Sunday, March 13, 2011

Worship for Sunday, March 13, 2011

The First Sunday in Lent

Theme: Soul Tsunami

Thanks to the good folks at Process and Faith for the Lenten Liturgies

Unison Prayer

Loving God, as we journey through this holy season of Lent, give us strength and courage to make the changes that are needed in our lives. Open our hearts and minds to your steadfast presence and help us to put our trust in you. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

We cannot even imagine the horror that at neighbors in Japan and elsewhere experienced on Friday while we slept, O God.

The power of your sea is beyond our comprehension. We pray for our neighbors who know you by many names. Let them feel your presence and comfort in this frightening time. We pray that you will use us and your church to bring comfort, aid, and your presence to those whose home have been swept away--indeed those whose lives have have been tossed aside by the waters.

We know you are a kind and gentle God, whose tears were mixed in the waters that washed over the land. We pray that you will bring healing to all your people.

We come to you today as a people who have been worn down bit by bit by the snow and ice of winter. As the signs of Spring crawl forth, lighten our hearts during this lengthening of the days.

We praise you and thank you for your unfailing love. We ask that you teach us to love as you do, without reservation or even expectation.

We pray for our Governor John, our Senator Kris, and our Representative Jay. May they know your wisdom, mercy, compassion, justice, and strength as they serve this great State of Ohio.

We are aware of many who need your healing touch. Some whose names we have called, others we kept silent. Hear us now as we pray for the sick and bereaved.

These are our cares, concerns, fears, and hopes. We leave them with you in the name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. ³The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” ⁴But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ⁵Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” ⁷Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” ⁸Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; ⁹and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” ¹⁰Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” ¹¹Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

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The defining moment for me in this week’s sermon preparation was not in reading the texts for today. Not in working in the books in my study. Not in scouring the internet for interesting items about this passage.

I did all those things, and I still came up with the same message on Jesus in the wilderness that I’ve been preaching, well, forever (should I keep doing that until I get it right?).

The pivotal moment in my thinking this week happened on Friday morning as I watched a scientist from the United States Geological Survey explain the mechanics of a tsunami.

The particular tsunami on everyone’s mind was the one that struck Japan, Hawaii, and other Pacific coastlines that morning.

This is what happened.

Eighty miles from the East Coast of Japan, and more than fifteen miles down, tectonic plates--massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock under the earth--collided, rupturing the earth’s crust along a one-hundred eighty mile stretch.

The ocean floor was then thrust upward with enough energy to displace an enormous amount of water, churning up huge waves that swept across swaths of the Japan coast and tore across the open ocean at the speed of a jet plane.

A major unseen phenomenon manifested itself in something so big that the whole world could not help but notice. That’s a tsunami.

When I heard her describe this incredible event, I thought, “that’s what we need.”

No, I’m not saying we need waves to wash over Richland County, wreaking devastation in their path.

What we need is a tsunami of the soul.

In Lent, we seek to open ourselves to the love and grace of God. To lay our souls bare, that God make mold us and use us to change the world in the name of Jesus Christ.

Some people like to “give something up” for Lent. A habit, an indulgence, something that we enjoy--caffeine, alcohol, sodas, desserts. The idea is that a “fasting” of sorts will help us to be more open to God’s movement within us.

I’ve always thought that giving something up with out giving the resources for them away is hollow. In other words, if you decide that you’re going to give up you $3.79 mocha latte every day, great. But to truly make it a redemptive sacrifice, you might want to give the 40 days worth of overpriced coffee to the poor, or to relief efforts that will help people in the Pacific who’ve been hurt by this event. That would come to $151.60, by the way.

But, unless that changes us beyond the 40 days, what good is it? What Lent demands is a rigorous self-examination. A thorough inspection of our very being and a laying bare of our souls before God--not only for our own sake, but so that God can change us that we might change the world in Jesus’ name.

At First Christian Church, we’re trying to lay bare our collective soul in a process called New Beginnings. In this process, we are asking questions like, “who are we?” Who are we really? When you peel us back to tectonic plates at our core, who are we?

What is it that we are passionate about?

What is it that we do with excellence?

What are the resources with which God has blessed us?

And where do these areas overlap? What is that we are at our core?

