Saints to Each Other

St. Elijah, from a Serbian fresco

October has been a crazy month, and I've been negligent in my postings. Ironically, November should be better. Since last we spoke, the saints of Seneca Presbyterian have stopped to contemplate God's promise to David to build him a house (a dynasty) and Solomon's house for God (a temple). Kings have been the focus of our attention, but this week we will begin to focus on a king's fiercest foe: the prophet. Elijah is a great place to start.

The united kingdom ruled by Saul, David, and Solomon has broken in two. David's sons continue to rule the southern kingdom of Judah. A succession of kings rule in the north - in the kingdom of Israel. The books of 1 and 2 Kings tell the story of all these divine rulers - with a sharply critical eye. In 400 years of kings, only two win the seal of approval - Hezekiah and Josiah - and they both come from the southern kingdom of Judah.

In this Sunday's text, Elijah appears suddenly on the scene as the "troubler" of King Ahab and his queen Jezebel. We will be considering the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, but no one should miss out on the other stories of Elijah. You can read them in 1 Kings 17-21 and then 2 Kings 1-2. They are amazing! If you've ever wondered where the phrases "fire from heaven" - "a still small voice" - and "swing low sweet chariot" come from, you'll find them in the stories of Elijah.

Yet this Sunday offers another amazing figure. We know her only as the widow of Zarephath. She is a foreigner living in Phoenicia, Jezebel's home territory. She as the unexpected honor of hosting Elijah as he waits out the drought sent by God as judgment on Ahab, who slipped up by building a temple to his wife's god Baal in his capital city of Samaria.

As we contemplated this text together, the Wednesday night Adult Study Group at Seneca Pres was amazed by the faith of the widow. She exists on the edge of starvation and death. She is approached by a total stranger who asks for her last bit of food. Yet when the stranger tells her "Be not afraid," she trusts him.

This week, we will also celebrate All Saints Sunday at Seneca Pres. We will remember saints in our church family whom we have lost in this past year. We will give thanks to God for them and seek to remember other saints in our lives.

As you prepare to worship God, I invite you to contemplate:

• When have you lived on the edge of starvation and death - whatever that means to you? 
• Where has God entered your life unexpectedly?
• What saint offered the gift of life to you? 

Waiting on the Wind

It will be good to be back in the pulpit of Seneca Presbyterian Church this week after taking a Sunday off for some time with my family. We will be considering the story that begins the book of Acts. Jesus has gathered the disciples on a mountaintop outside Jerusalem. He has been with them for forty days, instructing them "of things concerning the kingdom of God." It is the moment when the risen Christ is to be received into heaven. The disciples who have gathered there ask Jesus a human question: "Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?"

As I contemplate this text, it sounds so much like the one question that haunts people of faith and those who perhaps want to believe, yet somehow can't: If God is God, why is there so much unjust suffering in this world? Or to put it bluntly: The world is a lousy place for too many people, God. Why don't you fix it?

Do you ever ponder the same question?
When you encounter the question from others, do you feel compelled to somehow defend God? 

Perhaps Jesus wants us to hear something of the same answer he gave those first disciples. There are some things you are not meant to know. But know this: you are meant to be my witnesses - my partners - in the work of God in the world.Then Jesus promised them and us the gift of the Holy Spirit - his abiding presence and power - to be his faithful witnesses and disciples and partners in the work of the kingdom of God in God's world. Now that' an amazing invitation to an amazing adventure!

On Sunday, I will share with you the concept of rowboat and sailboat churches. The idea comes from the writings of Joan Gray. The distinction is rather simple to understand. Rowboat churches, like rowboats, work with human power and under human control. They have human agendas and operate under human limitations. Sailboat churches, like sailboats, wait on the power of the wind. In church, we call that the power of the Holy Spirit. They seek to have divine agendas and strive to operate with divine possibilities.

The distinction may be rather simple to understand. Living it is an entirely different matter. It requires mastering skills, patient and diligent practice, respecting the wind and the water, learning how to capsize - and how to right the boat again. And trusting in a higher power - whether you are sailing boats or churches.

But isn't it worth the risk?

