 The work of the women disciples in the time of Jesus & the early church is often glossed over in scripture- which makes sense when we consider the place of women in society at that time. Knowing how little status women held in general, it makes the presence of women disciples in the bible all the more powerful. So hear this story today from Acts 9: 36-43 as inspiration to consider the unsung disciples YOU know who embody sacrificial love. "Now in Joppa there was a disciple whose name was Tabitha, which in Greek is Dorcas. She was devoted to good works and acts of charity. 37 At that time she became ill and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in a room upstairs. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, who heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.” 39 So Peter got up and went with them; and when he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs. All the widows stood beside him, weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put all of them outside, and then he knelt down and prayed. He turned to the body and said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up. 41 He gave her his hand and helped her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he showed her to be alive. 42 This became known throughout Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 Meanwhile he stayed in Joppa for some time with a certain Simon, a tanner." This is the pinnacle of a faith experience. Through the power of partnership and prayer, Tabitha’s life is restored. Peter uses his faith in Christ’s resurrection power to proclaim God has more good in store for the world through Tabitha’s devoted spirit. She was a true servant leader among the early church disciples, this much is clear. But what I hadn’t considered as much is Tabitha’s legacy as an artist. Cara Quinn highlights Tabitha’s story with her artwork & commentary on knowyourmothers.com What sets Tabitha’s story of creativity and faith apart, Cara says, “is how she gave her beautiful clothing–her works of art– to everyone who needed them, no matter their ability to pay her. She lived out Jesus’ message to love others and value them above herself. Why? Because she knew the skills and resources she had been given were meant to be shared for the community AND because she saw the divine in everyone, particularly those others did not.” This is the legacy of faith we bear witness to on Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day hasn’t always been flowers and chocolate. “Mothering Sunday” was an early form of Mother’s Day within the Christian church, inviting everyone to return to their mother church; Another precursor to today was Mother’s Friendship Day, established to unite women in a quest for post Civil-war reconciliation between their children, both confederate and union soldiers. Another historical marker of today’s celebration was Mother’s Peace Day, petitioning for an end to war & slavery. These Mother’s Day roots are all about women empowering other women and the communities they knit together through right relationships and service to others- much like the disciple we celebrate today.. “Tabitha was devoted to good works and acts of charity.” Other translations say, “She was always doing good and helping the poor,” “always doing kind things for others, especially those who needed it most.” We KNOW Tabitha prioritized her community because of the deep sense of loss displayed at her death. Even Peter, a high-profile disciple, drops everything to rush toward her side. It’s this display of affirmation between Peter & Tabitha as co-workers in the church that moves me most. Peter sees Tabitha’s ministry as equal to his, even though her steady work of empowering women wasn’t flashy enough to get the credit her male counterparts received. You see, adventure and travel, exploring unknown places and people is exciting, mystifying work…and throughout our history, much of that work (including the disciples of the early church) has only been given to men. So Peter & Paul travel all across the Mediterranean world proclaiming Christ’s good news, and they get all the press coverage to match. Meanwhile, women disciples like Tabitha, whose recognition is a brief paragraph in scripture, worked equally hard establishing a community of believers. Her local efforts of planting seeds of sacrificial love were no less worthy of Christ’s call, it just wasn't the glamorous work that made the history books. For most of human history, the accolades of (mostly) men traveling far and wide are recorded…but someone was hard at work raising those same boys into men. Someone was putting food on the table and doing the laundry. And while I certainly know men who do some of this work, our society remains largely dependent on women to complete the unglamourous domestic work. Today is for every unsung woman who’s embodied sacrificial love without thought of recognition. We need both the high-profile workers for Christ & the unsung heroes, doing their laundry & dishes. Peter’s relationship with Tabitha reveals not only how necessary BOTH roles are, but how fulfilling life can be when we acknowledge the contributions of each other. We need creative types and compassionate souls; extroverts and introverts, singers and cooks, teachers & gardeners, folks who are wanderers and those who remain rooted. We need everyone to give of themselves for the common good, allowing Tabitha’s legacy to lead the way. So if you work toward right relationships, nurture others in compassion and justice, develop community through acts of selfless love, then we celebrate YOU on Mothering Sunday; Mother’s Peace Day & Mother’s Friendship Day recognizes YOUR contribution to this world. We affirm the gift of all mothers & mother figures who ground our communities and families with the sacrificial work of love. I’m wearing a new necklace today- it’s a gift Briggs made me in school. I’m delighted for a few reasons, it fits today’s message perfectly. First, other women made sure my son had a unique way to celebrate his mom on Mother’s Day (women empowering women), Second, here’s the note written in his handwriting on the glass: “I love my mom because she does all of the cleaning.” It may not be flowers or chocolate, but this simple reminder that my countless hours spent cleaning up other people’s messes has not gone unnoticed, at least not on Mother’s Day. Whatever your unsung ministry within our community is, I hope you hear in Tabitha’s story an affirmation. The countless acts of devotion you embody are recognized and appreciated by your God, who works tirelessly to create new life in us and through us- lighting the way with sacrificial love.
