Living on Emmaus Ave

WE'VE MOVED

2011-01-02T08:23:00.000-05:00

This BLOG has MOVED! Come check out the new site at:
http://livingonemmausave.wordpress.com

Be sure to update your Bookmark address, and hope to see you at the new site!

Peace,
Suzanne

That's What He Said... Comedy Central's The Cobert Report

2010-10-14T13:30:00.000-04:00

Though I don't always catch Comedy Central's The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, I watch them when I can. There is much I appreciate and resonate with in these shows. This article describes Colbert's quite Christian (Catholic) faith that under girds much of what he says and does on and off the show. Stewart is vocal about being Jewish, and I also appreciate his use of Scripture and taking faith seriously, while at the same time not being afraid of poking fun at his own faith. Both men, I believe, know what they believe, and have been raised in ways to ask healthy and helpful questions of their beliefs... accepting faith without questions is dangerous, and I appreciate them sharing their thoughts.

http://pewforum.org/Religion-News/RNS-Behind-Colberts-right-wing-funnyman-a-quiet-faith.aspx

What do you think? Are these comedians sacrilegious or presenting the ancient faith in a 21st century, postmodern way?

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?

2010-10-07T23:25:00.000-04:00

What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?
A great letter to non-believers and those who question Christianity by Shane Claiborne!! It's from Esquire Magazine and is worth reading. I hope you'll take a moment to check it out.

Sermon for 9-5-10 "God's Overflowing Hospitality" (Favorite Things Summer Series)

2010-09-17T15:18:00.000-04:00

Sermon for 9/5/10

Favorite Things Summer Series

Psalm 23; Matthew 25:31-46

"God's Overflowing Hospitality"

This morning our "A Few of Our Favorite Things" summer sermon series comes to a close with two passages you all chose that are likely familiar in some way or another to many of us. Matthew's parable of judgment and Psalm 23's images of the shepherd are ones that come up in our lectionary readings from time to time. Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar passages in all of Scripture, and we often hear it's comforting words in the midst of our grief or journeys through the valley of the shadow death. As I have examined these two passages and reflected on this summer, perhaps there is another message there to add to a layer of understanding to these passages.

[Communion "Hospitality" Table from May 2nd]

If you remember back with me to May 2nd--for those of you who were here that first Sunday of Craig's Sabbatical--I started our Favorite Things Summer Worship Series with my favorite passage from Scripture--Luke 24's telling of the disciples on the road to Emmaus on the evening of the Resurrection. We were invited to consider the hospitality that Christ offers to the disciples who are journeying along life's road, and at the same time the hospitality the disciples offer to the stranger by welcoming him to their table for a meal. The stranger turns out to be Christ. As we reexamined Luke's text in light of our upcoming Sabbatical Summer, we were invited to be open to where we might see Christ in our midst? Where might we share Christ's love and Christ's welcome with those whom we encounter this summer--whether it was in worship here together or in our daily journeys beyond these doors?

[In Luke 24, Christ was revealed in the breaking of the bread.]

The text nudged us to think about Hospitality--both God's gracious hospitality to us and our hospitality to each other and those we encounter. As I look back at the summer from today's 20/20 hindsight, I can affirm that hospitality was truly a theme for us this summer.

Today we find ourselves at the end of this Sabbatical Summer. And like May 2nd, our texts today invite us to examine Hospitality. As I look at the passages that we heard this morning, I hear hospitality ring out in them in ways I had not heard before. The passage from Matthew was chosen for today before the Sabbatical began. Coincidence--I think not. Whether you have been around Raleigh Moravian this summer or not, there is an invitation for us in these texts, so let's take a look at these passages.

Psalm 23 is certainly heard in memorial services, and we often focus on our journeys through the valleys of darkness. It is comforting and reassuring when times are tough! But think with me for a minute about another setting where this Psalm is also appropriate--a setting at least that I hadn't thought about before, but I really resonate with now. It is possible that this Psalm was a type of prayer used around the thanksgiving table in worship for all God has provided. [1] Its a Psalm that celebrates God's hospitality toward God's people... people who have survived the journey through the desert, escaped their enemies, and found that God truly does provide all of their basic needs. The book of Exodus recounts how manna and quail appeared when they were hungry, water overflowed when they were thirsty, and how a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day lead them to the land that was promised. This Psalm expresses their thanksgiving for God's provisions and food they received--God's hospitality led them through the dark places and welcomed them safely to the promised land. "⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long." (Psalm 23:5-6)

For the author, to dwell in the house of the Lord means they are part of the community of faith. It takes this psalm from the purely personal to the greater community--a holy community. God is a gracious host, and we have much to give thanks for! As we pray this Psalm together, we claim the same hospitality from God--the hospitality of food and drink, shelter and security. And God follows us each day of our lives--or pursues us, as the text can be translated, with goodness and loving kindness that only God can give. [2]

The Psalm proclaims our cup overflows. We have more than enough to go around. Not only does God provide, but we are given more than we expect or need. It reminds me of the saying about our outlook on life--is the cup half full or half empty? Psalm 23 reminds us that not only is our cup half-full... it's full to overflowing. When we see our lives as full to overflowing with God's love, we are able to share more freely. We are more likely to offer the hospitality that has been modeled for us by God, because we recognize we have more than we could possibly need.

Taking a look at Matthew 25, it is easy to see the story of judgment on the surface. But if we look a bit deeper, we see other things going on here too. The passage is instruction on ways to inherit the kingdom of God. These verses are instructions on ways to live today that are life-giving and show God's love and care--God's hospitality--to the people we encounter throughout our lives. The part I find remarkable, as I think about this passage, is the acts of hospitality that are mentioned. They are small things. I think sometimes we get bogged down in how to share our faith or live as God calls us to with our neighbors around us. We think it takes BIG gestures. BIG events. BIG whatever--or it doesn't count or isn't important. Our culture teaches us that it's "GO BIG, or GO HOME". Matthew's passage reminds us that God is interested in the details-- small things that matter a lot. In sharing the small things with those around us, we are sharing God's hospitable love. We are living out God's kingdom in the details of our lives. We experience God's Kingdom in the details--the small things--as well.

In preparing for today's final sermon of the summer, and in beginning to catch up with Craig about this summer, I've had the opportunity to reflect back on many of the events that have gone on since May 2nd. It's also provided me the chance to begin looking for where Christ has shown up in often-unexpected places, or where we've both experienced God's hospitality and shown God's hospitality to others. I truly hope we will continue together to reflect on our Sabbatical summer experiences together, as I am sure there are many examples that I am unaware of where you have seen Christ present or God's kingdom at work. I look forward to hearing all about it! There are truly too many to list here, but here are a few.

Many of these involved us gathering together, sharing in food and fellowship, living into the small things of our lives that together show us at least a glimpse of God's hospitality. We supported the Komen Race for the Cure; won Best Team Spirit for our efforts in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life; and hosted a Bodacious BBQ that quite possibly was our best ever! We engaged in worship while learning about our liturgies and prayers; told stories about the life of this community of faith; and served in mission with communities Tennessee and our mountains. We had over 30 people gather for dinner to celebrate our friendships with our sister church in Costa Rica and greet our friends before they had to unexpectedly fly home early. Our table literally overflowed that evening as we ate, laughed, and formed memories that will remind us of God's kingdom for years to come.

As I thought about hospitality this summer, there was one other event that occurred that was much smaller and much less planned. Some are probably not aware it even happened at all. And yet, for me, it serves as a gigantic example of God's kingdom of hospitality at work in our midst. One Sunday in June, Joan Burri and I was here getting ready for worship. A few minutes after Joan arrived, I heard the main door open and the sound of a baby stroller and footsteps in the hall. Then a family of 4 appeared in my office. Father, mother, a 3 year-old son, and a less-than-month-old daughter--they looked as though they had spent the night in the ER, and as it was, they had. They had wandered into our church from Rex Hospital, and were hoping to find somewhere cool to rest and something to eat as well. Their food and shelter situation was in limbo, and they weren't quite sure what that Sunday held for them.

I talked with the family for a few minutes, as they shared with me about their current predicament. Then I talked with Joan about what to do. Joan and I shared what was for both of us a moment of grace as we decided that our only option was to show them God's hospitality. Minutes later others began arriving for worship, and we were able to invite others into the conversation. While some folks were preparing coffee and finding whatever food we had around, someone else made sure they had enough formula for the baby. I watched as one by one people began welcoming them to the table, so to speak. They then joined us for worship. As more people entered the conversation, it was decided that we would be sure they had lunch afterward. A group often gathers at the Subway Restaurant after worship, so we pulled up extra tables and shared subs and chips together in a sacramental moment. As people learned about what was going on, I had a few people stick cash into my hand that morning. After lunch a group of us helped them get back to the place where they had been staying. As we were standing at the motel waiting to get them situated, I realized that the cash that people had pushed into my hand was exactly the amount we needed to cover their room--to the penny. And at some point during that morning, I remember pausing for a breath and wondering, "OK, God--what are you up to here? Are You the one who is present here, just like you were in the stranger on the road to Emmaus? I believe I'm in the presence of Christ right now." After we dropped them off at the motel and made sure they were situated for the night, the group who had gathered to help scattered on to their normal Sunday afternoon routines. This was such a small thing. And yet, I believe it is exactly what Matthew is talking about. We all witnessed God's hospitality overflowing that Sunday morning!

God's hospitality runs as a theme throughout Scripture. But it doesn't stop there. We all have the call from God to extend the same fit-another-chair-around-the-table, grab-another-plate and cup, sure---there-is-plenty-to-go-around, overflowing hospitality. God calls us to recognize the hospitality we receive, and then to pay it forward to those around us. In sharing it, not only is the table in front of us prepared and our cups overflow, but we have the opportunity to welcome more people to join us in experiencing God's overflowing hospitality. Who do we have the chance to welcome to the table that might not be there? Who welcomes us and prepares a place for us to gather? Where can we offer the small things that can make such a difference? God's generous, overflowing hospitality invites us all. May we reach out in small ways to share this gift from God with everyone we meet! Amen.

[1] J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Psalms. New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996) 769.

[2] J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Psalms. New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1996) 768, 770.

That's what they said: 20 Ways To Improve The World Even If You're Broke

2010-09-17T14:50:00.000-04:00

I came across this article this week about easy Philanthropy... 20 ways to improve the world that doesn't involve spending money. Check it out!!!

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2010/0917/Philanthropy-20-ways-to-improve-the-world-even-if-you-re-broke

That's what they said...

2010-09-02T08:14:00.001-04:00

Here are a few links I've come across that are worth watching and reading... they are challenging for sure. But they also feel right on some deep level, if I can look beyond the discomfort that I initially feel (at least for the poverty link). Meaning, I believe there is truth to be gleaned from them, and a perspective I need to hear. So I thought, perhaps, you might like to see them too! What do you think?

Ben and Jerry's co-founder Ben Cohen is known for his "Oreo-nomics" when it comes to the US budget. I saw a video of him doing this presentation live with a group of senators in Washington. It was fascinating. This animated cartoon is the same basic presentation. I believe there is much wisdom here!

This other link is to a blog I came across. Reading "Being Poor" makes my stomach queezy, but yet, I believe it's important for us to hear them, especially those of us who live isolated from poverty or live with comfort. The reality of poverty can be around the corner from many people, but the dominos fall right to help us avoid this reality. For others, the path veers and they find themselves in a different situation in life. Take a moment to read to the end of this list... John Scalzi offers powerful words from many people who live in poverty.
http://fartheroutnearerto.wordpress.com/2010/09/02/being-poor-by-john-scalzi/

"Soul Care and The Roots of Clergy Burnout" article and reflection

2010-08-13T12:29:00.000-04:00

I came across this article today, and found it interesting...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anne-dilenschneider/soul-care-and-the-roots-o_b_680925.html

How do you define a pastor's job description or role? What do you think a pastor does all day or all week? As I've gotten into the ministry myself, I have much more respect for my pastor role models from years ago. So often people think a pastor only works one hour on Sunday... and I hear this often from folks, either joking or seriously (and sometimes it's hard to tell which). I am finding that sometimes (most of the time) being a pastor includes 2 job descriptions: the one you were officially given, and the one everyone creates for you as they go...

Having been a pastor now for 2 years (I celebrated my 2 year ordination anniversary on August 10th), and being in my first call (though I consider this the 5th church I've served--given Seminary student pastorates and extensive volunteer work), I am still amazed and baffled at times by all the things a "Pastor" does. I also continue to "add courses" (at least in my mental list) that I somehow missed or skipped in seminary (and I note--admittedly--I only skipped 2 class in 4 years, and one was a class I was auditing; I missed a few others for travel or illness in my 4 years, though). Some of these classes that would have been helpful I've mentioned on the blog before: Basic Church Maintenance, HVAC/Plumbing/Electrical repair, Mission Trip Construction, Accounting, Statistics, Child Development, Conflict Resolution, Communications, etc. [I note, though, I feel I got a really good education, and there was NO ROOM for any more classes in the schedule... it was FULL!]

Getting back to the article... I attended one of the handful of Seminaries that required a "Spiritual Formation" class, and really enjoyed the whole experience. But I am still not sure how we can get back to the pre-1920s "care of souls" job of the pastor. So much of what a pastor does, I am finding, is being "pastoral director", as the article calls it. There are certainly parts of that job that I enjoy and find I have some gifts for. There are other parts of the job that hopefully come with more experience, as I know I have lots to learn. But as far as care of souls... do clergy redefine that role, or congregations, or both? Where does it start and how do we take the first steps? Thee are days when I do a lot of it, but it often feels like such a small part of my job.

When I first started Seminary, a passage that really spoke to me about ministry was Mark 2. It's the story of the friends that lowered the paralytic through the roof to place him in front of Jesus. I felt it described the role of pastor--to help place people in front of Jesus, no matter what it took. As I continue to be transformed through the work of the Spirit, I have grown to resonate with the story of Luke 24 on the road to Emmaus (hence the blog name). I want to live daily on the road, looking for Christ along the journey, walking with Jesus, and engaging Scripture and God's work in the world, and seeing where and how and why those interact... I want to see how I am part of the greater Story of Faith, and how God uses that to direct and call me as I help others do the same. So how do all of these things work together?

On this August 13th, as I remember the work of the Spirit in the Moravian Church on August 13th, 1727 for the "Moravian Pentecost" how do I reclaim this calling and follow the movement of the Spirit? Where is God at work, transforming, renewing, and empowering us for mission and ministry? And what is my role in that? How can I care for souls, mine included, that will allow us all to be more open to the movement of the Spirit? How can we collectively place others in front of Christ and walk the journey together to see ourselves as part of God's greater story of faith? I'm open to the answers... I just don't have them all right now. But I guess... that's just part of the journey. I hope you'll join me!

Congreations Gone Wild-NY Times articles

2010-08-08T23:09:00.000-04:00

This is an interesting article from today's NY Times...about clergy's calling vs. congregation's expectations related to sermons and preaching.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/08/opinion/08macdonald.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

In the article, Jeffery MacDonald says, "In this transformation, clergy have seen their job descriptions rewritten. They’re no longer expected to offer moral counsel in pastoral care sessions or to deliver sermons that make the comfortable uneasy. Church leaders who continue such ministerial traditions pay dearly."

What do you think? [Comment below...]

I know for me, in Seminary we were taught a few "slogans" related to preaching.
Examples:
"Preach with the newspaper in one hand and the Bible in the other."
"The Gospel comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable."
"Speak the Truth in Love."

[I know these are both famous quotes, but I don't know who they are attributed to. (Sorry.)]

But... actually preaching in this manner is often more difficult to do in real life than in Seminary classes. In my preaching classes, though we didn't all always agree, it was a safe space to speak the Truth in Love. But in a congregation, preaching is different. When you know people and know the things they are going through, it does make it easier at times, because I can sometimes see how maybe the words I have been given to speak can bring comfort to difficult situations. But at the same time, it's difficult to follow what we were taught in Seminary, because it often gets us in trouble. The Gospel's message is so radical, so inclusive, so pushing of social and political norms of the time (and of our times as well). It got many in trouble by sharing it, including Jesus himself.

As the article talks about, I understand how pushing the limits of what people are comfortable with becomes so very tiring and difficult at times.

I also came across this article as well this past week. It's also very true. So many clergy are tired, burned our, and/or unhealthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/nyregion/02burnout.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp
Self-care, de-stressing, and taking care of ourselves was really emphasized in Seminary. But putting that to practice is tough. Days off, yoga, reading, watching TV, spending time with family and friends--these are a few ways I try to take care of myself. How do you feed your soul and fill your own well to take care of yourself?

What do you think of these articles?

Sermon for 7-25-10 "Not Quite What Was Planned" Christmas In July, Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

2010-07-31T18:44:00.000-04:00

Sermon for 7/25/10 "Christmas in July"

Favorite Things Worship Series

Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 9:2-7

"Not Quite What Was Planned"

Some weeks just don't go as planned. Have you ever had one of those? On Thursday afternoon your TO DO List from Monday is not even half finished, and you can't find the things you have done on the TO DO List anywhere. Well, this was one of those weeks. As I was driving out of the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Parking lot on Thursday afternoon, the Ticket Reader said, "Have A Nice Day" and I paused for a moment, unsure whether to laugh or cry. It was not quite what was planned. Now, I love being in ministry, and I am glad that I can be open to the working of the Spirit. I say some of this to answer the camper’s question from Mission Camp who asked, “So what does a pastor do all week?” Let me back up and start at the beginning.

We have been working for months to bring guests from our Sister Church in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica, here for a visit. Roman Brady and I have planned. We've been in contact with Alma and her sister Ninfa from Fuenta Da Vida Moravian Church. They waited on the US Embassy for Visas. We purchased Plane Tickets thanks to last Christmas Eve's offering to help foster relationships with Fuenta Da Vida. We were FINALLY able to have Alma, her son Jordy, and Ninfa's son Fernando come for a visit. They arrived in Winston-Salem Thursday a week ago. They journeyed to Laurel Ridge for Senior High Camp this week, and then were to join us here in Raleigh for this weekend to visit. That is until my phone rang Monday morning at 8:50am.

Roman called from Laurel Ridge to say they had just learned that Alma's brother had died unexpectedly Sunday night and they all needed to return home for the funeral. So--I spent Monday and Tuesday on the phone with Delta Airlines and Roman trying to rearrange their flights to get them back in time for the Funeral. (As a side note--Delta Airlines has been phenomenally helpful and kind throughout this whole process--Thank you Delta!!)

As I was talking to the reservationists for Delta, one was asking about Alma and her family. I couldn't answer most of her questions and finally almost broke down in tears. I said to her, "I don't know them yet. I was supposed to spend the weekend with them and get to know them, but now we won't get to. I am just so disappointed." It was at that point that I believe the Holy Spirit invited us to have a gathering to honor our guests and take the opportunity, however brief, to get to know them. The email blast went out, the Facebook invitation was sent, and the party was a GO.

So-we had 30 people at our house this Wednesday evening for an impromptu cookout to meet our friends. It was a wonderful time! I took a moment to look around and enjoy the opportunity to watch everyone talking, laughing, playing games, and sharing a meal together. Everyone showed up with something in hand to contribute to the meal, and we had a feast! There was so much food eaten, and so much food leftover. I recall hearing someone say it was like loaves and fishes being multiplied before our very eyes. Food, friends, and fellowship make a festive, holy combination.

Thursday morning I brought Alma, Jordy, and Fernando by the church to show them Raleigh Moravian. Fernando found pictures of his dad and grandmother on our bulletin board, and they named many of the people in the pictures from back home. Then we hit Interstate 40 and headed to the RDU Airport. It had been less than 24 hours since I met them when I stood and watched them head through security. It was a bittersweet moment. I felt incredibly glad to have met them and had the time that we shared together, and so sad they had to leave and not be here for worship this morning to get to see all of you!

