Such a loss! Such a keen and tearing pain. Even when I am in a crowded room, there is a loneliness I never knew existed. Comforting God, I have turned to you so many times for solace, and I come again. While the world is bright and sparkling, my heart feels leaden and has an emptiness that cannot be filled.
Lord, how can I enter into this season of joy? In my head I celebrate your birth into this world, but in my everyday life, I am filled with a grief that runs so very deep. You blessed me with a loving relationship and now it is gone from my life. How can I be faithful to that love and the memory of that love and my sorrow in this season of "Rejoice!"??
Tears are so close to the surface all the time and helpful friends who want to "keep me busy" don't seem to really understand that I need to embrace my grief. I am afraid of letting go of the sadness and losing the deep love connection I had.
Instead of entering into the Rejoice of Christmas, I long for the sorrow of Lent. I beg you Lord, show me how the two are connected. I ponder the name Emmanuel and know that it means "God with us." With us. With me in this world, in this sorrow. If I look beyond my pain, I know that you, too, suffered so much in this world. I never understood so clearly before that Emmanuel is what your nativity is really about. You are in my world, in my pain.
Thank you, Lord, for the loved one you blessed my life with. Grant me now in my grief, a peace. Give me a comfort that might not make the tears go away, but that lets me feel your presence as you take up a place deep in my heart, with me.
Source: Creighton University Online Ministries
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent....
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Lights: Christ & Coca-Cola
I was checking out some of the Holiday Lights... oops, I mean, "Christmas Lights" on youtube, just for fun. And I ran across this one. 64,000 (or, maybe 65,000?) LED lights to the Coca-Cola song. Sounds fun.
So the title page says, "Putting Christ back into Christmas." Huh? Come again? With the Coca-Cola song?
Now I'm a big fan of Classic Coke myself, but.... I just find this "Too Funny"... And I guess I've never been a fan of the phrase, "Putting Christ back into Christmas." It seems rather presumptuous. And hypersensitive.
But anyway, have fun watching the show... and then scroll down for a few more comments about "Putting Christ back into Christmas."
Here's what I think, for what it's worth: God's grace goes far beyond what we can imagine. We can see God's grace in the Mpls Holidazzle Parade, in a humble but delicious assortment of baked goodies shared by a neighbor, in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, in a meal with my kids, in a cheerful greeting at the check-out counter at Barnes & Noble, in the face of a Muslim child putting a quarter in the Salvation Army kettle, and in a homey Budweiser television commercial featuring the Clydesdale horses pulling a sleigh with a Christmas tree. And yes, grace is found in 64,999 LED lights dancing to the Coca-Cola song! At least it's better than Pepsi.
But here's my main thesis: Grace is most certainly deeper and broader and higher than any "Christmas" which "needs to be saved" by zealots who are offended by an innocently-uttered "happy holidays to you" and yet are not offended by oppression or injustice. If you really want to put Christ back into Christmas, join the prayer of the Christmas angels:
Does this make sense at all?
Whack me with an old fruit cake if I'm way out in left field on this one. :))
But I think I'm right.
The only question is whether I've expressed it clearly enough. ;)
Grace and peace...
So the title page says, "Putting Christ back into Christmas." Huh? Come again? With the Coca-Cola song?
Now I'm a big fan of Classic Coke myself, but.... I just find this "Too Funny"... And I guess I've never been a fan of the phrase, "Putting Christ back into Christmas." It seems rather presumptuous. And hypersensitive.
But anyway, have fun watching the show... and then scroll down for a few more comments about "Putting Christ back into Christmas."
Here's what I think, for what it's worth: God's grace goes far beyond what we can imagine. We can see God's grace in the Mpls Holidazzle Parade, in a humble but delicious assortment of baked goodies shared by a neighbor, in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, in a meal with my kids, in a cheerful greeting at the check-out counter at Barnes & Noble, in the face of a Muslim child putting a quarter in the Salvation Army kettle, and in a homey Budweiser television commercial featuring the Clydesdale horses pulling a sleigh with a Christmas tree. And yes, grace is found in 64,999 LED lights dancing to the Coca-Cola song! At least it's better than Pepsi.
But here's my main thesis: Grace is most certainly deeper and broader and higher than any "Christmas" which "needs to be saved" by zealots who are offended by an innocently-uttered "happy holidays to you" and yet are not offended by oppression or injustice. If you really want to put Christ back into Christmas, join the prayer of the Christmas angels:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights;
and on earth...
on earth where there exists
so much conflict
and violence
and hatred...
on earth...
Let there be peace on earth,
and let it begin with me.
Does this make sense at all?
Whack me with an old fruit cake if I'm way out in left field on this one. :))
But I think I'm right.
The only question is whether I've expressed it clearly enough. ;)
Grace and peace...
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Halfway through Advent - have I missed it?
Dear Jesus,
It's halfway through Advent and I'm not sure what happened. I really wanted to make this a reflective and calm season, preparing for your birth and pondering how you came into this world in such a stunningly humble way. But it's so busy and I'm distracted and sometimes even short-tempered with those I love the most. Where are you in THAT?
I am discouraged and wish I could start over. But as I sit here in the rare moment of silence, I contemplate your birth. In a bed of straw, with the smell of manure everywhere. It's a mess in that stable ... and come to think of it, my life is a little messy, too. I suddenly see that it is not just into the mess of the stable but into my mess that you enter the world. You came into a humble place and that humility is often where I live my life - feeling guilty or distracted and wishing I were a better person. But if I stop thinking of myself and focus on you, I realize that there you are, waiting to love me, even though I have so many unfulfilled good intentions about prayer, so many desires of how to change this fleeting Advent season.
I can begin Advent today and make this season deeper by making room in my heart for you. I can take just a moment before I get out of bed in the morning and feel the empty place in my life I so often fill with my busy-ness. It is there I need you the most. Come, Lord Jesus. Come into that dark and lonely spot in my heart. You know what my needs are more than I do. Let me feel your love. If I only carry that thought with me each day, it will prepare me for Christmas.
Thank you, Jesus. It's not too late. You are waiting to enter my life today, where ever I let you in. Help me to open my heart in these remaining days.
Source: Creighton University
http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent/advent-prayers.html#Exhaustion
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A Prayer for Hope in our Everyday, Ordinary Lives
Surprise us, O God, for we often expect so little.
Yes, you have surprised us even today.
And we stop, and bow our heads with tears of gratitude, and say thank you.
Come to us in ways we cannot predict.
O! How you amazed us again and again!
And we stop, and look up to the sky with renewed hearts, and say alleluia.
Come to us in familiar people, experiences, and words.
And we will stop and see the signs of your grace all around us.
Keep us from living as if life is repetitious--but instead:
Fire us with expectation,
Knowing that you move toward us;
With life far in excess,
far more abundant than we dare to hope or dream.
Alleluia! Amen!
(By Doris Donnelly with additions in italics by Randy Lubbers)
Yes, you have surprised us even today.
And we stop, and bow our heads with tears of gratitude, and say thank you.
Come to us in ways we cannot predict.
O! How you amazed us again and again!
And we stop, and look up to the sky with renewed hearts, and say alleluia.
Come to us in familiar people, experiences, and words.
And we will stop and see the signs of your grace all around us.
Keep us from living as if life is repetitious--but instead:
Fire us with expectation,
Knowing that you move toward us;
With life far in excess,
far more abundant than we dare to hope or dream.
Alleluia! Amen!
(By Doris Donnelly with additions in italics by Randy Lubbers)
Monday, November 15, 2010
Prayers for Peace
Prayer for World Peace
by Sister Joan D. Chittister, O.S.B.
Great God, who has told us
"Vengeance is mine,"
save us from ourselves,
save us from vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.
Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.
Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace even when peace eludes us.
We ask, O God, for the grace
to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.
We ask for the love it takes
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the love it takes
to care for all the peoples
of Afghanistan and Iraq, or Palestine and Israel
as well as for ourselves.
Give us depth of soul, O God,
to constrain our might,
to resist the temptation of power,
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to undertsand
that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace - not war - wherever we go.
For You, O God, have been merciful to us.
For You, O God, have been patient with us.
For You, O God, have been gracious to us.
And so may we be merciful
and patient
and gracious
and trusting
with these others whom you also love.
This we ask through Jesus,
the one without vengeance in his heart.
This we ask forever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi
St. Francis went to speak with the Sultan, rather than fight in the crusades
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
by Sister Joan D. Chittister, O.S.B.
Great God, who has told us
"Vengeance is mine,"
save us from ourselves,
save us from vengeance in our hearts
and the acid in our souls.
Save us from our desire to hurt as we have been hurt,
to punish as we have been punished,
to terrorize as we have been terrorized.
Give us the strength it takes
to listen rather than to judge,
to trust rather than to fear,
to try again and again
to make peace even when peace eludes us.
We ask, O God, for the grace
to be our best selves.
We ask for the vision
to be builders of the human community
rather than its destroyers.
We ask for the humility as a people
to understand the fears and hopes of other peoples.
We ask for the love it takes
to bequeath to the children of the world to come
more than the failures of our own making.
We ask for the love it takes
to care for all the peoples
of Afghanistan and Iraq, or Palestine and Israel
as well as for ourselves.
Give us depth of soul, O God,
to constrain our might,
to resist the temptation of power,
to refuse to attack the attackable,
to undertsand
that vengeance begets violence,
and to bring peace - not war - wherever we go.
For You, O God, have been merciful to us.
For You, O God, have been patient with us.
For You, O God, have been gracious to us.
And so may we be merciful
and patient
and gracious
and trusting
with these others whom you also love.
This we ask through Jesus,
the one without vengeance in his heart.
This we ask forever and ever. Amen.
A Prayer attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi
St. Francis went to speak with the Sultan, rather than fight in the crusades
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Eight Habits for Building "Faith Apathy" in your Kids
1)THE HABIT OF DOING-YOUR-OWN-THING. Encourage your children to attend worship only if they want to because, after all, you wouldn't want them to do anything “just because you told them they ought to.”
This habit, by the way, is particularly effective in producing faith-apathy if you apply it inconsistently. In other words, do not allow your child to do her own thing regarding curfew, attending sports practices, doing homework, or going to the dentist. Only allow your child to “do his own thing” regarding church activities.
2)THE HABIT OF EARNING-YOUR-OWN-WAY INTO HEAVEN. Teach your children that all “good people” go to heaven and that only “really, really bad people” will fall short of God's expectations. Teach them that God only frowns on “serious” sins. Teach them that “sin” is only about the “bad things you do” and that it has nothing to do with the attitude of your heart.
Closely related to this, it is very important to downplay God's “extravagance” and “radical hospitality” so your children never take their salvation for granted. And, at the same time, you should also downplay the radical nature of Christ's call to discipleship. Encourage your children to be good; but, at the same time, to keep religion in its proper place.
3)THE HABIT OF MIXED MESSAGES. This is really quite simple. Drive your children to Sunday school and pick them up after it's over. Teach them that “good kids” go to Sunday school, but that good parents skip worship more often than not.
This habit is reinforced when you make every effort to attend almost all of your child's school and sports events.
4) THE HABIT OF SPORTS ADDICTION. Tell your kids – through your actions if not your words – that nothing should ever get in the way of your favorite sports activity. Regardless of your personal passion – baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, or wrestling; deer hunting or walleye fishing; NASCAR racing, Vikings football, or whatever! The specific sport doesn't matter. Just make sure your kids understand that God doesn't always come first.
Practical ways to reinforce this habit:
(a) Drive 400 miles so your child can play hockey but refuse to take them to a church event because it doesn't fit your schedule.
(b) Make sure you convince your child to believe the coach who tells you that he/she won't play on varsity if he/she doesn’t play in the off-season. Shrug off any idea of spending more than a few hours a week on church activities or family devotions, but invest whole weekends and hundreds of dollars on sports.
5)THE HABIT OF IMBALANCE. Encourage your child to push everything else aside for academic gain. After all, even if they turn 21 and have no interest in their relationship with Christ, you will still be thrilled that they got an A in Trig, right? Instead of teaching them balance, teach them that all else comes second to academics.
6)THE HABIT OF AFFLUENCE. Teach your kid that the dollar is almighty. As a parent, tell yourself your teenager's job (or jobs) are teaching responsibility, even if, in reality, most of the earnings are just going to buy the “extras” your kid wants. Never, never encourage your child to put faith activities above the responsibility of holding a job. Never force young children to tithe their allowance or earnings. See Habit #1.
Reinforce this habit by sending a loud and clear message of what you really want to see them involved in and what you value most. You can do this by spending very little on faith-related activities and/or complaining about the church budget, while at the same time spending “whatever it takes” for designer jeans, dance costumes, sports equipment, lessons, fees, and other “necessary” stuff that “everybody else” has.
