Midian. Show of hands for those who were born and raised in Midian (Northwest Saudi Arabia) or who have visited or even touched down in a plane to refuel. Not so many, I suspect. My inlaws haven’t even been there.
My cousin Bruce is the only person I know who has been to Saudi Arabia. Bruce was several years ahead of my sister and me in age, education, and life experience. He and his family spent all of our growing up years living overseas.
Bruce’s dad, Richard, was an engineer and officer in the US Army. His orders were always about building or rebuilding water and sewer systems in third world countries, and places that had been profoundly damaged as a result of war or natural disasters.
Like his dad, Bruce studied engineering and geology in college and then went on to work overseas. I was in college when Bruce landed his first big job in the Middle East. Shortly before he moved to Riyadh, he invited me to meet him for supper in a nearby city. His parents had retired to Milwaukee. My college was located about an hour away.
Today’s gospel reading invites readers to explore two questions: who do we say that Jesus is, and what exactly is the Church? Jesus prompts the disciples to answer both.
Jesus and his first followers have wandered to the northeastern edge of their homeland, to Caesarea Philippi, an Ancient Roman city situated about 25 miles north of Capernaum, near the modern borders of Israel and Syria.
The city was primarily inhabited by Gentiles. The residents were dedicated to the Roman Emperor Caesar, as the city’s title suggests, and although there is archeological evidence that a synagogue existed there, the residents of Caesarea Philippi, were mostly Greeks who worshiped Pan, the Greek god of nature.
In borderlands like these, tradition and reputation do not necessarily follow a person, and the beliefs and practices of other peoples and places blend and bleed. So it is not surprising that Jesus was not particularly well known or that he and his followers might lose their sense of self and their cohesion as a community.
Read MoreThe Gospel reading describes a meeting between Jesus and a Canaanite woman of Greek descent. The setting is the territory of Tyre and Sidon, located in the coastal area north of Galilee near the modern city of Beirut, a society of Arabs.(Megan McKenna, Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories from the Bible. (Orbis: Maryknoll, NY, 1994) 121)
Jesus and the Canaanite woman appear to be different from each other. He was a man. She was a woman. He was single. She was a parent. He was a Jew. She was a pagan. He was a foreigner. She was a local. The list goes on.
On first blush few would have noticed that they had anything in common. They were different in race, nationality, gender, religion, family form, political parties, and socio-economic class--just for starters. That was, at the beginning of the story. But by the end, those who are paying attention learn that they are more alike than different.
Anybody out there see Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny? Yeah, me neither, we choose Barbie. Awesome movie by the way. “I’m just a Ken.” Back to Indiana Jones--which is so much more than a Ken, right?--he instilled in me as a kid a real passion for adventure and ancient far away cultures. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a globetrotting archaeologist with a bullwhip and a cool hat? Maybe rid the world of nazism along the way. In Raiders of the Lost Ark, Professor Jones had to beat the Nazis from recovering the Ark of the Covenant. Because, with that ancient lost relic, it was believed one could harness the power of God, and make an army invincible. This morning, I’d like to explore together how the idea of the Ark of the Covenant, or the idea behind the Ark of the Covenant, an imageless God, points to the contrary. And in true Indiana Jones fashion, take us to a few far-away places along the way.
Read MoreA couple of weeks ago I was getting a mani-pedi, and I was reading a book. My nail technician sees me reading and asks me, “Oh, what are you reading?“ Now, I am always hesitant to talk to strangers about the books I’m reading when they are theological in nature. I have found through experience that this might lead to a very engaging and interesting conversation, or it might lead to a really awkward conversation. So I choose my words very carefully and say that I am reading a book on Christian contemplative practice. And my nail technician, who I think is probably a Buddhist, says, “Really? I didn’t think Christians had a contemplative practice.”
I have a feeling that she’s not alone. I’m guessing that most Buddhists don’t think Christians have a contemplative practice, and I would be willing to guess that most Christians don’t think that Christianity has a contemplative practice.
Read MoreToday for my last sermon before retiring, I wanted to talk about what the Bible says about leaving one place and beginning a new phase of life somewhere else. Mulling it over, I realized that there are actually many stories in the Bible about someone who leaves a place, for one reason or another. And, in fact, many of these stories are very well known Bible stories — regularly the focus of a sermon or poured over in one of our Bible studies.
Consider the younger son in the story of The Prodigal Son. The Bible tells us that he asks his father for his share of the family estate and receiving it, leaves his home for a distant country where he squanders his wealth in wild living before he ends up poor, hungry, and working for a pig farmer. He comes to his senses and returns home, begging forgiveness from his father, who welcomes him home warmly.
Read MoreShocking, but true--your Senior Minister placed 3rd in the Northeast Iowa Future Farmers of America (FFA) Weed ID competition in the spring of 1978. Over 100 FFA members from all over Northeast Iowa participated in that event. The competition was hosted by the Manchester Chapter of the FFA, and held on a farm just outside of the city limits, which was owned by a family whose son was a member of that chapter.
