11/15/09
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Psalm 145:8-13
Matthew 14:13-21
SERMON
“Enough for All"
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. It is an acrostic hymn – each verse begins with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet… to help people memorize the psalm so they could more easily sing it. This portion of the psalm dates from the time of the exodus from Egypt. Like an old favorite hymn, it was passed from generation to generation, bringing comfort and inspiring faith.
Matthew 14:13-21
This is one of the most familiar miracle stories in the New Testament – the feeding of thousands with only a few loaves and fish. It is told twice in the gospel of Matthew, and twice again by Mark – each with a little different twist. It is also told in Luke’s gospel and in John’s. It is an important story, one which deeply impressed Jesus’ disciples and followers.
SERMON
“Enough for All”
There are all those hungry people and only a few fish and loaves of bread, - by one account, the supplies carried by one small boy.And yet – all were satisfied! With baskets-full left over!! It is natural that questions and doubts cross our modern minds…How can that be? There must be some rational explanation…Or perhaps the story was exaggerated over time… What REALLY happened?
Jesus was tired and needed to be alone… He had just received news of his cousin John’s death and yet he continued to teach and heal. Rather than sending the people away hungry…He made it possible for them to be fed, and they were satisfied. Jesus understood the ordinary needs of these people, and found ways to meet those needs using the resources at hand – ordinary resources made extraordinary by his love. The elements in this story had real tangible properties…Bread and fish…Were they magically or miraculously changed to become MORE than they had been? Or was there enough all along? There is no way to know exactly how or what happened – the story is told simply, without all the details. But with the help of the gospel’s words and the Holy Spirit, there are ways for us to grasp its meaning…
One way is to understand LITERALLY that Jesus multiplied the five loaves and two fish. Though it is hard for us to rationally grasp the possibility of Jesus physically altering objects that have real material properties, our faith can lead us to let go of the need to UNDERSTAND, and just accept it as true.
• It is true because it is in the bible;
• it is true because generations have believed it;
• it is true because, after all, who are we to doubt or limit the power of God?
There are miracles that happen – unexplainable but true. Most of us know of one or two, from our own lives or those we love. And yet, for some of us it is hard just to believe… and that’s OK.
Another way to consider the feeding of the 5000 is as a SACRAMENTAL MEAL. Each took only a tiny morsel… and yet they were filled… filled with wonder and awe at the presence of the living Christ their long-awaited Messiah. They all had their fill that afternoon, in the same way that we may experience fullness and the presence of God, when we share communion here in this sanctuary. There is a fullness of meaning, symbolic and sacramental, and in it we may experience the miracle of transformation – finding ourselves healed, forgiven, hopeful, at peace…Certainly for Jesus to touch so great a crowd of people in that way, filling their need, feeding their spirits, would have been a miracle! Especially when their hunger had been so great as to draw them to journey far from home. The sign of God’s presence, seen and known in Jesus, filled them with hope and the belief that God WAS WITH THEM. This is good for us to believe also: God is with us, among us feeding and teaching, even today. That is a miracle!
A third way of looking at the miracle of the feeding of 5000 is more pragmatic. Many of the Jews in Jesus’ day lived the life of nomads. The route Jesus took was a popular one for pilgrimage. It was unusual for people to travel without preparing food for their journey, such as salted or pickled fish and bread, hard enough to withstand travel – Often they carried these in a basket or a pouch.
Perhaps we can understand what might have happened through this example:
A few years ago, I went with a youth group on a long hike up a mountain in the rainforest of Puerto Rico. It had been a tough haul and we were all tired and thirsty when we reached our destination. Each person was responsible for carrying their own water. Some had sipped “just a little” along the way, and now discovered there wasn’t much left of their personal supply. Everyone was tired, hot and thirsty. Those WITH water didn’t want to share, because it wasn’t fair. And if they gave some away, there might not be enough for their own thirst.
The crowd had journeying 10 miles to see and hear Jesus, They surely realized that they would all be hungry, and may have feared that pulling out their own food to eat, someone around them might want or need some of it. We all have experienced that inclination to take care of our own needs and let others work out their own problems.
As so often is the case, the people were led by the generosity and faith of a child. A young boy came forward with what he had. As Jesus blessed and distributed this offering, it evoked others to share what they had. Hands extracted fishes and loaves from their safe-keeping and shared with their neighbors. In the end there was enough… more than enough for everyone. And that was a miracle! The loaves and fish had not changed… the people had!
There is often a need in our lives and in our world for such a miracle of generosity, and faced with that need, there are four ways to respond… all are found in the story.
1) The disciple Philip said, “We can’t do it – It’s impossible!” How often we feel overwhelmed or discouraged! It’s just too much, this challenge or obstacle we face. We look at the vast needs of the world and despair. “Jesus, send them away,” we plead. “Jesus, work some kind of miracle and feed them!”
I recently asked a peer leadership group if they thought the problem of world hunger could be solved. Some said it was possible; but most thought not… However, all agreed that there was enough food – it was people who would have to change… Jesus asks us, “What do you have?” And we say, “I don’t have much… really just enough for my own needs.” But Jesus urges us to take what we have and give it away, trusting … that what we have MATTERS!
2) There was the crowd… most of whom held back at first, clutching what they had tight to their chests… hoping someone else would solve the problem. When we hold back the gifts and abundance God has given us, we hold back God’s kingdom. And yet we all do this… we are afraid there won’t be enough. Even though we may hear the words of scripture:“Do not worry… if I clothe the lilies of the field in glory… how much better I will care for your needs…”
I once heard someone say, Love is a renewable resource…the more you give away, the more you get! Right here in Newfane village, and in our global village there are needs which can feel overwhelming, and we might tend to draw back, to hold our resources tight to our chest – for fear that we too might be in need. But LOVE is a renewable resource! The more you give away, the more you receive!
3) The disciple Philip looked around for possibilities and found the lad with the loaves and fishes… Philip didn’t say, “You’re only a kid!” and he didn’t turn his back on this small offering – he took them to Jesus, ready to act in faith… We need to be open to the possibility that what each of us brings will be enough… “for all things are possible in Christ Jesus…” Sometimes we hesitate because we lack confidence in what we have to offer…and yet we are each uniquely gifted we each have something valuable to share. Philip believed in the boy’s offering, though it surely didn’t look like much, Philip received it as generously given and offered it to Jesus. We too, can believe in and encourage one another… Imagine the possibilities!
4) There is the generous response of the young boy We are each like the young boy in some ways, believing that we are small and the problems are large or what we have is not enough… but if, like the boy, we are willing to risk it for love’s sake… we too may be the instruments of miracles!
There are three ways to understand this miracle story:
o That the food is miraculously increased by God;
o That fulfillment was more spiritual than physical
o That the people were transformed from fearful to generous.
All of these were true in some way.
The story also teaches us there are four ways to respond when faced with a great need:
o Ask for it to go away, or ask someone more powerful fix it
o Protect yourself from needing in that same way
o Look around for the possibilities and be open in faith
o Offer what gifts you have, even though they may seem small
What is it about this story that it is told so often in the gospels? Why is it one of the stories we know and tell today?
In the face of overwhelming needs…We can believe that God has miracles in store…
In the face of overwhelming needs…We can be a part of God’s miracles … perhaps even the most important part.
Our God is a God of Abundant love, generous in the gifts bestowed, able to make each of us a miracle.
Then there will be more than enough for all. May it be so. Amen.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
11/8/09 The Family Tree
11/8/09
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Genesis 12:1-9
Matt 12:46-50
SERMON
“Family Tree”
The story of Creation opens with…”In the beginning
This sets the stage for all the stories that follow.
The next chapters of Genesis tell of the human family –
relationships, betrayals and all the fall-out.
Today’s reading comes after the table of nations, as it’s called:
a listing of all the families from Noah down through Abraham.
Through this accounting our Jewish ancestors
understood the history of their world,
finding explanations for languages, ethnic groups,
political alliances and the formation of countries.
The Book of Generations is the traditional record,
carefully maintained by the Hebrew people,
recording centuries of generations.
It was important to the people of Israel
that the one great story was THEIR story, the story of God’s people, and the story of the one God who created everything.
Just prior to the reading for today is the account of Abraham’s father, who was called by God to begin this journey from Ur
(near modern day Baghdad) to the land of Canaan.
He travelled as far as Haran, a long distance - but still north of Canaan - and he settled there.
The completion of God’s call was Abraham’s to fulfill.
Sometimes we only see a slice of God’s plan
Only a chapter or a page in the story.
NEW TESTAMENT READING Matthew 12:46-50
This passage in Matthew’s gospel is subtitled “True Kinship”.
In it Jesus says that the ones he calls his family—
his mother, his brothers and sisters –
are those who hear and obey God’s will.