7)THE HABIT OF GOING-IT-ALONE. Even though faith is meant to be lived out in community, and even though the primary motivating force in kids’ lives is their relationships, devalue the importance of spending time on a regular basis with others in your church. Attend events or activities that are “required,” but never strive to be proactive in building common bonds with others in your church. Teach your kids that most other relationships come before church friendships. By doing all you can to keep your kids from experiencing the bonds of love in a Christian community, you help ensure that they can easily walk away without feeling like they are missing anything.
8)THE HABIT OF BEING AN EXAMPLE. If you want to encourage faith-apathy in your kids' lives, simply model it in your own life. Your teenager is no dummy. Kids are looking for things that are worth their time. Authentic, genuine, relevant relationships where people are growing in relationship with Jesus is appealing. So if you want to promote apathy about the Faith in your kids, don't let them see you excited about church. Rather, always approach church as “meaningless duty” and “insignificant ritual.” Because those things hold no attraction for kids.
Note: The “Eight Habits” were inspired by “Keys to Making Your Kids Apathetic About Faith” in an article by Scott Liscott, a “pastor in Maine since 1985.” His blog is called Drinking from the Same Dipper. I have reprinted part of his conclusion....
There are no guarantees that your children will follow Christ even if you have a vibrant, purposeful relationship with Him. But, on the other hand, if we, as parents do not do all we can to help our children develop meaningful relationships in Jesus, we miss a major opportunity to lead them and show them the path worth walking.
I want my kids to see that their dad follows Jesus with everything. “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met” (Matthew 6:33, The Message).
This habit, by the way, is particularly effective in producing faith-apathy if you apply it inconsistently. In other words, do not allow your child to do her own thing regarding curfew, attending sports practices, doing homework, or going to the dentist. Only allow your child to “do his own thing” regarding church activities.
2)THE HABIT OF EARNING-YOUR-OWN-WAY INTO HEAVEN. Teach your children that all “good people” go to heaven and that only “really, really bad people” will fall short of God's expectations. Teach them that God only frowns on “serious” sins. Teach them that “sin” is only about the “bad things you do” and that it has nothing to do with the attitude of your heart.
Closely related to this, it is very important to downplay God's “extravagance” and “radical hospitality” so your children never take their salvation for granted. And, at the same time, you should also downplay the radical nature of Christ's call to discipleship. Encourage your children to be good; but, at the same time, to keep religion in its proper place.
3)THE HABIT OF MIXED MESSAGES. This is really quite simple. Drive your children to Sunday school and pick them up after it's over. Teach them that “good kids” go to Sunday school, but that good parents skip worship more often than not.
This habit is reinforced when you make every effort to attend almost all of your child's school and sports events.
4) THE HABIT OF SPORTS ADDICTION. Tell your kids – through your actions if not your words – that nothing should ever get in the way of your favorite sports activity. Regardless of your personal passion – baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, or wrestling; deer hunting or walleye fishing; NASCAR racing, Vikings football, or whatever! The specific sport doesn't matter. Just make sure your kids understand that God doesn't always come first.
Practical ways to reinforce this habit:
(a) Drive 400 miles so your child can play hockey but refuse to take them to a church event because it doesn't fit your schedule.
(b) Make sure you convince your child to believe the coach who tells you that he/she won't play on varsity if he/she doesn’t play in the off-season. Shrug off any idea of spending more than a few hours a week on church activities or family devotions, but invest whole weekends and hundreds of dollars on sports.
5)THE HABIT OF IMBALANCE. Encourage your child to push everything else aside for academic gain. After all, even if they turn 21 and have no interest in their relationship with Christ, you will still be thrilled that they got an A in Trig, right? Instead of teaching them balance, teach them that all else comes second to academics.
6)THE HABIT OF AFFLUENCE. Teach your kid that the dollar is almighty. As a parent, tell yourself your teenager's job (or jobs) are teaching responsibility, even if, in reality, most of the earnings are just going to buy the “extras” your kid wants. Never, never encourage your child to put faith activities above the responsibility of holding a job. Never force young children to tithe their allowance or earnings. See Habit #1.
Reinforce this habit by sending a loud and clear message of what you really want to see them involved in and what you value most. You can do this by spending very little on faith-related activities and/or complaining about the church budget, while at the same time spending “whatever it takes” for designer jeans, dance costumes, sports equipment, lessons, fees, and other “necessary” stuff that “everybody else” has.
7)THE HABIT OF GOING-IT-ALONE. Even though faith is meant to be lived out in community, and even though the primary motivating force in kids’ lives is their relationships, devalue the importance of spending time on a regular basis with others in your church. Attend events or activities that are “required,” but never strive to be proactive in building common bonds with others in your church. Teach your kids that most other relationships come before church friendships. By doing all you can to keep your kids from experiencing the bonds of love in a Christian community, you help ensure that they can easily walk away without feeling like they are missing anything.
8)THE HABIT OF BEING AN EXAMPLE. If you want to encourage faith-apathy in your kids' lives, simply model it in your own life. Your teenager is no dummy. Kids are looking for things that are worth their time. Authentic, genuine, relevant relationships where people are growing in relationship with Jesus is appealing. So if you want to promote apathy about the Faith in your kids, don't let them see you excited about church. Rather, always approach church as “meaningless duty” and “insignificant ritual.” Because those things hold no attraction for kids.
Note: The “Eight Habits” were inspired by “Keys to Making Your Kids Apathetic About Faith” in an article by Scott Liscott, a “pastor in Maine since 1985.” His blog is called Drinking from the Same Dipper. I have reprinted part of his conclusion....
There are no guarantees that your children will follow Christ even if you have a vibrant, purposeful relationship with Him. But, on the other hand, if we, as parents do not do all we can to help our children develop meaningful relationships in Jesus, we miss a major opportunity to lead them and show them the path worth walking.
I want my kids to see that their dad follows Jesus with everything. “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met” (Matthew 6:33, The Message).
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Every day is a new life!
The other night, just before I went to bed, I felt “convicted” again by the Holy Spirit in so many ways. I felt convicted to praise God more and more in my praying. I felt convicted to spend time reflecting, to take inventory of my actions and lack of action, to confess my sins — not just Sunday mornings, but every day.
I felt convicted to give thanks more. I felt convicted to ask, to seek, to knock, to pray more often for myself and others and for our world so loved by God. And most of all, I was convicted of the reality of God’s amazing grace — convinced once again of what I have believed for as long as I can remember, “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!”
Being “convicted” of something — in a criminal court, for example — is usually a bad thing. But, think about it, for a criminal who has never acknowledged that what she or he had been doing was wrong, hurtful, or harmful a "conviction" just might be a moment of grace. At its root, “to convict” means to refute. When my harmful, hurtful actions (or, my harmful LACK of action) is "refuted" I experience a positive moment of conviction. There are, of course, many stories of persons “convicted” of the wrong direction in their lives following their official “conviction."
In Christ, being convicted or “convinced” by the Spirit of God is always a moment of grace because the Judge — Jesus Christ — is our Savior. It seems like a paradox, doesn’t it? The “moment of conviction” for me was not a moment when I felt “convicted” in the sense of feeling guilty or worthless. Indeed, it was just the opposite. It was a moment of being born again again, a moment of grace, a moment of renewal. It was a moment when I remembered again, “Yes, every day is a new life!”
As I reflect on this moment of renewal today, I am thinking once again of the promise of baptism.
Sometimes I think I should read those good words from the liturgy every morning, if only to hear again and again — each day — the truth and reality of God’s eternal covenant of grace with us; and to be reminded of God’s promise "to send the Holy Spirit daily to renew and cleanse us...” Oh, my, what a promise!
Yes, every day is a new life!
I felt convicted to give thanks more. I felt convicted to ask, to seek, to knock, to pray more often for myself and others and for our world so loved by God. And most of all, I was convicted of the reality of God’s amazing grace — convinced once again of what I have believed for as long as I can remember, “Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!”
Being “convicted” of something — in a criminal court, for example — is usually a bad thing. But, think about it, for a criminal who has never acknowledged that what she or he had been doing was wrong, hurtful, or harmful a "conviction" just might be a moment of grace. At its root, “to convict” means to refute. When my harmful, hurtful actions (or, my harmful LACK of action) is "refuted" I experience a positive moment of conviction. There are, of course, many stories of persons “convicted” of the wrong direction in their lives following their official “conviction."
In Christ, being convicted or “convinced” by the Spirit of God is always a moment of grace because the Judge — Jesus Christ — is our Savior. It seems like a paradox, doesn’t it? The “moment of conviction” for me was not a moment when I felt “convicted” in the sense of feeling guilty or worthless. Indeed, it was just the opposite. It was a moment of being born again again, a moment of grace, a moment of renewal. It was a moment when I remembered again, “Yes, every day is a new life!”
As I reflect on this moment of renewal today, I am thinking once again of the promise of baptism.
In baptism God promises by grace alone: to forgive our sins; to adopt us into the Body of Christ, the Church; to send the Holy Spirit daily to renew and cleanse us; and to resurrect us to eternal life...
Through baptism Christ calls us to new obedience: to love and trust God completely; to forsake the evil of the world; and to live a new and holy life.
Yet, when we fall into sin, we must not despair of God’s mercy, nor continue in sin, for baptism is the sign and seal of God’s eternal covenant of grace with us.
Sometimes I think I should read those good words from the liturgy every morning, if only to hear again and again — each day — the truth and reality of God’s eternal covenant of grace with us; and to be reminded of God’s promise "to send the Holy Spirit daily to renew and cleanse us...” Oh, my, what a promise!
Yes, every day is a new life!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
The Place of Prayer in Memorial Day
Since 1950, by order of a joint resolution of Congress, the President has issued a proclamation calling on the people of the U.S. to observe Memorial Day as "a day of prayer for permanent peace" and calling on the people of our nation to unite in prayer. Prayer, of course, presumes humility and penitence. It seems to me, there is no room in sincere prayer for pride, self-congratulations, or triumphalism.
When a newspaper asked for essays on the theme "What's Wrong with the World?" the prolific writer G. K. Chesterton wrote the following response, "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours, G. K. Chesterton."
Yet today it seems that most of our leaders--political, corporate, and even some spiritual--would have us believe that "what's wrong" is almost always someone else or "them." Of course, it's not just our "leaders"--we all tend to do it, don't we?
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." A song-prayer from the 60s says, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." For all talk about peace, I hear very little "Let it begin with me." For all the sharp and self-righteous rhetoric about personal responsibility, I hear very little "Let it begin with me." For all my own preaching and teaching about prayer, I sometimes forget the refrain, "Let it begin with me."
So once again, this gentle reminder: What are we called to do on Memorial Day? To pray for peace.
Independence Day--it seems to me--ought to be the holiday for "busting our buttons" in pride and thanksgiving for our nation, for rejoicing and big fireworks displays. But Memorial Day ought to be more solemn and reflective. It is the holiday to remember the sacrifice of those who have given their lives. We honor them and honor their service by turning our hearts to God in prayer, especially heartfelt prayers for peace.
In 1906, Chesterton wrote the following hymn--it amazes me to think this was written over 100 years ago for the words ring so true today. May this hymn be our prayer for peace on Memorial Day 2010. More than anything, the humble prayer of a penitent heart is a tribute to the memory of true heroes.
O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry;
our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide;
take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches, from lies of pen and tongue;
from all the easy speeches that satisfy the throng;
from sale and profanation of honor and the sword;
from sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord.
Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall;
bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation aflame with faith, and free;
lift up a living nation, a single sword to thee.
When a newspaper asked for essays on the theme "What's Wrong with the World?" the prolific writer G. K. Chesterton wrote the following response, "Dear Sirs, I am. Sincerely yours, G. K. Chesterton."
Yet today it seems that most of our leaders--political, corporate, and even some spiritual--would have us believe that "what's wrong" is almost always someone else or "them." Of course, it's not just our "leaders"--we all tend to do it, don't we?
Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." A song-prayer from the 60s says, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." For all talk about peace, I hear very little "Let it begin with me." For all the sharp and self-righteous rhetoric about personal responsibility, I hear very little "Let it begin with me." For all my own preaching and teaching about prayer, I sometimes forget the refrain, "Let it begin with me."
So once again, this gentle reminder: What are we called to do on Memorial Day? To pray for peace.
Independence Day--it seems to me--ought to be the holiday for "busting our buttons" in pride and thanksgiving for our nation, for rejoicing and big fireworks displays. But Memorial Day ought to be more solemn and reflective. It is the holiday to remember the sacrifice of those who have given their lives. We honor them and honor their service by turning our hearts to God in prayer, especially heartfelt prayers for peace.
In 1906, Chesterton wrote the following hymn--it amazes me to think this was written over 100 years ago for the words ring so true today. May this hymn be our prayer for peace on Memorial Day 2010. More than anything, the humble prayer of a penitent heart is a tribute to the memory of true heroes.