This third place finish may not be my most notable accomplishment in life, but at the time it was a very meaningful win for me. Here’s why: my classmate Jan Mumm and I, who were registered for this competition, were never meant to be attending the event, much less competing in this contest.
Girls weren’t supposed to enroll in ag classes or join FFA--at least not prior to the passage of Title 9 in 1972, in many people’s minds. And, even though the year of this Weed ID competition was 1978, it took most educational institutions more than a hot minute to implement Title 9 practices. As an example, Jan and I were the first two girls in the 100 year history of Reinbeck High School to enroll in Vocational Agriculture classes and the first two to join our local FFA chapter. Laws were passed and Educational Codes were changed in 1972, but attitudes about the inclusion of girls in so-called “boy’s activities” were slow to evolve.
The 11 boys in Voc Ag I treated us decently, but Jan and I were the talk of the town among adults that year. Some went so far as to opine that our involvement in these so-called “boys activities” were further evidence of the breakdown of traditional gender roles and the devolution of American society. (Yes, we were very powerful teenagers.)
It is a joy & honor to be with you in celebrating your 28th anniversary as an Open & Affirming ministry! 28 years ago, you committed yourselves to the inclusion of LGBTQ members in the sacraments & ministries of this church & began welcoming all persons into the full life & ministry of Eden UCC.
I love your ONA statement proclaiming that “all people are children of God; that persons of all ages, races, & sexual orientations are parts of our increasingly diverse culture.” I salute your vision, your leadership & your abiding commitment to the radically inclusive love & fellowship of our lord Jesus Christ. Give yourselves a hand. Look at your neighbors & say “I value you.”
Read MoreAs we crack open today’s gospel reading, we find Jesus on a national evangelism tour. Much like candidates running for political office, we find Jesus hitting all the major venues where crowds are gathering, e.g., state fairs, holiday celebrations, and large family reunions. Unlike modern political candidates, though, he did not travel in private jets or luxury tour buses, and he didn’t tell people what they wanted to hear. He migrated on foot, and described the cost of discipleship. Who would vote for him? Who would volunteer for his campaign?
Answer: not many. Jesus invited listeners to share the yoke of ministry with him—by feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger. His vision was profound, and his invitation compelling, but very few enlisted. Why?
For starters, Jesus’ lifestyle was what you might call “counter cultural.” He lived in a society that determined identity and status by what, when, and with whom one ate. John the Baptist and Jesus presented themselves as conspicuously unacceptable.
Read MoreBuenos días. Good morning. First of all, I’d like to thank all for last Sunday, for yet again affirming my calling to ministry and to this context. I am humbled and honored to be getting into good trouble together, working out the good news, and building the way as we walk together. This sermon will be a bilingual one.
Antes de todo, me gustaría agradecer a todos por el domingo pasado, por reafirmar una vez más mi llamado al ministerio y a este contexto. Me siento humilde y honrado de estar metidos juntos en buenas obras, compartir juntos las buenas nuevas y construir el camino al andar juntos.
This morning, I want to talk with you a bit about that way, ὁδός in greek, el camino, in spanish. A giving of a cup of water to those who thirst and food for those who are hungry that opens up new ways of knowing, doing, and being, so long as we enter into deeper relationships.
Esta mañana quiero hablarles un poco sobre ese camino, ὁδός en griego. Una entrega de un vaso de agua a quien tiene sed y de comida para quienes tengan hambre que abre nuevas formas de saber, hacer y ser.
Read MoreToday’s gospel reading is a reminder that Jesus and his most faithful disciples were not in the marketing business. If they had ever taken a marketing class, they would have flunked it. Amen?
No one with ambition sets out to launch a marketing campaign for their new product or service with publicity like the messaging Jesus shares in Matthew chapter 10.
Given pronouncements like this, I’ve always found it amazing that Christianity survived beyond the first century AD.
My former colleague, Jim Crawfod, at the Old South Church in Boston, used to scoff at UCC evangelism campaigns that borrowed heavily from Madison Avenue. “The Gospel was never intended to be popular,” Jim would say, when he would see a flier promoting the latest so-called evangelism campaigns, which he saw as being designed more for the purpose of putting butts in pews than follow the example and teachings of Christ.
Read MorePsalm 116 is a psalm of praise. The author and singers are praising God for listening to them. In particular, they are praising God for hearing and responding to their prayers for healing. In verses 1 and 2, we hear them singing:
I love God because he has heard my voice and my supplications. Because she inclined her ear to me,…I will call on her as long as I live.
Clearly the psalmist is pleased to have recovered from illness, but that is not all. The psalmist is deeply grateful that God has heard their voice, and their supplications--their pleas for healing.
Have you ever prayed for something so fervently that you would describe your prayers as supplications? More importantly, have you felt that those prayers were heard by God, or by anyone?
Read MoreEwww. Tax collectors and sinners. Oh my! Doesn’t that just make your spine tingle. A cringe-worthy dubious duo. Well, I’m sure it’s meant to. Our scripture passage this morning makes me imagine the religious leaders as having a very Southern response, “Lawd, have mercy!” “Lawd, have mercy,” with its distinctive southern drawl, is employed in contexts when something is so overwhelming or unbelievable that there are just no other words that will do and one must always nod their head 'No' while saying it in order to get the full effect. Can you just see the Pharisees nodding their heads as they try to compute what on earth the crazy Rabbi Jesus is doing eating with tax collectors and sinners?
