Sunday Sermon: Unwrapping Gifts

Favorite Things: Unwrapping Gifts

Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; Romans 5:1-5: John 16:12-15

You know that survey you all had the chance to fill out for the past month?  The one where you were asked to tell us your favorite things -- everything from favorite hymns to favorite ice cream toppings -- well, today we begin a summer of sharing together some “favorite things” -- favorite things of the congregation and -- it’s possible -- some of my favorite things, too.  It being summer and all, some Sunday, I just may preach a favorite sermon from my past.  If I find on that fits, it could happen . . . 

You saw the survey questions.  Why, there might be ice cream this summer. There could be dancing.  Who knows?  Do you like surprises?  Is one of your favorite things unwrapping presents?  All wrapped up -- who knows what might be inside?

So, next week, you are going to come to church and open your worship bulletin and you will see three hymns -- as usual.  Each of those hymns will be special because each and every hymn you will find in the bulletin is a favorite hymn of someone in this congregation.  Maybe one of your favorite hymns will show up in the worship service next week. 

Every week, a surprise package -- a gift to unwrap -- just like Christmas or a birthday -- looking to see:  

Did you get what you wanted?  

Is it what you asked for?  

Does it fit?  

And the most important thing: Will you try it on?  When Dr. Z starts to play a worship song that was not on your personal wish list of favorite hymns -- will you sing it as if it was just what YOU asked for?

Unwrapping gifts -- sounds like fun, right?  Think of the colorful paper -- curly ribbons -- tissue paper holding treasures -- what would a birthday party be without birthday gifts?  A Christmas tree looks all the more festive ladened with presents.

What is in those wrapped presents? Only the giver knows.  Unwrapping presents is fun when it’s something from my wish list.  

Unwrapping gifts might be the most fun thing about church life -- and the most challenging.

So much of church life happens on schedule, by the book, as expected.  We come to church. We do all the right things, all the things that are good and righteous things for all God’s children to do:  We baptize our babies, we confirm our youth, we join the church. We take Communion, we serve on church committees.  So many of you come to worship faithfully, serve God willingly, give generously.  Each of these are more-or-less expected things to do -- and important things for us to do -- no surprises -- these are all “gifts of God for the people of God.”  These gifts come wrapped in regularly showing up, and suiting up, and getting on the playing field.  We would be surprised to find anything less than each other -- doing what we do -- in church life together.  

Ahh -- but just when we think we’ve unwrapped it all, the apostle Paul crashes the party.  No sugar plums and lollipop party for the apostle Paul.  Paul lets us know that there are gifts yet to open. Our God is a generous God.  Unwrapping God’s great goodness and mercy is a party that never ends.  And it’s a party like no other. 

Paul was such an Interim Pastor -- always on the move!  He got called into places -- and called back to places -- where there was uncertainty -- where there were challenges -- where there was wild anticipation of a future that hadn’t yet brought everyone together.

Paul knows that suffering happens even in lives lived in the Spirit. Paul knows that the suffering of Jesus didn’t end human suffering.  Paul especially knows the suffering that happens when we join together as God’s people -- the church.  Paul knows that, when we come together, we each show up carrying our own personal trials and tribulations.  Paul knows real life, and he is not afraid to unveil the swamps of life with all of its dangers, toils and snares. 

Paul speaks boldly about suffering -- he doesn’t deny suffering -- he doesn’t glorify suffering.  Rather, Paul puts suffering in context of the story of God’s grace:  Suffering is the box that HOPE comes in:

Suffering produces endurance -- (not passive “putting up with” but going through) -- endurance is a gift -- 

Endurance produces character -- (really knowing who you are and what you are made of) -- character is another gift -- 

and character produces -- here’s that word again -- HOPE.

Even when it looks for all the world as if there is nary a gift under that tree -- and maybe the Grinch took the tree, too -- THAT is when we rejoice more boldly, praise more loudly, sing that unfamiliar song that I didn’t choose and am not even sure I like, anyway -- and be grateful!  For whether the suffering of the present age is excruciating pain, or the frustrations of church life -- to keep on rejoicing in the midst of suffering -- that’s HOPE!  For it is HOPE itself that unwraps the gift of hope.

