Yesterday’s quote was, “The good you do is not lost though you forget it. (Unknown) Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:9)” I needed the reminder that “good” is never lost, though perhaps forgotten or misunderstood. In a “heavy” conversation with a good friend on Saturdy, the good I was trying to be got twisted. Apologies were in order and the wound is healing. This morning I remembered in Luke 18:18-20 how a ruler asked Jesus, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good – except God alone.” Today’s quote is, “The giver makes the gift precious. (unknown)” It seems to me that then what we do for God is the good and that is not lost because He is good. He somehow irons out the wrinkles of our intent and humanness. As I read the verses around 1 Peter 3:9, I see a context, perhaps advice, to seek to live in harmony, respecting our others, being compassionate and humble. In our “topsy-turvy” world of today those words feels very counter-cultural and open to interpretation but it is clear that Peter admonishes us to turn from evil and do “good,” act as God would have us act. Many blessings as you go through today seeking to do “good.”
Pentecost 2, June 14, 2020
June 14, 2020Prelude: Make a Joyful Noise unto the Lord, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYANPc6_1uw
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting, whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation. Amen
Confession and Forgiveness
Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin. Reconciling God, we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We fail to believe that you provide enough for all. We abuse your good creation for our own benefit. We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.
Absolution: Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through ☩ Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace. Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Gathering Hymn: Gather Us In, ELW 532 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbNXqjwh8is
Greeting:
The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Kyrie
Have mercy on us, Lord, and hear our solemn prayer. We come to hear your living word; it saves us from despair.
Have mercy on us, Christ, and wash away our sin. Pour out your grace and make us whole that new life may begin.
Have mercy on us, Lord, make sun and shame depart. Renew us with your saving pow’r, create in us new hearts!
Prayer of the Day: God of compassion, you have opened the way for us and brought us to yourself. Pour your love into our hearts, that, overflowing with joy, we may freely share the blessings of your realm and faithfully proclaim the good news of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Selection of the Faithful: There’s a Wilderness in God’s Mercy, ELW 588 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=metLqEhcesY
HEARING GOD’S WORD
First Reading: Exodus 19:2-8a
2[The Israelites] had journeyed from Rephidim, entered the wilderness of Sinai, and camped in the wilderness; Israel camped there in front of the mountain.3Then Moses went up to God; the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the Israelites: 4You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples. Indeed, the whole earth is mine, 6but you shall be for me a priestly kingdom and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the Israelites.”
7So Moses came, summoned the elders of the people, and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8aThe people all answered as one: “Everything that the Lord has spoken we will do.”
Psalm: Psalm 100
1Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
2Serve the Lord with gladness; come into God’s presence with a song.
3Know that the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong;
we are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture.
4Enter the gates of the Lord with thanksgiving and the courts with praise;
give thanks and bless God’s holy name.
5Good indeed is the Lord, whose steadfast love is everlasting,
whose faithfulness endures from age to age.
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-8
1Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia! Lord and Savior; open now your saving word. Let it burn like fire within us; speak until our hearts are stirred. Alleluia! Lord we sing for the good news that you bring.
Gospel: Matthew 9:35–10:8 [9-23]
35Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
10:1Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. 2These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. [9Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, 10no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. 11Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. 15Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
16“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; 18and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. 19When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; 20for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; 22and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”
SERMON
CHILDREN’S SERMON
One of my favorite Christmas stories is found in a poem by Helen Steiner Rice that was adapted from an old German Legend. Conrad, an old shop keeper, bereft of family and lonely, heard in prayer on Christmas morning that the Lord would visit him on Christmas day. He was so excited, cleaned and decorated his house. When he heard a knock, he rushed to the door. A shaggy beggar was at the door. Conrad invited him in and gave him a pair of shoes. Early afternoon another knock was heard and Conrad saw an old beggar lady. He brewed a cup of tea for her and spent time with her. Late afternoon, a third knock was heard and he was sure it was the Lord. He opened the door and there was a little lost child looking for his home. Conrad walked him home and realized the Lord was not going to visit. Conrad knelt in prayer by his bed asking the Lord what kept him from calling on him. The Lord replied, “Three times My shadow crossed your floor, Three times I came to your lonely door. For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet. I was the woman you gave to eat. And I was the child on the homeless street.”
