And I shall clothe myself in your eternal will,
And by this light I shall come to know that you, eternal Trinity,
Are table, and food, and waiter for us.
You, eternal Father, are the table that offers us as food
The Lamb, your only-begotten Son.
He is the most exquisite of foods for us,
Both in his teaching, which nourishes us in your will
And in the sacrament that we receive in Holy Communion,
Which feeds and strengthens us while we are pilgrim travelers in this life.
And the Holy Spirit is indeed a waiter for us,
For the Spirit serves us this teaching by enlightening our mind’s eye with it
And inspiring us to follow it.
And the Spirit serves us charity for our neighbors and hunger to have as our food.
Catherine of Siena (14th c)
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
Tuesday Chapel at Austin Presbyterian Seminary is when the community gathers to celebrate Communion. The professor who preaches usually presides at Table. One Tuesday during my senior year, I was sitting in the balcony of the chapel for worship. I had many things that needed to be done, but I wanted to hear that particular professor preach. I was going to leave after the sermon, but for some reason I stayed.
As I fell into the back of one of the lines, my mind was filled with thoughts of how much further behind I was getting with what needed to be done that day. I stepped forward to receive the elements and as I did I lifted my gaze from the floor to meet the eyes of my professor. As our eyes met, I felt the bread being pressed into my hand and the weight of her hand as well, but the eyes that I was gazing into were actually the eyes of Christ looking into my very soul.
As she spoke the words I have heard and have spoken hundreds of times before “The body of Christ broken for you” I had the sense that it was no longer my friend serving me, but Christ. I felt the impact of those words more profoundly than ever before. I encountered the risen Christ that day while being fed at the Table. It was an encounter that would not have happened had I not stayed.
I was reminded of this encounter on Sunday as we celebrated World Communion Sunday and we shared in the Lord’s Supper with Christians around the world and were re-membered into the Body of Christ. Being a part of the Body of Christ, we are called into relationship with one another to bring about the Kingdom here on earth. We are called to remember our relationship to God, others and the world as we have been talking about this fall.
As I read the words of Catherine of Sienna and as I listened to Dr. Cynthia Rigby lecture on the Trinity recently, I was reminded that we worship and serve a relational God. The Triune God is intimately related one to another. Theologian Elizabeth Johnson describes the relationship as a triple helix, three separate strands that are woven together. And just as intimately as the Godhead is related to each other, the Triune God is also intimately relational to us.
This is the God who created both male and female in God’s image, the God who became human and walked among the people, the God who gifted the apostles with the ability to speak in other languages and spread the Good News to all the world. This is the God who still acts in the world today and interacts with us. God has reached out to us,, it is our time, by the grace of God, to respond.
Everyone leads busy lives, but we make time for that which is important to us. I challenge you to look at your relationships. How are you connected to God? How are you connected to others in the Body of Christ? How are you connected to the world? Relationships only happen when we are present. How can you be present and grow in your relationships this fall? We are pilgrim travelers in this life, may we meet at the Table to be nourished and walk the road together as we seek to deepen our relationship with God, others and the world.
Grace, mercy, and peace,
Karen
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Friday, October 02, 2009
Weekly Word from August 27th
Forgot to post this...
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
As we seek to grow Christ’s church deep and wide, we are starting the fall by talking about connection. How are we connected to God, to others and to the world? In claiming the name Christian, we worship and serve a God who lives in community. We can connect to the Triune God as God has reached out to us first and through Jesus Christ has invited us into the life of the Trinity. We do this through worship, through study, whether in groups or personal, and through our relationships with others.
Our connection to others brings us closer to God as we are greeting by the God in them. As we connect with others we also become more the body of Christ. We come together bringing our gifts to serve together. As we have opportunities to gather together over meals, during fellowship events, and even in meetings which can deepen our ties one to another. As we get to know one another, we find that we have people to turn to in times of need and in times of great joy.
The deeper we are connected to both God and others our faith naturally draws us to serve the world around us. We are met in our need and we respond by meeting others in theirs. We sense God calling us to take care of the widow, the orphan, the homeless, and the hungry. We bring a piece of the Kingdom of God into our midst.
How are you working to deepen connections with God, others and the world? Do you come to worship regularly? Are you coming to Sunday school or other study weekly and spending time with God everyday? Have you been to a fellowship or small group lately? Have you gotten to know the people you go to church with on a deeper level than their names? Are you looking for ways to serve the world and letting your faith reach out to the world?
There are opportunities to do all this things at Westminster. Worship, Sunday school, Theology on Tap, P3 playdates, youth fellowship, IHN, contributing to Manos de Christo, and the list could go on. As we start the fall, I urge everyone to seek deeper connections to God, to others and to the world.
Grace, Mercy and Peace,
Karen
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
As we seek to grow Christ’s church deep and wide, we are starting the fall by talking about connection. How are we connected to God, to others and to the world? In claiming the name Christian, we worship and serve a God who lives in community. We can connect to the Triune God as God has reached out to us first and through Jesus Christ has invited us into the life of the Trinity. We do this through worship, through study, whether in groups or personal, and through our relationships with others.
Our connection to others brings us closer to God as we are greeting by the God in them. As we connect with others we also become more the body of Christ. We come together bringing our gifts to serve together. As we have opportunities to gather together over meals, during fellowship events, and even in meetings which can deepen our ties one to another. As we get to know one another, we find that we have people to turn to in times of need and in times of great joy.
The deeper we are connected to both God and others our faith naturally draws us to serve the world around us. We are met in our need and we respond by meeting others in theirs. We sense God calling us to take care of the widow, the orphan, the homeless, and the hungry. We bring a piece of the Kingdom of God into our midst.
How are you working to deepen connections with God, others and the world? Do you come to worship regularly? Are you coming to Sunday school or other study weekly and spending time with God everyday? Have you been to a fellowship or small group lately? Have you gotten to know the people you go to church with on a deeper level than their names? Are you looking for ways to serve the world and letting your faith reach out to the world?
There are opportunities to do all this things at Westminster. Worship, Sunday school, Theology on Tap, P3 playdates, youth fellowship, IHN, contributing to Manos de Christo, and the list could go on. As we start the fall, I urge everyone to seek deeper connections to God, to others and to the world.
Grace, Mercy and Peace,
Karen
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Sermon July 19th - The Promises of God
This is the manuscript version of my July 19th sermon at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Austin, TX. I know for a fact that I did not stick to the manuscript the whole time.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-16 - God's Covenant with David
In the 2009 movie “Up” we follow Carl Fredrickson in his adventure. If you have seen the movie or even the movie poster or trailer, you have see the house floating underneath thousands of balloons. His adventure is about following a dream his wife had a young child, to live at Paradise Falls. So after her death, he takes the house with him and floats off on his adventure. When he arrives in South America, he doesn’t land where he wanted, so he carries his house, which is still supported by balloons, attached to him by a garden hose, in an effort to place the house in just the right spot. He is tied to his house not only by the garden hose, but by the memories in the house of his wife.
Buildings signify presence and give a sense of stability. Building a house sends the message that people intend to occupy that land for a length of time, the builders intend to stay put. Since 1948, there has been a building at this site bearing the name Westminster Presbyterian Church. In the 1950’s fellowship hall and the education building were added to the campus. Later the parking lot and the Annex became part of what we call Westminster. Over the past year, we have watched as the old fellowship hall was torn down and another was built in its place. We have a new addition to our house. We are planted in this place.