The reason this text is used today is surely because it is Trinity Sunday.  God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit -- all three are here in this passage, playing their part.  Paul is not so concerned with getting their roles in proper perspective.  Paul is very concerned for the actual transformation of our lives. Our relationship with God, our acceptance of Jesus as Lord, our life lived fueled by the Spirit -- that’s the gift of LIFE itself. And can’t you just see the gift being handed to you -- to you -- to open and all eyes are on you:  Loving Father God, your brother Jesus Christ, and Mother Wisdom -- they wait to see if you will love the gift as much as they loved the giving.  

Do you like unwrapping presents?  Unwrapping gifts might be the most fun thing about church life -- and the most challenging.  I rejoice that this congregation is up for the challenge!  You are embracing the challenging work of this time of pastoral transition -- and you are opening the gifts that are coming your way.  

That is HOPE that leads to HOPE.  HOPE wrapped up in gifts that are yet to be imagined.  

Even now, a gifted pastor is starting to feel a little God nudge -- still wrapped in mystery -- already being Spirit-prepared for you, even as you prepare for her or him.

A gift of God for the people of God.

And the best part:  the look on your face when you delightedly say, “Thank you. It’s just what I always wanted!”  Amen.

Friday Five: Healing Spaces

RevGal Deb authors today's Friday Five blog prompt. She writes: So, with the events of the violence and tragedy from the Boston Marathon fresh in our memories, I thought it would be good for us to focus on where as RevGalBlogPals, we find healing, peace and strengthening. As a chaplain, there are days where I never seem to catch my breath, and invariably, those are the days that I need it the most! So with all this in mind, share with us these healing things:

1. A piece of music -- Bobby McFerrin's "Psalm 23" (video above).  An amazing and generous church choir sang this at my ordination 20 years ago.  This version celebrates women throughout history.  

2. A place -- Nature.  Just about any nature venue. Digging in the dirt.  Beach. Mountain. River. Farm. Orchard. 

3. A favorite food (they call it "comfort food" for a reason) -- The family tradition -- enchiladas!

4. A recreational pastime (that you watch or participate in) -- Playing games with family and friends.

5. A poem, Scripture passage or other literature that speaks to comfort you -- Romans 8:38-39. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.


BONUS: People, animals, friends, family - share a picture of one or many of these who warm your heart.

What else could it be?  Here's the most recent pic of my precious grandchild:

For the love of Daniel and for all of creation: Let there be peace on earth.

Friday Five: Deep Breath

View of the NOLA skyline while walking at City Park

Holy Week is catching up to me and breathing down my neck.  For this pastor, there are bulletins to get ready, sermons to prep, and details upon details that are still hanging.  Even this week, this congregation is moving ahead with launching a new ministry:  Welcome, Men's Breakfast Fellowship!  This is a challenging week for me to fill the gap between the last church office maven and the next one.  The opportunities to receive God's mercy never cease!

Today, we are prompted to respond to a RevGalBlogPals Friday Five that invites us to breathe:

This week's Friday Five is simply a moment to BREATHE. Stop and tell us five ways that you "catch your breath" and then move on in the work God calls you to do.

Thank you, Deb, for this one.

Here are five ways that I take a deep breath when I need to.  And I need to.

• Take a walk
• Phone a loved one
• Drink herb tea
• Let the tears come
• Stop and actually take some deep breaths

My own personal BONUS du jour:  I came into the office very early today.  Unprompted by anything except that I was here early and he knows how much I love coffee, the church custodian, who is a gem of a person, offered to make me a few cups.  That brand of kindness is what makes the tears flow. Thank you, Michael!

Friday Five: Techno-Happy

Today's RevGalBlogPals Friday Five writing prompt is all about technology. RevGalBlogPal Jan is in Washington state visiting relatives in a senior living facility where she will be without her usual electronic devices.

Jan's questions invite us to explore our use of, and desire for, technological devices:

1.  What types of technologies, like cell phones, computers, TVs, etc., do you routinely use? How frequently?

• Cell phone -- not-the-newest iPhone (with me and in use every day)
• Computer -- MacBook (almost every day, both at the office and at home)
• eReader -- KindleTouch (use for reading books, a few games, and preaching sermons)
• TV -- I don't have one, but watch at times one or two days a week

I am on the computer most often, doing things related to church and ministry -- emails, worship prep, sermon prep, newsletter prep, more emails.