I headed to my car and pulled up to the gate to leave the parking deck. "Have a nice day." It flashed the message at me, and I paused. I thought to myself, "Have a nice day?" My new friends are mourning the loss of a family member. It's not really a nice day for them. My week hadn't gone like I planned at all. It was not really a nice day for me either. And Sunday isn't going to be a celebration with our friends from our sister church, but instead a time to remember them in prayer during their time of loss.

[Suzanne, Steve, Pennsy, Alma, Fernando and Jordy after the party]

Funerals have such a way of changing our plans. The visit was holy in so many ways, and so wonderful, but it was NOT QUITE WHAT WE PLANNED! That's when it hit me. Maybe, just maybe God was helping us to celebrate Christmas throughout this entire week instead of just on Sunday morning.

Could it be? I suddenly found myself feeling like Mary in some strange way. I doubt giving birth in a manger with the animals and overflow crowd gathered around was quite what she had planned. Births and deaths have a way of changing our plans. They make us reexamine our priorities and adjust our schedule to reflect the new circumstances. Our realities are different. Life is different now, and it wasn't what we had planned.

The more I have thought about Jesus' whole life, the more this week feels interwoven with Scripture. So many different stories from the Bible include tales of plans changed, journeys re-routed, and lives forever altered. Just looking at the beginning of Luke--we see the old couple, Elizabeth and Zechariah, told they are finally going to have a child [Luke 1]. This was an answered prayer, but not what they expected. Mary and Joseph were engaged, but their wedding and life together took a sudden and unexpected turn when she was visited by an angel [Luke 1]. I seriously doubt this was what she planned as she looked through the latest Bridal catalog, visited the local Bridal Boutiques, and filled out their personalized stone tablet on The Nazareth Knot.com registry.

I doubt the innkeeper planned for the crowds that showed up due to the census being taken [Luke 2]. He was probably surprised to receive the knock on the door by this sojourning couple. I imagine Mary was clearly about to give birth, and he found himself offering the best hospitality to this young couple that he could given the circumstances. At least they were in from the weather, had straw to keep warm, and a place to lay their heads. He might have even called in a midwife or local woman to be there to help with the birth--that is if time allowed it. Speaking of "If time allows"--A year ago today my youngest niece was born, but it certainly wasn't what her family had planned for her birth. She arrived so quickly that they didn't even make it to the car to head to the hospital. Thankfully 911 was only a call away, and the paramedics arrived in time to help cut Lexi's cord. When we got the phone call, we called 2 other family members just to confirm the story! Births often don't go as planned. Mary and Joseph knew that very well.

As for the shepherds in the fields trying to stay awake and guard the sheep... they were startled to be surrounded with a host of angels that night [Luke 2]. Perhaps they were sitting there, rubbing their eyes, and nudging one another, just trying to see if what their eyes saw was really happening? It wasn't the night they had planned. That night should have been like the night before--sitting peacefully in a field listening to the crickets chirp and the sheep doze on the grass. What a tale they had to share!! “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:10b-12)

I know many of us have been looking forward to Christmas in July today, and I've had some great conversations about Christmas! At the Blood Drive on Monday, Carolyn Watts shared a quote with me from a seven-year-old named Bobby. He said, "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen." I think that's pretty profound. Christmas is all about Love.

[Pastors Craig and Suzanne with our Decorated Lovefeast Buns from Christmas 2009.]

I must confess I love Christmas music, candles, decorations, and all the merriment of the Christmas season. I love A Charlie Brown Christmas playing on TV and decorating the tree. I love Christmas Eve Lovefeasts and the expectation of what yummy treats will appear inside my Lovefeast bun this year. And right about now those cold temperatures would feel mighty nice.

This was my lovefeast bun from the 2nd Christmas Eve lovefeast last year!

But celebrating Christmas in July, or any time besides December, allows us to celebrate without all the societal expectations of shopping, overspending, often-uncomfortable company parties, and overbooked schedules. It helps us, I believe, to focus on what is most important--the good news of a baby that was born to show God's love to the world in the most tangible ways possible. The prophets had promised this baby for centuries, and yet he arrived in a way no one planned. The Light of the World is here. "For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." [Isaiah 9:6 NRSV]

At our potluck on Wednesday night, we had the opportunity to spend time together in a room soaking in the love that was being shared. There was no wrapping paper or bows strewn across the floor... instead there were people whose plans had been changed in unexpected ways because of both a death and a birth. A family member was being mourned, and yet in the midst of that sorrow, God's love shone in the darkness.

I must tell this one story from the potluck. When I arrived home on Wednesday from picking up Alma, Jordy, and Fernando in Winston-Salem, I opened the fridge. In there was a bowl of dessert that I knew I hadn't made. I asked Steve where it had come from. He said his co-worker had seen my posting on Facebook about the potluck, and just happened to have the ingredients at home to make this chocolate cherry dessert. So she showed up at work on Wednesday with a dish for our party just to make sure we had enough food. God's love shines in the darkness and in the sweetness of chocolate and cherries.

On this past Wednesday and today, and hopefully every day, we celebrate a feast of love and joy and share the Good News that death does not have the final word. In fact, Jesus' death didn't end as planned either. The sorrowful disciples found out their plans had changed in quite unexpected ways when their loved one walked through the wall and joined the party. Jesus' whole life and ministry did not go as people expected, and Jesus came to show God's kingdom often happens in unexpected ways as well. It's the small things, like a bowl of dessert, that often show us God's kingdom of love at work.

May the Good News of Christmas cause us all to pause and reflect on the birth of God-With-US--Emmanuel. Christ the Lord. We can and should celebrate every day that the Promised Messiah has arrived, most unexpectedly and not at all how we planned, and our lives are forever changed by God's gift of love. Amen.

Ten Thousand Villages School Kits Collection

2010-07-19T07:48:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone! I'm back from a week at Mission Camp in Ashe & Alleghany Counties, NC. It was a great week, and more will be posted later. I wanted to post quickly about the 10,000 Villages Drive to collect kits for displaced school children.

The email this week said:

"Ten Thousand Villages launches its 11th school supply drive to benefit displaced or orphaned children in places such as Haiti, Iraq, Nicaragua, North Korea, Serbia, Ukraine, U.S. and Canada. Last year over 100,000 school kits filled with new school supplies reached the hands of school-aged children whose lives had been interrupted by war or natural disasters. Supplies for the school kits can be dropped off at Ten Thousand Villages in Cameron Village from July 1 through August 31.

Include the following items in your school supply donations:

4 spiral-bound notebooks (about 8.5’’x 11”), 70-80 pages each
4 unsharpened #2 pencils
1 ruler, flexible plastic (with both 12” markings & 30 cm)
1 box/package of 12 colored pencils
1 large pink eraser

For more information email Marketing Coordinator Gricelle Font at marketing.raleigh@tenthousandvillages.com."

Check out this link for more info:

http://raleigh.tenthousandvillages.com/php/stores.festivals/store.events.php?date=&selected_date=1277956800&event_id=6401

Hope you're able to help and encourage your friends to do the same! Thanks!

Life's a beach...

2010-07-10T17:13:00.000-04:00

My cousin, well 3rd cousin once removed or something like that, has been written up in the local paper, and it's a story worth reading. Tommy Adams, from Galax, VA just turned 50. He's my mom's first cousin. He was injured in 1974 just before he started high school and became a quadriplegic. He recently got to see the ocean for the first time! His outlook on life is sure to brighten any day, and he inspires many to focus on the good things in life!
The link for the article is here...
http://www.ecommunitiesonline.com/galax/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=808:tommy-adams-off-to-myrtle-berach&catid=101:latest&Itemid=77

U2's Music as Message to the Church!

2010-07-09T21:07:00.000-04:00

I am a HUGE fan of U2's music and message. I listen to them often, have read lots of books about them, their faith, and their music, and have been fortunate to attend two different concerts (Vertigo 2005 in Philly and 360 Tour in 2009 in Charlottesville). Both concerts were worship experiences like I have not experienced before, and was so overwhelmed by these experiences of communal worship!

[U2 in concert in Charlottesville, VA on October 1, 2009. Photo by Suzanne Miller.]

I came across this article about their first single off of last year's No Line On the Horizon album. It's about "Get On Your Boots", which is admittedly a strange song, and an even stranger video. Check out this blog post and see for yourself... I agree with their interpretation that this song is a challenge to the church to get on our boots and do the work God is calling us to do!

http://www.faithandleadership.com/blog/07-09-2010/michael-and-anthony-emerson-church-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-how-beautiful-you-are

For full lyrics, click here.

What do you think? How do you interpret this song?

[U2 in concert in Charlottesville, VA on October 1, 2009. Photo by Suzanne Miller.

Doesn't this stage even look like a cathedral? It was an awesome concert!!]

Sermon for 7/4/10: "Risking It All" (Ruth 1:1-19-Favorite Things Summer Worship Series)

2010-07-06T11:41:00.000-04:00

"Risking It All"

Sermon for 7/4/10

Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

John Hus Communion

Ruth 1:1-19a; Mark 8:34-38

Let us prepare our hearts and pause in prayer from a hymn from Hus's time:

The Word of God, which ne're shall cease,

Proclaims free pardon, grace and peace,

Salvation shows in Christ alone,

The perfect will of God makes known.[1]

Life is full of choices, and many of our choices involve risks. Big risks, small risks--risk comes in different shapes and sizes. As I spent time this week thinking about the book of Ruth, the Independence day celebrations, and the celebration of John Hus, I was struck by the connections around risk. They differ on many parts of the stories, but the connections are certainly there. All three stories from our history have taken on a fairy tale or mythic quality, and these stories live on as we look at them again and again through the years.

The book of Ruth, like Jonah we touched on a few weeks ago, is short and deserves to be viewed as a whole story. Due to space constraints and copyright laws, I couldn't print the whole thing in the bulletin today, but I invite you to re-read it sometime soon to relive the tale of widows trying to survive in a patriarchal society. A story of food and family, gleaning and goodness from others and from God. Naomi and her husband had left Bethlehem years before in search of food--ironic since Bethlehem means "House of Bread," and they ended up in Moab. Ruth and Orpah married Naomi's sons, and all three men died. The famine was over, and so Naomi is heading back home. Ruth and Orpah reached a fork in the road and had to make a choice. Go home to their families, or follow their Mother-in-law and take a risk. Orpah followed directions. Ruth took a risk.

Journeying as women without men around in that culture was unheard of, and for Ruth to leave behind her culture, her family, and her old life to follow Naomi back to Bethlehem was a huge risk. She likely had to learn a new language, new customs, new traditions, new holidays, new foods, new everything. She was willing to take the risk and set out on the journey with Naomi. We can't overlook or belittle Orpah as we praise Ruth for journeying with Naomi. After all, most of us probably can relate to Orpah more closely. We choose to stay where things are easy, or at least where things make sense. The culture isn't foreign, we don't have to learn a new language, and our family is in the area. It looks like Orpah made the right decision, or at least the easy decision. Scripture doesn't tell us what happened to Orpah.

For Ruth and Naomi, the risk worked out well for them. Ruth decides to follow not only Naomi, but believe in Naomi's God--Yahweh--The Lord Almighty. For Ruth and Naomi, we do know details about their story. Spoiler Alert--Ruth ended up meeting Boaz, having a child, and becoming Great-Grandmother to King David and thus a distant relative of Jesus. In fact, Ruth is one of only 4 women named in Matthew's Gospel in Jesus' lineage-a high honor indeed. A stranger in a strange land ended up being in a royal family and relative to the Messiah. For Ruth, the risk paid off.

With today being July 4th, I can't help but think of another group whose risk paid off. The 4th of July now days is about food, fireworks, and fun. The writers of the Declaration of Independence took a huge risk in trying to break away from England. These renegade colonies were not seen favorably, and England was willing to fight for what they felt was their rightful land. The men who signed the Declaration of Independence were committing treason, and were not making friends with the government at the time. I heard folks talking on the radio the other day about the early signers and the risk they took. I don't often stop and think about that risk, because we know how the ending works out. But they could not benefit from our 20/20 Hindsight, so they were risking their lives, their careers, and their families to stand up for what they thought was right. They had to follow their conscience, and the risk paid off.

For John Hus, or Jan Hus as he is also known, he took a risk as well, but whether it paid off for him comes with your perspective. Hus grew up in what is today the Czech Republic, and though he was from a peasant family, was able to attend Charles University in Prague. He ended up becoming a lecturer at the University, and later Rector. He developed an interest in theology and was ordained to the Priesthood. The church was fraught with controversy in the early 1400s, and Hus spoke out against the problems like the selling of indulgences. He also preached in Czech, the language of the people, instead of Latin, the language of the church. He believed that all church members should be allowed to receive both the cup and the bread during Communion instead of the cup only for the priests--a practice that was common at that time. He felt that he could help bring reforms to the church and was willing to stand up for what he believed was what God wanted.

Hus preached and spoke out against the church and leadership, and the church got more and more upset with him. In 1415 he was invited to the Council of Constance, and was promised safe passage and return for his journey. He took the risk and journeyed to Constance, where he was thrown in jail, convicted of heresy, and burned at the stake on July 6th, 1415 after he refused to recant on his beliefs. Hus became a martyr for his beliefs, and his followers founded the Unity of the Brethren church in 1457, from which we trace our history as Moravians. July 6th is a major holiday in the Czech Republic today. It is a date Moravians remember by celebrating Communion--partaking both the bread and cup all these 500+ years later. Hus' risk resulted in his untimely death, but it also resulted in a denomination that has spread throughout the world and he helped bring about reforms in the Catholic church as well. Was his risk worth it? I believe so. But here again, our 20/20 Hindsight provides a viewpoint he didn't have.

As we prepare to receive Communion today, we think back to all the saints--these spiritual forefathers and foremothers who came before us, paving the way and forging the paths for us to follow today. They took risks to stand up for what they believed in, and we have what we have today thanks to their choices. We also ultimately give thanks to Christ for the risks he took. We hear his call to follow in the path he set forward through his life, death, and resurrection. We hear his call to step out in faith and be his disciples, even when the road we travel calls us to take up our cross and follow-to take the risk. We think of Ruth who risked learning a new language and culture to follow the God that she had come to know and love. We think of the early patriots who risked livelihood and family to live where they could practice their faith and life as they felt led to do. We think of John Hus who choose death over recanting his beliefs, and his followers, the early Unity of the Brethren, who hid in forests and risked death to receive the cup and bread, and share their faith in their own language.

We think about our own lives where God is calling us to follow as disciples, to risk the tough choices, and to stand up for what we believe is right. We don't know where our journey will lead, but we know God goes before us and with us, and sustains us along the path. Our Lord risked it all, and invites us to do the same. May we all be willing to stand up for what we believe is right and follow wherever God leads. Will you take the risk? Amen.

[1] Allen W. Schattschneider and Albert H. Frank, Through Five Hundred Years and Beyond: A Popular History of the Moravian Church (Bethlehem, PA: IBOC, 2009) 13. This hymn was a rebel song from the 15th Century.

That's what they said...

2010-07-02T22:36:00.001-04:00

Here is some food for thought for this first weekend in July. I present another edition of "That's what they said.."

Considering a Career in the Clergy...by Michelle Goodman
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/career-clergy/story?id=11057335

Prophetic Leadership isn't an idle phrase... by Amy Butler
http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/5300/9/

Hourly wages... what is fair and reasonable?
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/walmart-ceo-pay-hour-workers-year/story?id=11067470

Sermon for 6-20-10 "Kairos Joy" Ecclesiastes 3 Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

2010-06-25T09:41:00.000-04:00

Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

"Kairos Joy"

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15; Luke 6:6-11

6-20-10

This summer we are on a sabbatical journey together as a community. We are all part of a grand gift of rest and renewal, and have been given a wonderful opportunity to seek a different rhythm of living together as a church community. As I am journeying through this summer, I have become more aware of Iona, an island off the western coast of Scotland. This past week I encountered a new book, entitled Celtic Prayers from Iona that is a wonderful daily devotional used in Iona by the community who resides there. Craig and Anna will be visiting Iona this August as part of this Sabbatical summer, so we will all, I'm sure, hear more about Iona when he returns from Sabbatical!

Iona is considered a sacred, holy island and has been since the time of the Celts. A Christian mission was established there in the 6th century, and is considered the "Cradle of Christianity for much of Scotland and northern Europe."[1] Today there is a thriving Christian community that lives there, and they welcome guests to come and live with them for weeks and months at a time. The Community in Iona lives and works together in a rhythm of life that is devoted to prayer, Scripture reading, worship, and work. Iona is regarded as a "'thin place' in which the material realm is only thinly separated from the spiritual."[2] It is where "the eternal is 'seeping' through the physical."[3] Iona is a thin place that serves as a "sign of what is most deeply true of every place and every time." [4]

How many of us would like more time in our day? How many of us find we often need more days in our weeks? How many of us find time rushing faster and faster along? Our favorite passage for today takes a look at time. How do we keep time? Where do we use our time for good and for ill? Where do we use our time productively and restfully? Where do we use our time for giving life and sharing peace? This famous passage from Ecclesiastes 3 gives example after example of ways we use our time. Now, if you're like me, it's hard to hear this passage without the Byrds' voices singing in the background. "To everything, Turn, Turn, Turn. There is a season, Turn, Turn, Turn, and a time for every purpose under heaven." [5] This hit from Pete Seeger in 1959 was released in 1965 by The Byrds, and comes almost exclusively from this passage in Ecclesiastes.[6] The song, like the passage, reminds us of the rhythm and cycle of time and the seasons. The seasons turn, and the hands of the clock turn, and we live in a rhythm of life and time.

Ecclesiastes, most scholars believe, was written by a wise teacher. The author is often referred to by the Hebrew name Qohelet (or Koheleth), translated as "Teacher". This book is written in the form of Wisdom Literature. The Teacher is reminding us that there is a quote "alternative view of time, proceeding from the remarkable assurance that there is in fact an adequate and appropriate time for every necessary element of life." [7] This idea runs completely counter to our "highly time-conscious culture." [8]

Our passage is clear that God wants us to enjoy our time and that there is enough time for everything to happen. It is not God who wants us to do more, be more, produce more, work more. It is our culture that is putting this unhealthy pressure on is. A time for work and a time for rest. We see this rhythm from the very beginning of creation. In Genesis, the author illustrates how creation took place on the first six days, and then God rested on the seventh. God begins by setting up a pattern of work and rest. A time for work and a time for rest. We see this pattern of work and rest explained to the Israelites in Exodus. Exodus 20 details the 10 Commandments, which include: "⁸Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. ⁹Six days you shall labor and do all your work. ¹⁰But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work...¹¹For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it." (Exodus 20:8-11 NRSV) This command is recounted in Deuteronomy as well, with a different reason. This time the people are to keep the Sabbath to remember their release from captivity. [9] Deuteronomy 5 states, "¹²Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. ¹³Six days you shall labor and do all your work. ¹⁴But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.... ¹⁵Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day." (Deuteronomy 5:12-15 NRSV)

Keeping Sabbath is a practice that reminds us that there is enough time for every purpose under heaven. Keeping Sabbath also reminds us that God had time to rest, and thus we have time to rest. Keeping Sabbath reminds us that God's time is different than the time our culture tries to keep up with. We even have two different words to describe time. Chronos is the time of our culture and world. It is chronology. It is days, weeks, and years. It is what our culture makes us think we need more of just to keep up. It's what makes us exhausted, exacerbated, and empty.

Kairos is the other type of time. [10] Kairos is God's time. Kairos is what the teacher is referring to in Ecclesiastes and what the 10 Commandments are referring to in Sabbath. Kairos time is heaven-time. It's time when we experience in those thin places in life. Kairos moments are joy-filled, God-is-here, take-your-breath away moments when heaven and earth collide and you know something special is happening.

