How do we read the signs of the times today? If we pay attention to newspaper headlines and stay up to date with current events, our times can seem absolutely apocalyptic. Hurricane Sandy causes billions of dollars destroying much of our east coast. Violence abounds not only in Syria, Israel, Palestine, and Afghanistan, but also in Topeka where headlines steadily remind us of shootings, burglaries, and physical abuse. We seem determined to violate our environment as the polar ice cap melts faster than ever; our climate continues to warm; and we foul our air and water.
It's amazing how Gospel writer Luke seems to echo similar signs of doom and judgment in Luke 21: 25-36: "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves..." (NRSV v 25) Yet Luke points us toward the second coming of Christ with an urgency that we prepare ourselves: "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping." (Eugene Peterson, "The Message" Lk 21: 34)
Parties/drinking/shopping - isn't this a large part of how we prepare ourselves for Christmas as we await the birth of the Christ child? Luke counsels us that whether we are preparing for the birth of Baby Jesus or for the second coming of Christ, we must not let our hearts be weighed down. Trinity's Advent sermon series will build on this theme of preparing ourselves: our hearts, our minds, our homes, and our spirits.
To prepare our hearts, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 counsels us to "strengthen our hearts in holiness" (v 13a). Our holiness is not an accomplishment to add to our "to do" lists, but a measure of our relationship to Jesus and our relationship to others in the name of Jesus. So, preparing our hearts during this season of Advent is opening our hearts to Jesus in daily prayer and opening our hearts to others by serving them with love. Our hearts are strengthened in holiness as we re-align our hearts with the priorities of Jesus.
May we all be attuned to the signs of the times that twinkle in our hearts as well as in the brightly lit streets and homes of December.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Christ the Unlikely King
When you hear the word ‘king’ or ‘kingdom’ what do you think
of? Do you stay biblical because a pastor is writing this and think of King
Saul/David/Solomon? King Herod? Do you travel into mythology and think of King
Arthur or King Midas? Or into fiction and think of all the competing Kings & Queens in Game
of Thrones, the Lion King, the King of Siam and his relationship with Anna? Or
do you think of historical kings like King Henry VIII or King George? Or maybe as a sports fan, King James or Jerry Lawler the King come to mind?
A claim to kingship is present in the Scripture readings today: John 18:33-37 and Psalm 93.
We certainly don't tend to think of current kings; we usually don't tend to think of ourselves as being part of a kingdom, submitting and obedient to a king. And yet Jesus' response to Pilate's accusation should strike us to the core. Just when we are thinking we are free to do what we want when we want, Jesus' words draw us back in to remind us just who and what we belong to.
In our country where we have rejected the tyranny of kingship, it's even more important to reclaim that word 'king' by naming Jesus Christ our unlikely king - a king who shares power by empowering others to do the work of the kingdom. In a world where kingdom brings up images of abuse and oppression, it's even more important to reclaim 'kingdom' by describing the kingdom of God - one of equality, of inclusivity, of radical hospitality, where no one is hungry or thirsty or naked or lonely or without a family.
As we reflect on Christ the King in the midst of Thanksgiving week, let us give thanks to Christ our King, for choosing us to belong to the kingdom of God - for choosing us to be sisters and brothers - for choosing us to share His inheritance - for choosing us to work to make this kingdom a reality. Let us give thanks that it is not up to us - that we have a redeemer King.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Kate
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Our Living, Lasting, Loving Legacy
How can a Hebrew Bible story of Mother-to-be, Hannah, (who promises to give back her child to serve God in the Temple if only God will grant her the joy of becoming pregnant after so many fruitless years of being barren) have any relevance to our lives today? No mother I've ever encountered weaned her child and then took him to the priest to live in the church. There must be something more to the story of 1 Samuel 1: 4-20
The bigger context of this story is that the tribes of Israel (until now loosely confederated) are moving into a time of becoming a kingdom. Born to Hannah in response to her pleading and praying to God for a child, Samuel grows to become the powerful priest who select King Saul and begins the transition to an Israel united under the King David dynasty that genealogically results in the birth of Jesus many many generations later.
All Hannah has to do is to keep her vow to God and give back her precious son to God! As disciples of Jesus, we too are called to give back to God - something perhaps as precious as our children. In response to God's gifts of blessings and shalom, we respond with gratitude by offering our time to serve, our talents to witness the love of Christ for us, and our resources for the benefit of the kingdom, which is being established here and now. In giving back, we continue a living, loving, lasting legacy of Christian faith which is our privilege and our thanksgiving.
The bigger context of this story is that the tribes of Israel (until now loosely confederated) are moving into a time of becoming a kingdom. Born to Hannah in response to her pleading and praying to God for a child, Samuel grows to become the powerful priest who select King Saul and begins the transition to an Israel united under the King David dynasty that genealogically results in the birth of Jesus many many generations later.
