Sweepings of Wheat

SWEEPINGS OF THE WHEAT

Amos 8:1-7; Luke 16:1-13

“…for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation

than are the children of light.”

In the words of Amos, “Be Silent! Hear this” (Amos 8:3b, 4a): the Parable of the Unjust Steward is probably the most mystifying parable that Jesus ever told. And considering that a parable is a story told about earthly things to explain heavenly things, this is one’s a puzzling pocket of prose, even to the biblical scholars.

Perhaps you noticed these lines as I read the scripture to you…

·        His master commended the dishonest manager—v 8;

·        The children of this age are shrewder in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light—v 8;

·        And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth—v 9.

There does not seem to be a whole lot of good news there—unless you’re looking for permission to cheat others out of their own money—

I don’t know if you noticed, but there’s more cheatin’ goin’ in this here parable than there is in a country-western song:

·        Getting something you shouldn’t get;

·        Taking something that’s not yours;

·        Fooling someone who trusts you;

·        Covering your own ___________ (fill in the blank).

Jesus’ parable has quite a twist-and-turn twang of its own:

·        Getting something for nothing;

·        Selling something goods as great goods;

·        Take advantage of the poor… and of the rich;

·        Want—always—more and more and more;

·        Seek—always—the best for yourself;

·        Gain power no matter the cost; all the while

·        Think we’re fooling God by acting the part of a faithful steward, when all the time we’ve been stealing him blind.

Talk about having a bad attitude!

Now, if we flip quickly over to Amos, who prophesied about 700 years before Jesus was born, we find the exact same attitude alive and well in the land of Israel. I’m looking particularly at verses 5 and 6.—from “When will the new moon be over” to “selling the sweepings of the wheat.”

We live in the mix of a mega-machine society that grumbles the same gripes and devises the same schemes as the one in ancient Israel:

·        “When will worship be over, so that we can get back to work?”

·        “Let’s charge higher interest rates and levy ‘membership’ fees on credit recovery offers.”

·        “We can charge double or triple if we call our product ‘new’ or ‘organic’ or ‘local.’”

·        “The poor will never see it for what it really is.”

“Be silent! Hear this:” God sees exactly what’s going on this world whether it’s the seventh century, the first century or the twenty-first century, and God is not confused, neither is God amused.

Let me retell you the parable in parallel:

God created humanity to be the managers of his creation and all that is in it. God sees that generation after generation is squandering his riches. As each person dies and stands before God, we are asked, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because your time to die is near. Then we say to ourselves, What will I do, now that God is about to take my life away from me?

My body is weak and worn, my sins and failures are visible—I cannot hide how I have lived. I know what to do! With the little time I have left before I die, I will do what I can to prove my repentance so that I God in his mercy might welcome me into heaven.

So, taking an account of our lives and failures, one by one, we look at our debt and ask, “How much do I owe God?” And we see that the answer is, “A great deal more than we could ever pay.” Still we make what amends we can according to the teachings of Jesus—that is, to lighten the burdens of the needy and poor.

We look at the next sin—“how much do I owe?” and the answer is, “More than I can pay, so I must lighten the burden of one sinned against. And God will commend us because we realized our sin and did everything we could before our lives are over…

The same way the cheaters and beaters of this world are shrewd and prudent with the ways they wheel and deal in this world, so Christians must be as prudent—committed and resourceful in obeying the laws of God. When we live our lives not for what we can get in this world but for what awaits us in heaven, we are as prudent as the dishonest manager: looking to the future and securing a loving welcoming relationship when this part of the journey’s over.

We cannot have the best of both worlds’ riches. Build up yourselves for the biggest basket of summer fruit that never rots because heaven is heaven and earth is not—the message is still, Rot not!

All of us at one time or another have been sold a bill of goods—and we all know how it feels when we find out we’ve been cheated or lied to or fooled. God feels the same way, except that God is not fooled! God is well aware when we tell him he is first in our lives yet give him only what little is left over after we’ve attended to everything else that makes us busy—God knows the difference between the finest grain and the sweepings of the wheat.

This parable asks the children of the light—Christians—to sit down and take an accounting of our lives. How much do you and I owe God? How much does this congregation owe God?

We are the benefactors of a tremendous amount of money from the Bartlett Trust each year, and the money is being spent wisely, prudently, that’s true. But are we taking the gift for granted, not thinking about the fact that someone else has provided it, that we do not have to earn the money, raise the money, provide the money out of our own pockets to repair the many parts that come with an 180 year old building.

We are so very blessed to have such wonderful gifts…yet, yet, YET, how has each of us shown our gratitude to God for the many blessings we have received…are we giving God only sweepings of the wheat, that is, the remnants of our lives, our gratitude and our attention, when we should be doing, giving, showing so much more?

