Sermon - Pick-Stitch Kingdom (8th Sunday after Pentecost A)

Proper 12A – 8^th Sunday after Pentecost       Panzer Liturgical Service, Stuttgart

Sermon – The Kingdom of God is like a picture collage            July 30, 2017

I came to Germany in 2002, joining Shawn at the end of a two-week TDY. We had just transitioned from 35mm film to a digital camera, but I still was being judicious in my shot selection. Not knowing that we would eventually move to Germany, not once - but twice, I was intent on recording our itinerary in pictures so we would be able to remember the details of our trip and tell the story of our journey. But the best pictures of the trip were the shots which captured the beauty of the world around me.  Neuschwanstein Castle nestled in the mountain side and the beauty of an Oberammergau cemetery prepared for Mother’s Day celebrations... I remember seeing those pictures blown up on my computer screen and thinking, “I can’t believe I took that.” So many details that I had missed popped into the view once the picture was enlarged and enhanced. It not only brought back the memory, but also the emotion of the day.

Oberammergau Cemetary - 2002 (C) DLT

Since then I have taken thousands of pictures, finally abandoning my digital camera for the superior picture quality of my mobile phone. It is always close at hand, and within a split moment, I can catch a surprising or beautiful or funny moment, to be remembered and shared. The photos I take often tell a story… but some just capture a split-second memory of the world at large. More and more, I look out on the world and to capture the intricacies of the world around me, showing details that I didn’t see at first. But there are also times when I realize that a photo just isn’t enough.

I am in awe of how our eyes and our brains work together to turn our view of the world from something two dimensional to something that is three or four dimensional. If only we could infuse our pictures with the emotions of the experience… now that would be an amazing photo album.

In today’s gospel reading, we encounter Jesus teaching about the Kingdom of God… again. And in this brief passage, he gives several examples – although not exclusive or exhaustive by any stretch of the imagination. It turns out that one parable is not enough to see the vastness of God’s Kingdom. Our job is to see ourselves in his pictures, and daily life in the Kingdom of God.

Mustard seed, yeast, hidden treasure, a wise merchant, a fishing net, a wise scribe… common items or people which give us a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. On their own, they tell us something important about God and our place in God’s world. But together, they weave a tapestry of intricate and complicated beauty. Like a beautiful Persian carpet woven from cotton and wool and silk, from one direction it may look blue, but from the other side of the room, you could swear it’s green. But the more you look at it, you just call it beautiful and know that mere words are not enough.

What lesson was Jesus trying to teach us thru these parables? What did he want us to know about the Kingdom of God that would change our lives… and the core of who we are? Here are four lessons that stand out to me.

I. The Value of the Kingdom Is Greater Than Anything Else (vv. 44-46)[i]

The value of a society is often measured in how much it is worth… countries are designated rich or poor based on how much money they have in their treasury and the performance of their stock markets or natural resources. But the Kingdom of God is more valuable than any of the countries we know. And our place in it has more worth than even our best relationships. We claim that we would do anything to protect those we love… we are even willing to surrender our lives for them. But being a part of the KOG requires our willingness to surrender all of everything we have to Jesus – no easy task. Part of becoming Christian is realizing that our membership is God’s Kingdom is life’s greatest treasure. It takes a lot of bravery to commit ourselves fully to its call and responsibilities.

Military members and their families understand this. You’re not just in the Marines – you are a Marine. The same holds true for us… Being Christian is not just about accepting the “rules” … our lives must be thoroughly infused with the grace and love of God.

II. The Nature of the Kingdom Endures Forever (vv. 31-33)

Twitter - Trooper Brooke Bova
@wspd1pio

I saw a story the other day of a delivery van on the I-5 in Seattle that was seen oozing a beige blog of material onto the highway. When highway patrol finally caught up with the van (after it left a multi-mile layer of slime on the roadway), it was discovered that the van contained scrap bread dough that was headed to a processing plant to be made into animal feed. It seems that the driver had stopped to have lunch and being a hotter-than-normal day, the yeast had grown and expanded the dough out of the garbage bags that it was stored in and tumbled to the grown along the way.[ii] No harm – no foul… a yeast has to do what a yeast will do.

