 I believe with all my heart that each of us is created good. Very good. I also believe many forces in this world try to trick us into being people we aren’t. Some tricky forces even make their way into our hearts…making us people who are fearful and violent rather than faithful and at peace. Jesus, being both human and divine, is the one who helps us back to being the very good people we are. That’s the story we prepare our hearts to hear this Advent. Matthew 3: 1-12 3 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’ ” 4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the River Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” I love this story. “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.” Yet as often as I’ve read it, I hadn’t noticed until this week that John the Baptist gets something wrong. He says, “I am not worthy to carry Jesus’ sandals.” That’s not true. He says it in the context of being a messenger of repentance. I wonder if he’s thinking about all the things he’s let into his heart that are not good. He does use some pretty harsh imagery for trees that don’t bear fruit and chaff burned off from the wheat. He’s wrestling with his own demons here- that’s the only way he would know the power of repentance. Over the years I’ve defined repentance in several ways. At its core it means: turn around- go in the opposite direction. Using John’s imagery, it means being able to recognize when we’re NOT producing good fruit. Because when we can recognize it’s happening, we can start producing good fruit again! Being the people we are created to be. A lot of people who read this text focus on the Pharisees, or the very cheery advent term “you brood of vipers.” These are folks who think their lineage (born into wealth & influence) makes them better than others. This is a problem, but I don’t think wealth & influence is the core issue. I think what John the Baptist eludes to himself is the problem. People who don’t believe they’re worthy of dignity try to take it from others. That’s the core motivation for greed and violence. This is my theory about why we can’t achieve world peace. I believe that deep down, people in power who choose greed and self-indulgence, even to the point of enacting policies of violence against others, don’t actually know their own worth- they’re trying to fill a spiritual void with earthly things. Bullies have been bullied, we know this, or at least they think power is something outside of themselves to be gained by taking it away from another. Bullies are not alone- most people I know have a really hard time accepting their worth. Jesus created us good, very good, we don’t need to prove ourselves to anyone else. It’s the destructive forces in this world, like greed and fear and hatred that try to convince us otherwise. I’d go as far as to say this is what makes humans spiritual equals. All of us struggle at times to claim ourselves worthy of producing good fruit. When we hear God’s voice, calling us the very good humans we are, that’s when repentance happens. THAT’S when we say, “God, I’ve gotten it wrong. I don’t need to steal someone else’s dignity to find my own. YOU produce good fruit in me, I will cultivate what you have sown. Let that be enough.” But cultivation is hard work. Those evil forces don’t rest. Bearing good fruit is labor, and labor hurts. When Jesus said YES to his path on earth, he knew he’d have to sacrifice his power to give us ours. And by enduring the evil forces of this world on our behalf, he redeemed humanity’s chance at getting it right. He gave us back the ability to see clearly- to understand in our very spirits that our worth is NOT of this world. Our worth is revealed in the good fruit of hope, peace, joy, and love. This is what it means to bear fruit worthy of repentance. To admit when we are wrong, when we’ve hurt another. To turn over a new leaf when we are not producing good fruit. If we ALL knew the power of repentance, (leaders & everyday citizens alike) I believe we’d experience true peace. But not everyone is ready to hear the voice crying out in the wilderness, not all are able to be their truest selves just yet. We can get focused on world peace, something abstract and likely not within our reach to change. But we DO have agency over our hearts & our everyday decisions. Let’s use this Advent season to be people who reflect on the fruit of our lives. What forces are at work trying to make us OTHER than the good people God created? These forces aren’t mysterious- they’re often mundane. When I lose my patience with my kids, it’s because I haven’t prioritized rest, prayer, play, and nutritious food. Those are the ingredients I need to bear the fruit of peace in my home. So why don’t I? That’s the question a repentant spirit will ask. What ingredients do you need to grow good fruit of hope, peace, joy, & love? What forces must you say NO to in order to prioritize the health of your very good mind, body, and soul? “God, help us cultivate what you have sown, let that be enough as our Advent prayer today, amen.”
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 Beloved Mickey Thomsen Where does God live? In people who hope. The Old Testament book of Isaiah is one of the richest stories of hope, because (as is often the case) God’s people find themselves in seemingly hopeless conditions. War. Families separated. Mothers in anguish. Children’s ears ringing with the sounds of wailing. Sound like today’s reality for millions of our siblings across the globe? It is. The same world in Isaiah’s day is the same world into which Christ is born, the same world that Mickey Thomsen entered nearly a century ago. The same world today. Always desperate for good news, God’s people then and now search for hope amidst the ashes. "This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord." The search is not in vain, because God’s way of peace is coming. We were created for peace, and we practice it each week in worship when we pass the peace of Christ. Several years ago I learned a simple melody inspired by Isaiah 2: We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God. I sang this song while marching in Milwaukee alongside hundreds of other UCC friends and colleagues around an immigration detention center that was keeping children apart from their parents. Driven by war from their countries of origin, not enough visas to go around, these families knew the wailing of separation. Cries for hope in what seems like an impossible situation. You and I could describe a hundred different scenarios similar to this that remind us things have not changed