The old Jewish writers tell us of a certain avaricious Rabbi who was very anxious to invest his wealth to the best advantage. A friend undertook to do this for him. One day the Rabbi asked the name of the investment from which he was assured he would receive the highest interest. His friend answered, “I have given all your money to the poor.”[1]

God makes an investment in each of us every single moment of every day, in every single note of every song we sing, in every single cent of every dollar we have. How important, how eternally important, it is for us, if we are truly children of the light, to live not for today in this world, but for tomorrow in the next.

Today is a basket of ripe summer fruit; it will not last. Tomorrow is the hope of heaven, and the owner of it all will ask for an accounting of our management. We have Jesus to teach us about being good stewards of his church and our hearts—both of which call for prudence.

“Prudence is in [man] what providence is in Almighty God. Its great characteristic is that it keeps its eye on what is coming; it looks forward to the future that really awaits us.

Be Silent; hear this: If we live our lives for God, if we practice our faith truthfully before God, God will not give us the sweepings of wheat that we rightfully deserve but will gladly bestow the riches of his heaven. Thanks be to God for the sweet wheat of salvation! Amen.

September 22, 2013

First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME

The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

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[1] HJ Wilmont Buxton, MA. Biblical Illustrator.

A Desperately Seeking God

A DESPERATELY SEEKING GOD

Exodus 32:7-14; Luke 15:1-10

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.”

You may know that Tom Sullivan, among other things, is a world champion wrestler; he’s noted in the Wrestling Hall of Fame for 187 wins in a row. His life story so far is told in a 1982 movie called, “If You Could See What I Hear.” The film is dated, for sure, yet if you can get past the long, curly hair on the men, that is; the plaids with prints and bell-bottom jeans, you’ll find a parable of promise that is timeless.

Sullivan lost the first 16 wrestling matches of his career, with a total time in the ring of 2:43! His coach was exasperated with him. “Sullivan,” the coach said, “Go out there and do the best job possible, and try not to be dead.” In this 17th match, Sullivan’s opponent was a Russian man, big, bruising and brawny; his name was Asimov. And Sullivan was doing as everybody expected: losing--badly. Then he remembered what his coach had said, “Do the best job possible, and try not to be dead.”

What you may not know was that Tom Sullivan is blind—a fact that even he didn’t know until he was 8 years old! Half dead, Tom reached up and … popped out one of his eyeballs—a prosthetic eye, of course! He threw it down on the mat. He shouted at the Russian, “Stop! Stop!” and the Russian bellowed, “WHY?”

Tom replied, “Because I’ve dropped my eye!” The rugged Russian looked down and saw the eyeball lying on the mat, and promptly released his lunch. That was the end of the match. The record books record the event as “Sullivan over Asimov by default.”[1] Yet, Sullivan recalls it this way, “That was the day I learned to turn my disadvantage into my advantage."

Every person in the world has a disadvantage, some kind of handicap. There are all kinds of handicaps for all kinds of people:

·        some disadvantages are blatant—physical restrictions and deformities,

·        others are subtle, secret, seductive—addictions, mental illness, diminishments;

·        others are downright bizarre—and they often get turned into reality TV.

No one has to “be dead” in their handicap, no one has to be lost. Why not? Because we have in our lives, as close to us as the breath in our lungs, the Spirit of a God desperately seeking us. No one has to remain lost in some treacherous wilderness;

If you’re not sure of the way out, the first thing to do is to stop walking farther into it! Get a hold of your feet! No one has to wait until life’s big broom comes along and uncovers you embedded deep in the dirt; If you’re in a hole, stop digging! Drop your shovel! If you’re being pummeled by a Russian wrestler named Asimov, well…well…don’t throw your eyeball at him, but don’t keep fighting the battles on his terms. Stop! Stop! Admit you’re lost!

That’s one thing those frisky Pharisees in the scripture today were NOT about to do. They would not admit they were lost; they would much rather cast aspersions on the sinners, tax collectors and Jesus. Look at verse 2: tell me what you hear in there: The Pharisees and scribes—they think they’re winners, but they’re whiners! They think they’re great law-abiders, but they’re nothing more than grumblers! They may know the law inside and out, but they do not see what Jesus hears. They were lost and they did not know it.

The tax collectors, the sinners—they’re the ones who knew how to turn their disadvantage into their advantage: they heard the words of hope; they accepted the invitation from Jesus to sit down, eat together, and learn about their God from the master. Jesus could see—and hear—what was going on all around him—the whining and the wondering; the grumbling and the gazing—As he always did, he used the opportunity to teach ALL of them. “This is the nature of God,” he said to them, “in words you can understand.” Jesus talks to them about things they value, and then masterfully turns the disadvantage of being lost into the advantage of being found.

No matter what your situation is, no matter how “lost” you are; how bleak the horizon; how blinding the solution, turn to God; ask God to show you the way “to do your best job possible, and not be dead.”

Even a little sparrow knows how to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. On Friday morning, Stella managed to get in the house with a sparrow. The little bird escaped the little gray jaws of death and flew onto the top of the laundry-room doorway. Stella, meanwhile, was spinning around on the carpet below, trying to climb the walls, grumbling and whining and complaining the whole time.

