Worship September 23, 2012

“The Greatest”

September 23, 2012

Mark 9:30-37

The Pastoral Prayer

O God, we praise your name for the wonders of your creation. Wonder of wonders, we are in awe of your power, and we sing your praises.

We thank you for the wonders we have seen with our own eyes here in Ohio.  The beauty of autumn and the joy of human love.  We thank you just for being alive and awake, and for the joy of being here today.

But we are aware of conflict in the world.  We pray for American diplomats in all places.  We pray for those who would attack our embassies and missions in the misguided belief that we have injured their faith. May they find peace of mind and clarity of thought. We pray for the people of Syria, where one in ten citizens there is a brother or sister in Christ caught in a full scale civil war. 

We pray for the American service personnel who are seeking peace in many places around the world.  May their work result in a just and lasting peace, and may they come home safe, and sound, and soon.

We pray for those whose lives are affected by drought.  We complain about the weather, but what is happened in too many places is life or livelihood threatening.  We pray that you will open our hearts and our hands to help.

We pray today for those in pain--whether the pain of physical illness or the pain of grief.  Grant them healing and peace.

We especially pray for the concerns of our Saturday morning guests, whose difficulties are many.  Grant them your loving consolation

We pray for those who serve our cities, county, and townships, especially our own Russ.  Grant them patience, courage, mercy, and understanding in the difficult service they provide.

We know that much of what is on our hearts is unspoken, and we ask that you will hear us in our silence as we pray.

We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus, our Christ.  Amen.

Mark 9:30 They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise." ³²But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.

³³They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" ³⁴But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." ³⁶He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷"Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

I know you've heard words like these at a funeral.  “She was the greatest Christian this congregation has ever known. Her prayers at the communion table were just perfect.  Perfect.  We just know that such a good woman is in heaven now.”  “No greater bass ever sang in our choir.  He was the greatest.  Heaven's choir now has the best bass section—ever!”

A fable from Fr. Andrew Greeley:  Once upon a time, a CEO of a large and important corporation groomed two of his brightest young executives for rapid promotion because they were so creative and so intelligent and so hard working. Everyone knew, including the executives whom he had passed over, that one or the other of these men would be the next CEO. One was named president of the company and the other the Vice CEO. They had been close friends for twenty years and their combined talents and dedication had been responsible for the rapid growth of the firm. However, once it became clear to both of them that only one could win the prize, they began to try to undercut one another. Their friendship ended. Their wives stopped speaking to one another (though they had been friends too). The other executives enjoyed the rivalry and plotted how they could undercut both of them. Now the big problem was that the two stopped cooperating with one another and that cooperation had been the key to firm’s success. Sales fell off, a little bit and then a lot. Wall Street, as you can imagine, didn't like that at all. Two months before the CEO was to retire, the board of directors intervened and fired him. Then they brought in a new CEO from another company. Everyone said that if the two crown princes had only cooperated a little more, they both would have won. Two children, an analyst said, could have run that company, it was so successful, but these adults couldn't.

Who is the greatest? What an interesting debate the disciples entered into. Perhaps they never intended Jesus to hear their debate. Whoever started the debate probably was really embarrassed when Jesus called them onto the carpet. Who is the greatest? Who is the most spiritual? Who prays the most? Who can follow Jesus the farthest without his sandals hurting his feet? Who can nod the hardest when Jesus tells off a Pharisee? Who deserves to sit on the front pew? Which begs the question: who is the worst? Who is the most pathetic? Who is the worst elder?  Who lost his job and can’t help pay the bills? Who lost her husband and can’t stop grieving? Who has doubts and questions and problems and can’t cope with life on their own? Who is the best, who is the worst?

Don’t we ask the same questions? How long did you pray? How much of the Bible did you read? Why don’t we rank ourselves 1-12? As if spirituality could be ranked. As if Christianity was about numbers, and salaries, and how many books you’ve written. And then the elderly and children – they can’t help mow the lawn – are they worth anything at all? Where do they rank?

To make matters worse, Jesus continues to shame the 12 disciples. Jesus responds, “to be my disciples, you must abandon seeking position and rank.” In verse 35, he tells them they must become servants.  In verses 36-37, he tells them that welcoming a child in my name is to welcome God himself. Whoever receives a servant receives the master. Whoever receives a child receives Jesus, and whoever receives Jesus receives God. Both child and servant are without status. They can’t pay you back.