2.  Social media: 

• Facebook (daily) 
• Pinterest (daily)
• Twitter (occasionally) 
• Linked-In (I'm on there but rarely in there)
• Social media games (now, only Words With Friends)

  3.  Do you separate online activities between home and work? Or is it all the same everywhere?

There is a lot of online activity involved in getting things done for church, so that's is what I am most often using technology for at work. There are occasional breaks for Facebook and Pinterest.  Facebook does (really!) help me keep up with people in church who are posting there.  We also use our church Facebook page to communicate church things.  I use the internet to keep up with the latest that is going on in New Orleans and in the world.  Most of that happens at work.

At home, there is more "Words With Friends" but there is also a lot of sermon prep and other church-related writing, as well as some other writing that I want to do.  Yeah, work and home are often a lot alike, except for the ready availability of coffee and quilts.

My favorite thing to do at home is to use Skype to keep in touch with my geographically-scattered loved ones.

4. Do you have a smart phone or iPhone?

Yes, I have an iPhone that I have come to depend on.  Let me count the ways: check the email, check the weather, use Mapquest to get where I'm going, find a restaurant or coffee shop, and to google things that I don't know.

5. What do you wish you had -- or do not have -- in relation to these devices?

What I don't have is an iPad or iPad mini (or is it mini iPad?).  I don't know if I want one or how badly I need one or what I would realize I was missing now if I got one.  There is probably something like that in my techno-future.

Bonus: What is the difference between your attitude towards these means of technology and a generation older or younger than you?

In my experience, attitudes toward technology have not been strictly generationally defined.  Younger people are definitely more comfortable with technology and have been invaluable in helping me to stay current and comfortable in the techno-world.  I know 80+ year olds who use email to stay in touch with their friends, and they play Words With Friends (with me!) on their Kindle Fires or iPads.  I also know younger people who are still skeptical about the use of technology and online access in church life.

Lenten Photo Challenge: Catching Up

Each day's photos for this week's Lenten Photo Challenge actually were taken each day.  They were posted less often, occasionally on Facebook or Twitter.  I'm near-disciplined.  So, here they are:

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Feb. 17: 

SETTLE 

As in . . . Do not settle.

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Feb. 18: 

WORLD

God loves the world. 

Seems to me that's the real point. 

God loves. That much.  

And more.

*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*

Feb. 19: 

WONDER

From the CHICAGO song: 

"Does anybody really know what time it is?

Does anybody really care?"

I wonder . . . 

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Feb. 20: 

EVIL 

As in: The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.

[1 Timothy 6:10]

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Feb. 21: 

LOVE

"Love" is everywhere.

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Feb. 22: 

SPIRIT

The setting for a spirit-filled experience on this day.

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Lenten Photos Day 4: Injustice

Every day, I drive by this "Home Depot" on my way to the church office.

Every day, in the parking lot, I see as many as 40 men waiting there. I've been told that they are waiting there for someone to come by and give them some work for the day.  Today was Saturday.  I took this picture when I stopped at next-door Rouse's for a few groceries.  I counted 11 men there at noon.  On a Saturday.

The Home Depot store itself has a huge "Help Wanted" sign posted on its building exterior.

In 2007, Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli received a severance package of $212 million.  Worth it? He "earned" himself a spot on CNBC's list of the  "Worst American CEO's of All Time."

Home Depot's current CEO Frank Blake makes 700 times minimum wage ($10.8 million).

I've also heard that someone in a hoodie has every reason to expect the worst.

Lenten Photos Day 3: See

Some things I see from my office windows

Lenten Photos Day 2: Return

Funny thing:

I took this pic this morning, thinking it might make a good "return" photo.

I remembered that, when I lived in Pennsylvania or Ohio, a vacation week in Louisiana always included a return, with my sis, to one of the Louisiana-based coffee shops called CC's Community Coffee House.

I aimed my phone at the CC's sign, thinking about my return to Louisiana about 5 months ago.  That more permanent move was a return to long-missed familiar things -- crawfish boils, warm weather, Cajun accents, and CC's.  Knowing I would be a "regular" there, I got my very own CC's card.  I keep a few bucks on it, which makes it easy to return there often.

This particular CC's is within walking distance of my New Orleans home.  I returned there this morning for a cup of coffee to take to the office.  I took the pic on my phone as I went in, because I had an inkling that there could be a connection with my CC's habit and today's word: "return." There was the chance, too, that there would not be another better photo op later in the day.