O God of earth and altar, bow down and hear our cry;
our earthly rulers falter, our people drift and die;
the walls of gold entomb us, the swords of scorn divide;
take not thy thunder from us, but take away our pride.
From all that terror teaches, from lies of pen and tongue;
from all the easy speeches that satisfy the throng;
from sale and profanation of honor and the sword;
from sleep and from damnation, deliver us, good Lord.
Tie in a living tether the prince and priest and thrall;
bind all our lives together, smite us and save us all;
in ire and exultation aflame with faith, and free;
lift up a living nation, a single sword to thee.
Presidential Proclamation: Memorial Day
May 28th, 2010
Since our Nation’s founding, America’s sons and daughters have given their lives in service to our country. From Concord and Gettysburg to Marne and Normandy, from Inchon and Khe Sanh to Baghdad and Kandahar, they departed our world as heroes and gave their lives for a cause greater than themselves.
On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to those who have paid the ultimate price to defend the United States and the principles upon which America was founded. In honor of our country’s fallen, I encourage all Americans to unite at 3:00 p.m. local time to observe a National Moment of Remembrance.
Today, Americans from all backgrounds and corners of our country serve with valor, courage, and distinction in the United States Armed Forces. They stand shoulder to shoulder with the giants of our Nation’s history, writing their own chapter in the American story. Many of today’s warriors know what it means to lose a friend too soon, and all our service members and their families understand the true meaning of sacrifice.
This Memorial Day, we express our deepest appreciation to the men and women in uniform who gave their last full measure of devotion so we might live in freedom. We cherish their memory and pray for the peace for which they laid down their lives. We mourn with the families and friends of those we have lost, and hope they find comfort in knowing their loved ones died with honor. We ask for God’s grace to protect those fighting in distant lands, and we renew our promise to support our troops, their families, and our veterans. Their unwavering devotion inspires us all — they are the best of America.
It is our sacred duty to preserve the legacy of these brave Americans, and it remains our charge to work for peace, freedom, and security. Let us always strive to uphold the founding principles they died defending; let their legacy continue to inspire our Nation; and let this solemn lesson of service and sacrifice be taught to future generations of Americans.
In honor of their dedication and service to America, the Congress, by a Joint Resolution, approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106-579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 31, 2010, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time to unite in prayer. I also ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
I request the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.
BARACK OBAMA
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Pink Rose
The sermon, “The Pink Rose,” was originally preached by Jeanne Stevenson Moessner at a Service for Wholeness in Birmingham, Alabama, May, 1997. The service was jointly sponsored by Edgewood Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) and Resolve, a national network of support for women and men dealing with infertility and loss. The sermon was later published in the Easter 1998 edition of Journal for Preachers. Rev. Dr. Stevenson Moessner taught courses in pastoral care at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary for a number of years. She is a friend, mentor, and colleague… and I am grateful for her gifts! Last year our church's worship service on Mother's Day was fashioned around the thematic of "The Pink Rose" and, with Jeanne's permission, I preached an adaptation of her original sermon.
The Pink Rose:
An adaptation of a sermon by Jeanne Stevenson Moessner
MOTHER’S DAY 2009
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LAKE CRYSTAL, MINNESOTA
Next to Jeanne’s childhood home there stood a stone archway. Red roses grew there. They always seemed to appear there just before Mother’s Day. Like a May ritual, her father would cut a handful of the wild red roses, and she and her brothers would wear them to church on Mother’s Day—the red roses a sign that their mother was living. Remarkable, in retrospect, was that Jeanne’s father and mother also wore red roses for so many years. Her grandmothers lived into their nineties.
It is in honor of all the mothers who are living that I place this red rose in the vase.
In the South, where Jeanne was raised, it is a custom on Mother’s Day to wear a red rose if your mother is still living.
And it is in honor of all the mothers who are no longer among us that I place a white rose in the vase.
For, again, in the South, it is customary to wear a white rose on Mother’s Day for the mothers who have died and “passed over.”
Yet, there are other losses to be remembered. Mother’s Day can be especially painful for women and men who wanted to become parents and could not. Sing, O Barren One written by Mary Calloway traces the theme of barren women in the Old and New Testaments. These were all women who wanted to have children and could not. You may recall them.
Sarah in Genesis 11; Rebecca in Genesis 25; Rachel in Genesis 30; Leah in Genesis 29; the wife of Manoah in Judges 13; Hannah in First Samuel, Elizabeth in the Gospel according to Luke; and Zion in Isaiah 54: “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in travail!” This last passage is the one from which the book took its title, Sing, O Barren One. The biblical material focuses on barren women rather than barren men. The barrenness motif or theme functioned to show that the gift of life came from God alone. Barrenness was seen as a curse and humiliation. Fruitfulness was seen as a reward for obedience.
In each of the biblical examples of the barren women, a son was given. Sarah bore Isaac; Rebecca gave birth to Jacob and Esau; Rachel to Joseph and Benjamin; and Leah bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and six others. The wife of Manoah gave birth to Samson; Hannah to Samuel; Zion to the sons of Jerusalem; and Elizabeth to John the Baptist. In each of the cases of barrenness, there is a fruitfulness—the gift of life.
But where does a woman who has not been given this gift of life in children connect on Mother’s Day? Where do the modern-day barren women connect with scripture? The only barren women in scripture other than priestesses are Tamar in Second Samuel and Jepthah’s daughter in Judges 11. Tamar was raped by her brother and lived the rest of her life “a desolate woman.” Jepthah’s daughter, a virgin, was killed by her father as a result of his foolish vow. These are the childless women of scripture. Not a lot of comfort there.
If the red rose represents living mothers, and the white rose mothers who have died, what symbol do we have on Mother’s Day for the women who never bore, for the women still dealing with infertility, for the women waiting for a child to be placed through adoption, for the women whose dreams to get married and raise a family did not materialize? What symbol do we have for mothers who have lost children through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, accident, injury, or illness?
Jeanne Stevenson Moessner tells the story of attending a women’s luncheon where she talked with a woman, a woman she had never met. Within ten minutes, the woman told Jeanne she had lost a daughter nine years earlier…
She was killed in an automobile accident by a young man who crossed the median and hit her car. He was on drugs. Her life, just on the threshold of adulthood and great promise, ended.
There is always a vase of roses on the altar of her hometown church on the Sunday in May nearest the date of her death. That’s often on Mother’s Day. Each year, her parents have added one more rose.
It is for her mother and others like her that I add to the vase the pink rose.
For all the mothers—and for those who want to be mothers—the pink rose.
For those who are foster mothers, and stepmothers, the pink rose.
For birth mothers who placed their children for adoption. And adoptive mothers who received the gift of life through this placement. For those of you facing empty nests at home; for those dealing with children who are emotionally lost to you; for those whose mothers were emotionally disconnected… the pink rose.
On Mother’s Day, the pink rose can also symbolize the “mothers of the church,” a term used in the African-American tradition for the women who hold the church together through nurturing, caring, mentoring. I remember when, as a seminary student, I preached at my home church in Orange City, my mother and my grandmother in the congregation. I remember looking into the eyes of women who had taught me, encouraged me, called me on the carpet. And I remember, now, the strong women of faith who taught me in seminary: Jeanne, who wrote the original version of this sermon (and, for that matter, effectively wrote most of this adaptation); Elizabeth, who introduced me to Hebrew and new understandings of the Old Testament; Marsha, who taught me to preach; and other women—now colleagues—who encouraged me to express compassion, to be myself, and to be honest with myself. I think, too, of the strong women of faith in our own congregation…
For women who are spiritual models and mentors, I place the pink rose in the vase.
Such a wide variety of experiences! What do we do with all of these experiences and feelings on Mother’s Day? May I suggest that we bring our flowers—red, white, pink—to the altar of a God who carries, feeds, protects, heals, guides, disciplines, comforts, washes, and clothes us as children.
Many biblical passages portray God as doing these for us.
Giving birth…
Listen to Me…
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb…. (Isa. 46:3-4)
Comforting…
As a child who is comforted by its mother,
so I will comfort you. (Isa. 66:13)
Washing…
I will pour clean water over you and scrub you clean.
I'll give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you. (Ezekiel 36:25)
Healing…
Look, look, God has moved into the neighborhood. God will wipe every tear…. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. (Rev. 21:4)
Suffering and long-suffering… caring for difficult children…
The more I called them,
the more they went from me;
Yet it was I who taught these children to walk,
I took them up in my arms;
but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them. (Hosea 11:1-4)
How can we re-image God so that we can connect in ways that our more genuine to our experience? In ways which ring true?
“After my surgery,” said a woman dealing with breast cancer, “I could not image God as a male. I (needed) to image God as Mother Hen. (Because) it is only God as mother hen who would know what it is like to lose a wing.”
She was referring, of course, to the scripture passages in the gospels of Matthew and Luke in which Jesus spoke of his desire to gather the children of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her brood under her wings. In a similar way, parents who have lost a child, most often want and need visits from those who have experienced the same. And they need a God who knows what it was like to lose a child.
We can also re-image God as adoptive parent. God is often imaged as birth parent, the One who creates us and even gives us a “second birth”—most familiar is John 3:16. But there are actually more passages in the New Testament that speak of our adoption into the family of faith through Jesus Christ as Firstborn. The book of Ephesians in particular presents God as adoptive parent. God has destined us for adoption as children with an inheritance. God also knows the empty pain of childlessness when someone rejects the gracious invitation to come into the adoptive family.
Various theologians write about the woundedness of God, the vulnerability of God to pain. God lost a son at the place of crucifixion.
The roses mean something different to each of us, based on our experiences. The pink rose, in particular, carries a meaning unique to each of our own experiences.
So in a way, the pink rose is for all us. It would take an all-knowing, all-seeing, vulnerable, and loving God to fully understand the pink rose signifies to each one of us.
And that’s exactly what Psalm 139 says… Our God is a God who formed our inward parts, knit us together in our mother’s womb, and saw our unformed substance. It is from such a God that healing will one day come, a healing that extends beyond childhood, before birth, to the very womb. This healing is to be found somehow in the very womb of God.
Yes, it is an all-knowing, all-seeing, vulnerable, and loving God who is sufficient to embrace what we bring today—the red roses, the white roses, the pink roses—especially the pink roses. This rich and varied bouquet of very real human experiences is an our offering of our inmost selves to God— May this bouquet be held close to the very heart of God.
Amen.
“The Pink Rose”
The Pink Rose:
An adaptation of a sermon by Jeanne Stevenson Moessner
MOTHER’S DAY 2009
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LAKE CRYSTAL, MINNESOTA
Next to Jeanne’s childhood home there stood a stone archway. Red roses grew there. They always seemed to appear there just before Mother’s Day. Like a May ritual, her father would cut a handful of the wild red roses, and she and her brothers would wear them to church on Mother’s Day—the red roses a sign that their mother was living. Remarkable, in retrospect, was that Jeanne’s father and mother also wore red roses for so many years. Her grandmothers lived into their nineties.
It is in honor of all the mothers who are living that I place this red rose in the vase.
In the South, where Jeanne was raised, it is a custom on Mother’s Day to wear a red rose if your mother is still living.
And it is in honor of all the mothers who are no longer among us that I place a white rose in the vase.
For, again, in the South, it is customary to wear a white rose on Mother’s Day for the mothers who have died and “passed over.”
Yet, there are other losses to be remembered. Mother’s Day can be especially painful for women and men who wanted to become parents and could not. Sing, O Barren One written by Mary Calloway traces the theme of barren women in the Old and New Testaments. These were all women who wanted to have children and could not. You may recall them.
Sarah in Genesis 11; Rebecca in Genesis 25; Rachel in Genesis 30; Leah in Genesis 29; the wife of Manoah in Judges 13; Hannah in First Samuel, Elizabeth in the Gospel according to Luke; and Zion in Isaiah 54: “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in travail!” This last passage is the one from which the book took its title, Sing, O Barren One. The biblical material focuses on barren women rather than barren men. The barrenness motif or theme functioned to show that the gift of life came from God alone. Barrenness was seen as a curse and humiliation. Fruitfulness was seen as a reward for obedience.
In each of the biblical examples of the barren women, a son was given. Sarah bore Isaac; Rebecca gave birth to Jacob and Esau; Rachel to Joseph and Benjamin; and Leah bore Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and six others. The wife of Manoah gave birth to Samson; Hannah to Samuel; Zion to the sons of Jerusalem; and Elizabeth to John the Baptist. In each of the cases of barrenness, there is a fruitfulness—the gift of life.
But where does a woman who has not been given this gift of life in children connect on Mother’s Day? Where do the modern-day barren women connect with scripture? The only barren women in scripture other than priestesses are Tamar in Second Samuel and Jepthah’s daughter in Judges 11. Tamar was raped by her brother and lived the rest of her life “a desolate woman.” Jepthah’s daughter, a virgin, was killed by her father as a result of his foolish vow. These are the childless women of scripture. Not a lot of comfort there.