In our text this morning we find the Israelites planted along with their king. David, given the gift of a new luxurious palace, is settled in and as he looks around his house, he decides that God needs a house as well. David says this to the prophet Nathan. Nathan tells him to go ahead with his plan. David doesn’t ask for God’s help, but makes plans on his own. At one level, David’s decision to build a house, in this case a temple, for God can be seen as a gesture to provide for God as God has provided for him, but underneath it all, David’s decision to build the temple is political and theological.
David has brought the people from tribal associations to a united kingdom, a people governed by judges who are now ruled by a monarch. There have been many battles along the way as the kingdom has been established. This has been a time of upheaval as the people enter a new way of understanding themselves and of understanding God. God has been with David as he battled many enemies and David is looking to legitimize his rule. One of the ways to do this in the ancient near east was to construct a temple, a house that represented the divine presence with the king. A temple would give David the authority of God.
The temple would also ensure that God would stay with David and with the people. As Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt, the ark was carried in front of the people. God tented with the people and moved with them as they moved. The ark was carried into battle as God went with them. David moved the ark into Jerusalem, signifying that God was in Jerusalem. David’s decision to build a temple meant he would have God in a box, contained, controlled. But God has other ideas.
Speaking through the prophet Nathan, God sends a message to his servant David reminding David that God has always moved among God’s people and in the past has never asked for a house of cedar and that David will not be the one to build it either. God reminds David that God called him from the pasture to be the king; that God has been with him; and that God has cut off all his enemies. God has been faithful to David in the past and to show God’s continuing faithfulness God agrees to make David’s kingship legitimate but in God’s way. David will not build God a house, a temple, instead, God with build David a house. Not a house of brick or wood, but a dynasty.
God will not be contained nor controlled, but God promises that God will ever be with David and David’s descendants. David’s throne will be established forever. With this promise a new covenant has been formed. While in the wilderness God established a covenant with Moses on Mount Sinai. Written as a treaty , God promised to be with the people if they were obedient. The people were to follow the commandments given to Moses if they wanted God to remain with them. This covenant is what had defined the Israelites; it is why it was important for David to have the ark in Jerusalem, why it was important for David to find a way to ensure God’s presence.
The “if” of the Mosaic covenant has defined how the people understood God. They saw with Saul losing God’s favor what happened if one was disobedient. However, as the people were shifting from tribal to centralized government, from judges to a monarchy, God provides a new promise and a new relationship. God still wants obedience, but the if is no longer part of the equation.
In the new promise made in our text this morning God says “I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me.: There is relationship. “when he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings.” Obedience is required and if not there are consequences. “but I will not take my steadfast love from him as I took it from Saul.” Steadfast love is how the word hesed has been translated. A Hebrew word with no true English equivalent. Steadfast love, mercy, kindness, goodness, everlasting love, unconditional love. God declares that God will always love and will always be present with David’s house. This promise brings hope. Hope in God’s faithfulness. Hope in God’s righting of the world. Hope for the future, hope for a messiah.
Today, Christians recognize this hope in Jesus Christ. This text, often used during Advent reminds us that Jesus is born of the house and lineage of David. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants with Abraham, Moses and David and we have been made heirs to these promises. We have been brought into the kingdom. There are no longer to be insiders and outsiders. We are all equal and have the same access to God. As we heard read in Ephesians, God is building a home. It’s foundations are the prophets and the apostles and Christ is the cornerstone. We are being fashioned into the bricks to build a temple in which God is at home.
Last summer we watched as the old fellowship hall was demolished. The squeals, squeaks and clunks of the machine that would tear it apart. The cracking of the timbers. We had said good bye to the old space. Messages on the wall including “I hope there will always be mac and cheese for the kids.” The messages adorning the walls, spoke of a home. A place were memories had been made, a place where friends gathered and where God moved. The land was cleared and it was time to begin to build.
The space was prepared and the foundation poured. Careful watch was kept to ensure that it cured would provide the foundation needed for our new building. Over the months steel beams went up, the walls went up, the roof went on. As the building began to take shape, I think many of us wondered what it would be like. I remember the first time I went into the nearly completed space. It felt large and empty, hollow. It was the new part of our house. But now, as we have celebrated together and we have begun to make it our own, it feels more and more like home. The space will be filled with new memories and more importantly, the space will be filled with love.
Love makes the difference between a house and a home. God did not want a house. God did not want to be contained in a physical structure. If God did not want to be contained then, should we contain God in our physical structure now? God has promised God’s steadfast love, God will be faithful, so may we find ways to transcend the physical space of 3208 Exposition Blvd and take the love of God and the hope we find in the promise made to David out into the world around us.
Israel had a new page, a new way to understand God as they are given a new covenant. We have been given a new page here as well. Will we choose to be a fort and hunker down inside the walls of the physical space, or will we choose for this to be a home. A place where God’s unconditional love transcends the brick, stone and wood, a place were we welcome the world in and where we are refreshed to go out into the world.
Scripture: 2 Samuel 7:1-16 - God's Covenant with David
In the 2009 movie “Up” we follow Carl Fredrickson in his adventure. If you have seen the movie or even the movie poster or trailer, you have see the house floating underneath thousands of balloons. His adventure is about following a dream his wife had a young child, to live at Paradise Falls. So after her death, he takes the house with him and floats off on his adventure. When he arrives in South America, he doesn’t land where he wanted, so he carries his house, which is still supported by balloons, attached to him by a garden hose, in an effort to place the house in just the right spot. He is tied to his house not only by the garden hose, but by the memories in the house of his wife.
Buildings signify presence and give a sense of stability. Building a house sends the message that people intend to occupy that land for a length of time, the builders intend to stay put. Since 1948, there has been a building at this site bearing the name Westminster Presbyterian Church. In the 1950’s fellowship hall and the education building were added to the campus. Later the parking lot and the Annex became part of what we call Westminster. Over the past year, we have watched as the old fellowship hall was torn down and another was built in its place. We have a new addition to our house. We are planted in this place.
In our text this morning we find the Israelites planted along with their king. David, given the gift of a new luxurious palace, is settled in and as he looks around his house, he decides that God needs a house as well. David says this to the prophet Nathan. Nathan tells him to go ahead with his plan. David doesn’t ask for God’s help, but makes plans on his own. At one level, David’s decision to build a house, in this case a temple, for God can be seen as a gesture to provide for God as God has provided for him, but underneath it all, David’s decision to build the temple is political and theological.
David has brought the people from tribal associations to a united kingdom, a people governed by judges who are now ruled by a monarch. There have been many battles along the way as the kingdom has been established. This has been a time of upheaval as the people enter a new way of understanding themselves and of understanding God. God has been with David as he battled many enemies and David is looking to legitimize his rule. One of the ways to do this in the ancient near east was to construct a temple, a house that represented the divine presence with the king. A temple would give David the authority of God.
The temple would also ensure that God would stay with David and with the people. As Moses brought the Israelites out of Egypt, the ark was carried in front of the people. God tented with the people and moved with them as they moved. The ark was carried into battle as God went with them. David moved the ark into Jerusalem, signifying that God was in Jerusalem. David’s decision to build a temple meant he would have God in a box, contained, controlled. But God has other ideas.
Speaking through the prophet Nathan, God sends a message to his servant David reminding David that God has always moved among God’s people and in the past has never asked for a house of cedar and that David will not be the one to build it either. God reminds David that God called him from the pasture to be the king; that God has been with him; and that God has cut off all his enemies. God has been faithful to David in the past and to show God’s continuing faithfulness God agrees to make David’s kingship legitimate but in God’s way. David will not build God a house, a temple, instead, God with build David a house. Not a house of brick or wood, but a dynasty.