Kairos moments often come through play, through being in community, and through taking time away from our regular routines. They are often found when we are leaning into Sabbath and living a different rhythm to what our culture tells us is necessary. Kairos moments bring healing, peace, and joy. The man in our Gospel lesson this morning experienced a kairos moment during the sabbath. I'm sure his JOY was palpable when Jesus healed his withered hand and brought peace and wholeness to his life. Jesus was keeping the sabbath, but it was counter to what his culture expected. Jesus' whole life was made up of kairos moments as he demonstrated what heaven and earth colliding looked like. These moments brought joy for many he encountered, and through his life, he helped to redefine what Sabbath looked like in his culture.

Sabbath is time out of our normal routines that bring healing, wholeness, and peace to us and those we encounter. Sabbath is time when we seek to see the thin places where heaven is visible on earth. Sabbath is when our time is lived in God's kairos rhythm, when there is time for everything and rest is valued and enjoyed.

So what does Sabbath look like in our 21st Century? How do we seek to live into God's kairos time and search for the thin places among us? As Christians, our starting place for Sabbath is weekly worship. Gathering as a community to celebrate sabbath together goes back thousands of years in history, and is as important today as ever. Given our culture today, and the decrease in blue laws that limited Sunday activity, gathering for worship as a community of faith is more and more difficult, and more and more counter-cultural. It is certainly my hope that everyone who associates with this church community makes every effort to attend weekly worship. But I also recognize that it is harder and harder to do, especially given the sacrifices that are often required. Our times for work and rest don't always correspond to the worship schedule, thus we have to be more intentional to set aside Sabbath time.

Sabbath takes on other forms as well as we look for ways to rest and live into Kairos moments. While kairos moments can happen at work, and I hope they do for all of us, I believe it's easier for them to happen when we are not working and when our mind is free from work to intentionally look for the thin places around us. In looking for Sabbath opportunities, think for a moment about what brings you joy? What makes your heart sing? Where have you gone or what have you done that allowed you to experience a kairos joy moment or see a thin place? Maybe it was in an art class, babysitting for a neighbor in need, or serving on a mission trip? Those are certainly work in one form, but they become sabbath with intentionality. Maybe it was while at camp or on vacation? Maybe it was playing board games with the family or playing Frisbee at the park? Where have you laughed, found joy, and been refreshed and renewed? Those are sabbath moments. These sabbath moments remind us of God and help us live in God's rhythm of time. If we keep our eyes open, we can see thin places in these moments.

This weekend I saw a thin place around a track—a Kairos moment of Joy that was Sabbath amid activity. Raleigh Moravian participated with the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life on the track at Leesville Road High School. This was our first time entering a team, and we worked hard to beat our fundraising goal--which is wonderful and will help many who need healing. But there was something else that I think was more exciting for me to see. During the closing ceremonies yesterday morning, as most of us were packing up and getting ready to head home for rest to relax our tired feet, we found out we won the Best Team Spirit award. This award represents a thin place for me. It's a kairos-joy moment. We may not have raised the most money, or had the biggest team, but we had at least one participant from Raleigh Moravian compete in every silly game, every middle-of-the-night event, and every activity they hosted during the Relay. We had folks show up to walk with us who were not on the official team roster. We had an impressive group of 15 band members wake up early on a Saturday to provide walking-music. Our team gave it their all... and celebrated being a community of Christ together. We laughed together in our team space, walked together on the track, and worked together to raise money that will bring healing and wholeness to those in need. It was work on one hand, but it was sabbath because it was breaking out of the normal routine. It was an opportunity to live into God's kairos time, and be a part of something bigger than just ourselves, or even our one team. It was an opportunity to celebrate the best of community and see heaven and earth collide on a track under the stars and bring joy to so many. We are Kairos Joy-kinda people...As Kristina said afterward, "Thanks to you guys, Raleigh Moravian is now known to Relay Folk as a place with upbeat, spirited, good hearted people."[11] What a great way to show others what God’s spirit and way of living looks like!

As we all continue in our sabbatical summer, I hope and pray you will continue to take the opportunity this time provides to seek to live into God's time, seek the thin places around us, and find those kairos joy moments where heaven and earth collide. And when this sabbatical summer comes to a close, I hope we continue seeking the kairos joy moments together with renewed hearts and minds.

Please pray with me:

O God who comes to us through the thin places in every day life, help us to seek you in each moment of our day. Be with us as we live, and love, and laugh. Help make every moment we have a time when we see your love for us and help us to use each moment, whether it is work or sabbath, to bring wholeness, peace, and healing to a world in need. Help us to live into your rhythm, a rhythm or work and rest, that brings us joy, thus bringing you joy. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

[1] J. Philip Newell, Celtic Prayers From Iona (New York: Paulist Press, 1997) 7.

[2] J. Philip Newell, Celtic Prayers From Iona (New York: Paulist Press, 1997) 7.

[3] J. Philip Newell, Celtic Prayers From Iona (New York: Paulist Press, 1997) 7.

[4] J. Philip Newell, Celtic Prayers From Iona (New York: Paulist Press, 1997) 7.

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!

[6] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn!_Turn!_Turn!_%28album%29

[7] Ellen Davis, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and The Song of Songs. Westminster Bible Companion Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000) 183.

[8] Ellen Davis, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and The Song of Songs. Westminster Bible Companion Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000) 183.

[9] Dorothy C. Bass, "Keeping Sabbath" in Practicing Our Faith: A Way Of life For A Searching People, Dorothy Bass, ed. (San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 1997) 77-79.

[10] William P. Brown, Ecclesiastes. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 2000) 44.

[11] Email from Kristina Leighton, Team Captain, to Relay Participants, 6/19/10.

That's what she said: Inovation

2010-06-22T12:28:00.000-04:00

The following blog link comes from the Harvard Business Review from a Harvard Business Professor. I invite you to read it with an eye toward church... It is written for business, but I believe some of it (most of it) can be applied to churches and thinking outside the box.

http://blogs.hbr.org/kanter/2010/06/innovation-who-else-is-doing-i.html

What do you think? How can we think outside the box (worship box, choir box, pulpit box, Sunday School classroom box, board box, etc)? Where might the Spirit be leading our congregation to think outside the box to join what God is doing in our midst? Where is Got at work innovating and creating that we can hop on board? It may mean stretching and risking, but that's a good thing... especially when we are seeking and discerning and are prayerful in the process. Let's keep watch and listen together!

Keeping Sabbath: Sharing Ideas

2010-06-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

My last sermon explored the idea of Sabbath--taking time to rest and renew. It is important to help us live into God's Rhythm of time (Kairos time as opposed to Chronus time-chronology/cultural/world time). I found a good list to start with for suggestions about how to keep Sabbath and wanted to share it. How do you find Sabbath time? What activities do you find helpful to break out of our normal rhythm and find some God-time for resting?

Four Ways to Keep the Sabbath

Ceasing: work, stress

Resting: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and intellectually

Embracing: Christian values, time, giving, wholeness, the world

Feasting: on the Eternal with music, beauty, food, and affection

(Printed in Soul Tending, edsu Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2002)62. Adapted from Keeping the Sabbath Wholly by Marva J. Dawn)

I enjoy spending time with friends, attending a yoga class to stretch and de-stress, reading a good book, listening to music, walking, playing with my dog, and watching movies--just to name a few. I'd love to hear your ideas for Sabbath Keeping. What books do you enjoy reading? What movies help you relax and laugh? What activities feed your soul and help you see the joy around you? [Post your answers in the comments section! Thanks for stopping by!]

That's what she said...

2010-06-19T14:01:00.000-04:00

Adoption and orphans are an issue that often gets little press or media attention, but there is a huge need in this world. We all need to be loved and to love. Kristen Howerton has posted a thoughtful, informed, and honest post about adoption and the realities of orphans around the world. Surf on over to her blog and check it out... http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2010/06/what-i-wanted-to-say.html

Sermon for 6-13-10 "Remembering the LORD" Jonah, Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

2010-06-14T12:32:00.000-04:00

"Remembering the Lord"

Jonah 1:17-2:10 (Preaching Text-Favorite Passage); Romans 8:31-39

Favorite Things Summer Worship Series

There are many stories out there. Stories surround us every day. Sometimes they are called news. Sometimes memories. Sometimes fairy tales. Sometimes fiction. Sometimes nonfiction. Sometimes narrative. Whatever we call them, we live surrounded by stories. One of the themes of our summer during this sabbatical time is narrative--stories. And not just any narratives, but especially the stories we tell about ourselves. Who are we as a congregation? What stories do we tell about ourselves and remember about our past, and how will these stories lead us into the future?

On August 15th we will have a Narrative Workshop, and I hope everyone will make an effort to be here as we look at our congregation's story. Kelli Walker-Jones and her coworker Dick Hester will be here for worship and the workshop after lunch, and it promises to be a fun time of remembering who we are and what our story is as a congregation. They remind us, "Our personal or self stories hold together the past, present, and future. Our memories come to us in stories. And in the present moment we extend that story. That unfolding story of past and present takes us into the future." [1]

As we think about the unfolding stories that surround us, we see the summer blockbusters--Shrek and Toy Story to name a few. Why do we like these stories so much? I believe one reason is because they connect with our own unfolding stories on some level, often in ways we might not even be aware. How many of us have that green ogre inside us that we don't want anyone to see? How many of us want to be Andy's favorite toy and be the most popular toy in the toy chest? How many of us want to live "Far, Far Away" or at least vacation there for a week? These stories connect with our own stories and form the narrative of our lives. Many of the stories we find in Scripture are the same. The characters sound familiar. The situations seem recognizable. They connect with our own lives, and we see ourselves in them as the stories unfold before us in the pages of Scripture. And through it all we see how we become part of God's story.

The story we are exploring today, I believe, is the same. In fact the opening word of the first chapter of Jonah is the Hebrew equivalent to the way our fairy tales open.[2] So let us venture into the story of Jonah... Once upon a time, in a land far, far, away, there lived an unlikely prophet named Jonah.

Jonah is unique among the Old Testament prophets. Unlike all of the other Prophets, this book tells about Jonah. It's a narrative of a portion of his life. The book doesn't mention much at all about his prophetic voice or his preaching. It is a narrative about Jonah himself and his attempts to run away from God. NOT YOUR TYPICAL PROPHET for sure! And yet, God worked through Jonah despite himself... and I find real comfort in that! This book consists of 4 chapters--44 verses in total, and references the Lord, God, or Lord God 39 times. [3] In the Sunday Preview email this week that went out Friday, I invited you to read the whole book--all 44 verses of Jonah before worship today to reacquaint yourself with this great story from Scripture. I hope many of you took the opportunity to do that. Despite the short length, the book of Jonah is packed FULL of good stuff!

Have you ever thought about how stories can be viewed through different lenses based on your perspective? Kelli and Dick, in their research, remind us, "Any situation can be understood through more than one story, because no single account can tell everything that happened."[4] I heard a story recently about this passage from Jonah. The pastor asked the children during the children's message to tell the story of Jonah from the whale's perspective. One little boy, known for volunteering answers, raised his hand. The pastor invited him to step into the pulpit and share the whale's tale with the whole congregation. He stood up, and much to this pastor's and the congregations surprise, and BURPED into the mic, and sat back down.[5] It certainly is a different view of the story we read this morning.

Today's Favorite Passage comes from chapter 2--Jonah's prayer. We overhear Jonah's prayer from inside the belly of the fish. We don't get all the details we might want here when it comes to what kind of fish? Was it a whale, a shark, a leviathan, or some other form of sea monster? We don't know. All we know is that God used this sea creature for good.

Our passage opens with Jonah, perhaps seated on a kidney, singing the blues.[6] He's been swallowed up by a fish and has time to kill during the three days and nights he is in the smelly darkness. Though he's been running from God, for whatever reason, he finally decided to call out to God. But did you notice the tone of this prayer? Though it first appears to have been prayed from inside the belly of the fish, it comes from the viewpoint Jonah must have had AFTER the fact. I believe there is no doubt Jonah prayed and PRAYED HARD while he was inside that belly. Crisis situations as big as a whale would tend to lead anyone to prayer. But I imagine that Jonah's prayer received some editing between the first draft and final publishing.

Let's think back for just a moment before we look forward. Chapter one of Jonah finds this prophet boarding a ship heading in the exact OPPOSITE direction from where God asked him to go. Jonah is running from God's call. A horrible storm ends up causing the sailors to reluctantly throw Jonah overboard to try to stop the storm. To their amazement the storm stops, Jonah begins to sink, and the sailors decide that Jonah's God must be the best God to worship, and so they convert. Just when Jonah must be thinking he's really escaped God's call for sure now, God has a different plan, and the fish enters the scene. Jonah became lunch for some fish cruising by.

Chapter one ends inside the fish, and we see Jonah's prayer in Chapter two. The prophet who was running from God ends up singing God's praise and thanksgiving. Jonah's perspective changes from the time he gets swallowed up and he ends up sunbathing on some Mediterranean beach somewhere. What caused that shift in perspective? Why did his language and story shift? Look again at verse 7: "As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord." He remembered that he wasn't alone, and that God was indeed with him in the belly of the fish. God was present and was listening. Even somewhere so dark and so deep and so full of muck, God was there. The very God Jonah was trying to flee from was still willing to journey down with him into the bowels of death. He tried to flee from God, but his action toward God hadn't turned God away. Now there's a reason to sing!

This prayer or Psalm of Jonah consists of Thanksgiving. I doubt the first words out of Jonah's mouth were thanksgiving, but when he remembered the Lord, he was led to praise and thanksgiving. His anger, his frustration, his sorrow--all of these emotions, no matter how dark and despairing, were no match for God. God is bigger and more capable of handling our emotions--all of them. And Jonah was able to share these feelings without God running away. The prophet who had run from God remembered the Lord. Jonah realized that despite his efforts, God hadn't abandoned him. What a reason to give Thanks. It wasn't that God just showed up at that point, but Jonah realized in looking back at his situation, that God had been there all along.

I believe Jonah looked back at his situation once he was sitting on the beach, and perhaps edited his prayer to reflect this changed perspective. His remembering the Lord changed everything. Now, to be fair to the story, Jonah doesn't go about the rest of his mission with no problems, and doesn't become this perfect prophet... far from it. But in the moment, he realized something important, and it changed his thinking and his words. His faith in God grew because he realized if God will listen from the belly of death, then God will hear me no matter where I am.

I also don't think it is coincidence that this Psalm of Jonah sounds like so many of the Psalms we find in Scripture. I imagine Jonah grew up like most Jewish boys at the time who memorized the Torah and Psalms. They knew the Scriptures by heart and recited them day after day. They became a part of who they were as people. Through practice and prayer, these words become a part of us. As Ellen Davis says, "We understand [the psalms] also as God's word to us--or better, the Psalms are God's word in us."[7] Jonah didn't have a Bible or Prayer book or Hymnal with him inside the fish. But he had his memory. He had the stories of his faith from childhood. He had the words that were written on his heart, and he carried those with him into the belly, and they became his own words.

Ellen Davis goes on to say, "As we take the Psalms on our lips one by one, we eventually claim each of those experiences and feelings as our own, and thus we enter fully into the life of all those who call themselves Israel. What is distinctive about Israel's religious perception is this very knowledge that we are called into fully intimate relationship with the God who created the heavens and the earth, a relationship that is both probing and transformative. It begins with honest confession of our thoughts and feelings; yet the terms of the relationship are that we must always be willing to grow and change profoundly. So the Psalms honor our immediate personal experience, yet at the same time they keep us from becoming mired in it"[8]

This is where Worship and Scripture and Liturgy and Story ALL connect. It's one of the main reasons we are having both a Liturgy Workshop on June 27th and a Story Narrative Workshop on August 15th. Our hymns, our songs, our Scripture--as we worship together and practice sharing these words and learning them together, we are writing them on our own hearts. We are remembering the Lord and entering into the story of Faith--God's story. We are a part of God's story, and we carry these things with us wherever we go. As we look back at our own stories, we see where God is present, even when we didn't see it at first, and we can give thanks! When we can't see God at work in our lives, we have a community standing with us reminding us to "Remember the Lord" and helping sing the words when we forget. We write these words on our hearts and the hearts of our children through practicing together, praying together, singing together, and living together. So then when we, like Jonah, find ourselves in a dark belly, we can remember that God is there and hears our prayers and doesn't leave us alone.

God is at work in our story and is calling us to places yet unknown, and God is equipping us to do the ministry and mission to which we are called, both individually and as a congregation. As we tell our tales, and sing our stories, and remember the Lord, we will be able to give thanks together for all God has done and all God is doing, even with unlikely prophets like us. Amen.

[1]Richard L. Hester and Kelli Walker-Jones, Know Your Story and Lead With It: The Power of Narrative in Clergy Leadership (Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2009) 1.

[2] James Limburg, Hosea-Micah. Interpretation Series (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1988) 137.

[3] James Limburg, Hosea-Micah. Interpretation Series (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1988) 138.

[4] Richard L. Hester and Kelli Walker-Jones, Know Your Story and Lead With It: The Power of Narrative in Clergy Leadership (Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2009) 2.

[5] Susan Sparks, Workshop, Festival of Homiletics, Nashville, TN, May 2010.

[6] Referencing Aldous Huxley's "Jonah" in The Cherry Tree. Quoted in James Limburg, Hosea-Micah. Interpretation Series (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1988) 146.

[7] Ellen Davis, Getting Involved With God: Rediscovering the Old Testament (Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 2001) 9.

[8]Ellen Davis, Getting Involved With God: Rediscovering the Old Testament (Cambridge, MA: Cowley Publications, 2001) 12.

First Fruits from the Garden

2010-06-11T21:55:00.001-04:00

We harvested our first fruits from our garden this evening! 4 zucchini, 2 squash, and 1 cucumber! We have lots more tomatoes, zucchini, squash, and cucumbers on the way.

I've posted an album of photos here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2035778&id=39301917&l=d3993763a3

This is the garden as of today, June 11th... We have 2 zucchini, 2 squash, 1 cucumber, 4 tomato, and 1 sweet potato plants in it, plus lots of marigolds to ward off bugs!

This is our "kitchen herb" garden on the back porch today. It's doubled in size over the past few weeks! I love having fresh herbs right outside the door! Now I just need to learn to cook with them that will keep up with how fast they are growing!

Sermon for 6/6/10 "The Blessed Kingdom of Heaven": Favorite Things Worship Series

2010-06-07T10:37:00.000-04:00

Sermon for 6/6/10

Matthew 5:1-12, Micah 6:6-8

"The Blessed Kingdom of Heaven"

Favorite Passages Sermon Series

As we are exploring our Favorite Passage this summer during the Sabbatical, I have found one of the most fun things about this to be the opportunity to explore passages that are not often read in church during the Liturgical Church year. Some of the passages people choose that I will be preaching later in the summer never appear in our Lectionary. The Lectionary is a set of Scripture passages that many churches use to help us live into the church year. It runs in a 3 year cycle--labeled A, B, and C, and begins each year on the First Sunday in Advent. Each Sunday we indicate in the bulletin what that Day's designation is for the Church Year, with Sunday being the Second Sunday After Pentecost, and it's Year C. I believe there is real value in living into this Church year cycle with Scripture in worship, as many Christians from around the world are sharing the same texts on the same weeks. But I also find it good to veer everyone once in a while to explore a text that doesn't appear in the Lectionary, or appears very infrequently.

Our Luke 6 text from last week and this week's Micah and Matthew texts are just such texts to explore closer. Though they do technically appear in the lectionary, none of them have occurred in the rotation since 2007 due to Epiphany changing lengths each year. [1] Easter moves based on the lunar calendar, so therefore the length of the Epiphany season moves as well. The beatitudes are a well-known passage, so it is fun and good to look at them during this special summer.