Let us pray: The Lord be with you! May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Our text today circles back to the beginning of Matthew. Matthew opens with Jesus’ long Jewish lineage – interestingly traced through Joseph, his adopted father, and the report of his incarnation in Bethlehem, visited by the Maggi. He was carried to Egypt in a time of great political injustice. The family returned later but moved to Nazareth because of political tension and faced the music of his questionable birth. There he grew to adulthood. In Chapter 3, John the Baptist baptized Jesus and he was driven into the wilderness to be tested. Chapter 5-7 share the Sermon on the Mount, his State of the Union Address of what His kingdom is about. Chapter 8 we find him traveling around, collecting disciples, healing, teaching and ministering, to Jews, to the Centurion, calming the waters of illness and despair. Today in Chapter 9 we pick up the story as Matthew shares about Jesus sending forth His disciples into ministry. We are the inheritors of the text today. So let us open our ears!
MOTIVE
“he (Jesus) had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Compassion is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and really feeling for them. In the tale, Conrad felt the poverty of the old beggar, the hunger of the old woman and the lostness of the little child. Jesus looks at his people, identifying with them and feeling their situations, their helplessness. I have seen three sheep walk right in front of a charging bus I sat in because the sheep infront of them was crossing the road. They followed. Without a shepherd we have no directional leadership, no goal, no protection and we walk infront of buses. We are vulnerable. Today we often hear, I was a “the victim.” We do not say we are sheep but we do use victim language. People are victims of the establishment, victims of disease, victims of poverty, victims of accidents. We are controlled by circumstances external to ourselves and hence not responsible for our situations.
The question I hear confronting me is not only how I understand myself but also how I understand “the other.” Do I see the other as “the needy,” “the unfortunate”, “the disenfranchised,” or do I see them as partners, as people with whom interactions improve me as well as help them? Is God’s ministry a tax write-off, a responsibility, or is it something I have compassion to walk along side? Jesus assures us the harvest is plentiful but are we willing to labor? What is our motive?
METHOD
Jesus’ motive was compassion and his method was people, you and me. What do you notice about the list of 12 disciples? I noted that they are listed two by two, in pairs: Peter and Andrew, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew, James and Thaddeus, AND Simon and Judas. 12 men changed the world. So who is your partner? Can you hear the voice of God in Genesis saying, “It is not good for man to be alone’”? It does not have to mean marriage but it does means community and teamwork. Bethany is a team serving God and when we grumble with each other we diminish our effectiveness. We are God’s method, not the TV or Face Book or Twitter. We are God’s method, not the campaign. We express the community of the Godhead and communicate, proclaim the good news.
MESSAGE
“The kingdom of heaven has come near!” What does that mean. “Come near” implies to me that we see a glimpse of the heavenly kingdom in the actions of the disciples, the people who represent Jesus. We see healings (hospitals), education (schools), respect for all races and genders, compassion for the struggling and for people who have gone through divorce, abuse, and displacement. We reach out to “the other” through our professions as farmer, doctor, policeman, fireman, and parent. Luther believed that all vocations were opportunities to bring the kingdom of heaven near. We are Christ’s compassion coming near and touching lives.
I remember as a young adult pondering what profession or husband or location, I should choose. As I look back I tend to believe that God worked through and with me in all situations as I was yielded to Him. There was not a magic “right answer” that I had to prepare for but it was in the flow of everyday life that God worked. My message to young people would be “God provides” so do not worry about your provisions but keep connected to your provider, the Lord. Conrad, in our tale, responded to each knock at the door with what he had and in doing so, welcomed the Lord.
The last thing I notice is that our message is a message of peace. I am so grateful for my son in the army who fights for my freedoms and protects helpless people around the world. I am thankful for police and fire and EMTs, all who are there to help in time of need and chaos. I shake the dust off of my feet for those who would lead me into anger and hatred and gossip. That’s not a popular message today but I see it in this text and we must decide for ourselves how to apply it to our situations.
MISUNDERSTANDING
Jesus concludes with the major misunderstanding by others of his motive, his method and his message. He is sending workers, you and me to the harvest not so we become loved and rich but because he has compassion for the lost. We will not be applauded. His message is counter cultural. This world is not the kingdom of heave but “the kingdom of heaven, near” We use our hearts and hands in God’s service. It is not easy to love the dirty, those different from ourselves, and those who do not believe as we do. It is not easy turn the other cheek, to forgive, or to share. We bring peace. Conrad came to the end of his day and fell on his knees believing he had been passed by, not good enough. He had not seen the Lord. The story did not unfold the way Conrad expected. The story unfolded as God wanted.