If the red rose represents living mothers, and the white rose mothers who have died, what symbol do we have on Mother’s Day for the women who never bore, for the women still dealing with infertility, for the women waiting for a child to be placed through adoption, for the women whose dreams to get married and raise a family did not materialize? What symbol do we have for mothers who have lost children through miscarriage, stillbirth, SIDS, accident, injury, or illness?
Jeanne Stevenson Moessner tells the story of attending a women’s luncheon where she talked with a woman, a woman she had never met. Within ten minutes, the woman told Jeanne she had lost a daughter nine years earlier…
She was killed in an automobile accident by a young man who crossed the median and hit her car. He was on drugs. Her life, just on the threshold of adulthood and great promise, ended.
There is always a vase of roses on the altar of her hometown church on the Sunday in May nearest the date of her death. That’s often on Mother’s Day. Each year, her parents have added one more rose.
It is for her mother and others like her that I add to the vase the pink rose.
For all the mothers—and for those who want to be mothers—the pink rose.
For those who are foster mothers, and stepmothers, the pink rose.
For birth mothers who placed their children for adoption. And adoptive mothers who received the gift of life through this placement. For those of you facing empty nests at home; for those dealing with children who are emotionally lost to you; for those whose mothers were emotionally disconnected… the pink rose.
On Mother’s Day, the pink rose can also symbolize the “mothers of the church,” a term used in the African-American tradition for the women who hold the church together through nurturing, caring, mentoring. I remember when, as a seminary student, I preached at my home church in Orange City, my mother and my grandmother in the congregation. I remember looking into the eyes of women who had taught me, encouraged me, called me on the carpet. And I remember, now, the strong women of faith who taught me in seminary: Jeanne, who wrote the original version of this sermon (and, for that matter, effectively wrote most of this adaptation); Elizabeth, who introduced me to Hebrew and new understandings of the Old Testament; Marsha, who taught me to preach; and other women—now colleagues—who encouraged me to express compassion, to be myself, and to be honest with myself. I think, too, of the strong women of faith in our own congregation…
For women who are spiritual models and mentors, I place the pink rose in the vase.
Such a wide variety of experiences! What do we do with all of these experiences and feelings on Mother’s Day? May I suggest that we bring our flowers—red, white, pink—to the altar of a God who carries, feeds, protects, heals, guides, disciplines, comforts, washes, and clothes us as children.
Many biblical passages portray God as doing these for us.
Giving birth…
Listen to Me…
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb…. (Isa. 46:3-4)
Comforting…
As a child who is comforted by its mother,
so I will comfort you. (Isa. 66:13)
Washing…
I will pour clean water over you and scrub you clean.
I'll give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you. (Ezekiel 36:25)
Healing…
Look, look, God has moved into the neighborhood. God will wipe every tear…. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more. (Rev. 21:4)
Suffering and long-suffering… caring for difficult children…
The more I called them,
the more they went from me;
Yet it was I who taught these children to walk,
I took them up in my arms;
but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them. (Hosea 11:1-4)
How can we re-image God so that we can connect in ways that our more genuine to our experience? In ways which ring true?
“After my surgery,” said a woman dealing with breast cancer, “I could not image God as a male. I (needed) to image God as Mother Hen. (Because) it is only God as mother hen who would know what it is like to lose a wing.”
She was referring, of course, to the scripture passages in the gospels of Matthew and Luke in which Jesus spoke of his desire to gather the children of Jerusalem as a hen gathers her brood under her wings. In a similar way, parents who have lost a child, most often want and need visits from those who have experienced the same. And they need a God who knows what it was like to lose a child.
We can also re-image God as adoptive parent. God is often imaged as birth parent, the One who creates us and even gives us a “second birth”—most familiar is John 3:16. But there are actually more passages in the New Testament that speak of our adoption into the family of faith through Jesus Christ as Firstborn. The book of Ephesians in particular presents God as adoptive parent. God has destined us for adoption as children with an inheritance. God also knows the empty pain of childlessness when someone rejects the gracious invitation to come into the adoptive family.
Various theologians write about the woundedness of God, the vulnerability of God to pain. God lost a son at the place of crucifixion.
The roses mean something different to each of us, based on our experiences. The pink rose, in particular, carries a meaning unique to each of our own experiences.
So in a way, the pink rose is for all us. It would take an all-knowing, all-seeing, vulnerable, and loving God to fully understand the pink rose signifies to each one of us.
And that’s exactly what Psalm 139 says… Our God is a God who formed our inward parts, knit us together in our mother’s womb, and saw our unformed substance. It is from such a God that healing will one day come, a healing that extends beyond childhood, before birth, to the very womb. This healing is to be found somehow in the very womb of God.
Yes, it is an all-knowing, all-seeing, vulnerable, and loving God who is sufficient to embrace what we bring today—the red roses, the white roses, the pink roses—especially the pink roses. This rich and varied bouquet of very real human experiences is an our offering of our inmost selves to God— May this bouquet be held close to the very heart of God.
Amen.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
May 2010 Church Newsletter Preview
CUTE, CUDDLY CHRISTIANITY
There has never been a shortage of inspirational stories and sayings—at least not in any of our lifetimes. With the advent of the internet, the words of advice are now only a mouse-click away, for almost all of us have friends who click “forward” on their e-mail and send them to us, and other friends who post these “good words” on their facebook statuses.
Just one problem. Based on my own experience, most (yes, most) of the stories Christians e-mail to other Christians are either untrue or embellished to the point of misrepresentation. And many—perhaps most—of the sayings or adages are more false than true. And the “moral of the story” is oftentimes almost completely opposite to the radical gospel of Jesus. They are all very nice, very sweet. But often they are just plain wrong!
Here’s one example, a posting from facebook:
God Knows Best, that's why He says NO!
At first glance, this seems true enough, right? Or at least harmless enough, don’t you think? But think about what it says and implies, based on what we believe about prayer. What does this adage say about prayer? In what ways might the saying imply that prayer is mostly “asking for stuff for ourselves” instead of “the most important way we say thank you to God” as taught by the Heidelberg Catechism? If you pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” does God ever say no?
How would you respond to this facebook posting? Would you just click “like” and forget about it?
Think for a moment…
Hypothetically, do you think your friend be offended if you challenged the adage? Would it be best to just ignore it? Is it best to just let it go?
I wonder…
And I’d be curious to know what you think about it, too…
Sometimes I just let it go. There’s not enough time to write about everything, after all. But sometimes, especially with a close friend, I will formulate my thoughts and take the risk of trying to do as the Bible teaches, “to speak the truth in love.”
I’d be curious to know how you would respond.
But anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s how I answered:
CUTE AND CUDDLY CHRISTIANITY: ADDENDUM
There is no shortage of “cute and cuddly” quotes and stories. There is a time and a place for them. But “cute and cuddly” is not an accurate portrayal of the “tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale” (Frederick Buechner) of the Good News. God did not send his Son into the world to bring us a cute and cuddly religion. The crucified One is Lord. Our faith and hope and transformation is shaped by the cross. There is nothing cute and cuddly about the cross.
Jesus died—not to bring comfort to people who are already “pretty-darned-good” and who are already quite comfortable—but to save sinners. We are all poor and needy; we are all shipwrecked and in desperate straits. God did not send Jesus to condemn this hurting and broken world, but that the world through him might be saved.
A POSTSCRIPT: “IN SEARCH OF… HAPPINESS”
Poets agree, happiness cannot be bought, neither can it be sought after. Happiness comes in the midst of not seeking after it, arrives in the midst of mopping a floor, shows up uninvited while emptying the in-basket. The deepest happiness always comes as a surprise party. "Seek God, not happiness--this is the fundamental rule of all meditation" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
Happiness surprises. Joy surprises. Grace surprises; the Spirit surprises! Poet Edward Hirsch says, "The stars surprise the sky." I like that. I like surprises.
A POEM (BY WENDELL BERRY): “WHY”
Glad to be on the journey with you…
Pastor Randy
There has never been a shortage of inspirational stories and sayings—at least not in any of our lifetimes. With the advent of the internet, the words of advice are now only a mouse-click away, for almost all of us have friends who click “forward” on their e-mail and send them to us, and other friends who post these “good words” on their facebook statuses.
Just one problem. Based on my own experience, most (yes, most) of the stories Christians e-mail to other Christians are either untrue or embellished to the point of misrepresentation. And many—perhaps most—of the sayings or adages are more false than true. And the “moral of the story” is oftentimes almost completely opposite to the radical gospel of Jesus. They are all very nice, very sweet. But often they are just plain wrong!
Here’s one example, a posting from facebook:
God Knows Best, that's why He says NO!
At first glance, this seems true enough, right? Or at least harmless enough, don’t you think? But think about what it says and implies, based on what we believe about prayer. What does this adage say about prayer? In what ways might the saying imply that prayer is mostly “asking for stuff for ourselves” instead of “the most important way we say thank you to God” as taught by the Heidelberg Catechism? If you pray, “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me,” does God ever say no?
How would you respond to this facebook posting? Would you just click “like” and forget about it?
Think for a moment…
Hypothetically, do you think your friend be offended if you challenged the adage? Would it be best to just ignore it? Is it best to just let it go?
I wonder…
And I’d be curious to know what you think about it, too…
Sometimes I just let it go. There’s not enough time to write about everything, after all. But sometimes, especially with a close friend, I will formulate my thoughts and take the risk of trying to do as the Bible teaches, “to speak the truth in love.”
I’d be curious to know how you would respond.
But anyway, for what it’s worth, here’s how I answered:
RE: “God Knows Best, that's why He says NO!”
I understand the sentiment, I think, but I don't think we should be teaching that sentiment to our children. Seems to me there's very, very little in the Bible about God saying no. And lots and lots about yes.
Just a few quotes from Jesus on this subject... "You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it" (John 14:14); "Ask and it will be given to you... (Matthew 7:7); "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7).
In my own family's life, we might very well ask, Did God say no to our prayers for healing? What do you think?
As we explained to our kids about a year ago, God said yes and yes and yes. Carolyn's many surgeries and four years of chemo and numerous "little miracles" were all YES answers to prayer. Even in dying there was healing and wholeness. And through the grieving process and in our "new normal" God continues to heal us. God says yes!
Finally, and just as important in our understanding of God, I do not believe God looks down on all the families of the world (all of them praying for protection and good health) and says, "Hmmm, Father Knows Best so I think I'll give this family an adventure with cancer. Like green veggies, they won't like it but it will be good for them! Ha-ha!" No, that is not how God works in the world. Whenever the Bible talks about God's Mighty Acts, the actions are acts of salvation in the fullest sense of that word. Cancer is part of the broken and hurting world in which we live—it is not something “given” by God.
The world is filled with mystery and ambiguity, with unanswered and unanswerable questions. God is far beyond our understanding and yet fully revealed in the face of Jesus, the Lamb, on the cross. And yet ambiguity is okay because Jesus has promised, "I will be with you always...." Mystery is okay because Jesus has promised, “No one can snatch them out of my hands.” God is beyond our understanding. Yet God is Emmanuel—God with us. And that, my friend, is God’s grand and glorious Yes!
CUTE AND CUDDLY CHRISTIANITY: ADDENDUM
There is no shortage of “cute and cuddly” quotes and stories. There is a time and a place for them. But “cute and cuddly” is not an accurate portrayal of the “tragedy, comedy, and fairy tale” (Frederick Buechner) of the Good News. God did not send his Son into the world to bring us a cute and cuddly religion. The crucified One is Lord. Our faith and hope and transformation is shaped by the cross. There is nothing cute and cuddly about the cross.
Jesus died—not to bring comfort to people who are already “pretty-darned-good” and who are already quite comfortable—but to save sinners. We are all poor and needy; we are all shipwrecked and in desperate straits. God did not send Jesus to condemn this hurting and broken world, but that the world through him might be saved.
A POSTSCRIPT: “IN SEARCH OF… HAPPINESS”
Poets agree, happiness cannot be bought, neither can it be sought after. Happiness comes in the midst of not seeking after it, arrives in the midst of mopping a floor, shows up uninvited while emptying the in-basket. The deepest happiness always comes as a surprise party. "Seek God, not happiness--this is the fundamental rule of all meditation" (Dietrich Bonhoeffer).
Happiness surprises. Joy surprises. Grace surprises; the Spirit surprises! Poet Edward Hirsch says, "The stars surprise the sky." I like that. I like surprises.
A POEM (BY WENDELL BERRY): “WHY”
Why all the embarrassment
about being happy?
Sometimes I’m as happy
as a sleeping dog,
and for the same reasons,
and for others.
Glad to be on the journey with you…
Pastor Randy
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Not an Option: a sermon for Maundy Thursday
“A new mandate: Love one another!”