Matthew's list of Beatitudes includes nine statements that Jesus taught during the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon is the first one mentioned in Matthew and serves as his Inaugural Sermon [2]. Jesus heads up a mountain to teach his disciples. Anyone listening in Jesus' day would have automatically associated this image with Moses when he went up on Mount Sinai to receive the Torah--the Law which makes up the first 5 books of the Old Testament. [3] The Gospel of Matthew was written for a Jewish audience, so these images are familiar from within the Old Testament's law and prophets.

At first glance these statements appear formulaic and repetitive, but upon further investigation, I believe there is value and depth found in the formula for the 9 Beatitudes. They should be studied both individually and as a whole, but have no fear--due to time constraints today, I've chosen to look at them as a whole group ONLY. (If you are interested in reading more about each individual statement, see the footnote for a list of good resources to check out![4]) I believe a key to understanding these comes in the phrases that are repeated over and over.

When we take a look more closely, we see one phrase that is repeated twice. "For theirs is the kingdom of heaven" in verses 3 and 10. The Kingdom of Heaven as Matthew describes, or the Kingdom of God as other Gospels reference, is what Jesus is ushering in through his life and ministry. The Kingdom of Heaven is what God is working to bring about on Earth through God's followers. The Prophets promised it, and Jesus began his life by fulfilling the promises the Prophets had made. But it doesn't stop there. Jesus' ministry was about bringing Heaven to Earth--creating the Kingdom of Heaven in the daily lives of his followers to continue ushering in God's Kingdom.

But it doesn't stop with Jesus either. Through Christ's life, death, and resurrection, we enter into this covenant of Grace, and become Children of God--Children of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God--the Kin-dom of God--the Family of God. As followers of Jesus, we place our citizenship in this family, and we do it together. The Family of God is not an individual pursuit--it is, rather, a communal activity. A place, a community, a family we strive to live in and a Kingdom we live out together. [5]

It's often referred to as the "Already-Not Yet Kingdom of God" because Jesus Christ has "Already" started it-- ushered it in, gave the Inaugural Sermon on a hilltop overlooking the land, held Inaugural Feasts, and the left his followers in charge to continue the game plan. But it's "Not Yet" because it will not be complete until an unknown time in the future when Christ reigns supreme. We recognize this reality and pray for it's completion every time we pray the Lord's Prayer: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." [6] Everything in the Beatitudes list between these "Kingdom of heaven" phrases and even that after too is related to these. The Kingdom of heaven phrase is implicit in each of these 9 phrases. [7]

The other thing we see clearly in each phrase is the opening "Blessed are..." [the poor in spirit, meek, the pure in heart, and so on...]. This is one of those places where English gets in the way of our understanding of the Biblical text because of translation differences that just don't show up well in English. There are two words in both the Greek and Hebrew that get translated as "blessed" in English. The only way to tell a difference in English is by accenting a different syllable, thus having Blessed, and Bless-ed. I'd never thought about why the word is pronounced differently at different times until I began studying this passage. Most often I have heard Bless-ed when the Beatitudes are read, and there is a reason for that. "Bless-ed" --the adjective --is the more accurate translation. It is a state-of being blessed or happy or joyful. Whereas "blessed" is more of an imperative or command verb. We often hear this other meaning in "God bless you" when someone sneezes. Though this passage contains both ideas, most commentators agree that the Beatitudes explain that the people in the kingdom of heaven already possess these things mentioned. They are already meek. They are already peacemakers. They already are pure in heart. But having said that, there is still a sense of the not yet--we can strive to be more meek. We can strive to be better peacemakers. We can strive to be more pure in heart. The quality already exists, but it is not yet fully realized because the kingdom is not yet fully realized. Once the Kingdom of Heaven is fully realized, the children of the Kingdom will be fully and completely bless-ed. [8]

I feel it's probable, having read so many different stories about the disciples in the Gospels, that they might not have gotten all of this down completely correct at the first hearing of the sermon. I can imagine that Jesus shared this message many times and had to clarify what he meant as he formed his followers into disciples. A scene from a favorite movie of mine depicts it well, some might say. It opens with the crowds heading up to the hills to catch a glimpse of this new teacher in town. The captions read: "Judea 33AD, Saturday afternoon, about Tea Time..." and you hear Jesus off in the distance giving his famous sermon. "How blessed are those..." The scene cuts to the followers at the back of the crowd who can't hear every word he is saying, and are trying to piece together the message. One lady asks for clarification, and another spectator remarks,

"Spectator I: I think it was "Blessed are the cheesemakers".

...Mrs. Gregory: Aha, what's so special about the cheesemakers?

Gregory: Well, obviously it's not meant to be taken literally; it refers to any manufacturers of dairy products." [9]

My husband Steve wouldn't allow me to recommend seeing Monty Python's Life of Brian because it's rated R, but this movie and this scene in particular makes me laugh every time.

But it also got me thinking. Maybe under all the satire about politics and religion that Monty Python mocks, there is a gem of truth. And this got me thinking about what the Beatitudes might look like if they were written in 2010. And it got me thinking about where I have seen the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst recently.

While I was eating lunch at the BBQ on Friday, I took a moment to stop and just look around. I was there during peak lunch time, and my heart filled with such pride and joy as I watched the Family of God in our little part of the Kingdom of Heaven on Ridge Road working together, laughing together, and serving together. There was so much support for the mission and ministry that God is calling us to do. I spoke to many different people who said this was a constant on their calendar, and they would NOT miss it!

I was excited to see so many groupings of co-workers--one member of Raleigh Moravian with friends gathered around, all eating and enjoying one another's company and great food. Neighbors stopped by and plates of food were passed down the line. Cookers, servers, and drink-pourers all had smiles and hellos for everyone who came out to visit. Laughter and conversations filled the air, just as the smell of fresh hush-puppies and hot BBQ filled the bellies. And there were plenty of offers for seconds for none should go hungry.

Later when Steve and I came back for dinner for Round 2, the same held true. I was excited to see young and old, friends and families working along side one another to accomplish a task bigger than any one person. I smiled with joy as I heard some of the college-students talk about this event being a highlight for them--something they wouldn't miss being a part of. One youth even remarked how he had been promoted a few years ago to be on the overnight cooking team. The disciples are teaching the traditions to the younger generations, and it was evident as I watched 3-year-old Bella not miss a beat as she followed instructions. Including so many people as a worker and serving with joy made me so proud of the service everyone was doing together.

The Kingdom of Heaven is about community living together to enact God's mission in the world. The Beatitudes both teach us about the Kingdom of Heaven and the community that is making it heaven on earth. We see in Scripture how the Kingdom is compared to a banquet feast.[10] Perhaps BBQ will even be on the menu... with Christ himself walking around to the tables serving his own special recipe of love puppies [hush-puppies coated in powdered sugar] for dessert!

And perhaps those involved in cooking, serving, and helping are Bless-ed:

Bless-ed are the BBQ cookers, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bless-ed are those with tired backs and sore feet, for they will be comforted.

Bless-ed are the hush-puppy fryers, for they will inherit the earth.

Bless-ed are the food servers, for they will be filled.

Bless-ed are the slaw mixers, for they will receive mercy.

Bless-ed are the dish washers, for they will be called children of God.

Bless-ed are the Church Families who serves together, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

And Bless-ed are the people we will serve with this summer beyond our doors, as the fruits of our BBQ labors will be the basis for our service together as we live our God's call to mission--to help those in need and share Christ's love, and together expand the Kingdom of Heaven a little more. Amen.

[The Big Boy, thanks to Joey Transou, which cooked all 1200lbs of Pork Shoulders for the BBQ. Thanks Joey!]

[1] In the Moravian Lectionary, Luke 6:17-36 appears in Epiphany 6C and Epiphany 7C. Matthew 5:1-12 appear in Epiphany 4A and All Saints Day A. Micah 6:6-8 appears in Epiphany 4A.

[2] Douglas R. A. Hare, Matthew. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993) 33.

[3] Hare, Matthew. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993) 34.

[4] Some of my favorites are: Kenneth Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008) 65-87. M. Eugene Boring, "The Gospel of Matthew" in New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. VII (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 171-181. Douglas R. A. Hare, Matthew. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993) 33-43.

[5] Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008) 69.

[6] Hare, Matthew. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993) 37.

[7] Hare, Matthew. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993) 37.

[8] Hare, Matthew. Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1993) 35. Bailey, Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2008) 67-68. The Greek word is makarioi.

[9] Monty Python's Life of Brian, 1979. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/quotes?qt0471973

[10] Isaiah 25; Matthew 8; Matthew 25; Luke 14 to name a few examples of feasts in Scripture.

Things I wish I learned in Seminary...

2010-06-04T21:12:00.001-04:00

Sometimes things happen in the church or in ministry that I just have to choose to laugh or cry. This photo made me laugh so hard I cried. It was one of those weeks this week. Though things are fine now, thankfully, "Remedial Plumbing and HVAC" would have been really helpful in Seminary. Add those to "Mission Camp 101: Wheel Chair Ramp Construction," which is the other MUST TAKE class in Practical Seminary Classes.

(Photo from Facebook Group: Things They Didn't Teach Me In Seminary, by Bethany Graves Devos).

Sermon for 5-30-10 "Speak the Truth, Even if Your Voice Shakes"

2010-05-30T14:05:00.001-04:00

Sermon for 5/30/10: Favorite Passages Summer Worship Series

Luke 6:17-36 (NRSV)
"Speak the Truth, Even if Your Voice Shakes."

As part of Craig's Sabbatical, two weeks ago we attended the Festival of Homiletics in Nashville, Tennessee for 5 days. I'm sure many of you have questions--starting with "What is a Festival of Huh?" Homiletics is the art of preaching, and this was 5 PACKED days of worship, preaching, lectures, and concerts with preaching at the core. It was a chance to spend a week with 1500+ preachers from varying denominations around the world. The best way I can describe it was like Camp at Laurel Ridge with 1500 of your closest strangers-turned-friends. It was exhausting and exhilarating, all at the same time. It was a chance for us to hear people speak that we read, and to study, laugh, and celebrate "This Odd and Wondrous Calling", as Rev. Lillian Daniels calls it, that is Preaching.[1] She was one of many I enjoyed hearing!

On our first evening, we experienced opening worship and a sermon by Bishop Vashti McKenzie, the first female bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Between worship and her sermon, I have told many that the conference was worth attending just for Monday night, and everything else was icing on the cake. I was inspired, uplifted, exhilarated, and kicked-in-the hind-quarters, so to speak. And as I've thought about it, isn't that what worship is supposed to be about--Giving God our praise and glory, while being inspired for mission and ministry, and allowing God to slap us upside the head when we need it. That's not the fun part for sure, but I know I need it every once in a while for God to get my attention and help me to see the way I am living and understanding God's call is not QUITE the way God intends.

During Bishop McKenzie's sermon, an image was projected on the screen behind her of a house, looking run down with white vinyl siding, and on it was spray-painted the words, "Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes." [2] It reminded me of the images of the homes after Katrina that had messages on the sides of them, either from the residents trying to get help, or the search crews confirming the house had been checked. "Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes." That image has stuck with me because I believe it drills down into a part of us as humans that rings tough but true. Speak the truth, our truth, God's truth, and don't let a little crack or waver or shake in our voice stop us... Moses and the prophets lived this. John the Baptizer lived this.

And we see this morning in our Gospel lesson from Luke that Jesus lived this too. This well-known and favorite passage from Luke is often referred to as the Sermon on the Plain. Jesus goes down off the mountain and stood on level ground to preach to the disciples as the crowd that gathered around listened on. It's more famous counterpart, the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew, with the longer list of Beatitudes we will look at next week. But for this week, someone requested this passage, so let's take a look, even if our voice shakes.

This sermon occurs soon after Jesus calls the first disciples and begins his ministry. The themes laid out in this sermon continue throughout the Gospel and serve as a summary for much of the teaching Jesus does through parables and stories that will come later in Luke. He is sharing with his new disciples what the Kingdom of God looks like to help empower them for the mission and ministry to which he has just called them. Perhaps we are overhearing Jesus' Discipleship Boot Camp, if you will.

Sometimes I find it helpful to take a passage that is so familiar that I don't often read it with the same power that it once had because of the familiarity. Let's take a moment to listen to another translation, from The Message, and see what we hear. Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.

Luke 6:27-36 [3]"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that's charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.

"I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You'll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we're at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind."

Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.

I hear these words and imagine the disciples gathered around their teacher on this meadow on the outskirts of town. Maybe the wind is blowing and the grass of the field gently sways as they listen. Maybe the crowd has been following them from down the mountain, or maybe they trickle in as they get word the great teacher is in the area. Sick, lame, scaly, bleeding, mentally ill, poor, homeless--the text tells us the crowd came seeking healing from whatever ailed them. (vs. 18-19) It was probably a large gathering of the folks no one wanted to be around, which is why they came in the first place--seeking healing from their brokenness to be restored to their communities.

Perhaps then it happens...the disciples are listening intently, and Jesus' voice shakes -- maybe from the strain of a less than adequate sound system for such a large space -- or maybe from the difficulty of the words he is speaking. But his voice quivers just a bit, and the next thing they hear is, "Love your enemies." No, maybe we heard him wrong. Surely he wouldn't ask us to do that. We have given up everything to follow him and already have made some enemies by following this teacher. Surely he wouldn't ask us to LOVE them. So, they keep listening. "Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." We've gotten abuse already, and we've only been disciples for a few weeks. Ignore our abuse, maybe. But pray for them. Come on' Jesus. Get real. And then, and "Oh. There it is again..." Love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return."

I imagine one disciple leans over to the next and whispers, "Do you think he really means that "love your enemies, pray for those who abuse you stuff"? He's said it twice now. The first time I though it couldn't be true, but then he said it again. Could God really want us to be kind and merciful--even to those who can't stand us and who we can't stand either?"

As I've thought about these commands from Jesus' this week, I've wondered... is it easier for us to love our enemies, or as we hear later in Luke in the parable of the Good Samaritan, to love our neighbors? And, is it easier for us to identify our enemies or neighbors? Our society—our world-- is so polarized these days... pick any topic, any issue, any side of any debate--and the enemy stands out clearly--perhaps too easily--but our neighbors can be harder to identify. The lawyer that questions Jesus in Luke 10 asks, "And who is my neighbor?" for which Jesus then tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which was an oxymoron in that culture--Samaritans could never be good--they were the enemy, the despised, the polar opposites in that culture. We see in Luke's Gospel Jesus was reminding us to love both our enemies and neighbors, because perhaps they are one and the same.

I saw a powerful, must-see movie this week about the power of love and speaking the truth, even if your voice shake, and it reminded me of Jesus' message here to his disciples-in-training. It was about a person for whom most of us are familiar, but it was a story I was not aware of prior to the movie. Nelson Mandela was released from Prison in South Africa on Feb. 11, 1990 after being held nearly 27 years for his work to end apartheid.[3] He took office as South Africa's first democratic president in May 1994, a few days after apartheid officially ended and free elections were held.

The movie “Invictus” describes Mandela's first year in office as he worked to bring together the white Dutch Afrikaans and black native South Africans together into one country, which he called the Rainbow Nation. As Mandela begins attempts at unification, reconciliation, and forgiveness, he sought out help from the captain of the Springboks National Rugby team, François Pineaar. The 1995 Rugby World Cup was to be held the following year with South Africa playing host to the world, and he made a "human calculation" that Rugby, the sport of the white Afrikaans, the sport the blacks hated, would be something that could unite a nation. The movie shows this progression. In one scene, the team visits Robben Prison. Afterward, the captain remarks, "I was thinking about how you spend 30 years [sic] in a tiny cell and come out ready to forgive the people who put you there." [5]

In my opinion the most powerful scene comes when Mandela intervenes in a National Sports Council Meeting, just after the black council voted to eliminate the Springboks entirely including team colors green and gold, because of the people's hatred of their enemy--the Afrikaans. Mandela says, "Our enemy is no longer the Afrikaans... they are our fellow South Africans. Our partners in democracy... and they treasure Springbok rugby. If we take that away, we loose them. We ARE what they feared we would be. We HAVE TO be better than that. We have to SURPRISE them with compassion, with restrain, and generosity... I know, all the things they denied us. But this is no time to celebrate petty revenge. This is the time to build our nation using every single brick available to us, even if that brick comes wrapped in green and gold. You elected me your leader. Now let me lead you. Who is with me?" [6]

Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)

Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.

"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst." (Luke 6:27, Msg)

Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.

"Love your enemies and you have NO enemies." [7]

Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.

Amen.

[1] Lillian Daniels and Martin Copenhaver, This Odd and Wondrous Calling (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing, 2009).
[2]mulattodiaries.wordpress.com/2009/06/14/1803/ [See post from Monday, Feb. 17th for Opening Worship and the Bishop's sermon on Exodus and Moses entitled "Speaking Truth to Power."

[3] Luke 6:27-36, The Message translation by Eugene Peterson

[4] http://www.nelsonmandela.org/index.php/memory/views/biography/

[5] Invictus, Matt Damon as François Pineaar. Produced and Directed by Clint Eastwood, 2009. Video Clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi300483609/

[6] Invictus. Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela. Produced and Directed by Clint Eastwood, 2009. Video Clip: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi300483609/

[7] Sea Raven, “On the Plain Part 2: Enemies” posted 2/3/2010 at http://www.gaiarising.org/2010/02/on-plain-part-2-enemies.html. Emphasis mine.

Festival of Homiletics: Thursda Photos

2010-05-29T23:34:00.000-04:00

Here are some images from Thursday's 3 worship services.

This is Susan Phillips preparing for the opening worship in the morning. One of the vendors who had liturgical art available for sale lent the Festival various pieces from her collection that were handmade. The Communion Table and Pulpit here are covered in hand colored silks. They were beautiful and it was nice having the banners and art change each day and sometimes for each worship gathering.

Opening worship on Thursday morning was to be led by John Bell from Scotland (he's a member of Iona and priest in the Church of Scotland... more on John Bell in later posts). But since the ash over Great Britain kept him from arriving before the Festival began, Susan was asked to step in and lead worship on very short notice. She involved friends in planning our worship for the morning, and it went very well! Nice job, Susan! (Note: I love the stole she is wearing and the fact she's wearing it with street clothes instead of over a robe--very cool indeed!)

Another image from worship... Susan was helping teach us a new song here. I really enjoyed the opportunity to learn lots of new, wonderful songs throughout the week from all the different worship leaders!

This is an image from the second worship of the morning. Claudio Carvalhaes was our worship leader and Lillian Daniels is sitting in the choir area since she was preaching for this worship.

This is Ashley Cleveland, a musician from Nashville who was with us for worship and concerts during the week. Her pink guitar made me smile.

(It reminded me of Abby's guitar at RMC from a few weeks ago---way to play guitar in worship, Abby! I was really proud of you and your willingness to share your gifts of music on Moravian Music Sunday. I took this photo to show you another lady with a pink guitar playing music for God's glory. Maybe she'll be a role model for you one day!)

This is a photo from the balcony into the lower section of the sanctuary during worship. I thought it might help give a perspective on the large number of people in attendance during the Festival!

Festival of Homiletics: Thursday Morning Worship with Lillian Daniels

2010-05-29T20:35:00.000-04:00

Lillian Daniels Sermon for Worship on Thursday Morning 5/20/10

"We and They"

Matthew 7:1-5

Top 5 List:

1. What would our world look like if we followed Jesus' words and lived in generosity instead of judgment? This passage from Matthew doesn't provide a scolding as much as it is a perspective for a better life.

2. As pastors, how do we refer to our congregations? Do we use "we" or "they"? "We" is language of community, where as "they" is language of church consultants and the idea that the patient needs fixing by the pastor. Move from "they" to "we" language.

3. Pastors--in interacting with our congregations, do we:

*diagnose vs. belong?

*critique vs. love?

*consult from a distance vs. lead?