Hymn of Day: Will You Come ad Follow Me, ELW 798 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liUlxlaCRT0
Apostle’s Creed: Let us join our voices virtually confessing our faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of s ins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Or you can listen to the Creed in vocal form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDI-sk2nJU
Prayers of Intercession
Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, let us pray for our shared world.
Holy One, you bring us together and call us your own. Bless theologians, teachers, and preachers who help us grow in faith. Guide your church, that we might be a holy people. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Holy One, the whole earth is yours. Where there is fire, bring cool air and new growth. Where there is flooding, bring abatement. Where there is drought, bring rain. Inspire us to care for what you have provided. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Holy One, we have created divisions you will not own. In places of conflict , raise up leaders who work to develop lasting peace and reconciliation. Encourage organizations and individuals who care for all forced to leave their homes. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Holy One, you care for those who are harassed and helpless. Protect and defend those who are abused. Heal those who are sick. Feed all who hunger. Empower all whose voices go unheard, and help us respond to the pressing needs of our neighbors. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Holy One, you provide a plentiful harvest of gifts and resources. Prepare us to labor and gather the fruits of this congregation, that we might discover new ways of living. Minister to us in our work, that we do not lose heart. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Holy One, you bring all people to yourself. We give thanks for the holy people who have gone before us. Sustain us in your mission until the day you bear us up to join the saints in light. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace: If you are worship with someone else, turn and share, “The peace of Christ be with you always.” Response, “And also with you.” You might use your finger to mark you children or loved one with a cross on their forehead. If you are practicing social distancing, put your palms together in-front of your chest and open them outward to the other to show your blessing of them. Peace!
SHARING GOD’S MEAL
Offering Prayer
God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Water and word, wine and bread: these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
Friends of Jesus, come to the table. Receive nourishment for your journey.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Communion: I invite you to talk a little piece of bread and eat it. Christ is as close to you as the bread in your mouth and stomach. Always remember. Now take a sip of your drink. Christ is as close to you as the blood in your body, strengthening you. Always remember.
Prayer after Communion
God of the welcome table, in this meal we have feasted on your goodness and have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life. Amen.
SENDING
Blessing: Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen.
Sending Hymn: Holy spirit, Ever Dwelling, ELW 582 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PF6osB4ud8&t=1s
Dismissal: Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
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Don’t just exist, invest
June 13, 2020“Time wasted is existence; time used is life. (Young) …I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)” Jesus promised a “full” life, translated “abundant life” in other translations. I suspect that in my youth I thought that meant a life fulfilling all my dreams and not a life of struggle, disappointment, and conflict. Many days were “good” days but along with the sunshine came the cloudy days. In Psalm 13 for June 13, David feels forgotten by God, wrestling with enemies, discouraged. He ends the psalm though, “But I trust in your unfailing love, my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been goo to me. (v5,6)” Trust is hard. Trusting a God that cannot be seen and has pretty fallible followers is challenging. The psalm reminds us that God’s love is unfailing and He is working out salvation, not necessarily as I think but as He knows is best. I find that comforting and it frees me to invest in today. May you sense God’s presence as you go about the highs and lows of today. He is with you.
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Justice
June 12, 2020“Man is unjust, but God is just; and finally justice triumphs. (Henry W. Longfellow) Do you want justice? Don’t fawn on the judge, but ask the Lord for it! (Prov. 29:26)” Wow, were these authors born centuries apart, in different parts of the world, one a writer and one a king, looking down the spyglass of time and seeing 2020? I am shocked as I wake this morning and read all the blurbs that come through news and email about demands for justice. I turned to Proverbs 12 for June 12 and did not find anything further about justice as such and I realize that trusting justice to a God that cannot be seen and trusting that He is working towards a future resolution of the injustice I feel so strongly now, is a hard pill to swallow. As the news talks about racial injustice, or perceived political injustice, as friends talk about the unfairness of walking with a partner with Alzheimer’s (“I never thought life would be like this. It is so hard!), as my daughter has to face the fear of infection from the virus to get a job, my heart cries. Trusting God is not easy. Perhaps that is why we talk about faith. This Sunday we talk about Jesus empowering his disciples, which means us, with his ministry of healing and presence. “The kingdom of heaven has come near,” but is not yet fully realized. We live in that tension. We live with the injustice and do our best, in the way God has gifted us, to bring peace and justice to others but ultimately “God is just” and we must turn to Him. As we lay our concerns, our cries, our wounds, our hopes and our needs on His alter today, may we relax and know He is listening and acting in ways we cannot see, for everyone.
