Epworth United Methodist Church

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
11-08-09
Mark 12: 28-34

The First Commandment

Watching the news last week was particularly distressing, especially coupled with the personal concerns many of us share this morning for ill or distressed friends and loved ones.

Following the devastating blow to marriage equality and equal rights for all persons that occurred in the Maine elections I received countless emails from all around the country of people sharing grief, rage, and disappointment.

Some of these emails even went so far as to threaten violent civil disobedience in the face of continuing discrimination and inequality.

Following the election news our nation was stunned and bewildered by the shooting rampage at Fort Hood by an Army psychiatrist that left at least thirteen people dead and scores wounded.

Because this man is also a Muslim, many people of this faith living in the United States now fear for their safety as well.

I thought of all these things as I read the gospel reading for today from the twelfth chapter of Mark and it occurred to me that when the world around us is in a doomsday frame of mind, the message that faith, hope and love abide with us as we strive to love God and neighbor in following Jesus is central not only to our survival, but for the survival of this broken and hurting world.

Last March, on a remote island near the Arctic Ocean not far from the North Pole, the Norwegian government opened a huge underground vault, more than 425-feet deep inside a frozen mountain in order to place shipments of seeds from all over the world it. It is named the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, and it can hold more than 4.5 million seed samples.

This seed collection is created in case humankind does something more tragically stupid than the things we have already done- like have a worldwide nuclear war, or cause massive climate change from our continued abuse of the planet.

It’s also a small hedge against natural disasters as well.

Known by many as “The Doomsday Vault” this immense chamber will also hold seeds for almost every variety of food crop known to humans, in case we lose our food supply and the ability to reproduce it.

The low temperatures caused by the natural permafrost and supplemented by a refrigeration system, can preserve these seeds and keep them viable for thousands of years, even if global warming raises the outside temperature.

This project grew out of a trust funded by the United Nations in 2004; as its contribution, Norway provided the location for the vault and paid $9.4 million for its construction.

The hope, of course, is that the seeds stored there are never needed, but it seems a smart move to be prepared in case it does.

All of this started me wondering about the Church, and especially our Epworth church as another type of doomsday vault, as a place where such things as faith, hope, and love are harbored [in the sense of providing people with a shelter or sanctuary] and well-tended; for what kind of life would we have on this earth if these values were lost?

Jesus actually hinted that faith-communities should have this role in the community and world in which they live.

It was on the day when Jesus asked his disciples who people were saying he was. After the disciples responded about what they had heard from others, Jesus asked who they thought he was.

After Peter spoke up, declaring Jesus as the Son of the living God, Jesus said that this confession of faith was the rock upon which God was going to build the Church.

Jesus then added that not even the gates of Hades, not even acts of extreme human stupidity would be able to prevail against it.

The expression, “the gates of Hades” was a symbolic way to talk about death, so Jesus is saying that not even death, which no human being can overcome, will be able to destroy the Church.

This is important for me, for us, to remember, because I have not seen a time in my lifetime when Christianity and the Church has been so under attack- even from former members.

In other words, the Church is a stronghold against the powers of darkness, stupidity, and catastrophe- a spiritual doomsday vault, if you will.

First-century Christians understood this point, because they did view the Church as the place where the great spiritual values such as love of God and neighbor do survive storm and calamity.

For example, one of the earliest symbols the early Christians employed to represent the Church was Noah’s ark; that vessel on which representatives of all living creatures found refuge during the catastrophe of the great flood. You can still find this symbolism today in some stained-glass windows, where either Noah’s ark itself or a dove bearing an olive branch in its beak is pictured.

So, in the face of events such as the continued discrimination of minority people such as the LGBT community experienced in last week’s election, and horrific human violence like the shooting spree at Fort Collins and the fear and rage such things engender- let’s consider what vital seeds the Church holds:

1. The Church is the place where faith is offered without embarrassment. There is a saying that ‘God has no grandchildren’, which is another way of saying that without the passing of the knowledge about Jesus Christ from parents to children, from elders to young people, from those convinced of their faith to those who have not yet been persuaded, Christianity itself would eventually die out completely or be greatly reduced in its ability to influence the world in any positive way. Individual spirituality is certainly a good thing, but it is seldom enough by itself to pass faith to the next generation. It requires congregations of convinced people of faith to do this in any kind of concentrated and effective way.

2. The Church is the place where hope is nourished without delusion. As the events and news of any week reveal, there are ample reasons to lose hope in life. In fact, it is pretty easy to preach about despair. There is generally plenty of evidence around us to encourage despair more than hope. But the Church understands that hope is never rooted in what happens in any present moment or generation. The hope the Church shelters is the hope of the gospel and Jesus’ teaching that the realm of God is still to come in its fullness, without denying that life is sometimes tragic. The hope the Church offers is an ultimate belief that when all else fails, when every other support gives way, our lives remain in God’s hands. God has given us the Church to support our hope, for if left out on its own, hope is vulnerable. It’s unrealistic to expect the Church to be the kind of community where everyone is always totally certain about hope, but it is a community where we have enough evidence from experience [our own, and the witness of others] to justify a decision for hope instead of despair.

3. The Church is a place where love is exercised without limits. Jesus taught us that the first commandment is to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. We in the Church understand that Jesus was not talking about emotions, but about behavior. This is one of the reasons it is so distressing when it is so-called Christians who vote against equal rights for all persons, especially these days, people in the LGBT community. Jesus was talking about acting in ways that support the wholeness and the well-being of other people, all of whom are our neighbors. When we really grasp its meaning, we understand not one of us does this perfectly, but it is a core force of the gospel that will never leave us at peace when we exclude people, and ignore others’ needs. As people of faith, we understand loving our neighbor to mean more than merely behaving towards others in a generally ‘nice’ way; it means we should love others as God loves us. So when we ask ourselves if we have behaved in a loving way toward someone, we are comparing ourselves with the love of Christ. And, of course, in such a comparison, we always come up short, but ideally, it causes us to reach further and to understand that that love has no stopping point where we can say, ‘There, I’ve done my duty, and now I can forget that person/those people.’

Please do not think that this is a ‘Praise the Church’ sermon; it is not.

I am not suggesting that the Church or our Epworth church is a perfect repository of faith, hope, and love for bragging purposes, but rather, to remind us of what critical world-changing values we do hold, and what saving seeds these are, and how desperately the world needs them.

When the world and those around us are in a doomsday frame of mind, the message that faith, hope, and love abide does survive with us who follow Jesus Christ. And it is not just our own salvation that we are talking about; we are talking about the survival and the salvation of the world.

Prayer…

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
Oct. 11, 2009

Setting Out on a Journey

The opening verse of the gospel reading is a metaphor for the Christian faith, for spiritual life: our walk with Christ is a lifetime journey.

Like the man who runs up to Jesus in this passage, inquiring, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” we, too, ask this question again and again in our lifetime.

How can I live closer to God? How can I know Jesus loves me? How can I trust in the promise of eternal life?

At first Jesus answers the man’s question with traditional Jewish religious teaching: do your best to follow the commandments, but when this man assures Jesus he has tried to keep the commandments since he was just a young man, Jesus, loving him, tells him a deeper truth about spiritual life and principles saying, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor…then come, follow me.”

So what’s this man’s response? Well, the Scripture says, “When he heard this he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.”

Even the ‘regulars’ i.e. the disciples, were astounded by this exchange, and Jesus’ teaching about the spiritual poverty of those who are rich.

They ask Jesus, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus assures them that although it is impossible for people to be spiritually perfect, God’s grace makes all things possible.

Jesus goes on to say that those who strive to follow him, even if it costs them relationships, or their work, or possessions- will be more than doubly blessed in this life, and will experience eternal life in the future.

He ends this particular teaching saying, “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

The deeper spiritual issue discussed in this passage is God’s prevenient grace towards us, [i.e. God’s love for us], which is illustrated by Jesus’ own action of ‘loving’ this man who is troubled about eternal life.

This one comment, “Jesus…loved him” echoes the great commandment discussion between Jesus and the scribe, where Jesus says the greatest commandments are wholehearted love of God and love of neighbor.

This is where the rich man falls short: the man’s wealth and love of possessions has shortchanged his ability to really love others.

He is unable to follow Jesus precisely because he cannot obey this great commandment to love God wholeheartedly and other people generously, even if he has obeyed the other commandments.