God will not be contained nor controlled, but God promises that God will ever be with David and David’s descendants. David’s throne will be established forever. With this promise a new covenant has been formed. While in the wilderness God established a covenant with Moses on Mount Sinai. Written as a treaty , God promised to be with the people if they were obedient. The people were to follow the commandments given to Moses if they wanted God to remain with them. This covenant is what had defined the Israelites; it is why it was important for David to have the ark in Jerusalem, why it was important for David to find a way to ensure God’s presence.
The “if” of the Mosaic covenant has defined how the people understood God. They saw with Saul losing God’s favor what happened if one was disobedient. However, as the people were shifting from tribal to centralized government, from judges to a monarchy, God provides a new promise and a new relationship. God still wants obedience, but the if is no longer part of the equation.
In the new promise made in our text this morning God says “I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me.: There is relationship. “when he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings.” Obedience is required and if not there are consequences. “but I will not take my steadfast love from him as I took it from Saul.” Steadfast love is how the word hesed has been translated. A Hebrew word with no true English equivalent. Steadfast love, mercy, kindness, goodness, everlasting love, unconditional love. God declares that God will always love and will always be present with David’s house. This promise brings hope. Hope in God’s faithfulness. Hope in God’s righting of the world. Hope for the future, hope for a messiah.
Today, Christians recognize this hope in Jesus Christ. This text, often used during Advent reminds us that Jesus is born of the house and lineage of David. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Old Testament covenants with Abraham, Moses and David and we have been made heirs to these promises. We have been brought into the kingdom. There are no longer to be insiders and outsiders. We are all equal and have the same access to God. As we heard read in Ephesians, God is building a home. It’s foundations are the prophets and the apostles and Christ is the cornerstone. We are being fashioned into the bricks to build a temple in which God is at home.
Last summer we watched as the old fellowship hall was demolished. The squeals, squeaks and clunks of the machine that would tear it apart. The cracking of the timbers. We had said good bye to the old space. Messages on the wall including “I hope there will always be mac and cheese for the kids.” The messages adorning the walls, spoke of a home. A place were memories had been made, a place where friends gathered and where God moved. The land was cleared and it was time to begin to build.
The space was prepared and the foundation poured. Careful watch was kept to ensure that it cured would provide the foundation needed for our new building. Over the months steel beams went up, the walls went up, the roof went on. As the building began to take shape, I think many of us wondered what it would be like. I remember the first time I went into the nearly completed space. It felt large and empty, hollow. It was the new part of our house. But now, as we have celebrated together and we have begun to make it our own, it feels more and more like home. The space will be filled with new memories and more importantly, the space will be filled with love.
Love makes the difference between a house and a home. God did not want a house. God did not want to be contained in a physical structure. If God did not want to be contained then, should we contain God in our physical structure now? God has promised God’s steadfast love, God will be faithful, so may we find ways to transcend the physical space of 3208 Exposition Blvd and take the love of God and the hope we find in the promise made to David out into the world around us.
Israel had a new page, a new way to understand God as they are given a new covenant. We have been given a new page here as well. Will we choose to be a fort and hunker down inside the walls of the physical space, or will we choose for this to be a home. A place where God’s unconditional love transcends the brick, stone and wood, a place were we welcome the world in and where we are refreshed to go out into the world.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Calvin's Definition of Faith
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
This past Sunday we, along with reformed Christians around the world, celebrated the 500th birthday of John Calvin. In the weeks leading up to the celebration, I found myself pulling out books and notes on Calvin, most from my days in seminary. One of my memories of learning about Calvin is the first seminary quiz I took, writing Calvin’s definition of faith from memory for Systematic Theology I with Dr. Cynthia Rigby.
Found in Book 3 of the Institutes of the Christian Religion (3.2.7 to be exact), Calvin’s definition of faith is this: “Faith is a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us, founded upon the truth of the freely-given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” So what does it mean?
It means that faith is a gift of God and it is nothing we can achieve by our own work or study. Faith is beyond simple comprehension, it is our assurance of God’s steadfast love for us as we experience the mercy and compassion of God in the depths of pain and the heights of joy. It is our growing confidence that although we have never been promised great riches or all that we could want, as the prosperity preachers would lead us to believe, God is always with us.
Through Scripture as illumined by the Holy Spirit, we come to know Christ Jesus. We are assured of salvation because of God’s overflowing love that meets us in the manger every Christmas and on the cross every Easter. We know this both in our mind, for our intellect is a gift from God, and in our hearts, the very core of who we have been created to be. Just as the Spirit gives us the gift of faith, it also leads us to increase our faith as we desire to learn more of God, more will be revealed.
I encourage everyone to spend time thinking about faith and your own journey. How did you come to faith? Have you known it all your life or was it an epiphany? When did you first truly know that you were loved by God? How has your faith shaped your life? What in your life is shaping your faith? Spend time in prayer, spend time in study. Pray for illumination and spend time with God that your faith may be firm and certain.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
This past Sunday we, along with reformed Christians around the world, celebrated the 500th birthday of John Calvin. In the weeks leading up to the celebration, I found myself pulling out books and notes on Calvin, most from my days in seminary. One of my memories of learning about Calvin is the first seminary quiz I took, writing Calvin’s definition of faith from memory for Systematic Theology I with Dr. Cynthia Rigby.
Found in Book 3 of the Institutes of the Christian Religion (3.2.7 to be exact), Calvin’s definition of faith is this: “Faith is a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence towards us, founded upon the truth of the freely-given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” So what does it mean?
It means that faith is a gift of God and it is nothing we can achieve by our own work or study. Faith is beyond simple comprehension, it is our assurance of God’s steadfast love for us as we experience the mercy and compassion of God in the depths of pain and the heights of joy. It is our growing confidence that although we have never been promised great riches or all that we could want, as the prosperity preachers would lead us to believe, God is always with us.
Through Scripture as illumined by the Holy Spirit, we come to know Christ Jesus. We are assured of salvation because of God’s overflowing love that meets us in the manger every Christmas and on the cross every Easter. We know this both in our mind, for our intellect is a gift from God, and in our hearts, the very core of who we have been created to be. Just as the Spirit gives us the gift of faith, it also leads us to increase our faith as we desire to learn more of God, more will be revealed.
I encourage everyone to spend time thinking about faith and your own journey. How did you come to faith? Have you known it all your life or was it an epiphany? When did you first truly know that you were loved by God? How has your faith shaped your life? What in your life is shaping your faith? Spend time in prayer, spend time in study. Pray for illumination and spend time with God that your faith may be firm and certain.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
Monday, June 01, 2009
The importance of gathering
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way,
This past Sunday we heard the story at the beginning of Acts 2, the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given when the community of believers was gathered together. If we had continued in the story, we would have read Peter’s sermon and the baptism of 3,000 people that day. After the people had been baptized, we learn that the people “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers” (v 42).
Sunday night we had that same opportunity as we gathered to celebrate in our new fellowship hall. We gathered over a meal and enjoyed a time of fellowship and worship. Our new space will hopefully see this repeated with great frequency in the months and years to come.
God can do great things in our midst, particularly when we gather as the Body of Christ. As we gather for worship or for fellowship, we are made more complete as more people gather together. We all have unique gifts and callings and the presence of each one is important.
As we enter the summer, people will begin to travel. When your travels take you away from Austin, find a local congregation to worship with where ever you may be. When you are in town, come and gather with us at Westminster. Even when you you may not feel like coming, your presence may be the very thing that uplifts another believer. Remember that you are important and you are needed. Come and join with the Body of Christ on Sunday mornings and let the Spirit move you!
