Sermon (January 31, 2010)

Scriptures: Jeremiah 1:4-10, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13


On twitter this week, I found a link to an article by one of the great professors I had in seminary. He was talking about the church of the 22nd century, and I realized with a start that everyone I know has been talking about the church of the 21st century as if it is the church of the future. It isn't! Its the church of the present. And I don't know about you, but I'm deeply invested in a church of the 22nd century. We've been passed a torch of 2000 years of Christian life, and its ours to pass to the next century. Yes, I'll be dead – most of you will be too, and if anyone here isn't, that person will be in their 90s.

That means we're talking about a church that we will not benefit from. Instead, we're talking about a church that will be the legacy of the one we have now. It will be unimaginably different. Much like the horse and buggy church of 1910 is different from the one we're in now. I know that some people would like to go back – remembering simpler days with all the churches in town full – but looking backward doesn't keep us in the present, much less the future.

An article in the New York Times recently pointed out that those of us in our 20s are technologically outdated already. And, I'll give to them – its true! I'd rather e-mail than text, and I don't know why anyone wants to send me a Facebook message instead of an e-mail. When I get messages from our teenagers, I often have to read them outloud, slowly, to figure out what all the abbreviations mean. (And I DO wish they'd just use words.) My 18 month old “niece” is at least as competent with an Iphone as I am (her parents have them), and probably more so. Technology is moving faster than it feels anyone can keep up with – if there is any good news, todays teenagers will be outdated even faster than I was! These changes are not minor in society either. Our whole lives are impacted by them!

Think, for a moment, about what church was like 100 years ago. In 1910, those who didn't walk here came by horse and buggy, right? People made CALLS in PERSON. I'm sure there was a telegraph here, I'm not sure if there were telephones commonly. There was no sound system – and I'm thinking there wasn't even electricity I know there was a coal stove that heated this building. Worship would not have included bulletins, as there was no way to copy them, and if the preacher used notes, HE wrote them by hand.

Today, people drive to church. When calls still happen, they happen by phone, and more often you just e-mail. Our church has a website, a facebook page or two, and just this week, a blog. When I'm away at a meeting (which I know happened less 100 years ago too), I can use my cell phone to check messages at the church, and I usually bring my computer to take notes.

In 2110, I can't imagine what it will be like. I just can't. At best I hope that people still gather, and don't just use the internet as a substitute. And don't get too high and mighty that “that'll never happen” - how many people do you know who aren't here but are watching worship on TV?

Believe it or not, I am on the scriptures today. Jeremiah is called by God to do God's work in the world, and has appropriate fears. God, however, will have none of it. The one who is called, is called, and God's power works through that person. Now, once we combine that with the fact that God calls EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US, we get back to this church of the 22nd century. How are you called to prepare for it? How is God using you?

I suspect that there are three major aspects to gifting the next century with a relevant church (because offering a cultural dinosaur is NOT the point). The first is to seek fulness of faith development in ourselves. Because if we aren't connected to God, we're useless! The second is to find the ways to share our faith – even amongst ourselves. When God acts in our lives, we are supposed to share it. Because once one person shares, another can see God acting as well. This is a whole lot of the point behind the Lenten Booklets. Third, and this may be the hardest of all, we have to be flexible! God is probably going to have to make some changes in churches if they're going to remain relevant and vibrant. Our faith ancestors COULD have refused to let electricity run into this building, and many tried to keep women out of the pulpit. But fights were fought and battles waged and the church changed.

We are now, in a time of great transition. Those of you over 40 probably like receiving information by snail mail best, right? I'd suspect that even if you have and use e-mail, if something is OFFICIAL or IMPORTANT, you still think it should come on letterhead, hand-signed by the person writing it. Some may disagree, and some will disagree with the following as well... those under 40 MOSTLY would rather just get the e-mail. The paper is a waste of resources, and then you have to figure out where you put and what to do with it. Our culture is changing SO Fast that at one time in history the primary way of communication is radically different for generations. And that's just one piece.