This man’s love of wealth and materialism prevents him from understanding the great commandment- love of God and love of neighbor- it causes him to prioritize his wealth over God’s kingdom, and therefore over following Jesus.

This is not a problem unique to this man of wealth, or to centuries ago.

Comedian Steven Wright once joked, “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?”

And years ago philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau remarked that, far from people owning possessions, from his observation, possessions often own people.

Years ago I had a parishioner who needed help getting back into her home following knee surgery. She told me the problem was figuring out how to move around her home using a walker, because she had a few things in the way.

I went with a group of volunteers to help clean her house of clutter; we were astounded by what met us as we entered her home.

Her home was so filled with broken items, magazines, papers, books and things she had collected over the years that there were only narrow paths leading from room to room.

As we tried to help sort through things we discovered she was unable to release anything to be thrown away, even if it was broken, moldy, or entirely useless.

This parishioner clearly had a form of Obsessive Compulsive disorder known as a Hoarding Disorder.

While people suffering from this syndrome represent extreme cases, we could argue that much of Western culture is also focused on the hoarding of stuff.

It may not be junk, or clutter our homes, but the constant drive to acquire homes, bigger homes, cars, luxury cars, televisions, HD plasma televisions, electronic gadgets and other high-end stuff may actually be symptomatic of a larger and more pervasive social disease- call it greed, avarice, or even “chronic wealth syndrome.”

Whatever name we give it, it has the potential to be just as debilitating and spiritually deadly as the hoarding disorder my former parishioner suffered from.

As Jesus teaches in the gospel, when the overwhelming desire to accumulate and hold on to material things begins to dominate a person’s life, it’s a serious problem.

Jesus wants us to learn that having it all becomes more of a spiritual and life-choking burden than a blessing.

When we come to believe that our worth is bound up in the things we achieve and accumulate, we become trapped in a material maze of our own making.

This is a serious twenty-first century spiritual issue for Western people.

Now we even have people you can hire to help manage your overflowing personal possessions; they are called, “personal organizers’ and, charging as much $100.00 an hour, they come into your home, interview you about your needs, and then help you figure out how to store all your stuff.

One personal organizer calls herself a, “clutter therapist” and says that the problem of clutter is not so much the stuff itself, as the mental state that makes it difficult to give or throw things away.

As our Finance Committee has worked on building a balanced budget and eliminating the nagging deficit our church faces every year, we realized there has not been much communication of our financial need, education about Christian giving as a spiritual practice, or any emphasis on Stewardship in recent years.

One result of this is that I plan to preach about Stewardship as a spiritual practice this November, in the traditional season of giving thanks for all we have received.

Our holy Scriptures are replete with examples and teachings that focus on possessions, giving, wealth, gifts, generosity, charity, sacrifice, and sharing with those in need.

Giving is a core Jewish and Christian spiritual practice because people of faith perceive God as being extravagantly generous to us, to others, and to the entire world.

The bottom line is that we give because we serve a generously giving God.

Paul speaks about the importance of putting God first and giving to the church community in 2 Corinthians, saying, “You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity.”

And this is so true.

Who here this morning has not felt really enriched, even happy when you have been able to give to something important, to help someone in need?

But our culture teaches us to live from the perspective of scarcity rather than the abundance of God’s grace.

Let me give you an example.

At another church Is served a few years ago, the Finance Committee met to face the challenge of paying for an unexpected furnace repair bill of $475.00.

There was no money in the budget for the repair, and all other accounts were pretty short of funds.

The committee members that gathered consisted of a retired salesman, a housewife, a banker, a teacher, and an insurance agent.

For more than half an hour they discussed options.

Should they borrow the money, postpone paying another bill, make an additional appeal for money on Sunday?

They considered fundraising options as well: maybe a bake sale, or a special dinner?

The thought occurred to them to go to the wealthiest member of the congregation, but this was a man who had not been around much, and did not have a reputation for generosity in any area of life.

As the meeting drug on, frustrations grew and good solutions seemed to elude them.

Finally, the teacher in the group just shook her head, and smiling, she suggested they simply stop talking so much and take some moments for silent prayer to see if God had any ideas to share, to provide another way to solve this problem.

After a few moments of silent prayer, the teacher looked around the room at her fellow church members and said, “We all realize that any one of us could write a check for the full $475.00 and it would not make any major difference in our lifestyle, comfort or financial security.”

And after saying that, she pulled out her checkbook from her purse and wrote a check for $475.00.

Then she said, “anyone who wants to join me can add their check, too, and we will earmark the surplus for refurbishing our nursery that needs new cribs, chairs and toys.

Well, three other people also wrote checks for $475.00, two wrote a check for $200.00 and $100.00 respectively.

What was the result of her generosity and leadership in giving?

The furnace repair bill was paid, and the nursery had an unexpected remodeling budget of $1695.00 to make that space welcoming and safe for babies and toddlers.

As Bishop Robert Schnase of Missouri said, “There’s no end to what the church can accomplish for the purposes of Christ when the sharp awareness of the assets, resources, and talents that God entrusts to us supersedes the fear of scarcity and the obsessive focus on needs, problems, and shortages. Extravagant generosity means graciously and responsibly placing ourselves and our resources in service to God.

What Jesus is teaching to the rich man who walked away, the disciples who remained, to us who try to follow Christ on our life’s journey today, is that love of God and neighbor is lived out through generosity.

Generosity is the opposite of selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-absorption.

Generosity is a fruit of the spirit that changes both the giver and the church.

I invite you to think about how you understand giving to the church, and what place generosity plays in your spiritual journey as I close with one final true story.

A long-time member and proud grandfather stood at the baptismal font with his family for the baptism of his first grand-daughter. Another infant from another family was also being baptized that same day.

Following the service, the two families intermingled up front while friends took pictures.

At one point, the mother from the new family in church needed to get something from her bag, and this grandfather offered to hold her baby.

Other church member and friends were mixing and visiting and several commented on the grandfather with his baby, and he found himself saying several times, “Oh, this one isn’t mine; I’m just holding him for a minute.”

Monday morning this grandfather called the pastor of the church and said he needed to see him right away.

The pastor assumed the worst, thinking that somehow this longstanding member of the church was upset about something from the service the day before.

When the grandfather arrived at the church what he told the pastor was that he wanted to change his will to include the church in it, and he wanted to know how to do this through his attorney.

The pastor was stunned, and asked what had happened to bring this man to this decision.

The grandfather’s eyes moistened as he said, “Yesterday I realized something while I was holding that other baby. I kept telling people that wasn’t my grandchild, but later it dawned on me that this baby was/is part of my church family, and that I have a responsibility. I’ve been a member of this church for more than forty years, and in God’s eyes, I’m a grandfather to more than just my own. So I want to change my will to leave a part to the church, so the church can continue caring for all my children, all of God’s children.”

What this man understood is that our joy and responsibility is to make new disciples of Jusus Christ for generations to come, sharing with them the joy of God’s love.

So, a few questions to take with you today:

1. How do you feel about how our church talks about money?

2. How do you feel about how faithful Epworth is with money?

3. How has someon else’s generosity touched you and made a difference in your life?

4. What is the most fun you have ever had giving money?

5. How do you feel about giving to our ministry today?

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
World Communion Sunday
Psalm 26
Mark 10:2-16

Communion Reflection

The gospel reading this morning has often been used both to shame persons whose marriages have ended in divorce, for whatever reason, and to argue against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Christians as genuine persons of faith.

Interestingly, there is nothing in these passages that addresses LGBT people, and not even an indication about how many wives a man may have!

Remember, Levirate marriage was common [where a man would marry the wife of a deceased brother and produce children in his name], as was polygamy.

In these verses Jesus is explicitly answering a question about how a husband should treat his wife: this is a passage about intimate, covenanted relationships.

Jesus emphasizes that when two people vow to become one, God is in that union.

Because of this sacredness, neither person is free to treat the other as disposable property.

This is the real point: that we, as hard-hearted humans, would and do treat one another as disposable property.

During Jesus’ lifetime this was especially true of people like wives, women, and children.

In this chapter of Mark, Jesus calls attention specifically to such persons.

When we are in covenanted relationships, no-one is free to treat other people as disposable property.