In antiquity, childhood was a time of terror. Infant mortality was about one third. 2/3 of children died before the age of 16. Disease and hygiene wiped out 2/3 of the child population. This might be a cultural norm we don’t understand, but ancient Middle Eastern cultures denigrated children as nearly useless. Even medieval theologian Thomas Aquinas taught that in a fire a husband was first obliged to save his father, then Grandma, then his wife, and then if he had time save the children. During famine children were also last to be fed….survival of the fittest. Survival of the greatest. Survival of the best. When Jesus tells the people to become like little children, he insults them, he insults their culture, he insults their values. When children finally reached maturity they finally have value. At least the boys. This continues in cultures today. The world is not interested in a world where rank and stature don’t matter. We make victims out of the powerless.

For most of us, the incident in our scripture would be a very discouraging time.  It had been only recently that Simon Peter had identified Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus now for the second time tells the disciples he will be put to death.  He is on the way to Jerusalem where he will be denied by Peter, betrayed by one of his disciples and be arrested, tried and condemned to death.

Now this.  Out on the Capernaum Road, just when the crisis begins to intensify, the disciples are arguing about who is the greatest.  Seem unbelievable?  Think about it.  The world we live in is no less troubled than the world of Peter, James and John and the village of Capernaum.  While churches squabble, cities crumble.  Christians debate as societies decay.  Religious parties struggle while children starve.

Jesus did not go to the rich or powerful or famous to gather troops for his movement. He chose the "rag-tag" crew on the Capernaum road and still  chooses people like you and me to build the church and carry God's  good news to a fractured world.

There is an old legend that tells how Jesus, after his ascension, was asked by the angels how he planned to complete his mission. The angels were incredulous.  "Them?" they exclaimed pointing to the fearful, unlearned disciples who stood lost and confused on the earth below, "You are going to depend on them to complete your mission?"

"That's correct," Jesus answers.

"And should they fail??" the angels counter, "If they are not capable of carrying on your work, do you have a back-up plan?"

"They are my only plan," Jesus says.

There are two key issues in our gospel lesson about the way Jesus intended to shape imperfect people into bearers of his good news.

·       He chose people who were teachable

·       He chose people regardless of their station in life

[1] Jesus took his disciples aside and did some teaching about what it means to be great.  Because they were teachable and receptive of his words, there was hope for their transformation.  The word of Christ was the transforming power and the teachability of the disciples was the transforming premise.

"If you want to be first, you must be last," he taught them.  They had argued about who would be the greatest in terms of the world's view of greatness.  In the eyes of God, however, greatness is measured by servanthood.  Those who live with a "me first" attitude will come in last with God.  Those who live with a "you first" attitude in the family of faith will come in first with God.  Jesus would continue on from this event to his arrest and crucifixion in Jerusalem.  The disciples would witness the greatest "you first"  in all of history.

[2]  Jesus set a child in the midst of his followers and said that the welcoming of a little child was a welcoming of Christ himself.  To welcome a child is to welcome the most vulnerable and the most insignificant.  This was a great reversal of the "children should be seen and not heard" attitude of his world.  If fact it was more than that.  Women, children, gentiles, the sick and the dispossessed were the insignificant and even rejected part of society.   A male, Jewish Pharisee was at the top of the ladder, a gentile woman was a "dog."

Jesus turned all of this inside out and upside down.  He chose the fisherman and tax collector over the priest and the scribe.  He put a child first and a ruler last.

The way up with God is down!

Here's the genius of the Master's plan.  Whenever the followers of Jesus Christ would think about the fact that Jesus had chosen them - of all people - to carry on his mission, they would automatically be called back to the heart of the good news of God.  "If God can love even me, then God's love is truly for everyone!"

Here's Jesus's plan for us today  It's as easy as ABC.

Acceptance:  Jesus Christ has accepted us for who wee are and his spirit works within us to make us who God wants us to be.  Our acceptance by Christ translates into our acceptance of others.