At this point in his ministry he had called his disciples
and challenged them to this journey;
he had preached to a great crowd his sermon on the mount
and had taught about the meaning of the laws;
he had healed many people and calmed the seas;
he had performed miracles and signs,
and shown wisdom and faith beyond ordinary bounds –
yet his own family had their doubts…
They thought he was crazy! Perhaps possessed!
Certainly out of his mind!
They stood outside where he was preaching and asked for him,
hoping to bring him to his senses,
maybe get him back to his carpentry.
Sometimes the people we feel the closest to are not related by blood,
but are those who share our ideals and our mission -
those who have the same passions,
or with whom we have shared profound experiences.
Sometimes this includes our “blood relations”,
but sometimes this is a family of a different sort.
There is always a special bond we have to the family who raised us - sometimes joyful, sometimes not so.
But Jesus is pointing to the unique bond we share
when we are in fellowship with him –
in all that he lived and died for - fellowship in Christ –
all as sons and daughters of our creator, our loving and faithful God.
I don’t believe Jesus was rejecting his family,
but rather he was redefining “family”
on much broader, more inclusive terms –
as those who love and listen to God.
MEDITATION “Family Tree”
During my seminary years,
I was part of a group of students who met three times weekly
to discuss our ministries
and the issues we were facing in our intern settings.
Often the struggles and crises of the people we served
would raise up our own personal “demons”.
In these meetings, together with our supervisors,
we would help each other face our issues,
so we would be less likely to play out these issues in unhealthy ways, crippling our ministries and our own happiness in life.
One of the ways we did this
was to create something called a “genogram”.
These were charts which are like a family tree but more detailed.
Beyond the obvious facts of births, deaths and marriages,
there were ways to symbolize special family relationships, pets,
all kinds of important events, health and personality issues, even family secrets…
It is supposed to go back at least three generations
and forward to the youngest one.
Mine covered six generations - from my great-grandparents
all the way down to my (then) newborn grandchild.
It created a visual story of my family –
and I was surprised by some of the patterns and connections I saw as I put it all together. The insights were powerful.
I gained a deeper understanding of who I am,
and why I act and choose the way I do.
Oh, there are still plenty of mysteries!
But it is amazing how laying this all out on paper
my story as I had never seen it before.
Today’s OT reading was from Genesis,
the source of so many family stories in the Bible.
Tradition has it that all the peoples of the world
were derived from Noah’s three sons after the flood.
However, the unity of this one family had broken down
by the time of Abraham’s generation.
The story of the Tower of Babel helps us understand
that the world had become a divided place
of many languages and many peoples.
Yet, in God’s call to Abraham to leave his country and kin,
to journey forth in faith - there is a promise of a great nation,
one by which all nations and families would be blessed.
God had a plan for Abraham - and a promise as well.
A plan and a promise.
This is true for each of us.
God beckons us to journey forth in faith –
to discover our unfolding purpose –
and in that we are promised blessings.
Ah, but if it were only that easy! It is never that clear.
“Just go forth and reap your blessings!”
Don’t we wish that was all there was to it!
Even for Abraham it must have been difficult to understand
just what he was to do… and why.
He was already an old man
when he felt compelled to pack up his possessions, his workers, his animals, and his wife to head out into foreign territory.
Did this make sense?
Many must have argued with him about the foolishness of it all.
And to become the father of a great nation?
It seemed highly unlikely that he and Sarah
would become parents at their advanced age.
Sarah scoffed at the idea. And yet they went forth.
As difficult as it was for Abraham and Sarah,
it is also difficult for us - to know what God is calling us to do, to have faith when we don’t understand.
Abraham was a man of faith, a person who hoped and trusted in God. He listened… and obeyed God’s call.
It must have been an experience like Abraham’s for the families
who first settled the West River Valley and CT River valley.
There were surely those who thought they were crazy to head out into the wilderness where there was so much unknown.
But they heard a call to leave what was safe and familiar,
to build something new and better.
They had no guarantees, only faith in God and their God-given gifts.
And as we read in their stories
They brought with them, they created – families.
That was how they were able to sustain life in this new place.
Some of the families were blood ties,
Some were drawn together by their call and their need.
Their decisions were radical in their time –
Frontiers of vision wrought with doubts, but also full faith and hope.
As a church family
we too walk into our future listening for God’s call to us,
searching out new directions and new “frontiers”,
even as we long for the familiar and comfortable.
We, like Abraham, like our foremothers and forefathers, go forth in faith.
Each of us face personal frontiers,
unfamiliar territory which God is calling us to explore –
whether it’s a place, or a way of life, a job or a relationship.
We each face a personal frontier of unfamiliar territory
and new challenges as we face the decisions of each new day.
We tend to forget this and look at our lives as hum-drum,
“same old same old”…
But the challenges of new discoveries are always there…
God is beckoning us on… no matter our age or circumstance.
Abraham’s journey was not his alone.
It was begun by his father before him, and came out of his heritage.
It was shared by his family
and his “community” of servants and workers.
The promise to Abraham was only partly fulfilled in his lifetime.
Yes, he was blessed… but God’s promise and purpose
became part of the call to Abraham’s son, and his son’s son,
and to daughters and sons throughout the story of the Bible.
We gather here, as brothers and sisters in Christ,
all members of that family who walks the journey of faith,
listening for God’s call and trying to do God’s will.
I wonder what the genogram of Newfane Church would look like,
the generations and relationships,
yes, even the family secrets.
And how that has shaped who we are and the choices we make.
As we look back and again forward,
may it be with the wisdom of insight that our history teaches us…
and the history of the ages…
and may we go forward with the courage and faith
to follow God’s call to build a better world –
May we be strengthened by the love and nurture of our families
Whether that family is the one we are born into
Or the one we are drawn to by our love of God
We are one family,
one big family tree, with many branches and shoots…
We are God’s family. Amen
SCRIPTURE READINGS:
Genesis 12:1-9
Matt 12:46-50
SERMON
“Family Tree”
The story of Creation opens with…”In the beginning
This sets the stage for all the stories that follow.
The next chapters of Genesis tell of the human family –
relationships, betrayals and all the fall-out.
Today’s reading comes after the table of nations, as it’s called:
a listing of all the families from Noah down through Abraham.
Through this accounting our Jewish ancestors
understood the history of their world,
finding explanations for languages, ethnic groups,
political alliances and the formation of countries.
The Book of Generations is the traditional record,
carefully maintained by the Hebrew people,
recording centuries of generations.
It was important to the people of Israel
that the one great story was THEIR story, the story of God’s people, and the story of the one God who created everything.
Just prior to the reading for today is the account of Abraham’s father, who was called by God to begin this journey from Ur
(near modern day Baghdad) to the land of Canaan.
He travelled as far as Haran, a long distance - but still north of Canaan - and he settled there.
The completion of God’s call was Abraham’s to fulfill.
Sometimes we only see a slice of God’s plan
Only a chapter or a page in the story.
NEW TESTAMENT READING Matthew 12:46-50
This passage in Matthew’s gospel is subtitled “True Kinship”.
In it Jesus says that the ones he calls his family—
his mother, his brothers and sisters –
are those who hear and obey God’s will.
At this point in his ministry he had called his disciples
and challenged them to this journey;
he had preached to a great crowd his sermon on the mount
and had taught about the meaning of the laws;
he had healed many people and calmed the seas;
he had performed miracles and signs,
and shown wisdom and faith beyond ordinary bounds –
yet his own family had their doubts…
They thought he was crazy! Perhaps possessed!
Certainly out of his mind!
They stood outside where he was preaching and asked for him,
hoping to bring him to his senses,
maybe get him back to his carpentry.
Sometimes the people we feel the closest to are not related by blood,
but are those who share our ideals and our mission -
those who have the same passions,
or with whom we have shared profound experiences.
Sometimes this includes our “blood relations”,
but sometimes this is a family of a different sort.
There is always a special bond we have to the family who raised us - sometimes joyful, sometimes not so.
But Jesus is pointing to the unique bond we share
when we are in fellowship with him –
in all that he lived and died for - fellowship in Christ –
all as sons and daughters of our creator, our loving and faithful God.
I don’t believe Jesus was rejecting his family,
but rather he was redefining “family”
on much broader, more inclusive terms –
as those who love and listen to God.
MEDITATION “Family Tree”
During my seminary years,
I was part of a group of students who met three times weekly
to discuss our ministries
and the issues we were facing in our intern settings.
Often the struggles and crises of the people we served
would raise up our own personal “demons”.
In these meetings, together with our supervisors,
we would help each other face our issues,
so we would be less likely to play out these issues in unhealthy ways, crippling our ministries and our own happiness in life.
One of the ways we did this
was to create something called a “genogram”.
These were charts which are like a family tree but more detailed.
Beyond the obvious facts of births, deaths and marriages,
there were ways to symbolize special family relationships, pets,
all kinds of important events, health and personality issues, even family secrets…
It is supposed to go back at least three generations
and forward to the youngest one.
Mine covered six generations - from my great-grandparents
all the way down to my (then) newborn grandchild.