All Hannah has to do is to keep her vow to God and give back her precious son to God! As disciples of Jesus, we too are called to give back to God - something perhaps as precious as our children. In response to God's gifts of blessings and shalom, we respond with gratitude by offering our time to serve, our talents to witness the love of Christ for us, and our resources for the benefit of the kingdom, which is being established here and now. In giving back, we continue a living, loving, lasting legacy of Christian faith which is our privilege and our thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
The Tale of Four Women
Ruth and Naomi - Carmen and Ana: 4 women miles and years apart, yet similar in some important ways
Ruth (from Moab a bitter enemy to Israel) and Naomi (Ruth's mother in law and native of Israel)- both part of Jesus' ancestry - lost their husbands to death and were widows at a time when survival depended on male family protection (Ruth 1: 1-18). Deciding to return to Bethlehem, Naomi urges Ruth to remain in her own country of Moab to better her chances of finding a husband to care for her. Instead, in lines famous for their poignant loyalty, Ruth declares to Naomi: "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." (Ruth 1: 16)
Ruth and Naomi's story is one of possibilities that emerge when we dare to live beyond the walls that might define us and confine us. As foreigner, stranger, lowly woman, and widow, Ruth dares to risk herself in faithful loyalty to Naomi and commit herself to Naomi's God - our God who is the God of ALL people. The story concludes with Ruth marrying Boaz and giving birth to Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David - whose lineage led to the birth of Jesus. This is a story of "hesed" - steadfast, loving kindness that won't be restricted by either religious or ethnic boundaries.
Carmen and Ana live in 21st century El Salvador - a country torn apart by 12 years of civil war from 1980 - 1992. Carmen and Ana's devotion and loyalty is to the families of Los Talpetates, El Salvador. While I know little of their personal history, they both live out "hesed" - steadfast loving kindness - in their call as El Salvadoran "sisters". Carmen is a leader in the community and is a counselor in the primary school. Ana teaches computer to the K-9th graders at school. Carmen has provided stability, direction, vision, and principled decision making as the Talpetates community re-invented itself after the devastation of war. Working with other leaders in the community, Carmen and the others set goals of education for the children and medical care for the families. Ana represents a standard of computer literacy for the children, preparing them for high school - a standard that could hardly be dreamed possible 10 years ago.
Carmen and Ana are 2 women whom God uses to turn death and dislocation into new life. Instead of dwelling in a post-war plight of suffering, loss, hardship and pain or choosing flight to the city or to another country, Carmen and Ana act in ways that allow God to strengthen the community against oppression and poverty.
Four women - centuries and countries apart - who turn the tide of history through their struggles and their faithfulness.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
Ruth (from Moab a bitter enemy to Israel) and Naomi (Ruth's mother in law and native of Israel)- both part of Jesus' ancestry - lost their husbands to death and were widows at a time when survival depended on male family protection (Ruth 1: 1-18). Deciding to return to Bethlehem, Naomi urges Ruth to remain in her own country of Moab to better her chances of finding a husband to care for her. Instead, in lines famous for their poignant loyalty, Ruth declares to Naomi: "Do not press me to leave you or to turn back from following you! where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God." (Ruth 1: 16)
Ruth and Naomi's story is one of possibilities that emerge when we dare to live beyond the walls that might define us and confine us. As foreigner, stranger, lowly woman, and widow, Ruth dares to risk herself in faithful loyalty to Naomi and commit herself to Naomi's God - our God who is the God of ALL people. The story concludes with Ruth marrying Boaz and giving birth to Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of King David - whose lineage led to the birth of Jesus. This is a story of "hesed" - steadfast, loving kindness that won't be restricted by either religious or ethnic boundaries.
Carmen and Ana live in 21st century El Salvador - a country torn apart by 12 years of civil war from 1980 - 1992. Carmen and Ana's devotion and loyalty is to the families of Los Talpetates, El Salvador. While I know little of their personal history, they both live out "hesed" - steadfast loving kindness - in their call as El Salvadoran "sisters". Carmen is a leader in the community and is a counselor in the primary school. Ana teaches computer to the K-9th graders at school. Carmen has provided stability, direction, vision, and principled decision making as the Talpetates community re-invented itself after the devastation of war. Working with other leaders in the community, Carmen and the others set goals of education for the children and medical care for the families. Ana represents a standard of computer literacy for the children, preparing them for high school - a standard that could hardly be dreamed possible 10 years ago.
Carmen and Ana are 2 women whom God uses to turn death and dislocation into new life. Instead of dwelling in a post-war plight of suffering, loss, hardship and pain or choosing flight to the city or to another country, Carmen and Ana act in ways that allow God to strengthen the community against oppression and poverty.
Four women - centuries and countries apart - who turn the tide of history through their struggles and their faithfulness.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Shelley
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