Belief:  I believe or trust that Jesus Christ knows what he is doing by choosing me for his work.  I may feel insignificant or powerless to help with his mission, but the fact is that as a Christian, I am chosen to bear the good news to others.  The greatest of all might find it demeaning to share her faith with others, but the least among us should have no problem

Commitment:  I make a commitment to choose the way of Christ instead of the way of the world when it comes to the meaning of greatness.  Instead of "me first" - it is "Christ first."  Instead of "my way" it is "his way."

How many of you remember Gale Sayers?  Sayers was an extremely gifted running back for the University of Kansas and the Chicago Bears.  There are still records he holds in the NFL, even though he retired in 1971. 

He published an autobiography that year that I read--along with thousands of teenage boys who were sports fans.  It had a curious title--I Am Third.  He explains in the book that his philosophy in life that God is first, others are second, and I (Sayers) am third.  God First, others next, me last.  How far in life do you suppose you can go if you don’t put yourself first?

Sayers has been successful in everything he has done--from university athletics administration to the computer business, he’s finished near the top every time--by putting himself last.

You see, being last is the way to being first.  Who is the greatest?  Whover would be the least.  What do you think?

Offering

Invitation

It is so easy to talk about something, so much harder to do it. Scripture tells us that words and intent only count when they are backed up by action. Our offering is one way we take action for God’s ministry and focus our lives on being God’s servants. With this offering, we intentionally demonstrate our support for the church. Remember, it is an act of worship to give to God. Our offerings will now be presented.

Prayer

God of deliverance, help us to remember to put action behind our words. Please accept the offerings we give as our sacrifice and praise. Enliven us to do your work, and grace us with the wisdom to make good choices with our gifts. Amen.

Benediction

  In the power of the Spirit, we now go forth into the world, to be third.

Go in peace, love and care for one another in Christ's name,

and May God smile upon your every moment,

may The Spirit energize your every hour,

and may The Living Word guide your every step along the way

this both now and forevermore.  Amen.

September 16, 2012

“The Power of the Word

James 3:1-12

September 16, 2012

The Prayers of the People

With our tongues we bless the Lord and Father and beg for mercy on all in need.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Regional Ministers Bill, Steve, LaTaunya, and Brenda, for this gathering, and for the whole people of God in every place.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Elders, our Board Chair, Laurie, and all the leaders of First Christian Church.

Lord, have mercy.

For mercy, peace, and justice among all peoples.

Lord, have mercy.

For the families of those killed by violence at the American consulate in Libya, an all victims of violence.

Lord, have mercy.

For those who run for public office and their families,

Lord, have mercy.

For abundant fruits of the earth, and for safety from violent storms.

Lord, have mercy.

For the sick and the suffering, travelers, prisoners, captives, and their families, and all those in desperate need.

Lord, have mercy.

For our city and those who live in it, and for our families, companions, and all those we

love.

Lord, have mercy.

For those who rest in Christ and for all the dead.

Lord, have mercy.

For all that we pray in silence.

Lord, have mercy.

Lifting our voices with all creation, let us offer ourselves and one another to the living God. To you, O Lord. God of infinite mercy, hear the prayers we offer this day through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

James 3.1-12

3.1Brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers, because we know that we teachers will be judged more strictly. ² We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. ³ When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies.

⁴ Consider ships: they are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them. But pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. ⁵ In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly.

Think about this: a small flame can set a whole forest on fire. ⁶ The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell.

⁷ People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish.

⁸ But, No one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

⁹ With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way!

¹¹ Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they?

¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs?

Of course not, and fresh water doesn’t flow from a saltwater spring either.

In my first round of graduate school at Tulane University more than thirty years ago, their was a young woman named Eileen in our group—a lovely woman—beautiful, talented, intelligent. But, there was just one thing about her. She had the most foul vocabulary you could imagine. To say that she cursed like a sailor was an insult to sailors everywhere.

Anyway, one day, we were working together on a project—all of us in the group, about six of us, and Eileen let loose one of her typical streams of obscenities, profanities, and vulgarities, prompting one of the other grad students who'd finally had enough to inquire, “Hey,Eileen, do you eat with that mouth?”

She shut up.

The implication was clear. How could you possibly put food in the same mouth which produced such filth? Surely doing so would make one ill. Such is the power of the word.