And the big Lenten question--when we can look at who we are at our very core, how can God use us in Christ’s mission in the world--from our doorsteps to the ends of the earth?

It would seem to me that a tsunami of the soul--whether of the church or of each of us as individual parts of that body--would begin at that core of who we really are.

I started praying on Friday that God would shake us so hard at our very core that it would create a sea change in the world around us during this season of Lent. That we would be broken at our very core and changed--convicted by our Lenten self-reflection--that waves which could not be ignored would swell up and wash over our family, friends, and neighbors.

That’s the point of Lent--self-reflection and not navel gazing. Reflecting on who we are as God’s people, and who we are in relationship to the world. It ‘s not enough to ask, “who are we?” We must also ask how will we relate to our neighbors? How will we safeguard God’s creation? How will we advocate for justice in the world?

Jesus came out of waters of baptism and embarked on his 40 days in the wilderness.

That calls to mind the journey of the Israelites--who passed through the waters of the Sea of Reeds to spend 40 years in the wilderness. It was in this time that they struggled with their identity as God’s people. They asked themselves, “Is the Lord with us or not?” They received, rejected, and received again the Law at Mount Sinai. They re-covenanted with God as they sought find their core.

Jesus struggled to find his core, too. He stripped away all else and faced temptations--temptations that Henri Nouwen characterizes the temptations as to be relevant ("Turn these stones to bread."), to be spectacular ("Throw yourself from the temple."), and to be powerful ("I will give you the kingdoms of the world.").

Jesus rejected all of these things in his journey. He would not be a Savior who does tricks on command. He would not take the easy way out. He would walk with the people, and share their pain and struggles.

And today, as we face our wilderness, we are not alone. Jesus walks with us and shares our pain and struggles. And is with us in the shaking of our foundations as the world waits and wonders, “what kind of church is this? Who and what is god calling us to be? Why are we in this place at this time? What will the tsunami look like which arises from our shaking at the core?”

Over the next few weeks, we will journey with Jesus through our own wilderness--as we journey together through New Beginnings. I’m praying we get shook up pretty good.

What are you praying for?

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Offering

Deuteronomy 26 says “...take some of all the first fruits of what you grow in the

land that God, your God, is giving you, put them in a basket and go to the place God,

your God, sets apart for your to worship him....And rejoice! Celebrate all the good things that God, your God, has given you and your family....” Let us bring our first fruits to God.

God of all good gifts, as you asked, we have brought our gifts to you and through them

celebrate the good things you have give us. Let us always be grateful for your gifts and generous with ours.

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Benediction

In this season of Lent, take time, when you can, to be still.
Ponder the one who gave his life to bring forth the kingdom of God.

We will honor Christ by believing in God’s vision for creation;
We will be like good soil, in which the seeds of justice may grow.

God speaks to us in the life of Jesus;
Let us hear the word and understand it.

We are witnesses to God’s transforming power;
We go forth as Christ’s partners in the work of justice and love.

An Unmanageable Savior

Matthew 17:1-8

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

I am not afraid of heights. In fact, once you’ve had your chest cracked open and three or four people in a surgical suite have had their hands digging around in your heart, you’re not much afraid of anything.

I actually like being way up high. I love walking across bridges. I love tall buildings. And even though most mountains seem to be out-of-doors, I love being on top of mountains.

Laurie Parish and I went down to Loudonville to visit her mother-in-law, Violet, who’s on our prayer list. On the way back she showed me a fire tower that you can climb up and see the Mohican River region from a kind-of God’s eye view. Sometime this year, I intend to climb it.

We even have a word for the feeling that get on top of mountains. We call it a mountaintop experience. And when we go up into the mountains, we feel that we are closer to God.

You need to know that this is nothing new. Joan Chittister writes “"Mountains…in Greek, Hebrew, Roman and Asian religious literature, were always places where the human could touch the divine"

Remember where the Greeks said their gods lived? Mount Olympus

Today’s story is of a mountaintop experience. Peter, James, and John go up Mount Hermon with Jesus—in modern day Syria (though some interpreters say it’s Mount Tabor).

The passage begins with the phrase, “six days later…” Six days later than what?

Six days after Peter gives his answer to Jesus’ question, “who do you say that I am?”

And Peter replies with the same confession that every one of our members has made, “you are the Christ, the son of the living God.”