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 Hear, Lord, and be merciful to me; Lord, be my help.” You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever. -Psalm 30 I know for many of us, questions about Jack’s final days linger in our hearts. The truth I’ve been wrestling with since I got the call two days after Easter, is that our questions will go unanswered. As hard as that is to accept, I’ve found a certain peace in turning my attention to what we DO know. I know Jack felt at home here in this sanctuary, using the musical gifts he’d been given every chance he got. His relationship with God was nourished in this very space. I would try to thank him for his music ministry, the time commitment of practicing those beautiful duets with Gloria, accompanying the choir, even leading music at Edgewood, and he would just shake his head and say, “No no, thank YOU! I want to play- I appreciate the opportunity.” That was Jack’s faith lived out loud, shared with the world no matter if he got recognition or not. That same quiet and constant faith is what guides us in the midst of unanswered questions. I can’t help but think also of the significance of Jack’s death occurring during Holy Week. We may not know exactly when he died, but we do know he gifted us with his final songs on Maundy Thursday. And his experience of Easter was being closer to the risen Lord than ever before. My heart is drawn to the final words I got to speak as Jack’s pastor. We leave the Christ candle lit during our tenebrae service, a reminder that even in the darkest shadows, Christ’s light is not diminished. Here are the words guiding me through Jack’s loss, and I invite you to let them guide you too. “The story of Christ on the cross reveals that it takes a human with Holy Spirit, a human like Christ, to believe that nothing, not even death itself, will separate us from God’s love. Christ may have felt momentarily torn from God, “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me (just like you and I do in the wake of grief), but Holy Spirit never left Christ, and Holy Spirit never leaves us. It’s Holy Spirit that gave Christ the light he needed to see hope beyond his own death. Friends, it’s Holy Spirit who lights our way too. We journey forward, one day at a time, relying on the faith that has carried saints like Jack, affirming the truth of God’s steadfast love, “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Jack Horner is singing the praises of his Creator right now, alongside us, basking in the glow of God’s love. Friends, let’s keep on lifting our praises in honor of the one and only, Jack Horner, who rests now in the eternal peace of Christ.  On the first day of the week, at early dawn, [the women] came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened. The disciples went home amazed, but not after plenty of doubting, “Christ is risen? Nope- I don’t believe you, Mary.” I get it. The last thing the grieving disciples want to hear is someone telling them to “cheer up! Jesus didn’t really die!” “But I saw it,” Peter thinks. “I was there, I felt it too. My grief is real!” Peter’s emotional journey reveals something we all know deep within our souls: the best hope emerges after deepest grief. I spent a lot of time with a particular friend I met in seminary during her first pregnancy. I hosted her baby shower; I so enjoyed her company and was delighted when she gave birth to a baby boy named Ben. I moved back to SD, got pregnant with Briggs shortly after she had Ben; at first we stayed in touch- so much to share! But our conversations decreased slowly over time, until we weren’t calling anymore. I didn’t know why, exactly, chalked it up to being busy moms. I found out years later that she’d experienced three miscarriages, so I reached out again, but never heard back. Turns out, she went on to suffer three more miscarriages after that- six in all. I wanted to be supportive, but didn’t know how…any of my words as a mom who hadn’t experienced that sounded like an idle tale. How do we know the difference between good news and an idle tale-especially in the midst of grief? Peter’s response tells us that good news is only believable in the right state of mind…and heart. The process of grief is real and cannot be rushed. My friend knows it well. After each miscarriage, she got a lot of unsolicited feedback, the hardest for her to hear was this: “Cheer up! At least you have one beautiful child.” Over and over she heard this idle tale, carving more pain into her grieving heart. See, it may have been objectively true, Ben is a wonderful child, but “Cheer up!” never works when it’s said at the wrong time. Today, hearing Jesus’ story unfold with the benefit of hindsight, it’s easy to be like, “duh, Peter, that’s what Jesus has been saying all along, he’s gonna rise from the dead- I know, because I heard him say it back in Luke chapter 9! Cheer up already, Jesus conquers death!” Not helpful, right? I know you’ve been through pain too…maybe you’re grieving even today. The loss of a friend, a parent, or even a child, no one wants their grief to be minimized with a cheery little statement- and maybe Easter doesn’t feel so happy this year. Let grief take its course, don’t rush your heart. But when you sense an