What's that rhyme we were taught to say when we were called names as children? Oh, yeah, “Sticks and stones may beak my bone, but words will never hurt me.” The very existence of this saying proves that it is a lie. Words do hurt—perhaps even more than sticks and stones and fists and kicks. Maybe even more than knives and bullets. Such is the power of the word.

The story is told of two women in a church. One of them told a juicy piece of gossip against the other—and it was false, of course. And the one who had sinned against her sister went to the pastor and told him, “I have sinned against my church and my sister, and I seek your forgiveness and God's forgiveness.”

The pastor said, “You must perform an act of contrition, first.”

“Anything,” the woman begged, “anything.”

The pastor asked, “Do you have a down pillow at you home?”

She said she did. She was told to go and get it.

The pastor stood with the woman on the front lawn of the church, and pretty soon, the whole congregation gathered on the lawn with them.

The pastor then took out a large knife and split the pillow in two, allowing the feathers to scatter to the wind.

And then, he said to the woman, “Go collect all the feathers, and put them back in the pillow.”

“But, that's impossible,” she complained. “They're everywhere! There's no way to put them pack.”

And the pastor said, “Nor is there any way to repair your sister's reputation. Once you speak, it is hard to take back a word.”

Which is another lie we tell as children. We demand that something offensive, or disagreeable, or false be taken back. But, we know that no word, once spoken can ever be recalled. Such is the power of the word.

Remember the children's moment? It's very easy to get toothpaste out of the tube, but very difficult to get it back in. No, impossible.

But, that is not the way we were ever meant use our tongues.

God loves to be praised. God loves to be worshiped.

In the Garden of Eden, the purpose of the tongue was to give praise and thanksgiving to God and to one another.

It amazes me but there is something about God that really enjoys praise and thanksgiving. God needs it. God takes pleasure in it. God asks for it. All through the Bible, God wants and asks for praise and thanksgiving. The psalms are filled with praise and thanksgiving. These psalms are filled with it, as if God wants it. As if God needs it. As if God absolutely enjoys it.

We human beings are the same. In fact, all people that I know enjoy praise and thanksgiving. I will ask you. Is there anyone here that does not enjoy praise? Is there anyone here who does not enjoy praise? I will ask you another question: is there anyone here in this room who does not enjoy thanksgiving? Is there anyone here like that?

Why is it that all human beings enjoy praise and thanksgiving? Because we are made in the image of God. We are like God, and God likes praise and thanksgiving. God expects it. God desires it. God absolutely exults in it. And we are the same as God.

And, God does not like to be judged, ridiculed, ignored, belittled, or put down. God does not like that. We don’t either. And why don’t we like that? Because we are in the image of God. We are like God. And God put a tongue in our mouth to do that, to give thanks and praise.

God didn’t put a brain in our head so we could think praise and thanksgiving towards God and others. God didn’t simply put a heart in our bodies so we could feel praise and thanksgiving. But God gave us a tongue so we could express praise and thanksgiving to God and to one another. That is the purpose of the tongue: to express praise and thanksgiving to God and to one another.

This is at the heart of a person’s self esteem. All people, whether they be little children or older adults, need strong self esteem. Self esteem is built and nourished and enlarged when those people receive praise and thanksgiving. As much as a garden needs rain in order to grow, so we need praise and thanksgiving to be healthy human beings. That is the way we are wired. Such is the power of the word.

The opposite is also true. The cruelest, unkind things you can ever do is to withhold praise and thanksgiving from God or from one another. To withhold praise and thanksgiving from a child is one of the cruelest things that could ever be done to a child. And to withhold praise and thanksgiving from a youth, is one of the cruelest things that a person could do. To withhold praise and thanksgiving from one’s spouse or children or family or friends, that is not the way God made us. God has made the tongue in such a way is that we are to express praise and thanksgiving…to sinful people. Some folks have the attitude, “Well, if you are good enough, then I will tell you how much I love you.” No, the whole concept of grace is to express praise and thanksgiving to sinful imperfect people since that is the only kind of people that there are.

A word. It is so small. It is so small but it is so significant. You can take a little rudder and you can steer a great big ship. You can take a small bridle and you can steer a great big horse. You take words and steer the whole direction of our personality. Jesus said, “This is the fundamental moral law by which you are to live. Treat others ass you would have them treat you.”