And Jesus says, “shh. Don’t tell anybody.”

And so, they climb Mount Hermon—reason unknown—but, when Jesus says go, they go.

And then, everything goes sideways. Or up-ways. Or just plain weird.

Marcus Borg, who teaches at the other OSU--Oregon State University-- has an interesting question that he asks about events in Jesus life. He wonders what a video would have recorded if video had been available then.

What would we see on the replay?

What Borg is trying to do is the same thing that Peter did on the mountain--create a manageable Jesus.

Peter sees this amazing thing happen in front of him--Jesus with Moses and Elijah--and doesn’t just want to stand there. He wants to do something!

This sight of Jesus talking with grand figures of the Hebrew people is way too much for Peter to handle. After all, Moses and Elijah have been dead for hundreds of years. Yet, here they are.

Peter says, let’s build three dwellings--literally tents, but carrying the connotation of “tabernacle”--the place where the presence of God was located before the Temple was constructed.

By building the three dwellings--Peter hopes to contain Jesus, who is now equated with the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah).

This is a good thing, Jesus. Let’s keep it here.

But Jesus cannot be contained.

Before Peter can even finish his proposal, a voice comes from heaven as if to say, “will you shut up, already, Peter?” I bet that got said to Peter a lot, even if the Gospels didn’t record it.

The voice that interrupts Peter says, “This is my Son, the beloved. Listen to him.”

In other words--first, shut up Peter. Then, listen to Jesus. We had the law and prophets--the two great ways in which God was represented to the people. But, now, we have Jesus. Listen to him.

But, we still want a manageable Jesus. If we’re not trying to contain him in a box, we’re trying to cut him down to size.

Thomas Jefferson took scissors and glue to the Gospels. He cut out all the stuff he didn’t like--including this story. What he was left with was a sanitzed Jesus, a very manageable Jesus. A Jesus that conforms to our image.

George Bernard Shaw once wrote that God created [humans] in his image, we have returned the favor.

A manageable Jesus, indeed!

But Jesus will not be managed, by you, me, Marcus Borg, or Thomas Jefferson, and not Peter, James, and John.

The key phrase here is," listen to him.”

Listen to Jesus.

Well, you might say you listen to Jesus, but do we really?

I think sometimes, our listen to Jesus is about as fuzzy as this image.

Do we really listen to Jesus when he says:

Love your neighbor--even if your neighbor is an enemy?

Love your enemies?

Sell all you stuff and give the proceeds to the poor?

When someone hits you, hit them back harder?

Oh, yeah. That’s not Jesus. That’s me.

If someone asks to borrow something, give it to them without expecting it back? What, no promissory note?

We like think of this Transfiguration--which is translated from the Greek word metamorphoses, literally means changed--as being what happens to Jesus. As in Jesus was transfigured before the three disciples.

But, the more pressing question is, how will we be transfigured--changed--by our experience of Jesus. Are we really listening to him, and if so, what difference does it make in our lives?

Charles Bayer, a retired disciples pastor who served FCC in St. Joseph, MO for more than 20 years, said they quit doing the invitation to discipleship at the close of every service--you know, inviting people to come and make a profession of faith in Christ in front of the congregation.

If people wanted to join FCC in St. Joseph, they went to pastor and made their profession in the study, then on Sunday morning, they stood up and answered another question in front of the congregation. That question was, “how will being a member of this congregation change your life?”

Now, I hear some of you out there thinking, “Oh, I could never do that. I bet nobody ever joined that church!”

But, you’d be wrong. During Bayer’s tenure there, they experienced tremendous growth while more Disciples congregations--including ours--declined.

So the question I ask you today is, “What difference is made in your life by being a member of this wonderful congregation?” “What difference does it make in your life to really listen to Jesus?”

I’d love to know what you’re thinking.

Worship for Sunday, February 20, 2011

Worship for Sunday, February 20, 2011

The Seventh Sunday in Epiphanytide

Theme: All Is Ours

We are God’s temple, called to be a holy people. Let us offer prayers for all in need of

God’s mercy.

For the church of Jesus Christ throughout the world.

Lord, have mercy.

For our Regional Church, and ministers Bill, LaTaunya, Steve, and Brenda, and all who minister in Christ, and for all the people of God.

