July 26, 2009Proper 12 BThe Eighth Sunday after Pentecost2 Samuel 11:1-15Ephesians 3:14-21John 6:1-21
Years ago, when we were using the a different cycle of readings, the reading from the Hebrew scripture each week was chosen to match a theme that was found in the Gospel. This reflected the belief that the Hebrew scripture reached their fullness in the life of Jesus, and the Gospel. The new reading cycle, the Revised Common Lectionary that we have used for the past few years, the reading from the Hebrew Scripture is no longer chosen to reflect a theme of the Gospel. On most Sundays now, the readings from Hebrew Scripture and New Testament are completely independent of each other. More often than not, there is no connection between the readings.
In this weeks readings, not only is there no connection between the readings from 2nd Samuel and John, but in fact, the readings are almost opposite. The theme in Samuel and the theme of John go in completely different directions.
2nd Samuel recounts the descent of King David into the abysss of evil. David had it all. He was the chosen one of God. By God’s grace David defeated Goliath, driven out the Philistines, united the 12 tribes of Israel, and built the city of Jerusalem. David was loved by God, and loved by the people of Israel. David had wealth, power, and prestige; all that he could possibly want and he still wants more. All that he has was not enough. So, in his desire for more, David begins his descent into sin. David’s descent into sin reaches its evil low when he plots to have Uriah, his faithful general killed. David’s plot succeeds. Uriah dies in battles. David is a murderer. Betrayal, adultery and murder—all because with all that David had, he was never satisfied. With all he had, he wanted more.
John’s Gospel recounts a wondrous miracle. Jesus sees the crowd and knows that they will need to be fed. Phillip anxiously declares that there is not enough money to feed the crowd. It is then that the miracle begins to unfold. An unnamed boy is brought to Jesus with simple gifts of bread and fish. The boy who does not even possess a name, offers what he has, and the miracle occurs. The boy offers what he has, and thousands are satisfied.
The evil of David ends with murder. It begins with his desire for Bathsheba. His gazing upon her, his inquiring, his sending for her all precede his fall into murder and betrayal.
The miracle of multiplication of the loaves ends with a crowd of over 5000 fed and enough food left over to fill 12 baskets. 12 baskets full----enough to satisfy each of the twelve tribes of Israel. It begins with the unnamed child offering what he has to Jesus. It ends with enough food for all.
The stories of scripture reveal a truth: the choice for evil often begins with the desire for more. Sin begins when those who have more than enough, still crave more. Sin begins when those who have more than enough, think that the world is theirs for the taking. We could make the case that all of sin is rooted in a desire for more. More power, more pleasure, more things, more money, more toys, more more more. Even when we have enough, we want more.
Grace begins, goodness begins, miracles begin to occur when those who have enough offer what they have to God. When the child offered the little he had, a miracle occurred. When we offer what we have, miracles can still occur.
Where do we find ourselves in the stories? We who live among the most indulged people on earth. Even in financially difficult times, we have more than enough, more than most in the world would ever imagine having, and yet we crave more. Of course we do not go as far as David, we do not give in to murder. Yet, our indulgent life style, our desire for more does put the poor of the world at risk. The global climate change spawned by our high standard of living causes suffering pain and death for those who are poor. Sadly, truthfully, I am more like David than I would like to admit.
Perhaps we find ourselves in the place of Phillip, the practical one. Phillip knows that cost of food. He sees how many mouths there are to feed: Even 6 months wages cannot begin to feed the crowd. When we look at the needs of the world, might we be more like Phillip than we might like to admit. Surely we do not have enough wages to care for the needy in the world. We cannot possibly feed all the hungry, we cannot possibly give clean water to those who thirst. We cannot possibly give everyone adequate health care. The Philllip in us looks at our resources and the needs of the world and we simply give up. We cannot possibly provide the God given rights of food, water and health care. Sadly, truthfully, I am more like Phillip than I would like to admit.
Or, perhaps we can find ourselves in the place of the young boy. Can we take what have and bring it to Jesus?
Each week at the Offertory we bring our gifts to the altar. Each Sunday we step into the sandals of the young boy and offer our loaves and fishes to Jesus. After we bring these gifts, thanks is offered and miracles occur. Our gifts of bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus. Our gifts of food and are multiplied and the hungry are fed. Our financial offerings spread the Good News of God’s love.
Most likely, we find within ourselves traces of David, Phillip, and the unnamed child.
We confess that we are too much like David and though we have more than enough, we still want more. Lord have Mercy.
We confess that we are too much like Phillip, we see the poor and try to avoid our responsibility to care for them. Christ have Mercy.
We pray that we may become more like the unnamed child. May we offer our gifts to Jesus, trusting that our gifts in his hands will bring miraculous results. May our gifts in his hands be enough to satisfy those who hunger. May our gifts in his hands be more than enough to heal the world.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
sermon reflection for July 26
Offer your thoughts and reflections on the Gopsel for July 26.
John 6:1-21
The young boy offered 5 loaves and 2 fish. From these meager gifts, Jesus fed over 5000 people. What gifts can you offer for Jesus to give thanks for and multiply?