It created a visual story of my family –
and I was surprised by some of the patterns and connections I saw as I put it all together. The insights were powerful.
I gained a deeper understanding of who I am,
and why I act and choose the way I do.
Oh, there are still plenty of mysteries!
But it is amazing how laying this all out on paper
my story as I had never seen it before.
Today’s OT reading was from Genesis,
the source of so many family stories in the Bible.
Tradition has it that all the peoples of the world
were derived from Noah’s three sons after the flood.
However, the unity of this one family had broken down
by the time of Abraham’s generation.
The story of the Tower of Babel helps us understand
that the world had become a divided place
of many languages and many peoples.
Yet, in God’s call to Abraham to leave his country and kin,
to journey forth in faith - there is a promise of a great nation,
one by which all nations and families would be blessed.
God had a plan for Abraham - and a promise as well.
A plan and a promise.
This is true for each of us.
God beckons us to journey forth in faith –
to discover our unfolding purpose –
and in that we are promised blessings.
Ah, but if it were only that easy! It is never that clear.
“Just go forth and reap your blessings!”
Don’t we wish that was all there was to it!
Even for Abraham it must have been difficult to understand
just what he was to do… and why.
He was already an old man
when he felt compelled to pack up his possessions, his workers, his animals, and his wife to head out into foreign territory.
Did this make sense?
Many must have argued with him about the foolishness of it all.
And to become the father of a great nation?
It seemed highly unlikely that he and Sarah
would become parents at their advanced age.
Sarah scoffed at the idea. And yet they went forth.
As difficult as it was for Abraham and Sarah,
it is also difficult for us - to know what God is calling us to do, to have faith when we don’t understand.
Abraham was a man of faith, a person who hoped and trusted in God. He listened… and obeyed God’s call.
It must have been an experience like Abraham’s for the families
who first settled the West River Valley and CT River valley.
There were surely those who thought they were crazy to head out into the wilderness where there was so much unknown.
But they heard a call to leave what was safe and familiar,
to build something new and better.
They had no guarantees, only faith in God and their God-given gifts.
And as we read in their stories
They brought with them, they created – families.
That was how they were able to sustain life in this new place.
Some of the families were blood ties,
Some were drawn together by their call and their need.
Their decisions were radical in their time –
Frontiers of vision wrought with doubts, but also full faith and hope.
As a church family
we too walk into our future listening for God’s call to us,
searching out new directions and new “frontiers”,
even as we long for the familiar and comfortable.
We, like Abraham, like our foremothers and forefathers, go forth in faith.
Each of us face personal frontiers,
unfamiliar territory which God is calling us to explore –
whether it’s a place, or a way of life, a job or a relationship.
We each face a personal frontier of unfamiliar territory
and new challenges as we face the decisions of each new day.
We tend to forget this and look at our lives as hum-drum,
“same old same old”…
But the challenges of new discoveries are always there…
God is beckoning us on… no matter our age or circumstance.
Abraham’s journey was not his alone.
It was begun by his father before him, and came out of his heritage.
It was shared by his family
and his “community” of servants and workers.
The promise to Abraham was only partly fulfilled in his lifetime.
Yes, he was blessed… but God’s promise and purpose
became part of the call to Abraham’s son, and his son’s son,
and to daughters and sons throughout the story of the Bible.
We gather here, as brothers and sisters in Christ,
all members of that family who walks the journey of faith,
listening for God’s call and trying to do God’s will.
I wonder what the genogram of Newfane Church would look like,
the generations and relationships,
yes, even the family secrets.
And how that has shaped who we are and the choices we make.
As we look back and again forward,
may it be with the wisdom of insight that our history teaches us…
and the history of the ages…
and may we go forward with the courage and faith
to follow God’s call to build a better world –
May we be strengthened by the love and nurture of our families
Whether that family is the one we are born into
Or the one we are drawn to by our love of God
We are one family,
one big family tree, with many branches and shoots…
We are God’s family. Amen
Monday, November 2, 2009
11/1/09 Following in their Footsteps
11/1/09
“Following in Their Footsteps”
All Saints Day
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Hebrews 11-12:2(selections)
Psalm 43:3-5
Today is All Saints Day. All Souls, All Saints, All Hallows E’en or Halloween… All of these are days of remembrance.
As with so many Christian holy days, they have deeper, more ancient roots in the cultures that preceded Christianity. This is true of Celtic Christianity – that particular breed of Christianity that grew out of the people of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Celtic year was divided into two halves: the 'dark' half, beginning with the October/November lunar cycle, and the 'light' half, beginning with the April/May lunar cycle. These full moons were the midpoints between the solstice and the equinox of each season. This may all sound very technical, (or astronomical) so let me just say it had to do with the sun and the moon the turning seasons of the year, and how these affected the growing seasons and the rhythms of their lives.
These same elements provide a common thread with religions around the world and across time. These are the cycles of life within the circle of life.
The beginning of the dark half of the year was celebrated in Celtic lands by the festival of Samhain (pronounced so-wen), the Gaelic word for November. Its poetic meaning is ‘summer’s sunset’. Samhain was thought to be a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the spirit world became thin, allowing spirits to pass between the worlds. It was the time of the year when ancestors and other departed souls are especially honored. Tales were told of them and offerings placed on their graves. It was a time to appease those spirits who might be angry or offended. It was also time to take stock … of all that was needed in order to survive the winter. They called on the ancestors for help and protection. This was the most important festival of the year.
Perhaps this is a good thing for us to do as well – To remember our ancestors and loved ones departed: to tell their stories, or ask others to tell US their stories.
Perhaps it’s a good time to let go of old hurts, to forgive or ask forgiveness… not so much to appease other spirits as to set our own spirit free.
Perhaps it’s a good time to take stock, to consider what we truly need, and to give thanks to a God that provides for those needs.
As I said, this was the most important festival of the year. What could medieval Christians do with a pagan holy day when native people would not stop practicing it? In 601 Pope Gregory 1st issued an edict to his missionaries concerning these native beliefs and customs of the people he hoped to convert. Rather than trying to eliminate their customs and beliefs, the pope instructed his missionaries to use them: if a group of people worshipped a tree, rather than cut it down, he advised them to consecrate it to Christ and build a church around it. In terms of quickly adding people to the Christian faith, this was a brilliant concept – and in many ways a good one – allowing customs to continue and not be completely obliterated.
In many cases, church holy days were purposely set to coincide with native holy days. Such was the case with All Saints' Day - a day in the early Catholic Church (and still) set aside to venerate the saints in heaven. What about All Soul’s and Halloween?
All Soul’s was a day to pray for the departed faithful who had not yet entered heaven – to pray for the entry of their souls.
I picture them lined up at the pearly gates waiting for us to pray them in! And the eve before these holy days was referred to as All Hallow E'en ("the evening of all the hallowed or holy ones"). Halloween, All Saints, All Souls – a time for remembering and honoring our ancestors – a time for telling their stories. I could talk on and on about Celtic hilltop bonfires, solemn ceremonies of rekindling the hearth, ceremonies of bringing light into the darkness; of children dressing as scary beings to fend off angry spirits, carrying turnip lanterns and begging for sweets or money, imitating the spirits they needed to appease. These were some of the ancient customs of Samhain (sow-en). It’s not too hard to see where some of our Halloween customs originate! What does any of this have to do with us today? Why speak of this from the pulpit?
There are many directions I could go from here…
How understanding our ancient roots can help us find our place in the world…or to remember how connected our needs are, as human beings, to the cycles and seasons of the earth – our physical needs, emotional needs, communal needs and spiritual needs – and that these are common among all people, though expressed differently; perhaps this would lead to more tolerance and peace.
I could speak about the spread of Christianity – how it both honored and demeaned the diverse peoples of the world – and what that story demands of us today…
Yes, there are many directions I could go from here in my discourse. But I would like to focus on “remembering the stories - remembering to show us the way”.
How many of you knew that Joshua parted the waters of the Jordan just as Moses had parted the Red Sea? Now there’s a story that hasn’t been told enough! This new version of the old story gave them confidence in Joshua and told them God was with them.
Our strength and confidence comes in part from sharing our stories with one another; and from knowing we are part of a larger story. We gain a perspective, clearer vision and hope. We draw reassurance and inspiration, from each other’s stories and from those who went before… All the saints – just people like you and me. And we honor the saints - our saints – by telling their stories.
There is the great story – The story of God’s love and presence throughout history: a holy companion to all who have opened themselves to this guiding spirit. Through them history has been made, day upon day, to bring us to this day. The bible brings us these stories, as does history, and tradition. Knowing these stories can show us the best way to follow in their footsteps
Then there is the story of this place - First Congregational Church of Newfane VT - and the saints whose lives have been shaped by this church and whose lives and faith helped shape it’s story… a story that began on Fane Hill before our country was even a country - back in 1774. A quarter of century later their first meeting house was built. Then, with the next generation they began meeting in the new Courthouse – right across the green from here. For a while the Universalists and Congregationalists meet together in Union Hall. In 1839 the Congregationalists pulled away and built their own place of worship, dedicated in 1839, 160 years ago. And the story continues of course, but you can read that story…
Perhaps more important are the stories of life within this church. Imagine the prayer meetings held on hard benches, the joyful brides walking down the aisle, the passionate discussions, the Christmas pageants and peaceful candle-lit prayers.