all that much since the days of Isaiah. We are still searching for hope, trusting that if we walk by faith, one day we will be able to join the great chorus that sings: We are marching in the light of God, we are marching in the light of God. As we lit these Advent candles this morning, the first candle of hope, I am reminded this faith community embodied hope long before any of us were around, and we sure intend to make it so long after any of us are here. Today, as you looked around while passing the peace, this is today’s people who hope. We draw from the great source of hope that is our ancestors in faith; today we embody the stories of hope that continue to germinate in our lives and those who will come after us. That's what it means to march ever forward in the light of God. I’ve been a part of this church family for 5 ½ years. As I reflected this week on what all has transpired since we moved here in 2017, I am aware of the many patriarchs & matriarchs we’ve lost and those who’ve moved away. I am also aware of the many new adults, youth, and children who have joined our body. It can be hard to hold this constant flux of grief & joy in balance. In fact I believe it would be impossible without one thing: hope. Even as we mourn the loss of loved ones, new babies are born and baptized. This is the constant of life: change. And we must practice the delicate balance in order to find our way toward hope. Pastors get to see hope in action as a part of our job (SUCH a cool job); my favorite way is to witness YOU ALL giving your time and energy to our shared mission. As we prepare to vote in a new slate of 2023 leadership next Sunday & prepare a faithful budget for 2023, I stand in awe of the way you all contribute SO heartily to ensure we are people who embody hope for one another and our community. You’ve caught the vision, and that fills me with hope. Now my favorite way to be surprised by hope is to receive the unexpected news of a large memorial gift to this church. Last week it happened again for the 4th time since I became pastor. My first year Glenn Kietzmann donated $30,000 for our Daktronics Sign, a memorial for Janet; Then Alice Doscher’s daughters Jeanie, Bobbi, & Mary donated $80,000 for our new kitchen remodel. A year later, Jim & Nora Wosepka donated $70,000 in memory of Verly & Louise to complete our Bradford Hall renovation. Just last week, we received a check in the mail from Mickey Thomsen’s estate in the amount of $25,000. Each time this happens, I cry tears of hope. People who’ve caught the vision and want to see it through, even after they’ve departed. Do we need an updated and efficient building to be people who hope? Absolutely not. God lives in us regardless. But because we function as a community who gathers a LOT for worship, fellowship, service, and good ole’ fashioned fun AND because we are people with a variety of physical needs…it is a blessing to be able to call this place home. Both Nancy Thomsen and our trustees agree that it would honor Mickey’s legacy best by using her memorial gift toward our new elevator. Accessibility and full inclusion are hallmark values for us as a church; a new elevator will improve our functioning in a big way. I don’t have full details on the elevator project just yet, but we will keep you informed as soon as we have the green light from our contractor. We’ll need additional funds (and you’ll hear totals when we have them), but we estimate already having over ½ of what we need set aside. Jack’s quilts in the back for purchase will also be for the elevator fund. So many displays of hope, even in the aftermath of grief. At the end of the day, raising money toward a common cause is an act of solidarity with all the saints who’ve gone before us. We are ensuring that this faith home will continue to be functional and vibrant for a new generation. This hope is what turns our mourning into dancing, our tears into laughter. I can think of no greater place to tend the delicate balance of grief and joy than right here in worship. The Lord’s call beckons us from the days of Isaiah: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. God will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in God's paths.” Thank you for choosing to walk in God’s path with us. It's my deep honor to share good news in the name of Christ as we begin another Advent season.  During our stewardship season, we get to listen to the gospel witness as a guide to our values. As we consider what is most important to us, we’re also naming what deserves our financial attention. We do this both in our households and as a church- we budget our values. It’s a way to refresh our memory each year about what Jesus says leads to abundant life (hint: it’s not what the very skilled holiday marketing experts are leading us to believe with those convincing ads). Sixteen chapters into Luke’s gospel, we see Jesus fulfilling what was predicted even before his birth; only his version of kingdom power shocks those in authority. He wears no fancy clothes, rides no chariots, buys no home, seeks no political office, he doesn’t build a wall of protection; no, he addresses the rich men in power who are neglecting the poor and says, “You cannot serve both God and money. When the Pharisees heard all this, they made fun of Jesus, because they loved money. Jesus said to them, “You are the ones who make yourselves look right in other people's sight, but God knows your hearts. For the things that are considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God's sight.” Reign of Christ Sunday is the perfect reminder that no amount of earthly riches satisfy the human heart. We are created to cultivate rich spirits, not possessions; but oh how the pursuit of things captivates us. You know that feeling if you–like me–have ever bought something to satisfy an emotional need…only to feel disappointed when it doesn’t? We were meant to gather only what we need, not more. Our daily bread; manna for today’s journey. I suspect Jesus isn’t as concerned with the amount we hold as he is with the hold that amount has on us. Jesus wants us to break free from earthly attachments, “For the things that are considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God’s sight.” What is the antidote to the trap of consuming more than we need? It’s simple: Jesus says, “give it away.” Why? Because Jesus knows we will never experience true spiritual freedom if we become too attached to our money. Of course money matters, because at the core of every financial decision is a value being expressed. I enjoy normalizing talk about money, because