opening, recall this story- THE story of resurrection hope; it’s for you to claim as good news in your life too. See, Peter’s “idle tale” turned into hope when he made the choice to run to the tomb and claim the good news for himself. No one can do that for you. The women first to the tomb doubted too, but their hearts were opened by these words, “why do you look for the living among the dead?” Good news remains an idle tale unless we claim it for ourselves–always with the help of Christ. In Luke 18 Jesus says, “What is impossible for people is possible with God.” Can you believe that the impossibility you wait on might just be possible? It’s okay if you can’t at first. Life is hard to manage. Beloveds relapse back into addiction. Friends betray us. Mental illness persists. Businesses fail. Chronic pain lingers. Parents die. Children die. Families are separated by war. This is the stuff of life, and it's good to grieve. But if there’s ever a day to claim the good news that Christ’s love is powerful enough to transform every human grief- it’s today. Friends, it’s EASTER! Jesus says, I have come so that you may have life and have it in abundance. There’s no part of life, especially the hard parts, that Jesus doesn’t know intimately, within his very being. And there’s NO part of your life outside the realm of God’s hope. After experiencing 6 miscarriages, my friend had just about given up hope on having another child. But she and God persisted, and I received a truly hopeful Christmas card one year–news of another baby boy added to their precious family. A rainbow baby, as they say. And then a daughter. Three beautiful children who fill her life with love. Hope is not predictable- it wouldn’t be hope if it were. My own cousin shares a similar story, except without a happy ending. She remains in grief for the children she doesn’t have. I certainly have no “cheer up” speech prepared for her- or for anyone in the throes of grief. But I do believe deep in my being that Christ is in the business of transforming idle tales into stories of redemption. And only God knows how it will unfold for you and for me. Until we have good news to claim, until that moment when we can be like the disciples walking home from an empty tomb, “amazed at what can happen,” let’s wait on it together, on behalf of one another, trusting that what is impossible for us is always possible for the God who conquered death itself.  After Jesus had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” Jesus knows. Sometimes I forget this- he KNOWS on that donkey ride into Jerusalem what awaits him. He’s been foreshadowing it for his disciples. In Matthew 20 we hear him say to his 12 disciples, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!" He KNOWS! In fact, he can probably already feel the stab of betrayal, the pain of tearing flesh, the merciless hot sun, the final gasp. Even so, less than a week before his last breath, he rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. And he readily accepts this blessing spoken over him, “Blessed in the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” I wonder if Jesus felt that blessing—or something else entirely–knowing what was about to take place? We can’t know exactly how Jesus felt, but we know that he embraced his fate with as much courage as humanity has ever seen. He embraces this blessing over his body too: “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.” How many of us, when we KNOW something hard is going to happen- allow ourselves to embody peace? It’s mostly the opposite, right? We get anxious, maybe so unnerved that we begin to question ourselves. Self-doubt sinks in, our bodies begin to shake, our heart beats faster. Maybe we want to avoid the challenge at all costs. All of this is totally normal. To be human is to react against what is hard. This is why it takes a God like Jesus to reveal a NEW way of being at peace, even when turmoil surrounds us. I don’t know about you, but I often seek to create my own peace by changing my environment or circumstances; that works a little bit, right? When I’m anxious and go for a walk or run, my mind clears and my spirit feels rejuvenated….but I return to the same life circumstances that caused my anxiety in the first place. Unless….I allow that time away to change my heart, my spirit. Until I recognize that no amount of human effort is going to create peace, I won’t be open to the dramatic change Holy Spirit within me can create. Recall from last week- that spiritual change requires vulnerability. See, that’s what makes Christ’s entrance into Jerusalem triumphant- he KNOWS what’s about to happen to him, and he embodies peace anyway. How? He’s got Holy Spirit. It’s the only explanation for this scene, in which Jesus faces his greatest fears with a clear mind and heart: “Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven.” I tend to think it's a lot harder for us non-God humans to do this; but then again, I can easily get distracted from this truth: we ALSO have Holy Spirit in us. We ALSO get to choose to embody peace, despite whatever comes our way. We have the chance to change our hearts through the power of Christ. Sure it takes practice and commitment and faith- but it IS possible to be at peace regardless of our circumstances. On Monday- with my group of cool contemplative pastors on zoom, we heard this devotional on Inner Peace from Daily Word Devotionals I think peace. I feel peace. I am peace. Peace lives in my heart. At the place within me where all appearances of separation dissolve, I feel only peace, only God, only oneness. This peace is always mine, part of my divine inheritance. I carry it with me through every experience, every moment of the day. Nothing can destroy or even disturb my peace when I invite the divine presence, the Christ of my being, to be my constant guide. A passing thought of fear, worry, or anger is a reminder to breathe, to release negative energy, to embrace peace. I feel