Read MoreThe primary text for today’s sermon is taken from the book of Psalms, chapter 8. The book of Psalms was Israel’s hymnal. It was a collection of our ancient ancestors' 150 favorite hymns that survived through the aural tradition, earthquake, wind, fire, flood, foreign invasion, and several general editors’ chopping blocks.
If you open your pew Bible to the exact center, you will find Psalm 100. If you thumb through the Psalms, you’ll notice that only the lyrics are provided for the songs. There are no notes for keyboard or woodwind instruments, and no cords for stringed instruments.
This lyrics-only version of the Psalms is similar to the slide versions of the hymns that Pastor Pepper prepares for Sunday worship and that Dawn Coburn makes magically appear at just the right time during the service.
Read MorePentecost, the day we remember and celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit, is lovely for three reasons, in my humble opinion.
First, Pentecost is lovely because it gives us an opportunity to use RED paraments on the Communion table, which in this particular case are the banners from my ordination in March of 2016, ordination being the second occasion in the life of Church where RED is the chosen color.
The second reason Pentecost is lovely is because it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Christian God. There is a diversity of traditions about the Spirit and some among us have spent more time learning about the Spirit while others have spent more time learning about Jesus. Our annual remembrance of the Spirit’s arrival gives us an opportunity to re-learn what the role of the Spirit can be in our faith life and in the creation of the church.
The third reason Pentecost is lovely is because it is, in fact, about love. Love of self, love of one’s own individuality, but also love of each other’s individuality and love for the entire community.
Read MoreThe Easter narrative culminates in the Acts of the Apostles with Jesus explaining that we followers of him are the ones we’ve been waiting for, and that today is the day to restore the kin-dom of God on earth.
His message is just that simple, and just that challenging. It’s easy to psych ourselves out by doubting our power and denying our ability or authority to change the things that can be changed. But every once in a while, we get our acts together and show up like the modern day apostles that we are capable of being. . .
Read MoreErstwhile Emory University Professor Emeritus Fred Craddock explains in his commentary on Esther that this OT book is technically an Israelite novella rather than a book, per se. The novella’s historical context was the reign of King Xerxes, who reigned over Persia (now known as Iran) from 485-464 BC.1 The names were changed to protect the innocent. Xerxes’ pseudonym in the Hebrew Bible is Ahasuerus.
This novella illustrates and affirms the ingenuity and faithfulness of the eastern Diaspora, who like the protagonist Queen Esther, persevered in spite of the persecution that they endured 400 hundred years before the birth of Christ.
This novella also serves as the basis for one of the lesser Jewish holidays known as the Feast of Purim, which celebrates Israel’s delivery from persecution. This holiday is usually celebrated during a 24-hour period in the month of March.
The name “Purim” for this holiday is derived from the root “pur,” which means “lots.” In the novella, King Ahasuerus’ lead military advisor, Haman, proposed that the date for a pogrom against the Jews be determined by casting pur (or lots). Hence the festival is called Purim.
Read MoreHow many of you recall reading Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree? I’m sure many of you do as it’s about to reach its 60th anniversary next year. It’s about a tree who loved a little boy. And a boy who loved a tree. He would gather and play in her leaves, he would climb her trunk, and swing from her branches. The boy eventually grew older and didn’t play anymore, but he did harvest her apples, and the tree, well she gave and gave and gave some more. You may recall that as the lad grew into an adult, he made from her wood a house and then finally a boat from her trunk and sailed away, only to eventually return to find a stump to finally sit upon in old age to find a last respite. The tree continued to give, even when there seemed there was nothing left to give. This is the nature of plants. “In some Native languages the term for plants translates to ‘those who take care of us.’” And as some experience, this is the nature of mothers, which is why many refer to nature as Mother Nature, and earth as Mother Earth.
This classic children’s tale intended for audiences along the entirety of the age spectrum, is worthy of continued reflection, on the nature of giving, but also on our nature of taking.
Read MoreForty-two years ago this spring, my twin sister, Marlene, and I graduated high school, and decided to celebrate our last summer together by driving to Daytona Beach, Florida to visit our former pastor and his family who had moved there the year before.
Willie Nelson’s hit song, “On the Road Again,” was playing on every radio station in the nation. That song became our theme for the summer. Every time we heard it playing on the radio, we busted out singing it together. We’ve talked about this road trip so much, my nieces could tell it for us and make it sound like they had traveled with us.
Mar and I loaded up my Honda Civic with our suitcases and sleeping bags, a pup tent borrowed from our youth advisors, and a bag of charcoal and a pint of lighter fluid. We intended to eat cold cereal for breakfast, fast food for lunch, and camp and cook at KOAs for supper.
Our mother packed us a huge picnic lunch consisting of tuna fish sandwiches, grapes, and chocolate chip cookies. She also threw in two cans of pork and beans for supper. Unfortunately we forgot to pack a can opener.
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