This Sunday was the day when our church ordained and installed officers. It was a blessed occasion. In my sermon I talked about the idea that God has always called persons to serve God's people. I believe that no matter how we come to the position, if we take this call seriously, God works through us to do His work.
I began with Moses and Aaron, toured through David and the prophets, and ended up in the New Testament as I reviewed ways that God had called persons that we read about in the Bible. Moses received a dramatic call with a burning bush and a big voice. Others, like Aaron, seemed to be just along for the ride, and yet the call of Aaron was also evident as he helped his brother lead the people of God. David was chosen in a quiet way, through Samuel, on a visit to the home of David's father. David took courage from the certainty that he had received God's call to be king and won his battle with Goliath, and then his battle with Saul, and became the King of Israel.
Prophets were called and priests were equally called. Prophets received dramatic calls from God, priests were priests because their fathers were. There was a call on both. Jesus called his disciples, who became the Apostles of the church. Acts 6 tells of the rather ordinary choosing of 7 men to be Deacons, and Acts 9 tells of the dramatic choosing of Paul who became an Apostle. As the church moved beyond New Testament times leaders continued to be chosen in mundane and dramatic ways. God calls leaders for His chuch. God's call is upon all of us who serve His people and His creation. God is working through us. Never forget that wonder.
This weekend Jeanne and I saw the movie "Milk." This is the story of Harvey Milk who was the first gay person, in 1977 to be elected to public office in California by being elected to the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco. History buffs will remember that he was assassinated along with Mayor Moscone by former Supervisor Dan White. Even though we know that this killing takes place at the end, it is the journey to it that has such power. Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk is spectacular. This movie presents an interesting slice of history that took place in California in a way that helps us to understand it from what may be for many viewers a new viewpoint. The movie is not for children at all, but is worth seeing as a witness to how life has developed here in California over the past 40 years.
Harvey Milk worked to achieve freedom for people who were systematically abused by the legal system in San Francisco and California. He worked to defeat Proposition 6 in 1978 which would have caused the firing of any teacher in California who was gay or who supported the rights of gays. Though he was not one who claimed a call from God, Harvey Milk's work produced greater freedom. Producing freedom is, I believe, work in which God is leading. Milk would not have known it, but I believe that he was doing God's work as he advocated for the people he represented. Is it possible that God uses (calls?) persons who do not even know that they are doing God's work.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Rejoice!
It is Sunday evening after a great time of worship in the morning, taking Communion to one of our shut ins, a good nap, and a good dinner of soup and biscuits. It is time to try to update this blog with some sermon notes for those of you who like that sort of thing.
It was the first Sunday worship of 2009 and I wanted to offer some encouragement for this new year. I chose a favorite text, Philippians 4:4-9. This is that which begins "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!" These words are final exhortations from the Apostle Paul to the people of a church that he knew well. Paul wrote this letter from jail in Rome. The people of the Philippian church had loved him enough to send him money and a friend. Paul knew and treasured the people of Philippi. He encouraged them by beginning, "Rejoice."
I pointed out that I like the Philippians passage better than a similar one in I Thessalonians 5:16 which simply says, "Rejoice always;" I find it much easier to rejoice in the Lord than to rejoice always. There are plenty of times when I find it hard to rejoice, but when I think of Jesus, I can rejoice in him.
The Apostle wrote, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." That is good encouragement. He could have said so many things, but to these people whom he knew so well and whose gentleness he had personally appreciated, he said, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." I pass that on to you, gentle people. Bless you.
Then Paul told them, "Don't be anxious about anything but in everything present your requests to God." Nothing bleeds self confidence from a person like anxiety. Nothing restores that confidence like prayer. Present requests to God and trust that God is working. Be confident and do what God calls you to do. If you do then the "peace of God that transcends understanding" will be yours.
If we skip to the end of the passage we find the phrase, "the God of peace." So, we have the written phrases, "the peace of God," and "the God of peace." Between these phrases we have Paul's exhortation "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." These are not short answer definitions that Paul is looking for from us, but deep thought and meditation upon those qualities listed. When we think about this things, then the God of peace will be with us.
I hope that you will turn to this passage this week. Think about the encouragement Paul gave to people he loved. Read Acts chapter 16 to learn about the beginning of his contact with the Philippian people, and particularly with Lydia. She was the first to respond to the Gospel in Philippi and the Church there began in her home.
Blessings,
Sandy
It was the first Sunday worship of 2009 and I wanted to offer some encouragement for this new year. I chose a favorite text, Philippians 4:4-9. This is that which begins "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice!" These words are final exhortations from the Apostle Paul to the people of a church that he knew well. Paul wrote this letter from jail in Rome. The people of the Philippian church had loved him enough to send him money and a friend. Paul knew and treasured the people of Philippi. He encouraged them by beginning, "Rejoice."
I pointed out that I like the Philippians passage better than a similar one in I Thessalonians 5:16 which simply says, "Rejoice always;" I find it much easier to rejoice in the Lord than to rejoice always. There are plenty of times when I find it hard to rejoice, but when I think of Jesus, I can rejoice in him.