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The Heart
June 11, 2020“Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. (Heywood) Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight. Your statues are forever right; give me understanding that I may live. (Psalm 119: 143,144)” It is interesting that these two quotes are juxtaposed, one a secular quote that probably resonates with Paul’s sentiment,” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and one that I imagine was written by David fleeing Saul and finding solace and direction from God’s statues. As an elder, I remember the dreams that did not come true no matter how willing my heart was to love, to go, to exercise. That guy did not marry me. That sea voyage did not occur. And in retrospect, I can see that it all worked out for the better as I sought God’s direction and will, not my heart’s longings. Proverbs 11: 6 shares, “The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.” As our hearts reflect God’s heart then God’s will can come into focus. We can saddle the horses but the victory is the Lord’s! Blessings today as you wrestle with the desires of a willing heart and the reality of the world you live in!
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Study 9 Another Dream! Daniel 4
June 10, 2020Chapter 4 of Daniel tells how the King of Babylon had a second dream. The first dream in Chapter 2 established Daniel’s credibility and stature in his job. The king dreamt Babylon pictured as the golden head of a great statue whose various sections are made up of various metals of declining value. One interpretation would be that the Babylonian empire was greater than all the empires that followed and King Nebuchadnezzar was its head. WOW. We noted
- God is working out of the box, outside Judaism, concerned about other empires and involved in their development also.
- The King did not connect the dream with God’s sovereignty globally
- A great statue resulted with instructions to worship the statue and not the God who sent the dream.
- The Three Men in the Firey Furnace encounter follows and God rescues them.
In Chapter 4 the King has another dream. It might be significant that we now hear the narration from the King’s point of view.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that live throughout the earth: May you have abundant prosperity! 2 The signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me I am pleased to recount.
3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his sovereignty is from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living at ease in my home and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that frightened me; my fantasies in bed and the visions of my head terrified me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, in order that they might tell me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the diviners came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not tell me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and who is endowed with a spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream:
- How does King Nebuchadnezzar describe God?__________
- How is the King’s response to the second dream similar to his response to his first dream? __________________________
- How is the King’s response different this time? ____________
9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Hear the dream that I saw; tell me its interpretation.
10 Upon my bed this is what I saw;
there was a tree at the center of the earth, and its height was great.
11 The tree grew great and strong, its top reached to heaven,
and it was visible to the ends of the whole earth.
12 Its foliage was beautiful, its fruit abundant, and it provided food for all.
The animals of the field found shade under it, the birds of the air nested in its branches, and from it all living beings were fed.
- The King dreamt of a great tree in the center of the earth. The use of a tree to represent a king was common in that day. It might be interesting to draw on a piece of paper a wonderful, productive tree offering shelter. Now name what things in your picture represent in your life. _______________
13 “I continued looking, in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and there was a holy watcher, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said:
5 The King visualizes “a holy watcher” that comes down from heaven. How would you represent the holy in your picture?_________________
6 “A holy watcher” probably refers to an angel.
‘Cut down the tree and chop off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from beneath it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let him be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field in the grass of the earth.16 Let his mind be changed from that of a human, and let the mind of an animal be given to him. And let seven times pass over him. 17 The sentence is rendered by decree of the watchers, the decision is given by order of the holy ones, in order that all who live may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdom of mortals; he gives it to whom he will
and sets over it the lowliest of human beings.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are unable to tell me the interpretation. You are able, however, for you are endowed with a spirit of the holy gods.”
7 The rare condition of a human assuming the actions, mentality of an animal is called boanthropy (bo because the King became like an ox. The condition suddenly comes and suddenly goes.) We all fear the unknown humiliation of some condition overtaking us. The likelihood of developing boanthropy is very minimal but alzheimer’s disease is common today. Perhaps poverty is the shadow in our mind. For many, I suspect the violence of today’s riots is pretty terrifying. What is your Achilles heal? What are you afraid of? _______________________
8 But note, the plight that is to overtake the King is not random but has a purpose, v. 17. What is the purpose?____________________ Please note also that the condition is for a time, not for eternity, to teach a lesson not to support reincarnation.