Which brings us, to 1st Corinthians. While people like to think that this is a sweet passage to read at weddings, its really written to a church in transition that was fighting amongst itself! One of the big fights in the Corinth church was about speaking in tongues – those who had the gift were perceived to be more important than others, and Paul spends a lot of time saying it isn't true. In the previous chapter he points out that whatever gift you have, you should use, and no one gift is sufficient without the others. He continues on that theme here, but pushes the people to consider how they are treating each other. His thesis, clearly, is that living out love is the most important part of Christian living. So, despite the poetic beauty of “Love is patient, Love is kind,” don't get distracting into thinking Love is weak or easy to understand!

There is that turn in verse 9, here again 9-12 “For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.” (NRSV)

Even the people we love, we DO know only in part. We even only know ourselves in part! God is the only one who knows us fully, and the only one who knows everyone else too! We do our best with the unknown, and trust in God who is good and all-knowing to guide us beyond. With maturity we can learn to respond to the unknown with flexibility and love. We can even disagree without malice!

You are ALL called to be seeking to live out God's love fully. This isn't the work of the pastor – its the work of all the people! You are CALLED to give to the next generations the chance to know God and live together as a church. We have NO idea where that's going. We are NOT able to do what needs to be done on our own. We cannot imagine what will be.

But God can. And God is trustworthy. So may we all open ourselves to God's work in us, to being more loving, and focusing on God's call for us, so that we together become more and more vibrant, open, loving, caring, relevant, and so that people who we will never know, who will live lives we will never understand, might someday worship in this space with great gratitude for our foresight and our faith.

May God move in us – HOWEVER God wishes.

Amen

Community Meal

What can we do as a church to build up the community in and around Morris, to give people a place to eat together, and to make sure that warm food is available for anyone and everyone?

Well, we can offer food and a place to eat it!

We're looking for a group of people to think about the best way we can have a meal - when?  where will we get the food?  how will we serve it?

The goal is to communicate that donations are welcome but not expected.

Mike Virgil and Pastor Sara are looking forward to compiling a list of interested people - and we'll go from there!

Ash Wednesday

The Ash Wednesday Service will be at 7 PM on Wednesday, February 17th. It lasts a little under an hour most years. The service is meant to focus worshipers at the beginning of Lent. Pastor Sara uses the traditional Yom Kippur prayer of atonement as the "sermon" for the evening, which is used to allow all present to name and let go of the sins and mistakes of the past. Then, the past being let go, and God's forgiveness being let in, life starts anew - fresh! The service also includes Communion, and imposition of Ashes, which serve as a reminder of our mortality.

The service is quiet, reflective, and deep. It is, perhaps, one of the most important worship services of the year.

Good News Gals

The Good News Gals are the women's group of the Morris United Methodist Church. They usually meet mid-day on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. Usually the 1st Wednesday is a time to go out and eat and talk ("breath in") and the 3rd Wednesday is a time to share good gifts with others ("breath out"). Women of all ages are welcome. Barb Smith is the person to talk to for more information!

Lent Communion Worship

On Tuesday nights from 6-6:30 we'll have an extra communion service during Lent. The service will happen every week starting February 23rd, and will give ample time to focus on the great gifts given to us in the Great Thanksgiving.

In the United Methodist Church you don't have to be old enough, or good enough, to receive God's blessings!

You are welcome!

And, if you wish, you can then stay for a while and join the Lenten Adult Studies on Death and Resurrection!

Adult Studies

This year our “Adult Studies” will become a “Lenten Study.” It is meant for youth and adults, and deals with some of the big questions of faith:

DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS: Marcus Borg shares his understanding of the death and resurrection of Jesus. In a straightforward and gracious way, he directs the viewer away from doctrines and towards a relationship through Jesus with God. Six 20-minute sessions: 1. What Happened on Good Friday? 2. What Happened At Easter? 3. Jesus is Lord, 4. Jesus is the Way, 5. Jesus as Sacrifice, 6. Jesus, God's son revealed.

Its a video study, with one of the great explain-ers of all time!

We'll start at 6:30, end at 8, on Tuesday through Lent (as in 6 weeks starting the 23rd of February). If you'd like to come to the Lent Communion Service at 6 first you can, but you aren't obligated to do both just to do one!