Imagine all the baptisms that were later confirmed as children grew into faithful adults; all the dedicated pastors, musicians, teachers, deacons, trustees, missionaries…
The stories of Newfane Church and her saints are full of meaning for each and every one of us… as we pause to consider them, as we learn from them. Knowing these stories can show us the best way to follow in their footsteps.
And of course there are our own stories… stories we can share with one another … stories both sacred and ordinary. The church plays an important part in those stories – in all the passages of our lives, in the cycles and the circles of our lives.
We too have sacred rites and rituals that guide us through the dark times and the light times of our lives. Sharing these stories and these rituals can bring us strength and hope and reassurance. That is what we do when we gather here.
The psalmist said,
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Each new day, each new possibility is a threshold – a new chapter in the story. The Celts would say these are thin places:
Times when our ancestors are close by. The stories of those who have gone before us draw them near. We can call on them, through their stories, by their inspiration and faith, to show us the way – the best way – to carry that story forward… to follow in their footsteps. What better way to honor them. Amen.
“Following in Their Footsteps”
All Saints Day
SCRIPTURE READINGS: Hebrews 11-12:2(selections)
Psalm 43:3-5
Today is All Saints Day. All Souls, All Saints, All Hallows E’en or Halloween… All of these are days of remembrance.
As with so many Christian holy days, they have deeper, more ancient roots in the cultures that preceded Christianity. This is true of Celtic Christianity – that particular breed of Christianity that grew out of the people of Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The Celtic year was divided into two halves: the 'dark' half, beginning with the October/November lunar cycle, and the 'light' half, beginning with the April/May lunar cycle. These full moons were the midpoints between the solstice and the equinox of each season. This may all sound very technical, (or astronomical) so let me just say it had to do with the sun and the moon the turning seasons of the year, and how these affected the growing seasons and the rhythms of their lives.
These same elements provide a common thread with religions around the world and across time. These are the cycles of life within the circle of life.
The beginning of the dark half of the year was celebrated in Celtic lands by the festival of Samhain (pronounced so-wen), the Gaelic word for November. Its poetic meaning is ‘summer’s sunset’. Samhain was thought to be a time when the boundaries between the world of the living and the spirit world became thin, allowing spirits to pass between the worlds. It was the time of the year when ancestors and other departed souls are especially honored. Tales were told of them and offerings placed on their graves. It was a time to appease those spirits who might be angry or offended. It was also time to take stock … of all that was needed in order to survive the winter. They called on the ancestors for help and protection. This was the most important festival of the year.
Perhaps this is a good thing for us to do as well – To remember our ancestors and loved ones departed: to tell their stories, or ask others to tell US their stories.
Perhaps it’s a good time to let go of old hurts, to forgive or ask forgiveness… not so much to appease other spirits as to set our own spirit free.
Perhaps it’s a good time to take stock, to consider what we truly need, and to give thanks to a God that provides for those needs.
As I said, this was the most important festival of the year. What could medieval Christians do with a pagan holy day when native people would not stop practicing it? In 601 Pope Gregory 1st issued an edict to his missionaries concerning these native beliefs and customs of the people he hoped to convert. Rather than trying to eliminate their customs and beliefs, the pope instructed his missionaries to use them: if a group of people worshipped a tree, rather than cut it down, he advised them to consecrate it to Christ and build a church around it. In terms of quickly adding people to the Christian faith, this was a brilliant concept – and in many ways a good one – allowing customs to continue and not be completely obliterated.
In many cases, church holy days were purposely set to coincide with native holy days. Such was the case with All Saints' Day - a day in the early Catholic Church (and still) set aside to venerate the saints in heaven. What about All Soul’s and Halloween?
All Soul’s was a day to pray for the departed faithful who had not yet entered heaven – to pray for the entry of their souls.
I picture them lined up at the pearly gates waiting for us to pray them in! And the eve before these holy days was referred to as All Hallow E'en ("the evening of all the hallowed or holy ones"). Halloween, All Saints, All Souls – a time for remembering and honoring our ancestors – a time for telling their stories. I could talk on and on about Celtic hilltop bonfires, solemn ceremonies of rekindling the hearth, ceremonies of bringing light into the darkness; of children dressing as scary beings to fend off angry spirits, carrying turnip lanterns and begging for sweets or money, imitating the spirits they needed to appease. These were some of the ancient customs of Samhain (sow-en). It’s not too hard to see where some of our Halloween customs originate! What does any of this have to do with us today? Why speak of this from the pulpit?
There are many directions I could go from here…
How understanding our ancient roots can help us find our place in the world…or to remember how connected our needs are, as human beings, to the cycles and seasons of the earth – our physical needs, emotional needs, communal needs and spiritual needs – and that these are common among all people, though expressed differently; perhaps this would lead to more tolerance and peace.
I could speak about the spread of Christianity – how it both honored and demeaned the diverse peoples of the world – and what that story demands of us today…
Yes, there are many directions I could go from here in my discourse. But I would like to focus on “remembering the stories - remembering to show us the way”.
How many of you knew that Joshua parted the waters of the Jordan just as Moses had parted the Red Sea? Now there’s a story that hasn’t been told enough! This new version of the old story gave them confidence in Joshua and told them God was with them.
Our strength and confidence comes in part from sharing our stories with one another; and from knowing we are part of a larger story. We gain a perspective, clearer vision and hope. We draw reassurance and inspiration, from each other’s stories and from those who went before… All the saints – just people like you and me. And we honor the saints - our saints – by telling their stories.
There is the great story – The story of God’s love and presence throughout history: a holy companion to all who have opened themselves to this guiding spirit. Through them history has been made, day upon day, to bring us to this day. The bible brings us these stories, as does history, and tradition. Knowing these stories can show us the best way to follow in their footsteps
Then there is the story of this place - First Congregational Church of Newfane VT - and the saints whose lives have been shaped by this church and whose lives and faith helped shape it’s story… a story that began on Fane Hill before our country was even a country - back in 1774. A quarter of century later their first meeting house was built. Then, with the next generation they began meeting in the new Courthouse – right across the green from here. For a while the Universalists and Congregationalists meet together in Union Hall. In 1839 the Congregationalists pulled away and built their own place of worship, dedicated in 1839, 160 years ago. And the story continues of course, but you can read that story…
Perhaps more important are the stories of life within this church. Imagine the prayer meetings held on hard benches, the joyful brides walking down the aisle, the passionate discussions, the Christmas pageants and peaceful candle-lit prayers.
Imagine all the baptisms that were later confirmed as children grew into faithful adults; all the dedicated pastors, musicians, teachers, deacons, trustees, missionaries…
The stories of Newfane Church and her saints are full of meaning for each and every one of us… as we pause to consider them, as we learn from them. Knowing these stories can show us the best way to follow in their footsteps.
And of course there are our own stories… stories we can share with one another … stories both sacred and ordinary. The church plays an important part in those stories – in all the passages of our lives, in the cycles and the circles of our lives.
We too have sacred rites and rituals that guide us through the dark times and the light times of our lives. Sharing these stories and these rituals can bring us strength and hope and reassurance. That is what we do when we gather here.
The psalmist said,
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy;
and I will praise you with the harp, O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God.
Each new day, each new possibility is a threshold – a new chapter in the story. The Celts would say these are thin places:
Times when our ancestors are close by. The stories of those who have gone before us draw them near. We can call on them, through their stories, by their inspiration and faith, to show us the way – the best way – to carry that story forward… to follow in their footsteps. What better way to honor them. Amen.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Holy Moses 10/25/09
10/25/09 Exodus 2-20 (selections)
“Holy Moses Celebration” Matthew 22:37-39
Exodus 2:5 - 10 (selections)
The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river…
She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it.
When she opened it, she saw the child.
‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said…
and she took him as her son.
She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’
* INVOCATION and THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts)
Holy God, we tremble to think that the Source of all life, Creator of the
Universe, is in all places - is in this very place – in this very moment. You
watch and listen as we worship you; you know our innermost thoughts and prayers;
you call us each by name. We tremble to think what you might expect of us, for we
remember what you expected of Moses. Be with us now; be with us always, we pray to
you now as Jesus taught us…
Exodus 2:11 - 15 (selections)
One day, after Moses had grown up…
he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk.
He looked this way and that, and seeing no one
he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses...
but Moses fled from Pharaoh.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, like Moses we sometimes do things that are wrong. Sometimes we act
without thinking and hurt other people – in their bodies or their feelings. Help
us learn to be more loving by teaching us your ways. Be like a pillar of fire
showing us the way when we are lost. Loving God, we are sorry for the ways we have
disappointed you. We are grateful that you forgive us and love us, just the way we
are. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God hears our voices and responds to our needs. God’s love overflows, filling us
up that we might truly love others. Praise God!