I reached for the trembling bird, but she flew away, all around the room. But, she came back and landed on the doorway again. Slowly I reached up, closer, closer; she did not move. I didn’t really think I had a chance of getting her…it’s not like I am a bird whisperer, or anything like that…  Gently I took the bird in my hand—she did not fight me…

·        not a flutter,

·        not a peck,

·        not a tremble

·        and then she was free—the way God created her to be.

Better to be enfolded in the gentleness of a loving hand than gored in the mouth of a merciless cat. God has a tender, personal concern for us: we are lost sheep in the midst of wolves; but know this: the shepherd is coming for us—look at verse 5: “And when he finds it, he puts it on his shoulders.” As often as we have heard this parable, have you ever realized that we are not in the role of the searcher? That role is God’s.

We are the lost object—lost not in the sense of not knowing where we are – though that could also be the case—but in the underdog role of being the object of another’s search. That is, we are lost TO someone, who is, I can assure you, seeking us. That someone is our desperately seeking God. And God will not stop seeking you and me, until God finds us. God sent his son

·        to find us,

·        to save us;

·        to turn our disadvantage of being

o   the lost,

o   the scorned,

o   the sinful,

o   the blind

o   the grumbling

into being the found—over each one of us there is much rejoicing in heaven—and on earth—

Whatever your disadvantage…make God your advantage. Use God, include him in every part of your life, worship and praise him—yeah, you can even complain to him, throw down your eyeball before him but … but … pick it up again—those things don’t impress God very much. Get on with your life in the Lord, turn to him. God knows how to turn your disadvantage to his advantage—in the process we learn that It is God’s intention-- and indeed the reason he created each one of us— to be one of those saints whom we meet  in school, in the choir, on the street, in the store, in church, by the sea, in the house next door; whether rich or poor, advantaged or disadvantaged, God means for each one of us to be one of his saints, too!

Isn’t it amazing—the blind can see, the deaf can hear, the lame can walk, sinners can become saints—all because we have a desperately seeking God,

·        who will not stop,

·        who will not rest,

·        who will not give up on us

·        who will wrestle for our soul with any devil that appears

until all are safely home again… and our names are written forever in the win column, each of us living in God’s great hall of fame: heaven. Let’s rejoice and say, Amen.

September 15, 2013

The First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME

The Rev Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

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[1] YouTube. “Tom Sullivan”

Places of Honor

PLACES OF HONOR

Jeremiah 2:4-13; Luke 14:1, 7-14; Hebrews 13:1-2

“But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’”

Had an interview for a part-time job last Monday afternoon. One of the questions the interviewer asked me was, “How would people you know describe you?” Oh, no! I thought, “Depends on whom you ask!” What I said was, “I think they might describe me as, uh, friendly…and well-read…and usually cheerful…and that I have a pretty good sense of humor.”

The job I applied for was as hostess/seater at Robert’s Maine Grille in Kittery. I had my first shift on Friday, and as far as I know I’m still employed. I was fearful that the hardest part for me was going to be, because of my advanced age, all the walking around and up and down a significant set of stairs. I was worried about my body holding up, when I really should have been concerned with my brain!

I have to learn all the table numbers, upstairs and downstairs, and the layout has some logic to it, but I haven’t quite got it locked and loaded in my advanced-age brain.

Yet, that was not the most challenging part of my first shift; the hardest part was remembering the table number once I got to the section at which I was supposed to seat the guests! Was it 302 or 303?

Another thing I’ve learned is that if I bring folks to one table, and they spy an open table on the terrace or by a window, they inevitably want to move to the “better seats.” Very humbling experience, since I’ve been known to do that myself!

How fortuitous it us for us, then, that this week’s gospel lesson should be about where people are supposed to sit. In Jesus’ day, there was a seating chart, so to speak. Seats were not numbered like in our restaurants; and the best seats were not near the window or on the terrace. The best seats in the house were those closest to the host, and the most honored position of all was the seat on the left side of the host. Your status in society was reflected in your proximity to your host at the meal.

When Jesus noticed how the wedding guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them a parable that resonates with us today when it comes to wanting the best seat in the house.

Think of all the places in our lives where we have assigned seats: in school, at the theater or concerts, at restaurants, on airplanes, at wedding receptions, sports stadiums, and…at church. Do you know that some folks will not even visit a church because they are afraid they will sit in someone’s seat? Oh, we church people do have a reputation!

Someone once said, “People are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited…until you try to sit in their pew.” Someone else said, “People are funny. They want the front of the bus, the middle of the road, and the back of the church.” The most dreaded seat in the house at church is the front middle pew, right smack in front of the preacher.

There was a couple who never missed a Sunday at church, even in the summer, on holiday weekends, and when they were away on vacation. One time on vacation, they found a church in the area that looked nice so they decided to go there.