I trust, as Jesus says, God already knows our hearts. The expression of our generosity is simply a benefit to our shared goals, because generosity is contagious. It feels counterintuitive to ask an already exceptionally generous crowd to give even more during this month of Stewardship…and I might be more hesitant to ask for those pledge cards (due next Sunday) if I didn’t have the joy of filling one out myself. Our family has set up an automatic monthly withdrawal to this church as a way of speaking our values. In fact, I’ve come to appreciate reviewing my bank statement as a way to ask, “am I investing in what truly matters to me?” For example, I pay a car payment each month because I could not fathom doing my family life and ministry without it. I make a contribution to this church each month, just slightly more than my car payment, because I could not fathom doing my family life and ministry without you all. I feel truly fortunate to have the financial means to support this church, because I’m investing in us…in what God is doing among us in the Pierre & Ft. Pierre area. That’s my why in a nutshell. So many of you have shared your “why,” and I can't thank you enough. We are bearing witness together to the Reign of Christ, to the world in which money is used for things that make a difference, that increase our wellbeing; that bring life and collaboration toward shared goals: Togetherness, empathy, justice, mercy, life-changing community, worship, and service. I don’t know of another institution that is quite as organic and beautiful as a church family investing in their future together. I’m sold on church because of you all. This is my church- this is your church- this is God’s church; as Cherlyn, Brenda, and I remarked this week at our budget meeting- WE ARE the sole funders of this church. If I don’t give, if you’d give, we don’t exist. We are just a mom and pop operation here- and that’s SO cool to me- we’re hardworking people with enough faith to believe that sharing our resources is an investment in our wellbeing and in the wellbeing of our neighbors. That’s it! That’s stewardship at its finest. And that’s enough for me. So when I look at my bank statement and I see my church giving out pace my car payment, it stings a little at first, but I’ve been at it long enough to know I am better off for the investment made. You cannot serve both God and money. The more we practice release, the more freedom we receive. So THANK YOU for helping invest in the future of our ministries. In 2022 we’ve had 90 households contribute financially, that’s incredible! And if you stay tuned next Sunday, I have big news to share in the generosity department. Thank you for saying “We will not let the reign of Christ happen in this world without us!”  Jesus’ good news today emerges from real time spent with people who are suffering. In his (now famous) sermon on the mount, Jesus begins to address hurting people with a blessing. Hear it today in your own stories of pain and grief. Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. A reflection from Sojourners in 2017 offers a connection between suffering and hope. “This is how personal transformation takes place. We can’t imagine ourselves different than we are today or healed of that which binds and afflicts us. We can’t imagine ourselves forgiven. We can’t imagine our own salvation. But when we walk through the door of hope, and we look back at where we have been and where we are now, we see evidence of the grace of God. For Christians the Resurrection is that door of hope, and Jesus showed us that the resurrection comes by way of a cross. Suffering and hope are always joined in human history. The cost of moving from one reality to another–in our personal lives and in history–is always great. But it is the only way to walk through the door of hope.” Each year during All Saints, I reflect on how much more effort we put into tending our physical pain opposed to our emotional and spiritual pain. Its here in worship where we tend the wounds of our souls. None of us can escape the grip of grief. There’s no way around it; we must simply walk through it as best we can, holding onto the strength of others for support, offering our sorrow in prayer. It’s the only way I’ve ever experienced true hope in the midst of loss. That’s the story Jesus tells those who are looking for healing on that hillside over 2000 years ago, and it remains our hope too. “To you who are listening” He says, whether in need of healing or in need of sharing your blessing…Jesus is drawing us together for the sake of experiencing hope in the flesh. We cannot exist in communion with God without also being in communion with one another. That is the road map to our blessing we celebrate on All Saints Sunday. Amen.  Today we hear another parable from Jesus, in which we are meant to ask, where do we find ourselves in this story? Before I share it, let me offer a lens, in case it’s helpful. You know the concept of a caricature? Like- you have such and such qualities, but I will BLOW them out of proportion to prove a point. Okay- I like to think of the two people in this parable as caricatures of our own pride & humility. Remember the question: where do you find yourself in this story? “Jesus also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” I love paying attention to the caricatures of religious people and moments on TV. Has anyone seen the TV show called Ted Lasso- new last year? (no one at text study had either). An American football coach (Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis) moves to England and coaches soccer (or Futbol) for the first time. We also meet this side-kick of an assistant coach, Coach Beard; now he’s always getting into some type of personal drama- especially romantic. On and off again with a woman named Jane. In one particular scene, he’s sad after losing a big game, wandering the streets of London, somehow lost his phone… when he has this epiphany: Jane is the one! Trouble is, when he finally finds his phone, he also sees several angry texts from Jane who thinks he’s ignoring her after she (for the first time says), “I love you.” See what I mean? Personal drama. Coach beard is UPSET! He thinks his chance with Jane is over. He’s drunk & drenched from a downpour, and in a final display of exhaustion, he slips into a church door lit by a neon cross. Slumped into the pew, he bows his head awkwardly and says, “Are you there God, it's me, Margaret's little boy, long time listener, first time caller.” I love that line. It’s a fairly common trope in TV- someone on the sidelines of religion