4. Sin = growing edges, areas of improvement

5. The festive banquet in heaven won't be perfect, but it will be a generous, reconciling banquet. The Holy Spirit of hospitality is generous. (And "the other duck" will be served!)

Festival of Homiletics: Thursday Morning Worship with Bishop Curry

2010-05-29T20:21:00.000-04:00

Bishop Michael Curry Sermon for worship Thursday Morning 5/20/10 "There is Another Way"

[Bishop Curry is Episcopal Bishop for the Diocese of NC. He lives in Raleigh.]

Zechariah 9:9-10; John 19

Top 5 List:

1. Jesus came to show us another way to live... the old way has never worked never will. God sent us creation, prophets, yet we didn't get it.

2. It is one thing to be part of the human race--we are all part of this, so it doesn't take much for that to happen. It's something completely different to be part of the human family--this is God's desire. The human race is our starting point and Jesus is our way to the destination of human family of God.

3. Jesus' planning for Palm Sunday was planned--it wasn't an accident that he arrived into Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a war horse like Pilate rode on the other side of town at the same time. Passover reminds us of freedom, liberation, and God's domain which was counter to Pilate's Pax Romana.

4. Bishop Curry's father told him "Treat every girl like you want your sister to be treated." This applies to the whole human race--it helps us become the human family.

5.Clint Eastwood's recent films have all tackled difficult subjects. His latest--Invictus-- is about the struggle to become the human family. "We are more than creatures of biology. We are the human family and there is beauty in that."

Festival of Homiletics: Views of Wednesday

2010-05-25T22:29:00.000-04:00

Wednesday I was able to spend a good portion of time walking around downtown Nashville. The weather was beautiful, and it was nice to see the Capitol building.

I also passed by the other churches that were involved in the Festival of Homiletics. It ended up that all the events I attended were at First Baptist, so I didn't get to see inside these churches. But they are all within a short walk of one another, so it made for a nice loop to walk from First Baptist when I headed back to the hotel in the afternoon.

This is Christ Church Cathedral (Episcopal) in downtown Nashville.

This is First Baptist's steeple from the top of the hill on 7th street. Nashville's downtown is very hilly, and First Baptist is basically at the crest of the hill.

Therefore the recent flooding didn't affect the buildings we were using. The river flooded into 2nd street and our Hotel was on 4th Street. We saw very little evidence of damage, because we were on the high end of downtown. We hear stories from the locals about how high the water had come and how quickly the river rose. They had something like 15-17 inches in two days time, and our shuttle driver said it was the hardest continual rain he had ever seen.

From the Red Doors you might guess this is First Lutheran Church (or you are really observant and see the name carved above the door). It was right across the block from First Baptist.

These are the front steps and front door for First Presbyterian Church. It and McKendree United Methodist were on Church Street. They were about a block up from my hotel. Both front facades are neo-classical in design. I forgot to take a photo of the UMC building.

Inside First Baptist they had all types of art in the hallways. This was a painting that was near the offices where I sat to check email one day. It's of a Post-Resurrection picnic. I love the basket with bread, the chalice cup, and an apple (or pomegranate) that appear on the picnic table. It's clear that it is Christ by the stigmata (nail hole) on his hand. Though he's painted a little to racially white to be a Middle Eastern Jew (I'll stay off this soapbox for now), I do like the mystery of the image. It is as if the viewer is being invited to dine at the table with Christ. Christ bids us come to the table and feast...

Festival of Homiletics: Wednesday Afternoon: Lauren Winner's Sermon

2010-05-23T18:55:00.001-04:00

Lauren Winner's Sermon, 5/19/10

1 Corinthians 13:1-13, "Corinthian Cross-Stitch"

Top 5 List: (my comments and processing of Lauren's Sermon...)

1. We see this passage from First Corinthians everywhere--on bags, pens, notepads, cross-stitch patterns, etc. We have domesticated it to the point it is meaningless. Yet, if we undomesticate it and reread it again with new eyes, we will find one of the most powerful passages in all of Scripture.

2. Paul spends the beginning of First Corinthians leading up to this passage trying to explain that it doesn't mater which teacher you follow to get in on the Gospel, but what is important is that Love patterned after Jesus' Love is the key to entering the Gospel.

3. One way to enter into the power of this passage and undomesticate it is to read it in other places besides weddings. Read it in Court Rooms, Jails, among the Homeless or Mentally Ill. She heard it read last on Maundy Thursday this year as some protesters gathered outside a Immigration Detainee Deportation Office in Cary, NC. Jesus' love looks very different, and much more like the Gospels and Paul's writing, when it is read as our neighbors are being deported to a "home" they do not know or understand.

4. Paul is trying to help people experience transformation to be people who are capable of Love like Jesus' taught.

5. Take a moment to reread 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and replace the word love every time it appears with the name Jesus. It's amazing how well it works and also how powerful it becomes.

Festival of Homiletics: Wednesday Morning: Craig Barnes' Sermon

2010-05-22T23:58:00.000-04:00

Craig Barnes' Sermon, 5/19/10

"Preaching To The Rabble"

Numbers 11:1-6

Top 5 6 List:

1. Moses had many folks journeying with him during the Exodus... Craig Barnes describes the Rabblers as "They are on the journey but they don't believe in the journey." They complain about the food and accommodations. They long for the good ol' days back in Egypt, where at least they had food and shelter.

2. For Pastors, Rabblers are frustrating, but they serve an important part of the congregation because they help keep us listening to God and for God and keep us in constant contact with God through prayer. =)

3. "Manna means 'What is it?' in Hebrew. For 40 years in the desert, God nurtured the people with a question." God was teaching them to ask the tough questions of our faith that keep us attuned to where God is at work in our world... "O God, what is it that you are doing?"

4. This same question of manna, "What is it?" nurtures us today as well. We are to ask it each morning just as the Isrealites harvested it each day. What is it that God is up to today?

5. Often the Rabblers on the journey of faith ask, "If only?" questions. Be careful with these questions because when God answers them, we have to then like the answer.

6. "If only?" Questions focus us on either the future or past. "What is it?" focuses us on the present, which is where we are to live. Present-Tense-Ministry is our call as ministers, but also all people of faith. We cannot get people to the promised land, because that is God and God alone's job, but we can witness to what God is doing along the journey and encourage people in the daily searching for "What is it God that we are to do today?"

Festival of Homiletics: Tuesday Afternoon: Thomas Long's Sermon

2010-05-22T23:42:00.005-04:00

Top 5 List from Thomas Long's Sermon on Tuesday Afternoon:

Sermon 5/18/10 "Leaning Forward and Letting Go"

(Luke 2:25-38--Simeon and Anna encountering the baby Jesus)

1. Both Simeon and Anna are the elders in their community who were promised the opportunity to see the Messiah after his birth.

2. Luke deals with the oldest generations and the youngest generations, and all ages in between. But the elders disappear after chapter 2 and a new generation is ushered in with Christ's birth. "They turn the Gospel over to a bunch of 20 year olds."

3. Tom used to think the hardest thing was to stand up for the faith, but now believes the harder task is to lean into the Gospel and let go--Elders lean into their faith and let the younger generations lead. We have to believe, and we do believe, that our God is a God who owns the future.

4. BUT we often don't live as though God owns the future. Trusting that God is big enough to already be present in the future is tough, but necessary.

5. Leaders who are the elder leaders now need to have the trust and faith to allow younger generations to have a chance to lead. The elders had their days, and they share their wisdom, but empowering the younger generations to listen for God and lean into that is a mark of true, helpful, positive leadership. (Moravian Provincial Leaders, especially those involved in the Synod Restructuring Process and upcoming Synod--I loving ask you to PLEASE TAKE NOTE!)

Festival of Homiletics: Views of Tuesday

2010-05-21T16:37:00.000-04:00

Here are a few images from Tuesday...

I love the stained glass windows inside First Baptist Church. They are very artistic and beautiful. The windows along the balcony depict biblical stores, though they were hard to identify because they were so artsy--it's a difficult balance between telling the story and being artistic and expressive sometimes. I do believe there is a big place in the church and in worship for arts, and for me just the colors themselves were powerful reminders of God's creative power and the colors of creation all around us.

One of the blessings I have found over the past 2 years of Ministry is the Young Clergy Women Project. Though a friend of a friend of a friend... I have come to know some really awesome people! I was excited to get to meet Laura and Maria during the Festival. We had dinner Tuesday night in Nashville, though I had never met them before, through the power of the web we are friends, sisters in ministry, and supports for one another (between Alabama, Sweden, and NC, no less!) Thanks again, ladies, for such a great dinner and conversation! I hope to see you all at conferences and festivals in the near future!

Festival of Homiletics: Susan Sparks and "Putting the Ha in Hallelujah"

2010-05-20T23:30:00.003-04:00

So a lawyer, a comedian, and a Baptist minister walk into a bar--wait, this is not what you think. The Rev. Susan Sparks is lawyer--turned stand-up comedian--turned American Baptist Pastor who grew up in Charlotte, NC and now preaches at Madison Ave. Baptist Church in Manhattan. I attended her workshop yesterday after lunch here at the Festival of Homiletics. As often happens when you start running your mouth, I ended up making the newspaper through an interview with one of the local reporters who happened to show up.

Here's the article link:

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100520/NEWS06/5200349/1001/NEWS

Here is a view from the workshop yesterday. (I'm standing against the far wall in a lime green shirt) It's her list (With the examples mostly edited out) of her 10 Commandments of Using Comedy in Church.

http://www.tennessean.com/section/videoNetwork#/News/The+Ten+Commandments+of+using+comedy+in+church/47366661001/47454972001/86702098001

Now from the video and photos you will notice the room was packed. There were media all over the place (5-6 up front at least). Given we haven't seen media any where else during the conference, this was a lot. I am not sure if it is a good thing or a sad comment about the church in our society that the media chose this event to attend. Susan is excellent at what she does, and she was very funny. I also learned a lot!

But of all the speakers we've heard, all the potentially-controversial things that have been said/preached/or sung, the media chose Humor as the thing to cover. I happen to be a fan of Jim Wallis (Sojourner's Magazine Editor-in-Chief), and he spoke on Tuesday afternoon. Yet, he is much more potentially-controversial than humor?!? Really?!?! Susan was covered by both TV and newspapers instead. I don't get it.

[NOTE: Though after taking time to read all 32+ comments related to the article--ok, so I guess there are some folks here who don't have a sense of humor, and take themselves very seriously--well, that was Susan's point in many ways--we can laugh at ourselves, and should laugh at ourselves--it keeps us humble and promotes healing and reconciliation--I believe there might even be a sermon in that somewhere, lol. Thanks for giving her more material for that next sermon, cause Sunday's comin'!]

[NOTE: Also, a few notes to the comments--if you're going to quote Scripture, at least spell the Book Names correctly--Isaih is close, but keep trying.]

[NOTE: As to a women being in a Southern Baptist Convention Church Pulpit... well, no Susan wasn't there yesterday afternoon during the workshop... but she was the worship leader this afternoon, and did a mighty fine job if I do say so myself.

I have to say how gracious and hospitable First Baptist Church has been-they have been so wonderful to us! But if you have issue with Susan in the Pulpit, she's in good company here... We've also had lead worship and or preach from the Sanctuary's main pulpit during the conference: Rev. Susan Phillips, Bishop Dr. Vashti McKenzie, Rev. Dr. Anna Carter Florence; Rev. Dr. Barbara Lundblad, Rev. Dr. Gail Archer, Naomi Tutu (Bishop Desmond's daughter), (Almost Rev.) Dr. Lauren Winner, Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniels, Dr. Amy Jill Levine, Rev. Dr. Safiyah Fosua, Rev. Dr. Magaret Aymer, and Rev. Dr. Grace Imanthiu --I count 13 women in leadership this week inside First Baptist Church in Nashville behind the pulpit, delivering the word of God with power and might! And I give thanks to God for my sisters speaking God's word that inspires me, confronts me, confounds me, and kicks me in the butt!

I also give thanks to my brothers in ministry who have shared with us this week from behind the pulpit in worship and preaching leadership, cause God's word must be spoken by many, and they also did a fabulous job: Rev. Dr. Thomas Long, Jim Wallis, Rev. Peter Graves, Rev. Dr. Craig Barnes, Matthew Flemming, Rev. Dr. John McClure, Rev. John Bell, Bishop Dr. Michael Curry, Rev. Dr. Claudio Carvalhaes, Rev. Dr. Chelphus LaRue, Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey, and Bishop Dr. Will Willimon--I count 13 men in leadership this week too... perhaps the Spirit is having fun with this, or I can't count well... I don't know which!]

[NOTE: PS--This isn't even a complete list of folks--these are just the ones I count that were in the First Baptist Church--folks were in the other churches as well!]

The people outside the church, and probably many within the church, take issue with the intersection of humor and faith. There are many days in ministry where I have 2 choices--to laugh or to cry. (Though I can assure you, especially during my Clinical Pastoral Education as a Hospital Chaplain, the tears flew freely and often) I most often choose to laugh. Plus then I will have great stories to tell later in my ministry--can you believe ____ that just happened to me? I mean, the day I found a bucket of 4 month old slaw in the fridge at church in October after the BBQ from last June... REALLY? I choose to laugh, because crying over slaw just didn't seem right. But in all seriousness... God is big enough to handle our humor. And God has a sense of humor--Susan is great at pointing that out, and I hope to learn lots from her.

Festival of Homiletics: Images of Tuesday

2010-05-18T23:15:00.000-04:00

Here are a few images I captured on Tuesday at First Baptist Church here in Nashville. Enjoy!

[The Front of the First Baptist Church Sanctuary]

[A Close-up of the Fountain Altar from Monday night's worship. It has a pitcher, bowl, candles, ferns, fabric, and rocks included in the design. Susan Phillips and her husband worked on this for the Festival.]

[The Balcony and beautiful stained glass windows.]

Festival of Homiletics: Tuesday Morning Sermon: Anna Carter Florence on Matthew 15:21-28

2010-05-18T23:00:00.000-04:00

Top 5 8 List from Anna Carter Florence's Sermon on Tuesday Morning:

1. Even after the bulletin is run off, it's ok to change both the Sermon Title and Scripture Preaching Text. Sometimes the Spirit moves in unexpected, unplanned, and uncalled for ways--And That's OK! (If a professor of preaching at a preaching conference can do it, so can I!)

2. "We don't need to be Jesus' bodyguards. We are called to be poets instead, because Poetic Language stops us in our tracks and causes us to take a 2nd look at life." ~Dr. ACF

3. The woman in a discussion with Jesus (Matthew 15:21-28) could have left the room or hung her head. Instead she chose to break open the image and word of "dog" (a cultural, racial slur in 1st Century Palestine) and look at it again in a new light. Thus we need to do the same. "In the beginning there is always a word... give us a new word."

4. "When breaking the bread for communion, we should tear the bread with abandon, so more crumbs fly off to make sure everyone gets a piece." ~Dr. ACF or Mary Oliver, I can't remember now.

5. Mary Oliver says, "The Bread of Life and Cup of Astonishment." When have you eaten Life and been astonished lately?

6. Mary Oliver believes a poem is a confession of faith. It has a purpose other than itself

7. Anna Carter Florence really likes Mary Oliver and her "Poetry Handbook" (especially a great quote on page 122, but I don't have it so I can't find the quote right now!). Since preaching should be more like poetry, I probably should have paid more attention in my many English classes years ago. Oops. [See # 4, 5, 6]

8. U2 wrote a great song about this passage. "Crumbs From Your Table". Check it out on their album "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb"! (Song lyrics are poems after all.)

Festival of Homiletics: Monday Evening Lecture: Anna Carter Florence on Mark 5's Preaching Superheros

2010-05-17T23:59:00.000-04:00

Instead of typing all my notes and including them here, I thought it would be more fun, (And more helpful as I continue to process this material and conference), if I created a Top 5 list for each of the sermons and lectures I've heard and post them here instead. If you have questions or comments on any of these, please post in the comments section. I'll do my best to explain them and thicken these stories and comments the best I can.

Top 5 List from Anna Carter Florence's Lecture on Monday evening:

1. Accepting commonly accepted Biblical Theories is easy. There are tons of books supporting them. Digging deeply on my own and uncovering the text for what it says is much harder.

2. Pastors often don't ask ALL the questions of the text--partly because we don't see them due to our training, and partly because they might get us into hot water with someone in power. Ask them anyways and keep our eyes open when exploring the Canon.

3. God demands the truth, and nothing but the WHOLE truth, so keep digging into the text despite the threats for yourself (self-preservation) or others in power (The Bible is culturally, politically, and socially subversive, so watch out!).

4. Reading around the margins of a text makes for much more interesting reading.

5. I wish Mattel or Hasboro would create and market Anna's 3 Superhero Action Figures of Homiletics (Preaching): Mark 5's Demoniac (Complete with graveyard and chains), Hemorrhaging Woman (Complete with Jesus' cloak or a "Red Tent"), and 12 year old walking resurrection girl (Complete with bed and burial clothes). I'm sure they would be big sellers! (They would go great on the shelf in my office along side my bobblehead "Buddy Christ.")

Festival of Homiletics: Monday- Notes from Bishop McKenzie's Sermon

2010-05-17T23:55:00.000-04:00

Festival of Homiletics, Nashville, TN

Notes from Monday evening's worship gathering

5/17/10

[NOTE: These are my notes from the Monday evening sermon by Bishop McKenzie. They are incomplete, not transcribed exactly except where I have attempted to quote her direct phrases as indicated by quote marks, and are things that jumped out at me. I don't pretend that these will make complete sense out of context, but I wanted to capture them for me and share them with you. Grammar, syntax, flow, connecting transitions--Trying to convert them back into written form is difficult at best. My best advice is to take any opportunity you might possibly have to hear Bishop McKenzie preach!]

Bishop McKenzie's Sermon - "Speaking Truth to Power" (Exodus 4:10-17, specifically verse 12)

(Photo Slide on the Wall--"Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes." written in spray paint on the side of the wall of a house.)

Scripture from Exodus 4:

¹⁰But Moses said to the Lord, “O my Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor even now that you have spoken to your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” ¹¹Then the Lord said to him, “Who gives speech to mortals? Who makes them mute or deaf, seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? ¹²Now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you are to speak.” ¹³But he said, “O my Lord, please send someone else.” ¹⁴Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses and he said, “What of your brother Aaron, the Levite? I know that he can speak fluently; even now he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you his heart will be glad. ¹⁵You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth; and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. ¹⁶He indeed shall speak for you to the people; he shall serve as a mouth for you, and you shall serve as God for him. ¹⁷Take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs.”(Exodus 4:10-17, NRSV)

Exodus teaches over and over that God hears and responds. The pattern runs throughout the book again and again. But it just might not be in the ways we want or expect.

We are living in an "and" world. A world of extremes that are held together by "and". Poverty and excess. Hunger and obesity. Republican and Democrat. The New York Times and Fox News. Our times are difficult ones. Times that leave us with the need to hear a good word from the Lord. And the need to share truth--God's Truth-- with the powers that be.

Moses was unsure of himself and he felt ill-equipped for what God was calling him to do through the burning bush. He tries to discuss this with God, and God/ I am Who I Am/ I will be who I will be/ I have been who I have been. But that doesn't get him off the hook. God sends him on his way and "all he got was Aaron and a stick." And he was supposed to speak to Pharaoh... and God even told him that Pharaoh wouldn't even listen. What an assignment!

When are you called to speak truth to power? When you are, you do not have the words... "These are God's words and God shapes our preaching agenda. " Society's status quo message equals comfort, where as the Truth that God calls us to speak is not the status quo and is not comfort for our society and culture.

Therefore, "Maybe we ought to preach revolutionary sermons.... If you preach Jesus-kind of sermons, The New York Times is going to write editorials about you, the Washington Post will put you on the cover, and Fox News will cover you for a whole month."