The Apostle wrote, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." That is good encouragement. He could have said so many things, but to these people whom he knew so well and whose gentleness he had personally appreciated, he said, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." I pass that on to you, gentle people. Bless you.
Then Paul told them, "Don't be anxious about anything but in everything present your requests to God." Nothing bleeds self confidence from a person like anxiety. Nothing restores that confidence like prayer. Present requests to God and trust that God is working. Be confident and do what God calls you to do. If you do then the "peace of God that transcends understanding" will be yours.
If we skip to the end of the passage we find the phrase, "the God of peace." So, we have the written phrases, "the peace of God," and "the God of peace." Between these phrases we have Paul's exhortation "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things." These are not short answer definitions that Paul is looking for from us, but deep thought and meditation upon those qualities listed. When we think about this things, then the God of peace will be with us.
I hope that you will turn to this passage this week. Think about the encouragement Paul gave to people he loved. Read Acts chapter 16 to learn about the beginning of his contact with the Philippian people, and particularly with Lydia. She was the first to respond to the Gospel in Philippi and the Church there began in her home.
Blessings,
Sandy
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
A brief post to encourage readers and fellow bloggers to see the movie, "Slumdog Millionaire." This is the story of Jamal who becomes a contestant on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" in India. Through a review of the questions he had been asked we learn about Jamal's life from his childhood until the moment when he faces the biggest, final question worth 20 million rupees. The telling of the story of his life is wonderful! Everything in his life prepared him for this contest. His poverty, his love, brother, his failure and success, and his fears all contribute to being able to answer questions on the show.
There are many layers to think about in this movie, but mostly it is a love story with a happy ending. You'll love it!
Blessings,
Sandy
There are many layers to think about in this movie, but mostly it is a love story with a happy ending. You'll love it!
Blessings,
Sandy
It's 2009!!
Hi everyone,
Don't faint, but it is me, your friendly neighborhood pastor and blogger, signing on for a new entry in 2009. A special greeting for "Grandma Sandy" who may be the only one to actually log on to see this. I know that I have said it before, but I am going to try to post more regularly this year.
I am thinking of a short series of sermons in January and February on characteristics of the early Church. What I want to do with this take material from Acts that describes that earliest manifestation of the Church and then follow those characteristics through the history of the church to the present day.
For instance, on January 11 we will be ordaining and installing leaders, Elders and Deacons, during worship. The text for consideration that day for the sermon will be from Acts 6 recounting when Deacons were first chosen in the early Church. This method for choosing leaders in Acts is basically what we try to use today in the Presbyterian Church. They look for and choose people of stature and holiness who will be able to serve well as leaders. However, it is not the only way of chosing leaders that is exhibited in Acts. In chapter 9 we have the dramatic moment when God chose the Apostle Paul to be a leader in the Church. Wow. God sometimes chooses leaders without consulting us. As we follow this thread of leadership down through the history of the church we discover that there have been many ways leaders have been chosen. Sometimes the King or Queen chose them. Sometimes the leadership that God chose was invisible to the world until much later.
I hope this is an interesting set of sermons. I hope I can pull it off. Ideas that I have for the list of characteristics to develop are: Attention to the Apostle's teaching; Community and hospitality; Openness to new groups of people, namely Gentiles; Culture clash, how the Church has been different/separate from the world; How the Church has been Persecuted; How the Church has grown (or not).
Enough for now. See you Sunday?
Blessings,
Sandy
This is a work in progress. I would love your ideas.
Don't faint, but it is me, your friendly neighborhood pastor and blogger, signing on for a new entry in 2009. A special greeting for "Grandma Sandy" who may be the only one to actually log on to see this. I know that I have said it before, but I am going to try to post more regularly this year.
I am thinking of a short series of sermons in January and February on characteristics of the early Church. What I want to do with this take material from Acts that describes that earliest manifestation of the Church and then follow those characteristics through the history of the church to the present day.
For instance, on January 11 we will be ordaining and installing leaders, Elders and Deacons, during worship. The text for consideration that day for the sermon will be from Acts 6 recounting when Deacons were first chosen in the early Church. This method for choosing leaders in Acts is basically what we try to use today in the Presbyterian Church. They look for and choose people of stature and holiness who will be able to serve well as leaders. However, it is not the only way of chosing leaders that is exhibited in Acts. In chapter 9 we have the dramatic moment when God chose the Apostle Paul to be a leader in the Church. Wow. God sometimes chooses leaders without consulting us. As we follow this thread of leadership down through the history of the church we discover that there have been many ways leaders have been chosen. Sometimes the King or Queen chose them. Sometimes the leadership that God chose was invisible to the world until much later.
I hope this is an interesting set of sermons. I hope I can pull it off. Ideas that I have for the list of characteristics to develop are: Attention to the Apostle's teaching; Community and hospitality; Openness to new groups of people, namely Gentiles; Culture clash, how the Church has been different/separate from the world; How the Church has been Persecuted; How the Church has grown (or not).
Enough for now. See you Sunday?
Blessings,
Sandy
This is a work in progress. I would love your ideas.
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