their whole life now attempting to connect with God in a moment of desperation. It also makes me laugh because it suggests God is a radio show host or something. But when I read Jesus’ parable, I think of Coach Beard as the Tax Collector…and I wonder: what in his past has stopped this “long-time listener” from actually making the call to God? Maybe as important- what made him do it now? The tax collector KNOWS he might find God in the temple (it was, after all, thought to be the physical place God dwelled)... but he also acts like he doesn’t deserve it. “Standing far off, would not even look up to heaven.” I hear in those words a deeper truth. Many of us haven’t felt worthy of being in God’s presence, so we’ve not risked prayer. We’ve not dared to make the call. Maybe we’ve been listening to God our whole lives, but haven’t had the right words to say anything back. You know what happens when this tax collector takes a risk and goes for it? He goes home exalted. He makes a connection with God that transforms his self-understanding. Are you the tax collector today? If so, are you willing to risk making a call to God? “Long-time listener, first-time caller.” God, in such merciful kindness, is waiting to hear from you. You ARE worthy of being in God’s presence–here in this sanctuary and in your own heart. Harness that humility and use it to create a new relationship with your God. And what about that Pharisee, that caricature of our pride. Let’s examine his posture for a moment. He too finds himself in the temple. He too is calling out to God. But he’s got a very different attitude. Here’s his prayer in a nutshell: “I’m really good, God! In fact, I don’t actually need you, I just called in to say how nice it is to compare myself with others and come out on top.” Okay, so if that’s a caricature, let’s make it more personal. When have you regarded someone not as good as you with contempt? I probably won’t believe you if you say you haven’t. It’s a human thing to do- that’s how Jesus knows we need this parable. It’s hard to admit when this happens, right? You know where I let pride get the best of me? When I start regarding another with contempt? It’s when I think about the parents whose kids are in foster care. This is a vulnerable thing to admit, because I absolutely know there are complex factors affecting every family- the pastor and social worker in me sees the systemic & psychological reasons why people are simply unable to parent their children. But the tired mom in me, the one who has overextended time and again to care for my little ones, that part of me gets real judgy. In fact, my own prayers sometimes sound a little more like the pharisee than I’d want them to. I don’t think Jesus wants me to be a worse parent- Jesus wants me to stop comparing myself with other parents. Especially when it leads me to feelings of contempt. Here’s the truth, no one has lived in the skin of anyone else, period. And making comparisons of who’s good and bad at this or that is simply not our job. “For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” I’m a firm believer that Jesus doesn’t make rules for the sake of rules. Jesus isn’t into religion so much as he is all about relationships. Jesus wants what is BEST for us, and what is BEST for all of us, is to stop comparing ourselves with others. Regardless if the comparison leads you to think you’re better OR worse, Jesus says, “not today, friend.” Today you are all worthy of my presence. Not only that, but you will automatically receive it when you open your heart in humility rather than pride. That’s what it means to be justified. The minute our religious actions make us think we’re better than someone else, we’ve forgotten what it’s all about! So let’s be present with God in our own reality and trust others to do the same. God knows our hearts. That’s enough! We don’t have to pretend to be anything or anyone we’re not. In fact, it’s a disservice to our spirits to think we could somehow attain righteousness on our own. Yesterday I was with the foster kids from our WRAP team, carving jack-o-lanterns; I got a chance to cuddle each of them & make them laugh by speaking in a silly voice; I altogether enjoyed the morning. At one point, I heard the 4 year-old shout, “Emily, look!” showing me his halloween costume; It was one of the first times I’d heard him use my name, and something in my heart shifted. Relationships have a way of transforming our spirits. Sure, I spend time with them because I think it’s a good thing to do…but I am becoming more aware that I need those kids as much as they need me. The more fun we have together, the less I focus on judging their parents. At the end of the day, it’s about the love we share, not the judgment we hold. It’s about showing up for each other, knowing we’re ALL in need of grace. Together on the same journey, doing the best we can with the resources we’ve been given. Thank you Jesus for the gift of humility to counter our pride. May we find the grace we need for ourselves and others this week. Amen.  Less than two weeks ago, we lifted Psalm 121 in memory of Robert Huckins, who had this text highlighted in the bible he used while serving in the military. Nancy Thomsen has also selected it for Mickey’s service this week. It just so happens to be a part of our lectionary readings today, AND integrates well into the tidings Cherlyn, Chuck, and I bring back from our SD, NE, & IA Joint UCC Annual Meeting. Hear this poignant (and insistent) reminder that no matter our circumstances, God keeps us in tender embrace. “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” My heart is still in rhythm with the energy of our UCC Joint annual meeting this week. And I am thrilled to share highlights along with Chuck & Cherlyn today. We heard from our Conference Ministers, engaged with excellent guest speakers, enjoyed family reunion-style conversation with our UCC siblings in SD, IA, & NE, and tended to the real-life aspects of shared ministry- like budgets and bylaws! :) Our local churches don’t get many opportunities to fully engage the wider church- but this morning is one of them, so feel free to ask questions of Chuck, Cherlyn, or I to learn more after the service. Here’s the 5-word vision of a healthy church offered by our keynote speaker Rev. Dr. Martha Brunell. A Participatory, imaginative, community of hope. We participate in a movement guided by the gospel, which asks us to imagine a world in which hope not only changes us, but brings us into community. That’s a participatory, imaginative community of hope. And you know what my first thought