Lord, have mercy.

For those chosen to govern peoples and nations especially our mayors, city councilors, and county commisioners, and for the welfare of their people.

Lord, have mercy.

For the poor and the alien, the deaf and the blind, and for all who suffer from oppression.

Lord, have mercy.

For our enemies and all who persecute us.

Lord, have mercy.

For all who are sick and in need of prayer, and for the dying and the dead.

Lord, have mercy.

Loving heavenly Mother and Father, thank you that your Son loved us

even when we were enemies, and that he prayed for those who killed him.

Teach us to be merciful like you, and do good to all people, even to those who do us harm.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11, 16-23

¹⁰God was kind and let me become an expert builder. I laid a foundation on which others have built. But we must each be careful how we build, ¹¹because Christ is the only foundation.

¹⁶All of you surely know that you are God's temple and that his Spirit lives in you. ¹⁷Together you are God's holy temple, and God will destroy anyone who destroys his temple.
¹⁸Don't fool yourselves! If any of you think you are wise in the things of this world, you will have to become foolish before you can be truly wise. ¹⁹This is because God considers the wisdom of this world to be foolish. It is just as the Scriptures say, "God catches the wise when they try to outsmart him." ²⁰The Scriptures also say, "The Lord knows that the plans made by wise people are useless." ^21-22So stop bragging about what anyone has done. Paul and Apollos and Peter all belong to you. In fact, everything is yours, including the world, life, death, the present, and the future. Everything belongs to you, ²³and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

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“The Living Temple”

ure with

Two Catholic schoolboys were so disruptive in class that the teach sent them to see the priest. She dragged them down to the office and Said, “Father, I can’t teach these two little heathens anything. May be you could try.”

The priest brought one boy into the office while ordering the other one to sit outside.

He closed the door and asked the boy, “where is God?”

The boy stood silent.

“Once again, where is God?”

Silence.

The priest was starting to understand the teacher’s frustration, and said, “I’m only going to ask you one more time--where is God?”

Once again, silence.

The priest threw the boy out into the hallway and closed the door. The kid then sat down next to buddy, who asked him, “What’s going on?”

“I’m not sure,” the boy replied, “but I think that somebody’s kidnapped God, and their trying to pin it on us.”

The JerusalemTemple was a complex structure with progressively restrictive areas. As you can see, there were different courts with varied access. The biggest area was the court of the women. Up the steps, men could enter the court of the Israelites--if they were circumcised and not deformed. Further in, the priests could go--the court of the priests was where the slaughterhouse sand altar were located. Further in was the sanctuary, and within the sanctuary was the holy of holies, or most holy place. This is the place where the very presence of God was said to reside. It was considered to be so holy that only the High Priest could enter it, and only do so on one day of the year--Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement. The High Priest could enter that place with the sacrifice which would atone for the sins of the people.

Perhaps if the boys had paid attention in class, they might have given that as an answer--but the question that answer would qualify might be, “where was God?”

Paul had a different answer.

the first letter to the church at Corinth lets us know that this was a very sick church. They had moral problems, fellowship problems, Christology issues, and factions.

In fact, a part of today’s reading refers to the faction problem. Some of the members of that church identified more with the teachers they followed. Some said they were of Paul, some of Peter, some of Apollos. They not only strongly identified with their particular teachers, but thought that only their little group had it right.

I smiled when I read Marjorie Lybarger’s obituary yesterday, in which she was identified with the Wilcox Bible Class. I think that the strong identity we have with our groups within the church is great. The Pioneers class. The Chapel class lunch get-togethers. The Christian Builders’ Christmas party. If our group identities became like the Corinthians, that would not be good. It would be like saying, “if you’re not in the Wilcox class, you’re doomed!”

But, we’re not that way. Because, what holds us together as a church is not our particular interpretations of doctrine, our identity with a particular teacher or group, and certainly not our politics. What holds us together is Jesus Christ--and it was the same for the church in Corinth. Paul says that the only foundation that a church can have is that of Jesus Christ.

The differences between Paul, and Peter, and Apollos are miniscule if the church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Paul here calls the church a temple and this is significant.

The Temple in Jerusalem was build on a solid foundation--the Temple Mount, or Mount Zion. And on that foundation, the Temple was constructed that was magnificent that it could contain the very presence of God.