Both the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast tell the story of something really small that becomes really big. The mustard seed we use today to make a sandwich spread is a little different from the one Jesus talked about, but even so, it’s hard to imagine how a tiny seed like that could become a bush that was so big that birds could make a nest in it. These two parables teach us that just because something is small doesn’t mean that it’s not mighty. Even when things are hard, when life seems to throw punches that come from nowhere and doesn’t seem fair, we have to keep pushing forward to further the agenda of the KOG… love, care, and trust make all of that possible. That is to say, the Kingdom is life's greatest treasure not only because of its great value but also because it will endure forever. All other things will fail, but the Kingdom will persevere to the end.

III. Our Work in the Kingdom Is to Share This Treasure with Others (vv. 51-52)

The last of the parables sees Jesus appointing his listeners to be communicators of the message of the Kingdom. He called them scribes. To be a scribe is to be honored. A scribe in Palestine was highly respected. The Pharisees and religious leaders thought Jesus and his crowd were rabble-rousers and trouble makers, but Jesus tells them that their true value is defined by entrusting them with this ministry. Even more, to be a scribe is also to bear the responsibility of teaching others the truths of God. In other words, Kingdom disciples have an evangelistic responsibility. Evangelism comes in many forms, but I wonder if we really understand that how we live our lives is as much an invitation as what we say. The Kingdom life is not just defined by what is written or spoken, but also how that life is lived. Implicit in Jesus directive is his desire that our words and our living match up, and that people will indeed know us by our love.

Since every sermon I have preached in the last five years is recorded online, I often worry that the way I live my life does not contradict the lessons that I learn from study and exegesis. I know that I have not always acted in concert with the good news of Jesus. I have spoken without thinking or in anger or acted in ways that were not inclusive or loving. Each time I realize my mistake, I seek forgiveness from God and if possible, from those I have harmed, but I am sure that there are many times when I am oblivious to the mistakes I make. Part of the Kingdom journey is becoming more and more aware of the how our lives are true reflections of the life Christ teaches us about. And it is very hard work – work that’s never done.

IV. The Joy of the Kingdom Is Available to All (vv. 47-50)

Maybe this is the hardest point of all in Jesus’ message. Once we become a part of the Kingdom, we can be lured into the practice of wanting to protect it, to make it pure and exclusive. But the parable of the net challenges that assumption. When fishers use a dragnet, they sweep up everything in their path. The picture of the dragnet demonstrates that the Kingdom is open to all.

For me, this brings up the ultimate question. What is the purpose of the Gospel? Is it to save our individual souls so that we can go to heaven? Or is it for something more? Jesus said, “I will make you fishers of people.” The good news of Jesus is meant to be shared. Even if we feel reluctant or afraid to share our own theological understandings of scripture or Christian ethics or life, we do share them in the way we behave… in how we treat people. AI am more convinced that our job isn’t to make people conform to our intellectual understandings of God. It’s to love them and to walk with them on the Kingdom way.

The purpose of the Kingdom is to touch every soul with the gospel – the good news – of Jesus Christ. And what is that good news? God loves us. God calls us to love others… all others… not just those who are like us, but everyone. Even those who don’t deserve it… even those who don’t want it… and it’s the hardest thing we to do.

The tragic reality, however, is that many will reject the Kingdom because our words and our actions don’t match. Our lives are in the invitation to follow Jesus, not just our words. Instead of seeing him as judge and jury, he is both our friend and fellow traveler.

This week I’ve been following the Air Force Cycling Team as they ride in the Register’s Great Bike Race Across Iowa. [iii] Accomplished active duty and retired Air Force cyclists have gathered, not to win a race, but to assist the thousands who gather each year to interact with the week-long course and with people in the communities who welcome them. Instead of riding at the front of the pack each day, every AF rider carries bike inner tubes, spare parts, energy bars, first aid kits, and an unfailing desire to help those who are in need along the way.

Facebook - Air Force Cycling Teagan - RAGBRAI 2017

Their actions each mile during the day, as they interact with folks each night, and as they volunteer in their local communities, are the hallmarks of not only the USAF core values – Integrity first, Service above self, & Excellence in all we do – but also a witness to what it means to live as Kingdom people.

Becoming Christian is about more than the moment of salvation. It’s one thing to invite Jesus into our hearts or to make the decision to claim Christianity, but living out that faith into the Kingdom is something else altogether. Jesus teaches us that living as citizens in God's kingdom through Jesus Christ is life's greatest treasure. It looks different for each of us, but it’s not only OK but necessary that we ask ourselves this question: “What is the treasure of my life?”

I have a feeling we each still have a lot of work to do… It’s a good thing we’re all in this together, fellow companions in the Pick-Stitch Kingdom of God.