The hunger of the crowd was satisfied. What do you hunger for? How has God satisfied that hunger?
John 6:1-21
The young boy offered 5 loaves and 2 fish. From these meager gifts, Jesus fed over 5000 people. What gifts can you offer for Jesus to give thanks for and multiply?
The hunger of the crowd was satisfied. What do you hunger for? How has God satisfied that hunger?
Monday, July 20, 2009
July 19 sermon
Proper 11The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 19, 2009
2Samuel 7:1-14
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 630-34, 53-56
A friend of mine is a Roman Catholic priest who at one time served in my home parish back in Portland Michigan. His experience of Portland as a priest was very different than my experience growing in Portland. Even though he served in Portland long after I moved away from there, we still have memories of some of the same people, and chuckle at some of the personality quirks that are very present in Portland.
This past week he was talking about Portland and a series of meetings he was having years ago with some of the local clergy. They were talking about drinking and alcoholism, and underage drinking---all big problems in small towns. As part of their discussion, my friend suggested that the clergy and churches work together to bring in a speaker to address the community regarding alcohol and alcoholism. In the midst of the discussion, a number of the other clergy from town stated that “it would be fine to invite a speaker to come, but members of their congregation would not benefit…….after all, they said quite seriously, “its only members of the Catholic Church and the Congregational Church that have problems with drinking. We other churches don’t. Our people don‘t drink.”
Now years ago, I might have commented that : #1: I didn’t know there were non Catholics in Portland. And 2: Everybody in Portland drinks.
Now I know of course that both those comments are wrong. There are many other denominations in my little town of Portland. I was just a bit too smug to notice. And, even I had to admit, there are lots of people in Portland who did not drink then and now.
The story underlines how easy it is to make assumptions about others and ourselves. Only certain types of people drink, only certain types gamble, certain types divorce. Only certain types of people lose their jobs, or their homes. Only certain types of people like baseball or hockey or Nascar. Only certain types of people care about the environment or the right to life, only certain types of people support this political party, or this cause. While many of these assumptions are silly, and ignorant, most generally, the assumptions we live with are relatively harmless. Some assumptions however are the root of deep divisions, prejudice, and bigotry. Some assumptions about how others live and how they are different lead to hatred, violence and war.
The divisions, suspicion and hatred between Jew and Gentile at the time of Jesus was profound. The wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile was real. Much of the anger which Jesus provoked in the religious authorities of his day grew out of his ministry with Gentiles. He touched them, he healed them, he taught them, he ate with them, he used them as examples of Godly living. One could make the case that it was the radical hospitality which Jesus showed to those outside the Jewish nation which led to his death.
The divisions between Jew and Gentile continued in the time after Jesus death and resurrection. In the earliest decades of the Church, there were bitter disputes regarding the place of Gentiles in the Christian community. Should gentiles be accepted? Did they need to be circumcised in order to be baptized? What about Jewish dietary rules, did Gentiles have to follow them? The discussions were intense. In the midst of the discussion, Paul would called Peter a hypocrite. In the letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote that he wished that those who insist on circumcision would mutilate themselves with a slip of their knife. Ouch.
It is in the midst of these controversies that the letter to the Ephesians is written. Paul states that the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, circumcised and uncircumcised has been torn down by the cross . Peace and reconciliation have been established by the death of Jesus. Jew and Gentile are now members of the one humanity, the one household of God. The wall of hostility and hatred has been replaced by a new and holy temple. One new humanity, one new body has been born out of the blood of Jesus on the cross.
In Christ our unity, our common humanity, our one fellowship has already been established. It is accomplished. Yet, we know because of sin that walls still stand. Divisions still exist. Divisions related to age, and gender, and race, nationality, sexual orientation and religion. . In our world sins of racism, and bigotry still threaten us always.
At the heart of our life as disciples of Jesus is the call to overcome these hostilities; to be ministers of reconciliation. As disciples of Jesus we are called to live as one new humanity. This was at the heart of discipleship in the time of Jesus. In our Gospel today, we see the return of the apostles to Jesus. He invites them to come away to a time of rest. Do you notice thought that there is an odd gap in the reading, 19 verses are missing. Jesus is teaching the crowd. Then the Gospel skips to the disciples landing at Gennesaret and mooring the boat. Do you wonder about whats missing? I did. And here is whats missing.
In the verses not read in the Gospel, Jesus sends the apostles across the lake. He sends them to the other side. He sends them to Gentile territory. In Marks Gospel, Jesus is always sending the apostles over to the other side of the lake. . He is always sending them to Gentile territory. And, just about every time they cross the lake they face a storm. In the verses missing from todays account, the apostles face an adverse wind that prevented them from making any progress. In other accounts, there are storms. What Mark is telling us is that in the ministry of Jesus and his first followers, Jesus was trying to bring together Jew and Gentile. And, even then, even in the time of Jesus it was a difficult, and stormy endeavor. In one of the crossing stories, in the midst of a storm Jesus is asleep in the boat, the disciples cry out: don’t you care that we are perishing.