If you don’t believe words can steer you like a rudder steers a ship, let me give you an assignment: For every person you meet this week, try to find at least one word of praise or thanksgiving--or both. I promise you will feel better about yourself in the process. And that will be Good news for you, Good News for Mansfield, Good news for First Christian Church, and Good News for the world. Amen.

September 9, 2012

“Mercy, God’s Trump Card

James 2.1-17

September 9, 2012

The Pastoral Prayer

Gracious and ever-loving God:

This is the day which you have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. We come to you today as a people in great joy to be alive. To be alive in Ohio in late summer is indeed a delight. We thank you for the cooler temperatures and the rain we’ve experienced this week. We thank you for the joy of gathering in this place to praise your name and simply to be together. We are a joyful people indeed.

And yet we have concerns. We are concerned about those we love whose lives are hurt by disease and other threats, and we pray for healing and wholeness.

We are concerned for those for whom the weather is more than a matter for passing conversation. For those still without power and those whose homes have been damaged. We pray for quick resolution and help.

We pray for the state of Ohio and its leaders. Especially, we pray for our Governor John, our Lt. Governor Mary, our Senator Kris, and our Representative Jay. Give them all your wisdom, mercy, and justice.

And we are concerned for your Church. Give us wisdom as we vote today and the spirit of fellowship to live with the decision.

There are joys and concerns which we carry on our hearts but have not spoken with our lips. Hear us even in our silence.

We pray in the name of Jesus, our Christ. Amen.

James 2.1-17

My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?

8You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 9But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? 15If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

One of our wonderful church members wrote a piece on Facebook a couple of weeks ago about the folks she sees out there carrying the placards which read “God hates fags,” and how hurtful they are to innocent people. She eloquently denounced them--which made me proud. You’ve probably seen them--the Rev. Fred Phelps and his little band from Topeka, KS. They protested at Matthew Shepard’s funeral in Wyoming a few years back. They protest at the funerals of soldiers, and sailors, and airmen, and marines, because they’ve somehow gotten into their head that America, because it is a free country and doesn’t kill all the people that Fred doesn’t like, that God hates America, and that our fine young men and women are getting what they deserve. A couple of weeks back, they were protesting businesses in Florida--I think just to embarrass the Republicans at their convention.

Fred calls President Obama the Anti-Christ--and lest some of you Republicans get too smug, I can’t repeat what he called President Bush. And they don’t just do these things in Topeka, they travel all around the world to show their hatred for gays, lesbians, America, pretty much everybody but themselves. A few years back, they picketed outside one our Disciples’ General Assemblies because they thought we welcomed everybody, which is pretty much true.

When my daughter Deejay once asked me why they do this, the best answer I could come up with, is the one which will permeate our lesson for today. It is because they can only see God as a God of judgment, and not a God of mercy.

Now, I know that we in our congregation are not of one mind on the issue of gay and lesbian folk in the church. There’s no point in preaching about stuff we all agree on. But, I don’t know anyone among us who doesn’t believe that there is anyone in this world--Rev. Phelps, included--that God did not send Jesus to save.

What’s the best known verse of scripture? Say it with me--any version or read it:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever would believe in him would not die, but live forever.” ^{John 3:16}

God so loved all the…straight people? No. God so loved only the Americans? No. God so loved only the protesters from Topeka? No. God so loved the world! Why? Because God is a God of mercy and not one of judgment.

God so loved the world--the whole world: gay and straight, black and white, married and single, young and old, rich and poor--the whole world, God loves.

And speaking of rich and poor, The Reverend Sharon Kiesel once told me that she dressed up as a bag lady one Sunday and came in here, and messed with your heads.

Let’s face it, we are a mostly well-to-do suburbanite congregation and don’t quite know how to deal with our downtown neighbors. James says that when we partial to the rich over the poor, we have become a part of the judgment of the world rather than the mercy of God.

In dealing with the matter of partiality and mercy, James talks about the law, but in a different way than Paul talked about the law. When Paul talked about the law, it was mostly about being fit for worship--being kosher is the closest we might come to it in a modern understanding. You had to keep yourself clean to be fit for worship.