19 Then Daniel, who was called Belteshazzar, was severely distressed for a while. His thoughts terrified him. The king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or the interpretation terrify you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies!
- How would you describe Daniel’s feelings now for this King who carried Daniel away from is home country and threatened to kill him in chapter 2. Do you remember a time when someone you thought of as an enemy grew into being someone you valued? _________________________________
- “Speaking truth to power” is an idiom we use that might describe what is happening here. So what do you think is going on with Daniel? ______
20 The tree that you saw, which grew great and strong, so that its top reached to heaven and was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and which provided food for all, under which animals of the field lived, and in whose branches the birds of the air had nests— 22 it is you, O king! You have grown great and strong. Your greatness has increased and reaches to heaven, and your sovereignty to the ends of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a holy watcher coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the ground, with a band of iron and bronze, in the grass of the field; and let him be bathed with the dew of heaven, and let his lot be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him’— 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is a decree of the Most High that has come upon my lord the king: 25 You shall be driven away from human society, and your dwelling shall be with the wild animals. You shall be made to eat grass like oxen, you shall be bathed with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, until you have learned that the Most High has sovereignty over the kingdom of mortals, and gives it to whom he will. 26 As it was commanded to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be re-established for you from the time that you learn that Heaven is sovereign. 27 Therefore, O king, may my counsel be acceptable to you: atone for your sins with righteousness, and your iniquities with mercy to the oppressed, so that your prosperity may be prolonged.”
- Daniel gives the King the interpretation followed by sage advice: atone for your sins. Atonement is a big theological word that we usually think of in terms of Jesus atoning for our sins. Atone means to make amends for past wrongs or offenses. Put “at” “one”, atone, return to a previous state. Jesus’ atonement puts us at – one with God, restored to our pre-fall state with God. What might Nebuchadnezzar have to “atone”? ________________
- Daniel follows with advise to repay your “iniquities with mercy to the oppressed.” Ouch. That one hits closer to home as we hear cries for justice from our streets. No specific actions are defined. But I do draw from this study that God is concerned about the King’s acceptance of God’s sovereignty, about the plight of the downtrodden, and uses ordinary people (foreigners) to work out His purposes. Is there someone or something this brings to your mind that you need to work on restoring at-oneness with? ___________
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Chattering
June 10, 2020“The great man is he that does not lose his child’s heart. (Mencious) …whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:4)” These saayings greeted me on my calendar this morning before I turned to Proverbs 10 in my Bible. Mencius, a Chinese philosopher second to Confucius, talks about a child’s heart. Matthew sees children as humble. The dictionary would define humble as coming from “low”. I do not think it means low value but perhaps acknowledging the other as understanding more, a source of wisdom. Proverbs 10 contrasts the righteous person with the fool and sluggard. Verse 8 and verse 10 talk about “the chattering fool” who comes to ruin. Hmmm.
Last night I spent time with my granddaughter who “chattered” on about a book she was reading and a little weaving loom I gave her. The chattering of a child brings strong memories. I remember walking across the desert compound in Kenya with her father, sharing about life. This kid started talking in full sentences with descriptive adjectives. I could not tell one pickup from another but he could tell me it was a blue Toyota, 4WD, with a winch – at age 2. He would chatter on, describing his life to me. A child’s heart reports with joy to the parent. Angry children may well explode about an injustice but as I reflect, I tend to think anger often focuses on the injustice the other did to reporter. It is not chatter.
Verse 8 shares that “the wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.” That ties talking with humility and teachableness. Is chattering, seeking to share and learn? I ponder as I go about my conversations today, am I chattering to the Lord as my parent, talking about my day, open to being taught or am I reporting in to defend myself and tell Him what I think He should be doing? I suspect I often come as an adult, bearing the burden of responsibility, rather than as a child sharing with a parent who has “the whole world in his hands.” I would pray that today we might connect with our child’s heart that shares with “the father” and does not just chatter to hear our own voice. Blessings. He’s listening for you.