Peace, Deb

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[i] This sermon was inspired by exegesis by Douglas Bunch, “Life’s Greatest Treasure,” Ministry Matters: SERMON OPTIONS: JULY 30, 2017, http://www.ministrymatters.com/preach/entry/5167/sermon-options-july-30-2017

[ii]  CARA GIAIMO, Truck Full of Dough Rises Ahead of Schedule, Atlas, Obscura, JULY 25, 2017,  http://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dough-truck-rising-heat

[iii] Facebook – Air Force Cycling Team - https://www.facebook.com/afcycling/

Sermon - Claiming Christ, Living Christ -– Everyday (Pentecost 3A)

3^rd Sunday After Pentecost (Year A)                                           June 25, 2017

Romans 6:1-11                                             Panzer Military Chapel, Stuttgart

Claiming Christ, Living Christ – Everyday 

I have this seminary friend who tells the story of going to his first field education church in rural North Carolina. As it often happened, the arrival of the Duke Divinity School intern usually meant that the appointed minister took a couple of weeks off after Annual Conference. So, on his first Sunday, the pastor introduced him to the congregation and split for the beach immediately after the recessional hymn. Unfortunately, my friend had some questions, so when he got to the church the next morning he asked the church secretary if she could help clear some things up. She was a fountain of information, except for one question: why does the congregation turn and face the back of the sanctuary for the Apostle’s Creed? Her answer, I’m a Baptist – I don’t know anything about creeds. But I know who does.

So that afternoon he visited the local retirement center to find a long-time member and surviving Methodist minister’s spouse. When he tracked her down and gotten thru all of the introductions, he could finally ask the question on his mind. Why does the congregation face the back of the church when they say the Apostle’s Creed? Oh, easy, she said. About 30 years ago the words to the Creed and the Ten Commandments were painted in calligraphy on the back wall of the sanctuary. People got into the habit of turning around to read the words and when they painted the sanctuary the last time, they covered it up and hung some nice pictures. By then, turning around was second nature, and nobody ever thought twice about why.

What does it mean to be a Christian? Ask the First Ecumenical Council of Nicea in 325 and you’ll get the Nicene Creed... a foundational document which lays out what Christians believe about who God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are, and the basic beliefs we hold as the church. Of course, with the split between the Orthodox and Roman Churches in 1059 and the Reformation of the 16^th century changed all of that. The Creed was no longer the foundation of church theology or the definition of what it means to be Christian.

Ask 100 Christians today what it means to be Christian and you’ll get 100 answers. But I still think it’s a good question, not just as an intellectual exercise, but also to see how we are measuring up to life in Christ.

This passage from Romans is the perfect place to reflect today. Paul’s letters are usually written to give encouragement and instruction to people in matters of faith. As the Christian Church began to grow and expand, the message of the gospel often took on the character of the one proclaiming the word. As people heard the message and accepted it for themselves, they passed it on to others. But it’s difficult to incorporate to total Christian experience in a simple message, so often some things were emphasized over others. Paul’s letters weren’t written as foundational or theological documents. They were letters from a pastor and teacher to his students and friends, encouraging them to keep their eye on the real prize.

Today’s lesson focuses on life after baptism. What is our life in Christ supposed to look like if we remember our baptisms every day? Now I am sure that many of us do not remember our baptisms, because they happened when we were very young. But “remember your baptism” is not about memory of the event itself. It is about acknowledging the responsibilities that come with baptism. It is about rejecting or dying to sin every day, and picking up the promise of eternal life and using it as a guide in every decision we make. It is a way of saying: Remember who you are; you have died to sin and now you live a new life in Jesus Christ. It is a way of saying: Be who you are.[i]

The process for becoming a Christian is simple and difficult, at the same time. In my United Methodist tradition, we talk about three areas of grace which define a life of faith. First comes prevenient or covenant grace. It means that there is never a time when God does not love us.  "Prevenient" comes from the Latin word which means "to come before." “Covenant” helps us remember the promise that God made to Abraham that all who follow will be connected to God by love and relationship. This means that before we do or say anything, God loves us.  Prevenient grace leads us to long for God, and to want and need God to be a part of our lives.  Because of covenant grace, we want to be one with God, and we are moved to repent or ask for forgiveness for our sins.  Baptism helps us to affirm this prevenient or covenant grace because God takes the initiative and calls us to become a part of God's people.