I believe that the work of reconciliation is the hardest work for disciples to be engaged. The work of tearing down walls, the work of helping one new humanity to be born, the work of ending hostility between peoples continues to our day. It is a work that is filled with storms and treacherous seas. At times we would rather not go. We would rather not try to cross the sea. But Jesus sends us.
Some would say that the Episcopal Church is in the midst of some pretty stormy seas these days. The discussions about sexuality, and blessing of unions continue to swirl around the Episcopal Church and other churches in this country and around the world. Sexuality is our today’s version of the issue the early church faced regarding Jew and Gentile. The walls of division and hostility are still strong. But, in Jesus these walls have been broken down. In Jesus, peace and reconciliation gives birth to one new humanity. With Jesus as the cornerstone, the walls are torn down and a new and holy temple will be built. and holy temple. That is our prayer. That is our hope. That is our work.
In the Gospel, after crossing the treacherous sea of Gallilee, Jesus and the disciples moored the boat and began to heal the sick. General Convention has passed, the seas were stormy, some wondered if the Church would completely capsize. But, convention passed and we, so far, have stayed afloat. We have reached shore, safely. Will there be other storms, of course. There always are. We pray in confidence, that after every storm Jesus brings us safely to shore. As we come to shore, we pray that we might continue his work and bring his healing to our world.
July 19, 2009
2Samuel 7:1-14
Ephesians 2:11-22
Mark 630-34, 53-56
A friend of mine is a Roman Catholic priest who at one time served in my home parish back in Portland Michigan. His experience of Portland as a priest was very different than my experience growing in Portland. Even though he served in Portland long after I moved away from there, we still have memories of some of the same people, and chuckle at some of the personality quirks that are very present in Portland.
This past week he was talking about Portland and a series of meetings he was having years ago with some of the local clergy. They were talking about drinking and alcoholism, and underage drinking---all big problems in small towns. As part of their discussion, my friend suggested that the clergy and churches work together to bring in a speaker to address the community regarding alcohol and alcoholism. In the midst of the discussion, a number of the other clergy from town stated that “it would be fine to invite a speaker to come, but members of their congregation would not benefit…….after all, they said quite seriously, “its only members of the Catholic Church and the Congregational Church that have problems with drinking. We other churches don’t. Our people don‘t drink.”
Now years ago, I might have commented that : #1: I didn’t know there were non Catholics in Portland. And 2: Everybody in Portland drinks.
Now I know of course that both those comments are wrong. There are many other denominations in my little town of Portland. I was just a bit too smug to notice. And, even I had to admit, there are lots of people in Portland who did not drink then and now.
The story underlines how easy it is to make assumptions about others and ourselves. Only certain types of people drink, only certain types gamble, certain types divorce. Only certain types of people lose their jobs, or their homes. Only certain types of people like baseball or hockey or Nascar. Only certain types of people care about the environment or the right to life, only certain types of people support this political party, or this cause. While many of these assumptions are silly, and ignorant, most generally, the assumptions we live with are relatively harmless. Some assumptions however are the root of deep divisions, prejudice, and bigotry. Some assumptions about how others live and how they are different lead to hatred, violence and war.
The divisions, suspicion and hatred between Jew and Gentile at the time of Jesus was profound. The wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile was real. Much of the anger which Jesus provoked in the religious authorities of his day grew out of his ministry with Gentiles. He touched them, he healed them, he taught them, he ate with them, he used them as examples of Godly living. One could make the case that it was the radical hospitality which Jesus showed to those outside the Jewish nation which led to his death.
The divisions between Jew and Gentile continued in the time after Jesus death and resurrection. In the earliest decades of the Church, there were bitter disputes regarding the place of Gentiles in the Christian community. Should gentiles be accepted? Did they need to be circumcised in order to be baptized? What about Jewish dietary rules, did Gentiles have to follow them? The discussions were intense. In the midst of the discussion, Paul would called Peter a hypocrite. In the letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote that he wished that those who insist on circumcision would mutilate themselves with a slip of their knife. Ouch.
It is in the midst of these controversies that the letter to the Ephesians is written. Paul states that the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile, circumcised and uncircumcised has been torn down by the cross . Peace and reconciliation have been established by the death of Jesus. Jew and Gentile are now members of the one humanity, the one household of God. The wall of hostility and hatred has been replaced by a new and holy temple. One new humanity, one new body has been born out of the blood of Jesus on the cross.
In Christ our unity, our common humanity, our one fellowship has already been established. It is accomplished. Yet, we know because of sin that walls still stand. Divisions still exist. Divisions related to age, and gender, and race, nationality, sexual orientation and religion. . In our world sins of racism, and bigotry still threaten us always.
At the heart of our life as disciples of Jesus is the call to overcome these hostilities; to be ministers of reconciliation. As disciples of Jesus we are called to live as one new humanity. This was at the heart of discipleship in the time of Jesus. In our Gospel today, we see the return of the apostles to Jesus. He invites them to come away to a time of rest. Do you notice thought that there is an odd gap in the reading, 19 verses are missing. Jesus is teaching the crowd. Then the Gospel skips to the disciples landing at Gennesaret and mooring the boat. Do you wonder about whats missing? I did. And here is whats missing.