Exodus 3:2-5 (selections)
There the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses
in a flame of fire out of a bush;
he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.
Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight,
and see why the bush is not burned up.’
God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’
And he said, ‘Here I am.’
Then God said,
‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’
Exodus 5:1-2
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said,
‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Let my people go,
so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.” ’
But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should heed him
and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.’
*HYMN No. 618 “Go Down, Moses”
LITANY OF PLAGUES
The fish in the river died, they were overcome with frogs… and lice… and flies
But the Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He would not let the people go.
The cows and sheep all died, people were covered with sores and boils, locusts
covered the fields…
But the Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He would not let the people go.
Hail and Fire fell from the sky and then all was in darkness…
But the Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He would not let the people go.
And worst of all… first born children will die…
Wait! Enough! Take your people and GO!
MORNING PRAYERS
Exodus 13:3, 21 14:16
And Moses said to the people:
Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt…
for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place… (silence)
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by
night in a pillar of fire to give them light… (silence)
Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.
And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground
through the midst of the sea… (silence)
Exodus 15:20, 21
Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all
went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously…”
Exodus 19:20, 20:1
When the LORD descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the LORD
summoned Moses to the top of the mountain,
and Moses went up.
Then God spoke all these words: (The Ten Commandments paraphrased)
Do not adore any God but me.
Do not bow down to gods of silver and gold.
Say my name with respect.
Rest on the Sabbath day, for it is holy.
Obey your father and your mother.
Be kind to others and do not hurt them.
Be faithful to your wife or husband.
Do not steal things.
Always tell the truth.
Do not wish for things that belong to others
* BENEDICTION
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
This is our calling, this is our hope.
Know that God goes with you. Amen
“Holy Moses Celebration” Matthew 22:37-39
Exodus 2:5 - 10 (selections)
The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river…
She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it.
When she opened it, she saw the child.
‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said…
and she took him as her son.
She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’
* INVOCATION and THE LORD’S PRAYER (debts)
Holy God, we tremble to think that the Source of all life, Creator of the
Universe, is in all places - is in this very place – in this very moment. You
watch and listen as we worship you; you know our innermost thoughts and prayers;
you call us each by name. We tremble to think what you might expect of us, for we
remember what you expected of Moses. Be with us now; be with us always, we pray to
you now as Jesus taught us…
Exodus 2:11 - 15 (selections)
One day, after Moses had grown up…
he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his kinsfolk.
He looked this way and that, and seeing no one
he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.
When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses...
but Moses fled from Pharaoh.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Holy God, like Moses we sometimes do things that are wrong. Sometimes we act
without thinking and hurt other people – in their bodies or their feelings. Help
us learn to be more loving by teaching us your ways. Be like a pillar of fire
showing us the way when we are lost. Loving God, we are sorry for the ways we have
disappointed you. We are grateful that you forgive us and love us, just the way we
are. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
God hears our voices and responds to our needs. God’s love overflows, filling us
up that we might truly love others. Praise God!
Exodus 3:2-5 (selections)
There the angel of the LORD appeared to Moses
in a flame of fire out of a bush;
he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.
Then Moses said, ‘I must turn aside and look at this great sight,
and see why the bush is not burned up.’
God called to him out of the bush, ‘Moses, Moses!’
And he said, ‘Here I am.’
Then God said,
‘Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet,
for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.’
Exodus 5:1-2
Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said,
‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, “Let my people go,
so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.” ’
But Pharaoh said, ‘Who is the LORD, that I should heed him
and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.’
*HYMN No. 618 “Go Down, Moses”
LITANY OF PLAGUES
The fish in the river died, they were overcome with frogs… and lice… and flies
But the Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He would not let the people go.
The cows and sheep all died, people were covered with sores and boils, locusts
covered the fields…
But the Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He would not let the people go.
Hail and Fire fell from the sky and then all was in darkness…
But the Pharaoh’s heart was hard. He would not let the people go.
And worst of all… first born children will die…
Wait! Enough! Take your people and GO!
MORNING PRAYERS
Exodus 13:3, 21 14:16
And Moses said to the people:
Remember this day in which you went out of Egypt…
for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out of this place… (silence)
And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by
night in a pillar of fire to give them light… (silence)
Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.
And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground
through the midst of the sea… (silence)
Exodus 15:20, 21
Then the prophet Miriam, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand; and all
went out after her with tambourines and with dancing. And Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously…”
Exodus 19:20, 20:1
When the LORD descended upon Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, the LORD
summoned Moses to the top of the mountain,
and Moses went up.
Then God spoke all these words: (The Ten Commandments paraphrased)
Do not adore any God but me.
Do not bow down to gods of silver and gold.
Say my name with respect.
Rest on the Sabbath day, for it is holy.
Obey your father and your mother.
Be kind to others and do not hurt them.
Be faithful to your wife or husband.
Do not steal things.
Always tell the truth.
Do not wish for things that belong to others
* BENEDICTION
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it:
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
This is our calling, this is our hope.
Know that God goes with you. Amen
Monday, October 19, 2009
Is God Here Among Us? 10/18/09
10/18/09
SERMON “Is God Here Among Us?”
Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-6, Philippians 2:1-5
The story about Moses and the people of Israel is a story about THIRST… and WILDERNESS. It’s a story about FAITH and GOD’S COVENANT… GOD’S PROMISE. You can't read any of these stories about Israel's wandering in the desert without catching a real sense of their fear and their doubt about whether God was with them. "The Promised Land" was out there somewhere, but would they ever get there!
These were not seasoned Bedouins, nomads of the desert people who knew how to crack a crusted-over piece of limestone to uncover a spring of fresh, clear water. These were city folk accustomed to the back-breaking hardships of slavery – yes - but at least back in Egypt; water was abundant and food available in the markets. And here they were in this barren, dusty, god-forsaken wilderness where some days it was all you could do to see past the nose on your face for the grit. This was freedom??? And now no water!
Our story from the book of Exodus is about a group of really thirsty people. So thirsty, in fact, that they threaten Moses. You can sense their fear – the edginess of their desperation. They (and we) when afraid for the future - when things seem out of our control - when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory - tend to look back… even to Egypt! When our faith is tested we fall into our fears, doubts and complaining. We draw back… look for someone to blame… It is hard to be in the wilderness not knowing. It is hard to live BY FAITH. Even Moses cries out: "What shall I do?" At times we are at our wit's end. We have all felt that way… maybe even so today. We’ve all been in the wilderness at one time or another.
But God has the answer. "Strike the rock": Believe God will provide. Trust in God. Remember God’s covenant … “I will be your God, and you will be my people”. Perhaps the greatest miracle in this story is that Moses believed God! That God would provide – God would be there - with them and for them… with us and for us.
Have faith… believe! And God does provide water for the people…water comes flowing from the rock - help comes from an unlikely place. How often that’s the case… the way God works!
Time and again, God holds steadfast to this promise -
To Noah there is the rainbow sign in the sky
The floods of life are not the end of the story. There is hope - God will be there.
To Abraham God’s promise is to make of his offspring the hope of many nations, like stars in the sky,
and to bring them to a land of milk and honey. God will be there.
God promised to provide Moses with all he needed to lead his people to freedom. God would be there.
God promised the people of Israel a Messiah… Emmanuel… God with us. God IS with us.
God’s promises are not ordinary promises - they are covenants. A covenant stands even though one party may fail to hold up their end. God’s covenant stands, though we fail, fall short, fall away… God remains steadfast and true.
When we covenant with one another - In marriage by our vows, in church by our words of commitment - we invite God into the promise, knowing that we will fall short, but by God’s grace - God’s presence in our lives - God will be there. We can have faith that God’s promises are everlasting.
When our ability comes up short we can trust in God's ability. The seemingly insurmountable barriers we face are opportunities for faith in God's promise-keeping power.
The story about Moses and the people of Israel is a story about THIRST… and WILDERNESS. It’s a story about FAITH and about COVENANT.
Our stories are also about THIRST and WILDERNESS, FAITH AND COVENANT
We are thirsty for living water… for that which quenches the dry desert of our spirits when we’re in the wilderness places of our lives. We are thirsty for hope, and forgiveness, love and acceptance. We are thirsty for friendship, the oasis of retreat and rest. We are thirsty and we know about the wilderness… the wilderness of busyness and expectations, of loss and loneliness, failures and pain… We know about wilderness, but we also know about FAITH.
No matter how difficult the way may seem or how impossible the circumstances, when we choose faith over fear, God will be there for us. God will be there, at work in our lives. That is God’s promise - God’s holy covenant .
The water we need for our spiritual thirst is available if we will turn to God in faith. Faith is stronger than fear and trust in God is more powerful than any barrier we face.