Grace, mercy and Peace,
Karen
This past Sunday we heard the story at the beginning of Acts 2, the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given when the community of believers was gathered together. If we had continued in the story, we would have read Peter’s sermon and the baptism of 3,000 people that day. After the people had been baptized, we learn that the people “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, the breaking of bread and the prayers” (v 42).
Sunday night we had that same opportunity as we gathered to celebrate in our new fellowship hall. We gathered over a meal and enjoyed a time of fellowship and worship. Our new space will hopefully see this repeated with great frequency in the months and years to come.
God can do great things in our midst, particularly when we gather as the Body of Christ. As we gather for worship or for fellowship, we are made more complete as more people gather together. We all have unique gifts and callings and the presence of each one is important.
As we enter the summer, people will begin to travel. When your travels take you away from Austin, find a local congregation to worship with where ever you may be. When you are in town, come and gather with us at Westminster. Even when you you may not feel like coming, your presence may be the very thing that uplifts another believer. Remember that you are important and you are needed. Come and join with the Body of Christ on Sunday mornings and let the Spirit move you!
Grace, mercy and Peace,
Karen
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Baptismal Promises
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way,
I love rain. I particularly love to splash in puddles. One evening while in seminary, one of my friends and I went out and played in the puddles after we were finished with class for the day. Fellow students and some professors looked at us rather quizzically as we were absorbed in splashing each other. At one point in our puddle-stomping fun my friend yelled, “Remember your baptism!” This yell was followed by a wave of water that was kicked my way.
A few weeks ago we joined together for the Easter Vigil, we celebrated a remembrance of baptism during the service. It is a time to remember that we have gone under the waters and have been buried with Christ and to remember that we have been raised to new life in Christ as well. As we celebrate and remember our own baptism let us also remember the promises that we have made as others have been baptized as well.
All of the children and youth who have been baptized have been given the promise that people would nurture them, teach them, and be the body of Christ to them. This Sunday, the youth will lead us in worship and we can celebrate with them the nurture and care they have received to this point in their journey of faith. In the coming weeks the Session will hear statements of faith from the confirmands, and we will welcome them as new members of Westminster.
Many of you have contributed to the spiritual lives of these young people. Know that as a family of faith, what we say and do impacts our children. I encourage everyone to find ways to nurture the children and youth of the church. Teach Sunday school, help with youth group, sing with the children, offer your gifts and talents in other ways with them, and even something as simple as greeting them and welcoming them when you see them. One of the great joys of being a part of a family of faith is to witness milestones and celebrate them together. How can you follow through on promises you have made at the baptism of our children and youth in the coming days and weeks as we celebrate with them?
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
I love rain. I particularly love to splash in puddles. One evening while in seminary, one of my friends and I went out and played in the puddles after we were finished with class for the day. Fellow students and some professors looked at us rather quizzically as we were absorbed in splashing each other. At one point in our puddle-stomping fun my friend yelled, “Remember your baptism!” This yell was followed by a wave of water that was kicked my way.
A few weeks ago we joined together for the Easter Vigil, we celebrated a remembrance of baptism during the service. It is a time to remember that we have gone under the waters and have been buried with Christ and to remember that we have been raised to new life in Christ as well. As we celebrate and remember our own baptism let us also remember the promises that we have made as others have been baptized as well.
All of the children and youth who have been baptized have been given the promise that people would nurture them, teach them, and be the body of Christ to them. This Sunday, the youth will lead us in worship and we can celebrate with them the nurture and care they have received to this point in their journey of faith. In the coming weeks the Session will hear statements of faith from the confirmands, and we will welcome them as new members of Westminster.
Many of you have contributed to the spiritual lives of these young people. Know that as a family of faith, what we say and do impacts our children. I encourage everyone to find ways to nurture the children and youth of the church. Teach Sunday school, help with youth group, sing with the children, offer your gifts and talents in other ways with them, and even something as simple as greeting them and welcoming them when you see them. One of the great joys of being a part of a family of faith is to witness milestones and celebrate them together. How can you follow through on promises you have made at the baptism of our children and youth in the coming days and weeks as we celebrate with them?
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Volunteer or Disciple
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
After Kathy’s sermon on Sunday, I have been pondering the difference between volunteers and disciples. As I have read the various call stories of the disciples, they were all hand picked by Jesus and they made radical shifts in life letting go of an old life to follow Jesus. They didn’t volunteer to be a follower of Jesus, they were chosen.
If they had volunteered, they would have always had a choice. As a volunteer you choose the organization and how deeply involved you want to be. How much money and time will you commit? What is your level of commitment? The other element of volunteering is that you always have a way out. You can choose not to help just as easily as you can choose to help.
Discipleship doesn’t give you that easy way out. You have been chosen, it was not your initiative to be involved. We have been called to a lifelong relationship with God and with our fellow disciples. It is a life that is to be shared without reservation, a life of giving ourselves up for others. We have to learn to be dependent not on ourselves but on God.
Just as Jesus served the disciples, he told them that they had to learn to be the servants of others. He commanded them to love one another just as he had loved them. He drew them in to a new way of being and we too are called to a new way of being. As Jesus calls to the crowd and to the disciples to “take up their cross and follow” and he calls to us as well.
I agree with Kathy that the church is a group of disciples and not volunteers. We have been hand picked; we don’t have a way out. And when you have no way out, you need to go in further. I leave you with part of the lyrics from Garth Brooks The River
Too many times we stand aside, and let the waters slip away
‘til what we put off ‘til tomorrow has now become today
So don’t you sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.
As we continue this journey through Lent, I invite you to look for ways to go in further and deeper. You are a disciple and not a volunteer, take up your cross and follow Jesus.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
After Kathy’s sermon on Sunday, I have been pondering the difference between volunteers and disciples. As I have read the various call stories of the disciples, they were all hand picked by Jesus and they made radical shifts in life letting go of an old life to follow Jesus. They didn’t volunteer to be a follower of Jesus, they were chosen.
If they had volunteered, they would have always had a choice. As a volunteer you choose the organization and how deeply involved you want to be. How much money and time will you commit? What is your level of commitment? The other element of volunteering is that you always have a way out. You can choose not to help just as easily as you can choose to help.
Discipleship doesn’t give you that easy way out. You have been chosen, it was not your initiative to be involved. We have been called to a lifelong relationship with God and with our fellow disciples. It is a life that is to be shared without reservation, a life of giving ourselves up for others. We have to learn to be dependent not on ourselves but on God.
Just as Jesus served the disciples, he told them that they had to learn to be the servants of others. He commanded them to love one another just as he had loved them. He drew them in to a new way of being and we too are called to a new way of being. As Jesus calls to the crowd and to the disciples to “take up their cross and follow” and he calls to us as well.
I agree with Kathy that the church is a group of disciples and not volunteers. We have been hand picked; we don’t have a way out. And when you have no way out, you need to go in further. I leave you with part of the lyrics from Garth Brooks The River
Too many times we stand aside, and let the waters slip away
‘til what we put off ‘til tomorrow has now become today
So don’t you sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.
As we continue this journey through Lent, I invite you to look for ways to go in further and deeper. You are a disciple and not a volunteer, take up your cross and follow Jesus.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Mark 10:36-52
Mark 10:46-52
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
This is the 2nd time Jesus has asked the question “What do you want me to do for you?” the first time is 10 verses earlier to James and John who knowing what they are asking for, ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand. Bartimaeus knows exactly what he wants.
What do you want me to do for you is a powerful question. I had this question asked of me by a Westminster member a couple Sundays ago. I, unlike Bartimaeus, was speechless. I was being served by the Christ in this member, but was unable or unwilling to throw off my cloak and meet Christ with a clear answer.