The woman liked to sit in the front pew—unusual, I know. So, on Sunday they entered the little community church and sat down in the front pew, where all the deacons sat every week. The usher, noticing this territorial infraction, walked down front and said to the couple, “I’m sorry; this pew is saved.” And the husband replied, “So are we.”

On the surface this parable may seem to be saying that we should not jockey for the best seat in the house. Nor is the lesson about how not to embarrass yourself at a wedding—we’ve all seen, I am sure, people who were absent from school that day! This parable is actually about living humbly so that Christ may exalt us when he calls us to join him in the heavenly feast at eternity’s table.

Are you saved? If Jesus were interviewed about us, how would Jesus describe us, the way we lived our faith?  Could he only say, “Friendly, well read, and has a good sense of humor? A good golfer or knitter? A great cook? A talented quilter? Those things are okay for this world, but to move up higher, to the better place, we need to attend to a deeper place, the place where we stand with Jesus or without Jesus. Are we saved?

Jesus humbled himself when he came down to earth to walk where we walk, to feel what we feel, and to sit where we sit. If you came to church one morning and saw that Jesus was sitting in your pew, would you want to say to him, “Excuse me, Jesus, but this pew is saved?!?”

Jesus notices us, you know. He hears what we say, and he observes how we are. He knows why we do what we do, even if we do not understand it ourselves. The Lord knows that beneath our public persona, deep down, we are like the uninvited guests to the wedding feast.

We are the poor, for we never seem to be satisfied with what we have. We are the crippled, our hearts are handicapped. We are the lame, paralyzed in place, with a faith is going nowhere. We are the blind, hidden flaws are obstacles on our faith walk. We have no means to repay Jesus for the sacrifice he made on our behalf. Yet, yet, we have his promise that if we believe in him, trust him, follow him, eat and drink him, we ARE saved.

Jesus is the Host of heaven and earth, and he invites us to live with him because he loves us. “Come to my table,” he says. “I have prepared a feast for you.”  Be glad in the good news, friends. Jesus invites us daily to move up higher, to a better place for each of us: places of honor at his feet in the throne room of heaven. Amen.

September 1, 2013

First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME

The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

Body Bend

Jeremiah 1:4-10, Luke 13:10-17

“She was bent over and quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment?

In last week’s passage from Luke, Jesus announced that he had not come to earth to bring peace but division. Our passage today gives us a taste of how bitter that divided place can be. The rigidly religious Pharisee stands up next to a “daughter of Abraham,” a woman literally bent over for so long that she could not possibly stand up straight even if she wanted to.

Between the one who was bent and the one who was unbending, Jesus stands, in the divided place: ready to teach, set to heal, and good to go—all upon the Sabbath day. He heals the body-bent woman, and the very first thing she does is rise up, and the very next thing she does is praise God for this totally unexpected and unbeckoned goodness.

The entire crowd witnessed the healing, and the very first thing they did was rejoice, and the very next thing they did was rejoice even more. “Just look at all the wonderful things Jesus is doing right before our very eyes!”

Any of you ever had back trouble? I started having back trouble at 11 years old, the result of a gym-class game of dodge ball gone awry. A few years ago I had a bout with sciatica—a crippling pain in the lower back. I had to hold perfectly still; I did not want to move an inch; if I moved, I believed I might break. No position was comfortable.

About 80 percent of the adults in the U.S. have been bothered by back pain at some point. More than half said the pain severely limited their daily routine for a week or longer, and 88% said it recurred throughout the year. Lower-back pain disrupts many of the normal activities of life: [sleep, work, weight, sex]. Although lower-back pain is the fifth most common reason people go to a doctor, many of those with more prolonged pain don't see a health-care professional because of cost concerns or because they do not think professional care can help them.[1]

After 18 years of suffering, the bent-over woman had probably given up on doctors and medicines, too. Notice, however, that she had not given up on God, for she was there in the temple on the Sabbath.

For a moment now, let’s put ourselves in her body. Bend over your knees and look down. What do you see? Turn your head to the left; to the right. How far can you see? Remain bent over; now try to look up here at the pulpit. Not easy, is it? Terribly uncomfortable, I know; almost impossible to do . . . if you cannot—or will not—bend.

Just think: here was this woman who could see only about 4 square feet of ground beneath her, and she was in the presence of the greatest healer who ever walked the face of this earth; yet, she never asked for his help. It was Jesus who called to her! [You can sit up now.]

When the woman brought her body, bent, to Jesus, when she gave herself and her condition to him completely, the Lord touched her and proclaimed, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment” (Luke 13:12b). The woman stood up straight, and she praised God for the power in Jesus’ hands that changed her life.

How many of us have come here this morning with a body, mind or spirit bent under the weight of a constant condition? Is there a problem, an edgy situation, a hurt, a heart break, an anger, an empty nest, a grudge, an illness, a spirit of pain and unrest that is crippling you? Has this “ailment” reached the point of spilling over its boundaries, disrupting the normal aspects of your life?       

Do you believe that there is nothing that can be done for you; that there’s no one who can help you? Have you forgotten all the wonderful things Jesus can do for you?