In the verses not read in the Gospel, Jesus sends the apostles across the lake. He sends them to the other side. He sends them to Gentile territory. In Marks Gospel, Jesus is always sending the apostles over to the other side of the lake. . He is always sending them to Gentile territory. And, just about every time they cross the lake they face a storm. In the verses missing from todays account, the apostles face an adverse wind that prevented them from making any progress. In other accounts, there are storms. What Mark is telling us is that in the ministry of Jesus and his first followers, Jesus was trying to bring together Jew and Gentile. And, even then, even in the time of Jesus it was a difficult, and stormy endeavor. In one of the crossing stories, in the midst of a storm Jesus is asleep in the boat, the disciples cry out: don’t you care that we are perishing.
I believe that the work of reconciliation is the hardest work for disciples to be engaged. The work of tearing down walls, the work of helping one new humanity to be born, the work of ending hostility between peoples continues to our day. It is a work that is filled with storms and treacherous seas. At times we would rather not go. We would rather not try to cross the sea. But Jesus sends us.
Some would say that the Episcopal Church is in the midst of some pretty stormy seas these days. The discussions about sexuality, and blessing of unions continue to swirl around the Episcopal Church and other churches in this country and around the world. Sexuality is our today’s version of the issue the early church faced regarding Jew and Gentile. The walls of division and hostility are still strong. But, in Jesus these walls have been broken down. In Jesus, peace and reconciliation gives birth to one new humanity. With Jesus as the cornerstone, the walls are torn down and a new and holy temple will be built. and holy temple. That is our prayer. That is our hope. That is our work.
In the Gospel, after crossing the treacherous sea of Gallilee, Jesus and the disciples moored the boat and began to heal the sick. General Convention has passed, the seas were stormy, some wondered if the Church would completely capsize. But, convention passed and we, so far, have stayed afloat. We have reached shore, safely. Will there be other storms, of course. There always are. We pray in confidence, that after every storm Jesus brings us safely to shore. As we come to shore, we pray that we might continue his work and bring his healing to our world.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Passionate Spirituality: Julianne Day
Where have you seen expressons of passionate spiriutality n your life, and in the life of the parish?
Julianne Day:
I actually think about passionate spirituality every time I drive past St. Andrew's now. "Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come." In the last few weeks, it's struck me that passionate spirituality often shows in our everyday interactions with one another b/c these are ways we express our faith just as much as how we respond in worship. Several people in the congregation have suggested where I should look for a job or people for me to meet with, and I think this urge to help is evidence of passionate spirituality.
I was also impressed a few Sundays ago by Sergei Guider's actions while helping to serve breakfast to homeless/jobless/foodless people at St. Mark's: he spent most of his morning sitting and talking with them (instead of preparing food in the kitchen) and then lined up WITH them to receive his breakfast. Instead of simply serving them, he tried to become one of them. I was so impressed.
Has your personal prayer life been effected by our NCD involvement?
I'd say the only thing I've done differently was signing up to pray for the Easter Vigil this year. Since I don't usually spend much time in structured prayer, I had second thoughts after I signed up -- what if I couldn't pray for a whole hour? But it wasn't as hard as I'd feared. Something about walking into that quiet chapel space, where two of my fellow parishioners were already kneeling in prayer filled me with peace and allowed me to focus. The tag team aspect of the vigil reminded me that we "relieve" each other in the work of the parish; not one of us is expected to meet the needs of the world (or even of ourselves) alone.That's all that comes to mind at the moment. What are everybody else's experiences?~Julianne
Julianne Day:
I actually think about passionate spirituality every time I drive past St. Andrew's now. "Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come." In the last few weeks, it's struck me that passionate spirituality often shows in our everyday interactions with one another b/c these are ways we express our faith just as much as how we respond in worship. Several people in the congregation have suggested where I should look for a job or people for me to meet with, and I think this urge to help is evidence of passionate spirituality.
I was also impressed a few Sundays ago by Sergei Guider's actions while helping to serve breakfast to homeless/jobless/foodless people at St. Mark's: he spent most of his morning sitting and talking with them (instead of preparing food in the kitchen) and then lined up WITH them to receive his breakfast. Instead of simply serving them, he tried to become one of them. I was so impressed.
Has your personal prayer life been effected by our NCD involvement?
I'd say the only thing I've done differently was signing up to pray for the Easter Vigil this year. Since I don't usually spend much time in structured prayer, I had second thoughts after I signed up -- what if I couldn't pray for a whole hour? But it wasn't as hard as I'd feared. Something about walking into that quiet chapel space, where two of my fellow parishioners were already kneeling in prayer filled me with peace and allowed me to focus. The tag team aspect of the vigil reminded me that we "relieve" each other in the work of the parish; not one of us is expected to meet the needs of the world (or even of ourselves) alone.That's all that comes to mind at the moment. What are everybody else's experiences?~Julianne
Passionate Spirituality: Barb Visota
Where do you see expressions of passionate spirituality in your life or in the life of the congregation?