Moses had eyes that could see a world filled by the presence of God. He encountered a burning bush and the voice of God and he never was quite the same again. God was with him.
"Is God here among us?" Perhaps all we need are the eyes to see God all around us and in each other…
And the faith to believe … God IS here.
AMEN
SERMON “Is God Here Among Us?”
Scriptures: Exodus 17:1-6, Philippians 2:1-5
The story about Moses and the people of Israel is a story about THIRST… and WILDERNESS. It’s a story about FAITH and GOD’S COVENANT… GOD’S PROMISE. You can't read any of these stories about Israel's wandering in the desert without catching a real sense of their fear and their doubt about whether God was with them. "The Promised Land" was out there somewhere, but would they ever get there!
These were not seasoned Bedouins, nomads of the desert people who knew how to crack a crusted-over piece of limestone to uncover a spring of fresh, clear water. These were city folk accustomed to the back-breaking hardships of slavery – yes - but at least back in Egypt; water was abundant and food available in the markets. And here they were in this barren, dusty, god-forsaken wilderness where some days it was all you could do to see past the nose on your face for the grit. This was freedom??? And now no water!
Our story from the book of Exodus is about a group of really thirsty people. So thirsty, in fact, that they threaten Moses. You can sense their fear – the edginess of their desperation. They (and we) when afraid for the future - when things seem out of our control - when we find ourselves in unfamiliar territory - tend to look back… even to Egypt! When our faith is tested we fall into our fears, doubts and complaining. We draw back… look for someone to blame… It is hard to be in the wilderness not knowing. It is hard to live BY FAITH. Even Moses cries out: "What shall I do?" At times we are at our wit's end. We have all felt that way… maybe even so today. We’ve all been in the wilderness at one time or another.
But God has the answer. "Strike the rock": Believe God will provide. Trust in God. Remember God’s covenant … “I will be your God, and you will be my people”. Perhaps the greatest miracle in this story is that Moses believed God! That God would provide – God would be there - with them and for them… with us and for us.
Have faith… believe! And God does provide water for the people…water comes flowing from the rock - help comes from an unlikely place. How often that’s the case… the way God works!
Time and again, God holds steadfast to this promise -
To Noah there is the rainbow sign in the sky
The floods of life are not the end of the story. There is hope - God will be there.
To Abraham God’s promise is to make of his offspring the hope of many nations, like stars in the sky,
and to bring them to a land of milk and honey. God will be there.
God promised to provide Moses with all he needed to lead his people to freedom. God would be there.
God promised the people of Israel a Messiah… Emmanuel… God with us. God IS with us.
God’s promises are not ordinary promises - they are covenants. A covenant stands even though one party may fail to hold up their end. God’s covenant stands, though we fail, fall short, fall away… God remains steadfast and true.
When we covenant with one another - In marriage by our vows, in church by our words of commitment - we invite God into the promise, knowing that we will fall short, but by God’s grace - God’s presence in our lives - God will be there. We can have faith that God’s promises are everlasting.
When our ability comes up short we can trust in God's ability. The seemingly insurmountable barriers we face are opportunities for faith in God's promise-keeping power.
The story about Moses and the people of Israel is a story about THIRST… and WILDERNESS. It’s a story about FAITH and about COVENANT.
Our stories are also about THIRST and WILDERNESS, FAITH AND COVENANT
We are thirsty for living water… for that which quenches the dry desert of our spirits when we’re in the wilderness places of our lives. We are thirsty for hope, and forgiveness, love and acceptance. We are thirsty for friendship, the oasis of retreat and rest. We are thirsty and we know about the wilderness… the wilderness of busyness and expectations, of loss and loneliness, failures and pain… We know about wilderness, but we also know about FAITH.
No matter how difficult the way may seem or how impossible the circumstances, when we choose faith over fear, God will be there for us. God will be there, at work in our lives. That is God’s promise - God’s holy covenant .
The water we need for our spiritual thirst is available if we will turn to God in faith. Faith is stronger than fear and trust in God is more powerful than any barrier we face.
Moses had eyes that could see a world filled by the presence of God. He encountered a burning bush and the voice of God and he never was quite the same again. God was with him.
"Is God here among us?" Perhaps all we need are the eyes to see God all around us and in each other…
And the faith to believe … God IS here.
AMEN
Monday, October 5, 2009
Hungry Decisions - World Communion Sunday 10/04/09
10/04/09 World Communion Sunday
“Hungry Decisions”
Scriptures: several related to hunger
As these scriptures help us understand, there is more than one kind of hunger. I’d like to speak a bit about both - hunger of the body and hunger of the soul. I have been doing a fair amount of research and reading about hunger in our world today, as I have been preparing for the Crop Walk in Brattleboro on the last Sunday of this month.
Hunger facts - Did you know that the world produces enough food for everyone’s needs? And yet 840 million people will go hungry today… did yesterday and will tomorrow… not hungry, as we know it, but wrenching, painful, parched hungry… barely clinging to the edge of life hungry. And yet, there is enough food produced to feed each and every one.
The main reason for hunger is poverty. There are many causes of poverty… natural disasters, wars, the greed of the powerful… The cycle of poverty can be nearly impossible to break without the help of those outside of that cycle.
There is an exercise that I have been a part of with youth groups that always stuns me: 100 pennies are given out to be placed on a map of the world. Each penny represents 1% of the world’s population. 6 pennies end up on America; 60 - more than 10x as many - are placed in Asia and Africa! Then the youths are given another 100 pennies. This time to represent the wealth of each country. 60 pennies - 60% - of the world’s wealth belongs to Americans and not to all Americans, but to the very wealthy.
In developing countries (Africa, Asia and Latin America) over a BILLION people live on an income of $1 a day. That’s only $7 a week… or a total of $365 as an annual salary! Most of us can’t even imagine living on so little. But poverty and hunger are not only in these other lands. More than 34 million Americans cannot afford enough food to meet their most basic needs… 34 million!
Those are a lot of facts… and I can see you all beginning to glaze over!
One of the ways to make it more real for us is to put a face on hunger… to hear a story…
Here are two stories that I found: One is a man’s story and one is a woman’s:
The story of one man… Tian was born in a rural area of Southern Asia. He survived childhood and more fortunate than most, he was able to lease 4 acres of farm land on which to grow his crops. He married a young woman from his village and started a family. (Children are necessary to assist with the farm labor and to care of parents in their old age.
After six years passed, three children out of the five that were born survived disease and malnutrition. The oldest, a daughter, can help a little with the work, but the other two children, both boys, are still too young. The harvest provided barely enough to live on. As the year passes the food supply begins to run low, and because of poor diet, Tian is exhausted after five or six hours of work. Fertilizer would help keep the field producing and increase the yield per acre, but it has tripled in cost.
Another girl is born and Tian wishes he could provide a little extra food for his wife and baby. The older children do not complain, but he can see that they are undernourished. On a trip to the village he comes upon his children among the many rummaging through garbage dumps, gobbling up whatever they find that is edible. He is sickened, angry, and ashamed.
During the next years his wife gives birth to two more children. As a result of his older children's poor diet and eating garbage from the streets, three of them have become seriously ill and have severe diarrhea. They are so weak they can barely rise off their sleeping mats. Medical help is available free, but it is three days' journey by foot (the only means of travel available). The children would need to be carried most of the way. Tian would have to be away from his fields for a week.
The journey to the medical center is difficult. Carrying his children was a challenging task. One of Tian’s children died on the way. His grief over the loss of his child is compounded when he arrives home. Some crops have been destroyed by stray animals. This is a great setback.
During the next year another child dies of malnutrition. As Tian grows older his remaining four children take over some of the work. When Tain and his wife age and leave the fields for good, his children care for them, as well as their own children. Tian’s story is the story of many.
Now the story of a woman…Mwanase was born in a rural area of Africa. At age fourteen she was given in marriage by her parents. She lived with her husband and his people, giving birth to four daughters. Her family lives and eats by raising crops on a leased farm. She would like to have more children, especially sons. Lately though, there has been a government movement toward smaller families. Besides, they all go to bed still hungry each night, and more children would mean more mouths to feed..
While she was at the local clinic, she learned of a women's textile cooperative which instructs women in the use of cloth dyes and then markets the finished products. She started coming to the center one day a week, which meant valuable time away from the fields and home. Her husband missed her help in the fields and was impatient for her to earn some money to make up for time away from her work. In addition to field work and work at the coop, she grinds grains and cooks food, carries wood and water from a distant source, washes clothes and cares for her small children.
At the coop center there was a reading class. Mwanase wanted to go to it., though this would mean almost another full day away from home. She eventually learned to read and began to see some earnings from her share of cloth sold by the cooperative. She wanted to buy a mechanical wheel for grinding grain, but her husband wanted to use the money to buy more fertilizer for next year's crops. He had the final say.
The fertilizer helped produce a greater yield in the crops and there was more than enough grain to last through the winter. At the cooperative Mwanase is now teaching other women how to dye cloth in traditional patterns.