renewed when I meditate, enjoy a walk in a peaceful garden, or take a moment to appreciate natural beauty wherever I find it. My indwelling peace manifests all around me as beauty, harmony, and bliss. May the Lord give strength to God’s people! May the Lord bless God’s people with peace! – Psalm 29:11 Only God could have known how much my spirit needed that message on Monday. Just 5 minutes prior, I had lost my patience with my brilliant children who still can't seem to put their socks and shoes on in the morning before school! With my heart still racing a bit, I logged onto that zoom call- and I heard this word, “peace lives in my heart” and I knew it to be true. Even when I don’t pay attention to it, peace is within me. If only I make space to discover it- to practice peace…then I am drawn closer to the Prince of Peace who paved the way for me. What do you need to do to discover your own peaceful spirit? What voices might need quieting in order to hear the still-speaking voice of the Prince of Peace? What parts of your spirit feel broken, in need of the healing light peace can bring? How will YOU embrace the peace that lives within your heart this Holy Week? I’m not saying it’s easy- or convenient, or even natural. Embodying peace is perhaps the hardest work of all- but you are worth it- you were certainly worth it to Christ as he accepted his fate with courage and peace. This Holy Week, we remember that joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. Faith is not the opposite of despair, but the very road through it. Hope–resurrection hope– cannot come without first experiencing the grief of loss. Peace is not possible in this world until we discover the peace that lives within us. PEACE is the fabric from which our spirits are formed. Allowing us to say, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” May we be people who yearn for peace, as we enter Holy Week in awe of the Prince of Peace who leads the way.  Even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Friends, the fact that you are worshiping today tells me you too are still pressing on. Still yearning to know redemption. Still open to the stirring of Spirit within. The UCC is certainly not perfect, but as a denomination we proclaim something about God that I just love. God is Still Speaking. The word of God isn’t written in scripture alone. God’s word has been written on our hearts! And we MUST take our habits of the heart seriously if we are to understand what this means. Paul says even I, who got all the rules right, I am STILL PRESSING ON to listen for God’s voice at work in me- because God is still speaking. As preparation for ministry, many pastors receive a Master of Divinity. I was so grateful for my time at Princeton Theological Seminary, but in the midst of all the academic work and invigorating conversation with colleagues, one truth became quite clear. When it comes to getting God right…we never actually arrive. I didn’t really become a master of the divine. If anything, seminary taught me how little I know. So here’s the very anticlimactic reality about being Christians: Following Jesus is a life-long practice. I mean really- we have to PRACTICE in order to align our Spirits with God’s. We heard about this in Ephesians a few weeks’ back, and one key practice is prayer. Paul sums up prayer so well here. He says, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” Amen, right? Paul goes on to say, “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” It’s about intimate connection with a still-speaking God. Here’s the paradox of spiritual strength: Our ability to reach the spirit within often correlates with how willing we are to be vulnerable. You know, that uncomfortable feeling when we admit we don’t have it all together. Yep- that’s actually a GOOD thing, if we give God those broken pieces of our hearts, to make something unexpectedly beautiful. So let’s get personal. Given what you know your spirit needs to thrive, what habits of the heart are you ready to form- or perhaps revisit after life got in the way of your practice? This is your work to do- I cannot tell you that what works for me will work for you. Trust me, I see the look AJ gives me when I tell him I’m going to jump on a zoom call to sit in silence with other pastors on a Monday morning… and I’m SO excited about it. I see him get all squirmy. Not every habit of the heart works for everyone. Each of us has a spiritual compass that needs certain practices, and mine are not yours. But because mine ARE what I know best, let me tell you about this group of pastors who gather Monday mornings at 8am on a 45 minute zoom call. This week, after each of us shared what was occupying our minds and our hearts, we simply listened to a Taize-inspired song, repeated three times. This is roughly 15-20 minutes of silence, listening to one phrase over and over, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” The melodic variety of instruments moves in tandem with this very simple phrase: Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom. Here’s what happened in my Spirit. The first time the song played, I had a million thoughts swirling- not focused. The second time, roughly 5 minutes in, I started to feel at rest in the rhythm of the words, a few tears gently rolling down my cheek. If you know me well, you can appreciate this as a sign Spirit has begun stirring. Finally, during the 3rd time listening to: “Jesus, Remember me, when you come into your kingdom” a clear and centering thought emerged, something I’d learned long ago: “What is the chief end of humankind? To glorify God and enjoy God forever.” I knew what God was speaking that day…as my very important to-do lists grow, text messages run on for days, Spirit is always with me, tenderly beckoning me back to what matters most, “Emily, pause and enjoy the glory of being a child of the living God. This is what you were created to do.” And the meaning of the words shifted for me. Jesus WILL