Just before these verses, Jesus illustrates the same teaching by taking children into his arms and blessing them. In the culture in which Jesus lived, children, like women and wives, were considered property- property to be protected and well taken care of when profitable, and turned out and ill-treated when considered a liability.

I wonder: where in our society do you see evidence of people being treated as disposable property? Do you see signs of hope that such use and misuse of people is being transformed into healthy relationships?

Remember, this is not Jesus’ last word about relationships. Jesus will not allow us to use Scripture to continue to use and misuse any of God’s children.

He reminds us that his words about the divorcing of wives, is really about the hard-heartedness of some people.

We need to remember that God moves among us, and through us, through our limitations and limited understanding to create new perceptions.

No Scripture passage is the last word. We must search all of Scripture in order to comprehend the community into which God calls us and invites us to represent.

How does your life and your relationships reflect the open community that God desires?

Today is World Communion Sunday, a good time to think about our human relationships even at global levels.

I have been reminded again and again in recent days and weeks of the smallness of our world: as I shared with you last week, I have received so many emails and cards from other places- other states and countries, it is sometimes almost overwhelming.

Deborah and I have reached a decision not to do any more interviews, at least for awhile.

There does not seem to be any greater purpose to serve at this point- the story is out, people are thinking about it, discussing it, many are taking hope from it; not a few are surprised by it! [read letter from Arlene…]

What a wonderful example of genuine human relationship, held together in Christ.

Then there are these two emails, from a mother and son, each one writing to me unknown to each other…[read emails]

This is the reason for sharing such a personal story, just as so many of you understand the importance of sharing your personal stories around the internment and other issues; it is truly the only way things will change.

We need to become aware of how God loves us all, and calls us all to love and support one another.

On this World Communion Sunday, may we rededicate ourselves to reaching out in new ways of understanding and community, remembering that through Jesus, God calls, invites, and embraces every person at this table.

Today we know there are special needs for prayers and practical support for our sisters and brothers in Samoa and Sumatra.

So as we gather together, we keep all of them prayerfully in our hearts: we are collecting clothing, and non-perishable food for the next two weeks.

Please bring your donation to service, or call to make other arrangements during office hours.

Something I cherish about our United Methodist Church is UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

All gifts to this disaster response agency go directly to the cause/area, there is no administrative overhead.

If you would like to make a donation to the UMCOR South Pacific Earthquake and Tsunami advance, please mark your check or envelope: UMCOR Advance # 982450 [you can ask me for this information also following the service].

The United Methodist Committee on Relief is an expression of those three basic rules of faith John Wesley wrote about and spoke of in his journals and sermons.

Remember those three basic rules of faith John Wesley taught as the root of the gospel?

Do no harm

Do good

Stay in love with God…

This is an opportunity for us to do good, as we celebrate the unity of our faith on World Communion Sunday…

The Great Thanksgiving…

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
09-27-09
Mark 9:38-50

A glass of water

The gospel of Mark revolves around the theme of unanticipated and unexpected alliances. Apparently a close group of Jesus’ disciples encounter a man who is able to help heal people in the name of Jesus, even though these disciples do not know him.

While they may have expected Jesus to understand their concern and support their attitude, Jesus does the exact opposite. He says, “Whoever is not against us is for us”, and whoever does so simple an act as welcoming someone with a cup of water because they are a disciple is noted by God.

In these verses Jesus continues to challenge his followers about what it really means to be “great”, and once again he reminds them that those who want to be first need to be last of all, and serve others.

There’s a saying that there is nothing new under the sun. Well, this story of Jesus’ conversation with those closest to him about greatness and what it means to follow God really shows how little changes in human nature.

All we have to do is look as far as stock market fraud, and even those in organizations who purport to stand for the poor, to see how little changes among humanity in general. But we are not here to talk about humanity in general. The good news is that we are here to talk about ourselves, and to stand together when and where we can to help create positive change.

Jesus teaches that we do this best when we learn to take care of each other, when we take the time to offer the simplest of human gestures of hospitality- a glass of water.

Jesus says that anyone who accepts his teaching and applies it should never be discouraged; there is no ‘in’ or ‘out’ group here.

The crucial point is that we follow the gospel; if we do this it will naturally lead to caring for others, which in turn will lead us toward the fulfillment and meaning we long for, which ultimately leads us to peace.

Addressing this issue further Jesus refers to those who follow him beyond his inner circle as little ones. He warns anyone, “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.”

The dramatic tone of this story makes the point clear: we are never to discourage someone from following Jesus, from coming to church, from joining in community, from expressing faith in God. We are never to exclude, we are not to be a stumbling block for either new disciples or people we have known for years- we are to encourage one another in our faith, and in our lives.

And from another perspective, we need to be open to those who may be unanticipated allies and friends in our lives.

In these verses Jesus reminds us that the “in group” may be far larger than we can imagine.

Can you think of someone who has proven to be an ‘unexpected ally’ for you or for your community?

When I shared my story with last month I had no idea how any of you would respond, or how you would react as a faith community, as a United Methodist Church, as Christians.

To tell you the truth, all of this is still so new we are only beginning the process of discovering what my story, your story, our story, may mean for this community and for this world in this time and place.

One of the things I most love about John Wesley is his practical practice of spirituality, i.e. his methodical way of putting his faith into action and then meditating upon his daily actions in relationship to his faith journey.

This is, after all, why we are United Methodists.

As followers of John Wesley’s particular understanding of Scripture and Christianity, we actually do believe in serving others, in caring for one another, in learning how to understand and uplift one another.

This is what Jesus kept saying to those closest to him, even when some who were farther away understood the message sooner, like the one the disciples were complaining about today.

At the Reconciling Ministries Convocation in Denver earlier this month I attended a morning breakfast bible study. We were each given a rainbow-colored bracelet.

On one side of the bracelet were John Wesley’s three simple rules of faith:

1. Do no harm

2. Do good

3. Stay in love with God

On the other side of the bracelet is says: “WWJD, WWJWD, WWID?

What would Jesus do?

What would John Wesley do?

What will I do?

This is really the essential question Jesus is posing to the disciples who are complaining to him about the actions of others, and it is really the question posed to us.

As a disciple of Jesus what do I do? What will I do?

It is interesting to notice that Jesus’ disciples complain because they have come across someone, “not following us”.

Jesus shifts the focus back to God saying, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us”.

We are called to care for one another, to welcome one another, and to treat each other with hospitality whenever possible.

There are times when a cup of water is an easy thing to offer; there are times when it is not.

There are times when a person has plenty of water to drink and there is no thirst; unfortunately there are times when some people have little water to drink and there is great thirst.

We can also understand thirst in a symbolic way; it really does not matter.

The point is that followers of Jesus offer hospitality; they do their best to be a healing and positive presence.

It is something like this example I found last week:

A stone is thrown into a calm lake and the stone makes waves spreading, reaching to the far side.

May we throw stones into the deadly calm that is our world, no matter how small is the stone, no matter how small is the wave.

The stone brings awakening, the wave is a movement, and the movement spreads when all of us standing together on all sides around the lake keep throwing our little stones.

The wave will never cease till the whole lake starts bubbling with life.”

-from a poem by Sun Ai Lee-Park

Closing Prayer: Eternal Wisdom, grant us courage to reach across borders of every kind, so we may for alliances with all your children of goodwill.

Together, Holy One, strengthen us to work for the healing and the restoration of the whole creation. Amen.

Jesus’ admonition

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
September 20, 2009

A Change in Perspective

“The greatest gift we can give one another is rapt attention to one another’s existence”.
Sue Atchley Ehaugh

What do singers; dancers, actors and actresses all have in common?

They desire to become famous.

On September 25, a new version of the 1980’s Oscar-winning movie Fame will be released.

The story follows a group of talented students through four years at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. The competitive energy at this school is high as each student is put to the test.

The dream of each of these students is poured out in a song: “I toast to my own reunion when I become one with the sun. And I’ll look back on Venus, I’ll look back at Mars, and I’ll burn with the fire of 10 million stars; and in time, and in time, we will all be stars.”

The dream of each of these young people is to become one with the sun, to become a star.

In the gospel, Jesus’ disciples are thinking they will become famous, too; they will be stars.

So when Jesus starts to talk about how he will be betrayed and killed, and then rise again…

Well, the disciples are less than pleased and more than a little confused.

Jesus knows they need a change in perspective.