But Paul says that the church that is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ houses the Spirit of God. The place where God lives is no longer the Holy of holies on Mount Zion, but wherever the church is gathered in the name of Jesus. What was it Jesusa said? “wherever two or more are gathered in my name…?”

It’s important to note that the “you” that is the Temple of God’s Spirit is plural. The King Jimmy--400 years old this year--renders it “ye.” You plural. Y’all. Youse. You’uns. Unlike the image on the cover of the bulletin today, the Spirit of God doesn’t live in one rock--but in the house of living stones--as 1 Peter describes it.

The Contemporary English Version, from which I read today, gets it right when it says that “all of you surely know you are God’s temple.

This is huge--God is no longer limited to a place, but lives wherever people are built together on the foundation of Jesus Christ. This is huge, indeed.

Because when we are God’s temple, we have nothing to fear. Paul says to this very sick church that they don’t need to worry about whether they are Paul’s or Peter’s. Because, in God’s temple, all belong to all. We are all Paul’s and Apollos’ and Peter’s. And all these teachers belong to us.

Indeed, writes Paul, everyting--all--belongs to us. The world, life, death, the present, the future belong to us--because we belong to Christ, and Chriswt belongs to God. That sounds like that phrase that keeps popping up in my funeral services. In life, in death, in life beyond death, we belong to God.

And therefore, we don’t need to worry about anything.

All of you have been given a personal invitation to gather here next Saturday for the discernment process called New Beginnings. We’re going to spend some time together as one, and then several weeks in groups around the city looking at what we’re passionate about, what we’re really good at, and what resources we have to do what we’re passionate about and good at doing. And in so doing, we will try to discern what the Spirit of God is calling us to do and to be.

In order to do this, we have to confess that we don’t know everything that is out there. And while the unknown can be daunting, we have nothing to fear. Why? Because Paul says it right here. Everything is ours. The present, the future. All of it. Why, because we belong to God.

What do you think?

Offertory Prayer

For the healing of the nations, we present a portion of the riches that you have entrusted to us. Make of us people of healing and grace in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Benediction

God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sends you holy ones out to love in the face of evil.

We leave this building to be the temple of the Holy Spirit for the world. Alleluia! Amen!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Worship for Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Sixth Sunday in Epiphanytide

Theme: Radical Faith

Prayers of the People

We praise you, God, for guiding the Church with your commandments and other teachings. Continue to cultivate us, construct us. Lord of All, (congregational response: heal and teach us.).

We exalt you for the human race and magnificence of creation. Bless the State of Ohio, and those who lead her, our Governor John, our Senator Kris, and our representative Jay. Bless the United States and people all around the world, that we may be one according to you love. Bring peace to Egypt. Make us all instruments of liberty and equality. Lord of All, . . .

Loving God, we are in awe of love. We thank you for such a mysterious and beautiful gift. Help us to use love in accord with your love. Guide us to bring comfort to the lonely on Valentine’s Day. Lord of All, . . .

It is easy for us to get caught up in jealousy, mean-spiritedness, and divisive competition. Tutor us to be one, cooperative, working together to promote love. Lord of All, . . .

You have shown us love through healing. Heal everyone in need now. Guide our hands to assist you. Lord of all, . . .

Hear us as we pray in silence.

We know you hear us. We thank you for taking care of us. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

Matthew 5:21 ¶ "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’

22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.

23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.

26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

27 ¶ "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.

31 "It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 ¶ "Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’

34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,

35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.

“The ‘Buts’”

This week, I couldn’t help myself in thinking about President Jimmy Carter--then Candidate Jimmy Carter, who 35 years ago gave an interview to Playboy magazine. In the interview, Carter confessed to a sin that probably most of America never much thought of before: “I've looked on a lot of women with lust. I've committed adultery in my heart many times…”

Mort Sahl had a great joke that came out of that--playing on the old Goldwater ’64 slogan. Remember the Goldwater slogan? “In your heart, you know he’s right.” Speaking of Carter, Sahl’s version was, “In his heart, he knows your wife!”

This all comes out of the passage before us today, a snippet of the Sermon on the Mount. At first look, it might seem that Jesus is picking on various unrelated things--murder and anger, adultery, divorce, and swearing oaths. But, as Disciples scholar Ronald Allen points out, “the four themes cohere around a common motif: broken relationships.”