Bartimaeus jumps up and throws off his cloak. Most likely his only possession, and leaves it by the side of the road. The cloak would slow him down in trying to get to the Son of David, who has stopped and called him.
We all have cloaks, things that protects us, clothe us, give us our identity and possibly hinder us. Are we willing to leave them by the roadside because Jesus calls? Or does the cloak help us hide from ourselves? If we keep the cloak on we see Jesus from the roadside, but are not face-to face and we are not asked the question. We don’t have to examine ourselves for the answer to “What do you want me to do for you?”
It is often easier to let ourselves get lost in the crowd, hiding under our cloak. Seeing Jesus but not coming face-to-face. Hoping that the status quo will not change. But not Bartimaeus. He hears that Jesus is passing by and he so desires to come face to face, he will not be deterred. The crowd tells him to be silent, but he raises his plea once again.
May we have the persistence and the desire of Bartimaeus. May we so long to meet Jesus face to face that nothing will deter us, and when the chance comes, may we heed the call, spring up, throw off all that hinders us and have a clear picture of the thing we want more than anything else. That way when Jesus asks the question “What do you want me to do for you?” we know in our answer in our heart of hearts that our faith may make us well and we too will follow Jesus along the road.
They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
This is the 2nd time Jesus has asked the question “What do you want me to do for you?” the first time is 10 verses earlier to James and John who knowing what they are asking for, ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand. Bartimaeus knows exactly what he wants.
What do you want me to do for you is a powerful question. I had this question asked of me by a Westminster member a couple Sundays ago. I, unlike Bartimaeus, was speechless. I was being served by the Christ in this member, but was unable or unwilling to throw off my cloak and meet Christ with a clear answer.
Bartimaeus jumps up and throws off his cloak. Most likely his only possession, and leaves it by the side of the road. The cloak would slow him down in trying to get to the Son of David, who has stopped and called him.
We all have cloaks, things that protects us, clothe us, give us our identity and possibly hinder us. Are we willing to leave them by the roadside because Jesus calls? Or does the cloak help us hide from ourselves? If we keep the cloak on we see Jesus from the roadside, but are not face-to face and we are not asked the question. We don’t have to examine ourselves for the answer to “What do you want me to do for you?”
It is often easier to let ourselves get lost in the crowd, hiding under our cloak. Seeing Jesus but not coming face-to-face. Hoping that the status quo will not change. But not Bartimaeus. He hears that Jesus is passing by and he so desires to come face to face, he will not be deterred. The crowd tells him to be silent, but he raises his plea once again.
May we have the persistence and the desire of Bartimaeus. May we so long to meet Jesus face to face that nothing will deter us, and when the chance comes, may we heed the call, spring up, throw off all that hinders us and have a clear picture of the thing we want more than anything else. That way when Jesus asks the question “What do you want me to do for you?” we know in our answer in our heart of hearts that our faith may make us well and we too will follow Jesus along the road.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Dealing with Hard Times
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way,
The news has not been good. The economic situation in the country has continued to slide, businesses are continuing to need to be bailed out, and our church budget issues are all pressing issues. These are issues with no easy answers. As the news continues to be bad, more tragedies begin to surface.
Last week a father, after losing his job, killed his wife and five children before killing himself. In his faxed note, he says that he and his wife saw no reason to live. In the news reports as they spoke with neighbors, the neighbors were shocked. They knew Ervin Lupoe as a loving father and one neighbor spoke of being invited over for dinner and Lupoe recommending a builder for them. The neighbors never knew that anything was wrong.
Have we become so good at presenting a façade that all is well, that no one knows what is really going on in our lives? Have we separated ourselves from others so that we live on our own little islands? We ask how people are doing hoping that they respond with the socially appropriate answer “fine.” We are exchanging pleasantries, not really asking a question. Would this family of seven still be alive if people had stopped to really check in? Would that be enough to help them maintain hope?
So what are we the church called to do in times like this? I believe we need to remind people that we have a God who is faithful and is in the midst of our agony. When hearts break, God’s is the first one broken. This is a time to be joined in prayer and a time to be reconnected to the family of God by being in church. Check in with the people you know, really talk to them and find out how things are going. And remember, that God is faithful and will make a way where there is no way.
Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
Karen
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
The news has not been good. The economic situation in the country has continued to slide, businesses are continuing to need to be bailed out, and our church budget issues are all pressing issues. These are issues with no easy answers. As the news continues to be bad, more tragedies begin to surface.
Last week a father, after losing his job, killed his wife and five children before killing himself. In his faxed note, he says that he and his wife saw no reason to live. In the news reports as they spoke with neighbors, the neighbors were shocked. They knew Ervin Lupoe as a loving father and one neighbor spoke of being invited over for dinner and Lupoe recommending a builder for them. The neighbors never knew that anything was wrong.
Have we become so good at presenting a façade that all is well, that no one knows what is really going on in our lives? Have we separated ourselves from others so that we live on our own little islands? We ask how people are doing hoping that they respond with the socially appropriate answer “fine.” We are exchanging pleasantries, not really asking a question. Would this family of seven still be alive if people had stopped to really check in? Would that be enough to help them maintain hope?
So what are we the church called to do in times like this? I believe we need to remind people that we have a God who is faithful and is in the midst of our agony. When hearts break, God’s is the first one broken. This is a time to be joined in prayer and a time to be reconnected to the family of God by being in church. Check in with the people you know, really talk to them and find out how things are going. And remember, that God is faithful and will make a way where there is no way.
Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
Karen
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Doubt
Fellow Followers of the Way:
“What do you do when you’re not sure?” This is the opening line of Father Flynn’s sermon in the play and the new movie Doubt. I know several members of Westminster have seen the play or the movie, but for those who haven’t, here is the synopsis from the Internet Movie Database.
It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the schools' strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community, and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James, a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn which threatens to tear apart the community with irrevocable consequence. Written by Miramax Films
One of the things that I pondered after seeing the movie was how certainty and doubt play a role in the lives of Christians. In the movie, Sister Aloysius acts on her moral certainty. Christians like this scare me. I am reminded of a lesson learned in school that there are very few occasions when the terms always and never apply. The world is not so black and white that things can be categorized as “always this way” or “never like that” People who think this way quite honestly scare me. If we get into this certainty of thought, we are always right and we never give new ideas a chance.
However, doubt is a scary thing too. It is hard to predict what the future holds and whether we should meet the future with anxiety or excitement or both. Doubt can paralyze us into inactivity or it can cause us to turn a blind eye to those things we need to correct. How do we live in the murky middle? How do we live between certainty and doubt? How do we let our fear keep from getting the better of us?
The theme for the Mid Winter Youth conference was “Need a Power Outlet? Plug into Jesus!” It was based on Romans 12:1-8. We talked about not conforming to the world, but to be transformed and to live into what we are each called to be. When we live in doubt, our tendency is to conform, we become afraid of standing out.
One of the small group activities during the weekend was a guided meditation. In that meditation you are guided into a room full of weights. The weights are of various sizes and each one is labeled with a burden or problem. Jesus is next to you and asks you to hand the weights over to him. As you hand a weight to Jesus, he takes the burden and gives you a feather light coin with the same problem on it.
One of the points to this is to realize that Jesus takes the burden of our fears and doubts, but it doesn’t mean that we are rid of them. They are still ours, but the burden has been taken away. We can go to God in prayer, we can release our doubts; the reality of our situation remains, but we can be freed from fear. We become like the father in Mark 9:24 who cries out “I believe, help me now my unbelief!” When we put our faith in Christ, it doesn’t mean all our problems go away, but we are freed from the burden of them.