To the bent-over woman, Jesus said, “Come to me”; he calls to us as well. “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavily burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

And what is this rest? It is Sabbath, the day that God proclaimed holy. The author Alice Walker said, “Anybody can observe the Sabbath, but making it holy surely takes the rest of the week.”[2] There is healing in the presence of the holy; there is holiness in the presence of the healer.

In the Body of Christ, we are able to be in the presence of the healer at any and every moment.

So what does that mean? It means we bend but do not break; it means we live in faith and hope, not in rigidity and religion. It means Sabbath, and what better day is there than the Sabbath to heal and be healed?

Friends, Christ is the one who offers his people and his church the miracles of new beginnings, no matter what ails us. We may be bent over, struggling, feeling invisible and alone, but we are also the sons and daughters of God. Praise God! For God gave us the Son who came to set us free from whatever divides body and soul.  

Let’s fill ourselves from the fountain of God’s grace and rejoice at all the wonderful things Christ is doing for us, his beloved Body, bending before him, knees bowed in thanksgiving for Christ’s gift of new beginnings. Amen.

August 25, 2013

First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME

The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

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[1] Consumer Health Care Report

[2] Sermon Seeds. www.UCC.org.

That Can-Do Attitude

THAT CAN-DO ATTITUDE

Jeremiah 23:23-29; Hebrews 11:29-2; Luke 12:49-59

“You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

the Can Do 

Before The Perfect Storm, there was the 1978 blizzard that lashed the Massachusetts coast with blinding snow, 90-mile-per-hour winds and 40-foot waves. Into the juggernaut sailed the small pilot boat Can Do and its crew of five civilians on a doomed mission to assist two other vessels imperiled by the storm. As in The Perfect Storm, all hands were lost; but since the Can Do sank only a few agonizing miles from shore, there are records of terse radio transmissions to help the author recreate their last desperate hours.[1]

Perhaps most of us here have stories to tell, or at least memories to share, of the Blizzard of ’78. I remember parts of the storm well—the National Guard came into Gloucester to dig us out; no one was allowed to drive, even if your road had been cleared—you had to walk everywhere you wanted to go. I remember not having to go to school in Boston for several days—that was awesome.

And I remember the Can Do, a pilot boat from Gloucester, and the story of how its captain and crew headed out beyond the breakwater the night of the storm on a mission to do whatever they could to assist in the rescue of the men aboard the storm-split tanker, Global Hope, and the floundering Coast Guard Cutter sent to assist that ship. The Captain of the Can Do, Frank Quirk, was known for his heroics; he was always saying, “I’ll give it my best shot.”

People who earn their livings from the sea are experts at reading the skies and sensing omens in the wind. They had to be, for their lives depended on this skill. There was no room for false prophecies, as we heard from the passage in Jeremiah. Forecasting the weather is not as easy as reciting a poem: “Red sky at night, sailors’ delight; red sky at morning sailors take warning.”  Navigating a stormy sea can be extremely stressful. In a matter of a few hours 7 foot waves became 70-foot walls of water that February night in 1978. There’s nothing quaint or poetic about the water or the weather.

There’s nothing really quaint or predictable about Jesus, either. Luke tells us the Lord is stressed out—all of us can identify with him, can we not. We’ve been there…and Jesus has been there, too. Part of Jesus’ stress was the anticipation of his death, his baptism by crucifixion that he knew was looming just over heaven’s horizon.

Jesus’ stress is exacerbated, though, by the observable laissez-faire attitude of the crowds. He is so frustrated with them that he calls them Hypocrites! He said, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It’s going to rain’; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. Why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

 In other words, Jesus is telling them that God is about to do something new, huge and life-changing right under their noses, and unless they start reading the signs of the times and get on board with it, they will be left behind, alone to face their maker.  God’s judgment is imminent.  Death looms. They were in danger, and they didn’t even know it.

Captain Frank Quirk and his crew of friends, Charlie Bucko, Don Wilkinson, David Curley and Kenny Fuller all knew that they were in danger when they set out from Gloucester for Salem Sound that late afternoon in February; death loomed. Yet, they headed out anyway; they were willing to give this rescue mission their best shot: they had that Can Do attitude—not the idea that they were going to be just fine despite the danger, but the deeply committed love and determination to do their part, whatever they could, to save fellow mariners from being swallowed forever by the sea, from having their names added to the more than 5000 engraved for eternity on the Fisherman’s Memorial, which stands still, overlooking Gloucester Harbor.

 Captain Frank and his Can Do crew sacrificed their lives during the Blizzard of ’78. Christ gave his life to save us from sin and death so that we will not perish but have everlasting life with God. Are we willing to take risks, to do what it takes, to give Christ our best shot to lift up this Church, His church? If we are willing, then we must become experts of that Can Do Attitude. It is time to look at the horizon, feel the direction of the wind, study the skies of faith. It is time to be baptized with Christ into the fire of a whole new beginning for His Church, our church.