New Testament scholars refer to this passage and the one that follows as the “six antitheses.” I prefer to think of them as “the buts.”

Here’s where you come in, I will make a statement that Jesus quotes from the Law, and you yell out, “but!”

We can all see that murder is wrong--but Jesus points out that the relationship is broken when anger begins and is not rectified.

We can all see that adultery is wrong--but Jesus points out that the relationship of husband and wife can be torn apart by a leering, fleeting look.

The law, says Jesus, says it’s ok to swear an oath, but what does that say about the rest of what we say? Do we then just assume that if you don’t say “I swear” you must be lying?

The Law existed for the same reason it exists today--so that people can live together in community. Any community of human beings has to have some guidelines as to how its members live out their life together. That’s why we have stop signs and speed limits.

Now, even though Jesus says in the passage that immediately precedes this one that he has come to fulfill the Law, not destroy it. But, as Disciples’ scholar Eugene Boring points out--no rabbi ever contrasted his own pronouncement with what God had said in Torah.

In fact, Rabbi Jacob Neusner, who is a foremost authority on ancient Judaism, and a leader in Christian-Jewish dialogue, says that it is here--right here--that Jesus separates himself out from the rest of the Jewish tradition. He gives a clear indication of departure from the Torah by the use of that word--BUT. It is right here that Jesus lays it out--you can go the old way, or you can go the new path.

What Jesus’ audience found so amazing is that this Rabbi didn’t just quote the scripture--he spoke of this own authority. Matthew makes it clear that from this point on, large crowds followed Jesus everywhere he went--choosing Jesus over Torah. Or did they?

Boring writes that Jesus is not so much departing from Judaism and Torah, but radicalizing it. Now we complete misuse the term in our context. We think of a radical as someone who is way different from us in our faith or our politics. We’ll speak left- wing radicals, and far-right radicals, but that’s not what the word means.

In radicalizing the faith, Jesus does not depart from Torah, nor does he expand it. We may think that Jesus is expanding the law--making it bigger, but nothing could be further from the truth. Literally, radical means root--taken from the same word--radix--from which we get the word radish.

Radicalizing the faith makes it--not bigger, but smaller--by getting down to the roots. Jesus drives us down under the soft, conventional, pretty, bushy leaves of the faith which we can plainly see above ground to the small, pithy, sharp, and even bitter root.

To follow this radical Jesus, is not about making big choices, but small ones.

Kill? Of course you wouldn’t, but the root of killing is anger.

Illicit sex? Of course you wouldn’t. But, at the root of sexual relationship which don’t honor God is the treatment of someone made in God’s image as a thing.

So, what would this radical Jesus say to a bunch of folks who call themselves by his name and gather around his table week-in and week-out, say his words, and eat bread and grape in as seemingly absent minded state? What does Jesus say to us this morning as we prepare to gather around his table? If he told those folks on the mountain way back when that they should turn back from worship and mend relationships. What would he tell us?

Leave the bread and wine on the table. Go reconcile with your neighbor, and the come worship. Leave the elements and go away, then come back. Really? How long is this gonna’ take, cause, if you get to the buffet line before noon, the Baptists will get it all.

Does Jesus mean for us to take this literally? In his time, worshipers would come to the Temple from all over the world--traveling days and weeks to get to Jerusalem would Jesus really expect them to drop their offering and run off to make nice?

Let’s say that if we don’t take this teaching literally, we take it seriously. Joey Jeter reminds us that the opposite of remembering is not forgetting, but dismembering. What a perfect metaphor for celebrating communion in the midst of broken relationships--what you get is a dismembered body of Christ!

Most of you know that I grew up in the fellowship of the a capella Churches of Christ. Now, we Disciples have common roots with the Churches of Christ, but we are very different.

For a very long time, it was very difficult to go back--to worship in that context, after having becoming a Disciple. But, when my Mother was living, nothing pleased her more than having me take her to church. And nothing could please me less than going to church with my Mother. I’d rather do 30 days in Richland County lockup.