From Barb Visota
I have been thinking about passionate spirituality and asking friends what it means to them. What I have realized is that it is completely personal and different for everyone.
I keep remembering what Clark said at one of our early meetings about quiet devotion. That makes me think about the story of Martha and Mary. One expressed her passion by working hard to meet the practical needs of others as a way to serve. The other chose to be passionate about listening for the voice of God. One expression of passion is every bit as valid as the other.
What I have to remember is not to get perturbed with anyone because the way they choose to express their spirituality is not the way I would choose.
For me, being passionately spiritual is a choice. I don't wait for passion to strike like inspiration, I choose to be passionate. And once I've made that choice God keeps it going. There is a thought that runs through my day, a feeling that there's always someone walking next to me and that keeps me making the choice every day to continue to be passionate.
Last week I was at a memorial service for a friend. The priest was talking about the ways we practice Christian values in our lives and he said that "we follow as we know". Maya Angelou says "we do what we know and when we know better, we do better".
Just by contemplating the meaning of passionate spirituality I am beginning to "know better" which is bringing me and keeping me closer to God.
I was surprised that people in the focus groups were surprised that we scored lower on passionate spirituality. They saw very plain evidence of it all through our congregation. Maybe it was always there, we just weren't expressing it openly. And maybe just contemplating that will help more people "know better" and follow as they know.
I'm praying that God will release our potential and our faith.
From Barb Visota
I have been thinking about passionate spirituality and asking friends what it means to them. What I have realized is that it is completely personal and different for everyone.
I keep remembering what Clark said at one of our early meetings about quiet devotion. That makes me think about the story of Martha and Mary. One expressed her passion by working hard to meet the practical needs of others as a way to serve. The other chose to be passionate about listening for the voice of God. One expression of passion is every bit as valid as the other.
What I have to remember is not to get perturbed with anyone because the way they choose to express their spirituality is not the way I would choose.
For me, being passionately spiritual is a choice. I don't wait for passion to strike like inspiration, I choose to be passionate. And once I've made that choice God keeps it going. There is a thought that runs through my day, a feeling that there's always someone walking next to me and that keeps me making the choice every day to continue to be passionate.
Last week I was at a memorial service for a friend. The priest was talking about the ways we practice Christian values in our lives and he said that "we follow as we know". Maya Angelou says "we do what we know and when we know better, we do better".
Just by contemplating the meaning of passionate spirituality I am beginning to "know better" which is bringing me and keeping me closer to God.
I was surprised that people in the focus groups were surprised that we scored lower on passionate spirituality. They saw very plain evidence of it all through our congregation. Maybe it was always there, we just weren't expressing it openly. And maybe just contemplating that will help more people "know better" and follow as they know.
I'm praying that God will release our potential and our faith.
Passionate Spirituality: Will Campbell
Where have you seen an expression of passionate spirituality in your life or in the life of St. Andrews?
From Will Campbell:
I love to sing, making a joyful noise as it were. I sing in the car, in the shower, along with the radio; and sometimes I make up my own songs. I’ll sing Broadway Show tunes, pop, ballads, country, you name it.
If memory serves me well (and let’s just face the truth, sometimes it doesn’t) I’ve been with St. Andrew’s choir since the fall of 1995. In that entire time, I’ve never sung a solo. I had been asked to do so, but decided it wasn’t for me. Now there have been one, maybe two times, I’ve had to sing my tenor part alone, but everyone else was singing their part also. So that really doesn’t count.
I was asked to sing the Exultet for Easter Vigil this year. At first, when I got the e-mail, after reading it, I ignored it. Then, after a day or so, I looked at the words and listened to a recording of a real life Cantor. It was frightening to think I might actually do this. You see, it’s sung a cappella, or singing without instrumental accompaniment. And, it’s about seven minutes long. There was no way I was going to do that. Then, the call came. “Did you get the e-mail?” “Are you going to do it?” After having a week to think about it, I blurted out “YES!”
When I reflect on why I said yes, I grasp that the Holy Spirit was weaving in and around my life. Our church family was in the midst of learning about Natural Church Development (NDC). I am a contributor to the Health Team. Through a survey based on the experience of thousands of churches worldwide, we discerned that while we have a strong parish and passionate parish family, we could increase our spiritual passion. The many meetings, reflections, readings and sharing within the Health Team led me to say yes to singing the Exultant. I would say that the Holy Spirit moved me.
Was the singing of the Exultet perfect that night? Was I on pitch throughout? No. But that doesn’t really matter. I did practice singing it through the weeks leading up to the Easter Vigil, and I did my best. That is all that God asks of me, of any of us. I left it in God’s hands to work out the details.
Will I sing another solo? Funny thing about that, I already have. Again, I was nervous. Would I be able to remember the words, the notes, the timing? While discussing these fears with a close friend, she said to me, “Just hand it over to God,” which is what I did. I let go of the fear of making a mistake. And God led me through it. It’s said that God moves in mysterious ways. Actually, God moves through those who love him. He continually puts friends in my path who challenge me, who love me, who support me.