Scripture readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
SERMON
“Not an Option”
by Randy Lubbers
That’s “Not an Option!” Every heard that? It’s a phrase used to describe something that “just ain’t gonna happen.” For example:
There are some things so out-of-bounds, so impossible for whatever reason… they are… just simply… not an option.
However, there’s another way to read this phrase…
In football there’s a play called the “triple option” – the quarterback takes the ball and can (1) keep the ball, (2) hand it off to the fullback, or (3) pitch it to the tailback. Lots of options.
And we all like options, unless there are too many; like in some restaurants:
Every car now has something like 275 options with multitudes of combinations making it possible to line up 100,000 red Mustang convertibles and yet all of them are slightly different. Lots of options.
We sometimes say, “I’d like to keep my options open.”
Generally, options are a good thing.
Options make us feel like we’ve got some choice in the matter.
People without options are imprisoned. Sometimes literally. In prison bedtime (“lights out”) is predetermined. Then the lights go back on and the horns blare when it’s time to get up. Breakfast is scrambled eggs… or scrambled eggs. No options for prisoners and slaves and workers treated like slaves.
Free people have options.
Now for the children of Israel living in slavery in Egypt, there were not a lot of options. But in anticipation of Pharoah changing his mind one last time, the Lord gave Moses and Aaron instructions for the Passover. The blood of the sacrificed, slaughtered Pascal lamb would be a sign and the angel of death would pass over those houses. But even in their deliverance there were not a lot of options. The instructions are clear—ignoring them is… not an option.
We sometimes fail to remember the connections between the first Passover and our Holy Week and Easter observances. Christ, the Lamb of God, is our Passover. Christ took bread and wine and said this is my body and blood freely given for you. Christ offered himself up to be the unblemished, wholly-sound Lamb to be slaughtered.
But before any of that, the gospel of John tells us Jesus offered himself up in another way. He took the towel, filled the bowl, and washed the feet of his friends. As we sang, he suffers and serves ‘til all are fed… and “shows how grandly love intends to work….”
Jesus takes the role of servant, of slave. And Jesus calls us to “go and do likewise.” Jesus calls us to be servants.
Now this idea of being a servant doesn’t feel quite right to many of us. After all, weren’t the children of Israel set free from being servants? Aren’t we set free in Christ?
I think a big part of the problem with the idea of servanthood relates to the mistreatment of some Christians over the last 2000 years by bigger and more powerful Christians. Examples abound— Christians with guns took away the lands of Native Americans while others were trying to convert the so-called heathen Indians into becoming servants of Christ. Christians justified slavery and preached, “Servants, obey your masters in the Lord.” Theologians in Latin America have been reminding North American Christians for decades of God’s “Great Requirement”: To act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with God. Too often the richest people and cultures respond to the cries for justice by recalling Christ’s call to servanthood. Well it’s pretty easy for CEOs to tell people about being “a servant to all.” But the servants don’t really need reminding. Even today in many churches, only men can vote and preach and make the rules—and the women… do women’s work… the women… serve. So it should be no surprise, really, when the idea of being a servant doesn’t ring true.
Not to mention: We live in a world where serving isn’t very high up on the bucket-lists. In our culture, winning is almost everything. Greed is good. Violence is tolerated—even exalted—it’s cool to be tough, cool to be a gansta. Church youth groups shoot each other up with paint balls—“it’s just for fun.” And the kids rightly point out, “Hey, even my dad plays MafiaWars on facebook… it’s just for fun, right? What’s the big deal?”
I thought it was an April Fool joke at first, but it was headline news in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the April Fool jokes are usually at least below the fold.
We live in a world where the strongest are rewarded and the weakest left behind. We live in a culture that doesn’t merely tolerate “me-first”—it’s promoted. We live in a time when it is not really so difficult to imagine a crowd of thousands—urged on by an irrational, screaming voice—to turn on someone and shout, “Crucify Him!”
Being a servant? Not an option.
Serving? Pastor, aren’t there better words you could use?
But “serve” is a big word in Exodus.
The deliverance of the people out of servitude to Egypt was the Deliverance of God’s people into the freedom of… serving the one true God. Freedom. Without serving God…. Is just… not an option.
And Jesus… in a world where everyone is striving to get served first… takes the towel… and puts LOVE into action… serving the disciples… washing their feet.
And this is what love looks like:
Love is not always pretty. As Christ demonstrates, love is the humble act of a servant. “And this is my new mandate,” Jesus says. “Love one another. As you have seen me put love into practice by being a slave to all, that’s what I want you to be doing. Love one another. That’s how people will know that you are my followers.”
Love one another.
For those of us set free from servitude to evil to serve God and God alone: love-one-another is what we must do. It is Christ’s command.
It’s not an "option."
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all God’s benefits. We praise you, O God, for making your divine truth real to us in Jesus Christ. We ask that what we do, how we love, and the way we love, may increasingly become a worthy response. Amen.
Scripture readings: Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; John 13:1-17, 31b-35
SERMON
“Not an Option”
by Randy Lubbers
That’s “Not an Option!” Every heard that? It’s a phrase used to describe something that “just ain’t gonna happen.” For example:
“Dad, can we skip school today?”
“Sorry, that’s not an option.”
There are some things so out-of-bounds, so impossible for whatever reason… they are… just simply… not an option.
However, there’s another way to read this phrase…
In football there’s a play called the “triple option” – the quarterback takes the ball and can (1) keep the ball, (2) hand it off to the fullback, or (3) pitch it to the tailback. Lots of options.
And we all like options, unless there are too many; like in some restaurants:
“Baked, au gratin, mashed with gravy, hash browns, American fries, French fries, rice pilaf, or veggies…”
“Ummm could you repeat that?”
Every car now has something like 275 options with multitudes of combinations making it possible to line up 100,000 red Mustang convertibles and yet all of them are slightly different. Lots of options.
We sometimes say, “I’d like to keep my options open.”
Generally, options are a good thing.
Options make us feel like we’ve got some choice in the matter.
People without options are imprisoned. Sometimes literally. In prison bedtime (“lights out”) is predetermined. Then the lights go back on and the horns blare when it’s time to get up. Breakfast is scrambled eggs… or scrambled eggs. No options for prisoners and slaves and workers treated like slaves.
Free people have options.
Now for the children of Israel living in slavery in Egypt, there were not a lot of options. But in anticipation of Pharoah changing his mind one last time, the Lord gave Moses and Aaron instructions for the Passover. The blood of the sacrificed, slaughtered Pascal lamb would be a sign and the angel of death would pass over those houses. But even in their deliverance there were not a lot of options. The instructions are clear—ignoring them is… not an option.
We sometimes fail to remember the connections between the first Passover and our Holy Week and Easter observances. Christ, the Lamb of God, is our Passover. Christ took bread and wine and said this is my body and blood freely given for you. Christ offered himself up to be the unblemished, wholly-sound Lamb to be slaughtered.
But before any of that, the gospel of John tells us Jesus offered himself up in another way. He took the towel, filled the bowl, and washed the feet of his friends. As we sang, he suffers and serves ‘til all are fed… and “shows how grandly love intends to work….”
Jesus takes the role of servant, of slave. And Jesus calls us to “go and do likewise.” Jesus calls us to be servants.
Now this idea of being a servant doesn’t feel quite right to many of us. After all, weren’t the children of Israel set free from being servants? Aren’t we set free in Christ?
I think a big part of the problem with the idea of servanthood relates to the mistreatment of some Christians over the last 2000 years by bigger and more powerful Christians. Examples abound— Christians with guns took away the lands of Native Americans while others were trying to convert the so-called heathen Indians into becoming servants of Christ. Christians justified slavery and preached, “Servants, obey your masters in the Lord.” Theologians in Latin America have been reminding North American Christians for decades of God’s “Great Requirement”: To act justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly with God. Too often the richest people and cultures respond to the cries for justice by recalling Christ’s call to servanthood. Well it’s pretty easy for CEOs to tell people about being “a servant to all.” But the servants don’t really need reminding. Even today in many churches, only men can vote and preach and make the rules—and the women… do women’s work… the women… serve. So it should be no surprise, really, when the idea of being a servant doesn’t ring true.
Not to mention: We live in a world where serving isn’t very high up on the bucket-lists. In our culture, winning is almost everything. Greed is good. Violence is tolerated—even exalted—it’s cool to be tough, cool to be a gansta. Church youth groups shoot each other up with paint balls—“it’s just for fun.” And the kids rightly point out, “Hey, even my dad plays MafiaWars on facebook… it’s just for fun, right? What’s the big deal?”
I thought it was an April Fool joke at first, but it was headline news in the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the April Fool jokes are usually at least below the fold.
Strapped for cash, schools and boosters bring in professional wrestling to raise money. A school administrator says, it might have been in bad taste, but it happened nevertheless. In one match “…a wrestler playing an Iranian made a show of unrolling a rug and kneeling to pray…” as the crowd booed and jeered.
We live in a world where the strongest are rewarded and the weakest left behind. We live in a culture that doesn’t merely tolerate “me-first”—it’s promoted. We live in a time when it is not really so difficult to imagine a crowd of thousands—urged on by an irrational, screaming voice—to turn on someone and shout, “Crucify Him!”
Being a servant? Not an option.
Serving? Pastor, aren’t there better words you could use?
But “serve” is a big word in Exodus.
The deliverance of the people out of servitude to Egypt was the Deliverance of God’s people into the freedom of… serving the one true God. Freedom. Without serving God…. Is just… not an option.
And Jesus… in a world where everyone is striving to get served first… takes the towel… and puts LOVE into action… serving the disciples… washing their feet.
And this is what love looks like:
Caring for people you love when they’re sick—not always pretty or fun;
Patience with people who you might not even like;
Listening when you’d rather be doing anything else.
Love is not always pretty. As Christ demonstrates, love is the humble act of a servant. “And this is my new mandate,” Jesus says. “Love one another. As you have seen me put love into practice by being a slave to all, that’s what I want you to be doing. Love one another. That’s how people will know that you are my followers.”
Love one another.
For those of us set free from servitude to evil to serve God and God alone: love-one-another is what we must do. It is Christ’s command.
It’s not an "option."
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit…
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all God’s benefits. We praise you, O God, for making your divine truth real to us in Jesus Christ. We ask that what we do, how we love, and the way we love, may increasingly become a worthy response. Amen.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
East-a-whaaat?
Jesus said, “Nobody lights a lamp and then covers it with a basin or puts it under the bed. You put it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see the light” (Luke 8:16). The After-School Bible Class and I were talking about what it means to “let your light shine” and one of the answers was something along the lines of “coming to church.” We talked a bit about “when” and “why” people come to church.... Sundays for worship and Sunday school, special meals to be with people they know in the church, weddings, and so forth. And especially during Holy Week....
We talked about Easter and Good Friday and two of their comments and questions stuck with me. One, about Good Friday, after we talked about the crucifixion of Jesus: “Why do they call it Good Friday, if he died?” The other, about Easter, after I explained how Jesus’ death conquered death for all time because Jesus rose from the dead: “He did whaaat?”
The comment reminded me of the funny E*Trade television commercial—“milk-a-whaaat?!”
Most adults in the church know that Jesus rose from the dead. Many understand that the resurrection of the Lord is why Easter is the biggest day of feasting and celebration in the church year. Yes, bigger than Christmas.
But on Easter morning almost no one is astonished. Almost no one is amazed.
But we ought to be.
“He did whaat?”
He rose from the dead.
“How?”
Well, the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how. The New Testament book of Romans says Christ was raised “through the glory of the Father”—that is, by the glorious power of God.
But we don’t know how.
All we know is that it happened. As Frederick Buechner wrote, “He rose. A few saw him briefly and talked to him. If it is true, there is nothing left to say. If it is not true, there is nothing left to say. For believers and nonbelievers both, life has never been the same again. For some, neither has death…”
Christ arose!
“East-a-whaaat?”
Christ arose!
There is nothing left to say.
We talked about Easter and Good Friday and two of their comments and questions stuck with me. One, about Good Friday, after we talked about the crucifixion of Jesus: “Why do they call it Good Friday, if he died?” The other, about Easter, after I explained how Jesus’ death conquered death for all time because Jesus rose from the dead: “He did whaaat?”
The comment reminded me of the funny E*Trade television commercial—“milk-a-whaaat?!”
Most adults in the church know that Jesus rose from the dead. Many understand that the resurrection of the Lord is why Easter is the biggest day of feasting and celebration in the church year. Yes, bigger than Christmas.
But on Easter morning almost no one is astonished. Almost no one is amazed.
But we ought to be.
“He did whaat?”
He rose from the dead.
“How?”
Well, the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly how. The New Testament book of Romans says Christ was raised “through the glory of the Father”—that is, by the glorious power of God.
But we don’t know how.