But, I was a good son. So, I went. On one such occasion, I found myself sitting on the back pew of my parents’ church in Chattanooga. I’d just heard the worlds’ worst sermon--so bad that God has blocked it from my memory completely. I sat as the communion elements were passed--with no music, so you hear each person snap off a piece of the unleavened bread. With each snap, I got more and more agitated and angry. What was I doing there with those people? I loathed being there. The thought of sharing the body and blood of Christ with those people disgusted me.

The tray was passed to me, and I started to simply pass it on, but, something happened. I held the tray and looked at it, as Jesus’ words convicted me--rolling across the centuries, across my barriers, across my prejudice, across my own shame. Jesus words cried out to me for reconciliation and peace.

I looked up, and suddenly became aware that I was surrounded, not by those people, but by my brothers and sisters who welcomed me as Christ would. Communion that morning--and every Sunday since--has become for me both the conviction to work for reconciliation, and means of grace to do it.

I’ll never forget the taste of that bread that morning. It was so different, so fresh, so strange. It tasted, well, like one of these.

Offering Sentences

Giving is an act of faith. We believe that what we have to offer makes a difference in this world. But more than that, we believe in the One who is behind our giving. We may not "see" God with these "eyes of flesh"; we may find it difficult to even catch a glimpse of what God may be doing around us and in us. Likewise, we may not see the effect of what we give, of what we do for Christ. But still, we believe, trusting in the One who is faithful, whose "new mercies" we often can only see by faith, day by day. I invite you, my sisters and brothers in Christ, to give now as an act of faith.

Offering Prayer

Holy God, your holiness makes us more than uncomfortable. In times of surface living, when we think we are doing pretty well in our relationships and actions, we gloss over your demanding call to fulfill your teaching. Forgive us, we pray. Prompt us to realize how totally every one of us relies upon your grace. We bring you these gifts of our finances and our prayers, not to earn our way to you, but in overflowing gratitude for your grace. This we pray by your power through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Benediction (Deuteronomy 30)

Go forth to walk in God's ways.

May your ways be blameless.

Hold fast to God in all you do.

Your hearts belong to God.

May the love of God be yours.

God's blessings rest upon you, and give you peace. Amen.

Worship, Sunday, January 16, 2011

Worship for Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Second Sunday in Epiphanytide

Theme: Come and See

O God,

you spoke your word and revealed your good news in Jesus, the Christ.
Fill all creation with that word again, so that by proclaiming your love to all nations
and singing of your glorious hope to all peoples,
we may become one living body--your presence on the earth.

We thank you for redeeming life through redeeming lives. We especially thank you today for the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. We thank you for his legacy of loving others--even those who would hate us.

We thank you for the life of Mary Delp, who elevated us with music and inspired us with her tenacious fight for life. Now that she can fight no longer, we pray that you will comfort those who grieve her loss--and all who grieve.

We thank you for new life in the tiny person of Piper Reining. Let us never fail to be in awe of life.

Bring healing to all wounds,
make whole all that is broken,
speak truth to all illusion,
and shed light in every darkness, God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

John 1:35-42

35The next day, John was there again, and two of his followers were with him. 36When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, "Here is the Lamb of God!" 37John's two followers heard him, and they went with Jesus.

38When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, "What do you want?"

They answered, "Rabbi, where do you live?" The Hebrew word "Rabbi" means "Teacher."

39Jesus replied, "Come and see!" It was already about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him and saw where he lived. So they stayed on for the rest of the day.

40One of the two men who had heard John and had gone with Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. 41The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother and tell him, "We have found the Messiah!" The Hebrew word "Messiah" means the same as the Greek word "Christ."

42Andrew brought his brother to Jesus. And when Jesus saw him, he said, "Simon son of John, you will be called Cephas." This name can be translated as "Peter."

“Come and See”

This is the story of Andrew.

But, I’m going to tell it backward.

The General Board of the newly constituted Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) was seeking a new symbol for the church--something that could serve to easily identify our churches and that would say something about us.

The story is told that Bob Friedly, who later would edit two different Disciples magazines (and who’s also from New Orleans), sat down to lunch in September of 1970 with Ronald Osborn, a Disciples Historian who was a dear friend of mine up until his death in Oregon a dozen or so years back. The legend goes that Ronald began drawing on his placemat with a red felt tip pen. He drew a chalice with a a St, Andrews cross on it. Another version of the story is that it was not lunchtime, and the thing was drawn on a bar napkin.

