeting, and note how much laughter we share around the table. Yes, there is serious work done there too, but we never take ourselves so seriously that we can't laugh at ourselves.
I wonder how many people avoid church because they think it must be morbid. We could do a great service to God and to our neighbors by sharing our joy in worship.
This is Welcome Sunday, which is a good time to call up friends and invite them to church. Choir practice begins at 8:45 a.m., Worship is at 10:00 (as always) and Church School for children begins after worship with an Open House for parents. Adult Forum will start next week.
See you in church.
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