Speaking truth to power means God will take you where you need to go, not where you want to Go! It means we will need to face our fears of success or failure, because it is not about you; it's about God. It means we will not be blessed (with creature comforts, nice cars, well-to-do homes, etc) but will be a blessing to all. Being a blessing to others means demonstrating the love of God in the unloving places in our world.

Truth in power preaching means holy ground/take off your shoes preaching. When we are asked, "Is there a word from the Lord? We should come running--Yes! There is!

Festival of Homiletics: Monday evening Worship--"What Is That?" Video

2010-05-17T23:14:00.000-04:00

During Worship on Monday evening, the following video was shown during our time for prayer. It was the "Assurance of Pardon." It is a powerful 5:30 video that is worth checking out. The link on YouTube is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNK6h1dfy2o

Have you ever experienced this kind of love and forgiveness? Have you ever had a "What Is That?" Moment?

Festival of Homiletics: Nashville, TN (Day 1-Monday)

2010-05-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

I begin by giving thanks to the Lilly Foundation for Craig's Sabbatical Grant for providing the funding for both of us to attend this Festival! After just the first evening, I can already say this has been worth the trip... and for those of you who know how much I LOVE to FLY (insert sarcastic laugh here), that truly is saying a lot! I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store!

This morning Craig and I headed to RDU to fly to Nashville, TN for the Goodpreacher.com sponsored Festival of Homiletics. This is a National (and Canadians, the only other country I've seen so far) preaching conference for pastors, and there are over 2000 people here from all over the country representing many, many denominations. After arriving and getting checked into the hotel, Craig and I walked over to First Baptist Church, the main location for the week. We are also being hosted by the other downtown churches (First Lutheran, McKendree United Methodist, Christ Church Cathedral--Episcopal, and Downtown Presbyterian), and the various workshops and concerts are being held in these different venues. Everything is a short walk from our hotel.

[The view of the skyscrapers near our hotel, and the CMT TV headquarters]

[The famous Ryman Auditorium, the old home of the Grand Ole Opry, and also current home of it since the flooding. It's on our street just down from the hotel.]

After checking in to the Festival, grabbing BBQ dinner at Jack's BBQ on Broadway Ave, we headed to the opening worship for the evening. WOW! Susan Phillips lead us in liturgy, prayer, assurance of pardon, and confession of faith. We also enjoyed wonderful music by both Ashley Cleveland and Beth Nielsen Chapman. And the 75+ member First Baptist Church Choir and very small brass band (7 members-great musicians, but not the 50+ folks from RMC that I'm used to) led us in worship. Susan had many great ways to enliven worship and make it more experiencial and multi-sensory. I can already tell she's a kindred-soul and someone who I look forward to learning lots more from!

[This is the sanctuary view from the back row. It's huge!]

[The altar up front--it's "living water" with plants and a fountain and water running down through it when Susan took a pitcher and poured it while reading Isaiah 12. It was really powerful and really awesome!]

Then it was time for one of the highlights of the evening. Bishop Vashti McKenzie from the African Methodist Episcopal Church was the guest preacher for the opening worship service this evening. She spoke about Moses' call from God to speak the truth with power in her sermon "Speaking Truth to Power" based on Exodus 4:10-17, specifically focusing on verse 12.

[Here is Bishop McKenzie preaching. She was so dynamic and brought the Word of God with truth and power! See my next blog posting for notes from this sermon!]

[It's hard to see in this photo, but the spray-painted sign on the side of the house says, "Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes." It was the photo on the screen during the Bishop's sermon and fit so well with Moses' conversation with the Great "I Am Who I Am" and call from God.]

After worship we heard a brief concert by Jazz Sax protogee Grace Kelly. She was excellent.

[Grace can be seen in this photo in the purple dress near the left edge.]

The last order of the agenda for the evening was a lecture by Dr. Anna Carter Florence, a professor of preaching from Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA. She talked about Mark 5 and the 3 Superheros for the Preacher found in this chapter of the Gospel.

NOTE: I took lots of notes to include here from both speakers tonight, but bedtime is here, so I will post them tomorrow!

Thanks for reading along. Goodnight from Nashville! I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

The American Cancer Society - Relay For Life of Brier Creek/RTP

2010-05-05T23:15:00.001-04:00

This Summer Raleigh Moravian Church has teams in both the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure at Meredith College on June 12 and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life at Leesville Road High School on June 18th. Information and details can be found here:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10SA?sid=1003&type=fr_informational&pg=informational&fr_id=25994

I've joined the team for the Relay for Life. I invite you to support our team by going to their website and giving a donation to the Raleigh Moravian Church team.
The American Cancer Society - Relay For Life of Brier Creek/RTP:

Cancer affects so many folks, and one way we can help is by supporting the American Cancer Society and Cancer Research. You are also invited to sponsor a Luminary in honor or memory of someone... or If you are a SURVIVOR, they have a special dinner and Survivor's Lap. We hope you will come out to Join US, Cheer for US, and Support US as Team RMC walks the track! Consider donating today!

Breaking Bread Together: Sermon for 5/2/10 (Favorite Things Summer Series)

2010-05-02T15:13:00.001-04:00

"Breaking Bread Together"

Sermon for May 2, 2010 (Easter 5C)

Favorite Things Summer Series

Luke 24:13-35 (Easter 3A); Hebrews 13:1-2

Today we begin an adventure... a quest... a journey. It's a journey of grace... a journey together, and a journey that God takes with us. Thankfully, we are not alone. Thankfully, God has blessed us with many gifts and now we get a different opportunity in the life of this congregation to let these gifts shine. As many of us are aware, Craig began his sabbatical yesterday afternoon once we finished with the Synod Delegate training in Kernersville. He is now on an adventure of rest and renewal thanks to the Lilly Endowment. This much-deserved break will be a time for him to step away from the daily duties and stresses of ministry to renew his energy and strength for the next phase of his journey. We hold he and Anna in prayer during this exciting time in their lives. And we look forward to their return in September.

With this sabbatical in mind, we are on a journey. I like the image of a journey. We know where we are headed, and we remain open to what God has in store. The Lilly Grant for Craig's Sabbatical doesn't leave us out as well. It provides money for various opportunities for the whole congregation as we also seek renewal and refreshment this summer. Though we have been planning for almost a year for this summer, we can never know exactly what is in store. I say that with excitement, not fear--you never know where Christ might appear during the journey. I have been in conversation with many of you who share this excitement and sense of adventure.

If you remember back to January and February, I invited you to vote for your Favorite Scripture Passages, Favorite Hymns, and Favorite Anthems. I was very energized to receive your votes and collect this information. I also assure you that this information was not in vain. We will engage at least 8 of the texts this summer and many of the musical choices as well. I hope we will have fun and enjoy the experience, as I have had a great time planning and exploring these texts already. Today's text is the first in our series. Now I must confess, this is my favorite passage. We start with it today, not only because it is my favorite, but also because I see it as a foundational story for the summer. One of the things the grant provides is the opportunity for us to explore our story as a church. If you met someone on the street and they asked you about your church family, what stories make the list of favorite stories about Raleigh Moravian? Why are these stories your favorites? What do they say about who we are as a community? This past week Craig and I met with Kelli Walker-Jones and Dick Hester. They will be with us in August for worship and a workshop that will delve into our story, and we will continue to explore it in October around our Congregational Anniversary. We left the meeting so excited about the upcoming conversation. I personally can't wait to hear what stories you all share about this congregation. I invite you all to begin thinking about your story and Raleigh Moravian's Story. We each have foundational stories about our faith and church, and sharing these can be transformational for everyone as we both share with one another and hear from one another.

As we begin these conversations, I thought it might be interesting for me to share a piece of my own journey and story, and my hopes and dreams with you all this morning. That's where we connect in with the disciples on the road to Emmaus. During the three years I lived in Pennsylvania, this story took on deeper and deeper meaning for me. For my first two years, I served as student pastor at Emmaus Moravian Church. Emmaus is a community southwest of Bethlehem, and was one of the original Moravian Settlement communities in the 1700s. During my third year in Pennsylvania, Steve and I married at [CAN ANY ONE GUESS?] Emmaus Moravian Church.
Our first year of marriage we lived in Emmaus, while I commuted to Bethlehem for classes. For my commute between Emmaus and Bethlehem, I drove Emmaus Avenue. Needless to say, over three years time I drove up and down this road A LOT. Emmaus Avenue, for me, became a part of my spiritual journey, as I often spent time thinking and praying as I drove back and forth. Does anyone know the title of my blog? "Living on Emmaus Ave." I often imagine myself as the unnamed disciples on the road to Emmaus walking along with the stranger who turns out to be Christ. You can begin to see why this story took on special meaning for me.

Have you ever had an experience like the disciples on the evening of Easter? Have you ever found yourself in an unfamiliar situation when someone comes out of nowhere to walk along side and maybe even offer support or help? As I have spent more and more time with this story over the years, a memory from college serves for me as a time when I was either entertained by an angel or the Lord himself--I shall never know.

I spent a semester in College studying abroad in Heidelberg, Germany. For spring break that semester, four friends and I decided to visit Amsterdam for a few days. We were there over a Sunday, and I knew there were a couple of a Moravian churches in town. I wanted to worship with one while I had the opportunity. My friends had never heard of Moravians, but they were willing to join me in this adventure. [1] I tried calling the pastor and got minimal directions from his wife who spoke some English. But our phone conversation got disconnected, and I wasn't able to get back in touch with her. We got up early on Sunday and took off to find the streetcar that the pastor's wife said to take. When we got on, there was one other lady on the car. Somehow she overheard us talking about attending the Moravian Church that morning. She spoke some English, and asked us where we were headed? We quickly realized we were all going to the same place. She ended up taking us with her all the way to the front door of the church. It was WAY back in a neighborhood, many twists and turns off the main street where we exited the streetcar. [2] I can assure you, without a shadow of a doubt that with our incomplete directions and no knowledge of the area, there is NO WAY we would have found the church without her. She introduced us to someone else in the congregation who had visited Winston-Salem. We started talking to the lady about Winston-Salem, and soon it was time for worship.

After worship we were swept away by our new friend to the Fellowship Hall for an elaborate feast for their fellowship time as they offered us gracious hospitality. Throughout the day we all enjoyed it immensely. But there was still the question about our friend that led us to worship. Before we left, I wanted to thank her for bringing us to church. BUT--We never saw our streetcar friend again that morning. When we arrived, she disappeared as if she vanished into the crowd. Angel or Christ, I don't know which, but I can tell you for sure that she was from God.

Who have you encountered on a journey that helped you or encouraged you when you needed it most? What strangers have you met that taught you something about Christ that you needed to learn? Who have you shared a meal with that revealed God to you in a new way? The story of the disciples in Emmaus presents us with the invitation to walk with strangers and friends we find along our path. We are invited to eat together, talk together, and share our lives with one another.

If you think about the Gospel of Luke as a whole, Jesus was often eating--he was either on his way to a meal, eating a meal, or just coming from a meal. [3] Food was especially important to his ministry. Table Fellowship represents the kingdom of God. This story from Emmaus is no different. It is often seen as a Eucharistic meal--a meal that has many of the same characteristics of the Lord's Supper or Communion that Jesus instituted with his disciples just before his death. [4] It does carry many similarities, especially when Christ, the recipient of hospitality by the disciples, becomes the host who "took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it" to the disciples (Luke 24:30). But it is also just an ordinary meal. This could be any meal you eat around your dinner table. [5] It could be a meal that you share with family in a restaurant, or the cup of coffee enjoyed with a friend at the corner cafe.

Whenever we share our Moravian table blessing, we remind ourselves that Christ is invited to dine with us. "Come Lord Jesus, our Guest to be..." "Be present at our table, Lord..." We intentionally invite Christ to the table and offer hospitality to everyone gathered there. [6] If you think about it, this is radical. Come Lord Jesus, our guest to be. Come Christ, break bread together with us. Eat along side us as we share this meal. Maybe the person sitting at the table with you is a stranger or a friend... maybe they don't look like Christ. But if you look deeper, do you see Christ in them? Does the conversation and meal reveal Christ to you in a new way or encourage you in your faith journey? Is the stranger among us actually sent from God? Have we entertained an angel and didn't even know it?

I have a friend that taught me a new blessing that I really like. She takes a piece of bread, holds it up for the table, and says, "Christ often took bread, gave thanks, and shared it with his disciples. We take this bread, give thanks, and share it in Christ's name. In doing so we invite Christ to dine with us. Amen." Then she tears pieces of the bread apart and everyone at the table gets a small morsel that we eat at the same time. [7] It's serves as a powerful reminder that through taking the bread, giving thanks, and sharing it with one another, the ordinary meal becomes something extra-ordinary. [8] We welcome Christ through the breaking of bread together, and we honor the strangers and friends we find in our midst.

This summer we will be welcoming many different people in worship with us. We have friends coming to share worship from Winston-Salem, Laurel Ridge, and from within our own community. I am sure we will have many guests and visitors joining us in worship as well. We will also have numerous fellowship opportunities outside of worship--movie nights, lunches at church and dinner at the ballpark. We will walk together to raise support for cancer research. We will welcome strangers and friends into the community. And we might, just maybe, welcome Christ here with us as well. Can you recognize him? Can you see the love of Christ in everyone you meet? Whether we break bread together, share BBQ together, or walk the track with one another, may we treat each person with the same radical hospitality that Christ offered to the disciples and to the strangers he met. This summer I hope and pray that we all remain open to look for Christ in our midst both here in worship, and in our daily lives. Come Lord Jesus, this summer and always, be our guest. Let us break bread together and see Christ in our midst. Amen.

[1] http://ebga.nl/

[2] http://ebga.nl/contact.html

[3] R. Alan Culpepper, “Table Fellowship” in Luke: Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. IX (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 26.

[4] R. Alan Culpepper, Luke: Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. IX (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 480, 481.

[5] William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, Rev. Ed., The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadephia, PA: Westminster Press, 1975) 295.

[6] Fred B. Craddock, Luke, Interpretation Series (Louisville, KY: John Knox Press, 1990) 286.

[7] Thanks, Tracy!
[8] William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, Rev. Ed., The Daily Study Bible Series (Philadephia, PA: Westminster Press, 1975) 295.

"Life In His Name" Sermon for Easter 2C 4/11/2010

2010-04-26T12:32:00.000-04:00

"Life In His Name"

Sermon for 4/11/2010
Easter 2C

John 20:19-31; Psalm 150

Doubting Thomas.... Poor Thomas gets such a bad rap. We read this Gospel story each year on the Second Sunday of the Easter season. Whenever I hear this story, the moniker "Doubting Thomas" comes to mind. Poor, Poor Thomas. One question, one request, and he is forever labeled a doubter.

This passage begins on the evening of the Resurrection, and then finishes up a week later. It provides two accounts of the disciples encountering the resurrected Jesus. It's an important passage within the Gospel of John, and Thomas' doubt tends to be the focus. I prefer to see Thomas as an Inquirer. He asks a question that is important. He wants evidence of Jesus' resurrection. He's a good scientist, and wants data before he proves the theory correct.[1]

Do you like to ask questions? Craig in his children's sermon last week invited the children to ask tough questions, and boy did they ever! Questions are a good thing. Questions help us to understand what is going on and make good decisions based on what we learn. Questions help us receive answers, or at least help us to ask further questions.

In today's text, Thomas is stating his question in a request to see the wounds of Jesus in order to help him believe in the Resurrection. For whatever reason he was absent from the rest of the community when Jesus appeared the night of the Resurrection. A week goes by, and Jesus appears to the community of disciples again, and this time Thomas is present. Jesus sought him out to help him believe. [2] Jesus pursued him to provide the answers to the questions he had. When Jesus shows up, Thomas changes from one with questions to one with answers. Through Jesus' providing Thomas with evidence and answers to his question, he is able to believe. That was Jesus' purpose. He showed up that night to help Thomas believe. Jesus invites him, "Do not doubt, but believe." (John 20:27)

Thomas does believe. One of the most important parts of this whole passage comes next. Thomas provides a confession of believe in the Risen Christ. Thomas proclaims, "My Lord and My God." This is HUGE. Thomas gets it. He understands. His questions have been answered, and it has changed his life. "MY Lord and MY God!" Thomas has new life through his confession of Christ Jesus as Lord and God. Thomas is no longer a doubter, but the first person to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and God in John's Gospel.[3] What a significant thing to be remembered for.

When Thomas proclaims Jesus as Lord and God, he is hearkening back to the beginning of John. Remember the prologue to John that we heard at Christmas. John 1 says, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God." (Jn 1:1) "The word became flesh and lived among us." (Jn. 1:14) Now we hear the connection between Jesus as the Word of God proclaimed for the whole community to hear.[4] Not only is Jesus the Word that became flesh and lived among us, but as John 20 tells us, "Through believing, you may have life in his name." The Gospel has come full circle, and the circle of life now extends to us as well. We can have life in Christ's name, when he is our Lord and God.

The Gospel writer tells us that the signs done in the presence of the disciples are written so we may come to believe in Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God (vs. 31). Not just Thomas, but all of us. The community of disciples were present those days when Jesus appeared, and this passage is clear that the witness and proclamation extends to the whole community. Belief isn't end of the journey here, either. Belief leads to life--Life in Christ's name.

Life in Christ's name. What does that look like? What does life mean after the resurrection? We receive one clue to what life means in Jesus' blessing in this passage. "Peace be with you." (Vs. 21) Shalom: Peace, wholeness, completeness, health. The peace that Jesus bestows on the gathered community in this passage is complete, whole peace. Peace that only Jesus fully gives. Peace gives life, but just not any life. Resurrected life. Life anew. Life in Christ's name.

The other evening, Steve and I watched a movie that documents an important story of new life in our world's history in the last 100 years. [See blog post for 4/9/10]. We saw "Schindler's List." For those who might not be familiar with this 1993 Oscar award-winner, it's based on the life of Oskar Schindler. He was raised as a German catholic who moved from Czechoslovakia to Poland to run a factory during World War 2. In Krakow, he employed Jews in his factory. Though he was technically a Nazi, he befriended the Jews and worked keep them in his factory in order to save them from death. Schindler's List documented the names of 1200 Jews that he saved during the war from the Shoah, the Holocaust. He resurrected them, if you will, by placing their names on the list of workers and giving them a chance at a new life after the war. Schindler bribed, blackmailed, persuaded, and paid off Nazi officials to keep his workers in his factory, and at the end of the war, he sent them off as Free Jews with 3 yards of fabric and vodka to sell for money to start their new lives. He amassed a fortune and spent every last Reichmark saving their lives. He fled to Argentina completely broke at the end of the war. The Schindler Jews, as they are know, were so appreciative of him saving their lives, that they supported him financially.

Itzhak Stern, Schindler's Jewish Accountant, assisted with the business and typed the List of names of the Jews. Once he realizes what Schindler was doing, he exclaimed, "The List is an absolute good. The List is life." Numerous survivors have recounted via video and written documents about the good that Oskar Schindler did through his list. He was not perfect, but he risked his life for the sake of others. He provided peace for these Jews--peace from the war--food and health care for their sick bodies----shelter from the storm raging around them--peace and wholeness for them during the worst of times. The List was Life--New life. Today decedents from the list number 7000. (http://www.auschwitz.dk/Schindlerslist.htm)

Today, April 11^th, is Yom HaShoah--the International Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. A day we pause and remember all those lost around our world because of genocide. And a day we pause and give thanks for those, like Oskar Schindler, who did what they could to provide life and peace from the death around them.

One of my favorite scenes from the movie was when Schindler, near the very end of the war, reminds the Rabbi that it is almost sundown on Friday and it is time for him to begin preparing for the Sabbath. The Rabbi gathers the wine and leads the community in the prayers of their faith, giving thanks and remembering all God had done and was doing in their midst. The voices of the community in prayer are heard as candles are lit. The sign of God's presence is revealed through the light, and they proclaim what they believe.