Certainty and doubt, 2 states that can lead to fear and can paralyze us. It has long been a part of the Christian faith. There are many hymns that speak to doubt. This is the last verse of the Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth. It is in Sing the Faith.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
I am reminded that belief comes from doubt and that what lies ahead can only be seen by God. If we are so dogmatic in our belief, we leave no room for God to work within us. By the same token if we dwell in doubt, we are afraid to do anything. So “what do you do when you’re unsure?” The Christian response needs to be turning to God, turning to faith and letting God work in and through us to transform us. May we all put our trust in God, knowing the God alone can see what lies ahead for each of us. May we all find belief even amidst our doubt.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
“What do you do when you’re not sure?” This is the opening line of Father Flynn’s sermon in the play and the new movie Doubt. I know several members of Westminster have seen the play or the movie, but for those who haven’t, here is the synopsis from the Internet Movie Database.
It's 1964, St. Nicholas in the Bronx. A charismatic priest, Father Flynn, is trying to upend the schools' strict customs, which have long been fiercely guarded by Sister Aloysius Beauvier, the iron-gloved Principal who believes in the power of fear and discipline. The winds of political change are sweeping through the community, and indeed, the school has just accepted its first black student, Donald Miller. But when Sister James, a hopeful innocent, shares with Sister Aloysius her guilt-inducing suspicion that Father Flynn is paying too much personal attention to Donald, Sister Aloysius sets off on a personal crusade to unearth the truth and to expunge Flynn from the school. Now, without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn which threatens to tear apart the community with irrevocable consequence. Written by Miramax Films
One of the things that I pondered after seeing the movie was how certainty and doubt play a role in the lives of Christians. In the movie, Sister Aloysius acts on her moral certainty. Christians like this scare me. I am reminded of a lesson learned in school that there are very few occasions when the terms always and never apply. The world is not so black and white that things can be categorized as “always this way” or “never like that” People who think this way quite honestly scare me. If we get into this certainty of thought, we are always right and we never give new ideas a chance.
However, doubt is a scary thing too. It is hard to predict what the future holds and whether we should meet the future with anxiety or excitement or both. Doubt can paralyze us into inactivity or it can cause us to turn a blind eye to those things we need to correct. How do we live in the murky middle? How do we live between certainty and doubt? How do we let our fear keep from getting the better of us?
The theme for the Mid Winter Youth conference was “Need a Power Outlet? Plug into Jesus!” It was based on Romans 12:1-8. We talked about not conforming to the world, but to be transformed and to live into what we are each called to be. When we live in doubt, our tendency is to conform, we become afraid of standing out.
One of the small group activities during the weekend was a guided meditation. In that meditation you are guided into a room full of weights. The weights are of various sizes and each one is labeled with a burden or problem. Jesus is next to you and asks you to hand the weights over to him. As you hand a weight to Jesus, he takes the burden and gives you a feather light coin with the same problem on it.
One of the points to this is to realize that Jesus takes the burden of our fears and doubts, but it doesn’t mean that we are rid of them. They are still ours, but the burden has been taken away. We can go to God in prayer, we can release our doubts; the reality of our situation remains, but we can be freed from fear. We become like the father in Mark 9:24 who cries out “I believe, help me now my unbelief!” When we put our faith in Christ, it doesn’t mean all our problems go away, but we are freed from the burden of them.
Certainty and doubt, 2 states that can lead to fear and can paralyze us. It has long been a part of the Christian faith. There are many hymns that speak to doubt. This is the last verse of the Hymn of Promise by Natalie Sleeth. It is in Sing the Faith.
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
I am reminded that belief comes from doubt and that what lies ahead can only be seen by God. If we are so dogmatic in our belief, we leave no room for God to work within us. By the same token if we dwell in doubt, we are afraid to do anything. So “what do you do when you’re unsure?” The Christian response needs to be turning to God, turning to faith and letting God work in and through us to transform us. May we all put our trust in God, knowing the God alone can see what lies ahead for each of us. May we all find belief even amidst our doubt.
Grace, mercy and peace,
Karen
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Remembering to live in the moment
I am amazed at how much time I spend worrying about what lies ahead. Usually it is stuff that is beyond my control. My realization of the week has been that there is one thing that I can control and that is my attitude. Situations are what they are, but how I deal with them is my choice.
This was brought on by a confrontation after feeling attacked. I chose to let it dominate me instead of choosing my attitude toward it. Fortunately, I got things in my head straightened out with the help of good friends.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
searching
I have begun to ask myself what parts of my ministry excite me. Unfortunately I am discovering that there are parts of my job that are outside of my passion areas. There are areas that don't have energy within them and require more energy from me.
That then begs the question what to do if there isn't energy for a program in a church, should it be allowed to die People say it is important, but they don't really support it with their time.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Advent Word
Expectation – anxious, collective and operative expectation of an end of the world, that is to say, of an issue for the world – that is perhaps the supreme Christian function and the most distinctive characteristic of our religion.
Historically speaking, that expectation has never ceased to guide the progress of our faith like a torch...We persist in saying that we keep vigil in expectation of the Master. But in reality we should have to admit, if we were sincere, that we no longer expect anything. The flame must be revived at all costs. At all costs we must renew in ourselves the desire and the hope for the great coming. But where are we to look for the source of this rejuvenation? From the perception of a more intimate connection between the victory of Christ and the outcome of the work which our human effort here below is seeking to construct.
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (19th Century Jesuit Priest)
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
The journey to Bethlehem has begun; a season of expectation is upon us. The lectionary readings for the first Sunday of Advent remind us to keep watch and alert us to the coming of the Son of Man. We are given the example of the doorkeeper who keeps watch for the Master to return.
Unfortunately, the only doors we keep watch over it seems are the ones that lead to business establishments where we can buy more stuff. Our society has become so obsessed with the commercial side of Christmas that Black Friday, originally named by the Philadelphia Police in the 60’s because of all the traffic, has become truly black. Last Friday, Jdimytai Damour, a temporary employee at the Valley Stream, NY Wal-Mart, was trampled to death by the crowd as they broke down the doors to get at the items on sale. Not only did the crowd kill Damour, but injured 4 others and news reports state that many consumers were angry about being asked to leave.
With this event Pierre Teihard de Chardin’s words struck me. “We persist in saying that we keep vigil in expectation of the Master. But in reality we should have to admit, if we were sincere, that we no longer expect anything.” The mad rushing crowd, the craze of bargain hunting, our expectations seem too often to be about finding deals and not about the return of the Master.
This week as we stand with John the Baptist in the lectionary text, let us hear the voice in the wilderness. A voice that cries out for repentance, that calls us to come to ourselves and to turn toward God. It is a voice that can perhaps help us revive the flame of our faith. A voice that perhaps can remind us to see and hear the Christmas story with new eyes and ears.
During Advent the church recounts a story known by the oldest and the youngest saints. The more often we hear it, the more immune to the story we become. The more immune to the story we become, the easier it is to become consumed by greed and materialism. This is a most amazing story. Through the weeks of Advent we are called to keep watch for the coming of the Master. John the Baptist calls us to turn toward God and then we read the stories that remind us of the incarnation, to celebrate the first coming of the Prince of Peace. As we wait in anticipation for the coming of the Christ child, let us remember to keep watch at the door of the Master’s house. Let us remember who we are and who we are called to be. May our hope be a light to the rest of the world so they too may stand watch with us.
