Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Prayer for the Sermon Nov. 15, 2009 "When The Birthpangs Begin"
Gracious God, you are the wellspring of all life and to you we offer our thanks and praise. We lift our voices this morning remembering the men and women who have pledged their loyalty and their lives to keep freedom alive in this frantic world. We pray for the safety of those who stand vigilant watching through the long days and nights, who travel the treacherous routes and roads in distant lands so far from home. Be ever near for they stand in our stead placing themselves in harms way and their lives on a line they can never clearly see. We honor those soldiers who have sacrificed and are sacrificing themselves, as they remain true to their word, faithful in their duty, daily prepared to give all to liberate the oppressed, rescue the weak and disarm the oppressor. As they have served us, help us Lord, to love and serve them in return. Empower us by giving us the stamina and courage to help heal the visible and invisible wounds they have sustained amid the violence of war. In the name of the Christ we pray. Amen.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Excerpt from Sermon "Blessed Are The Salty Lamps"
For many years now I have thought of the Beatitudes as steps in discipleship. As we walk the path to holiness the road doesn't get easier it gets tougher.
ORIGINAL BEATITUDES REWORDED (from Sermon based on Matthew 5:1-15)
1. If you are dispirited, impoverished of the spirit, disconnected, feeling left and bereft of the presence of God, God awaits you.
2. If you are filled with sorrow, if you are sad, grieving, mournful, even bitter, God waits to comfort you.
3. If you are meek, timid, even weak and afraid of your own shadow, God waits to empower you.
4. If you hunger for justice, to see good triumph over evil, for right to triumph over wrong, for equality and fairness to reign, God will satisfy your hunger.
Notice the change that happens as these blessings evolve, from what one feels to what one does. These are steps taken on the path of discipleship toward holiness.5. If you are one who chooses to forgive, to show mercy to those who disagree with you, or who hurt you, God will be merciful to you.
6. If your heart is pure, if you do all with a loving heart, say all from a loving heart, and live in the world as one who embraces God’s love, God will be delighted to see you.The challenge is ever greater and the path is rougher, steeper the steps more difficult and demanding.
7. If you have the courage to stand in the midst of turmoil and work for peace, to take it on the chin to accomplish peace, indeed you are born of God.
8. If you find yourself being criticized, ostracized, rejected for standing up and doing what is right, God awaits you.
9. If you find yourself being ostracized, rejected, reviled by friends or enemies who speak all kinds of evil against you because you are a disciple of mine, be ecstatic, sing and rejoice and be glad; God has something wonderful to give you in heaven.
If Jesus had preached this same Sermon on the Mount again after three years of recruiting disciples, spending time debating with recalcitrant Pharisees, suffering Pompous politicians, and contentious priests, or trying to help those who cannot and will not help themselves, I dare say these beatitudes might very well have reflected his experiences. I have written some new beatitudes that Jesus might have added to the list had he been out there in the trenches for 20 years instead of 3. I put the word “Blessed” back into the list. You haven’t heard the new ones before, but remember even these new beatitudes are invitations and an opportunity to praise God.
NEW BEATITUDES
1. Blessed are the cranky, the unpleasant, the disappointed and dissatisfied; God has an attitude adjustment for you.
2. Blessed are the victims of substance abuse; God waits to release you.
3. Blessed are those who are wronged; God sees to it that what goes around comes around.
4. Blessed are the obsessed, who seek to control every aspect of their life, the lives of people around them and the world in which they live; God will liberate you.
5. Blessed are those who work, who are diligent everyday, whose ethic is to offer the best of themselves no matter what, who never cheat or seek to get something for nothing, who will not resent the system or those who have more than they do; they are the pillars of the earth and the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
6. Blessed are the set-in-their-ways-resistant-to-change-we-have-always-done-it-this-way folks. God has a surprise for you.
7. Blessed are the speaker-uppers, the movers and shakers, the squeaky wheelers; God has a job for you.
8. Blessed are the care-givers who soothe fevered and frightened brows, who pray, who whisper gently, who touch the untouchable, and comfort the uncomfortable. God will comfort you.
ORIGINAL BEATITUDES REWORDED (from Sermon based on Matthew 5:1-15)
1. If you are dispirited, impoverished of the spirit, disconnected, feeling left and bereft of the presence of God, God awaits you.
2. If you are filled with sorrow, if you are sad, grieving, mournful, even bitter, God waits to comfort you.
3. If you are meek, timid, even weak and afraid of your own shadow, God waits to empower you.
4. If you hunger for justice, to see good triumph over evil, for right to triumph over wrong, for equality and fairness to reign, God will satisfy your hunger.
Notice the change that happens as these blessings evolve, from what one feels to what one does. These are steps taken on the path of discipleship toward holiness.5. If you are one who chooses to forgive, to show mercy to those who disagree with you, or who hurt you, God will be merciful to you.