I stepped up to the counter and ordered my usual: A grande, half dark roast, half medium roast, with room for cream. (The 2 dashes of cinnamon don't take any room, so why mention that?)

The young barista seemed rattled, and I wondered what was so hard about my fairly ordinary order.  She said she was afraid that the CC's card reader wasn't working. She told me she wouldn't be able to give me my receipt.

That CC's receipt is my return ticket.  With the receipt, I could return any time that same day to any CC's and present the receipt and the empty cup for a free refill.  It's a nice perk. Still, I said "That's OK. Don't worry about the receipt."

She tried again to get my CC's card to read. No luck.  She didn't want to tell me, so I asked: "It's not charging the coffee to my card either, is it?" She nodded and tried the card again, and again, ever more flustered.  The coffee had been already been poured.  A line was forming behind me.

My move.  I offered to return to my car and get cash for the coffee. Relief poured off her face.

That's how it happened that I got to return to CC's in that same trip.  The photo was just right.

Lenten Photos Day 1: Who Am I?

As part of my Lenten practice this year, I have decided to participate in the Lenten 40 Day Photo Challenge at rethinkchurch.org.  The idea is to take a photo that is about the word or phrase of the day. It is supposed to require paying attention and being intentional, which sounds like a spiritual discipline to me!

Who Am I?

Today I am:

• Starting the day a concerned mom and grandmother 
• An early riser in Baton Rouge; commuter to New Orleans
• Interim Pastor at Central St. Matthew UCC in NOLA
• In need of a hair cut and a massage
• The recipient of ashes twice in one day
• Offering ashes from the (covered) Carrollton Ave. campus front steps during cold rain at noon (pic taken there)
• Singing and praying there, too, with some who came by.
• Enchilada cook at lunch (nothing new there!)
• Relieved about good medical test results for a loved one
• Messaged and encouraged during sermon prep
• Preacher for our NOLA clergy-sponsored service tonight
• Face-to-face with "the Chicago thing" . . . again.
• Peaceful about "the Chicago thing" . . . really
• Reasonably satisfied about the preaching tonight
• Gluten-free in a gluten-filled Communion world (it seems)

Friday Five: Sneaky, Sneaky!

How did you sneak in here?

Karla, Karla, Karla.  So, the deadline for putting up the Friday Five sneaked (snuck?) up on you. It's not like you've been away on a serious (enough) study leave. And then there's that blizzard that's bearing down on you. With all of that, you have still managed to put forth a wonderful Friday Five!  And, you have enticed me to play the RevGalBlogPals Friday Five again after far too long. Thank you for some really sneaky, and great, questions.  Here goes:

1) What is sneaking up on you, and what have you been thinking about?
What is really sneaking up on me is income tax time. I know today is only February 8, but that denial of "time flies" is what makes it so sneaky. But I'm not thinking about that at all! I'm thinking about Mardi Gras and what part(s) of that I get to go to this weekend.  Mardi Gras parade: probably.  Crawfish boil: definitely!

2) What will you have for lunch today?
Well, it's after 2:00 p.m. here, and I still don't know.  I'm seriously considering checking out the Thai place across the street. Sadly, there is no sushi bar on this boat.

3)  If you were to get snowed in for two days, and you need to hunker down, what essentials and treats would you store up?

HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa

OK, sorry. It's a balmy, short-sleeved 65 degrees and cloudy here in New Orleans . . . (ahem) . . .

This would be a serious question for me if I still lived in the house I still own in Pennsylvania, because I know the snow is coming. There. Not here.  For the Two-Day Snowed-In Hunker Down, treats and essentials are hard to tell apart:

• Enchiladas!
• a pot of Amy's turkey noodle soup or some chili
• coffee and half & half
• cocoa & mini-marshmallows
• movies, Netflix (if there is electricity) & books and crochet (my new hobby) 
• comforters & pillows & all kinds of flannel
• wind-up radio/flashlight
• candles and flameless light sources

4)  Tell me a story about one awesome thing you have experienced in the last couple of weeks:

Once upon a time, in the last couple of weeks, I took a 9 hour drive that took me from New Orleans to Jacksonville. My wonderful congregation sent me on a serious (enough) study leave.  So, I got on a great big boat and sailed away.  

I hugged dear friends and met new ones, now dear ones. Faces went with online names of women who had become celebrities to me, and I couldn't help being a starry-eyed fan. (I hope they understand.) 