But James is looking at the social aspects of the law--and he uses the Ten Commandments as an example. For Jews of that time, all the commandments were connected--and there were more than 800, not just the ten. So if you broke one, you’ve broken them all. If you commit murder, you’re also an adulterer. And if you fail to observe the parts of the law which call on you to take heed of the poor in your community, then you are a murderer, also.

How can you possibly avoid breaking these laws and escaping the judgment of God? By taking on the law of liberty, and moving into God’s economy of grace and mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

How many of you have ever played contract bridge? I played as a child with my parents and my brother, and then went to a college where face cards were evil and so we played with Rook cards that just had colors and numbers--but guess what, you can play poker with those, too! Anyway, in both bridge and Rook, a trump suit is selected at the beginning of each hand. And during the course of play, when a trump card is played, it beats all the other cards in play.

Mercy is God’s trump card. Mercy is synonymous with grace. Grace and Mercy trump everything else on the table of the universe because our God is a loving God whose mercies are new every morning. Remember the definition of grace we’ve worked with before?

Grace means nothing you can do can make God love you any more than God already loves you now. Grace means nothing you can do can make God love you any less than God loves you now.

The writer of Lamentations nailed it--God’s mercies are new every morning. God is a God of mercy, and not of judgment.

The last paragraph of this passage has been one of the most misunderstood sentences in scripture. Faith without works, is dead. Not just dead, but quite dead. Dead dead. How can something be more that just dead? But, that’s the way that James feels about it!

Too many interpreters of this passage have thought that James was hinging salvation on this matter--that you couldn’t gain God’s favor unless you carried out good works, which sends flies into the ointment of grace.

I don’t think that’s what James has at stake, here. For James, works are a participation in God’s mercy which produces a living faith. Living faith has legs on it. Living faith, doesn’t just stand around, it does something. Living faith doesn’t just send the hungry away, it gives them food, or the means to procure it. Living faith can’t see the difference between someone dressed in the finest of Armani suits and the rags of the street. Mercy has hands and feet and uses them without falling into the traps of judgment. Living faith is active.

I mentioned a moment ago the folks from Topeka with their hate signs picketing the Disciples General Assembly. I was never more proud of our Disciples youth than when they made placards of their own and went out on the sidewalk across from Rev. Phelps and his flock. There they countered the hate and anger of those folks with signs which read: “God Loves You, Fred.”

Mercy trumps judgment.

Ours is a God of mercy.

And that is Good News which we ought to share with all our neighbors. Otherwise, our faith is quite, well, you know. Amen.

Offertory

Every offering is an expression of faith in God’s providential care for us. And a spirit-led offering is the embodiment of the worshiper’s gratitude, thanksgiving, joy, and love. Let us express our faith, gratitude and love by presenting our tithes and offerings.

Everything in heaven and earth comes from you, Lord. We give you only what is yours. May you be praised forever and ever. We dedicate this money, Lord, for the work of the church, and we ask you to use all that we have and are in your service. Amen.³

Benediction

Go in peace and care for one another in Christ's name

- and may God,

whose embrace encompasses the universe and all that is in it,

- and Christ Jesus,

who touched and healed the rich and the poor and the sinner and the

saint,

- and the Holy Spirit,

who comforts those who mourn

and inspires those who are poor of Spirit,

be with you all,

both now and forevermore. Amen.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

“Even Our Prayers?”

I Kings 8:22-30, 41-43

August 26, 2012

The Pastoral Prayer

O God, we praise your name for the wonders of your creation. Even as the Mars Rover Curiosity is expanding our knowledge of your creation in the universe, new species are being discovered on this planet. Wonder of wonders, we are in awe of your power, and we sing your praises.

We thank you for the wonders we have seen with our own eyes here in Ohio. The beauty of the earth and the joy of human love. We thank you just for being alive and awake.

But we are aware of conflict in the world. We pray for the people of Syria, where one in ten citizens there is a brother or sister in Christ. We pray for those caught up in conflict in Burma and Bangladesh, and in internal strife in Kenya and Iraq. We hurt for our neighbors in conflict and pray for peace.

We pray for the American service personnel who are seeking peace in many places around the world. May their work result in a just and lasting peace, and may they come home safe, and sound, and soon.

We pray today for those in pain--whether the pain of physical illness or the pain of grief. Give them healing and peace.