was? That’s us! We, First Congregational UCC in Pierre, SD ARE a healthy church! In fact, Cherlyn & I shared several knowing glances when speakers offered ideas that WE ALREADY DO. Like sharing a giving story each week in worship; like developing a church culture in which we ask for what we need and offer what we can. Like experimenting with new ideas, because we trust God has been alive in this community long before us, and God will continue to guide this ministry long after we’re gone. Martha shared a key principle that’s at work within healthy churches: We are always in the act of balancing gratitude and grief, fear and joy. That’s how hope is born. She says, “Hope is what we’re willing to commit to, regardless of what happens. It’s not about knowing, it’s about dreaming into the future together, and being delighted at the ways God shows up.” Church, WE ARE a participatory, imaginative, community of hope, and it my sheer pleasure to celebrate that with you all. Loving is who we are. Here’s one example of the connection I felt when we were together with our UCC siblings. Some of you may recall our October Messy Church text was John 3:8, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” I love this text, especially during a windy week like we’ve just had. It turns out, our new Executive Conference Minister Phil Hart does too! He used this exact scripture as his address to us Tri-Conference churches, as we embrace “The possibility to be unpredictably moved by God.” That is what makes ministry unique…we follow Spirit at work around us, within us, before us and beside us. We don’t know what the future holds, but we trust in the One who holds it. I have a final connection to share, but before I do, I’d like to offer Chuck & Cherlyn a chance to speak. Rev. Phil Hart spoke of the love he’s witnessed between the SD, NE, and IA UCC churches. I agree, the energy and love at the conference was palpable. Loving is who we are. My final connection is a tangible one. We have been invited to participate in THE FIRST sister church connection in our tri-conference. What does this mean? We form an intentional relationship with one other church, and we’ve been paired with Mayflower UCC in Sioux City, IA. In fact, Cherlyn & I met and brainstormed with Linda, a church leader from our new sister congregation. We don’t yet know HOW our relationship will form, but we are committed to this experimental way of expanding the reach of our participatory, imaginative community of hope. So be watching for ways YOU might engage, support, and learn from the ministries at Mayflower UCC, AND help us dream about how we might be good neighbors with them, in the name of Christ, the author of all our hope and faith. Amen!  Throughout scripture, a certain refrain repeats itself. So consistently, in fact, we nearly miss the power it holds. Okay, here’s the truth, I ignore this significant part of scriptural witness more often than I’d like to admit. Hear it today: No one can go it alone.
Mark 6: 6-12 Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 8 These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. I was the girl who wanted to complete every group project in school on my own. I AM the girl who doesn’t ask for help. I can do it myself… You can too, right? Equipped with enough resources, I can knock out any project on my own. I’ve got a heavy dresser to move up a flight of stairs? No problem, I’ll just shimmy it across the carpet, use one of those Menards roller things, then angle it up one stair, brace it on my hip as I adjust my grip to heave it up that next step. I grit my teeth, and by God I’m gonna get it done. Never mind the ache in my knee, the resentment in my heart, or the scratches on my newly painted dresser. WHY do I, do we insist on going it alone? Here’s how Jesus says it… None of us are gonna have any success driving out the demons of self-sufficiency until we learn to rely on others. We’re not gonna heal anyone–especially ourselves–unless we ask for help. And asking for help means acknowledging how desperately we need a source of connection…maybe even THE source of connection- Jesus our Christ. Where do we turn to find Jesus? Here’s a great place to start– look around you– the body of Christ. That’s not just a name for church, that’s who we are! Jesus is forming this authentic and helplessly self-sufficient crew of believers who know deep down that we actually need each other. Jesus makes this point in Mark’s gospel: don’t rely on your own resources (bread, a bag, or money), PEOPLE are the most important thing in your life. Take nothing for the journey, except a buddy. Oh, and you can wear sandals too. That’s the secret, Jesus? The buddy system and a solid pair of shoes? What else…invite ourselves into people’s homes? Really? What if Jesus is right? What if the secret to abundant life has something to do with connecting to one another? What if the buddy system is a form of salvation for you and I, this side of heaven? Scientist Matthew Lieberman wrote a book in 2013 called Social. It’s a strong case that our need to connect is as fundamental as our need for food and water. He comes to this conclusion by reviewing a lot of social psychology research that finds social pain is real pain. The suffering we experience when our social bonds are threatened…[think: the betrayal of a close friend].. Is as hurtful to our wellbeing as the suffering of starvation. He says, “With respect to understanding human nature, I think this finding is pretty significant. The things that cause us to feel pain are things that are evolutionarily recognized as threats to our survival; the existence of social pain is a sign that evolution has treated social connection like a necessity, not a luxury. [...] because of how social pain and pleasure are wired into our operating system, these are motivational ends in and of themselves. We don’t focus on being connected solely in order to extract money and other resources from people – being connected needs no ulterior motive.” In a nutshell, we connect because we were created to connect; The fabric of our being is dependent on how well woven we are into the community around us. Jesus knows this, he too was connected intimately within the triune nature of God- three persons, one divine being. He too was connected with his mom and brother, his disciples & friends, the same ones he sent out two by two on a mission of more connection. I don’t know what you think brought you to church this morning- whatever the reason, I suspect something even more elemental was also at work. A need to feel connected. Being a part