So Jesus sits down as a teacher, and says to the disciples gathered around him, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” To be a star, he insists, is to first be a servant.”

To illustrate this totally counter-cultural point more clearly, Jesus takes a child into his arms saying, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” [vs. 36,37]

Now the jaws of those disciples must have dropped to the floor at this point, because, in the first century a child was a non-person, a nonentity, a nobody, a thing. There is no reason for a child to be close to a great teacher like Jesus, or in the middle of a group of adult men.

Jesus says that when we welcome a nobody,the least, last, lost, we welcome him, and when we welcome Jesus, we welcome God.

Jesus calls us to change our perspective.

Let me give you a personal example.

When I shared my story with you on August I had no desire to become famous, or infamous!

But suddenly there was a flurry of media interest.

By Sunday evening there were two newspaper articles about me, one in the online edition of The Portland Tribune, and the other in the online Sunday evening Oregonian.

Both of these yielded their share of comments. Most of these were supportive and positive; a few of them were rude and intentionally hurtful.

I was grateful when I saw that people responded to the hateful messages with positive ones, and most often with a reply intended to help educate.

Although I did not intend for this type of public attention, I am encouraged if people are even discussing such topics as gender identity at all.

One of the more hateful comments I saw referred to me as a, “thing”. Well, this is nothing new. I remember being called such a name back in fifth grade.

When I read this particular comment I thought of this verse from the gospel, when Jesus takes a little child, an “it” as the scripture reads, and, placing ‘it’ among them he says that to welcome those considered not even human, to invite the smallest, the least and the last of all-

This is the only way to shine like a star in the eternal sense of the word.

In the eternal sense of God’s Word!

There is a big message here.

Whenever we can think of another being as an “it” rather than as a precious creation of God, we violate the most basic commandment of the entire gospel, that we, “love one another as I have loved you.”

Years ago Jewish theologian and Professor Martin Buber wrote a classic book about sacred human relationships titled, “I and Thou”. In the book Buber relates a true story about a time when a young student came to see him. He said he listened patiently as the student described some concerns in his life, but was glad when he left. Later that evening as he was out to dinner with a friend, a colleague asked if he had heard about the student who had committed suicide. Martin Buber said he had not, then he learned it was very student who had come to him earlier. At that moment Buber determined never to treat another human being as what he called an, “It”, an object.

Instead, Martin Buber said he wanted to treat each person as “Thou”, as the sacred child of worth they are; he believed if he had done this with his student, the outcome might have been different.

The book, “I and Thou” discusses how we may treat one another with mutual understanding, compassion, dignity and respect, rather than looking at one another as objects, as ‘things’ I either understand and like, or not.

Jesus wants us to understand and to care for one another as sacred children of God, to give one another this care, dignity and respect as we interact together in this life’s journey.

This generally means we need a change in perspective.

I invite you to prayerfully reflect for a few moments about where Jesus/God may be calling you to a change of perspective.

As you think about this, I will share this true story as closing.

It comes from a favorite book of mine, “Chicken Soup from the Soul of Hawai’I” and it is a true story by Linda Tagawa titled, Grandma Fujikawa”.

Every Sunday after church, Mama would have the car loaded with a picnic meal. We’d hop in the car and drive off to the beach. But first, we’d stop by to get Grandma at her home in Nu’uanu. I’d be the one to run around the back and up the gray, wooden stairs tow steps at a time.

“Grandma!!!”

“Olight, Olight. Hai, hai, I coming!” (All right, all right. Yes, yes, I’m coming!)

“Olight, olight,” she’d laugh excitedly.

Grandma looked forward to our weekly Sunday picnics at Ala Moana Park. She came to Hawai’I from Japan a long time ago, but still couldn’t speak much English. I only heard her say, “Dinda, you gudu girl ne?” (Linda, you good girl, yes?), while she patted me on the head as if she was petting a dog. When I’d call for her in her tiny, gray room, she’d gather up her purse, slip on her shoes and roll the tops of her knee-high stockings until they were just above her ankles. I never thought they looked funny. I just thought that was the way she normally dressed.

She’d laugh all the way down the stairs and shuffle as fast as she could, all the way to the car.

At the beach, the older folks played Hanafuda (Japanese flower cards), but Grandma just sat and watched. I don’t recall anyone talking to her. She just sat all afternoon, watched the Hanafuda game, laughed and walked around the park. Come to think of it, every time Grandma was with us she sat, laughed and just watched what was going on. She always seemed so happy.

I never thought to talking to her except to say , “Hi, Grandma!” nor did I ever think of disclosing my private thoughts. I wouldn’t have known what to say because I didn’t speak much Japanese, and she spoke very little English.

When I went to my first prom, I never even thought of sharing my excitement with Grandma. And when I had my first boyfriend, I merely introduced him to her. She just laughed and said,”Ali su. You get nisu boy-friendo.” (Nice. You get nice boyfriend.)

When I graduated from high school, I just remember her stroking my arm saying, “Dinda, you smato girl ne?” (Linda, you smart girl, yes?) Later, when I graduated from college, Grandma came to see me. Her voice and the words were the same, and when I got married, Grandma sat at our wedding table. I didn’t really talk to her because I was so caught up in the festivities, but I still remember her voice,”Dinda, you guru girl, ne?” (Linda, you good girl, yes?)

Shortly after I had my first child, my husband and I moved to Japan. It was a strange feeling to be a literate, college graduate one day, and an illiterate henna gaigin (strange foreigner) the next. That’s when I began to understand what it felt like to live in a foreign country.

At first, I frantically thumbed through my little red dictionary to search for the right Japanese words to express myself, but thoughts came faster than my fingers could move so I put the book away. It was easier to just smile and laugh. I slowly began to understand how Grandma must have felt when she moved to Hawai’i from her home in Japan. Suddenly I knew why she laughed a lot.

The first time I went to the neighborhood market to shop, I couldn’t read the labels on the canned goods. They were all written in Japanese, so I had to guess what was inside by looking at the pictures on the cans.

I wondered if Grandma shopped by the pictures, too.

I remember the time I caught the bus with my three-month-old baby. I thought I had the directions down pat; however, when I got off the bus, the landmarks were different. I was lost and didn’t have a clue where I was. My heart pounded in my chest as I thought, Did Grandma feel as frightened as I?

Then there was the time when my baby was hurt, and I ended up at a small clinic where I couldn’t understand a word the doctor was saying. As he pulled out a huge hypodermic needle, I wondered if Granma had have felt as helpless as I did at that moment.

When I had a liver ailment and was referred to a Japanese specialist, I took a friend to translate. When I began asking the doctor questions, however , my translator refused to convey them. Later I was told it was disrespectful to question doctors in Japan. I wondered, How did Grandma deal with a new culture that expected her to ask questions in order to get information, when the very core of her upbringing did not allow her to speak up?

One day I decided to find out. I wrote Grandma a letter: “Did you feel stupid, illiterate, lost and lonely, too, Grandma? You must have had feelings of humiliation, isolation and pain just so we could have a better life. You always laughed and seemed so happy. I didn’t know.”

My letter was translated and then sent. Four weeks later I received a reply and the translation read, “For the first time in my life, I am so happy, so much so that I cannot help but cry. You see, for the first time in my life, someone understands, someone in my family really understands me.”

I still have that letter. Every night as I lay in bed, I day a prayers and then gently slip Grandma’s tear-stained letter out from under my pillow and read it.

Her words have become my own. Someone finally understands.

Closing Prayer

Thank-you God/Jesus for understanding us…

Help us to see one another as you see us-loveable, unique expressions of your very self…help us to give one another the greatest gift of al-to love and care for each other as you love us…

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley
Friendship Sunday
Mark 8:27-37
John 13: 34, 35: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples; if you have love for one another.”

Thank You for Being a Friend

Years ago there was a popular sit-com on television called, “The Golden Girls”. I loved the opening words of the theme song, ‘Thank You for being a Friend”:

Thank you for being a friend, traveled down the road and back again;
Your heart is true; you’re a pal and a confidant.

In many ways this is how I understand God’s relationship with us through Jesus.

Today is ‘Friendship Sunday’ here at Epworth, so it is a good time to talk, and to think about Jesus as our friend, and what that really means in the true sense of the word.