With Advent anticipation, expectation, and hope,
Karen
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
God of Abundance
God, whose giving knows no ending, from your rich and endless store—
Nature’s wonder, Jesus’ wisdom, costly cross, grave’s shattered door –
Gifted by you, we turn to you, offering up ourselves in praise;
Thankful song shall rise forever, gracious Donor of our days.
Treasure, too, you have entrusted, gain through powers your grace conferred,
Ours to use for home and kindred, and to spread the gospel word.
Open wide our hands in sharing, as we heed Christ’s ageless call,
Healing, teaching, and reclaiming, serving you by loving all.
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
The sermon text last Sunday was the story of the feeding of the five thousand and while listening to Bill’s sermon, I was struck by God’s abundance in the story. I began to think of other biblical examples of God’s abundance and then I decided to email some of my friends and have them brainstorm other examples with me. Here is a start to references to God’s abundance.
Genesis 1 Job 42 Matt 6:31-33 John 10:10
Genesis 15 Psalm 23 Luke 5:1-11 All Healing and Miracle Stories
Exodus 16 Psalm 103: 1-5 Luke 14
Numbers 11 Psalm 104: 25 Luke 15:22 Romans 15:13
Ruth Eccl 5 :18-20 John 2 2 Cor 9:8 - 11
1 Kings 17 Amos 13 John 3:16 Revelation 21:15-21
I would guess there are hundreds more examples to be found. And although we see great abundance in these stories, the concept of scarcity lurks within the texts as well. In an article by Walter Brueggemann, “The Liturgy of Abundance, The Myth of Scarcity,” he points out the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt. In Genesis, Pharaoh orders the harvest to be stored. It was not about offering it to the people, it was about greed and making sure he had enough. Several generations later, the Pharaoh is scared of the abundance of the Hebrew people and orders the midwives to kill the baby boys. According to Brueggemann, “The fear of not having enough brings about the mentality of scarcity.” The author of Ecclesiastes comments on this as well in 5:10 “The lover of money will not be satisfied with money; nor the lover of wealth, with gain. This also is vanity.”
How could the author of Ecclesiastes have been so spot on for our world today? Consumerism is rampant. People buy without money to pay for things. It has created an environment of stress, distrust, and greed. Many people are never satisfied with what they have, they claim they will be happy if they just ____________. How have we let the fear of not having enough choke out the memory of the promises of God? How did we get so trapped in this mentality of scarcity? How do we get out of it?
I think we have to start with how we define abundance. As one of my friends reminded me context makes all the difference. Abundance looks different for someone with enough to eat and enough money to pay the bills relatively stress free than it does to someone who worries about which bills to pay in a given month or to someone wondering where the next meal will come from. Our culture tends to define abundance in material things as seen in the bumper sticker “He who dies with the most toys wins.” This kind of abundance is a source of lots of stress.
In a quest for more things, our society as created a sense of fear that there will never be enough. It is easy to want to hoard what we have and push others away, but is this what God intends for our lives? No. God intends for us to reach out to others and to live life with an open hand: an open hand that receives the grace and the blessing from the God who Provides (Jehovah Jireh Genesis 22:13-14) and an open hand that extends those blessings to those in need. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:11 “ You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion.” Our society, the world teaches us a mentality of scarcity, but in God we find extravagance and abundance.
In this time of Thanksgiving, may we remember that our God is a God of plenty. Let us offer ourselves in praise to God and use the talents and gifts we have been given to reach out to people in our community and in our world. Let us celebrate God’s abundance and reach out with an open hand to the world and give the world hope. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Grace, Mercy and Peace,
Karen
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
How easy is change?
Barack Obama has just been elected as the new President of the United States. He has had a platform based on hope and change, the people have bought in. I think many realize that we cannot continue the same path we have been on. But how easy will it be for us to actually change. How easy is for anyone to actually change? Only time will tell.
Here is to the hope of change. the hope of finding a new way.
Here is to the hope of change. the hope of finding a new way.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Weekly Word for September 16th
1 Peter 5:1-6
5Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. 5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for‘ God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
Leadership has been in the spotlight in recent weeks. Whether it is the Presidential campaigns which are heating up or the leadership seen in light of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, we have seen leaders in a variety of areas of life. Our own denominational publications are not different. This month Presbyterians Today and The Presbyterian Outlook have both published journals whose lead stories are about leaders in the church.
Hundreds of books have been written on leadership with titles such as Who Moved My Cheese?, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader , and Leadership Without Easy Answers, written by the likes of Spencer Johnson, John Maxwell, and Ronald Heifetz. The articles printed in Presbyterians Today and The Presbyterian Outlook speaks to the need for leaders to improvise like jazz musicians and for “Dangerous elders to be alive in their faith and fully empowered to be spiritual leaders in their church.”
Regardless of the leaders we see on television, I am drawn back to an assignment from the leadership class I took while in seminary. We were given a list of biblical figures that were seen as leaders, Moses, Joseph, Deborah, David, Esther, and my personal favorite Peter.
They all had gifts that were needed and they were all called by God, but Peter is my favorite as we can see a change in him as we move through the New Testament. In the gospels we see a younger, brasher Peter. The one who in one breath says “You are the Christ,” and in the next is rebuking Jesus only to hear “Get behind me Satan!” Peter with faith to get out of the boat, but not enough to stay dry. Peter who denies Christ three times, but is asked three times to feed Christ’s sheep. This is the man who is one of the great leaders of the early church.
Peter is one of my favorites because he is so very human. Faithful and loyal but full of fear. Peter needed to be reassured and needed help as he learned from his mistakes. As his ministry draws to a close we find the text quoted above. We are invited to lead willingly as God would have us do, to humble ourselves before God.
I invite you to read the articles “Like Jazz Musicians Effective Church Leaders have the ability to Improvise,” and “Dangerous Elders, Dynamic Deacons.” I also invite you to spend time getting to know Simon Peter in the Gospels, Acts and the Epistles of Peter. If his leadership style doesn’t match yours look at Moses, Deborah, David, Esther, Paul or find another leadership style in the Bible. Then look at where and how you might use your leadership skills. Where is God calling you to step out in faith and lead?
Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
Karen
5Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you 2to tend the flock of God that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as God would have you do it—not for sordid gain but eagerly. 3Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. 4And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. 5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for‘ God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way:
Leadership has been in the spotlight in recent weeks. Whether it is the Presidential campaigns which are heating up or the leadership seen in light of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, we have seen leaders in a variety of areas of life. Our own denominational publications are not different. This month Presbyterians Today and The Presbyterian Outlook have both published journals whose lead stories are about leaders in the church.
Hundreds of books have been written on leadership with titles such as Who Moved My Cheese?, The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader , and Leadership Without Easy Answers, written by the likes of Spencer Johnson, John Maxwell, and Ronald Heifetz. The articles printed in Presbyterians Today and The Presbyterian Outlook speaks to the need for leaders to improvise like jazz musicians and for “Dangerous elders to be alive in their faith and fully empowered to be spiritual leaders in their church.”
Regardless of the leaders we see on television, I am drawn back to an assignment from the leadership class I took while in seminary. We were given a list of biblical figures that were seen as leaders, Moses, Joseph, Deborah, David, Esther, and my personal favorite Peter.
They all had gifts that were needed and they were all called by God, but Peter is my favorite as we can see a change in him as we move through the New Testament. In the gospels we see a younger, brasher Peter. The one who in one breath says “You are the Christ,” and in the next is rebuking Jesus only to hear “Get behind me Satan!” Peter with faith to get out of the boat, but not enough to stay dry. Peter who denies Christ three times, but is asked three times to feed Christ’s sheep. This is the man who is one of the great leaders of the early church.