Mission Trip

The Youth Group's intended trip to Peru will not happen, at least at this time. To make up for it, they have decided to take a mission trip to Meredith, New Hampshire. (Yes, they know its not the same!) They'll be staying at Camp Wanakee, a United Methodist Church camp of the New England Annual Conference, and working from there. (They have hot food, beds, showers, a lake to swim in, etc, etc, etc) We are still deciding on the particular missions we'll do. We are seeking something that will involve building and physical labor with tools as well as something that will involve working with people and using words as tools.

Youth who are going into grades 7 and up are most welcome to join us!
Adults are too! (Adults with younger children, talk to Pastor Sara!)
Its going to be a great experience, you don't want to miss it!
If you'd like to go, please let Sara know as soon as you can!

The more the merrier!

Lenten Devotional Booklets

This year we bring back the “Lenten Devotional Booklet” written by the Morris Untied Methodist Church! A scripture is a assigned for each day, and people are invited to look at the scripture and consider the question “Where do you see God at work” and then respond in ½ a page or less. The responses are e-mailed to Pastor Sara (s.baron@gmail.com) or turned in on paper, and the booklet will be available for all by Ash Wednesday. If you would like to contribute either sign up on the church clip board table or talk to Pastor Sara and she'll give you an assignment. You don't have to be old enough or young enough or smart enough or anything – everyone can handle this!

There are plenty of slots open - and if you want to contribute from afar, Sara will happily grab a scripture for you!

Fellowship Time

Fellowship time is also known as "coffee hour." Families, individuals, partners, or groups sign up to provide something to drink and something to eat after worship. There are a lot of us (and people REALLY like cheese), so it takes some preparation. In order to eliminate the arms races of ever nicer and nicer Fellowship Times, we're currently competing for simplicity. How easy can you make it?

Thank you to all those who provide the food that lets us pretend its why we're there - when really we just want time together!

Hour with Sara

Hour with Sara – strangely this is only a Morris UMC thing. You can sign up in the church entryway (“Narthex”) to have time with Pastor Sara whether or not you have a problem. Options often include morning, lunch, afternoon, dinner, or evening. We use this instead of other churches' office hours.

Clean the Church

A new sign up sheet has been added to the pile in the Nave (church entry way) this year.  Its the "Church Clean Up" sheet and it sits underneath the list of cleaning responsibilities.  We've decided to take on our own cleaning, and so far its been great!  People are signing up in pairs, and the church looks wonderful.  Those who have cleaned have seemed to enjoy the work, and noticed new things along the way. 

There are cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink and tools in the closet, but cleaners can also bring their own supplies!

If you have questions, or suggestions, feel free to talk to Linda Hillis!

Why I go to Yoga Class

The Morris United Methodist Church hosts a yoga class on Thursday nights at 5:30, which I attend as faithfully as I can, with a fairly large degree of error.

As I think about the church in the 21st century and beyond (motivated in part by this article)  I worry about disconnects between people.  We move further and further from sitting down face to face and talking to each other.  Even education is often online now, and a lot of people like watching worship on TV.

So why do I go to Yoga Class when I could just watch one on YouTube instead?  Even more, why do I pay to go to Yoga class when I could do it for free at home?  There are two reasons.

First, I don't do yoga at home.  It may be available to me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but I never find the time.  I suspect prayer and worship and study are like that for most people who don't go to church.  YEAH, of course, you can do connect to God without a religious community.  But do you?  (Then again, I do find time for Pilates at home.  And lots of people do pray a lot and don't go to church.  Just saying.)

Second, I like the people who go - and the instructor too.  I like that people notice when I walk in the door, and that we have to move our mats around to make room as more people come.  I like whining with others when it comes time to do "the crow" and I like being part of the movement to put on wool socks before "final relaxation."  I like that every class is a little different and our instructor teaches us tiny little bits more each week.  She is responsive to our energy. I love the moments I have with people after class is over (I'm always late, so there isn't time before class for me) to just chat about nothing.  I love it that I hear people check in with each other, "How is your husband recovering from surgery?"  "How are your classes this semester?"  "How is your team doing?"  "Are you feeling better this week?"  Oh, and I do love it that our energies work together.  There is a terrible thing called "the locust" which is just impossible, but at least we all try together, and I'm sure it does help.