[Define ‘Friend’- draw on responses from Young Worshiper’s Time]

When we reach out to one another, when we support each other, when we desire only the best for one another- when we describe one another as ‘friend’

Then we are fulfilling both the answer to Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?”, and the great commandment to love one another as Christ loves us.

I want to thank each and every one of you for being here in worship this morning, and for supporting my trip to Denver, Colorado last week.

I heard the worship service was very good, and I had no doubt The Rev. Chuck Cooper would be both inspiring and empowering for you.

My time away was also blessed and renewing.

Because of you and your loving support Deborah and I were present for the 25th anniversary celebration of the Reconciling Ministries Network of The United Methodist Church.

While we were there, we learned so much about this organization’s early beginnings, and the continual growth, and hope for full inclusivity for all God’s people in the life of the Church that it continues to represent.

While we were there we herd of so many courageous and dedicated people and ministries, from all over the world.

I met Bishop Daniel Arichea, a retired bishop in the Philippines, who is a strong supporter of the church’s embrace of TLGB persons.

As he stated, “Very often human sexuality is an intellectual exercise until someone you love is involved. Then you have to go beyond theory to practice…you either love or hate…you either embrace or turn away. The choice is clear but not easy: choose love!”

On Saturday evening the Silver Anniversary Celebration included three awards.

I listened to many incredible stories of ministry, work for justice and inclusivity.

I heard about Anne and John Makokha, working in Riruta Kenya, to establish a truly inclusive community in both their church, and school of approximately 250 children, by supplying them with food, education and the example of what true inclusivity means in these communities.

Imagine my shock when I heard my name read as a nominee, and then, moments later, read again as the one to receive such an honor as the, “Voice In the Wilderness Award”.

I’d like to read to you how this award is defined: “The voice in the wilderness award is for taking risks, despite isolation in a wilderness, to proclaim the rightness of full inclusion for all people in the church, and for standing against injustice despite that lack of support.”

Receiving the honor of this award is not about me, it is not about you, although your part is instrumental in everything that has unfolded so far…

The award is for Jesus Christ, the One who has loved and continues to loves us, and who calls us to live one another with the same unconditional love.

Jesus Christ is the voice in the wilderness we each and every one of us follows; this is why we are here, because this is what we desire to do.

Through your support of me, both two weeks ago as I shared my story with you, and as the congregation that sent me to Denver, so many, many people are expressing hope, courage, renewed faith, and loving thanks to you for who you are as a Christian community…..

[Read cards…]

People from all over the world, and right around the corner are thanking us for simply stating the obvious in an open way, “God loves everybody.”

I cannot think of a more fitting, hopeful, or personally challenging scripture with which to celebrate “Live Aloha” than these simple-sounding words from John 13: 34, 35:

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you should love one another. By this they will know you are my disciples, if you love one another.

John Wesley, the founder of what we know today as The United Methodist Church said this:

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. We
All approve of this; but do we practice it? Daily experience shows the
Contrary. Where are even the Christians who ‘love one another as he has Given us commandment? How many hindrances lie in the way! The two grand General hindrances are first, that they cannot all think alike and, in Consequence of this, secondly, they cannot all walk alike…
But although a difference in opinions or modes of worship May prevent an entire external union, yet need it prevent our union
In affection? Though we cannot think alike, may we not love alike?
May we not be of one heart, though we are not of one opinion?
Without all doubt, we may. Herein all the children of God may unite,
Notwithstanding these smaller differences. These remaining as they are, They may forward one another in love and in good works.”

I want to take a few moments to explain the significance of this award-\there are two pieces, a balancing stick, and a clay pot…

[explain/read about each…]

May these qualities and characteristics of the Spirit lead us forward, individually and as a faith community, into new and fresh experiences of Jesus the Christ as our Friend and the one who calls us to live Aloha together…

Thanks be to God for each one present here today- Amen.

Epworth United Methodist Church
The Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
08-30-09
James 1: 17-27

My Book Report

Opening Prayer: May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable to you, O God, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Amen.

First of all, I want to thank-you for being here this morning in worship, and for giving me an opportunity to share a little about my manuscript.

I chose to do this is worship because my manuscript, my story, at its’ core is a spiritual story and journey; it is a faith journey.

Formally I have been working on my book for about five years, in reality it has been in process for many more years than this- for more than half a century!

A few months ago someone asked me what my book is about. This has been a difficult question to answer until this morning.

I searched for some concise way to reply and said something about it being about my life, my theology and my relationship with the United Methodist Church, to which he responded, “Well, that will sell about one hundred copies!”

He may be right about that; in fact my book may never be published.

That is alright, and it is not what is most important.

What is important is that story of my life, my faith journey is shared authentically with you in this house of worship.

It is my response this morning to the Scripture reading from James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.”

All of us carry early life memories and experiences with us through the years, aspects, dimensions of our lives that form our core.

In our present culture one aspect of life first named and differentiated is the question of whether a baby or child is a boy or a girl. How that question is answered leads to all sorts of ramifications in life as socialization happens.

The toys we play with, the colors we like, the clothes we wear, our friends, and even though there has been progress, there are still activities and professions that are considered dependent upon our sexual identity.

Most often there is no problem between perceived, external gender and that baby or child’s spirit and core identity- but this is not always so.

In my case it was not so.

From earliest memory, I saw myself as a boy. The boy who would grow into the man you see here today.

My fantasies were about being a football hero, or someone like Zorro, or a military hero.

My friends were other boys on the street. We played baseball, kick-the-can, football, and other games. We built clubhouses by the frog pond.

When I was about 5 years old I discovered by older brother’s discarded First Holy Communion Suit. It first perfectly and I really liked wearing it, so much so, that my parents turned it into my Halloween costume that Fall so they could get rid of it.

So, one of my very earliest, formative memories and experiences is me as a little boy.

At first this was no problem, but when I entered public school and kindergarten everything changed, because when the world looked at me, heard my name and talked to my family, they saw a little girl.

As you can imagine, things only worsened as I grew older.

By third grade it was clear I did not fit my assigned gender, and did not fit in a culture that had little or no reference to my experience.

Another early, formative memory and experience that forms and informs who I am today is my love of God, and sense of being loved, and connected.

My older brother’s First Communion suit was special to me because I knew Communion had to do with Church. When I was little, Bishop Fulton Sheen had a program on television every week, and I used to love watching it.

There was something about his whole personhood that made me feel close to the Jesus he spoke about and told stories of in his messages.

The love of Christ he personified for me carried over into other parts of my life. I used to line up my stuffed animals in my bedroom, open one of my storybooks, and “preach” to them. I wish I could remember what I said.

I do remember sitting outside on summer days when I was nine or ten with our family Bible trying to read it from beginning to end! And I recall I never made it past Genesis that year! But I also loved sitting outside and talking to God. It’s not that I heard some literal voice speaking back, but I always felt a connection and a guiding presence, even as a very young child.

So, my two earliest memories and formative experiences in life were:

1. I am a little boy, who is different in some way from other boys, and from other people.

2. I am loved by God, and I love God.

These internal truths are what sustained me during all that was to come.

In addition, I was blessed in my life by several adults and peers who saw me through what became a truly horrific adolescence and early young adulthood as many people, peer groups and institutions tried to force me into an identity I could never own.

Again and again in my life, when things seemed hopeless or at an end, grace intervened.

Two examples stand out for me today. The first took place when I was 15 years old.

I was at a friend’s house and as I walked into the kitchen I heard his mom on the telephone talking about a woman named Christine Jorgenson; as I listened I learned she had not always been seen as a woman, but had been born a male.

She had undergone what was then called sex-reassignment surgery in Sweden.

There was a new hope born in me that day.

As I listened quietly to the conversation, with rising hope I realized that

If she could find medical help, so could I. So, at the age of fifteen I determined I would begin to save money to travel to Sweden to obtain medical help to become the whole person, the whole man I understood myself to be.

From the moment I first heard this conversation, grace seemed to intervene at the right moments.

A family friend connected me with their family physician. A trusted teacher in my high school helped me find other supportive adults to talk to about my experience.

When I told my parent, my older brother and my grandfather they not only were supportive, but they expressed relief to finally know how to help me.

Finally, when the time was right, I made a phone call about where I might go to find medical help for a transgender person?

The answer that came back the next day stunned me: I did not even need to leave my own city.

There was a medical team for transgender persons at the University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio.