of a church has been one of my favorite ways to experience this innate need for connection- even since childhood. But here’s the interesting thing- no matter HOW MUCH value I find in connecting with you all, I still try to go it alone sometimes. This Wednesday, of what turned out to be an extremely busy week for me…I came into the office pretty hyped up and scattered. Marc knows this version of Emily. Many of you likely do too. I LOVE the variety of things a pastor does, so much so, that I THINK I’m the one who needs to do it all, even when I physically and mentally just can’t. I guess I haven’t changed much from those “do the whole group project yourself” days. Thank goodness for people around me who heed the wisdom of Jesus and offer to be my buddy. Nance came into the office that morning to discuss a few things, and when she saw Marc and I with a pile of paper bug parts for Messy Church…she immediately started cutting. After hours of them laboring over little bug bodies and wings, I was more than grateful for their help; but then Nance asks, “what else can I help you with?” Whew, I’m REALLY not good at answering that question. Honestly my first thought was, ‘don’t you have something more important to do?’ as if helping me shouldn’t be a priority (that’s the demon of self-sufficiency rearing its head). I stammered for a bit, looked around as if the answer were on my desk or floor…and suddenly I said “Googly-eyes. We need googly-eyes.” Immediately after I said it, I felt ridiculous; but when the confirmands and I began setting up Messy Church, I felt this wave of joy seeing those packages of googly-eyes awaiting us. It feels GOOD to be helped. Friends, it’s not really about the googly eyes is it? It’s about the connection we create when we acknowledge a need. When we let someone else help us, it’s good for everyone! It’s a more abundant life! What part of your life needs more abundance? Are you struggling to find balance, to set priorities for yourself and your family? Maybe you’re lonely; or maybe the constant demands on your time mean only one thing: you’re in sheer survival mode. Wherever your need for more abundance might be, here’s the invitation…let someone know your need. Isn’t it crazy that it’s often the last thing we think of doing- asking for help? Invite another person into the mess that is life. If people have already failed you when you asked for help…start with prayer. Allow a connection with God to open your heart to new possibilities. You never know who will enter your life next. What we do know is this: no one can go it alone. May we all find a buddy, a Nance who runs out and buys googly-eyes in our moment of chaos. May we discover connections anew right here in this church body as we gather to mourn; to sing; to laugh; to learn; to help; to worship, to talk; to hold hands and pray; to listen and to be heard. May we do the work of Christ’s disciples, delighted by the simplicity of our task: make a connection.  Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. Fear is a perfectly normal (and often helpful) survival tool. Fear alerts us to real dangers; Take for example abuse, which can happen right inside our homes, the very place we’re supposed to feel safe. Listening to fear and responding a certain way IS a valid coping mechanism. Plenty of other real dangers exist, and I don’t believe this scripture is meant to minimize any fear that keeps us safe. The problem is, we feel FEAR in our guts for a lot of reasons, and not ALL of them should we avoid. In fact, FEAR of a stranger is one of the most universal experiences. While it served us well in our hunting and gathering days…and OCCASIONALLY even today, often it doesn’t. Fearing what we don’t yet know keeps us from the kind of relationships that will enhance our wellbeing if we’re open to meeting new people. Okay, a little theology here…you and I weren’t made to stretch ourselves in this way- we were created to be a part of family units; tribes; people we belong to. Being a part of a tribe is a good thing, but tribal love isn’t. Tribal love says, “I will love my people, those in my orbit, the folks who think like me and believe like I do. My tribe, I’ll love them.” Tribal love is limited at its best, and at its worst, it can lead to hate, simply because its limits define who deserves love and who doesn’t. That’s why Jesus came, to abolish tribal love in favor of true love. God saw the kind of violence that becomes possible when we humans are left to ourselves. Jesus offers us another way of orienting ourselves in this world. He frees us from our human propensity to destroy ourselves by destroying each other. The author of 1 John says we need to be saved from the thing that keeps us from love. In a word, fear. Vs. 16 “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” That’s the only way we can learn to love strangers; by first accepting the love God has for us. We know this love is true, because one by one, each person Jesus encountered in his life of ministry was changed. The Jesus revolution remains as necessary today as when this scripture was written. We, empowered by Christ’s love for us, CAN redeem one relationship at a time by our ability to overcome fear with love. On World Communion Sunday, I suggest we begin to practice this kind love with those who share our faith in Christ. One of the things I love about this day is the vision: SO many colors and creeds and languages representing the body of Christ. Lord knows we have a LONG way to go learning how to overcome fear with love in the Christian community. And if we can’t figure out how to love other Christians, how in the heck are we ever gonna love God’s beloveds who practice other religions or no religion at all? When 1 John says, “In this world we are [to be] like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,” it’s an invitation to claim the control we DO have over our feelings. Yes, fear is a natural human response to strangers AND we don’t have to engage in it, especially when it’s not helpful. We CAN choose love. That’s the good news. So how does it happen? What’s the secret for overcoming our fear of strangers? Getting to know them. When AJ & I lived in NJ, we were a part of a church that welcomed in a motley crew of Christians. This South Dakota farm girl was intrigued, but also intimidated. Most Sundays during coffee hour, I tried to find a table with familiar faces; I recall one Sunday, however, when I mustered up the courage to sit across the table from a family who recently moved from Indonesia. I was really nervous. I didn’t know a thing about Indonesia. Our