Some stories have happy endings… which are really new beginnings. Efforts like CROP walk help provide such new beginnings - in our world… in our country… and in our community.
So, having the resources, do we have the will? This leads us to the connection between hunger of the body (world) and hunger of our souls.
In Isaiah we read, "If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday." How often have we discovered our own spirits are lifted as we have served a greater need than our own?
In Matthew’s gospel it says, Then the righteous (those who are right with God) will answer him, “Lord, when was it we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?”…And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” …just as you did it to one of the least of these
Our spiritual hunger - that which leads us to seek the presence of God in our lives - is not only about worship. It is about how our hearts are changed by what we have received - whether that has been in blessings and abundance, comfort in our times of need … forgiveness… or hope… Worship brings us close to God - to communion with Jesus - that we may give thanks, but that is not all. We are then called out into the world to be the heart and hands and feet that bring God’s love to others.
This is not only what is required as our offering, This is what will feed our own hunger for “righteousness” - truth, goodness, justice, peace…
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” … “You will do even greater things …” “Feed my sheep…”
Our sense of God in our lives and in the world - that which feeds our hunger and thirst for meaning - is fed as we respond.
II Corinthians 9:8: “ God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough … you may share abundantly ….
May we be fed by our feeding of others; and may our thirst for living waters become a spring that quenches, that overflows, with goodness. Amen
“Hungry Decisions”
Scriptures: several related to hunger
As these scriptures help us understand, there is more than one kind of hunger. I’d like to speak a bit about both - hunger of the body and hunger of the soul. I have been doing a fair amount of research and reading about hunger in our world today, as I have been preparing for the Crop Walk in Brattleboro on the last Sunday of this month.
Hunger facts - Did you know that the world produces enough food for everyone’s needs? And yet 840 million people will go hungry today… did yesterday and will tomorrow… not hungry, as we know it, but wrenching, painful, parched hungry… barely clinging to the edge of life hungry. And yet, there is enough food produced to feed each and every one.
The main reason for hunger is poverty. There are many causes of poverty… natural disasters, wars, the greed of the powerful… The cycle of poverty can be nearly impossible to break without the help of those outside of that cycle.
There is an exercise that I have been a part of with youth groups that always stuns me: 100 pennies are given out to be placed on a map of the world. Each penny represents 1% of the world’s population. 6 pennies end up on America; 60 - more than 10x as many - are placed in Asia and Africa! Then the youths are given another 100 pennies. This time to represent the wealth of each country. 60 pennies - 60% - of the world’s wealth belongs to Americans and not to all Americans, but to the very wealthy.
In developing countries (Africa, Asia and Latin America) over a BILLION people live on an income of $1 a day. That’s only $7 a week… or a total of $365 as an annual salary! Most of us can’t even imagine living on so little. But poverty and hunger are not only in these other lands. More than 34 million Americans cannot afford enough food to meet their most basic needs… 34 million!
Those are a lot of facts… and I can see you all beginning to glaze over!
One of the ways to make it more real for us is to put a face on hunger… to hear a story…
Here are two stories that I found: One is a man’s story and one is a woman’s:
The story of one man… Tian was born in a rural area of Southern Asia. He survived childhood and more fortunate than most, he was able to lease 4 acres of farm land on which to grow his crops. He married a young woman from his village and started a family. (Children are necessary to assist with the farm labor and to care of parents in their old age.
After six years passed, three children out of the five that were born survived disease and malnutrition. The oldest, a daughter, can help a little with the work, but the other two children, both boys, are still too young. The harvest provided barely enough to live on. As the year passes the food supply begins to run low, and because of poor diet, Tian is exhausted after five or six hours of work. Fertilizer would help keep the field producing and increase the yield per acre, but it has tripled in cost.
Another girl is born and Tian wishes he could provide a little extra food for his wife and baby. The older children do not complain, but he can see that they are undernourished. On a trip to the village he comes upon his children among the many rummaging through garbage dumps, gobbling up whatever they find that is edible. He is sickened, angry, and ashamed.
During the next years his wife gives birth to two more children. As a result of his older children's poor diet and eating garbage from the streets, three of them have become seriously ill and have severe diarrhea. They are so weak they can barely rise off their sleeping mats. Medical help is available free, but it is three days' journey by foot (the only means of travel available). The children would need to be carried most of the way. Tian would have to be away from his fields for a week.
The journey to the medical center is difficult. Carrying his children was a challenging task. One of Tian’s children died on the way. His grief over the loss of his child is compounded when he arrives home. Some crops have been destroyed by stray animals. This is a great setback.
During the next year another child dies of malnutrition. As Tian grows older his remaining four children take over some of the work. When Tain and his wife age and leave the fields for good, his children care for them, as well as their own children. Tian’s story is the story of many.
Now the story of a woman…Mwanase was born in a rural area of Africa. At age fourteen she was given in marriage by her parents. She lived with her husband and his people, giving birth to four daughters. Her family lives and eats by raising crops on a leased farm. She would like to have more children, especially sons. Lately though, there has been a government movement toward smaller families. Besides, they all go to bed still hungry each night, and more children would mean more mouths to feed..
While she was at the local clinic, she learned of a women's textile cooperative which instructs women in the use of cloth dyes and then markets the finished products. She started coming to the center one day a week, which meant valuable time away from the fields and home. Her husband missed her help in the fields and was impatient for her to earn some money to make up for time away from her work. In addition to field work and work at the coop, she grinds grains and cooks food, carries wood and water from a distant source, washes clothes and cares for her small children.
At the coop center there was a reading class. Mwanase wanted to go to it., though this would mean almost another full day away from home. She eventually learned to read and began to see some earnings from her share of cloth sold by the cooperative. She wanted to buy a mechanical wheel for grinding grain, but her husband wanted to use the money to buy more fertilizer for next year's crops. He had the final say.
The fertilizer helped produce a greater yield in the crops and there was more than enough grain to last through the winter. At the cooperative Mwanase is now teaching other women how to dye cloth in traditional patterns.
Some stories have happy endings… which are really new beginnings. Efforts like CROP walk help provide such new beginnings - in our world… in our country… and in our community.
So, having the resources, do we have the will? This leads us to the connection between hunger of the body (world) and hunger of our souls.
In Isaiah we read, "If you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday." How often have we discovered our own spirits are lifted as we have served a greater need than our own?
In Matthew’s gospel it says, Then the righteous (those who are right with God) will answer him, “Lord, when was it we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?”…And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” …just as you did it to one of the least of these
Our spiritual hunger - that which leads us to seek the presence of God in our lives - is not only about worship. It is about how our hearts are changed by what we have received - whether that has been in blessings and abundance, comfort in our times of need … forgiveness… or hope… Worship brings us close to God - to communion with Jesus - that we may give thanks, but that is not all. We are then called out into the world to be the heart and hands and feet that bring God’s love to others.
This is not only what is required as our offering, This is what will feed our own hunger for “righteousness” - truth, goodness, justice, peace…
Jesus said, “You are the light of the world” … “You will do even greater things …” “Feed my sheep…”
Our sense of God in our lives and in the world - that which feeds our hunger and thirst for meaning - is fed as we respond.
II Corinthians 9:8: “ God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough … you may share abundantly ….
May we be fed by our feeding of others; and may our thirst for living waters become a spring that quenches, that overflows, with goodness. Amen
Monday, September 28, 2009
Tripping, Slipping, Catching and Holding 09/27/09
09/27/09
SERMON “Tripping, Slipping, Catching and Holding”
SCRIPTURE READINGS: James 5:13-16, Mark 9:38-41
Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us doing a good deed, healing someone, casting out demons. We tried to stop them, for they are not followers…
Jesus says Those who are not against us, are for us. The reward will come to them as well.
Today is the day set aside by the United Church of Christ to honor our Native American brothers and sisters. A people who, in our ancestors quest for freedom, were displaced from their lands and homes. It’s ironic how time and again in history, the quest for freedom – freedom to live and worship and work and learn – this quest for freedom has been the gain of one group at the cost of another.
Even Moses, as he led his people to freedom, eventually landed them in Canaan across the river Jordan where great battles took place in the gaining of freedom and the promised land and the loss of freedom for the Canaanites. Now I’ll grant that is an oversimplification, but not without truth. Freedom to worship God and live accordingly has led to war countless times in countless places.
If only we could learn to seek peaceful ways of co-existence. It’s not hopeless. While we have not made great strides everywhere… we have in some places. As our world becomes a smaller place due to ease of travel and communication, we begin to grow in our understanding of one another; we begin to see merit in perspectives and ways different from our own; we begin to suspect that the freedoms we seek can even be enhanced by an openness to our differences.
I think most of us have had the opportunity to see… or hear… or read something that shows the beauty of the spirituality of Native Americans, and other indigenous peoples… their deep appreciation and care for nature, a kinship with all of creation.