Doesn't Thomas do the same for us today? Thomas, no longer the doubter, is now the proclaimer. "My Lord and My God." He names the sign of God's presence in our midst. Just as Jesus gave peace, shalom, to the gathered community and gave new life through his resurrection, Schindler gave peace to his Jews through their jobs in his factory, and gave them a new chance at life through the list.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus is there with the community. We get so focused on Thomas that we easily loose sight of the community around him. The disciples are gathered. Nowhere does it indicate it was only the 11--I believe it was a much larger group. [5] The peace and life that Christ breathed into the disciples extends to us through the gathered community. Christ gives us peace and sends us out to share the good news of God living with us. New life comes from death. The Word has become flesh and indeed, STILL lives among us.

We practice this faith as a community and live into it together. We live out life in Christ's name each time we celebrate and worship as a community. We live out life in Christ's name each time we speak peace to one another. We live out life in Christ's name every time we bring a child forward for Baptism. This morning we proclaimed our belief in God--Father, Son, and Holy Spirit together and shared together as a community in Winston's Baptism. We mark this step in his faith journey and live out life in Christ's name together.

[Photo by David Cherveny of RMC's Easter Sunrise Service at Oakwood Cemetary, Raleigh NC, 4/4/10]
Last Sunday we celebrated life in Christ's name. We proclaimed, "The Lord is risen" while the birds chirped and the sun rose. Next Sunday we will celebrate life in Christ's name. We will celebrate another baptism, and share together in the Lord's Supper. We will gather as a community to eat and drink and remember Christ, and live out life together in Christ's name through the Sacraments. Two Sundays from now, on April 25th we will gather to celebrate the Confirmation of our youth as they proclaim their own faith and mark the next step in their faith journey. We will be here celebrating with them and living together into life in Christ's name.

Each time we gather as a faith community to worship, pray, study, learn, make music, eat, or spend time together, we are living life in Christ's name. We are practicing shalom, God's peace, and enacting it in our world. The more we practice living life in Christ's name with His peace and the Spirit in us, the more we can share it. We are taking it with us from this place to wherever we go from here--work, school, home. We are sharing Christ's life and peace with everyone we meet. Christ gave the gathered community His peace and then sent them out with the Spirit to a world longing to hear and see and know Christ's peace. Christ gives US peace and sends US out with the Spirit to a world longing to hear and see and know his peace. We live life together in his name and we must share it with those around us. May we share Christ's peace and live life in his name today and always. Amen.

[1] Martin E. Marty, "Theological Perspective on John 20:19-31" in Feasting on The Word (Year C,Vol. 2) eds. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) 396.
[2] Gail O'Day, "John" in New Interpreter's Bible, Vol IX (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 849-850.
[3] Gregory A. Robbins, "Exegitical Perspective on John 20:19-31" in Feasting on The Word (Year C,Vol. 2) eds. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) 401. Gerald Sloyan, John. Interpretation Series (Atlanta, GA: John Knox Press, 1998) 226.
[4] Gail O'Day, "John" in New Interpreter's Bible, Vol IX (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 850.
[5] Gail O'Day, "John" in New Interpreter's Bible, Vol IX (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 846.

We Didn't Start The Fire!

2010-04-15T09:52:00.000-04:00

This comes from a recent email I received. I remember loving this song as a kid, and now I'm really starting to learn what I was "singing" when I sang along... Enjoy the photos and history lesson from 1950-mid 1980s!

"Whether you are a Billy Joel fan or not, you probably remember his great song, "We Didn't Start the Fire." Here it is, set to pictures... very, very cool. I never did know the words. Turn up volume, sit back and enjoy a review of 50 years of history in less than 3 minutes! Thanks to Billy Joel and some guy from the University of Chicago with a lot of spare time

and Google."

Directional Note: On the screen at the top left gives you full screen....top right lets you pause... Bottom left shows the year."

http://yeli.us/Flash/Fire.html

Yom HaShoah--Day of Rememberence for the Holocaust

2010-04-09T15:44:00.000-04:00

Yom HaShoah
יום השואה

Sunday, April 11th, is Yom HaShoah or Day of Remembrance for the Holocaust. This date (27th day of Nisan in the Jewish calendar) marks the anniversary of the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto. It is an opportunity to remember the 6 million people (Jews, Gays, Gypsies, physically and mentally disabled, Slavs, and more) who lost their lives because of Hitler and the Nazi's.

Today, April 9th, marks the death of Dietrich Bonhoeffer 65 years ago in Flossenberg Concentration Camp. He was hanged by the Nazi's for his assassination attempt on Hitler.

For whatever reason, Steve and I chose to watch Schindler's List on Easter evening. We didn't get to finish it, but instead finished it on Wednesday night (I don't recommend not finishing it in one sitting--it's too dark to leave off in the middle and wait for the ending--I liken it to the feeling on Good Friday when Christ is dead... it's a long 3 days wait till Easter)(Note--it's Rated R for a reason--it is not a movie for children or youth). It is a powerful film and a wonderful example of the human spirit that prevails despite numerous difficult and horrible circumstances. I had not seen it before, and it has left a mark on me. I didn't know this weekend is the Yom HaShoah, but it gives me a new appreciation for this day of remembrance.

Check out these links to learn more:

Yom HaShoah http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yom_HaShoah http://www.ushmm.org/remembrance/dor/

Shoah Foundation http://college.usc.edu/vhi/

Bonhoeffer http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/bonhoeffer/

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum http://www.ushmm.org/

Oskar Schindler http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/focus/schindler/
Award-winning 1993 Film "Schindler's List" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108052/

In 1996 I visited Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp outside Berlin, Germany. In 2001 I visited Buchenwald Concentration Camp, outside Weimar, Germany. If you ever have the chance to visit a concentration camp, or watch Schindler's List, or both, I highly recommend it. We must remember what happened. We must do what we can to prevent this atrosity from ever happening again.

Holy Hilarity or Being Piously Irreverent...

2010-04-08T12:38:00.006-04:00

You choice! The Sunday after Easter is sometimes celebrated as Holy Hilarity Sunday. I prefer the term "Piously Irreverent". In honor of Holy Hilarity, I present the following piously irreverent links...

Just when you thought you had seen it all--Barbie has a new profession. She's a 2nd Career High Church Episcopalian Priest!

http://www.religionnews.com/index.php?/rnstext/barbie_gets_ordained_and_has_the_wardrobe_to_match/

And for another view of Jesus Christ, I present Bobble-Head "Buddy Christ"... (He lives on the bookshelf in my office in case you want to see him in person!)

http://www.jayandsilentbob.com/buchbo.html

And for my female clergy friends out there... From Rev. Gal Blog Pals revgalblogpals.blogspot.com/

TOMs Shoes: Good for the Sole!

2010-04-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

Today (April 8th) is National One Day Without Shoes:
TOM's Shoes make shoes to sell and for every pair of shoes they sell, they give one pair away to someone in need. http://www.toms.com/

Check out the Facebook group for more info:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Day-Without-Shoes-With-TOMS-Shoes/384309457888?ref=ts&v=wall

This Activity was featured on The Today Show this morning:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/36259451#36259451

Can you go one day without shoes?

How many pairs do you own?

I just counted and I own 21 pairs (including hiking boots, snow boots, shower shoes, bedroom shoes, and sneakers, just to name a few...) we truly live in a country of abundance and plenty!

Leave a comment to share your shoe story...

Favorite Easter Tradition

2010-04-04T17:46:00.000-04:00

Easter traditions run deep in many families and churches... as a Moravian growing up, my favorite Easter tradition was cleaning graves and putting out flowers in God's Acre (A Moravian Graveyard) in Old Salem. Though I haven't gone for years now, I love spending Saturdays in Old Salem, walking among my Moravian forefathers and foremothers. Jessica Jones for North Carolina Public Radio had this piece on NPR, which is a great clip about this tradition this week:

The weblink is: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125554714&ft=1&f=10

Worshiping in the graveyard at sunrise may seem strange to some, but it is our reliving of the Easter story when the women disciples (Luke 24:1-12) went to the tomb early on the first day of the week (Sunday) to find the tomb empty. "The Lord is Risen. The Lord is Risen, Indeed!" The plain, matching headstones remind us of equality in death. Cleaning the graves reminds us of the women going to prepare the body of Christ. Putting out fresh flowers remind us that He is not here, He is alive. The beautiful, fresh flowers are an important part of Easter--they remind us that Hope Lives--Christ is Risen!

(This is New Philadelphia Moravian Church's God's Acre, but Old Salem looks very similar at Easter!)

"New Things" Sermon for Lent 5C: 3/22/2010

2010-03-24T08:01:00.013-04:00

"New Things"

Sermon For Lent 5, Year C

3/22/2010

Isaiah 43:16-21; John 12:1-11

All of us experience water on a regular basis. Though Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill are not bisected by any major rivers or sit on a port, we have visited or lived in places where this is true. Many of us have traveled across long bridges providing connection between far points of land. Many have us have traveled on water in boats or ferries, sailing across with the open waves. Many of us have traveled above water in planes, looking down on the open expanses of blue. Water for us still provides barriers for transportation, but technology thankfully has created ways around, over, under, or through these problematic barriers.

Because of our technology, we loose much of our understanding and appreciation of how water played a role in earlier times. I believe it's something we recognize when we think about it, but it's easy to overlook. Water determined where towns and ports grew. Water determined where languages and dialects spread and stopped. Water determined where farms, mills, and industry could be located. Water also determined where we could cross and where we must only stand on the shore and look, longing to reach the other side.

The prophet we heard this morning in the words from Isaiah is naming these meanings of water in the passage from Chapter 43. The book of Isaiah is divided into different sections based on the time in which scholars believe it was written. Named 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Isaiah, this passage comes from 2nd Isaiah, which begins in Chapter 40. It addresses the people of Israel during a dark time in their history. 2nd Isaiah was recorded during the exile period. They are in exile in Babylon, having been conquered by the Babylonians. This was a very dark time when all hope had been lost because they had lost their land, their homes, their possessions, and many wondered, even their God. Had God abandoned them in this foreign land?

2nd Isaiah begins in chapter 40 with, "Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God." (Isaiah 40:1, NRSV) 1st Isaiah was written as a warning to the people of Israel for their forgetfulness about who God is and what God had done in their midst. We see that the tone has shifted to offer words not of judgment and warning, but words of comfort; words of hope; words of encouragement. They are in a dark, lonely, desolate place and their memory is failing them. They need to hear these words of comfort, and Isaiah's words are just what they needed.

In today's section in particular we see water as a sign of hope and encouragement to the people of Israel in exile. Water is referenced at least 8 times in these 6 verses: water, sea, rivers, quenched, springs, drink... types of water, actions associated with water... they are both here. Water serves as a reminder of Israel's past. Remembering water helps them remember who they are as a people of God. Images of water abound in Scripture, and here the prophet in Isaiah is using this image to help the Israelites' memory. You who live in exile in Babylon, don't you remember God who formed the waters of creation? Don't you remember when your ancestors lived in exile in Egypt, held as slaves for the Pharaoh. Don't you remember how I made a way in the sea for you to escape slavery? Don't you remember walking on the dry ground bridge across the water? Don't you remember how I saved you from desperate times?

But then the tone of the passage shifts. The prophet says for them to not remember the former things or consider the things of old (Isaiah 43:18). It's not the exodus from Egypt that they are to forget, but are instead to forget about the hopelessness they currently feel. Don't remember the hopelessness. Don't remember the complancency and feelings of giving in to Babylon. Don't remember the traditions Babylon taught, and instead, remember me. Remember that I am going to do something new, just as I did something new in Egypt. Parting the sea to walk on the dry ground bridge was new, and maybe, just maybe now I will again do something new, something unexpected, to bring you through the dark place of exile.

In this chapter from Isaiah, the prophet uses the images of the sea and river as contrasting one another. Yes, they are both water, but they carry different meanings. Seas were often seen as barriers, partially for their literal size.[1] The image of water or seas indicates judgment for different people groups, and can be seen in earlier places in Scripture. We see that image here referencing the Egyptians in the exodus, in verse 17: "Who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they are extinguished, quenched like a wick."[2] The parted sea was a barrier for the Egyptians for their very lives. Contrasting the sea is the image of a river. Rivers provide life along its banks for crops and people. They convey life, which we see in the Garden of Eden with the four rivers it contained or the Jordan River in the Promised Land. The prophet in Isaiah announces God's promise, "I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" in verse 19. God also declares, "For I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert" in verse 20. Water and life will teem where it hasn't been possible before. Water in a desert creates an oasis of life. Rivers flow with living water, nourishing the roots and encouraging growth. God provides a way; provides life; provides new things for the people of Israel. They will have a new life beyond the exile because God is doing a new thing in the life of the community.

The prophet in Isaiah is confident that some day, the people will praise God for the new things that have been happening in their lives. God's promises will come true. Not too long after the prophet wrote these words, the Israelites found themselves able to return home because the exile was over. Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonians in 539BC (or BCE--Before the Common Era) and then allowed the people to return to their homes.[3] God was doing a new thing in their midst, and they were able to declare their praise to God.

But God didn't stop there. Did you notice the verbs in these passages. Makes... Brings... here is where translation becomes tricky business. These verbs don't show their full meaning in English. In the Hebrew they show the action began in the past and continues into the future.[4] God is making... God is bringing. These are new things that God continues to do in our midst as well. "Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?"

I recently ran across an article about Ken Frantz that, for me, is a tangible example of God's work in our world to do a new thing and bring about new hope and rejoicing.[5] A photo in National Geographic magazine from a remote village in Africa moved Ken to action. The photo showed villagers trying to cross a severed stone bridge to navigate the deep gorge over the river. The village of Sebara Dildiy, Ethiopia, was cut off from surrounding areas and hundreds of thousands of people because of the lack of a passable bridge. The gorge was deep, and the next closest bridge was a week's walk away. Ken, a builder by trade, was so moved that he began an organization called Bridges to Prosperity USA to teach villagers to build basic footbridges to help this village and others like it around the world. There are 500,000 places they have found that could use an equally life-saving bridge, so the need is there. What began in 2001 as a single bridge project has grown to build 40 bridges in 7 countries and is expanding rapidly. Ken and his crew are creating new, sustainable ways to train villagers to help themselves and build better lives.

Like I mentioned earlier, it might be hard for us to imagine what this bridge means for the people in Sebara Dildiy. As a video on their website articulated, it literally means life... new life for the villagers. This new bridge is a new thing that allows for their lives to be remarkably better. Now, the crops they grow can be sold at bigger, better markets on the other side of the bridge. The extra money they make is helping them to repair homes. Now they are able to cross the bridge for school, so education is now possible for those who would have gone without. Now they are able to cross the bridge for medical care, their health and well being is only going to get better. The villagers were so excited in the video dancing and singing. They had the priest offer blessings to the bridge, and the joy was evident in their singing and praising God for this new thing.

God declares, "I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" During Lent we are drawn to notice the new things around us. Can we not help but perceive where God is at work making new things? The trees are new again. The bulbs are flowering again. Do you not perceive it? Just as the exodus in Egypt was a new thing that God did, and freedom from the Babylonian exile was a new thing that God did, so was the resurrection. The story doesn't follow the same patterns as before. God brings new life from death. Jesus will have new life once again on Easter, and we will stand and proclaim "The LORD is Risen. The LORD is Risen, Indeed!"[6]

God is at work around us in other ways too, can you perceive it? We hear it in the theme of Synod for September, "Behold I am making all things new." We are becoming a renewed province, and I watch with great anticipation to see how God is going to re-form us to better serve our world in God's name. God is doing new things and we’re a part of it!

God is at work here in our congregation, can you perceive it? We begin a new chapter in Raleigh Moravian's history on May 1st when Craig begins his sabbatical for renewal. We will also spend the summer in sabbath renewal, and I am watching with great anticipation to see what God is doing in and among us during this summer of intentional time with God, and then in the fall when Craig returns.

God is at work here in our congregation today, can you perceive it? Tovah and Zoe Shore began their faith journey formally today. And by all of us participating in the marking of this Sacrament, we all remember who we are as children of God. We remember God's promise and the power of the Sacrament: "Through grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are united with Christ, are cleansed by his saving work, enter into the fellowship of the church, and are called to a life of faith and willing obedience"[7] through the waters of baptism. In the liturgy we just prayed together, we were all invited to remember what God has done throughout history and be re-membered, re-formed by our telling again the stories of our faith. Just as the rivers of living water provided new life for the Israelites in exile, we receive that same new life through the living water of baptism, and we claim God's promises to us. We celebrate this Sacrament and declare praise to God for these new children of God. God is forming Zoe and Tovah, just as we are all being formed to declare God's praise. God is doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? May we all declare God's praise for all the new things God is doing in our midst. Amen.

[1] Michael E. Williams, "Pastoral Perspective for Lent 5C, Isaiah 43:16-21" in Feasting on the Word, Year C. Volume 2, eds. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) 122. Comparison of sea and river is drawn from his commentary.

[2] Christopher R. Seitz, "The Book of Isaiah 40-66" in New Interpreter's Bible: Volume VI (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2001) 375.

[3] Samuel L. Adams, "Exegetical Perspective for Lent 5C, Isaiah 43:16-21" in Feasting on the Word, Year C. Volume 2, eds. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) 125.

[4] Samuel L. Adams, "Exegetical Perspective," 125.

[5] Daniel Glick, "Building Bridges of Hope" in Parade Magazine (March 10, 2010, Pg 10-12) More info is in this article or on the web at http://www.parade.com/news/2010/03/07-building-bridges-of-hope.html . The Bridges to Prosperity Website is: http://bridgestoprosperity.org/ .

[6]"Easter Morning Liturgy," Moravian Book of Worship (Bethlehem, PA: Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in North America, 1995) 82.

[7] "Liturgy for Baptism," Moravian Book of Worship (Bethlehem, PA: Interprovincial Board of Communication, Moravian Church in North America, 1995) 165.

Creed: What We believe

2010-03-15T11:01:00.002-04:00

We begun talking about creeds in Confirmation Class this past week. We are trying to understand and name what we believe. What do you believe? What would your own creed say if you were asked to write one about God and faith and the church? We'll be attempting to answer this question and write our own over the next few weeks as a Confirmation Class.

One well-known creed for the Christian Church is the Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, 

creator of heaven and earth. 

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, 

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 

born of the Virgin Mary, 

suffered under Pontius Pilate, 

was crucified, died, and was buried; 

he descended to the dead. 

On the third day he rose again; 

he ascended into heaven, 

he is seated at the right hand of the Father, 

and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, 

the holy Christian* church, 

the communion of saints, 

the forgiveness of sins, 

the resurrection of the body, 

and the life everlasting. AMEN.

(http://www.creeds.net/ancient/apostles.htm)

*catholic means universal

(Click on the image to see it larger. Make your own at http://www.wordle.net/)

Another well-known creed from the Christian Church is the Nicene Creed:

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen. 

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one Being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end. 

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.*

With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen. 

(http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm)

(Moravians use the orthodox version of this line without the Filioque clause)

Check out this wordle of the Nicene Creed (click on the image to make it larger).

(Go to http://www.wordle.net/ to make your own Wordle from any text.)

"Refuge Under God's Wing" Sermon for Lent 2C 2/28/2010

2010-03-02T22:15:00.018-05:00

Lent 2C 2/28/10

Luke 13:31-35, Psalm 27

"Refuge Under God's Wing"

Noah the pigeon.The story from today's children's message really touched my heart this week. Now, I'm not usually one to read chain emails beginning to end, but I opened the email the other day, and found myself laughing out loud because it illustrated the passage from Luke's Gospel that we heard this morning so well. It made it even more powerful when I found it to be a true story and not an urban legend. A pigeon taking adopted bunny-children under her wing and raising them as her own.