I hope that pod-casts and blogs, internet chat rooms and twitter never overtake communal worship.  Because the moments like those in my yoga class are really the moments of life.  Spontaneous conversation, laughter, and tears are what its all about - and I don't want people to be lonely while seeking God. Watching worship on TV isn't the same.  It just isn't.  I go to Yoga class because it's just better.

Announcements (January 24, 2010)

Continuing this week: a 3 week course on Third Isaiah (Isaiah 60-66). Its one of the most beautiful parts of the Bible. Classes will be on Tuesdays from 6:30-8 at the church.

From Linda: The list of weekly cleaning duties is on the bulletin board above the clipboard ledge and there is a sign up sheet on the ledge! There are cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink and tools in the closet, but people should feel free to bring their own if they prefer. Cleaning teams make the job go much faster, so encourage at least 2 people to sign up each week!

On the 5^th Sunday of this month we'll be having a breakfast potluck before worship – at 8:30. You are encouraged to bring friends to both the potluck and to worship!

Are you ready to work? Our youth group is going to New Hampshire from July 4-10, and you are invited to be in mission with us.

An Ad Council Meeting has been called for Tuesday, February 2^nd at 6:30 PM.

Announcing the next Adult studies (in Lent): Death and Resurrection! Starting Feb. 23^rd. 

 

2010 Budget per week: $1659

Attendance Last Week: 53

Giving Last Sunday: $980

Month To Date: $3857.99

To Haiti last week: $583

God is Sweeter than a Honeycomb (Sermon from January 24th)

Texts: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10  •  Psalm 19   •  Luke 4:14-21  (Can be found here)

Yesterday morning I had a 9 AM meeting in Syracuse for the new Annual Conference, and so I set off at 7 AM. For the first 30 minutes of the drive, the sky was still colored from sunrise, and the lavender sky displayed over dark mountains and through shimmering tree limbs was more beautiful than I could take in. It was astounding. I turned due west in Columbus and the sun was a weird red/orange coloring everything in this strange light. The snow and the houses, even the trees were red for a few minutes. Then, even after the sky turned blue, and the sun was up, the deep deep cold had frosted every single bit of the trees and they kept on surprising me with their glistening beauty.

I found myself wondering how I can possibly spend so much of my time NOT attending to God's goodness. There I was driving to yet another meeting, and out of no where the INCREDIBLE beauty was everywhere. I think God is constantly trying to bless us with beauty in the world and in others, and we forget to notice most of the time. What a waste! Why worry when we can pay attention to blessing? Why fight when we can be awestruck by beauty?

Well, the meeting wasn't so great, and the worship was awful, but luckily I'd already been fed by beauty too intense for me to ignore it. And by the time I came home the sun was setting and the beauty was all around me once again. Based on Psalm 19, I think its been like this forever: creation sings God's glory, and when we're lucky, we notice and hear the song. The sky proclaims God's goodness. The sun and moon and stars shout with glory! Life with God is better than being rich. God's guidance is sweeter than honey – or sugarcane – or licorice or anything. God's laws are pure goodness. They're meant to limit us or make us guilty or lead us to judge others – they're meant to show us what good living is, how to be in relationship with each other, how to show our affection and gratitude toward God. Following God's laws creates a better life for everyone, it is very very good.

The Nehemiah passage this morning is one of the stories of the Bible when people really seem to NOTICE and ATTEND to the goodness of God's laws. Really, they seem as startled and delighted by the laws as I was by the sunrise yesterday, and having read them, I've been there too.

Nehemiah is a great story!  Nehemiah was the cup-bearer to the king of Persia, and if you remember, Persia was the land that captured Babylon.  And that's important because Babylon was the land that captured Israel!  The destroyed the walls of Jerusalem, tore down the temple (and put salt on it to keep life from ever springing forth with hope), and took all the leaders across the desert to captivity.  The people remaining were poor, illiterate, and unprotected.  Eventually, though, Persia captured Babylon and the leaders were able to return (or, at least, their grandchildren were).  But not everyone went.  Which is why Nehemiah was still in Persia when he heard that not all was well in Jerusalem.