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Choices
June 9, 2020“Choice, not chance, determines destiny. (Unknown) Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24: 15).” Proverbs 9 presents us with choice today. Two women, Wisdom and Folly, are at the top of the city inviting us into a banquet they have prepared. They call to the simple to come in and eat. Wisdom’s banquet of delicacies will result in understanding, lengthening of days and years. Folly also calls to the simple offering “stolen water” and “food eaten in secrecy.” Her guests fail to realize the people in the house are the dead. The person is simple and must make a choice. Neither hostess demands we enter. The choice is ours. While I realize some choices are forced upon us by life, no one chooses illness or riots or death, how we respond to situations determines our destiny. Whether we choose to respond with love and not hate, with forgiveness and not bitterness, with concerns for the other as well as our goals, all determines the destiny, the outcome of our lives. As we start our days with prayer, meditation, reflection, being in the Word, we tune our hearts to the choices we will need to make today. I doubt which jam we choose or which shirt we wear is that important but other choices touch our values and that is important. As you make choices today, may you her the voice of Wisdom and the Holy Spirit calling you in to their banquet. Blessings.
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Prudence
June 8, 2020Oswald Chambers on my calendar shares, “It isn’t so true that ‘prayer changes things’ as that ‘prayer changes me and I change things.’” During these days when we are clamoring for change and the dismantling of injustice, these words of wisdom feel a bit pointed. At the same time, Proverbs 8, June 8, is dedicated to telling us to gain wisdom. Gain wisdom over wealth and riches. Wisdom is personified as an entity that God called forth before creation of our universe and who delighted to see God creating. What caught my eye, though, was that wisdom is teamed up with prudence. V.12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence.” I had to look up the word “prudence” to make sure I understood what it means. www defines prudence as being cautious. Showing “good and careful judgment when handling practical matters” or “wise and well-thought-through decision or action” is considered prudent. The first thing we were taught in Swahili language school, on the first day was, “Haraka, haraka, haina Baraka.” Hurry, hurry has no blessing. We Westerners were known as people who ran around in circles, hurry, hurrying.
So how does this all fit together? Prayer is when I take time at certain times of the day or in certain places or perhaps under certain circumstances. I get up in the morning to spend time in the Word but my husband often asks, “What did you learn in the shower?” Prayer changes me as I listen. I slow down and think before acting, ponder my sermon. Prayer is one way to seek wisdom and to be prudent when making decisions. It is not the only way. In our world today when news sells, when communicative avenues are so available, and there seems to be so many experts about so many topics, it feels like Proverbs advice to seek wisdom that dwells with prudence is good advice as we start another week. Wednesday we will look again at how Daniel and friends, navigating culture as ordinary people were wise. You are invited to join us. May you be wise and prudent as you face the challenges in your life today. Blessings!
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Sunday, June 7, 2020 The Holy Trinity
June 6, 2020Prelude: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TascsWZPj8U
Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Welcome to our virtual worship. The Lord be with you. And also with you.
GATHERING
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, whose steadfast love is everlasting, whose faithfulness endures from generation to generation. Amen.
Confession: Trusting in the mercy of God, let us confess our sin. Reconciling God, we confess that we do not trust your abundance, and we deny your presence in our lives. We place our hope in ourselves and rely on our own efforts. We fail to believe that you provide enough for all. We abuse your good creation for our own benefit. We fear difference and do not welcome others as you have welcomed us. We sin in thought, word, and deed. By your grace, forgive us; through your love, renew us; and in your Spirit, lead us; so that we may live and serve you in newness of life. Amen.
Forgiveness: Beloved of God, by the radical abundance of divine mercy we have peace with God through ☩ Christ Jesus, through whom we have obtained grace upon grace. Our sins are forgiven. Let us live now in hope. For hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
Gathering Song: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!, ELW 413,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwuDSw-9cUQ
Prayer of the Day: God of heaven and earth, before the foundation of the universe and the beginning of time you are the triune God: Author of creation, eternal Word of salvation, life-giving Spirit of wisdom. Guide us to all truth by your Spirit, that we may proclaim all that Christ has revealed and rejoice in the glory he shares with us. Glory and praise to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Selection Of The Faithful: Let All Things Now Living, ELW 881 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShtzdgCUyjI
THE WORD
Alleluia. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;* God’s glory fills the whole earth. Alleluia. (Isa. 6:3)
First Reading: Genesis 1:1–2:4a
1In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, 2the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6And God said, “Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7So God made the dome and separated the waters that were under the dome from the waters that were above the dome. And it was so. 8God called the dome Sky. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11Then God said, “Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” And it was so. 12The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. 13And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, 15and let them be lights in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17God set them in the dome of the sky to give light upon the earth, 18to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” 21So God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good. 22God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
24And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. 25God made the wild animals of the earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
26Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
27So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” 29God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31God saw everything that he had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
2:1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. 2And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done. 3So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.