We can all, I believe, relate to the feeling this story evokes--warmth and comfort that is found in a motherly hug. Nurturing touches that fold us in and make us feel safe and warm. For some of us this came from our mothers or grandmothers, and for others someone else special in our lives provided this feeling. Hopefully all of us can relate to this feeling from childhood. How nice it would be to curl up under Noah's wing and snuggle knowing we are safe and warm.

As we look at the Gospel passage for today, we find Jesus on his final approach to Jerusalem. This passage is probably not as familiar as many of Luke's stories, but it's interesting. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at a conversation Jesus is having with those close to him.[1] In this entire chapter he's talking about the Kingdom of God that he is working to bring about on earth. The parables that come before it help us to understand the Kingdom of God, with the final verse in the section prior being the familiar sign of the Kingdom: "Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last” (Luke 13:30). The Kingdom of God theme continues into this passage. We know he is headed to his death, and the time is drawing closer, so we hear this passage with the cross looming in the background. He's trying to make sure his followers understand the work God has for them to do once he is gone to bring about God's Kingdom on earth. He's getting his final details in order to be prepared for Holy Week.

Anytime Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, we can assume that the leaders in power are unhappy about it. The first shall be last and the last shall be first does not make many friends with those in power. Herod is no exception. He is Herod Antipas, the son of Herod from the Nativity story, and he's Tetrarch of the Galilee region.[2] The Roman emperor did not allow kings to rule under them, but king was basically the function he held. He had heard rumors about Jesus and was not happy. Jesus got wind of this unhappiness, and made a comment to his followers. Jesus said, "Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work."(Luke 13:32) Calling Herod a fox was an insult, and we can be sure that Jesus chose this word carefully. This scene reminds me of video footage I've seen of the Lords in the British House yelling back and forth across the aisle hurling names and insults at one another with sly smirks on their faces. Foxes were seen as sly and cunning creatures who were destructive. They were dangerous, predatory, and evil.[3] Foxes were not helpful in creating the Kingdom of God that Jesus was enacting.

Then Jesus moves into a lament over Jerusalem and his followers--those who believe in His Father in heaven. He uses the image of a hen gathering her chicks under her wing. He says, "How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Luke 13:34b) This lament drew my interest as I've thought about this passage. Why a hen? What does this mean? And what is the invitation here for us?

My experience with hens and chickens is limited. I'm a city-girl, and didn't grow up with chickens around me. My main experience with chickens came from my summers working at Old Salem in Winston-Salem.[4] Old Salem is the living history museum depicting Moravian life during the 1700 and 1800s. If you visited years ago, you may remember the chicken coop in the backyard of the Single Brothers House. I spent many summer days working in that yard in costume in their Historic Trades program during High School. We often had folks asking about the chickens that lived in the coop. My favorite question that came up was, "Are those real chickens?" I was amazed how many times we got asked that one, and I knew enough to answer correctly. Smells like a chicken--Sounds like a chicken--looks like a chicken--yep. Believe me, it was a learned skill to smile and simply answer "yes", while in my head I was thinking, "NO, silly, they're animatronics from Disney World."

With that as my only real experience, I have spent some time this week trying to understand real chickens--the kind you don't find at Disney World. Hens are caregivers. They nurture their chicks and teach them how to survive in their new world. Hens show their chicks how to find food and water, where to sleep, and what to do in case a fox threatens the chicken coop. While chicks are learning, they follow their mama around learning all they can. And when something threatens, or they want to feel safe and warm, under mom's wing is the best place to be!

Jesus was a master storyteller and chose images to use specifically. The hen and chicks image is a powerful one for discipleship. Hens are nurturing and meek. They will stand their ground in the face of danger, and do their best to protect their chicks, but in a hen versus a fox fight, we know who will win. After all, Good Friday looms ahead of us.

The Old Testament does provide images of being under a wing of protection, and Jesus draws form these images to describe God's nurturing love. From the Psalms:
Psalm 17:8 says, "Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."
Psalm 36:7 says, "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings."

God demonstrates love for all by inviting us to gather under the wings for protection and safety. Refuge is found under God's wings. God nurtures all those who gather in the wing's shadow, and we are all invited. We can tell from Jesus' comment that some have not joined the party under God's wing. But everyone is invited, just as Psalm 36 reminded us.

On a farm in Georgia in 2007 an interesting thing happened.[5] One particular hen demonstrated God's welcoming embrace and nurturing spirit. There were three new mama hens on this farm. Two of the mama hens were tragically carried off and left all their young behind to fend for themselves. The remaining hen demonstrated Godly love. Though hens normally will not accept chicks from other mamas since their own are enough work to care for, she took on the chicks from the other hens despite having 16 chicks to care for on her own. She ended up with 42 chicks in total. As the farmer George Turner describes, "This led to amusing sights like her running over somewhere to scratch, followed by a streaming hoard of little feather balls. And then, when she stood still, when they were still small they would ALL try to get under her for protection. There of course was not enough room.... Some got the entrepreneurial spirit and climbed on her back!"[6]

God invites all of us to gather under the wing in safety, security, and love, and unlike the hen, there is room for all of us under there!

Besides soaking up God's love, spending time in the refuge of God's wing prepares us as well. It is often while we experience God's love that we are called to follow Jesus. This conversation in Luke took place on the road to Jerusalem--the road that led to the cross, death, and ultimately, resurrection--new, eternal life. We cannot forget the context. Under the refuge of God's wing is where we can learn how to be a follower of Jesus. But at some point the chicks grow up and must leave the coop for the journey ahead. The hen can only hope that the lessons about life have been learned. Jesus invites us under the wing, but Luke’s Gospel also tells us of Jesus’ invitation to follow Him. He says in Luke 9: "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23) This is ultimately how God's Kingdom is on earth as it is in heaven--when we follow Jesus' example and work to bring about God's Kingdom here. As one author points out, "Jesus intends to stand firm in the face of the fox, not in order to win the political or military fight (hens rarely, if ever win such fights), but to show that in the long run, "some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last".[7] This was why Herod was upset in the first place, and Herod believed he got the last word. At least he thought he did. Then Jesus finished his work on the third day. The tomb was empty and the last became first.

Like Jesus himself, Lent invites us to both rest in the refuge of God's wing, and take up our cross and follow the journey to Jerusalem. It's an invitation for everyone--each of us must decide. God's wing is an open invitation. Where do you find refuge and how do you answer the call to follow in the ways of God's Kingdom? The invitation is there. May we all join in together in saying in the end, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (Luke 13:35).

Our next hymn this morning is “I am Jesus Little Lamb” found on page 723. This traditional Moravian Hymn is an alternative translation to the very popular hymn “Jesus Makes My Heart Rejoice.” As we sing this hymn this morning, I invite you to sing is as a prayer. Much like the image of being under God’s wing, The Scripture is full of lamb imagery to describe our relationship with God. May we all accept the invitation to be Jesus’ Little Lamb.

[1]William Barclay, The Gospel of Luke, Rev. Ed. The Daily Study Bible Series. (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1975) 185.

[2]Leslie J. Hoppe, "Exegetical Perspective" for "Second Sunday in Lent: Luke 13:31-35" in Feasting On The Word (Year C, Vol. 2) ed. by David Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) 69.

[3]R. Alan Culpepper, "Luke" in The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IX (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1995) 281, 282.

[4] www.oldsalem.org

[5]http://www.thwink.org/sustain/work/bios/GeorgeTurner.htm

[6] http://www.thwink.org/sustain/work/bios/GeorgeTurner.htm Emphasis is Turners.

[7]Jill Crainshaw, "Preaching the Lesson" for "Second Sunday in Lent" in Lectionary Homiletics (vol. XXI, No. 2, February-March 2010) 36. (Referencing Luke 13:30).

Ash Wednesday: "Create In Me A Clean Heart, O God"

2010-02-23T21:25:00.002-05:00

On February 17th, we celebrated Ash Wednesday. This day marks the beginning of Lent, which lasts 40 days and ends on Easter Sunday. Psalm 51, the traditional Psalm for the day, gave us the theme for our worship gathering: "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10, NRSV). Here are some images from our worship gathering at Raleigh Moravian.

The cover from the Bulletin for the evening.

The entrance to the Sanctuary and the candles we used at the end of Worship to burn anything we wanted to put on the slip of paper in order to enter Lent with clean hearts.

The front of the Sanctuary before worship.

The candles in the tub after we burned our confessions.

The front communion table in the Sanctuary.

The front communion table with the candles and palm branches reminding us of the palms from Palm Sunday last year which are then traditionally used to create the ashes for Ash Wednesday.

A Technology Fast during Lent?

2010-02-17T12:56:00.001-05:00

Ash Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

As Lent begins today, I have been thinking about what to give up and what to take on for the duration of Lent--40 days between now and Easter Sunday on April 4th, excluding Sundays (which are mini-Easter celebrations where fasts are broken for the day). Giving up something helps us to draw closer to God each time we miss what we have given up. This longing for whatever it is serves as a reminder that we truly only long for God. What do you long for these days?

I ran across this article out of England, and it really challenged me. How could I give up technology, or at least a part of technology, for the Lenten season.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7245308/Church-leaders-call-for-technology-fast.html

So I've done it. I gave up Facebook for Lent. Before 2006, I didn't know what Facebook was. Then I joined and quickly became addicted, like many I know who are on there as well. I lived well before Facebook, and I can live well without it between now and Easter. It's only 40 days. I keep telling myself I don't need it, and this will be a good opportunity to prove to myself that I can live without it. So if you need to contact me during the next 40 days, give me a call or email me. But don't Facebook message me... or it'll be a while until you hear from me.

Join me in a Lenten practice. What are you giving up or adding this year? Another Lenten opportunity is to take on a new discipline or practice to draw closer to God this year. I'm working on being thankful for the many special people in my life. What are you taking on this year to draw closer to God?

Let's journey toward Easter together!

"The Journey Ahead" Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday/Last Sunday in Epiphany Year C-2/14/10

2010-02-16T15:21:00.003-05:00

Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday (Last Sunday in Epiphany-Year C)

Exodus 34:28-35; Luke 9:28-43

"The Journey Ahead"
2/14/2010

I went walking the other day. It was one of our recent deceptively beautiful days--sunny and gorgeous, and bitter cold with the wind chill. The sun drew me out, but the cold reminded me that winter is still here for the moment. Since I didn't have my ipod with me, I walked in the quiet. It allowed me to notice all that was going on around me despite the stillness. As I thought and looked and noticed, I decided this is probably one of my favorite times of the year... if you know me, cold is not something I'm a big fan of. But as I looked beyond the cold, I saw it. Hope. Transformation.

(Photo from http://neighborhoodnature.wordpress.com/2009/02/24/)

Right there in the dirt. Flower bulbs poised to show their glory. Green stalks poking out of the dirt making their first appearances in the sun. Right there on the tree branches. Tree branches shedding their winter death and peaking out ever so slightly with new growth. Right there in the birds and squirrels out scavenging for food because new little ones are on the way soon. The earth is just poised on the brink of new life. There is hope of spring--I don't care what the groundhog says. Winter doesn't get the last word--THANKFULLY!!

It isn't coincidence that Transfiguration Sunday and the verge of Spring coincide. They both give us a picture of change that is happening all around us--transformation is in the air. Luke's account of the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain details how Jesus was changed before the disciples' very eyes. He looked different, and a voice from heaven claimed Jesus and invited those present and those hearing the story to listen to him. (Luke 9:35). From this point in the story, Jesus heads to Jerusalem and Holy Week--the Garden of Gethsemane, arrest, the cross, and death. We are about to enter this time in our church year when these events are the focus. But even as we enter Lent this coming week on Ash Wednesday, we do so with the knowledge that death doesn't get the final word. After Lent comes Easter. The cross leads to the tomb, and then the tomb is found empty. There is life after death. We are all in the process of transformation that proclaims Resurrection--Life after death--Hope. It's quite a journey, and it all starts again on Wednesday!

The traditional readings for Transfiguration Sunday include both the Luke reading and the Exodus reading that we heard today. This passage from Exodus would have come to mind immediately when the followers of Jesus heard the story of the Transfiguration. There are many parallels to the passage that I won't go into here, but I imagine you noticed many of them as you heard the two read together this morning.

How do we imagine this scene where Moses is on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments? This scene has been portrayed in a number of ways. A simple Google search will show how some have imagined it. If you have ever seen images of the Michelangelo sculpture of Moses[1], the horns on his forehead come from this passage. Some older translations describe Moses' glow as him having horns.[2] More contemporary translations match today's reading of his face being aglow. I love the image of Moses coming down with his face aglow from his time with God. What would it be like to spend such intense time with God and be in God's presence such that your face glowed when others saw you afterward?

As I explored the Exodus passage of scripture this week, I found something I thought was very interesting, especially given that we are facing the season of Lent. Did you notice the opening line in the Exodus story today? This line is not considered a part of the lectionary passage for today. One of the things we were taught in school, though, is that a passage isn't written alone. It is part of a larger narrative, so we can consider what comes before and after the text we are exploring. So as I looked at Exodus, I notice that Moses spends forty days and nights with God. Verse 28 reads, "He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten commandments" (Exodus 34:28, NRSV). In fact, Moses spends 40 days and nights with God two different times in Exodus (Exodus 24:18, NRSV). He understood the importance of spending quality time in God's presence.

Forty days is a long time—it’s almost a 10^th of the year. Forty is a number in Judaism that means a long time and also means fullness. It's the "amount of time it takes to accomplish a specific purpose." [3]Forty days allows for new habits to form--to take root and grow changing our ways and patterns. For Moses, forty days and nights where what it took to hear God's commandments, record them, and be ready to return to the Israelites to relay the message. It's a significant number in Scripture and draws our minds to other instances where we find the number forty. Remember Noah and the ark and their 40 days of rain. The Israelites wandered in the desert 40 years. Kings Saul, David, and Solomon ruled 40 years. Eli was a judge for 40 years. Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days wile he was tempted. After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples for 40 days.

For the early church, the tradition continued. The 40 days before Easter were a time of preparation for baptisms that would then happen on Easter. This was an important part of the preparation for new believers to get to know what it meant to live as Christians. They used the time to transform their old ways into new ways of being believers. By 1191 the Pope declared the 40 days of Lent to be an official season of the church year, and marked Ash Wednesday as the beginning point. Just as I saw flower bulbs starting to show through the dirt on my walk the other day, the word Lent meant spring and originally comes from the word meaning long because the days are getting longer as spring approaches.[4] The plants are beginning to live new lives, and we have the same opportunity.

Lent, for us today, is a 40-day season that serves as a time for reflection and repentance before the Resurrection. We often associate it with somber, minor keys. One way to look at this is that for reflection and repentance we must look inside ourselves and examine who we are. Ash Wednesday offers us this opportunity as we acknowledge our own mortality through the dust. This reflection is difficult for many and uncomfortable for most. But that is also where transformation and change can take place. Transformation is often difficult, but it is worth it in the end. Transformation, after all, is what God is all about in our world--transforming death into new life.

When Steve and I visited Monticello in Charlottesville, VA this past October, we witnessed transformation in process. Underneath a cellar overhang there were Monarch butterflies transforming. The chrysalis' were hanging there, and we could see one that was almost ready to hatch. The wings were visible through the clear covering.

And many monarchs, having just finished their own transformations, filled the gardens. It was so beautiful to see these butterflies going through the difficult process of transformation, but we know in the end it is worth their efforts to change from caterpillar to butterfly. This is the reason butterflies are representative of the resurrection. Lent is like the time the caterpillar spends inside the chrysalis--internal change is happening, but the transformation of Easter is worth all the work that Lent brings. New life is the result, and what a beautiful transformation it is.

The journey ahead brings us Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week, and ultimately Easter. It also brings us an invitation. An invitation to journey with the story of our faith. An invitation to live into the rhythm of the church year. An invitation for transformation through intentional time with God. An invitation for a journey with God to see where God is working in and around us. It has been said that Moravians are Easter People. We don’t let Easter sneak up on us because we live into these practices that prepare us for the Big Event—Easter morning! Through the years we have done the hard work of Lent well, have lived into Holy Week through worship and our Holy Week readings of the Gospel texts. We appreciate Easter more, because we have prepared our hearts and minds ahead of time. May we continue this tradition and live into Lent. Through this time, I wonder how our faces might glow if we embrace these next 40 days with intentionality. I wonder how we might see those around us glow when they have spent time with God over these next 40 days.

Many times people choose to give up something, often a favorite food, during Lent to remind us of our hungering after God. This is good and can be an effective teacher during these 40 days. But what if we instead choose a new habit to undertake during the next 40 days--something that will encourage us in the journey ahead. Or maybe giving up one thing and adding something else works well for some of us. Through both, God can work to help transform our living with God. Maybe we are led to focus on gratitude during Lent, and spend time daily writing a thank you note to someone who has touched our lives or start a list of all the things we're grateful for. Maybe we are led to focus on prayer, and spend time in conversation with God and Moravians from around the world by praying the Daily Text during Lent. Maybe we are led to focus on music, and read a hymn a day and use the words as our prayer. Maybe we are led to visit neighbors or strangers we have yet to get to know. The possibilities are endless. How is God leading you to transform your life during Lent?

Moses was led to a mountain for 40 days and Jesus spent 40 days living in a desert. Maybe that is our calling for this time, but maybe it is not. We are busy and living goes on. But maybe, on this journey ahead, we can find time to seek the holy in the ordinary. We can open our eyes and see where God is, and spend time with God in the places of our daily lives. Poet Ann Weems talks about this in her collection of poetry for Lent and Easter entitled, "Kneeling in Jerusalem." I offer her prayer, "Holy in the Ordinary" as a closing prayer this morning. May we all find God's invitation for us during these next 40 days, and may we all share the glow of being in God's presence.

"Holy is the time and holy is this place,
and there are holy things that must be said.

"Let us say to one another what our soul whispers...
O Holy One, cast your tents among us;
come into our ordinary lives and bless the living!"[5]
Amen.

[1] http://www.lib-art.com/artgallery/13974-moses-michelangelo-buonarroti.html

[2] Wallace Eugene March, "Exegetical Perspective on Exodus 34:29-35" for Transfiguration Sunday in Feasting On The Word, Year C Volume 1 (Advent Through Transfiguration) edited by David L. Bartlett and Diana Butler Bass (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009) 439.

[3] Delia Halverson, Children's Activities for the Christian Year (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2004) 47.

[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent

[5] Ann Weems, "The Holy In The Ordinary" in Kneeling In Jerusalem (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 1992)13.

Traveling as a Pilgrim--Rick Steves' on Faith and Travel

2010-02-11T14:29:00.001-05:00

I came across a fascinating interview with Rick Steves, a Lutheran and the PBS travel expert who has written numerous travel guides, especially for his "Through the Back Door" series. Here is one question he addressed that really struck me. The link is also posted in case you'd like to read more. It's worth a look...

"What are the differences between being a tourist and being a pilgrim?

The system encourages you to be a tourist, because the system is an economic engine. You are led to believe that you need to be a consumer, that you need a fancy hotel, that you need to take a fancy tour. You will go home having done some predictable things—just what the advertising told you would happen.

To advocate something different is an affront to the system. If you are a travel editor, you're encouraged to promote helicopter skiing and three-day weekends in Reno and jet skiing in Maui—all of which will endear you to advertisers.

You could go to Africa and take in all the finest golf courses and come home having learned nothing. Or you could go to Africa and drink tea with local people, help them out in different ways and gain empathy for them. You'd come home changed. That's being a traveler. Travelers and pilgrims are people who are connecting, learning, challenging themselves and not doing what's predictable."

From "Traveler's Blessings" in the Christian Century by Amy Frykholm, posted on 2/9/10http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=8191

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