Repentance or saying we’re sorry is our response to God's love and leads to justifying grace.  The word "justification" is a legal term which means "to prove right or to free from blame."  In God's eyes, we are all guilty of sin and deserve punishment.  But in a great outpouring of love, God forgives us and treats us as if we were not guilty.  Baptism is a sacrament of justification and pardon, of dying and rising with Christ for all people, for both infants and adults.

Sanctifying grace is the gift of God's love that calls us and helps us grow in Christian faith and life. God calls us to turn our lives toward him, loving God and our neighbors in all that we do and say.  Baptism marks the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ.  Sharing the bread and wine each week at a common table is one way in which we are fed and taught to be the united body of Christ.

This part of Paul’s letter to the Romans reminds us that we can’t get stuck in the justifying grace part of our journey. God’s forgiveness and our salvation do come at a cost. It’s not that we are working our way into heaven, it’s that our works – our love of Christ and his creations – are our response to the amazing gift that we have been given.

Most Christian traditions recognize three methods of baptism. Each has its own symbolic nature. Old Testament reading talks about sprinkling as a means of cleansing and purifying.  In baptism, the water is an outward sign of God’s grace, which cleanses the heart of the baptized person. Sometimes people are baptized using the pouring method, reminding us that the “Holy Spirit has been poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (Titus 2:5-7).

Paul’s commentary today helps us to understand why baptism by immersion holds such a powerful message. When someone is baptized by immersion, he or she is completely submerged in water and then lifted out of the water.  Paul says that we who are baptized into Christ have been buried with him into death so that we can be raised with him into new life.  Baptism by immersion is an outward sign of dying and being raised with Christ. 

Therefore, baptism has the power to cleanse us, pour on us the Holy Spirit, and assist us in dying to sin and being raised to new life. Theologically, Paul’s view on baptism is that it is the beginning of a journey or process and that its effects are not only for a moment but for an entire life. Believers must understand that the baptism Paul is talking about in Romans 6 does not just wash away the stains of sin, but rather, it is a participation in the death of Jesus Christ and an anticipation of his resurrection. This means that belief in Christ requires us to anticipate and participate in an embodied resurrection life.[ii]

You’d be surprised at the number of people who want the baptisms of their children to be a private event… as a cultural or familial celebration when it is a communal event, incorporation into the body of Christ. We don’t often recognize that our life in Christ may, in fact, draw us away (or even in opposition) to our families, as Jesus talks about in the Gospel reading (Matthew 10:34-38).

Baptism and salvation are not a universal hedge of protection from pain or suffering. Some traditions talk about having a personal relationship Christ, but the Jesus we see in the gospels and the one Paul talks about in Romans is not the Jesus who meets us for coffee and tells us that everything is going to be okay. No, he is the one who calls us to follow him into crucifixion, knowing that resurrection is waiting on the other side.[iii] Safe – no; life-changing – in more ways than we can imagine.

So, what does this lesson about life in Christ mean for us today?

There is a lot of turmoil in the world right now. And I am saddened and angered that people who claim to follow Christ act in conflict with the life Paul is calling us to live. People tell me that preaching shouldn’t be political, so I wonder that if I’m willing to accept that premise, then what am I supposed to do to battle the injustices and hate that I see, often not propagated by people outside of the Church, but by those of us who claim to be on the inside? What am I supposed to say when people are belittled for being a different race, religion, or educational or economic status, thought of as less than by those who claim power and use privilege like a weapon?

I’m not going to leave you with a heartwarming story today, but with the questions that I ponder every day, especially these days.

·         Is a life of faith in Jesus Christ about what I believe or how I behave?

·         When people hear me describe myself as a Christian are they comforted or appalled?

·         Is my silence about injustice seen as a quiet acceptance of the status quo?

·         Am I more worried about what people will think of me if I speak out that if I don’t?

·         How will I be judged in the end, not just for the sins I have committed, but for the ones I never spoke out against?

I’ll be honest, it keeps me up at night, worrying and praying for an answer on what I’m supposed to do next.

German pastor Martin Niemöller was an outspoken foe of the Nazi Regime and spent seven years in a prison camp. He is most famous for the following quote, which gives me a little clue about what my faith journey requires of me…

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.[iv]

I don’t think we want that to be our legacy… no, claiming Christ must mean living Christ, every single day.