Learning about Passionate Spirituality, what it means, how it can positively affect me, has been the catalyst I needed to push the envelope of my comfort zone. Thanks be to God!
From Will Campbell:
I love to sing, making a joyful noise as it were. I sing in the car, in the shower, along with the radio; and sometimes I make up my own songs. I’ll sing Broadway Show tunes, pop, ballads, country, you name it.
If memory serves me well (and let’s just face the truth, sometimes it doesn’t) I’ve been with St. Andrew’s choir since the fall of 1995. In that entire time, I’ve never sung a solo. I had been asked to do so, but decided it wasn’t for me. Now there have been one, maybe two times, I’ve had to sing my tenor part alone, but everyone else was singing their part also. So that really doesn’t count.
I was asked to sing the Exultet for Easter Vigil this year. At first, when I got the e-mail, after reading it, I ignored it. Then, after a day or so, I looked at the words and listened to a recording of a real life Cantor. It was frightening to think I might actually do this. You see, it’s sung a cappella, or singing without instrumental accompaniment. And, it’s about seven minutes long. There was no way I was going to do that. Then, the call came. “Did you get the e-mail?” “Are you going to do it?” After having a week to think about it, I blurted out “YES!”
When I reflect on why I said yes, I grasp that the Holy Spirit was weaving in and around my life. Our church family was in the midst of learning about Natural Church Development (NDC). I am a contributor to the Health Team. Through a survey based on the experience of thousands of churches worldwide, we discerned that while we have a strong parish and passionate parish family, we could increase our spiritual passion. The many meetings, reflections, readings and sharing within the Health Team led me to say yes to singing the Exultant. I would say that the Holy Spirit moved me.
Was the singing of the Exultet perfect that night? Was I on pitch throughout? No. But that doesn’t really matter. I did practice singing it through the weeks leading up to the Easter Vigil, and I did my best. That is all that God asks of me, of any of us. I left it in God’s hands to work out the details.
Will I sing another solo? Funny thing about that, I already have. Again, I was nervous. Would I be able to remember the words, the notes, the timing? While discussing these fears with a close friend, she said to me, “Just hand it over to God,” which is what I did. I let go of the fear of making a mistake. And God led me through it. It’s said that God moves in mysterious ways. Actually, God moves through those who love him. He continually puts friends in my path who challenge me, who love me, who support me.
Learning about Passionate Spirituality, what it means, how it can positively affect me, has been the catalyst I needed to push the envelope of my comfort zone. Thanks be to God!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Pentecost Sermon
Acts 2:1-21
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-16:15
Some months ago, as we were beginning our Natural Church development process here at St. Andrews, I was trying to gain some understanding about the meaning of Passionate Spirituality. As part of the effort, I began to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. My prayer was quite simple….I would just repeat the words, “Come Passionate Spirit Come” again and again….Come Passionate Spirit Come, Come Passionate Spirit Come. Come passionate Spirit. As I prayed this simple prayer, I noticed, that these same sounds, with just a bit of a change in rythm also produced a different prayer: Compassionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come.
This morning, as we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, would you please join me in this prayer. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come………….
16 times a minute. 960 times an hour. 23040 times a day. Over 8 million times a year. In a lifetime of 80 years, over 670 million times. We breathe. Each time we breathe, we capture oxygen from the air. As we breathe, we bring energy to our cells. As we breathe out, carbon dioxide, waste gas is removed from our cells. We breathe to bring life’s good energy into our bodies. We breathe to remove poison, bad air from our bodies. When we breathe we are alive. When we stop breathing we die.
The spirit of God is described as the wind, the breath of God. In the beginning, God breathed her breath into the void, and creation was born. God breathed his spirit into Adam and Eve and they came to life. God breathed over the waters of the Sea, and the people of Israel were freed. God breathed through the prophets and the Israel heard God’s word. God breathed over Mary and Jesus was conceived. God breathed over Jesus at his baptism, and Jesus began his ministry of healing the sick, feeding the hungry, freeing the captives, and raising the dead. At his death Jesus breathed his last, and handed over his breath to God. God breathed into the tomb and raised Jesus from the death on Easter. Easter night Jeus breathed his gift of Peace over the Apostles. On Pentecost, God breathed the spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus over the followers of Jesus and sent them out to then ends of the earth.
Every time you breathe, the spirit of God comes into your body. That’s how close God is to you. Every breath you take, Gods energy fills you. 16 times a minute, 23 thousand times a day. Hundreds of million times in your life, the breath of God, the Spirit of God fills you. Every breath you take is filled with the energy of God. Every breath you take is filled with the power of God.
When we breathe, our cells are cleansed of poisonous carbon dioxide. To breaths is to be cleansed. God’s Spirit is a cleansing Spirit. What are the poisons that you need to exhale. God’s spirit sanctifies. She fills us with good air, as she removes the bad. What bad air needs to be removed: The poison of jealousy, lust, hatred, division, greed, despair, fear. As you ask for God’s life giving spirit to come. What poisons do you wish the spirit to cleanse.
What power from God do you need this day. Is it the power of courage. Is it the power of forgiveness. Is it the power of hope. Is it the power of truth. Is it the power laughter. Is it the power of wisdom. Is it the power of humor.