4aThese are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created.
Psalm: Psalm 8
1O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! —
2you whose glory is chanted above the heavens out of the mouths of infants and children; you have set up a fortress against your enemies, to silence the foe and avenger.
3When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses,
4what are mere mortals that you should be mindful of them,
human beings that you should care for them?
5Yet you have made them little less than divine;
with glory and honor you crown them.
6You have made them rule over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under their feet:
7all flocks and cattle, even the wild beasts of the field,
8the birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever passes along the paths of the sea.
9O Lord our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 13:11-13
[Paul writes:] 11Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.
13The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
16Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
SERMON
Children’s Sermon: Hum, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands
Today we start the Pentecost Season. Pentecost is half of the Christian liturgical year, 27 weeks, half a year. The first half of the year we focused on who our God is. Starting with Advent, God fulfills prophecy and incarnates, coming to us, not us to him. At Christmas God goes global with the arrival of the wise-men from the East. During Epiphany we studied how God lived with us as Jesus healing, preaching, and teaching. During Lent we walked with Jesus to the cross. Easter told us of a God who is stronger than death and lives in and through us today. Now we circle back and look at the narrative again but we focus on what difference God makes in our lives. Can you hear Luther’s Small Catechism question, “What does this mean?” What does this mean? Today our text paints three broad themes that we will see unfold in because God in Pentecost: God is communal and so we live in community. God is communicative and so we are charged with communicating the Gospel. God is commanding and we are expected to obey.
God is communal, “…baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” At the very core of the Christian faith is the mystery of the Trinity that we celebrate today. We do not have three gods that share the office of presidency. We do not have a hierarchy of gods that take turns being in power. We believe that our God is trinity, “three persons in one being, one essence.” I still like the example of electricity that powers my house. When I turn on my lamp, it sends forth light. When I turn on my stove, it radiates heat. The TV and radio are visual. One, all, or none can be experienced at the same time without diminishing the electricity present n my house. This triune God fills the pages of Scripture.
So what does that mean to us? We are made in the image of this triune God. We are baptized in the name of this triune God. Triune-ness defines us. Walter Wangaarin in his book, As For Me and My House, presents the explanation I like the most. I do not know who I am without you. It is as I relate to you that I know if I am truly being loving or kind or mean and hurtful. Love is not just something that oozes out of my pores but is a relational quality. Perhaps that is why death of a spouse or divorce are so painful. There is something in the reality of community that defines my identity and is basic to my very being. In the creation story God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness.” I’m sure it has been pointed out the plural-ness of this statement, “our image.” We are made for community. There is something about the riots we are experiencing recently that offends something deep inside us.
Perhaps that is why Paul uses the picture of a body to describe the church. Within the godhead there are different roles and so it is with us. My husband and I complement each other. My friend and I bring something to each other in our friendship. We gather today, not because the church dies if it is not in this building but because corporate worship brings identity to us. I hear the music from the organ. I hear my friends singing. I see their faces, feel their hugs, and we share our prayer concerns. We are made for community and together we say something about God that we cannot say alone. Today in the shadow of the riots, I would like to affirm the gift of “the other”, the other nationality, the other language idioms, the other’s giftedness that reflects the creativity and universality of our God. We are called to value the other, not destroy others, because they help us to understand our God who is triune and understand ourselves who are made for supportive community.
Secondly, God is communicative: “…Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” We believe in a God that communicates, not necessarily boss to slave but as the very essence of trinity. The godhead implies communication. The good news is not just for my own edification and salvation but it is to be communicated to others. I know the ugly stereotype of Christians is the guy standing on the street corner proclaiming a message of those in and those out of favor with God. It is a message of judgment. I do not see that in this passage; a threat that if we don’t believe I am condemned. Rather, I see a God whose heart’s desire is that all should know and be in communication with him. God will handle vengeance and revenge but our job is to communicate His desire to be in relationship. The God who created us values us as a father values a son. We are his children and invited to call him “Our Father.” The Son who saved values us and says, I no longer call you servants but I call you friends. And the Spirit who translates our prayers facilitates these relationships. Our triune God does not sit afar waiting for us to earn our way into his presence but opens communication channels because that is his nature.