remember me, will I take time to remember him? That is my spiritual practice I need most. To be present in each moment God has gifted me. To take time and wonder at what it all means. And because I’m an extrovert, I practice this habit of the heart in the company of others. I’m here to tell you, on Monday mornings, Spirit shows up on Zoom! I want to know what works for you. What have you tried that helps you listen to the still speaking voice of God? I’d love to hear about spiritual practices you’ve found life-giving. Trust me, your response to these questions I ask-whether in conversation or email this week, or months later, it’s yet another confirmation that something really powerful happens when we are courageous enough to speak of matters of the heart. It doesn’t matter so much WHAT you practice so long as you DO! What works today might need to shift tomorrow- that’s okay too! We just keep on moving as Spirit moves, finding new and delightful ways to glorify God and enjoy God forever with this one precious and beautiful life we’ve been given. What spiritual habit are you ready to form today? There’s no better moment than now, as we enter Holy Week next Sunday.  I think the Apostle Paul’s writings (which make up a lot of the New Testament) have stood the test of time because his words speak directly to the heart And his convictions are grounded in personal experience. So as you hear this message from Paul today, remember he knows what it’s like to be really horrible toward followers of Jesus (he wasn’t always the Apostle Paul, he was once Saul- a man who denied Holy Spirit within himself and others). So he knows what it means to reclaim our spiritual love language, he knows the real change of heart it creates. Let’s listen for our own Saul-turned-into-Paul moment. 12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” This makes common sense, right? That my experience of the world is made better when you fully live out your gifts? We are better together when each of us does the work of discovering and using what I’m calling today: our spiritual love language. You might have heard of this book written in 1992 by Gary Chapman called The 5 Love Languages. A lot of people like it, some roll their eyes, most of us have likely not even read it. But we’ve heard of these love languages- and today I’d like to introduce Paul’s message by way of “The 5 spiritual love languages.” Here are Chapman’s top five: Words of affirmation; quality time; physical touch; acts of service; receiving gifts. So let’s pair these with the gifts Paul talks about: The spirit gives us messages of wisdom (words of affirmation); gifts of healing (physical touch); miraculous powers (acts of service); faith & knowledge (quality time); prophecy & discernment (receiving gifts). So whether you’re gifted in wisdom, healing, miracles, faith, knowledge, prophecy or discernment- (or fill-in-the-blank with a hundred more strengths), here’s the real gem: “All gifts are of ONE and the SAME Spirit. And if that’s true, then no gift is better than another. In fact, me using my gifts enhances your ability to use your own. We get this strange privilege as people of faith- to make various aspects of God’s Spirit alive in this world, until the full image of God is present at last. And in order for us to share our spiritual gifts for the common good, we have to discover what they are! What is your spiritual love language? Cherlyn shared Wednesday at Lenten Soup supper that she’s been making food for others since she was a small kid. Granted, it started as delicious sounding mud pies. But she’s claimed that gift, she’s honed it (quite a bit, I might add), and now we as a church benefit from her skill and thoughtfulness and generosity. I have hundreds of examples just like Cherlyn, because as I’ve gotten to know you, your gifts are made evident in this spiritual home. Most of you’ve already figured this out: When we offer our spiritual gifts in the company of trusted friends, the whole body of Christ benefits. What’s my spiritual gift? As a freshman in college, I took a strengths inventory (I love these and wholeheartedly support you completing a Strengths Quest or StrengthsFinder inventory online. My top five strengths, as an 18 year-old, were: 1. Positivity, 2. Achiever, 3. Includer, 4. Relator, 5. Harmony. A dozen years later, I took it again through my UCC-sponsored Next Generation Leadership Initiative- and I was impressed to discover that most of my strengths were the same. I think I swapped harmony for woo or something equally vague. I’m grateful for the mentors in my life who’ve guided me to pursue my strengths as spiritual gifts. As a positive achiever who appreciates relating to and including others in the quest for harmony- I’ve decided my role as pastor is pretty darn awesome. I get to use my spiritual love language, for the sake of the common good, and I don’t have to be perfect at it…because your strengths (given by the same Spirit), your unique spiritual love language, compensates for the strengths I don’t have. That’s the divine design, friends, and it makes perfect sense. Even if you don’t know your spiritual love language right this minute, it doesn’t mean you don’t have one- we all do, all of us made in the image and spirit of God. It simply means we get the honor, as your spiritual friends, of helping you discover it and use it. Isn’t that exciting? (says your positive pastor). I mentioned earlier how Cherlyn’s spiritual love language of meals/ hospitality is used for the common good, right? Well how do we know? 1. She uses her gift. She’s in the kitchen getting it done. You name the event, and if food is involved, Cherlyn will quietly ask if you’d like her assistance. So using our gifts is one way to discover them. But another, perhaps equally important way, is to share our stories with others. In recalling significant stories from our past, we create meaning from our lives. And sometimes all it takes is a bit of reflection and