A Church for All People ... Serving God through Serving Others

Sunday I shared with you - my church family - my desire to reflect with you on the unique identity and giftedness that we enjoy as the brothers and sisters in Christ known as Seneca Presbyterian Church. It is based on my theory that congregations just like individuals can be uniquely gifted and called for service in God's kingdom while sharing a unity of spirit with all Christians. Just like individuals the challenge is identifying our unique gifts and callings - what they truly are, not just what we want them to be. Of course, that's a bit more challenging with a congregation of 330 souls - each of them uniquely gifted and called. But in this community that we call SPC, there are some obvious and remarkable strengths that just about anyone who knows us would affirm.

I want to spend the next five Sundays reflecting with you on those gifts. I don't do it just to "pat our collective backs" - though this will give me a chance to thank and praise you for what you do so well. I also believe that those whom God gifts, God calls. And those whom God gifts well are called to extraordinary service. So in these sermons I will also try to offer some ideas about how we can do better what we already do well - all with the grace and power of the Spirit.

I truly want this series to be a dialogue - but since that's hard to do standing in the pulpit, we need to find some other venues. This blog is key for creating the dialogue, so please comment, and not just to me but to each other. Email is also an option - and phone calls - and even face to face conversation. I'm anxious to see how the experiment plays out!

So here is my outline of sermon topics for the coming weeks. Watch for postings each week - hopefully by Wednesday. Read and respond! And I extend my thanks to those who already have.

The Church for All People… Serving God through Serving Others

We believe that we are called to be disciples of Jesus Christ.

As a Church of Jesus Christ…

We are called to welcome and care for all God’s children.(January 22)

We are called to the work of transforming lives, beginning with our own.(January 29)

We are called to be faithful stewards of God’s abundance.(February 5)

We are called to be partners with God in the re-creation of the world.(February 12)

We are called to be a congregation for all ages.(February 19)

Chipping Some New Stones off the Old Rock

It's a new year and time to get back to old routines - like posting some ideas to help me ponder preaching this week. I'm looking forward to a new year tradition - the ordination and installation of new Ruling Elders, Deacons, and Trustee. As their Teaching Elder (notice my careful use of the "new" language for officers in the PC-USA), it has been an honor and privilege to work with them as they prepare for their term of service. As Presbyterians, we do have a remarkable tradition. Our elders and deacons serve alongside clergy with equal authority and responsibility for governing, supporting, praying, dreaming, and seeking God's will and direction for each congregation. Our services of ordination and installation exemplify how seriously we take that tradition - and they are holy moments. 

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it." 

Those are remarkable words spoken by Jesus to Peter - and they are the text for Sunday. As I ponder them, I am drawn to the amazing work of those first disciples who built the Church - and all those churches - in a world that had no idea what they were doing or building. I'm also pondering how similar is the challenge we face today in building the Church. 

The Church has been the center of my life basically all my life. It's a part of me. When I hear bigoted remarks spoken in the name of faith or learn of yet another scandal that chips away at the world's perception of the Church, I can easily say, "That's not the Church I know." But what of those who do not know? When those who stand outside the Church and outside faith hear of yet another misguided prediction of the "end of the world," they can't or won't distinguish between us and them. We are all part of that body of belief called "Christian." 

So ponder with me:

• How do we proclaim a Gospel of inclusion and justice when too many portray our faith as exclusion and judgment? 
• What perceptions of the Church do you encounter in your lives from people who live outside our faith? 
• How does the work and witness of the Church move forward into a world that is more and more "not-Christian," and not afraid to say it? 

 

"The Grass Withers..."

Sunday takes us to the second Sunday of Advent where the typical focus is on John the Baptist. But let's look instead to the magnificent words of Isaiah 40 - words that the Gospel writers echo when they refer to John as the herald who prepares the way. The Old Testament book of the prophet Isaiah has been called the "fifth Gospel." Its words especially sing throughout the Advent season. Who can read "comfort ye my people" without hearing Handel's music singing along?

As I prepare to share this text with you on Sunday, you can help me. In verse 6 a frustrated prophet declares: "All people are grass... The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it." What do you think?

• When have you felt like grass? 
• When have you felt withered and trampled upon? 
• What does it feel like to be abandoned by God? 
• Where did you find life and hope? 

I welcome your responses; they can truly help me in my preaching - and if you'd rather not share them with everyone, just let me know. My preferences are set up to review all  comments before they are posted.