I began meeting with a medical team there in 1972; I was twenty-one years old.

For the next three years I worked with this team, completing every necessary medical, psychiatric, psychological, and socialization test necessary for transgender surgery.

This included beginning hormone therapy, changing legal documents, finding a job and living as a man for a full year before any consideration of surgery.

I did all of these things, and in 1974 and 1975 underwent a series of surgeries to help make my external gender match my internal one as a man.

The night before my first surgery I prayed a prayer of both thankfulness and intercession to God from my hospital bed, and I fell asleep at peace….

In 1992 I preached a sermon at First United Methodist Church in Corvallis, Oregon. It was the day that congregation voted to officially become a Reconciling Congregation, which, in the United Methodist Church, defines a church that is intentionally welcoming to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender people.

In the early part of the message, I shared a true story from my life for the first time.

No-one there knew it was about me personally, but it still felt good to stand in the pulpit and speak a part of my hidden truth.

This is what I shared that day:

It had become a ritual by the time I was in high school. I would get off the bus, enter my house, and go directly to my room. Then I would throw my books on a chair, pound the walls with my fists and cry- cry asking God, “Why?” And then asking God to help me, to change me; to make me whole, lovable, and able to share my love for others openly, like my friends could. I never thought about going to the Church. Distant memories of the church were of judgment and condemnation for people like me. The church never seemed to offer anything caring, or helpful, or hopeful. Years later, when I first shared my story with a United Methodist clergy, I remember how my heart was pounding so hard and so fast I thought it was audible all through the room, like “The Telltale Heart” in the classic story by Edgar Allen Poe. It was a relief then to be accepted by someone who was an “official” minister in the church. I did not know then about all of the other ‘officials’ who felt driven to keep people like me out of “their” church. Only later did I learn of Lay and Clergy delegates obsessed with making ever more restrictive changes in The Book of Discipline and in the thinking of Christians everywhere to make certain people like me could never offer our ministry, our talents; never share our gifts and unique perspective, our hearts and lives, within The United Methodist Church.”

In that message I was able for the first time, to connect in public, my life journey as a transgender man with my faith journey as a disciple of Jesus.

There were many years that elapsed between my earliest love of God as a child, and the message I preached in Corvallis in 1992.

There are many years that have passed between that message of 1992 and our service here today.

Only a few weeks ago, as I shared my story with a member of the congregation as I made preparations for today, that person said to me, “Well, it would be a lot easier if you were a plumber.”

I agree.

But the Spirit moves in mysterious ways.

When I joined The United Methodist Church while I was a graduate student in Oxford, Ohio, I had no idea it would lead to ordained ministry.

I was working on an academic degree, and planning to teach Comparative World Religions.

One day during my prayers, I felt led to at least explore a vocation in the Church.

And although I could not see myself in any public role, or leading worship and speaking in front of a congregation- I still sensed a need to search this direction, so I did enroll in the School of Theology at Boston University.

No one there knew my story, and while I was a student there I learned how unsafe a transgender candidate for ordained ministry was. And so I prayed again and over the weeks decided I would continue to see where seminary led.

When it did lead me into ordained ministry and in the local church I made a commitment to become the best pastor possible, to serve congregations for as many years as possible, and then to share my story when I was close to retirement. I thought that if I interacted with as many persons as I could, and they experienced me as a good person and pastor, it might be part of a witness.

I hoped that my knowing a transgender clergyman personally, many persons and congregations would really live up to the current slogan of our denomination and become, “open hearts, open minds, open doors” towards those perceived as different from themselves.

These past twenty-seven years have been a true blessing, and I look forward to many more years of ministry.

While serving in a variety of settings and among diverse communities of people, I have been privileged to work in many ministries, preaching the good news of God’s love for all persons expressed in and through Jesus the Christ.

During these years I added one more truth to the two I embraced early in my life, so my life experience now taught me three things:

1. I am a little boy who in some ways is different from other boys, and from other people

2. I am loved by God, and I love God

3. Most people are different from most other people in some way

My plan to continue ministry in this hidden way changed dramatically when I went on the Minidoka Pilgrimage with many of you in 2008.

[Define Minidoka- one of the government established relocation camps which Japanese-Americans living on the west coast were unconstitutionally forced to enter during WWII]

Walking through Minidoka with you I heard many stories, and I learned new words and phrases that resonated within my soul:

Shikata ga nai: it cannot be helped

Gaman: bearing the unbearable with dignity and grace

Gambatte: never give up, go for it!

These were words, concepts, tools and practices with which I could relate; these were experiences with which I felt a kindred spirit.

As I listened to stories at Minidoka, as tears were sometimes shed, and laughter as well, I saw the healing and the understanding that comes through

Sharing our stories, our authentic and deepest selves.

There is a profound spiritual and emotional healing that can only come to us as we are willing to share our stories and our authentic selves in community.

Again and again, during our Minidoka journey I heard people express the powerful cleansing and sense of freedom they experienced as they shared their personal stories of the internment, sometimes for the first time in sixty years.

The personal freeing was dramatic- but I also realized the importance of sharing personal stories in order to correct misinformation, and to educate other people about the truth through the sharing of personal experience.

Speaking our truth is one powerful way to help end misunderstanding, misinformation, and the abuse that can come when people do not understand those different from themselves. This is one way to be doers of God’s word.

Today I pray for this same healing and freedom for each one of us here, as we move to a new level of community together, and as we become comfortable with these basic truths:

1. We love God and God loves us

2. We are all different from most other people in some way

3. We still love God, and God still loves us…

Thank-you for listening to my book report.

I hope and pray we will write many additional chapters.

And thank-you for becoming a part of the heart of my manuscript.

Shikata ga nai: some things cannot be helped.

But we may practice gaman together, and bear what seems unbearable with dignity and grace, And together, may be always live in the spirit of Gambattee- going for broke in wherever God leads us in Christ’s name.

In Christ’s name.

Amen!

Epworth United Methodist Church
Rev. David Weekley, Pastor
Aug. 2, 2009
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35

The Gate of Heaven

Both of our Scripture readings this morning describe Jesus as the one who mediates and connects heaven and earth; as the gospel of John expresses, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians says of Jesus, “When he ascended on high he made captivity itself a captive…He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things.”

This image and symbol of a gate of heaven is not unique to Christianity. Every faith has a person, a place, a sacred teacher or leader who serves as a gateway to heaven, connecting heaven and earth.

The ‘Dome of the Rock’ serves as one such place for persons of the Islamic faith, the remains of the Temple- the Wailing Wall, is one place for like this for Jews. Buddhists strive to follow the eightfold path and the teachings of Buddha in search of Nirvana.

For Christians it is Jesus the Christ who fills this space, this gate of heaven, connecting heaven and earth for us, among us, and within us.

It is the connection with the sacred that Jesus is talking about when he declares that those who come to him will never be hungry or thirsty again.

He certainly is not talking about physical hunger or thirst, for we all know these physical needs are part of life and following a spiritual guide or path does not assuage these basic biological necessities.

Of course we still need to eat and drink for human survival.

The point is that these basic needs take less priority, are less consuming of our focus, time and energy when we are spiritually grounded.

I am reminded of a Christian such as the late Mother Theresa of Calcutta who managed to survive with one outfit of clothing and no permanent home, mode of transportation, stocked pantry shelves or stored barrels of water for more than 80 years, focusing her hope, and her life energy on the poor, outcast and homeless people of her country and the world.

Do you remember when the Vatican gave her a car, and she sold it so she could use the money for the poor?

Priorities and identified needs shift when we follow the spiritual path; when we seek the gate of heaven.

The apostle Paul, ever the pragmatist, goes into considerable detail about what it means to dwell at the gate of heaven with Christ in this life.

Paul says: “The gifts Christ gave were that dome would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us some to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be blown about by every wind of doctrine, be people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into the one who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.”

The whole point of our gifts, Paul says, is for functioning in the unity of the body for the sole purpose of building itself up in the love of Christ.

In our age of fierce individualism this is such an important message to hear.

The Episcopal Church recently held its national conference.

I have a friend who participated in some of these leadership gatherings, and so I followed what happened there with much interest.