a good question from a friend for us to see more clearly what spiritual gift has been within us the whole time. This is what small groups of faithful friends offer. And if you’re in need of that type of group- we have table groups who are looking to add you. Heck, if your spiritual gift is hospitality- you might be brave enough to host a small group of your own. The authentic intimacy of a small group is often where our spirits come alive. As a final word of encouragement and warning- if you’re still not sure what your spiritual gift is- my positively-achieving, relatable self might just include you in a few woo-ing conversations about the topic in weeks and months and years to come…because the body of Christ benefits when you are fully you. End of story, one that is more beautiful than any of us can imagine. The story of God at work in us and through us. Thanks be to God for gifts of the spirit, Amen.  Holy Spirit 101 continues! Today’s question is this: how exactly do we connect with Spirit? Even if Holy Spirit dwells within us, as we discovered last week, how do we make the connection between Holy Spirit and our bodies & minds real? One that actually makes a difference in our lives? We turn to scripture to understand how we strengthen the connection between Holy Spirit and our hearts.
Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. So how do we strengthen our inner being with power through Holy Spirit? Eugene Petersen, the pastor who also wrote the paraphrased version of the Bible called The Message, says this of the Christian walk, “It’s a long and intricate and daily business to be formed in the likeness of Christ. We practice habits of the heart that change spirituality from a wish or a desire into an actual life lived to the glory of God. A phrase from a Wendell Berry poem gives focus to this. He says we “practice resurrection.” Even if we haven’t yet journeyed to the empty tomb this year, we embrace Lent as resurrection people. And people who believe in resurrection are also compelled toward lives of prayer. That’s what makes our connection to Holy Spirit real- we “practice resurrection” when we believe that something in us changes when we pray. That we can really connect with the God who put breath in our lungs; that breath itself is a form of prayer, because it’s confirmation of divine life beyond our comprehension. I trust you (at some point in your life) have believed in the power of prayer, because you are in worship today. And what is worship, if not a time of public prayer? Of communal breathing in the goodness of God? Even so, our journey’s with Christ extend beyond Sunday mornings, yes? And if that’s true, we need to build the chops for prayer as individuals as well. Are you ready to connect more deeply with Spirit in your soul? Me too. So let’s practice! Prayer can be as simple as paying attention to your own breath. It can also be thoughtful listening to scripture. Prayer may take shape in loving and open conversations with others. Prayer may be a simple word of thanks. Prayer can be scripted, like sharing The Lord’s Prayer together, or it might be the “Lord Help Me” whispers in a tender moment of struggle. Prayer is SO many things, and I want to affirm there’s no “right” way to pray, so long as what you’re doing connects you in love to God, your neighbors, and your very selves. I don’t know about you, but I also enjoy being guided into prayer by another. So this morning, I’d like for us to practice a way of praying that might be new to many of you. It can be practiced together, but it’s also something you can do pretty easily at home, grab a bible or even your smart phone, look up a favorite passage, and dive right into: Lectio Divina (pronounced lex-ee-o d-veena) is an ancient practice of reading Scripture as prayer. Lectio divina is a Latin term that literally means sacred or divine (divina) reading (lectio). We read Scripture, not in order to know more stuff, but in order to know Jesus Christ in the intimacy of a personal loving relationship that will transform our life. The goal, in other words, is formation rather than information. Four movements: 1. Lectio (reading) 2. Meditatio (Meditation) 3. Oratio (Oral Response) 4. Contemplatio (Contemplation- a wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the one who loves us) Settle yourself, perhaps close your eyes, take a deep breath. 1. A word or phrase that catches your attention. Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Read; Pause; Ask for response; quiet rest 2. Imagine yourself in this story, hearing Paul speak directly to you, as you sit on a hillside among other eager listeners. Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Read; Pause; Ask for response; quiet rest 3. Listen for a word the Lord is speaking to you directly through this story. Ephesians 3:14-21 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Read; Pause; Ask for response; quiet rest May you practice delighting in Holy Spirit that lives within you, speaking words of life and healing and wholeness- forever and ever. Amen.  Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time. I felt led to offer a Holy Spirit 101 course during our Lenten Journey this year- inspired by conversations I had with our confirmation crew this Fall. In speaking of God as three persons, the Trinity- I realized that God the Creator is easy enough to understand. Just look at creation, and we begin to see the intricate divine details of God’s imagination. God the Christ is definitely tangible- Jesus was human, walked the earth- and felt all the things we feel. But what about God the Spirit- the Holy Spirit? How do we wrap our minds around someone we literally cannot see? I suggest we start in scripture. Specifically, Jesus’ story in Luke 4. Jesus has just had his beautiful baptism scene (that’s why he’s returning from the Jordan River- and that’s where the Holy Spirit descends upon him, remember?). So where does Jesus, now full of the Holy