All we know is that it happened. As Frederick Buechner wrote, “He rose. A few saw him briefly and talked to him. If it is true, there is nothing left to say. If it is not true, there is nothing left to say. For believers and nonbelievers both, life has never been the same again. For some, neither has death…”
Christ arose!
“East-a-whaaat?”
We ought to be
amazed,
flabbergasted,
confused,
lost in wonder,
speechless.
Christ arose!
There is nothing left to say.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Ash Wednesday Mini-Retreat
ASH WEDNESDAY ORDER OF PRAYER
Centering Yourself in God:
I belong to you, O God; I belong to you;
I belong; I belong; I belong. I belong to you. Amen.
Silence
Reading: John 3:16-17
Prayer:
O God the Father, creator of heaven and earth—
Have mercy on me.
O God the Son, redeemer of the world—
Have mercy on me.
O God the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide—
Have mercy on me.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity—
three persons and one God—
Have mercy on me.
Loving God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: I confess that I have gone astray from your ways and I humbly ask for your mercy. Bring me again with a penitent heart and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of your Word, Jesus Christ your Son. I acknowledge my need for repentance and my need for the love and forgiveness shown to me in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Self-examination:
• In what specific areas of my life have I failed to invite God?
• In what things do I need to “die” so that I might really live?
• Am I sharing time, talents, and treasure in the church?
• Listen for God’s voice. Not a voice of accusation, but of voice welcoming you home. Listen for the Savior’s kind voice through the Holy Spirit, assuring you, “Do not be afraid; I am with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you; I will never let you down, and never let you go!”
Confession and Assurance of Pardon:
• Psalm 51
• Silence
• And then read this psalm of thanksgiving, celebrating the good news of God’s steadfast love: Psalm 103
Prayer in your own words… and then, go in the peace of Christ!
BACKGROUND: For all the years I've been at First Presbyterian Lake Crystal we've observed Ash Wednesday with some sort of Service of Ashes, even though my first year here it was almost completely new to most of the congregation. (Or, thought of as something "only Catholics did" to begin Lent.) But attendance hasn't been... Well, let me preface that thought: I'm not one to stop doing a good thing just because only a few attend or find it meaningful. I'm a great believer in the idea, "where two or three are gathered..." That said, I just really felt this was a good year to give the "new tradition" a rest. I don't know, just to see if anyone misses it. I know I will. And I've already heard from my son, Luke, who--come to think of it--has participated in the service of ashes for about half his life. Luke will miss it, too. Maybe we'll do it at home. But anyway, this service of prayer was designed to encourage members of the church to observe Ash Wednesday with a discipline of personal prayer. The inspiration comes from "An Order of Worship for Ash Wednesday" written by John Paarlberg, pastor of First Church in Albany, New York. The written prayer is a direct quote from his service. The rest of the stuff is mostly written by me.
Blessings as you begin your Lenten journey.
Peace Love & Coffee....... Randy
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A prayer for Valentine's Day
We're observing the Feast of St. Valentine with worship focused on the theme, 'Be Mine': We love because God first loved us. Here's the intercessory prayer I wrote by adapting two prayers, one from the Liturgy of the Feast of St. Valentine from the Irish Province of the Order of Carmelites and one from a prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson (Book of Common Worship: Daily Prayer, p. 440).
Eternal God, whose steadfast love endures forever, we praise and worship you as Lord of our lives on this, the feast of St Valentine.
We ask you to listen and to grant our prayers:
We pray for all who have promised to love, honor and cherish each other in marriage, that they may be strengthened through prayer and the sacraments; that they may be a witness to the world of the joy of their lives together.
We pray for those who have recently become engaged: we thank God for them and pray for them that the Lord will help them in practical ways as they prepare for their lives together and that they will be blessed with good health and material blessings. And though their eyes may be bright with love for each other, keep in sight a wider world, where neighbors want and strangers beg, and where service is a joyful sacrifice of praise.
We hear of many for whom marriage has broken down or where sickness or sadness seems to be their lot: Lord, you have promised we are never on our own…… Be with those who suffer and grant them your healing…. Be with those who go separate ways and grant them restored confidence, new understandings, healing and hope.
We pray for our family here assembled.
We thank you for this place in which we dwell,
for the love that unites us,
for the peace given us this day,
for the hope with which we look for tomorrow,
for the health, the work, the food, and the bright skies
that make our lives delightful,
for our friends in all parts of the earth.
In our journey together as sisters and brothers,
Give us courage and laughter, patience and quietness.
Bless us on our journey together
and in the mission of Christ you have given us.
And grant us the strength to endure and persevere
whatever may come our way, whether of good or ill.
And in all things, keep us loyal and loving to one another.
Like the seed that falls to the ground and dies,
may we die daily to our own selfishness
so that the true wheat of love may grow in our lives
for others to see and take to heart.
All this we ask through the powerful name
of the one who loves us to the uttermost…
who taught us to pray with each other and for each other… praying…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
An Order of Worship incorporating a congregational meeting
THE SERVICE FOR THE LORD’S DAY
We are a “Community-of-Belonging” that gathers together each week to celebrate the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
"A House of Prayer for All Peoples"
LAKE CRYSTAL, MINNESOTA
REV. RANDAL K. LUBBERS, Pastor & Teacher
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
10:00 PM • FEBRUARY 7, 2010
THE APPROACH TO GOD
Welcome, Announcements, Joys & Concerns, Prayer of Preparation
CENTERING OURSELVES IN GOD: Prelude
GOD WELCOMES US INTO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1-2, 5
Leader: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
Leader: Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come into God’s presence with singing!
People: For the Lord is a gracious God,
whose mercy is everlasting;
and whose faithfulness endures to all generations.
OPENING HYMN: “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty" (LOBE DEN HERREN)
PRAYER OF ADORATION
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: What we believe about the Church from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 54
I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member. Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM: "Song of Fellowship"
CALL TO CONFESSION: Based on Hebrews 4:14-16
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
God of light,
we have been so blind when truth has been so clear.
When we could have looked ahead, we fell behind.
When we could have viewed the wider picture, we saw only a part.
When we could have sensed the Spirit leading, we missed the way.
Forgive our dim apprehension of love’s clear leading.
Give us faith that trusts when it cannot see,
through the light that lingers when all else fails,
even the bright Morning Star of our faith, Jesus Christ, the Savior. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24
THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Please stand, if you are able, and greet one another with signs of Christ’s peace
GLORIA PATRI (sung in unison)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 6:1-8
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALTOR: Psalm 138
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 5:1-11
SERMON: “Deep Waters” (Rev. Randal K. Lubbers)
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING / OFFERTORY MUSIC
DOXOLOGY: OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
HYMN: “Built on the Rock”
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION
CALL TO ORDER WITH PRAYER
AGENDA
CLOSING PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (HYMN TO JOY)
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
We are a “Community-of-Belonging” that gathers together each week to celebrate the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
"A House of Prayer for All Peoples"
LAKE CRYSTAL, MINNESOTA
REV. RANDAL K. LUBBERS, Pastor & Teacher
FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
10:00 PM • FEBRUARY 7, 2010
THE APPROACH TO GOD
Welcome, Announcements, Joys & Concerns, Prayer of Preparation
CENTERING OURSELVES IN GOD: Prelude
GOD WELCOMES US INTO WORSHIP: Psalm 100:1-2, 5
Leader: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
People: Amen.
Leader: Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come into God’s presence with singing!
People: For the Lord is a gracious God,
whose mercy is everlasting;
and whose faithfulness endures to all generations.
OPENING HYMN: “Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty" (LOBE DEN HERREN)
PRAYER OF ADORATION
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH: What we believe about the Church from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 54
I believe that the Son of God through his Spirit and Word, out of the entire human race, from the beginning of the world to its end, gathers, protects, and preserves for himself a community chosen for eternal life and united in true faith. And of this community I am and always will be a living member. Amen.
CHOIR ANTHEM: "Song of Fellowship"
CALL TO CONFESSION: Based on Hebrews 4:14-16
PRAYER OF CONFESSION (unison)
God of light,
we have been so blind when truth has been so clear.
When we could have looked ahead, we fell behind.
When we could have viewed the wider picture, we saw only a part.
When we could have sensed the Spirit leading, we missed the way.
Forgive our dim apprehension of love’s clear leading.
Give us faith that trusts when it cannot see,
through the light that lingers when all else fails,
even the bright Morning Star of our faith, Jesus Christ, the Savior. Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON: 1 Tim. 1:15; 1 Peter 2:24
THE PEACE
Leader: The peace of Christ be with you all.
People: And also with you.
Please stand, if you are able, and greet one another with signs of Christ’s peace
GLORIA PATRI (sung in unison)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost: as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. Amen.
THE WORD OF GOD
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 6:1-8
Leader: The Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
PSALTOR: Psalm 138
GOSPEL LESSON: Luke 5:1-11
SERMON: “Deep Waters” (Rev. Randal K. Lubbers)
THE RESPONSE TO GOD
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
OFFERING / OFFERTORY MUSIC
DOXOLOGY: OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise God, all creatures here below;
praise God above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
HYMN: “Built on the Rock”
ANNUAL MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION
CALL TO ORDER WITH PRAYER
AGENDA
CLOSING PRAYER
CLOSING HYMN: “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" (HYMN TO JOY)
CHARGE & BENEDICTION
POSTLUDE
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Some of my favorite women...
In a fairly recent survey of clergy, woman authors do not fare well. In fact, that's an understatement. In the research project commissioned by the Duke Divinity School's Pulpit and Pew, clergy in three traditions (Catholic, Mainline Protestant, Conservative Protestant) were surveyed regarding reading habits. There is only one woman, Barbara Brown Taylor, in any the "top twelve" lists. Taylor shows up as #12 on the Mainline list. For Conservative Protestants and Catholics no women -- not a one -- made it into the top 12. Going even beyond the top 12, there are women read by Catholics and Mainline Protestants. But not a single woman made the author list of conservative clergy. Not a single one!
In my humble opinion, that is totally outrageous, scandalous, and very sad.
Is it any wonder the people in the pews are hungry?
So here is a list of "some of my favorite women" for pastors and spiritual leaders and others looking for breadth and depth of spirituality. These are spiritual (and some not-so-spiritual) writings by women: a brief and subjective list of good stuff from my own library......
From my Church History class in seminary: In Her Words: Women's Writings in the History of Christian Thought. Edited by Amy Oden. Abingdon Press, 1994.
From my pastoral care professor: The Spirit of Adoption: At Home in God's Family. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner. Westminster John Knox Prsss, 2003.
From a shelf of books which could be labeled, "Books I could never write but I'm glad I could read": Great with Child: reflections on faith, fullness, and becoming a mother. Debra Rienstra. Putnam, 2002.
From my poetry shelves: Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women. Edited by Jane Hirschfield. HarperPerennial, 1995.
From a shelf reserved for edgier memoirs: The Horizontal World: growing up wild in the middle of nowhere. Debra Marquart. Counterpoint, 2006.
And, add to the list, these more well-known contemporary writers...
Barbara Brown Taylor - (it's all good)
Kathleen Norris - A Cloister Walk & The Quotidian Mysteries
Annie Dillard - Teaching a Stone to Talk & Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Mary Oliver (her poems are all good!)
Alice Walker - Her Blue Body Everything We Know
Anne Lamott - Operating Instructions
Naomi Shihab Nye - 19 Varieties of Gazelle (poetry)
Lucille Clifton - Blessing the Boats (poetry)
And three more...
Singular Intimacies: Becoming a Doctor at Bellevue. Danielle Ofri. Beacon Press, 2003.
Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories from the Bible. Megan McKenna. Orbis, 2001.
Coven. Susan Deborah King. Folio Bookworks, 2006. (poetry)
My challenge to men: In 2010, read at least book by a woman each month. Of course, for some this will be more of a challenge than others. The survey reported just over 10% of clergy read less than one hour per week. Unbelievable!
Peace Love & Coffee,
Randy
In my humble opinion, that is totally outrageous, scandalous, and very sad.
Is it any wonder the people in the pews are hungry?
So here is a list of "some of my favorite women" for pastors and spiritual leaders and others looking for breadth and depth of spirituality. These are spiritual (and some not-so-spiritual) writings by women: a brief and subjective list of good stuff from my own library......
From my Church History class in seminary: In Her Words: Women's Writings in the History of Christian Thought. Edited by Amy Oden. Abingdon Press, 1994.
Oneness in the Eucharist: On a certain Pentecost.... My heart and my veins and all my limbs trembled and quivered with eager desire... so that dying I must go mad, and going mad I must die. On that day my mind was beset so fearfully and so painfully by desirous love that all my separate limbs threatened to break, and all my separate veins were in travail.... (Hadewijch of Brabant, c. 1200s)
From my pastoral care professor: The Spirit of Adoption: At Home in God's Family. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner. Westminster John Knox Prsss, 2003.