skin didn’t look the same, our voices could hardly be recognized by one another; we ate WAY different flavors in food, and I really wasn’t sure what to say. I didn’t know if they spoke any English. After sitting a few minutes in nervous tension, I began to notice the smiles on their faces. And so I smiled too…and I don’t remember what I said or didn’t say that day, but I do know smiling together at coffee hour was enough to make us friends. AJ & I went on to meet people from SEVERAL different countries and walks of life while in NJ. Here’s the coolest part. Not only did those relationships make it easier to keep choosing love over fear, but they also helped me gain confidence in my ability to see what I hold in common with someone else, more than what makes us different. You wanna know a secret? Pierre, SD has SO many people from diverse backgrounds if only we have eyes to see and ears to perceive. Here’s what I find myself asking right here: Whose story have I yet to hear that will change me? How can I expand my vision of Christ’s love by engaging my fear with faith? Who might benefit from hearing my story? Jesus’ ministry unfolded one relationship after the other, ours will too. That’s how it works. We allow faith to lead us toward love more than fear, and gradually- the knowing smiles of a shared experience will shape us into the eclectic, beautiful, gracious community God intends us to be. “Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.” Pick one person you’re a little afraid of- and exchange some form of loving action. It could even be anonymous, so long as it’s rooted in the love of Christ, it will be enough to change hearts…yours and theirs alike.  Much of the Apostle Paul’s writing in the New Testament is instructions for newer Christians who are trying to figure out what the Gospel looks like in everyday life. Timothy, the person receiving Paul’s words here, is someone Paul is mentoring into leadership within the church. I’d like to begin with the end in mind today. Take hold of the life that really is life. Rather than hear Paul’s writing as a list of rules, listen to where this passage is calling YOU to take hold of all that is life-giving and release the rest, the senseless things that trap our spirits and lead to destructive ways of being in this world.
1 Timothy 6: 6-19 “Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. 11 But as for you, Timothy, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will bring about at the right time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. 16 It is he alone who has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see; to him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, 19 thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” God created you and I to experience life in abundance- Paul gives great examples of “life that really is life” like making right choices, placing God at the center, practicing faith, love, endurance, & gentleness. All these, “treasures of a good foundation for our future.” He gives an example of the difference it makes in our hearts how we handle something as essential as money. What meaning are you attaching to it? Paul asks. Are you using it for the wellbeing of all- or just yourself? A spending spree feels good for a moment, yes it does, but generosity leads to life that really is life. Pursue that life, Paul says, the one in which people matter more than things. We all yearn for deep connection. It's a truth that transcends time and space. Whether it’s today, in Paul’s day, in the time before written language itself…people needed other people. We know that life itself does not happen apart from a carefully orchestrated ecosystem. Look around you today- here’s the proof! And we know in an ecosystem what affects one, affects all. Even though we are wired for it, Paul reminds us we must TAKE HOLD of those relationships- pursuing them for abundant life’s sake. This is our last week with Brene Brown’s guideposts for whole-hearted living. Along with courage and compassion, CONNECTION is essential to our well being. Life that really is life is a life truly connected. In a 2017 interview with Forbes magazine, Brene Brown addresses the spiritual crisis of dehumanizing behavior we see in a society fractured along political and religious ideologies. She speaks of the courage and compassion needed, both of which cannot happen apart from real connection. “True belonging is not passive. It’s not the belonging that comes with just joining a group. It’s not fitting in or pretending or selling out because it’s safer. It’s a practice that requires us to be vulnerable, get uncomfortable, and learn how to be present with people without sacrificing who we are. If we are going to change what is happening in a meaningful way we’re going to need to intentionally be with people who are different from us. We’re going to have to sign up and join, and take a seat at the table. We’re going to have to learn how to listen, have hard conversations, look for joy, share pain, and be more curious than defensive, all while seeking moments of togetherness. Friends, I cannot think of a better place to practice this type of connection that right here in church. It takes courage for new members to join, and we rejoice in your courageous act today, Kyle & Casey. We hope to be an authentic and compassionate community that helps you raise Evelyn into life abundant. We also hope you take seriously the call to shape us into a new future together. Relationships don’t just happen, and next week we’ll ponder together what new ways we as a church can prioritize being really connected. Even in the fabric of ministry leadership, I have learned so much in five years about the true value each of you bring to the table. But we’re in the park this morning, we have beautiful food and good conversation awaiting us, so I won’t launch into sermon number 2 today. Let me wrap it up with this: I want this church to be a place where you discover the life that really is life. Where you can take hold of it alongside me. We need EVERY VOICE at the table to make it happen, and that begins with an invitation. A real human-to-human encounter that says “You matter.” Here’s my ask: Make one new connection within this church family this week. Send one card, write one email, use our member directory to reach out to one person. Grab coffee, go for a walk. Say a prayer together. You don’t even have to be strangers, maybe you’ve worshiped alongside each other for 5 years, but still don’t know if that person has any siblings. Ask. Practice that courage, compassion, and connection we know to be essential to OUR OWN wellbeing AND the wellbeing of this community centered in Christ’s love. That’s the best kind of generosity there is: the gift of attention. Thanks for being church for one another- we wouldn’t be as strong without you. Amen.  