So Nehemiah got permission from the King and went to Jerusalem with some supplies and convinced the people (not without some grumbling first) that if they each rebuilt the part of the wall outside their own home that they'd all be safe.  OF COURSE!  And it worked.  This passage comes after that.  They've rebuilt the wall and they are safe, and now they are gathering to hear the priest, Ezra, read what was probably an early version of the book of Deuteronomy.

 

This passage is great because NOT ONLY do the people suddenly take note of the goodness of the Law – not only do they listen to it and pay attention and get moved by it, but then they're told that the most appropriate response is not sadness that they haven't been fulfilled or guilt or worry – but JOY! The people are told to have a big feat and enjoy the good news that God gives GOOD laws. Seriously – they're told to drink the good wine and eat the good the food and have a party – and the only caveat (and this is why I love God so much) is that they're supposed to make sure everyone gets some! The poor, or the old, or the young, or anyone who for whatever reason can't make their own feast, is supposed to get invited to someone else's. Everyone gets to party – but EVERYONE is supposed to be included. God's law is perfect, and sweet!

We read, two weeks ago, the part of Isaiah that Jesus is reading in the Luke passage today. We hear it, in some form, in every communion liturgy we do. It is, in Isaiah, the role claimed by the prophet, and in the gospels, the purpose statement of Jesus' ministry.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

The words are so good, that you can almost miss the ending. “The year of the Lord's favor” is the Jubilee year. In the Torah, it is expected that every 7 years all debts are forgiven and people who sold themselves into slavery are released. Every 49 years, in addition to debts being forgiven, land sold is given back to the original owner. You can imagine then, since interest was also illegal by Torah – that if a person or family got in financial trouble, it didn't spiral on them. They might have to borrow money or sell their land – BUT they wouldn't lose the land forever, and if they couldn't pay the money back it would just be forgiven. (Yes, giving a loan would take on very different meaning.) And it all gets called “The year of the Lord's favor.” Isn't that interesting! The Lord is equalizing between rich and poor, the favor of God it towards everyone having what they need! The year when all is set back to the beginning state, when everyone has again, is the the year of the Lord's favor.

And then, we note, that JESUS says that's part of his ministry! We often miss that part! But, it does fit pretty well – sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, release to the captives, and release from debt for the poor. It fits in with the rest. God isn't interested in a permanent lower class. Time and time again, from the start of Israel through the ministry of Jesus, through the ministry of the living Body of Christ, we've seen that people living by God's law – working together in community to care for everyone's need is living with God's favor – and it pulls people out of unsustainable life into thriving wholeness. Sometimes that means freedom from addiction, sometimes freedom from bad monetary policies, sometimes freedom from trying too hard to be loved. People in community where they know God's love, and their needs are met, are then able to keep other's needs met, and no one falls down. John Wesley's early Methodists were mostly the very very poor, but once they started working together they stopped being the poorest of the poor. God's favor has BIG impact. Release, freedom, sight, its GOOD NEWS.

It is way too easy to be pulled toward bad news. There is a lot of it. There is a lot even if we just talk about the needs in Haiti. And our hearts ARE to be broken for the pain and suffering of the world, so that we are moved to make a difference – to keep praying and giving and making health kits. But the darkness is never supposed to overcome us. We need to focus on the light, so that others are drawn with us toward God's goodness. The suffering will always be, and our hearts will always ache, but they will ALSO always be filled with God if we just let God in.

God's goodness is SO easy to see in creation, and in scripture, and in people. Its easy to notice it with our children, but I see it in each and every one of you, and in all the people I meet. If you pay attention, you find that God's goodness and gifts are uniquely displayed in every person. With many its so easy to see that it startles you how abundantly God gives gifts. With some its harder to find – perhaps in people who haven't been able to nurture their goodness, but it is findable. And its worth the search. When you are overwhelmed with the bad of the world, LOOK for God. I promise, God is right there, closer than you can imagine and better than you can explain. Let the sunrises and sunsets and giggles bring your attention to our God who is SOOOOOOOO good, and let your soul be full.

Amen.