 

We laughed. And laughed. We wrote and wrote. And wrote some more.  Sometimes we wrote less, as few as six words to tell a story of God's good news breaking through the fog.  

Alfredo flirted with us and danced for us.  

We told supper stories. And late night stories.  

And stories fueled by sushi circles, melting cake dinners, and mojito toasts.  

Then we laughed some more.  

Encouraged by sweet generosity, I picked up crochet again.  

I am still swaying to the music. I'm rolling with the waves. I'm looking for sushi.

And I'm thankful. 

So thankful.

5) What is your favorite office supply to splurge on? (now THAT is random, right?)

 Yes, that IS random, dear Karla!  Markers or pens, definitely!

My Serious (Enough) Continuing Education Week

I returned Saturday from RevGalBlogPals Big Event 6.0.  Rachel Hackenberg led us to to play -- and play some more -- with the Living Word "In Her [Our] Own Words."  I came back refreshed and inspired and blessed beyond measure!

Someone asked me to bring back a picture of me having fun on the trip.  Here ya go!

Alfredo's Fan Club: With Karla and Celeste (photo by Holly)

With Kelly at the southernmost point (Key West)

Coconut Flan (Key West)

Amazing women!

Roaming along the streets of Key West

Who could it be? (Not me!)

MLK Day 2013: The Joy of Celebrating

Some things haven't changed

As a teenager in Baton Rouge, LA -- in the mid 1960‘s -- our family was a little out of the church-going habit for awhile.  A friend kept trying to get me to go to her church.  She could talk very enthusiastically about Jesus and salvation and things like that.  My parents weren’t all that big on us going to church. But one day, I got into some serious trouble at home when I tried out a word that my friend used freely -- an “n” word referring to people who, at that time, were not welcome by the people who lived in our all-white neighborhood to go to our all-white school.  Indeed, another friend justified her family's objection to integrated schools because they "knew" that it was a scientific fact that "Negroes are not fully human."

At about the same time, a white Southern Baptist pastor -- a kind and courageous man I would meet a few years later in Dallas TX -- was being ostracized by Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge because his congregation did not want to have as their pastor someone who was involved in the Civil Rights movement.  This pastor wouldn’t be quiet about liberty and justice for all from the pulpit.*

These are business as usual stories. Nothing unusual here. In the 60’s it was dangerous to your job to speak up for racial equality, and it was normal for churches and church people to say that God and the Bible blessed segregation and endorsed white supremacy.  None of this is news.

It is also not news that, in most white communities and white congregations, MLK day is "celebrated" by a few congregations. They have some idea that King was a good man, and that celebrating him somehow relates to faith, so it's is a good idea. I guess they have not been personally inspired by King's message and courageous actions and his inspiring legacy. They have not been justice-deprived or bound by laws and traditions that benefit other people and ask them to wait for their turn.  How can they celebrate King well when they have no idea what there truly is to celebrate?

Yesterday, business as usual came to a blessed end for me.  In the 60th year of my life -- and in the 20th year of my ordination -- I finally got to spend Martin Luther King Sunday yesterday in a congregation truly celebrating the words and work of Dr. King.  A group of people -- black and white -- began our worship service with a spoken prelude of King's prophetic words.  The choir processed in with all of us singing "Lift Every Voice" and it was magnificent.  A young black woman, dressed in colorful cloth, read her chosen excerpt from King's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" as part of the children's time, and the little children were silently attentive. In word and song and prayer, we celebrated King, we celebrated Jesus' gift of bread and cup, and we celebrated The Beloved Community.

In the congregation were blacks who marched with King.  Absent yesterday from the congregation were those who had traveled to Washington D.C. to celebrate the second-term inauguration of Barack Obama.

In the congregation were parents who, back in the day, struggled to explain to their children why they couldn't take them to City Park in New Orleans because they wouldn't be allowed to ride the little train.  Yesterday, they could celebrate because, today, their grandchildren are just some of the kids on the train.

In the worshipping community yesterday were gay couples who had given up on church until they found this one. Here, they can be out and proud in our congregation. They can serve here and not be afraid that the sermon will sneak a bite of them.  Now, in some states, they can be legally married. 

And there was me -- their very-blessed interim pastor -- whose American Baptist seminary hadn't minded receiving tuition money from women earning their M.Div. degree there.  However, when she and the other recently-graduated women received only rejection letters from ABC churches, the seminary said that there was nothing they could do about so many congregations who just weren't ready to call female pastors.  