We especially pray for the concerns of our Saturday morning guests, whose difficulties are many. Grant them your loving consolation

We pray for those who serve our cities, county and townships, especially our own Russ. Grant them patience, courage, mercy, and understanding in the difficult service they provide.

We pray for the students and teachers and administrators who have returned to school this week. Give them fresh eyes for new knowledge and a sense of wonder about all they teach and learn.

We know that much of what is on our hearts is unspoken, and we ask that you will hear us in our silence as we pray.

We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus, our Christ. Amen.

1 Kings 8:22-30, 41-43

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven.

He said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and steadfast love for your servants who walk before you with all their heart, the covenant that you kept for your servant my father David as you declared to him; you promised with your mouth and have this day fulfilled with your hand.

Therefore, O Lord, God of Israel, keep for your servant my father David that which you promised him, saying, ‘There shall never fail you a successor before me to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your children look to their way, to walk before me as you have walked before me.’ Therefore, O God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you promised to your servant my father David.

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, much less this house that I have built! Regard your servant’s prayer and his plea, Lord my God, heeding the cry and the prayer that your servant prays to you today; that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you said, ‘My name shall be there,’ that you may heed the prayer that your servant prays toward this place. Hear the plea of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place; O hear in heaven your dwelling place; heed and forgive.

“Likewise when a foreigner, who is not of your people Israel, comes from a distant land because of your name—for they shall hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—when a foreigner comes and prays toward this house, then hear in heaven your dwelling place, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your people Israel, and so that they may know that your name has been invoked on this house that I have built.

I remember the first time, six years ago, that I saw this sanctuary. I was captivated by the faceted glass, and the stained glass, and the beautiful peak of the ceiling. I was remembering that this week, and thinking of those of you who saw this sanctuary for the first time together, more than 55 years ago. If you were a part of that dedication service, please stand if you are able. Let's acknowledge these folks for a moment, and then recognize that they have a sense of what today's readings are about.

This lesson for today is part of a larger reading which is Solomon's prayer and the dedication of the first temple of Jerusalem. That prayer and dedication are themselves part of a larger reading which describes the building of the temple, even down to some of its most tedious dimensions.

Perhaps the folks who were a part of that dedication service of this sanctuary as Ben Hegelbarger entered this space can share some of the exhilaration that the people of Jerusalem—even all Israel—must have felt when Solomon led the procession into the magnificent temple for the ceremony we read of today. This temple was certainly the most opulent building ever known to the ancient Israelites. Its massive bowls for lamps and gold and cypress surely would have been an amazing sight to see.

Well, actually, the folks who lived in Jerusalem couldn't help but see it every day—it was on the highest point of Mount Zion in the middle of the city. But, seeing something is different from worshiping in it. To see the Ark of the Covenant—the ornate vessel that was said to carry the presence of God on earth. I can only imagine what those average folks must have felt when they entered that temple, following their king, and the Ark and the Priests and Levites. It must have been an amazing experience. And after all the entrances and the installation of the Ark, Solomon offers a long, very long pastoral prayer. I wonder what those first worshipers in the Temple learned from that prayer? And, more importantly, I wonder what we can learn from that prayer?

First, we learn that God is greater than. Greater than what? Exactly. Solomon acknowledges that God cannot be contained on earth in this fancy building, much less in heaven. The priests must have been edgy at this point—after all, it was the official belief that God's presence on earth was symbolized by the Ark, and now by the Temple itself. And here goes the King, saying that nothing can contain God. Not heaven. Not earth. And certainly not the Temple.

God is greater than. God is greater than our prejudices. God is greater than our politics. God is greater than our religious differences. God is greater than our church buildings. The Lord is greater than any of the ways in which we try to box God in. God is greater than.

The next thing we learn is also about the character of God. It is Solomon's petition that one day, when a foreigner comes to pray toward this house, that God will hear, and answer the foreigner's prayers, so that God will be known by all.. Now, what do you think that meant? Was Israel a pristine race? Not really. Was it so pure in its demographic makeup that there were no non-Israelites living there? No. If you go and read the Torah—the law of ancient Israel—you'll see that it makes numerous references to the strangers (aliens) living among you. Aliens were to be treated the same as everyone else. It really was not a surprise-or it shouldn't have been—to those who heard Jesus say, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” No, This is one prejudice which, at least at this point in Israel's history had been conquered.