6. If your heart is pure, if you do all with a loving heart, say all from a loving heart, and live in the world as one who embraces God’s love, God will be delighted to see you.The challenge is ever greater and the path is rougher, steeper the steps more difficult and demanding.
7. If you have the courage to stand in the midst of turmoil and work for peace, to take it on the chin to accomplish peace, indeed you are born of God.
8. If you find yourself being criticized, ostracized, rejected for standing up and doing what is right, God awaits you.
9. If you find yourself being ostracized, rejected, reviled by friends or enemies who speak all kinds of evil against you because you are a disciple of mine, be ecstatic, sing and rejoice and be glad; God has something wonderful to give you in heaven.
If Jesus had preached this same Sermon on the Mount again after three years of recruiting disciples, spending time debating with recalcitrant Pharisees, suffering Pompous politicians, and contentious priests, or trying to help those who cannot and will not help themselves, I dare say these beatitudes might very well have reflected his experiences. I have written some new beatitudes that Jesus might have added to the list had he been out there in the trenches for 20 years instead of 3. I put the word “Blessed” back into the list. You haven’t heard the new ones before, but remember even these new beatitudes are invitations and an opportunity to praise God.
NEW BEATITUDES
1. Blessed are the cranky, the unpleasant, the disappointed and dissatisfied; God has an attitude adjustment for you.
2. Blessed are the victims of substance abuse; God waits to release you.
3. Blessed are those who are wronged; God sees to it that what goes around comes around.
4. Blessed are the obsessed, who seek to control every aspect of their life, the lives of people around them and the world in which they live; God will liberate you.
5. Blessed are those who work, who are diligent everyday, whose ethic is to offer the best of themselves no matter what, who never cheat or seek to get something for nothing, who will not resent the system or those who have more than they do; they are the pillars of the earth and the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
6. Blessed are the set-in-their-ways-resistant-to-change-we-have-always-done-it-this-way folks. God has a surprise for you.
7. Blessed are the speaker-uppers, the movers and shakers, the squeaky wheelers; God has a job for you.
8. Blessed are the care-givers who soothe fevered and frightened brows, who pray, who whisper gently, who touch the untouchable, and comfort the uncomfortable. God will comfort you.
Offertory Thought November 8, 2009
When you join a private country or urban club you sign a membership contract agreeing to buy your place in that club for somewhere in the neighborhood of 40-60 thousand dollars plus pay the required monthly dues. Some of these clubs restrict their membership in order to guarantee a homogeneity to the social structure of the club. There are people who are critical of the Church and churches accusing them of being like country clubs. I might agree if the colorful mix of people who came to be a part of the Church were buying their memberships for 40-60 thousand dollars.
Prayer for the Sermon November 8, 2009 "Blessed are The Salty Lamps"
Dearest Lord, we give you thanks for all of the ways that you inspire us, challenge us, renew us and revive us. Thank you for the opportunities you give us to welcome folks in search of a church home. Embolden our spirits to get to know the folks we don’t know and embrace the new hearts and minds desiring to find communion with you here. Remind us, Gracious God, that new eyes help us to see what we have ceased to notice. New ideas energize and refresh stale practices and stodgy traditions. New needs challenge us to discover how to minister more effectively in the world today. You are present in all our efforts and we are assured that the different perspectives, different backgrounds and different experiences of new members when mixed and stirred into our Christian stew will certainly enrich the flavor of everything we do in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Offertory Thought All Saints Day Nov 1, 2009
O my goodness, gracious we have so much to be thankful for! Did you know there is a church in our district that is plagued by wild burros? A loyal church member arrives every Sunday morning before worship to shovel the parking lot so no one sees the leavings of the burros. Another of our sister churches has patched its roof so many times it looks like a quilt of many colors and they don’t have the resources to replace it. The gifts you give today reach out beyond the doors of this sanctuary to help these churches find solutions to their problems.
Prayer for the Sermon November 1, 2009 All Saints Days "Any Questions"
Glorious God, shine in our hearts today as we remember those who have gone before us to rest at last in your gracious company. We will envision them basking in your radiance, embraced in love eternally. Each name pronounced brings back memories of our time together and our spirits are lifted up. Dearest Lord, we commend to you these saints we have known and loved as we remember their courage, their fortitude, their integrity, their humility, their kindness, their intelligence, their resilience, their reverence, their perseverance and their determination to follow in the ways of goodness and righteousness. The journey toward righteousness is the challenge of our lives; it is not a mystery; the example has been set and the way has been shown to us. Help us listen to your spirit promptings prodding us to move ever forward on the path of discipleship. We pray in the name of our savior and pace setter even Jesus Christ. Amen.