Peace, Deb 

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[i] David Bartlet, Commentary on Romans 6:1b-11, Preach This Week, June 22, 2008, http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=66

[ii]  Israel Kamudzandu, Commentary on Romans 6:1b-11, Preach This Week, June 22, 2014, http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2052

[iii] Pulpit Fiction Podcast, June 25, 2017, https://www.pulpitfiction.com/notes/proper7a

[iv] Martin Niemoller, Article from Holocaust Encyclopedia, https://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10007392

Sermon: Less Me, More We (Easter 7A)

Easter 7A                                                                                May 28. 2017

John 17:1-11, Acts 1:6-14                          Panzer Liturgical Service, Stuttgart

The goal: More WE, Less ME

These days are crazy-making… I don’t even like to check the news when I get up in the morning, which is really not true, because it’s the first thing I do, sometimes even before I get out of bed. The level of crisis that the world is operating under is astonishing, frightening, and even painful. Questions swirl around us about safety. We wonder about the motives of our political and community leaders. We dig in, holding on to our long-held beliefs and positions at all cost. And we wonder, “When did it all go so wrong?”

Of course, the truth of the matter is that it went wrong right in the very beginning, with the couple in the Garden, who decided that their own beliefs were more important than the instructions that they were given for living a good life. When you read through the book of Genesis and beyond, which I highly recommend if you think that life today is screwed up, you see that time and time and time again, the people of God choose their plans over God’s plans. It’s like they can’t help it. Even when there is someone present to say, “I think this is a bad idea,” the people go and do their own thing. And in the end, the prophet proclaims the grand, “I told you so!”

The good news in all of these stories is that the “I told you so” does not come with the destruction or abandonment of the people. Do they suffer? Yes. Do they spend years lost in their own folly? Absolutely. Will they ever learn the lessons that God is trying to teach? Sometimes, for short periods of time. Did God ever just give up? Thankfully, no.

One of the reasons that we continue to need the Hebrew Bible story is to put the life of Jesus into context. Jesus comes to the world waiting to be saved. Generations of Jews, God’s chosen people, have suffered. But their hope has rested in the promise of a Savior. We often talk about how they expected the Messiah would be a brave knight, coming as warrior and king, wiping out the oppressors in payback for all of the pain they have experienced. Many before Jesus claimed to be the One, the fulfillment of God’s prophecy, but none had fit the bill.

And then Jesus comes, and from the very beginning, he was a contradiction to all of the world’s expectations. The birth narratives give us an insight into the humbleness of his beginnings. His call and baptism by John give us a glimpse of his humility. His ministry was so unlike what the Jews were expecting that the religious leaders of the day waged war from almost the first day. And nothing could have been more shocking than to see the man killed, a mere three years after his ministry began.

Of course, Easter changed all of that. The resurrection is living proof that God’s love and power cannot be contained. The empty tomb and the presence of the risen Jesus with the disciples in the 40 days afterward are an enduring witness to the ultimate power of God.

Some of our favorite Jesus stories take place during this season of Eastertide… the walk to Emmaus, Doubting Thomas… these stories are especially poignant because we can relate… to the fear, the questions, to it all… Like the disciples after the resurrection, I ask myself all the time, “What does this mean for how I’m going to live my life today?”

Ascension Day is not celebrated as a high, holy day for most of the Church. Here in Germany, it is observed as a holiday, but has been coupled with Father’s Day, so it’s not really a “Jesus goes back to Heaven” kind of day. So, I’m glad that we have one of the ascension stories as a part of our readings for the day.

As I hear the disciples’ question, I can’ help but think of a child with separation anxiety… “Jesus, when are you coming back?” Jesus’ reassurance comes in an unexpected way. He tells them that they will not know the day or hour, BUT they will receive the power of the Holy Spirit to give them strength to witness to who he is until his return. And they are sent to wait for whatever that will look like… praying and wondering and worrying, I’m sure. Next Sunday, we will experience the birth of the Church in the fiery tongues of Pentecost, but that is Chaplain Baker’s story to tell.

Today’s gospel lesson comes from Jesus’ last discourse – the final prayer at the end of the Last Supper scene, before the unfolding of his arrest and crucifixion. For me, there is an added layer of meaning when we pair it with the ascension scene.

In this passage, Jesus prepares for all that will unfold before him, giving a final prayer and blessing. When they look back on this supper, the disciples will have a better understanding of what Jesus was trying to say. This was Jesus’ lesson: that he didn’t have to be with them for the world to be changed. When we follow him, his is present with us and through us. We are his body – his hands, his feet, his voice – and we have work to do.