One of the most striking and prophetic messages I read from this conference was delivered by presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori, who preached about what she calls the great Western heresy of individual salvation, “that we can be saved as individuals, that any of us alone can be in right relationship with God. That individualistic focus is a form of idolatry, for it puts me and my words in the place that only God can occupy, at the center of existence…”

John Wesley, the founder of what today is The United Methodist Church understood this heresy as well, although he taught much about the importance of a personal, spiritual relationship with Christ through worship, prayer, good works, fasting and every other positive means.

Wesley was famously known of writing in his journals, “The gospel of Christ knows of no religion, but social; no holiness but social holiness” [Works vol.12]

Religion cannot and will not be limited to an individual, private, inward spirituality if it is true Christianity.

God gifts every person of faith to serve the unity of the body in building up love.

It is through the grace of God that we are empowered to love and act hospitably toward one another.

For John Wesley this was especially lived out through acts of mercy, especially towards the outcast, poor and needy.

I am so excited that our Friendship Sunday theme is “Aloha, one Ohana.”

It is a Hawaiian and also a very Christian theme; it is the theme of both our Scripture passages today.

The Communion table, these elements of bread and cup are sacred signs for us of Christ’s presence with and among us as the gate of heaven today.

As we share this gateway together may we discern both as individuals and as a community how Christ leads us to become a gate of heaven in this life.

PRAYER:

Dear God, in and through Jesus the Christ you call us and lead us to become open gateways for the world to know your love. Help us, as individuals and as this community of Epworth United Methodist Church to abandon whatever restraints bind us from reaching out to one another or to the greater community, with the love and hospitality of Jesus. As we gather at your table today, be with us, and heal our wounds, so that together and as individual persons of faith we may become all we are intended to become in the full maturity of Christ- even a gate of heaven for someone, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pentecost Proclamation
July 19, 2009,
Epworth UMC,
Portland, Oregon.
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 and Ephesians 2:17-22

Coming Away or Coming Apart

INTRODUCTION: Even though the focus of my thoughts today will be on Jesus’ emphasis to get away from it all, I want to highlight another part of the text. This has to do with Jesus’ enduring compassion for all, and his examples to the disciples about how to make compassion alive, real, relevant, and without judgments. The compassion of Jesus stands out as the most remarkable feature in these 2 brief summaries of the Galilean ministry.

Jesus had no intention of ever dividing people into categories. The us versus them mindset was foreign to him. We in the United Methodist Church say that we have “open doors, open hearts, and open minds.” I’m sure I wouldn’t have to interview some of you long before I heard, “that open, open, open statement is our intention. It is our goal. But sadly in some areas that openness is merely a dream yet to be realized.” One need only read some of the reports from our UMC General Conference 2008 to see that huge divisions of thought, theology and practice still exist. Shame on us! We may have much to atone for one day! And just wait for the 2012 conference. Sides are already sharply drawn; each side sure that they are right. Our prayer should be that mercy and justice prevail.

In the setting today, Jesus and the disciples have been at the healing and teaching ministry almost non-stop. Crowds found ways of finding Jesus even as he attempted to find some restful balance for himself and for the disciples. They are tired, hungry and no doubt badly in need of a dip in some lake or river.

In this text, Jesus seems to be calling to us to be still and know when enough activity is enough. This passage lifts up the issues of our reactions to our own ministries, and remembers here that every baptized Christian is a minister. The press of needs especially in our ultra-electronic age will always be there. Some of us can be reached 24/7 through phone, email, text messages, twitter, (whatever that is) pagers and Blackberries. There is something to be said for availability but it omits the issue of balance in our lives.

Just one Biblical reference from one of the creation myths. Recall that God made the universe and its inhabitants in six days. We are told in this story that God rested on the 7th day. In most American mindsets, we think of that 7th day as just being tacked on after the really important work was done. Not so. The 7th day, the Sabbath was an integral part of the whole creation. Our rhythm of work and rest is integral to our being co-creators with Divine in our day.

There was a saying by the late. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle, but I just wish God didn’t trust me so much. “ The disciples of old are eager to share their ministries with Jesus and understandably so. Yet Jesus’ response seems to ignore their reports in preference of a much needed retreat.

PRAYER: Gracious Working and Resting God, may we hear this morning the words and meanings you intend for each of us. Put holes in our false preconceptions about the glory of work without rest. Teach us that intentional rest is not laziness, but rather a re-fueling of our energies so that we can be more effective workers in your Kingdom, the Kingdom that is already here and is yet to come. Come, Holy Spirit, come. Make your voice heard in our inner beings. AMEN.

PROCLAMATION: In the yoga tree pose you saw me demonstrate for our children, is an example of the benefits of physical balance. With advancing age, most of us lose a certain amount of balance we had naturally as children and youngsters. It is even important to learn balance with our eyes closed. Try the tree pose with your eyes closed. When you become good at this, the core of your balance will be readily there for you when imbalance threatens.

In yoga we learn about propreoception. This sense can be developed. It is known as “the ability to sense stimuli arising within the body. Even with eyes shut, you can know thro propreoception exactly where all of your body parts are, including the inner core of balance.

Just a physical balance is vital, so is spiritual balance for today’s Christian. Our culture would deny that balance, as work and even over-work are glorified in the USA. It is a challenge to answer the question, to what degree does my work, my career, even my retirement living define who I am. I was “caught” recently in a place of imbalance in regard to the family trip I’m taking to Hawaii this December. Early this year as my investments dwindled, I was haunted by the thought of just cancelling the whole thing, or at least postponing it until the market was stronger. A wise neighbor heard my thinking and said words I’ll never forget. “Patricia, how many 90 year olds do you know who say, ‘I surely am glad I didn’t go to Hawaii in 2009.’?”

It seems clear to me from the text that Jesus’ urging renewal was intentional. He did not say, “Look you 12, when all the feeding and healing and teaching are done, THEN you can go rest.” No, Jesus knew human limitations and that the disciples could only be effective if they had intentional rest. Some of us have an internal clue that signals us when we have given too much of ourselves away. Sadly, some of humankind does not.

Never shall I forget the suicidal death of one of my Indiana clergy brothers right after I graduated from seminary. A note was left that said, “Everyone wants a piece of me. There is just not enough to go around.” You may be saying, well, that is indeed an extreme example. Perhaps so, but the young pastor didn’t get to the point of making such a tragic choice overnight.

You may also be thinking, but what of all the interruptions and even emergencies that my life may bring? Those were considered by Jesus also. The text clearly indicates that their time of rest and prayer were severely compromised by the press of the needy crowds. But sometimes we allow other’s emergencies to become our call to rescue. Again, discernment and wisdom must be in place.

What are the benefits of a balanced life? For starters, we can regain focus and physical strength. Our relationships can enjoy the freedom of give and take when we are not so full of frenzy. Mentally we are more alert. We pay attention to right eating and sleeping patterns. We make time in our day just to sit and listen for the still, small voice of God within. Another plus to the balanced life is an ability to say “no” to requests from others. If we don’t know the power of the NO, how will we ever experience the liberation of the YES?

Setting and keeping boundaries is a key element also in the balanced life. When serving two rural parishes in Indiana as part of my seminary training, I told my mentor of the myriad number of “to-do lists” the two congregations had given me. I was initially distraught at how I was going to get all these tasks done, in addition to carrying a full academic load.

My wise mentor talked to me about limiting my number of Yes’s to the people. He suggested saying, “You have asked me to do 5 things. I can only do 3. Which 3 do you choose?” That advice has come in as a life saver in my 20 years since seminary graduation!

When our own personal boundaries are not firm, it allows, even invites people to take advantage of us. They do not know our boundaries and we have not made them clear. And so we come like a huge balloon of fluid just waiting to be punched from all sides, and then resenting those who have unknowingly violated our boundaries.

There is an unwritten “law” in this culture that says that doing, doing, and more doing is a virtue. But Jesus serves notice that doing so may b e knee-jerk ministry instead of knee-bent response. Knee-jerk ministry is often not well thought out. Knee-bent ministry is grounded in the study of Scripture, prayer, the Sacraments, and the wise fellowship in one’s community of faith. Knee-jerk living tries to be all things to all people. We are like the chameleon that landed on a piece of plaid.

My encouragement is for all of us to listen to God. Listen to the wisdom of your best self. Love yourself appropriately, for how can be of service to anyone if we do not honor and love our own being?