               A great opportunity has appeared on our horizon, friends. Our Church Council has interpreted its meaning as one of hope; the forecast is all about transformation. The signs of our present time include new life, new beginnings.

               I mentioned to you last Sunday that the Council was to meet with a leader of the Hope Partnership for Transformational Ministry on Tuesday evening. We held a conference call with Matt Rosine, the Minister of Congregational Development from the Partnership.

Matt spent an hour with us expertly answering the many thoughtful questions about what the Hope Partnership New Beginnings program has to offer churches just like ours.

               When the call was over, we talked for quite a while more. And we decided to head out into the open water of New Beginnings. We have adopted that Can Do attitude, willing to give the church our best shot, and we very much want all of you to be a part of what’s coming over Heaven’s Horizon for us. We need leaders and followers; we need support, love and prayers. We need everyone to own their part of the voyage so that our mission will be amazing, passionate, life-giving and God-glorifying. We need YOU on board with that Can Do Attitude.

Of course, there may be stormy seas ahead, but we are confident that our Savior, Jesus, will pilot us through whatever dangerous  shoals we may encounter during this voyage to new hope, renewed faith, amazing opportunities to serve God. By faith, like our ancestors, we will set out with God into a new beginning. As of today, the destination is not yet revealed, but we can trust the Lord to see us through, for God has a great purpose for us, I just know it. I feel it. I see the signs all around us. 

The Council has interpreted the signs of our times accurately, and they are about to lead us on a tremendous journey to turn this ship around. Will you get on board with us, leave the shores of laissez faire church life and become a partner in the transformation of First Parish Federated Church? Please say, “Yes!” New life looms; God’s blessings are imminent. Praise God for the council’s leadership; praise God for those who will come forward to serve with that Can Do attitude. Praise God for New Beginnings! The forecast for our future is now extremely bright! Amen.

August 18, 2013/First Parish Federated Church of South Berwick, ME/The Reverend Donna Lee Muise, Pastor

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[1] Publishers Weekly review of Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do, by Michael Tougias.

What Now?

What Now?

preached Sunday August 4, 2013 by the Reverend Jack Williams 

 

          I have really enjoyed being with you for the last three Sundays. I have felt your warmth and your joy for the church.  The people of First Parish Federated Church have learned how to do and be church and I am blessed more than you will ever know by being asked to lead worship these last three Sundays.

          Two Sundays ago we learned about who Jesus is, based upon Paul’s words from the letter to the Colossians.  Simply put, Jesus is Lord. He is God incarnate, God with us. It is through the life of Jesus that we can know the nature of God.  If you have seen Jesus, you have seen the Father. Additionally, even though you and I did not see Jesus during his earthly ministry,  he said to Thomas, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Jesus is talking about us. You and I are blessed because without seeing, we have come to believe.

Last week we talked about what difference Christ means in our lives.  Through our baptism, we participate in his death and resurrection which means when you were baptized, you died to your old way of life and were reborn to a new life - a new life in Christ.

There are many ramifications to new life in Christ.  For one, I don’t have to worry about things as much as I used to. As one who has struggled with anxiety and feelings of low self esteem and self worth, I can tell you that when you invite Christ into your life, the old self does pass away and a new you will come forth. 

This week, I will answer, or at least give you some ways to respond to your new life in Christ. What I call “What now?”

Our reading from chapter 3 of Colossians is a good place to start. Paul writes, “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

There was a time in my life when my mind was not set on things above. I remember working with a pastoral counselor named Wesley Burwell nearly 30 years ago. I was explaining to Dr. Burwell my plan for retirement from the Air Force. How when I retired, I wanted to go back to Hinsdale, NH where owned a house, fiddle around with my old cars, and sit on the front porch in my rocking chair.

Dr. Burwell asked me just one question, very similar to the title of my message this morning.   He asked me, “And then what?”  It was back there 30 years ago that I decided, as painful and as hard as it might be,  to change the direction of my life.

Rather than reading automotive repair books at night, I started reading the bible.  I joined a vibrant church in Dover, NH where I was nurtured and grew in my walk with Christ.

I was finally baptized in about 1990 in the waters of Lake Winnipesaukee. I became a deacon in the church. I visited the sick.  I directed a handbell choir. In short, I became a practicing Christian.

But just because I became a Christian did not mean my life would be easy.  My marriage fell apart when my wife recognized she was a lesbian. Divorced in 2001, I got involved in a bad relationship.  Yet all the time, I kept on trying to seek the things above.  I completed a Masters in counseling degree in 1999 at UNH and then started studies at Andover Newton that fall. I met and married a wonderful woman named Karen.

It was not easy getting through seminary. I was working full time and going to school part time. Finally, in May of 2006, I received my master of divinity degree and was called to a church as a full time pastor.