And so there we were. Together.  Celebrating because we had a lot to celebrate.  It's not quite the Promised Land -- not yet.  But it was a really fine and generous glimpse.  Thanks be to God!

[ * Bruce Lowe continued to advocate for equality for all.  That Dallas church where we met, Royal Lane Baptist Church recently honored 97 year old Bruce and his spouse, Anna Marie, for their dedication to creating a place at the table for everyone.]

Sunday Sermon: Hope Shall Bloom

Hope Shall Bloom

Luke 3:7-18; Zephaniah 3:14-20

For Central St. Matthew UCC, New Orleans, LA

I confess: I had a hard time with this one.

I had a sermon -- it was about the hoops we jump through instead of living out hope -- but then, 20 little children were killed in their school, along with six of their teachers and administrators on Friday, so Thursday’s sermon idea is not going to preach today.

I don’t claim to know, but I wonder how news of a mass shooting in a school affects this congregation.

Many of you are teachers, retired teachers, administrators, associated with children and youth in learning situations. 

And then, there’s Katrina, a devastation that happened about the time that those 20 precious children at Sandy Hook were born. Are you thinking:  We know the names and ages of each of these children and we know that there were 20 of them.  It is unknown how many people lost their lives in Katrina, so who knows how many were children?  Dozens? Hundreds?

You all know all too well the despair of a tragedy unfolding that cannot be contained or stopped no matter how loud the screams. 

You know that those who initially get hit -- who make the news the first day -- the first week -- they are just the first ones affected -- the circle of pain and sorrow spreads out from there, in ever-widening circles.  

You know that when someone says that things will never be the same after this, that is true.  

You know the despair and grief that is PARTICULAR to tragedies that could have been prevented, if only ... someone ... had ... done what could have been done.

So, as your pastor at this time, I wonder how you are doing?  Not only how are you doing with this week’s news, but how are you doing seven years since tragedy came to New Orleans.

It’s OK to admit that it’s not all OK.  It’s OK to say that it’s not fixed -- that restoration is not complete -- whether of buildings or people or relationships.

You might imagine the road ahead for the parents of the children who were killed. A child’s death is a heavy heavy stress on the parents’ marriage.  What about the grief of siblings and classmates?

At what point will this CT community be most tempted to give up?  When will it be most difficult for them to know “God with us” and to make sense of how a loving God can co-exist with life-robbing evil and hearts breaking?  You all might have some idea of how this will go.

You may also have an idea of where hope is when things looks scariest.

Fred Rogers:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."

You know all about the helpers.  You are the helpers.  You host and feed the helpers.  Helpers show us hope, blooming.  

“What then should WE do?” today . . . 

It’s an old story It’s the story that prepares the way for “God With Us.”  In a certain desert, when John the Baptist finally got his curiosity-seeking “congregation” to see a picture of how messed up their world is, and how messed up they are -- when they finally saw the futility of their usual approaches and strategies -- when they were ready to repent -- change their minds -- change their direction -- finally take some kind of ACTION, it all came down to one question:

“What then should we do?” now . . . 

The answer (a lot like Mr. Rogers):

“Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” ¹²Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” ¹³He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” ¹⁴Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

“What then should we do?” 

Simply put (you know this! You do this!): Do acts of justice and compassion and kindness. We don’t ask “What would Jesus do?” because, from this side of the manger, we know what Jesus DID.  And where the Jesus way becomes our way, hope shall bloom. 

Each of us has something we can do in response to this tragedy. For someone, it might be sending a card to that school or to our UCC church in Newtown. For someone else, it might be writing letters to Congress.  Someone else might make a new or renewed commitment to a local school or to neighborhood children. 

Whatever else we do, we simply must -- finally -- address the big picture.  “We must be concerned not merely about who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers.”  That was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King -- in 1963 -- after the killing of four innocent young girls in a church bombing.  Almost 50 years ago, a prophet of our time called it, named it, showed us where hope COULD bloom:  “We must be concerned not merely about who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers.”

It will go on.  An average of 8 children and teenagers are killed by gunfire in the U.S. every day.  Who will they be today?  Who will they be tomorrow?

It’s time to get serious about all the conditions

that make the U.S. the leading nation -- by far -- in gun violence.