We also know that the work of Jesus is at its best when we are acting as one. There is power in our work and ministry when we are all on the same page, singing from the same score, rowing with the same stroke, running with the same stride…. You get the picture, right? But when we are out of step with one another, then chaos usually ensures.

Shawn and I have almost a foot height difference between us. It often makes for awkward selfies. But the practical reality of that difference was displayed on our first long weekend away from Stuttgart almost 13 years ago. We took a lovely trip to Prague, and while it was beautiful and romantic, an inordinate amount of time was spent trying to find our stride. I lost track of how many times we were standing on opposite street corners, because I just couldn’t get places as fast as he could. It was frightening, and a little annoying - for both of us. But in the end, we had to have a conversation about when it is important to match our strides. Sometimes that means I have to speed up. Mostly, he has to slow down. But it’s important to do so if we want to get and enjoy places together.

I think this is a good example of what it means to be workers together in the name of God. We have to be willing to work in unison, giving up our need to be the big cheese in charge. Sometimes great things can be accomplished by one, but most often, it is our willingness to work together than makes the biggest difference in peoples’ lives.

Jesus’ words are not just a reassurance that we are not alone, but that we are his people together. Last week, we heard Jesus promise and Advocate – one who walks alongside us in our journeys. But that is not the Spirit’s only role. The Holy Spirit also makes us one body. And in the process of becoming one body of believers, we become unified in our purpose, and miraculous things occur. When we are about making our own needs and wants and beliefs the most, or only, important thing, trouble invariably ensues.

It’s so easy to stay in our comfort zones – to take care of our own needs and do what we’ve always done. But life in Christ demands something more from us. We have to want to become one with Christ and with one another.

Throughout history, from the Garden to the disciples to the current day, the Spirit moves and we have to decide whether we’re going to move with it or not. Jesus said, “The spirit, like the wind, blows where it chooses.” The word for wind and breath is the same at the word for Spirit… ruah. It’s the word from the creations story with the wind stirred the waters. It’s the word when God formed and man out of dust and breathed life into him. And it’s the word used at Pentecost as a mighty wind breathes life into the Church.

The Spirit not only comes to unite us, but to free us from what we have previously known about the world. God’s activity is not confined to what makes us comfortable. Left to our own devices, we sabotage the work of the Spirit by claiming our power over God’s power. So it’s not surprising that Jesus sent the disciples to go back to the Upper Room and wait to receive the Holy Spirit. When we read the Book of Acts, we see the church trying to catch up with the Holy Spirit as they are compelled to cross racial, religious and national boundaries to bring Jesus’ message of love to the whole world.[i]

This season of Eastertide, I have been asking myself the question, “Why Jesus?” And through these last 7 weeks, I have been reminded that I need Jesus because he refocuses my attention on what’s important.

As I look around me and feel like the world is spinning more out of control, I am reminded that life in Christ is less about theological purity and more faithfulness and trust - about loving and serving in the places we are. A pastor friend reminded me that above all else, we are called to be deeply devoted disciples of Jesus Christ, not disciples to our own wants and needs. When I sit and read chapters of the gospels rather than verses or paragraphs, I am more and more convinced that what Jesus cares most is how we love one another.

In this week’s news alone, from the Manchester bombing, to stabbings in Portland, to disunity in our government and our churches, to attacks in Egypt and Syria which kill the innocent just to put forward a political or religious agenda… there is no doubt that we have this disunity this perfected. But Jesus’ prayer is for the whole world… that we may be one.

Somehow, we have to figure out how to make that a reality… in our personal lives, in our church lives, and in our lives in the world. We have to figure out how to make our faith lives our life’s work, and we have to be willing to work toward those goals together, in spite of our disagreements and our own self-interests. And that, my friends, can only be done when we trust the Spirit to be with us in the places and with the people who need us. And through that same Spirit, we can experience “more WE, and less ME.”

Be prepared - our lives will take a different turn than we expect. But Jesus’ promises hold true. ⁶So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:6-8 NRSV) 

Amen.

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[i] Rick Power, A Plain Account, Easter 7A, http://www.aplainaccount.org/easter-7a-1st-reading

Sermon - A different kind of king - Maundy Thursday - Year A)

Maundy Thursday - April 13, 2017                                             Panzer Chapel, Stuttgart
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

(c) Brokenbeleivers.com

Tonight, we see Jesus once again acting against stereotype. We talked last Sunday about how Jesus is a different kind of King. Instead of riding into Jerusalem on a powerful horse, he comes in on a humble donkey, transportation for the poor. And when they arrive at the room for a simple supper, he again acted in an unexpected way.