So perhaps we need to reflect today who we are in potential relationship with whom we can share our faith with. Perhaps we need to ask who we have broken relationship with and need repair. The text today says “go” and I hear that as “share” and “communicate.”
Lastly, God is commanding. “:…teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you…” Teaching is a communication word but it is interesting that it is followed by “obey.” Faith is not an intellectual feat, memorizing Luther’s Small Catechism. Faith is not a mystical experience defined by how many times I speak in tongues. I think faith is a relationship that grows out of obedience to the God of the universe that offers something our world does not promote or value. We do not forgive others easily. We do not love our enemies. We do not share our coats freely. Christianity does not make us healthy, wealthy, and wise in the world’s eyes. Christ prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, “not my will but thine.” Obedience and submission are counter-cultural and fight against our will. As much as we preach a warm cozy relationship with God, we must never forget that he is God and we are his creation. We are the recipients of salvation. We need the Holy Spirit to struggle in prayer with us and counsel us, and lead back to the right path when we go away. We need to be still and know that he is God as Psalm 8 so nicely reminds us today. As we obey and work together with him, faith grows.
We come to the end of our first service during this time of sheltering. I know that the church is alive and real even when we are not meeting in this building but I also know that the church building has always been a symbol of sanctuary and safety in crisis. It is here that we gather in community and communicate with each other in the midst of the trials of our world. We remind each other that God sees and hears and is active. It is here that we bow our head and seek the Holy Spirit to minister to our tired souls. We must always remember Christ’s final words, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Thank you Lord, AMEN.
Hymn of the Day: Come Join the Dance of Trinity , ELW 412 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQ55zGuti04
Apostles’ Creed. Let us join our voices virtually confessing our faith:
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Or you can listen to the Creed in vocal form: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuDI-sk2nJU
Prayers of Intercession
Called into unity with one another and the whole creation, let us pray for our shared world.
God of community, you form us as your church. Guide our bishops, pastors, deacons, and all the baptized in sharing your life-giving good news with all the world. Strengthen us to be bold in our proclamation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of creation, you called everything into being. Sustain this world with your renewing care. Inspire us to see waterways, plant life, birds, fish, insects, and mammals and call them good. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of counsel, all authority belongs to you. Encourage the leaders of this and every land to seek peace, equality, and unity. Instill wisdom in advocates who work toward justice in often ignored communities. Calm the riots that have scarred your earth and bring reconciliation and recovery with justice. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of care, you created us in your image. Help us see your likeness in one another. Open our eyes to see and attend to all who face oppression and suffering. Console, heal, and nourish all in need. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of companionship, you accompany this body of faith. As the rhythms of summer begin, protect all who travel, renew all who will enjoy a time of sabbath, and shelter all who will not be protected from the sun’s heat. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
God of compassion, you comfort us in our grief with the promise of the resurrection. We give you thanks for the saints of all time and in our lives. Be with the grieving who have lost loved ones during these days of confusion. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
Receive these prayers, O God, and those too deep for words; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Peace: If you are worship with someone else, turn and share, “The peace of Christ be with you always.” Response, “And also with you.” You might use your finger to mark you children or loved one with a cross on their forehead. If you are practicing social distancing, put your palms together in-front of your chest and open them outward to the other to show your blessing of them. Peace!
Offering Prayer
God of goodness and growth, all creation is yours, and your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Thank you for the gifts you have blessed us with and we ask you to multiply that which we return to you. Water and word, wine and bread: these are signs of your abundant grace. Nourish us through these gifts, that we might proclaim your steadfast love in our communities and in the world, through Jesus Christ, our strength and our song. Amen.
THE MEAL
Communion:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Communion: I invite you to talk a little piece of bread and eat it. Christ is as close to you as the bread in your mouth and stomach. Always remember. Now take a sip of your drink. Christ is as close to you as the blood in your body, strengthening you. Always remember.
Prayer after Communion
As we remember the blessing of communion, we remember that we have been united by your presence among us. Empower us to go forth sustained by these gifts so that we may share your neighborly love with all, through Jesus Christ, the giver of abundant life. Amen.
THE SENDING
Blessing
Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
God, the creator, ☩ Jesus, the Christ, and the Holy Spirit, the comforter, bless you and keep you in eternal love. Amen.
Sending Song: Holy God, We Praise Your Name, ELW 414, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5vLtzrM_4E
Dismissal
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.
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On the Way to Wonder 