Now, I am 63 years old.  I have gotten rid of nearly all my earthly goods, and I had a lot of them. 13 antique cars and trucks, at least 49 amateur radio transmitters, all kinds a stuff to include hundreds of pounds of tools. It is all gone including houses and many books, dishes, furniture, all give to the Salvation Army. I even built a bigger barn at my house in Madbury to hold all my stuff.  That is gone too. Now I merely have a small storage unit at Uhaul to store my church books.

So I got rid of almost all my earthly goods. And it felt good.  Do you know how much time and energy it takes to care of a bunch of junk? I considered it my treasure and what Jesus said is certainly true. Where your treasure is, there will be your heart as well.

Paul gives a list of earthly vices that we are to put aside. It is a pretty good list and starts with getting rid of fornication meaning anything that is sexual immorality.  Quite simply, if you are involved in sexual activity that you know is wrong, stop it. Being involved in sexual immorality causes a separation from God. That is what sin does, it leads to a separation from God.

Paul says we need to stay away from impurity. Things like pornography pollute your mind and makes it difficult to keep your mind of things above.  Once again, things such as pornography leads to a separation from God. You can’t have your mind on things above when you mind is in the gutter.

          Stay away from evil desire. I had an uncle who lived in Springfield, Massachusetts. One time, his car was stolen by some kids from the city. My uncle proudly told me how he had taken care of the situation by hiring a hit man to slam the alleged car thief’s hand into a car door there by breaking his fingers.  That was evil on the part of my uncle.

We are to rid ourselves of anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language.  I personally have used this simple principal in my dealings with people. I will not say anything about someone to another person that I would not want them to hear.  Simply put, if it is not nice, don’t say it.

All of these things are summed up in Jesus’ commandment to us as his disciples.. “love one another.”

As most of you know, the mainline churches are in trouble.  Many of our churches in New England are dying and worship services are more like calling hours than a worship service. Some churches just need to have the funeral and get it over with. Fortunately, that is not the case here at FPFC. Yes, financially, we are facing challenges, but if the right man were not on  your side, as we sang in our opening hymn, there would be no hope.

I have said many times that the only bible most people will ever read is the one they read in you. Churches that are vibrant and alive contain people who love one another. They have something going on that other people want to be a part of. It is like one beggar telling another person where to find food. You offer the food those hungry for God need.

So what do we do now?  Well, you are doing it. You profess that Christ is the Son of god, that he rose from the dead, and that Christ is the head of the church.  A church, solidly built on the foundation of Christ, no matter its size, will be a vibrant church. It may not be a large church, but it will be a church, not just a museum piece from the good old days.

I have great faith that FPFC has good days ahead. You have strong lay leadership. A good facility and devoted disciples.  An excellent music program. You have everything you need, to live out your faith. I urge you to keep Christ as the head of the church. Rejoice in the Lord. Pray about everything and worry about nothing.  And the peace of God which surpasses all our human understanding, will be yours.

Today we celebrate the Lord’s table.  It is one of the many ways we can center ourselves on things from above. 

But, it is not as helpful to come to the Lord’s table if there are things in our lives that separate from God.  They could be ways in which we have missed the mark. Ways in which others have deeply hurt us and we wear the scars of that hurt.  Either way, it is sin that separates us from a full relationship with God.

Our God longs for honesty and holiness within the promise-based

relationship God has established with us in Christ. In a culture that

avoids talk of sin and culpability, regular prayers of confession foster

honesty and openness in our relationship with God. Just as a marriage cannot flourish without honest communication, so our marriage- like relationship with God cannot flourish unless we freely and honestly express all facets of our life: hopes, fears, sins, desires, thanksgiving, and praise.

          So let us boldly say together, the Prayer of St. Francis, number 468 in the Chalice Hymnal.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

          Hear now, our individual confessions, spoken in silence.

                  ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

God of love, in the wrong we have done

and in the good we have not done,

we have sinned in ignorance;

we have sinned in weakness;

we have sinned through our own deliberate fault.

We are truly sorry.

We repent and turn to you.

Forgive us and renew our lives

through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Hear the good news:

This saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance,

that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

He himself bore our sins

in his body on the cross,

that we might be dead to sin,

and alive to all that is good.

I declare to you in the name of Jesus Christ,

you are God’s forgiven people.

What Difference Does it Make ??

What Difference Does it Make

preached Sunday July 28, 2013 by the Reverend Jack Williams 

          I have a friend who a Lutheran. Ollie gave me a small sticker to put on my bathroom mirror that says, “When you wash your face, remember your baptism.” I had that little sticker on my bathroom mirror for a number of years and it was a good reminder of who we are as a result of our baptism.

          Later on, I picked up a small book written by the Methodist Bishop, William Willimon  titled "Remember Who You Are".  Willimon tells the reader that when he was in his teenage years and started dating, just before Will left the house to pick up his date, his mother would say to him, “Remember who you are.  You are baptized.” 

          Last Sunday, based on chapter 1 of Colossians, we saw Paul’s divinely inspired words of who Jesus is. Please bear with me while I read Paul’s words from the NRSV.  “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.”