We need a new image of God as Adopting Parent. If the church can develop the Christian anthropological view of human being as "adopted child of God," then God can be viewed more centrally in our liturgy, preaching, and teaching as Adopting Parent as well as Birth Parent.... God's merciful compassion is God's womb-love.
From a shelf of books which could be labeled, "Books I could never write but I'm glad I could read": Great with Child: reflections on faith, fullness, and becoming a mother. Debra Rienstra. Putnam, 2002.
The world is different, for a new person has arrived in it. He is here, he is real, he has a name and a birth date. Each of us is different, too. I, the mother, given over completely from dark clouds to light and joy. Ron, a buoyant father now of two sons. Miriam and Jacob, feeling their bigger-than-ever status as sister and brother. This tiny infant will go on changing us, God willing, for the better. Philip Aaron, born July 10, 1999.
From my poetry shelves: Women in Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women. Edited by Jane Hirschfield. HarperPerennial, 1995.
At last free,
at last I am a woman free!
No more tied to the kitchen,
stained amid the stained pots,
no more bound to the husband
who thought me less
than the shade he wove with his hands.
No more anger, no more hunger,
I sit now in the shade of my own tree.
Meditating thus, I am happy, I am serene.
(Sumangalamata, 6th c. B.C.E.)
From a shelf reserved for edgier memoirs: The Horizontal World: growing up wild in the middle of nowhere. Debra Marquart. Counterpoint, 2006.
And no matter how far from that uncompromising land we drift, a long, sinewy taproot summons us, always, home.
And, add to the list, these more well-known contemporary writers...
Barbara Brown Taylor - (it's all good)
Kathleen Norris - A Cloister Walk & The Quotidian Mysteries
Annie Dillard - Teaching a Stone to Talk & Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
Mary Oliver (her poems are all good!)
Alice Walker - Her Blue Body Everything We Know
Anne Lamott - Operating Instructions
Naomi Shihab Nye - 19 Varieties of Gazelle (poetry)
Lucille Clifton - Blessing the Boats (poetry)
And three more...
Singular Intimacies: Becoming a Doctor at Bellevue. Danielle Ofri. Beacon Press, 2003.
Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories from the Bible. Megan McKenna. Orbis, 2001.
Coven. Susan Deborah King. Folio Bookworks, 2006. (poetry)
My challenge to men: In 2010, read at least book by a woman each month. Of course, for some this will be more of a challenge than others. The survey reported just over 10% of clergy read less than one hour per week. Unbelievable!
Peace Love & Coffee,
Randy
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Prayers for Haiti
For those of you unable to be with us in person... Forgive the formatting (or lack thereof)... I didn't take much time to fix it up... just basically "cut and paste." I was able to insert links to the two new hymns written within just within the last few days. Thank you for joining us in prayers for Haiti. Peace of Christ... Randy
PRAYERS FOR HAITI:
OUR HEARTS UNITE IN LAMENT AND PRAYER
An Ecumenical & Interfaith Candle Lighting Service of Prayer
First Presbyterian Church • Lake Crystal, Minnesota
Rev. Randal K. Lubbers, Pastor & Teacher
PRELUDE Mary Ann Norman, organist
CALL TO PRAYER Based on Psalm 90
Leader: Our help is in the name of the Lord;
People: who made heaven and earth.
Leader: Lord, you have been our refuge from age to age.
Before the mountains were born,
before the earth and the world came to birth,
from eternity to eternity you are God.
People: Lord, you are our strength; hasten to help us.
Leader: Lord, teach us to count up the days that are ours,
and we shall come to the heart of wisdom.
People: Lord, you are our strength; hasten to help us.
Leader: Come back, O Lord! How long? How long must we wait?
Take pity on your servants.
People: Lord, you are our strength; hasten to help us.
HYMN
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past”
ST. ANNE
Words: Psalm 90:1-2, 4-5; vers. Isaac Waats (1719)
Music: William Croft (1708)
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of your throne your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is your arm alone, and our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood or earth received its frame,
from everlasting you are God, to endless years the same.
O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,
still be our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home!
PSALM 46
PRAYER by David Gambrell (2010)
God, our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,
when the mountains shake, when the earth trembles, you are our shelter, our safety.
Give peace to those in turmoil, give refuge to those in danger,
give comfort to those who mourn, and strength to those who offer aid,
until all may dwell secure in your eternal city of peace that can never be shaken.
THE SITUATION IN HAITI
SILENCE
HYMN
“In Haiti There Is Anguish”
ST. CHRISTOPHER
Words: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (2010)
Music: Frederick C. Maker (1881)
In Haiti, there is anguish that seems too much to bear;
A land so used to sorrow now knows even more despair.
From city streets, the cries of grief rise up to hills above;
In all the sorrow, pain and death, where are you, God of love?
A woman sifts through rubble, a man has lost his home,
A hungry, orphaned toddler sobs, for she is now alone.
Where are you, Lord, when thousands die-the rich, the poorest poor?
Were you the very first to cry for all that is no more?
O God, you love your children; you hear each lifted prayer!
May all who suffer in that land know you are present there.
In moments of compassion shown, in simple acts of grace,
May those in pain find healing balm, and know your love's embrace.
Where are you in the anguish? Lord, may we hear anew
That anywhere your world cries out, you're there-- and suffering, too.
And may we see, in others' pain, the cross we're called to bear;
Send out your church in Jesus' name to pray, to serve, to share.
PRAYER: a congregational lament by Calvin Seeveld (1986)
A READING FROM THE HEBREW SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 40:28-31
A READING FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT: Matthew 5:3-10
A PRAYER WITH THE PEOPLE OF HAITI by Taylor Burton-Edwards (2010)
Leader: Again the ground shakes,
Earth heaves, buildings rumble
and more fall.
People: How long, O Lord?
Leader: The dead unnamed, uncounted,
some yet living; still not rescued,
and now more traps are sprung.
People: How long, O Lord? How long?
Leader: Help scrambles in,
soldiers, doctors, food, water, dogs, money,
supplies of every kind from every nation,
and more will surely come.
People: Your mercy is on all your creatures, O God.
Leader: Let this be but beginning,
not of rescue only, but deliverance,
not simply to restore, nor to rebuild,
but build anew.
People: Lord, have mercy.
Leader: These are our sisters, brothers,
not projects for a time,
but family for our lifetimes.
When others leave, call us to stay.
People: Christ, have mercy.
Leader: And keep our hearts stirred,
not satisfied until these
and all our family, in every place,
can live with joy and dwell in peace.
People: Lord, have mercy.
With all who live and die in Port-au-Prince,
in the name of Jesus, Prince de la Paix,
we continually pray.
Leader: Amen, and amen.
CANDLE LIGHTING
“I Light This Candle”
Words and Music: Paul Jaansen (2010)
CLOSING PRAYER
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer”
HEAR MY PRAYER
Words: Psalm 102:1-2; adapt. The Community of Taizė
Music: Jacques Berthier (1982)
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: when I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: come and listen to me.
A Prayer for Haiti by Bruce Reyes-Chow, Gradye Parsons and Linda Valentine (2010)
God of compassion,
please watch over the people of Haiti,
and weave out of these terrible happenings
wonders of goodness and grace.
Surround those who have been affected by tragedy
with a sense of your present love,
and hold them in faith.
Though they are lost in grief,
may they find you and be comforted.
Guide us to find ways of providing assistance
that heal wounds and provide hope.
Help us to remember that when one of your children suffers
we all suffer;
through Jesus Christ who was dead, but lives
and rules this world with you. Amen.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: when I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer, O Lord, hear my prayer: come and listen to me.
DISMISSAL
Leader: Let us go forth to be light in the darkness,
to be compassion in the suffering,
to be loving hands and feet to all those in need.
People: Amen.
Leader: Peace be with you.
People: And also with you.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Being a "community-of-belonging"
Have there been persons in your life who have touched you deeply, even though your paths may have crossed ever-so-briefly? I have. There are places like that, too, I think—these are the places where I can think back and remember moments and feelings as if they were yesterday. Can you think of places like that? For me, these are places like the campgrounds on Lake Okoboji where I went to church camp for at least five years in a row; and the library at Dubuque Seminary; and the back seat of our Ford LTD on family vacations some 40 years ago. Vivid feelings, somewhat blurry on the details, but yet the moments feel as if it were yesterday.
Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa is a place like that for me. I only attended there regularly for a relatively short time—I was "recently divorced" at that time and years away from meeting Carolyn. But I remember the feeling of being welcomed, of belonging. I remember the adult Sunday school class; it was a discussion on social issues. I remember the Sunday school teachers who made sure my son John was included when they gave the second-graders Bibles during worship (even though we had been attending for only a month or two at the time). And I remember the music: the congregational singing, the choir, and especially the organ.
Funny, now that I think of it; I do not remember a single sermon. Not one.
You see, the indelible impression came from the people and the place and the “warmth” I felt there... and all of those things working together to work the miracle of feeling welcome, of feeling at home.
It wasn’t the preaching, it was the place.
It wasn’t the pastor, it was the people.
Central Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, Iowa is a place like that for me. I only attended there regularly for a relatively short time—I was "recently divorced" at that time and years away from meeting Carolyn. But I remember the feeling of being welcomed, of belonging. I remember the adult Sunday school class; it was a discussion on social issues. I remember the Sunday school teachers who made sure my son John was included when they gave the second-graders Bibles during worship (even though we had been attending for only a month or two at the time). And I remember the music: the congregational singing, the choir, and especially the organ.
Funny, now that I think of it; I do not remember a single sermon. Not one.
You see, the indelible impression came from the people and the place and the “warmth” I felt there... and all of those things working together to work the miracle of feeling welcome, of feeling at home.
It wasn’t the preaching, it was the place.
It wasn’t the pastor, it was the people.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Celtic Prayer
Celtic Prayer:
Here's a short bibliography of resources from my own library:
And one more by Esther De Waal -- perhaps her best! -- although not in the Celtic tradition:
And in the Celtic tradition, but not specifically about prayer:
Hope this helps you on your journey in Christ.
Peace Love & Coffee,
Randy
Here's a short bibliography of resources from my own library:
Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayers and Readings From the Northumbria Community. (HarperOne, 2002) (Hardcover) Introduction by Richard J. Foster.
Celtic Prayers from Iona. J. Philip Newell. (Paulist Press, 1997) (Hardcover)
Sounds of the Eternal: A Celtic Psalter. J. Philip Newell. (William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002) (Hardcover)
The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination. Esther De Waal. (Image, 1999) (Paperback)
Every Earthly Blessing: Rediscovering the Celtic Tradition. Esther De Waal. (Morehouse Publishing, 1999) (Paperback)
And one more by Esther De Waal -- perhaps her best! -- although not in the Celtic tradition:
Living With Contradiction: An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality. Esther De Waal. (Morehouse Publishing, 1998) (Paperback)
And in the Celtic tradition, but not specifically about prayer:
The Celtic Way of Evangelism: How Christianity Can Reach the West...Again. George G. Hunter. (Abingdon Press, 2000) (Paperback)
Hope this helps you on your journey in Christ.
Peace Love & Coffee,
Randy
Friday, January 8, 2010
Christmas Eve Sermon
“Room for Christ”
A Christmas Eve Sermon by Rev. Randal Lubbers
First Presbyterian Church ▪ Lake Crystal, Minnesota
December 24, 2009
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Rejoice! Your God Reigns: Isaiah 52:7-10
GOSPEL LESSON: The Word Became Flesh: John 1:1-14
Of course the truth is you really don’t need me to preach to you about making room in your hearts for the Christ child at Christmas. You may not hear the message in the midst of the commercials for diamonds or in the conversation at a company Christmas party, but you’ll hear about “Keeping Christ in Christmas” often enough. Thanks to the internet and emails, many of you have heard plenty about the True Meaning of Christmas. Over the years I’ve received dozens—maybe hundreds of sweetly worded stories reminding me to keep Christ in Christmas; and, interestingly, maybe just as many tirades about the evils of saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
So you really don’t need me to preach about keeping Christ in Christmas. You don’t need a preacher to tell you about the importance of family and friends, of making sure you’re not overwhelmed by a multitude of parties and cookie-making duties and trying to make things perfect. There are plenty of movies and articles in popular magazines making that very point. There is joy and true satisfaction in living simply, in sharing, in giving money to the Food Shelf and the Salvation Army, in doing things for others without asking for recognition. But you don’t need to come to church to find out about that.