Pleae pray with me. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come, Compassionate Spirit Come.
In the letter to the Romans, Paul says that creation is in agony. Creation is groaning.
Floods, fires, droughts, famine, disease, earthquakes, and storms, violence and war, poverty and racism, and hatred, terrorism, countries spending billions and trillions on the latest weapons of mass destruction while thousands die each day for lack of clean water. Creation is groaning in agony. Reports this week state that climate change will kill 300,000 people annually. This number will rise in the years and decades to come. Creation is in groaning in agony, as it waits for redemption. The Spirit of God has been poured upon us to bring creation to new birth. God has given us the Spirit of Jesus, the power of Jesus to bring redemption to the world. God wants to recreate the world through us, God wants to recreate the world through you. We are the midwives of the new creation. The word compassion means, to feel with. I know absolutely no hebrew, but I am tolkd that in hebrew, the word for compassion comes from the words "to feel in the womb". To feel compassion is to feel another's pain, in our womb, in our gut. God feels the pain of the world in his womb. And, it is from the womb of God that a new world is born. God's compassionate spirit is bringing a new world to birth through you. Do you have the courage to bring that world to life. Do you have the courage toto dream God’s dream, to see God's vision of justice and peace? Do you have the courage to hope for what you cannot yet see. Do you have the courage to be God’s instrument in redeeming the world? Do you have the courage let the Spirit work through you?
Please pray with me. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. . Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come.
Most pictures of Pentecost show the tongues of fire on the disciples. Many show the Holy Spirit as a dove also hovering in the room. The dove is one of the images most of us has of the Holy Spirit. One of the images recently discovered for the Holy Spirit is that of a wild goose. Some claim that the image of the Spirit as a goose goes back to the earliest centuries of the Church. Whether or not it is centuries old or not it is still an image that has power. Wild Geese are not sweet and serene but raucous and loud. They do not fly away from the face of danger, but can be quite aggressive. They are annoying and uncontrollable. They make a mess. Wild Geese in flight are majestic.
How easily we try to tame and domesticate the power of God. We imagine God’s spirit to be gentle and soothing, someone that we can easily control. A spirit that is as passive as a gentle murmuringcooh. But the spirit of God is not always or only passive, or controllable, or quiet or gentle.
The Spirit of God can also loud, raucous and annoying. She bites at our heals to get us to move. There are times when she makes a mess of our well ordered lives and plans. As much as we would like to do so, we cannot control the Spirit of God. She blows where she wills. She howls when she wishes. There are times when she acts exactly as we wish she would not. The Spirit of God is not tame but wild.
In the midst of our worship each Sunday, we ask the Spirit to be with us. We ask her to cleanse us and gather us together. We ask her to come upon our gifts to make them body of blood of Jesus. We ask her to come upon us to renew, sanctify and unite us. We ask her to send us out into the world. As we pray for the spirit this morning, let us imagine not the gentle dove, but the wild goose. Picture that wild spirit coming upon us . Ask that spirit to make us wild and raucous. Ask that spirit to make us annoying and uncontrollable. Ask that wild spirit to blow through us. Ask that spirit to fill us with the passionate power of God.
This morning, we celebrate the Baptism of Charlie and Christopher. We aks that the Spirit be with them and us. We ask that the Spirit give us energy, we ask that she sends us into the world that the world might be recreated through us. There is no Baptismal hymn this morning, instead, I ask you to pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon the waters of this font. Ask that spirit to be unleashed through all who are baptized in the spirit. Ask that spirit to be renewed in us. Ask that spirit to be with us today and forever.
Pray, like thunder: Come Passionate Spirit. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit.
Acts 2:1-21
Romans 8:22-27
John 15:26-16:15
Some months ago, as we were beginning our Natural Church development process here at St. Andrews, I was trying to gain some understanding about the meaning of Passionate Spirituality. As part of the effort, I began to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. My prayer was quite simple….I would just repeat the words, “Come Passionate Spirit Come” again and again….Come Passionate Spirit Come, Come Passionate Spirit Come. Come passionate Spirit. As I prayed this simple prayer, I noticed, that these same sounds, with just a bit of a change in rythm also produced a different prayer: Compassionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come.
This morning, as we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, would you please join me in this prayer. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come………….
16 times a minute. 960 times an hour. 23040 times a day. Over 8 million times a year. In a lifetime of 80 years, over 670 million times. We breathe. Each time we breathe, we capture oxygen from the air. As we breathe, we bring energy to our cells. As we breathe out, carbon dioxide, waste gas is removed from our cells. We breathe to bring life’s good energy into our bodies. We breathe to remove poison, bad air from our bodies. When we breathe we are alive. When we stop breathing we die.