If we can’t agree on how to control access to guns,

can we find common ground in providing better access to mental health care?

Twenty little children didn’t come home on Friday to play outside, to watch cartoons on Saturday, to go to Sunday School today.  Six adult teachers and administrators lost their lives.  

See what we have become. Hear the cries of mothers everywhere, grieving for children we have lost and for children we don’t want to lose to a world gone mad.  

Their cries remind us that God loved THIS VERY WORLD so much to send his own child into this world.  The mother who placed him in the manger also saw him die on the cross.

Christmas Eve is not the end of the story, but neither does the story end with “the massacre of the innocents.”  We are Easter people.  “In the end neither Herod, or Pilate, or even the Devil himself was able to stop God’s plan. We are not helpless before the powers of this world. No matter what power evil and sadness has in the world – and -- [know this] -- it’s a temporary and dying power – it cannot stop God’s goodness, and love, and forgiveness, and redemption ... [God’s realm -- our home -- is where hope blooms, where joy is born, where love grows, where peace is waged] whatever sorrows or loneliness or memories or illness befall us, during this season or any season. Whatever your circumstance at Christmas, Christ was born for you.”  

Amen.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

• Grateful for the concluding words I was looking for, the last two paragraphs were adapted from and quoted from Pastor Joelle Coville-Hanson, a UCC pastor and one of my RevGalBlogPals from Ridgeway Iowa.  
• This sermon was also strongly influenced by sermons by Amy Peden Haynie (about what we can do) and Rev Dr Mom (the MLK quote), also two of my RevGal sisters.
• I got to host, and be nourished by, two RevGal 11th Hour Preacher Parties that kept us going this weekend, one on Friday and one on Saturday.  Thanks to all of you!

Putting the Christ in Christmas, if you please

Adapted slightly from my church newsletter article archives of December 2010, wherein I offered the following modest proposal:  

QUIT talking about putting the Christ back into Christmas! (please????)

Yes, that's coming from this pastor, duly ordained as a minister of the gospel, Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior and -- before you ask -- I do love Christmas.  I love the Christmas carols, the wonderful smells, the delicious food, the colorful lights, the family gatherings, the decorated church and homes, the Advent wreath, the Bible story, and I love celebrating the birthday of Jesus.  So, it's not that I have one thing against Christ or Christmas!  I'm asking you to quit fighting a "war on Christmas" and see the season in a new way:

• Be logical:  Christmas (the word) always has Christ (the first syllable) in it.  You can't take the Christ out of Christmas, even if you try!
• Be historically informed:  If it irritates or offends you to see Christmas spelled as Xmas, please know that X is not our letter X.  X is really χ, the Greek letter "chi" (pronounced KIE, rhymes with "pie") which is the first letter of the Greek word "Christos" meaning "anointed".  χ began to be used as a shorthand way to write Christ's name in 16th century Europe by monks and scholars who knew the Greek origins of using χ.  Xmas does keep the Christ in Christmas and is not a sign of disrespect.  Remember that no one ever called Jesus Christ by his English name anyway!
• Be polite:  When a server or a salesperson or a checkout helper says "Happy Holidays" it is not our cue to teach them a lesson by replying, with force, "Merry Christmas!" I heard a great quote recently:  "Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit and wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad."  As Christians, what we proclaim is not Christmas; what we proclaim is Jesus Christ. They'll know we are Christians by our love, not because we put them in their place.  If you do have people you must teach, then:
• Be accurate:  The season we Christians celebrate before December 24/25 is not Christmas, but Advent.  If we are going to teach Christian Christmas tradition, then we would teach that Christian Christmas ("Merry Christmas!") begins on Dec. 25, or when the Christ candle is lit on Christmas Eve.  Or . . . go ahead and be merry, not accurate!
• Be open:  People celebrate a variety of holidays during this season.  Some people celebrate more than one.  We like to go ahead and celebrate Christmas (early!), so why not be open to the many celebrations (plural) of the season:  Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, the day the boss gave you a half day off for the Christmas party, your Christmas vacation days from work.  Expand!  Jesus did.  "Happy holidays" spreads the joy!
• Be doers of the word and not hearers (or talkers) only (see James 1:22 & Matthew 7:24-27):  Let's keep Christmas holy in the things we do.  Attend worship regularly.  Make celebrations more about love than things.  Spend more time than money on loved ones.  Make a gift to the mitten tree at church. Dust off your Bible and bring it to church.  Come back to Sunday School again.  Put the Christ back into everyday life, not just back into Christmas.
• Lighten up!  Share the spirit of the season, which is full of fantastic things that Jesus himself did not ordain specifically.  Enjoy the holidays, as many holly-jolly-holidays as you are offered or can take for yourself. 