The late Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman of Boston Theological Seminary wrote, “Failing to listen to the sound of the genuine in ourselves is to render ourselves as always on the ends of strings being pulled by someone else. Taking, making time for renewal refreshes us and gives us a sense of who we are and whose we are. When Jesus urged the disciples to “Come, let’s go to a deserted place all by ourselves and rest awhile,” he was saying that the balanced life pleasing to God, and ultimately is valuable to those we seek to serve.”

Eternal God, we thank you for pause and reflection. We thank you for the example of Jesus who took opportunities to get away, to reflect, to recharge, to seek power from you, his Source. God please assist us to make our days ones of intentional balance. Remind us again that you are the Creator and we are your creatures. Enable us to be fit channels of blessing. We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who shows us what a non-anxious presence is like. AMEN.

Pentecost Proclamation
July 12, 2009,
Epworth UMC,
Portland, Oregon

“Silly for God”

Second Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19 and Psalm 100

INTRO: Initially you may think this a strange text for a Sunday AM. Need I explain that I just couldn’t “get into” the Gospel reading about the beheading of John the Baptist? Then I started to think about the story of David dancing in ecstatic joy before the Ark of the Covenant.

Strange as it sounds to us, the ark held the very identity of the people of Israel, namely the tablets of stone upon which the 10 Commandments were written down. The ark had been captured by the Philistines and now it had been re-captured. Imagine having the very symbol that stood for your people’s relationship with God stolen. The people felt spiritually adrift without direction and hope. No wonder one of the Psalmists said, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” This referred to the time the Hebrew people were in exile, a later time considered than our focus today.

Still it brings an application. Out of community lament now came great joy as under David’s brilliant leadership, their worship center was back. David, now the King of the United Kingdom could evidently not contain himself. Wearing what we heard as a “linen ephod” he danced with abandon around the ark. His ephod was not much better than a loose skirt with nothing underneath it all.

No wonder wife Michal was outraged. This wild dancing was no way for a king to act. She was not enthusiastic about this new Yahweh faith anyway. Remember there were many other religions present in the ancient world. Sometimes a witness to such unprecedented expression of joy can only find sourness as did Michal.

What can we make of this legendary tale that might be helpful to our time? While I cannot give ascent to the historical truth of the story, it is easy to say that while the story was not thought of as fact, the story did and does carry a truth for us today. Stay tuned.

PRAYER: Gracious God, we know that in the Human/Divine Beloved, the Christ you expressed joy in us, your people. Joy is part of our inheritance in the community of faith. Yet too often we allow the pressures of modern life to dull even our feelings of joy as well as their expression. Cut us loose from our inhibitions and help us to find ways to experience deep joy, alone and with one another. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable to you, our God Creator, Christ the Redeeming Reconciler and the Spirit of Freedom and Liberation. AMEN.

PROCLAMATION: In general, we United Methodists are a pretty buttoned-down people in the worship setting. Within the worship setting, we are not given to hand-raising, shouting AMENS, or spontaneous dancing in the aisles. Even outside this setting, we might seem reserved, even aloof, reserving yeas and hurrahs for a sports event in which we are invested. But here we have David dancing with inexpressible joy at the return of their beloved ark. What are we to make of it?

I recall being a part of a liturgical dance troupe at one of the churches I served in Indiana. It was not of the spontaneous kind that David employed. Oh no, that would’ve been “over the top.” Our dances were carefully choreographed by a dance instructor. Still, there was a sense of joy in the graceful movements we did, usually interpreting a hymn. I still miss the dancing and feeling the freedom of bodily movement. But dance is only one expression of joy.

Joy is not the same as happiness. Our culture seduces us with all kinds of promise about how happiness can be achieved. Buy the newest car, get your computer up to speed with all the fancy gadgets, and even attach human emotions to a possession. I’m talking about the Subaru ad that promises that one of their products is LOVE. It is easy to be lulled into the false promises spewed forth daily in our media. But ah, sadly, some longings of the human heart cannot be assuaged by things. Yes, some happiness can be bought but real deep down joy that is not affected by outer circumstances is pure grace, a gift from God.

Surrounding the days around the time of my divorce and my mother’s death, I had few days of happiness, but I never lost touch with joy. How can that be? I found joy in knowing God could and would bring me through anything, and also in a supportive community of faith who just companioned me through the dark nights of the soul. It was as if a heartbeat of joy was never stilled, even, and maybe especially in two of the most grievous times of my life.

There is a distance between wild dancing and quiet joy. I wonder how you experience and express joy. I hope I may speak for some of you when I name how we humans experience joy. Take the joy of nature for one. I was lying down on my couch this week and could see out the patio windows the spontaneous dance of leaves and branches of the 100 year old sugar maple tree. Out loud, I said, “This is as beautiful as watching a ballet.” Often as we enjoy nature, there just are no words to describe the resident joy that bubbles up. What grace. What joy.

Any of you who have been blessed with children know well the joy of looking at a new human face and often seeing your own reflection in this tiniest of creatures. When our daughter, Minda Marie was born in 1968, I recall saying in the delivery room, “Heaven has come down and touched me.”

As a pastor I’ve been privileged to witness the joy that comes via forgiveness. I shall never forget a young woman who sought me out before ending a pregnancy as she feared going to hell. I held her hands and said, “Susan, you have already been to hell. In the Name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven. “That is not to say this decision did not bring anguish with it, regret, and maybe even guilt. But Susan was able to finally able to forgive herself and go on with her life.

I cannot imagine the joy that some of you who were interred at a concentration camp felt when you were released. We in America have much to atone for regarding that dark mark on our national soul. Perhaps some of your joy was connected to having something and someones restored to you. Lamentation gave way to joy. King David also knew the spectrum of lamentation over the capture of the ark, and then its return.

Unanswered yet is my question of the week regarding my own expression over my faith. What ancient, metaphorical “ark” has been lost to me and has now returned? Oh that I could look inside each of your heads and read your thinking now! Perhaps in a less communal setting, you might be willing to share some of the lost and returned, so to speak, with me.

Let me close with two stories, both true. The first one is about the tragic drowning death of the son of the late author and peace activist, William Sloane Coffin. The son, Alex, driving at wet pavement in the dark missed a turn and ended up with the car upside down in a ravine, unable to free himself and his faithful dog. At the eulogy for this 24 year old, the father gave way of course to lament, but he also touched on joy. This example of joy is grounded in the very character of who God is. Coffin wrote, “As the waters swirled and entrapped Alex, the heart of God was the first heart to break.” The family’s grief never ended of course. Any of you who have lost children to death know that. But in time the grief softened and by grace the family was still able to hold onto a belief in a God who did not prevent the accident, but nonetheless was so present in sharing human grief. Again, what joy. What grace!

The second and last story has to do with my oldest granddaughter, Meghan, who will soon be 21. She is a junior at Georgia Tech and has already been promised a job with NAVAIR after graduation. This summer she worked as a budding mechanical engineer at the John Deere headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa.

In her young 21 years, Meghan and her brother David, have been given the finest in material things, in education, in travel, and in so many experiential happenings that enriched their lives. In spite of all this, Meghan has been besieged off and on with deep feelings of inadequacy; feelings that have held her back socially and spiritually.

During my visit to see her family last December, she and I talked about moving into our God-given status, hearing the same words that Jesus heard at his baptism. “You are my beloved. In you I am well pleased.” Evidently she has been able through grace to appropriate that for herself. I reminded her of the ancient one who wrote, “The glory of God is a human being, fully alive.” We shared how being fully alive to oneself, to others, to God is a gift. It is not merely a status quo of being able to breathe and have a heartbeat.

Never will I forget her precious words to me today when she called from a distant airport. (You who are parents and grandparents can identify with the GULP I felt as the following words were shared.) Meghan was relating how much she has grown this summer at the John Deere internship; a kind of moving into her abilities and thinking of herself not in a narcissistic way, but a comfortable “feeling at home within her own skin.”

These are the words that preceded my inner GULP; “Nana, I think you’ll understand when I say that this summer I’ve moved into my own beauty.”

May each of us here today hear Christ Spirit saying to us, “YOU are my beloved. On you my favor rests. “Surely as Scripture puts it, that is “joy unspeakable and full of glory. “ May all of us know the joy in Christ that the world does not and cannot give, and cannot take away.” Jesus said, “I have come that you might have joy, and that your joy might be full.” AMEN.