In short, Jesus is the Messiah, God’s anointed one, Emmanuel, God with us, God’s Son.  In Jesus, we see God and the nature of God.

          This week, our reading from the second chapter answers the “so what”. If Jesus is the Son of God and all the things we heard last week, exactly what difference does that make to us 2,000 later?  More specifically, how does our belief that Jesus is Lord give us new life in Christ?

          There are several theological ideas of how we as Christians have new life, or in another way of saying it, how does Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection give salvation to you and me?

          In powerful language Paul says that “When you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with him in baptism.” We don’t see that as clearly as we would if we were baptizing people the way the early church did. So allow me to tell you how baptism was carried out in the early church. In the early church, preparation for baptism took from 1 to 3 years. Prior to being baptized, the unbaptized would not be allowed stay for the entire church service. They would be excused before the Eucharist was celebrated for instruction in theology. The day of baptism for these Christians in training, was on Easter Sunday. In some communities, the font was a large eight sided pool of water with steps on one side leading into the font and steps on the other side leading out of the font.  Women and men were baptized separately because in many churches, they required the baptismal candidate to be naked, representing being naked, as when one is born. The person would enter into the font and be submerged under the water, not just representing but actually dying with Christ.  The baptizer would say, as the one being baptized was plunged into the watery grave, I baptize you in the name Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Upon coming up out of the water, the newly baptized would be raised to new life just as Christ was resurrected from the dead. After being baptized, new clothing was placed on the new Christian. Usually it was a white robe and the newly baptized were eagerly welcomed to full membership in the church which allowed him or her to take part in the other sacrament of the church, the Lord’s table, or Holy Communion.

          So what is the big deal here?  It is more than just a big deal. Baptism is life changing, life giving, and is an important part of what gives us new life, or salvation. What is that other part that gives us new life in Christ?  It is faith, faith in the very power of God that was able to raise Christ from the dead. Let me say that another way. When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ in baptism, you were also raised with Christ to a new life. In other words, resurrected with Christ.

          I have a couple of questions: Do you think that all things are possible for God to do? Do you believe God answers prayer?  Do you believe God can heal people.  Do you believe God can perform miracles? Do you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead?  Paul states in Roman’s 10, “If you will confess with your lips, that Jesus is Lord and that God raised him from the dead, then you will be saved.”  It is a simple as that.

          Maybe we could say that together:  “Jesus is Lord and God raised him from the dead.” Our brothers and sisters in the Catholic church say something similar as the mystery of faith. “Christ has died, Christ has risen, Christ will come again.”  I almost can’t say those words without breaking out in song.

          But there is more. When you were baptized, you took part in a death and a resurrection like Christ’s death and resurrection. You died in the waters of baptism, a watery grave, and emerged a new person. In words reminiscent of a court document, your rap sheet which contained all the sinful things in your life, that separated you from God. were nailed to the cross.  The charges against you were declared dismissed and stamped null and void and the rap sheet put to death with Jesus on the cross.  Think of it, your charges on that rap sheet, now dismissed.

          So here is another big question:  “Are you and I convinced enough of the sufficiency of God’s action in the crucified Christ to gamble our lives on the power of the way of the cross rather than making compromises with other powers?” Let me say that again:  “Are you and I convinced enough of the sufficiency of God’s action in the crucified Christ to gamble our lives on the power of the way of the cross rather than making compromises with other powers?”

          How might we compromise the way of the cross with other powers.  I can think of several ways, none of which in themselves bad. They are only bad when they become a substitute for the way of the cross.  Here are some I have thought of. Special knowledge that helps you get ahead. Remember Kevin Trudeau who has written numerous books. Cures the doctors don’t want you to know. Get rich in real estate. Or the latest health food supplements.  Some of the programs we see on TV that promise health, wealth, or romance.  Steve Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People”.  All kinds of self help books.  Just the right clothing, or home, or car – all the materialism of our world.  I am sure you can think of many other compromises we can find in other powers.

          Money that we have in our pockets is stamped “In God we trust” but how do we feel when our supply of money is low?  What do most people really put their trust in?  Money or God?

          So here is why Christ is so important for you and me.

In Christ,  through faith and baptism you are a new creation.

In Christ through faith and baptism you are born again.

In Christ through faith and baptism you have the inheritance Christ has.  

In Christ through faith and baptism you are marked as one of God’s own.

When you were baptized either as an infant or an adult, the priest or minister, immersed you in, or poured water over your head and saying your God given name, said these words, I baptize you in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit.  May your name be written in the book of life and may you forever be held in the palm of God’s hand.  The sign of the cross was made on your forehead and you were marked as one of God’s very own.  

So what difference does it make? Every difference in this life and in  your eternal life to come. So next time, when you wash your face, remember your baptism. When you go out into this world, remember who you are.       

Next week I will talk about “Now What”. Now that we know who Christ is and now that we know what difference it makes, now what do we do?  And like the newly baptized of the early church, we will gather around the table and celebrate the sacrament of communion.