Offertory Thought October 25, 2009 Reformation Sunday
OFFERTORY THOUGHT
On October 31st 1517 A German Monk by the name of Martin Luther marched over to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg and nailed 95 Theses to the door condemning the fiscal practices of the mother church in Rome particularly the extravagances of Pope Leo X. Luther's crime on that day was the defacing of the Wittenburg church’s door, but his criticism of the Church in which he served as a priest would resonate throughout Europe and start a revolution. It was probably time for some sort of upheaval since most of Europe had dwelt in what were called the Dark Ages for 1000 years; they were ripe for a revolution. To be fair to the Pope Leo X, it is true Pope Leo was not a priest, he was a business man in every sense of the word. History tells us that Pope Leo was indeed a swinger, but he was also patron of charity, lavishly spending the money he earned for the church, building retirement homes, hospitals, convents, caring for the discharged soldiers, pilgrims, poor students, exiles, cripples, the sick and the unfortunate of every description. Pope Leo was also a patron of learning. The question was how he made the money for these ventures and his own personal appetites. He not only sold indulgences, he sold cardinals hats, and memberships in the “Knights of Peter.” By selling what were called indulgences the Pope in Martin Luther’s treatise was selling the absolution of all penalties to the dead. He was selling the assurance of heaven for those who awaited judgment in purgatory. Martin Luther is one of the first people (because there were many others) to bring the church closer to the folks implanting the idea of participation with God in becoming holy people, part of the priesthood of all believers. This is why we support the church with our gifts, because here is where we work out our salvation.
On October 31st 1517 A German Monk by the name of Martin Luther marched over to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg and nailed 95 Theses to the door condemning the fiscal practices of the mother church in Rome particularly the extravagances of Pope Leo X. Luther's crime on that day was the defacing of the Wittenburg church’s door, but his criticism of the Church in which he served as a priest would resonate throughout Europe and start a revolution. It was probably time for some sort of upheaval since most of Europe had dwelt in what were called the Dark Ages for 1000 years; they were ripe for a revolution. To be fair to the Pope Leo X, it is true Pope Leo was not a priest, he was a business man in every sense of the word. History tells us that Pope Leo was indeed a swinger, but he was also patron of charity, lavishly spending the money he earned for the church, building retirement homes, hospitals, convents, caring for the discharged soldiers, pilgrims, poor students, exiles, cripples, the sick and the unfortunate of every description. Pope Leo was also a patron of learning. The question was how he made the money for these ventures and his own personal appetites. He not only sold indulgences, he sold cardinals hats, and memberships in the “Knights of Peter.” By selling what were called indulgences the Pope in Martin Luther’s treatise was selling the absolution of all penalties to the dead. He was selling the assurance of heaven for those who awaited judgment in purgatory. Martin Luther is one of the first people (because there were many others) to bring the church closer to the folks implanting the idea of participation with God in becoming holy people, part of the priesthood of all believers. This is why we support the church with our gifts, because here is where we work out our salvation.
Prayer for the Sermon October 25, 2009 "Building Our Spiritual House"
Gracious and Ever Creating God, our hearts are open to you, and our spirits are in readiness to discern your will for us. Today we remember the challenge mounted by one of our legendary forefathers Martin Luther. His launching of one of the first “Rethink Church” campaigns, in 1517, reminds us that church is more than a building that folks visit on Sunday morning. Your servant proclaimed in the darkness that church isn’t something that is supposed to be done to us. Church is what happens when Your divine creative imagination mixes gently and gradually with our human thoughts and ideas. In the moment of connection we are like molecules that are heated by a flame. Your patience, mercy and steadfast love stir us, prod us and pull us, until we find ourselves dancing with you. It is a dance of joy, compassion, giving, caring, self-discovery and purpose. Because you, O God are the Divine Dancer and our most gracious partner, we need never feel like spiritual wall-flowers sitting in the darkness always waiting for an invitation. Your leading embrace is always open, always inviting all people to step out and be church. We give you thanks in the name of the Christ. Amen.
Offertory thought October 18, 2009
You know there are all sorts of churches that have gotten rid of plate passing to collect the weekly offering. Some churches have attached offering boxes to the wall and like the well known poor box in the Catholic church folks just slip a few bills or their weekly pledge through the slot as they make their way into or out of the sanctuary. I don’t suppose it matters much whether you pass the plate or have a collection box hanging on the wall. We are called to give cheerfully and always with a grateful heart.
Prayer For Sermon October 18, 2009 "3 If By Faith"
Gracious and Everliving God, we rejoice in this day giving thanks to you for all the ways in which you help us through it. Indeed, we are grateful to you for the incredible opportunities you place in our path to minister in your name. When we recognize and grab hold of these opportunities, these chances to pray for someone, occasions to laugh with someone, reasons to believe in someone, we breathe a sigh of wonder and relief realizing that this salvific moment is a gift. Dear Lord, let us not doubt, but trust that you are ever leading us toward your Kingdom. When we trip and fall along the way let us not lose heart, but reach up and grab your hand extended to help us stand up once again, brush ourselves off and stride out again with confidence. You are the fire of our hearts, the beacon that lights our way, and the voice that calls us from the darkness. We need never be lost for long. Forever we lift our praise to you in the name of the Christ. Amen.
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