I am convinced that the only way we can have compassion for others is when we show compassion to our own selves. I am equally convinced that the only way we show compassion to ourselves is if we believe God shows compassion to us. You’ll hear in our text today that true peace comes from accepting the compassion Christ offers each of us. Think you’re not worthy? Think again…because the way of salvation is allowing Christ to re-activate our sense of worthiness. Another way you often hear me say it… we claim God’s blessing on our lives, when we cultivate the kind of self-worth that leads to compassion- for ourselves and for every single other human on this planet. 1 Timothy 2: 1-7 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and acceptable before God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all—this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth; I am not lying), a teacher of the gentiles in faith and truth. God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The truth is, everyone deserves compassion, even you. We’ve been following Brene Brown’s work on whole-hearted living, including courage, compassion, and connection. Here’s what Brene Brown says about compassion in her book Rising Strong: “In cultivating compassion we draw from the wholeness of our experience—our suffering, our empathy, as well as our cruelty and terror. It has to be this way. Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It’s a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” This is what Jesus is talking about. He KNOWS the human experience- he’s living it as he speaks. His compassion for us is not “there there now, it’ll be okay.” It’s “Oh I get it, life can really suck. Suck your energy, your sense of purpose, your ability to thrive. I’m human, I know how hard it can be. The saving grace of Christ’s compassion is not pity for us, it’s solidarity. You know that friend you turn to in hard times, because you know they’re gonna walk beside you. They won’t judge your big feelings. They understand- and the compassion they show is not pity. It’s solidarity. For me, that’s my sister Alison. We’re different in a lot of ways, but in the way it matters most, we get each other without fail. When I have a freak-out moment, I call her because I know she won’t pity me- she’ll show me compassion. This is the way Christ yearns to walk alongside each of us. I also turn to prayer when I’m having big feelings, but often that comes after I have a human encounter of solidarity. One of the most intriguing parts of Brown’s work on compassion involves a finding that surprised even her. It turns out the most compassionate people she interviewed had ONE major commonality. I bet you wouldn’t guess what it is. Let me start with what it’s NOT. It’s NOT overextending- making yourself available 24/7. It’s not losing sleep worrying about others. It’s not being the most helpful all the time. It’s not exhausting yourself in the name of justice. No, the most compassionate people she encountered had the strongest boundaries. She offers a very simple definition for holding boundaries. Knowing and communicating “what’s ok and what’s not ok.” When we don’t set boundaries, we let people do things that aren’t ok and that leads to resentment. People who have boundaries are clear on what is and what is not their responsibility. In other words, compassionate people are NOT people-pleasers. They don’t lose sleep over someone else’s worry. They don’t assume authority over situations that someone else needs to own. What’s the connection between compassion and boundaries? Well-boundaried people are the most self-compassionate. They don’t let people push them to a place of resentment because they believe they are worthy of being treated with respect. They believe in their own self-worth and are willing to pursue health and life abundant. That’s what boundaries offer, that’s also what Christ teaches us. When we hold boundaries, we have the mental and emotional and physical reserves to be truly compassionate toward others. So let’s take the airline attendant’s reminder seriously- Put on your own oxygen mask before helping others. I get that it’s hard to do this. Setting firm boundaries isn’t popular with those in our lives who are not healthy. And we’ve acquired so many voices that disrupt even the best of our intentions. “I should.” Have you said this lately? You’re exhausted, but that one extra responsibility keeps nagging at you..even though you have nothing left to give. The word “should” creeps into our everyday language all the time. I want you to pay attention this week to how many times you say it. At its core, a “should” statement suggests remorse for a past failure. You might try substituting “ought” as a way to discern if you do need to make space for that responsibility in the future. “Ought” is lived forward in time, and you might just find that not as much needs your attention as those voices in your head told you. Maybe you can let some things go. Maybe there’s other negative self-talk that get in the way of self-compassion or firm boundaries. What’s your self-talk sound like? “Gah, I’m so dumb.” “Stupid me, I should have remembered that!” “I’m always messing up.” “I don’t deserve love.” “I’m not good enough.” Do any of those sound like things Jesus would say? You and I will NEVER be at peace until we start practicing self-compassion in the name of the one who created us good! It’s hardly selfish. In fact, it’s the only way to also practice compassion for others. We cannot see the good in others without first dealing with the voices that say we’re not worthy of compassion ourselves. Are you willing to do something with me that might feel a little funny? Let’s practice self-compassion, like right now. It’s the ONLY way any of us are able to actually live out REAL compassion when we leave this place of worship. Okay, repeat after me: I am worthy of compassion. / I can make mistakes/ and still be lovable. / My worth is not tied to how pretty I am/ or how many people I can help/ or how much money’s in my bank account/ or what kind of clothes I wear/ or how often my family visits me. I am worthy of compassion/ because I am a child of God. |
Rev. Emily Mungerdelights in connecting sacred texts with everyday life. Sermon Archives
March 2023
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