I can't help think that this petition prayed by Solomon so long ago is about people who just wouldn't fit into any of the categories he understood, but foreigner was the best he could come up with in his categories. I believe Solomon was thinking of folks who just wouldn't fit in.

Us.

Paul, in the letter to the Romans, describes Christians as being grafted on to the Jewish covenant like a branch grafted on a tree. That grafting, of course, occurs in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Solomon couldn't see that far down the tunnel of history, but remember the trait that he was known for? Wisdom. Solomon knew that there would be folks who wouldn't quite fit in to his understanding of the world and of faith and of covenant would somehow fit into God's understanding of covenant, and he prays that God will hear them, so that all will come to know God.

And so, the second thing we learn about the character of God is—God is Greater than. God is greater than our understanding, and our nationalism.

And then, there's us. Here we are, 25 centuries and more down the line, and what are we to learn from this ancient prayer of King Solomon? In the last section of the sermon, we saw ourselves as the foreigner—the folks who just might not fit in, and yet, we will and we do.

But what does this say to us as we gather in our own temple five decades after we dedicated it? Would Rev. Hegelbarger's prayers that day inform us as much as Solomon's?

I've been thinking about who wouldn't quite fit in, and it's a growing list. First, there's foreigners themselves. Like Jesus said---do for them, do for him.

There are women who work on fourth street selling their bodies. They don't want to be there, and they'd rather do anything else. But there they are. There are gay and lesbian folk. They don’t quite fit in to human understanding, but I believe they do to God.

I read a article describing Mansfield recently which said that it has the most number of churches per-capita in the country, and also the highest heroin usage per-capita. What are we to make of this? We Mansfield folk seek meaning a communion with God. But, we are also a people in pain—physical, emotional, and spiritual pain. And we are just as likely to seek relief in the needle as in the sanctuary. That breaks my heart. Should break yours, too.

The plight of our neighbors is getting worse. The blight in our neighborhood continues to grow.

And here we are, fifty years after we dedicated our temple, not quite knowing what to do. The ministries which need our attention around us are overwhelming. There are so many people who just don't quite fit in—like us as we were grafted into God’s people through Jesus Christ. And we almost don't know where to start.

Really? Let me ask you this. Ten years ago who would have believed that we could feed 300 people on a Saturday morning? Six months ago, would you have believed we could produce a VBS as part of a consortium of six congregations and make a difference in the lives of 80 children?

But, you know what? You did not do this on your own. You did this because—and here's that third point—God is greater than. God is greater than our limitations. God is greater than the boxes we try to keep him in, and God is certainly greater that the boxes we shut ourselves in. God is greater than any of the limits we can place upon ourselves.

God is greater than.

And yet, this great and wonderful God is as near to us as our own breath, and loves us, supports us, and lifts us up.

And in the prayers of Solomon, this great and wonderful God has drawn near to us, and heard our prayers—even our prayers. And, now we pray,

Loving God, we thank you that you have brought us near to you and heard our prayers—even our prayers. We pray that you will strengthen us and give us your imagination as reach out to those who, in our eyes, might not fit is, but in your eyes, are your children. Make us be Good News for Mansfield, and for the world. Amen.

Offering

Invitation

In 1 Kings 8, King Solomon places the ark in the new temple and prays for God’s presence to reside there. We also pray for God’s presence to reside with us in our church. Our building provides space to be with one another in God’s presence. Like Solomon’s temple, our church requires financial support to keep up with repairs and evolving ministry needs. Today, let us consider the importance of our building: what it means to us and to our community. Let us make our offering knowing that part of our financial support will be used to maintain a sacred gathering place for God and the people of God.

Prayer

Creating and sustaining God, you have given us special sacred spaces to gather together for worship, for prayer, for support, and for celebration. Please accept our gifts for the ministry of this congregation and for the church in the world. We pray that in time all people will find sacred spaces where they will feel your presence. Amen.

Benediction

Go in peace and care for one another in Christ's name

- and may the love and the grace of God surround you,

- may the wisdom and the mercy and the power of Christ Jesus fill you

- and may the comfort, the challenge, the wisdom and the power of the

Spirit be with you, both now and forevermore. Amen