In the normal order of things, Kings don’t wait on people. So, when Jesus takes off his outer garments and makes things ready to wash the feet of his disciples, they were obviously shocked. Peter finds this all hard to comprehend.

Peter: Lord, you’re not going to wash my feet…

Jesus: Peter, I have to wash your feet.

Peter: well, then, wash my head and my hands also

Jesus: Just your feet, Peter… pay attention, this is not just about being clean.

It was common practice for guests to have their feet washed up entry into a person’s home. Most travelers wore sandals and the roads were dusty and dirty. Cleaning feet was a way of keeping the home clean, but also an act of hospitality for the traveler, to make their visit more comfortable. But usually it was the servants who performed this duty, not the host himself. And so, for Jesus to put himself into that lesser role, it would have been an extremely dramatic and uncomfortable thing for everyone to witness.

Jesus often tried to teach the disciples humility. Sometimes they got the message but often forgot to consider it all in the big picture. Washing their feet was an ultimate act of service. And afterward, he commanded them to continue the practice of serving one another, and not to wait for someone else to service them.

We don’t often wash one another’s feet these days… in fact, this Maundy Thursday service is often the only time that this part of the Jesus story is reenacted. Touching another person’s feet feels very intimate. I have often felt very vulnerable when someone else touches my feet.

Jesus’ actions here teach us some important lessons that should inform the way we relate to other people and live out our faith every day.

1^st lesson – Hospitality is an important manifestation of our faith. Jesus calls us to welcome people into our lives, and in addition, we are called to meet the needs that they have. One of the things that I love about having German friends is the way that hospitality is lived out in many routine encounters. 

When we get together with our German neighbors or friends from our village band, there are certain rituals that are always followed. First, you shake hands or hug every person who enters the group. You great them with a phrase like “Grüß dich!” Or “Grüß Gott!” And then usually a question, “Wie ghets?” “How’s it going?” “Es ghets mir gut” or “Gut, danke” “I’m doing fine.” And then someone will offer you something to drink… which you are not supposed to turn down. And when you leave, you don’t just say goodbye to the host and guest of honor, but to everyone you have had conversation with in this encounter. “Danke für die Einladung – thank you for the invitation” and “Bis bald! – see you soon.”

When we first encountered these rituals, it felt very personal… very intimate… and very foreign. But they have taught me a lot about what hospitality is all about. And what a glad burden it is to be in relationship with other people.

2^nd lesson – This encounter teaches is that no job of service is too lowly for any of us. We applaud people like Mother Theresa who serve in the worst slum of India and think of that as a special calling reserved only for those who are the holiest. But God often calls us to ministry that we feel is beneath us. 

At one church we attended, I felt guilted into helping with the homeless shelter the church hosted every other month. In the end, the small acts of service that I performed, like helping people make up their beds, or cleaning the showers, or preparing breakfast, were incidental to the way I heard people talk about their lives and struggles and how this ministry in our community was giving them a second or third or fourth chance at life. Did I need a seminary education to do this job? No. But it did remind me that ministry isn’t just about teaching theology or biblical study. Ministry is also about meeting people’s needs so that they are ready to tackle discipleship in whatever ways they can.

3^rd lesson - By ritualizing this story and making it a part of our worship today, we are living out the biblical story. There’s this thing called muscle memory. It is our bodies’ way of helping us to do things without having to think too much about them. It’s how we can ride a bike or drive a stick shift, even if we haven’t done it in years. It’s how we get to the bathroom in the middle of the night without having to turn on the light. 

Role-playing is an important part of what worship is all about. We celebrate the Eucharist and remember that Christ is with us in the bread and wine. We share a common meal where everyone sits in equal seats. We leave the table to live and serve in the world, just as Jesus told us to do.

Washing feet helps to remember that we, too, are called to be a different kind of people, ones who gladly receive and serve, as Christ has called us to do.

Washing other people’s feet was the most astonishing act of service that Jesus ever did. He presided over a meal that unites us all at the same table… one bread, one body, one Lord… He was arrested, tried, beaten, stripped and killed as his ultimate acts of service to all of humankind. And because we know the rest of the story, even as we approach the darkness of Good Friday or Karfreitag (Grief Friday in German), we see the resurrection on the horizon and know that Jesus’ ministry was not stopped by his death.