Jesus says Those who are not against us, are for us. The reward will come to them as well.
We are so concerned with being RIGHT; with having the TRUTH, when in truth, it is beyond our capability to grasp THE TRUTH! There is a tale from India about six blind men and an elephant. You may have heard some version of it – this is my version. Six blind men are trying to find the truth about this large THING they have discovered. One holds the tail and says, “I know what this is! It is some kind of rope, frayed at the end.” Another holds a tusk and says, “No! It is a heavy spear – for it is smooth and sharp at the end.” A third says, “ I have been moving my hands over the great broad expanse – it is a wall.” The fourth says” It is rough like bark and round and sturdy – it is a tree!” And the fifth man says,
“ The large softly swaying object is clearly a fan – a great broad leaf fan.” And the sixth, holding the trunk just as the elephant sprays, declares it is a fire hose!
Now, none of them were right …and all of them were right. The tail is like a rope; the tusk like a great spear; the body of an elephant is like a wall, high and wide; the leg is much like the trunk of a tree and the ear is like a great fan. And the elephant’s trunk – a hose it is! But even though each of them held a piece of “truth”, none of them came even close to describing an elephant.
We each hold a bit of the truth… but none the whole. Our different religions and traditions make earnest attempts to understand the truth – Our images and symbols, our words and metaphors - all have truth within them… they are all true… But they are not the whole truth, for we are not able to grasp the whole truth of God.
So when Jesus tells his disciples not to stand in the way of one who is doing the work of God, even though not a “follower…” I believe he is calling all of his disciples to look beyond our differences to see the good we are capable of doing – each in our own way.
That can mean people of another culture, race or religion; or it can be here at church or at home in our families …to see the good we are capable of doing – each in our own way. I learned this lesson the hard way…
Back when I was “just” a minister’s wife, one of the things I took pride in doing was creating all the decorations for our Christmas Fair. Well, then I started seminary. It was clear I wouldn’t have time to do this. A young mother in the congregation came to me and said she would like to do the decorations. In my mind I thought “I don’t know if she can do a good job. The way she dresses and does her hair… well, it certainly isn’t MY taste.” Don’t you hate to confess some of the thoughts that go on in our minds? Of course I said nothing of the sort, and turned the task over to her. Well, she did the decorating and it was just fine – it wasn’t the way I would have done it, but it was just fine. She came up to me after the fair and said, “Thanks you so much for allowing me to do this. It meant so much to me that you had faith in me.” GULP!
Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is to get out of the way and allow them the chance to discover and share THEIR gifts… their own way of doing something. We are called to look beyond our differences to see the good we are capable of doing – each in our own way.
Whether we are of different religions, or races, or backgrounds …or tastes… if we are working to the same end… of healing, peace, justice… then the reward – God’s love and grace – will come to each one.
What does this have to do with the title of my sermon: “tripping, slipping, catching and holding”? On this great journey of faith… LIFE… it’s what we do! We trip over our doubts and fears; we slip in our weakness into habits and behaviors because of those doubts, insecurities and fears.
Because of our beliefs, we can find the strength to rise up, to catch a glimpse of hope and truth. We catch each other – we reach out our hands and pull each other up that we might stand together
And we hold on! We hold on to the truth of our personal experience - that God is good and full of grace. We hold onto the memory of those times that our faith in the unknowable God – our FAITH – has seen us through. We hold onto the hope we have in the promise of a God who, as we read in James, answers the prayers of the suffering; listens with joy to the songs we sing; heals, forgives and raises up all who come in faith… no matter what language, what culture, what race, what symbols, what tradition…
We know this God in the person of Jesus. When we walk on this journey of faith, our lives – tripping, slipping, catching and holding - we as Christians, have a great gift: a friend, a teacher, a savior – that is Jesus, our Christ. Amen
SERMON “Tripping, Slipping, Catching and Holding”
SCRIPTURE READINGS: James 5:13-16, Mark 9:38-41
Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us doing a good deed, healing someone, casting out demons. We tried to stop them, for they are not followers…
Jesus says Those who are not against us, are for us. The reward will come to them as well.
Today is the day set aside by the United Church of Christ to honor our Native American brothers and sisters. A people who, in our ancestors quest for freedom, were displaced from their lands and homes. It’s ironic how time and again in history, the quest for freedom – freedom to live and worship and work and learn – this quest for freedom has been the gain of one group at the cost of another.
Even Moses, as he led his people to freedom, eventually landed them in Canaan across the river Jordan where great battles took place in the gaining of freedom and the promised land and the loss of freedom for the Canaanites. Now I’ll grant that is an oversimplification, but not without truth. Freedom to worship God and live accordingly has led to war countless times in countless places.
If only we could learn to seek peaceful ways of co-existence. It’s not hopeless. While we have not made great strides everywhere… we have in some places. As our world becomes a smaller place due to ease of travel and communication, we begin to grow in our understanding of one another; we begin to see merit in perspectives and ways different from our own; we begin to suspect that the freedoms we seek can even be enhanced by an openness to our differences.
I think most of us have had the opportunity to see… or hear… or read something that shows the beauty of the spirituality of Native Americans, and other indigenous peoples… their deep appreciation and care for nature, a kinship with all of creation.
Jesus says Those who are not against us, are for us. The reward will come to them as well.
We are so concerned with being RIGHT; with having the TRUTH, when in truth, it is beyond our capability to grasp THE TRUTH! There is a tale from India about six blind men and an elephant. You may have heard some version of it – this is my version. Six blind men are trying to find the truth about this large THING they have discovered. One holds the tail and says, “I know what this is! It is some kind of rope, frayed at the end.” Another holds a tusk and says, “No! It is a heavy spear – for it is smooth and sharp at the end.” A third says, “ I have been moving my hands over the great broad expanse – it is a wall.” The fourth says” It is rough like bark and round and sturdy – it is a tree!” And the fifth man says,
“ The large softly swaying object is clearly a fan – a great broad leaf fan.” And the sixth, holding the trunk just as the elephant sprays, declares it is a fire hose!
Now, none of them were right …and all of them were right. The tail is like a rope; the tusk like a great spear; the body of an elephant is like a wall, high and wide; the leg is much like the trunk of a tree and the ear is like a great fan. And the elephant’s trunk – a hose it is! But even though each of them held a piece of “truth”, none of them came even close to describing an elephant.
We each hold a bit of the truth… but none the whole. Our different religions and traditions make earnest attempts to understand the truth – Our images and symbols, our words and metaphors - all have truth within them… they are all true… But they are not the whole truth, for we are not able to grasp the whole truth of God.
So when Jesus tells his disciples not to stand in the way of one who is doing the work of God, even though not a “follower…” I believe he is calling all of his disciples to look beyond our differences to see the good we are capable of doing – each in our own way.
That can mean people of another culture, race or religion; or it can be here at church or at home in our families …to see the good we are capable of doing – each in our own way. I learned this lesson the hard way…
Back when I was “just” a minister’s wife, one of the things I took pride in doing was creating all the decorations for our Christmas Fair. Well, then I started seminary. It was clear I wouldn’t have time to do this. A young mother in the congregation came to me and said she would like to do the decorations. In my mind I thought “I don’t know if she can do a good job. The way she dresses and does her hair… well, it certainly isn’t MY taste.” Don’t you hate to confess some of the thoughts that go on in our minds? Of course I said nothing of the sort, and turned the task over to her. Well, she did the decorating and it was just fine – it wasn’t the way I would have done it, but it was just fine. She came up to me after the fair and said, “Thanks you so much for allowing me to do this. It meant so much to me that you had faith in me.” GULP!
Sometimes the greatest gift we can give someone is to get out of the way and allow them the chance to discover and share THEIR gifts… their own way of doing something. We are called to look beyond our differences to see the good we are capable of doing – each in our own way.
Whether we are of different religions, or races, or backgrounds …or tastes… if we are working to the same end… of healing, peace, justice… then the reward – God’s love and grace – will come to each one.
What does this have to do with the title of my sermon: “tripping, slipping, catching and holding”? On this great journey of faith… LIFE… it’s what we do! We trip over our doubts and fears; we slip in our weakness into habits and behaviors because of those doubts, insecurities and fears.
Because of our beliefs, we can find the strength to rise up, to catch a glimpse of hope and truth. We catch each other – we reach out our hands and pull each other up that we might stand together
And we hold on! We hold on to the truth of our personal experience - that God is good and full of grace. We hold onto the memory of those times that our faith in the unknowable God – our FAITH – has seen us through. We hold onto the hope we have in the promise of a God who, as we read in James, answers the prayers of the suffering; listens with joy to the songs we sing; heals, forgives and raises up all who come in faith… no matter what language, what culture, what race, what symbols, what tradition…
We know this God in the person of Jesus. When we walk on this journey of faith, our lives – tripping, slipping, catching and holding - we as Christians, have a great gift: a friend, a teacher, a savior – that is Jesus, our Christ. Amen
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