At any rate, the crude drawing was sent immediately a commercial artist. The logo went around the church like wildfire, becoming adopted as our symbol even before the General Assembly made it official the next year.

Why a St. Andrews cross? The Chalice was an easy choice--we are known throughout the wider church for our weekly-if-not-more-frequent gatherings at the table. But why St. Andrews?

Osborn said the idea came to him in a couple of ways. The early leaders of our movement were all Scots, giving us historic ties to Scotland. And Andrew is often called the “First Evangelist,” which we’ll get to in a moment. At that time, and even earlier in our history, we prided ourselves on evangelism. More on that, later, too.

Around the tenth century, St. Andrew became the patron saint of Scotland. Some centuries before, some relics, that is body parts were taken there and the church in Scotland is deeply rooted in Andrew’s lore.

Speaking of Andrew’s lore, the traditions hold that Andrew left the middle east after Jesus’ ascension to go and preach the Gospel in what is now Eastern Europe--Ukraine, Romania, Russia, Georgia, the Island of Malta, and Greece, where he was martyred for his evangelistic efforts.

So, the legend goes that he deemed himself unworthy to die on a cross similar to Jesus’, and was bound to an X-shaped cross, from which he preached for three days before dying.

In the Gospel of John, Andrew appears three times--and each time he is an evangelist as he is bringing someone to Jesus.

In the last reference to Andrew--in the 12^th chapter--some Greeks who were in Jerusalem for Passover, and they wanted to see Jesus. They went to Philip and then Philip went to Andrew, then the two of them went to tell Jesus. Interesting that Philip and Andrew were the only real Greek names among the Disciples. Maybe that made the Greeks comfortable in asking them to help them get to Jesus.

In his second appearance in John’s gospel, the merry band of followers of Jesus had gone out across the Sea of Galilee, and a crowd gathered, because people were hearing about Jesus, and wanting to be around him. John tells it that there were 5,000 folk there--not counting the women and children, because in those days, women and children didn’t count.

Jesus wonders how they are going to feed these people--probably closer to 20,000. Philip figures it would take a year’s pay to buy enough food--that is if you could find a deli open. And Andrew pipes up, “Uh, there’s this kid over here with a lunch box--whaddya got--five fish and two pieces of bread. No, five loaves, two fish.”

He brings the boy to Jesus, and something miraculous happens.

Today’s scripture is the first appearance of Andrew in the Gospel of John. Andrew asks Jesus, “where do you live?”

And Jesus replies, “Come and see.”

Andrew spends a day with Jesus, probably just walking around, because Jesus didn’t own a house--or even an apartment.

Andrew then performs the very first act of evangelism--he runs to his brother Peter and says, “we have found him! Come and see!”

The late great Sri Lankan missionary David Niles once described evangelism as simply, “one beggar telling another where to find bread.”

I’ve told you before that I have a personal goal to invite at least one person to church every week. Friday I was at breakfast with Denny and invited three people--so I can coast for a couple of weeks.

Come and see what we’re doing a First Christian Church. Come and meet some really nice people. Come and hear our amazing organist. Come and listen to fantastic preaching.

No. I invite them so that they can come and see Jesus. So that we as a body, can invite them to experience Christ in our midst. Come and see--come and meet Jesus at 3^rd and Bowman.

Andrew encountered Jesus, and nothing could stop him from running and telling his brother that the Messiah was here!

There’s a lot of folks in our community who are hungry--and I don’t just mean the folks that were here in our fellowship hall yesterday. Those folks were hungry! But, they are also hungry for the bread of life. And we, as the spiritual descendants of Andrew, are given the task to run and tell everyone we can--come and see. Come and see what we’ve found--together in this place.

What do you think?

If Jesus could feed twenty thousand with a picnic lunch, imagine what he can do with our tithes and offerings!

Dearest God, you have given us so much. We bring this gifts to you that you might multiply them, use them, and use us to bring your kingdom of love and justice to bear on this world. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

And now in our going,

may God bless and keep us.

may the light of God shine upon us

and out from within us

and be gracious unto us

and give us peace

and the will to practice peace.

For this is the day we are given;

these are the lives we are given.

Let us rejoice in the miracle that it is so.

Amen.