Keeping Christ in Christmas? Really now, let’s think about that for a bit. There is really no serious risk, even in our contemporary post-Christian world, of someone taking the Christ out of Christmas. The baby in the manger, the angels, the shepherds are all ingrained in our cultural vision of Christmas. Good deeds, good tidings, good wishes, and everything else: All these things are as much a part of the contemporary idea of Christmas as Santa, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph; as much a part of Christmas as Charlie Brown, the Griswolds, and the phrase “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
Christ... along with Christmas trees and gifts and all the rest... CHRIST IS and ALWAYS WILL be a PART of Christmas. The church is NOT necessary to keep it that way. Many others with vested interests in Christmas will make sure of it…
But my concern is not “Keeping Christ in Christmas.”
I’m not even sure that “Keeping Christ in Christmas” is a truly Christian concept.
I think we ought to be more concerned about keeping Christ out of Christmas.
Yes, OUT of Christmas…
"out of Christmas" and IN OUR EVERYDAY, ORDINARY DAILY LIVES.
CHRIST IN OUR LIVES—24/7. That’s the meaning of the Incarnation.
Immanuel. God is WITH US.
The question is not whether we make room for Christ in our celebration of Christmas,
but do we make room for Christ—period.
Is there room for Christ at your table—every day?
Is Christ welcome at your celebrations of birthdays and weddings and job promotions?
Is there room for Christ in your marriage and your friendships?
One of my favorite Christmas songs is from the musical “Mame”—it goes something like this—
Much of our contemporary, popular culture does TOO GOOD a job at keeping Christ in Christmas—
but it’s just a little Christmas—
with just a little-bitty baby Jesus—
and the Lord Jesus Christ is kept in Christmas—
kept safely in Christmas—
But yet there is no room in the inn of political dialogue for Christ’s message of peacemaking, forgiveness, or loving enemies, or of patience and kindness and respect even among those with whom we disagree. Christ is kept safely in Christmas but is unwelcome when we talk about issues concerning feeding the hungry and providing health care for all persons; unwelcome when we consider the way we deal with differences of values or opinions; unwelcome from Monday through Friday dealings because… well… you know, “This is business.”
Too often in our lives there is no room for the Christ who is kept safely in Christmas.
Dorothy Day wrote…
What do I do, or what have I done, when a beggar stops at my home asking for food? Do I serve leftovers on a paper plate? Or do I throw a feast? A glass of water given to the one who is thirsty is a cup of water given to Jesus himself. Jesus’ teachings made heaven itself hinge on the way we act toward him in his disguise of the commonplace. And, lest you think I’m prescribing a new LAW or RULE that we are duty-bound to keep or risk falling out of favor with God… No, No, Not at all… Indeed, just the opposite. For a follower of Christ, the prodding of “duty” is not needed. It is not a duty to serve, but rather, it is a privilege and honor. Do you think Mary and Martha sat back and congratulated themselves on doing “all that was expected” of them? Dorothy Day, talking about Peter’s mother who fixed a meal for Jesus and the disciples, says, “Is it likely she GRUDGINGLY served the chicken she had been saving til Sunday because she thought it was her DUTY? She did it GLADLY—she would have served 10 Chickens if she had had them.” And that is the way we are called to show compassion and hospitality to Christ. That is how we are called to give room to Christ.
Not for humanity’s sake.
And not because… well, you know,
“maybe” it might be Christ who stays with us,
comes to see us, takes up our time.
And not because these people REMIND us of Jesus Christ…
But because they ARE Christ…
THEY ARE CHRIST…
asking us to find room…
exactly as he did at the first Christmas…
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
HYMN OF RESPONSE: “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” (with text adapted for worship by Randy Lubbers, 2009)
Prayers of the People
Eternal God, we bow before the mystery of your incarnation.
You have chosen weakness to confound the strong
and poverty to send the rich empty away.
We remember the millions in our world today
who are hungry, who receive no hospitality—
all with whom your Son has become one by being born in a manger.
[Silence]
Merciful God, we call upon you
for all who have fled their homes in the darkness of night.
We remember the millions in our world who have been made refugees,
who have sought asylum in lands not their own,
who are displaced, homeless, landless, or lost—
all whose experience you have made your own in the life of your Son.
[Silence]
Loving God, our hearts are heavy
with the sufferings of this world.
We remember the many victims of political power and greed:
the innocent killed in war and violence,
all those who are tortured or put to death,
those who languish in prison and camps,
those missing or taken hostage—
all whose lot your Son shared by being born when Herod was king.
[Silence]
Gracious God, you placed yourself in the care of Mary
to show to the world your will to save.
Give us grace to follow her example:
to become instruments of your grace,
servants of your will, and channels of your love.
May it happen to us as you have willed.
O God of peace, you fill our hearts with hope at every Christmastide,
for we remember again that this is the world you have loved.
May hope, peace, and joy fill our hearts this night.
Amen.
Dorothy Day's essay, "Room for Christ," was the inspiration for this sermon.
A Christmas Eve Sermon by Rev. Randal Lubbers
First Presbyterian Church ▪ Lake Crystal, Minnesota
December 24, 2009
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Rejoice! Your God Reigns: Isaiah 52:7-10
GOSPEL LESSON: The Word Became Flesh: John 1:1-14
Oh come to my heart, Lord Jesus, there is room in my heart for you.
There’s a quiet, peaceful Christmas Eve I remember. I remember sitting in the quiet and in solitude for nearly 30 minutes—maybe longer—just looking at the lights of the tree. It wasn’t the “perfect Christmas.” It wasn’t “the hap-happiest Christmas ever.” And yet I remember thinking of how peaceful and quiet it was, I remember sensing God’s presence, and I remember thinking, “Ah, yes, this is what Christmas is all about.”
Of course the truth is you really don’t need me to preach to you about making room in your hearts for the Christ child at Christmas. You may not hear the message in the midst of the commercials for diamonds or in the conversation at a company Christmas party, but you’ll hear about “Keeping Christ in Christmas” often enough. Thanks to the internet and emails, many of you have heard plenty about the True Meaning of Christmas. Over the years I’ve received dozens—maybe hundreds of sweetly worded stories reminding me to keep Christ in Christmas; and, interestingly, maybe just as many tirades about the evils of saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
So you really don’t need me to preach about keeping Christ in Christmas. You don’t need a preacher to tell you about the importance of family and friends, of making sure you’re not overwhelmed by a multitude of parties and cookie-making duties and trying to make things perfect. There are plenty of movies and articles in popular magazines making that very point. There is joy and true satisfaction in living simply, in sharing, in giving money to the Food Shelf and the Salvation Army, in doing things for others without asking for recognition. But you don’t need to come to church to find out about that.
In fact, may I share a secret? All this talk about “Keeping Christ in Christmas” makes me a bit uncomfortable. I believe it betrays a lack of theological understanding about the Incarnation. What do we mean, after all, when we say "Immanuel, God with us"? More about that in a moment...
Keeping Christ in Christmas? Really now, let’s think about that for a bit. There is really no serious risk, even in our contemporary post-Christian world, of someone taking the Christ out of Christmas. The baby in the manger, the angels, the shepherds are all ingrained in our cultural vision of Christmas. Good deeds, good tidings, good wishes, and everything else: All these things are as much a part of the contemporary idea of Christmas as Santa, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph; as much a part of Christmas as Charlie Brown, the Griswolds, and the phrase “You’ll shoot your eye out.”
Christ... along with Christmas trees and gifts and all the rest... CHRIST IS and ALWAYS WILL be a PART of Christmas. The church is NOT necessary to keep it that way. Many others with vested interests in Christmas will make sure of it…
But my concern is not “Keeping Christ in Christmas.”
I’m not even sure that “Keeping Christ in Christmas” is a truly Christian concept.
I think we ought to be more concerned about keeping Christ out of Christmas.
Yes, OUT of Christmas…
"out of Christmas" and IN OUR EVERYDAY, ORDINARY DAILY LIVES.
CHRIST IN OUR LIVES—24/7. That’s the meaning of the Incarnation.
Immanuel. God is WITH US.
The question is not whether we make room for Christ in our celebration of Christmas,
but do we make room for Christ—period.
Is there room for Christ at your table—every day?
Is Christ welcome at your celebrations of birthdays and weddings and job promotions?
Is there room for Christ in your marriage and your friendships?
One of my favorite Christmas songs is from the musical “Mame”—it goes something like this—
Haul out the holly;
Put up the tree before my spirit falls again.
Fill up the stocking,
I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now.
For we need a little Christmas
Right this very minute,
Candles in the window,
Carols at the spinet.
Yes, we need a little Christmas….
Much of our contemporary, popular culture does TOO GOOD a job at keeping Christ in Christmas—
but it’s just a little Christmas—
with just a little-bitty baby Jesus—
and the Lord Jesus Christ is kept in Christmas—
kept safely in Christmas—
But yet there is no room in the inn of political dialogue for Christ’s message of peacemaking, forgiveness, or loving enemies, or of patience and kindness and respect even among those with whom we disagree. Christ is kept safely in Christmas but is unwelcome when we talk about issues concerning feeding the hungry and providing health care for all persons; unwelcome when we consider the way we deal with differences of values or opinions; unwelcome from Monday through Friday dealings because… well… you know, “This is business.”
Too often in our lives there is no room for the Christ who is kept safely in Christmas.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for you….
Dorothy Day wrote…
It is no use saying that we are born two thousand years too late to give room to Christ…. Christ is ALWAYS with us, always asking for room in our hearts. But now it is with the voice of our contemporaries that he speaks, with the eyes of store clerks, factory workers, and children that he gazes; with the hands of office workers, slum dwellers, and suburban housewives that he gives. It is with the feet of soldiers and tramps that he walks; and with the heart of ANYONE in need that he longs for shelter. And giving shelter or food to ANYONE who asks for it or needs it, is giving it to Christ.
It would be foolish to pretend that it is always easy to remember this. If everyone were holy and handsome… it would be easy to see Christ in everyone. If Mary had appeared in Bethlehem clothed… with the sun, a crown of twelve stars on her head, and the moon under her feet, then people would have FOUGHT to make room for her. But that was not God’s way for her, nor is it Christ’s way for himself, now when he is disguised under every type of humanity that treads the earth.
What do I do, or what have I done, when a beggar stops at my home asking for food? Do I serve leftovers on a paper plate? Or do I throw a feast? A glass of water given to the one who is thirsty is a cup of water given to Jesus himself. Jesus’ teachings made heaven itself hinge on the way we act toward him in his disguise of the commonplace. And, lest you think I’m prescribing a new LAW or RULE that we are duty-bound to keep or risk falling out of favor with God… No, No, Not at all… Indeed, just the opposite. For a follower of Christ, the prodding of “duty” is not needed. It is not a duty to serve, but rather, it is a privilege and honor. Do you think Mary and Martha sat back and congratulated themselves on doing “all that was expected” of them? Dorothy Day, talking about Peter’s mother who fixed a meal for Jesus and the disciples, says, “Is it likely she GRUDGINGLY served the chicken she had been saving til Sunday because she thought it was her DUTY? She did it GLADLY—she would have served 10 Chickens if she had had them.” And that is the way we are called to show compassion and hospitality to Christ. That is how we are called to give room to Christ.
Not for humanity’s sake.
And not because… well, you know,
“maybe” it might be Christ who stays with us,
comes to see us, takes up our time.
And not because these people REMIND us of Jesus Christ…
But because they ARE Christ…
THEY ARE CHRIST…
asking us to find room…
exactly as he did at the first Christmas…
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
HYMN OF RESPONSE: “Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne” (with text adapted for worship by Randy Lubbers, 2009)
Christ did leave his throne and his kingly crown
when he came to this earth for me;
but in Bethlehem’s home there was found no room for his holy nativity.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for you.
Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
proclaiming Christ’s royal degree;
but of lowly birth did he come to earth, and in great humility.
O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for you.
Prayers of the People
Eternal God, we bow before the mystery of your incarnation.
You have chosen weakness to confound the strong
and poverty to send the rich empty away.
We remember the millions in our world today
who are hungry, who receive no hospitality—
all with whom your Son has become one by being born in a manger.
[Silence]
Merciful God, we call upon you
for all who have fled their homes in the darkness of night.
We remember the millions in our world who have been made refugees,
who have sought asylum in lands not their own,
who are displaced, homeless, landless, or lost—
all whose experience you have made your own in the life of your Son.
[Silence]
Loving God, our hearts are heavy
with the sufferings of this world.
We remember the many victims of political power and greed:
the innocent killed in war and violence,
all those who are tortured or put to death,
those who languish in prison and camps,
those missing or taken hostage—
all whose lot your Son shared by being born when Herod was king.
[Silence]
Gracious God, you placed yourself in the care of Mary
to show to the world your will to save.
Give us grace to follow her example:
to become instruments of your grace,
servants of your will, and channels of your love.
May it happen to us as you have willed.
O God of peace, you fill our hearts with hope at every Christmastide,
for we remember again that this is the world you have loved.
May hope, peace, and joy fill our hearts this night.
Amen.
Dorothy Day's essay, "Room for Christ," was the inspiration for this sermon.
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