The spirit of God is described as the wind, the breath of God. In the beginning, God breathed her breath into the void, and creation was born. God breathed his spirit into Adam and Eve and they came to life. God breathed over the waters of the Sea, and the people of Israel were freed. God breathed through the prophets and the Israel heard God’s word. God breathed over Mary and Jesus was conceived. God breathed over Jesus at his baptism, and Jesus began his ministry of healing the sick, feeding the hungry, freeing the captives, and raising the dead. At his death Jesus breathed his last, and handed over his breath to God. God breathed into the tomb and raised Jesus from the death on Easter. Easter night Jeus breathed his gift of Peace over the Apostles. On Pentecost, God breathed the spirit of God, the Spirit of Jesus over the followers of Jesus and sent them out to then ends of the earth.
Every time you breathe, the spirit of God comes into your body. That’s how close God is to you. Every breath you take, Gods energy fills you. 16 times a minute, 23 thousand times a day. Hundreds of million times in your life, the breath of God, the Spirit of God fills you. Every breath you take is filled with the energy of God. Every breath you take is filled with the power of God.
When we breathe, our cells are cleansed of poisonous carbon dioxide. To breaths is to be cleansed. God’s Spirit is a cleansing Spirit. What are the poisons that you need to exhale. God’s spirit sanctifies. She fills us with good air, as she removes the bad. What bad air needs to be removed: The poison of jealousy, lust, hatred, division, greed, despair, fear. As you ask for God’s life giving spirit to come. What poisons do you wish the spirit to cleanse.
What power from God do you need this day. Is it the power of courage. Is it the power of forgiveness. Is it the power of hope. Is it the power of truth. Is it the power laughter. Is it the power of wisdom. Is it the power of humor.
Pleae pray with me. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come, Compassionate Spirit Come.
In the letter to the Romans, Paul says that creation is in agony. Creation is groaning.
Floods, fires, droughts, famine, disease, earthquakes, and storms, violence and war, poverty and racism, and hatred, terrorism, countries spending billions and trillions on the latest weapons of mass destruction while thousands die each day for lack of clean water. Creation is groaning in agony. Reports this week state that climate change will kill 300,000 people annually. This number will rise in the years and decades to come. Creation is in groaning in agony, as it waits for redemption. The Spirit of God has been poured upon us to bring creation to new birth. God has given us the Spirit of Jesus, the power of Jesus to bring redemption to the world. God wants to recreate the world through us, God wants to recreate the world through you. We are the midwives of the new creation. The word compassion means, to feel with. I know absolutely no hebrew, but I am tolkd that in hebrew, the word for compassion comes from the words "to feel in the womb". To feel compassion is to feel another's pain, in our womb, in our gut. God feels the pain of the world in his womb. And, it is from the womb of God that a new world is born. God's compassionate spirit is bringing a new world to birth through you. Do you have the courage to bring that world to life. Do you have the courage toto dream God’s dream, to see God's vision of justice and peace? Do you have the courage to hope for what you cannot yet see. Do you have the courage to be God’s instrument in redeeming the world? Do you have the courage let the Spirit work through you?
Please pray with me. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. . Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come.
Most pictures of Pentecost show the tongues of fire on the disciples. Many show the Holy Spirit as a dove also hovering in the room. The dove is one of the images most of us has of the Holy Spirit. One of the images recently discovered for the Holy Spirit is that of a wild goose. Some claim that the image of the Spirit as a goose goes back to the earliest centuries of the Church. Whether or not it is centuries old or not it is still an image that has power. Wild Geese are not sweet and serene but raucous and loud. They do not fly away from the face of danger, but can be quite aggressive. They are annoying and uncontrollable. They make a mess. Wild Geese in flight are majestic.
How easily we try to tame and domesticate the power of God. We imagine God’s spirit to be gentle and soothing, someone that we can easily control. A spirit that is as passive as a gentle murmuringcooh. But the spirit of God is not always or only passive, or controllable, or quiet or gentle.
The Spirit of God can also loud, raucous and annoying. She bites at our heals to get us to move. There are times when she makes a mess of our well ordered lives and plans. As much as we would like to do so, we cannot control the Spirit of God. She blows where she wills. She howls when she wishes. There are times when she acts exactly as we wish she would not. The Spirit of God is not tame but wild.
In the midst of our worship each Sunday, we ask the Spirit to be with us. We ask her to cleanse us and gather us together. We ask her to come upon our gifts to make them body of blood of Jesus. We ask her to come upon us to renew, sanctify and unite us. We ask her to send us out into the world. As we pray for the spirit this morning, let us imagine not the gentle dove, but the wild goose. Picture that wild spirit coming upon us . Ask that spirit to make us wild and raucous. Ask that spirit to make us annoying and uncontrollable. Ask that wild spirit to blow through us. Ask that spirit to fill us with the passionate power of God.
This morning, we celebrate the Baptism of Charlie and Christopher. We aks that the Spirit be with them and us. We ask that the Spirit give us energy, we ask that she sends us into the world that the world might be recreated through us. There is no Baptismal hymn this morning, instead, I ask you to pray that the Holy Spirit will come upon the waters of this font. Ask that spirit to be unleashed through all who are baptized in the spirit. Ask that spirit to be renewed in us. Ask that spirit to be with us today and forever.
Pray, like thunder: Come Passionate Spirit. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit Come. Compassionate Spirit Come. Come Passionate Spirit.
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