Peter is one of my favorites because he is so very human. Faithful and loyal but full of fear. Peter needed to be reassured and needed help as he learned from his mistakes. As his ministry draws to a close we find the text quoted above. We are invited to lead willingly as God would have us do, to humble ourselves before God.
I invite you to read the articles “Like Jazz Musicians Effective Church Leaders have the ability to Improvise,” and “Dangerous Elders, Dynamic Deacons.” I also invite you to spend time getting to know Simon Peter in the Gospels, Acts and the Epistles of Peter. If his leadership style doesn’t match yours look at Moses, Deborah, David, Esther, Paul or find another leadership style in the Bible. Then look at where and how you might use your leadership skills. Where is God calling you to step out in faith and lead?
Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
Karen
Monday, September 01, 2008
Weekly Word..
About once a month I am charged with writing the "Weekly Word" in the weekly email newsletter for Westminster Presbyterian Church. I have decided to start posting them here as well.
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way,
Every night when I get home, I open up my laptop and spend several hours online. Yes, I will admit it, I am a tech geek. I am one of the thousands who are addicted to text messaging, email, and Facebook. For those of you not familiar with Facebook, it is a online social network that has around 80 million users. It is one of several social networking sites that have been created for people to connect to online communities.
I am fascinated with this new phenomenon of online communities. What has happened in society? What happened to the days of talking to neighbors over the back fence (and yes, I remember talking with neighbors over the fence)? Where are the days when the church was the center of community life? When was the last time you picked up the phone and called a friend? The back fence and the local church have been replaced by high speed internet and cyber community. Telephone conversation has been supplanted by text messages and email.
What I find so fascinating is that we long for community, so we are more physically accessible than ever. Laptops, cell phones with more memory than the laptops of 5 years ago, and blue tooth headsets make us accessible at all times, but do they help foster community? We may be connected, but is that what makes community? I would argue no. Community is about relationship; it is about something that ties us together at a deeper level. Community is about being open and vulnerable to others and being a part of one another’s lives.
As Christians we are called to live in community. Jesus called the disciples to follow him. He invited them to be a part of a community. They shared meals together, they traveled together, they sat at Jesus’ feet to learn together. There were a part of each other’s lives. The invitation to follow Jesus is an invitation to not only be in community one with another, but it is an invitation into the very life of God.
We worship the Triune God who is the very essence of community. Theologian Elizabeth Johnson in She Who Is describes the Trinity as a triple helix, individual strands not connected but intertwined and inseparable. She also borrows the image of the divine round dance where the Godhead spirals inward, outward and forward out of freely given love; love that overflows in the freely given love in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ draws us into the very life of God; we are invited into the divine dance. We are invited to be in community, to be intertwined and inseparable parts of one another’s lives. So how intertwined are you in the life of the community that is Westminster Presbyterian Church? To become intertwined means to participate in the lives of one another; to participate in the life of the church. As we approach Rally Day and the All Church retreat, where will you plug into the life of the church? Will you sit on the sideline or will you enter the divine dance?
In Christ’s love
Karen
Dear Fellow Followers of the Way,
Every night when I get home, I open up my laptop and spend several hours online. Yes, I will admit it, I am a tech geek. I am one of the thousands who are addicted to text messaging, email, and Facebook. For those of you not familiar with Facebook, it is a online social network that has around 80 million users. It is one of several social networking sites that have been created for people to connect to online communities.
I am fascinated with this new phenomenon of online communities. What has happened in society? What happened to the days of talking to neighbors over the back fence (and yes, I remember talking with neighbors over the fence)? Where are the days when the church was the center of community life? When was the last time you picked up the phone and called a friend? The back fence and the local church have been replaced by high speed internet and cyber community. Telephone conversation has been supplanted by text messages and email.
What I find so fascinating is that we long for community, so we are more physically accessible than ever. Laptops, cell phones with more memory than the laptops of 5 years ago, and blue tooth headsets make us accessible at all times, but do they help foster community? We may be connected, but is that what makes community? I would argue no. Community is about relationship; it is about something that ties us together at a deeper level. Community is about being open and vulnerable to others and being a part of one another’s lives.
As Christians we are called to live in community. Jesus called the disciples to follow him. He invited them to be a part of a community. They shared meals together, they traveled together, they sat at Jesus’ feet to learn together. There were a part of each other’s lives. The invitation to follow Jesus is an invitation to not only be in community one with another, but it is an invitation into the very life of God.
We worship the Triune God who is the very essence of community. Theologian Elizabeth Johnson in She Who Is describes the Trinity as a triple helix, individual strands not connected but intertwined and inseparable. She also borrows the image of the divine round dance where the Godhead spirals inward, outward and forward out of freely given love; love that overflows in the freely given love in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ draws us into the very life of God; we are invited into the divine dance. We are invited to be in community, to be intertwined and inseparable parts of one another’s lives. So how intertwined are you in the life of the community that is Westminster Presbyterian Church? To become intertwined means to participate in the lives of one another; to participate in the life of the church. As we approach Rally Day and the All Church retreat, where will you plug into the life of the church? Will you sit on the sideline or will you enter the divine dance?
In Christ’s love
Karen
Sunday, July 06, 2008
A New Adventure
I am off to Massanetta Springs, VA in the morning. I will be the keynote speaker for 2 identical middle school conferences. One of my seminary friends and classmates, Kelly Kaufman suggested my name. I have moved from panic to terror. Two sermons and 4 keynotes plus 3 devotionals and questions after keynotes has moved me to a state of terror.
This is another experience that although it is my "first rodeo" I feel like it can't appear that way. I had these same feelings when I presided at my first funeral. On one level I am pretty sure everything will be just fine. I will deal with things as they come and everything will get done. On another level I am glad for the panic and terror because this is the Word of God.
Here's to trusting God and going forward!
This is another experience that although it is my "first rodeo" I feel like it can't appear that way. I had these same feelings when I presided at my first funeral. On one level I am pretty sure everything will be just fine. I will deal with things as they come and everything will get done. On another level I am glad for the panic and terror because this is the Word of God.
Here's to trusting God and going forward!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
At the close of GA
I have been watching the streaming video and participating in a live blog during GA. Many will think we are going to hell in a handbasket after voting to delete G-6.0106b. It will be interesting to see what happens across the church. I am truly interested to see how many people in my congregation actually know what went on.
And yes, I have tipped some cows. I have learned that it must be done carefully and with great care. "We've never done it that way" rings about many things, but often those are the very things we do in fact need to change. This fall will bring about several changes. Should be fun!
And yes, I have tipped some cows. I have learned that it must be done carefully and with great care. "We've never done it that way" rings about many things, but often those are the very things we do in fact need to change. This fall will bring about several changes. Should be fun!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Anyone for Sacred Cow Tipping?
Over lunch I was sharing some of my ideas that have stemmed from needs expressed by parents of preschool kids. In the course of conversation, I discovered a sacred cow. To move forward with these ideas means the possibility of re-engaging several families into the life of the congregation, but it also means to risk pissing off some staunch members because "We've never done it that way before" and I feel like they are afraid that one change may lead to a bigger change.
I would love to make gourmet burgers, but I don't want to alienate folks either. Trying to find a way to tip this sacred bossie over in the hopes to help families of preschoolers without completely alienating myself from some other members. There is big risk, but there is also big reward.
I would love to make gourmet burgers, but I don't want to alienate folks either. Trying to find a way to tip this sacred bossie over in the hopes to help families of preschoolers without completely alienating myself from some other members. There is big risk, but there is also big reward.
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