Spirit, go first in his earthly ministry? To his rightful throne as king? His big mansion on the seaside? His place of honor at the family dinner table? No- he was led into the wilderness. Where the devil is constantly testing him. Where he doesn’t get to eat. Where he finds himself all alone, except for one person: Holy Spirit. Jesus experiences in the span of 40 days ALL the things that could possibly draw someone away from God; so how does Jesus prevail over every evil sent his way? He relies on the word of God, written on his heart by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I think the Holy Spirit is so hard for us to grasp because we’ve been taught that God exists far away from us. But in the coming of Christ, that’s simply not true. God lives within our very hearts- and it's the Holy Spirit who keeps us connected to God while Christ is physically apart from earth. Spirit goes by many names and feelings in scripture, and I’d like to highlight three of them today. I hope at least one of them IS an image you can wrap your heart around.
If Holy Spirit acts as our comforter, counselor, and conscience, how do we get in touch with the Spirit that ALREADY exists within us? That’s the beauty of Lent each year, an invitation back toward the center of our being, where Spirit exists in us all. Here are some tangible ways to lean closer toward Spirit’s voice this Lent, as offered by Magrey deVega, a UMC minister, published on Ministry Matters website: Give up the need to be right all the time. Give up your reluctance to ask for help. Give up your fear of failure. Give up comparing yourself to others. Give up the need to have things all figured out. Give up your fears of the future. Give up anesthetizing yourself to pain and suffering. Give up the need to be in control. Give up the need to make everyone happy. Give up all the non-essential noise in your life. This may be the toughest thing of all to give up, but it may be the key to a deeply moving Lenten season for you. Your life is inundated by competing voices and blaring noises from the culture around you. Pay attention to your breath. Take walks. Drive without the radio on. Set the cell phone down when you’re at the family table. Watch less television, read more newspapers and books, and look people in the eye when you talk to them. Most of all, pray to God, “Silence all voices but your own.” Turn down the volume of your life, and connect to a God who knows you better than you know yourself. Who is Holy Spirit: You tell me, what voice of comfort, counsel, and conscience you hear this Lent.  Today is one of the most spectacular days in the life of the church: Transfiguration Sunday! We spend a good amount of time celebrating how down-to earth-Jesus is (born in a stable, fought with his parents as a teen, but became a carpenter just like his dad after all, hung around with people of every walk of life, that sort of thing). And today’s story reminds us that Jesus also shimmers and shines. Like that friend who loves us just the way we are…but also wants us to become a better version of ourselves. Knows that we are worth the best version of ourselves– the world over! On Transfiguration Sunday, it’s like we get this one visual glimpse of what’s possible when love triumphs over all the mess of our lives. Today we cherish the life of Connie Deyer, we receive the invitation from Avera friends to be in care for those who are ill, and we recognize the devastation of entire countries facing real-time conflict. All of this, as we receive Christ’s story of transfiguration as the gift it’s always been: God in the flesh, writing us a story of redemption with all that shimmers and shines within Jesus and within us. There has never been a better day to embrace the hope of Christ. Luke 9: 28-36 28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. The disciples kept silent about the bedazzled Christ until after his resurrection, when the pieces started slowly coming together. Even today, the idea that redemption is possible is just not easy to believe. So we keep telling these stories as signposts along the way- creating a cohesive narrative for our lives. And over 2000 years later, it’s still just sinking in. May the truth of Christ’s infinite love pierce your soul today, as we lift Christ’s love for Connie. Words from siblings Dorothy & Pete Connie was 7 yrs older than Pete, and 9 yrs older than Dorothy. She was a mother figure to us. We played cards and put jigsaw puzzles together. She lived in New Orleans, Nova Scotia, Seattle Washington, and Houston with her job. She was very bubbly when I called. Very inquisitive too. We went to the children museum to see how things worked. She also looked for blue stones in the floor at the capital. She donated her body to medical students, to honor our parents who were in WWII. Connie had a good sense of humor. We climbed onto the jackalope at Wall Drug, and sang with the big ape. She will be missed. Personal Remarks from Connie's friends. I noticed this week in Connie’s church directory photo, she made sure to wear her cross necklace. This was important to her, because it symbolized a blessing. In fact, the first time she asked for a blessing on this cross- it was Pastor Susan serving the church. Somewhere along the way, Connie misplaced the cross. When she found it, her first stop was to my office to ask for another blessing. Sometimes we need a visual reminder of the blessing that dwells within us, don’t we? I imagine you have your own version of Connie’s cross necklace. We all want to hear God’s voice, “This is my child, my chosen.” So it was no surprise to me when Jeff called from Feigums to ask if I might honor Connie’s desire to receive a final blessing before her body was sent to USD for medical education. As I was praying over her lifeless body, I recalled as much as I knew about her wild and wonderful life. My tears that day affirmed not only how grateful I felt to have blessed Connie along her way, but also what a blessing she has been. What a blessing each of us holds in the vulnerable and honest parts of our souls. I’d like for us to conclude today by remembering this: no matter what happens to us in this lifetime, we’ve never really lost the most blessed part of us- the glimmer of hope that is ours to behold in our coming moment of transfiguration. And no matter when that day comes for each of us, may we use this one broken and beautiful life we’ve been given to shine!  “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” On New Member Sunday, here’s the perfect question to ask: With centuries of bad press and some really awful abuse across so many parts of the Christian church, why would anyone still choose to join one? I mean, really! History proves it: we’re just a bunch of humans who get it wrong half the time. There is nothing magical about religion. What is it, then, that continues to compel us to choose church, even all these years later? Even when the name of Christ has been used to hurt others? You surely have your own answers. Here’s mine: because even when Christ’s name has been used to hurt others- it’s been humans inflicting the pain and judgment, not Jesus. How do we know? Because of his exact teaching we hear today. Jesus is SO clear, even when it’s hard for us to hear & do: Love your enemies. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Be merciful. Do not judge; Do not condemn. Always forgive. Another reason I choose church? Because it’s a community of people who challenge me to be the best version of myself. Do you sense this too? Like Sunday mornings can be a reset of priorities? Like a short conversation with a beloved church friend can help you see your problem from a fresh perspective? Like opening your heart in worship somehow cleanses your expectations on another person’s behavior? Like it’s a chance to start over again? All of that can only happen when we have real relationships. And at its best, church is a place for those kinds of friendship to form. Religion professor Sarah Henrich says of Jesus’ Luke 6 teaching- it’s all about creating healthy relationships. She says, “This longing for relationship is not something unique to the ancient world. Longing for a faithful relationship, where promises are kept, and roots can go deep, a relationship that can be healing and produce joy is not something of the past. Jesus’ words to those who continue to listen today, who “give heed” in that old-fashioned phrase, promise that we have a part in that relationship with Christ and the church too. We are called to live in God’s realm, in accord with God’s character; the power is there for us to do it, to be caught up, to be healed, to lose the hostile spirits that hold us captive, to receive and live mercy.” What then, does mercy mean? Jesus is teaching these concepts of faithful living to counter the abuse going on in human circles. Turning the other cheek does NOT mean be a pushover or allow abuse to occur. It means we lay the groundwork, one person at a time, for a community in which accountability and grace co-exist. With Christ leading the way, we practice being people that affirm everyone’s value. Sometimes that looks like naming behaviors that hurt others. Other times it means listening to the stories of pain that precipitated someone’s abusive behavior. When done in an honest relationship, that is all mercy. And it’s the remedy to our vindictive impulses as humans. Instead of judging others as evil because of what they’ve done, we see them as God sees them: people who bear the image of the divine- fault lines and all. How is this effective? Well if you’ve ever reached the point of forgiving someone who really hurt you, you don’t need any convincing. You KNOW the power of mercy and forgiveness. You KNOW the power of choosing love. When (and only when) we finally grasp our own belovedness- we begin to see that which is worthy of love in another. That’s why I choose church, because you all ground me in this truth. Fred Rogers says, “It’s not the honors and the prizes and the fancy outsides of life which ultimately nourish our souls. It’s the knowing that we can be trusted, that we never have to fear the truth, that the bedrock of our very being is good stuff.” How do we counter abuse without condemning others? We form a community in which mutual support and discernment alleviates abusive behaviors in the first place, by holding people accountable & by extending grace in the name of Christ. Why? Because people only change when held accountable in a supportive, not vindictive way. Redemption is possible when we trust that Christ can use us to transform abuse into healing. The truth is, sometimes our spirits are so repressed that we won’t come to our redemption story this side of eternity. Even so, the very best place I’ve seen us try is in a church community. Families can be wonderful and supportive, but they’re often a fairly closed system-with power dynamics that make true accountability difficult. That’s what makes a church family unique: we are not a closed system. We are a dynamic community that is constantly changing and adapting, inviting new people to Christ’s table, and growing. This is why joining a church CONTINUES to be compelling, and why we absolutely celebrate the addition of new members. It’s our shared purpose to live beyond ourselves and even beyond our own families that makes the body of Christ really cool: we get to be a living expression of God’s word. Welcome to the fold, friends. It’s here that we are free to become the best versions of ourselves. And we’re doing it today and everyday: laying the groundwork for a community in which accountability and grace co-exist. It’s here where “A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” |
Rev. Emily Mungerdelights in connecting sacred texts with everyday life. Sermon Archives
May 2022
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Photo used under Creative Commons from Brett Jordan