I look forward to Christmas Eve at our church (or yours!) as we celebrate Christmas together!

What I Know With 10 Days to Go

Ruby, resting up for the big adventure!

September 30 is my last Sunday serving as Interim Senior Pastor of my current congregation.  For the first time in 19 years of clergy life, I am leaving a ministry setting without knowing where the next ministry setting will be, or if there will be a "next ministry setting" at all.

"What are you going to do?" I get asked this a lot.  "Where will you go?"  I don't have many answers to "What's next?"

I do know that I am moving.  My house is for sale.  I have given away lots of stuff.  I still have too much stuff. This I do know!

I do know that this interim ministry is ending as it needs to  and when it had to.  The work was hard and good. And hard.  A lot.  The congregation worked very hard, and is still working.  Hindsight is helping us all to see how far we have come. We are finding some hope in that.

I do know that on October 1, I will pack up the cat and some stuff in my smallish car and drive to Baton Rouge and be there for awhile, or longer.  It has been 25 years since I've lived in my native Texas or in my adopted Louisiana. That adds up to 25 years in Ohio and Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia, Dayton, Bradford County (PA), and the Lehigh Valley (PA).  The kids were 2, 8, and 9 when we moved. We were married back then, too.  One seminary education, seven congregations, and a few serious "life-quakes" later, it's just me and a cat named Ruby taking on this new adventure.

I do know that there is a chance I will be in a ministry setting somewhere in the area.  I am in "that dance" right now with a couple of places.  I will be fine if one of them works out.  Even excited.  I'm not burned out. Just done.  Here.

I am counting on having other options, one of which could be a return to my first career as a medical technologist.  Another wild card dream job or two are also swirling around in the mix.

That's all I know about what happens on, and after, October 1.

Ten days -- and two Sundays -- to GO.  I'm going. Yep. I really am.

Friday Five: 'Tis a Gift to Be Simple

Photo by my niece, Laura Nichols, the day I let her use my camera!

Today's RevGalBlogPals Friday Five is courtesy of kathrynzj who is coming off of a week of vacation and is interested in streamlining her life. She invites us to respond to this question:

What are 5 things you do or things you have bought that have made your life simpler or easier?

That's EASY!

1)  Kindle Touch -- Let me count the ways!

• Easier to hold than a traditional book and easier on the eyes.
• Less space to keep books. 
• Lots of free and very very inexpensive books to have and others to borrow.
• Can carry around a Bible (or more) and even simple liturgies for home Communions or hospital crises.
• For sermons, it's the best -- simple & sleek!  (Ditto about funerals and weddings)  I like the leather case that my sister gave me. 

2) Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) -- I am trying to get all of my documents into two backup places and this is one of them. (The other is an external hard drive that I back up once a week.)  In Google Drive, I get 5 GB for free and I haven't used all of that.  After that, it will be $2.50 a month, which I think will still be worth the peace of mind.

3) Zen Habits blog -- Inspiration for gentleness and simplicity. Simplify and Savor Life or 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life would be good places to find ideas for today's topic.

4) Be More With Less blog -- More good ideas and challenges for simplifying and downsizing. I think it would be great to try 50 Days with 100 Things.

5) Gluten Free (and now almost) Grain Free Eating: At first glance, this might sound more complicated and more trouble than it's worth. Aside from the health benefits (for me -- your mileage may vary), there are simplicity benefits. Think about it:  there are whole sections of the grocery store that I no longer need to mess with.  Searching a menu is easier.  I am "limited" to making choices of among things that are less processed and have fewer ingredients, which itself is probably healthier.   The Joy of Limitations may not appeal to everyone, but my INFP personality finds my life a whole lot simpler when I live within certain limitations.

BONUS: Something I wish I could manage better:  Right now I am trying to manage getting ready to move.  I am ready to downsize and I know what I want/need to get rid of. The challenge:  how to get rid of what I am ready to let go of.  Sell? (How?) Donate? (To whom?) I wish I could do it better and (please) a whole lot faster.