Some people do need to have their feet washed – the elderly, the sick and others who cannot do this for themselves. But the real lesson here is that we should all be humble enough to do for others, serving out of love and devotion to God.

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, 
show us how to serve
the neighbors we have from you. 

Amen.

While we go about the ritual of foot or hand washing, please remember that this is a symbolic act of devotion. We will only wash and dry one hand or foot, and no one is required to participate. After your foot or hand has been washed, please follow through by washing the hand or foot of the person who follows you. We have clean water in the bottles that you can pour as needed, and small towels for drying.

We will sing the hymn through as many times as necessary to make it through all of the people participating.

Sermon - Hope for the Future & Hope for Today

Lent 5A – Hope for the Future, Hope for Today                        April 2, 2017

Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, John 11:1-45            Panzer Military Chapel, Stuttgart

This Lenten season we have been reading some of the most familiar biblical stories.
Some of them have been long… not the pithy snapshots that we have come to expect for our Sunday morning worship pleasure. Of course, that puts a lot of pressure on the preacher… if the readings are long, I feel some responsibility to concentrate the message into one that gives us a good takeaway.

As I was preparing, I looked for a common theme in these stories. And the one that immediately surfaced was the core Christian belief in the power of New Life. In the Hebrew Bible reading, we get this wonderful story of dead, dry bones being fitted with new flesh and having life breathed into them, raising a new army for the Israelites. In the Gospel lesson, we hear the story of the raising of Lazarus, a true fore-shadowing of Jesus’ resurrection, pointing to the power of God.

These stories flesh out the reality that Hope is stronger than Despair. In the “dry bones” story, the children of Israel have lost their hope. But Ezekiel is inspired by this vision from God. Hope is not lost. God is still working and able to turn our worst nightmares into something beautiful and mighty.

The same is true in the Lazarus story. Mary and Martha are sure that Jesus can bring change to their situation, but when he does not come in time, their hope is lost. “Lord, if only you had been here…” How many times have we looked at the tragedies and disappointments in our lives this way? “What if?” and “If only…” are common phrases among us. We get comfortable in our everyday lives, and when things take a bad turn, we also ask questions about where God is in the midst of our pain and fear.

When questioned by Jesus, Martha professes that we will be with God on the last day. In everyday terms, she is saying what many of us believe – that even though we don’t understand why bad things are happening, one day, it will all go away. Salvation and resurrection will solve our problems, take away our pain, and we will live in God’s presence and healing love forever. And that is absolutely true.

But for some people, even steadfast believers, that promise does not bring the kind of comfort or reassurance that they want or need. Where is God today? Where is God in the midst of my hurt and pain? Where is God for those who have made difficult, faithful choices and who face negative consequences, often by others who do not value their choices or beliefs? Where is God in the middle of the mess that we have made for ourselves, or the ones that we have gotten caught in, unawares?

Many question the goodness of a God who can intervene, but chooses not to do so. Many question the power of a God who could punish the wicked, but instead allows them to prosper and continue their reign of terror. Many question the people who proclaim a God who will rule at the end of time, but whose kingdom seems only fleeting in the here and now.

Jesus’ response to the sisters is the same as his response to us. We hear Jesus say, “I am the resurrection and the life…” and interpret it as a gateway to eternal life. We claim this verse as our entry ticket into heaven. But this verse is not just about our belief about what happens in the end. It is also about the promise that eternal life is a gift we have now.

What??? I’m sure you’re asking how I came up with that conclusion. And the answer is in all that follows. Immediately after Jesus’ conversation with Martha, she returns to Mary and they follow Jesus to Lazarus’ tomb. Mary’s reaction is perfectly normal… “Lord, if only you had been here, he would have never died.” Mary’s faith in Jesus’ healing powers is unrefuted. But Jesus knew that that was not enough.

And so, when he ordered the stone to be rolled away, and when he called the man Lazarus, dead for four days to come out of the tomb, the glory and power of God was revealed in a new way. Death would not just be defeated at the end of time, but would be defeated on this day as a witness that this Messiah was the one who fulfilled the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible. And while this a pivotal story in the ministry of Jesus, in the long run it’s not the biggest deal. Lazarus does get his life back, but eventually, his fate and that of his sisters and all of the disciples. Physical death came. But that was no longer the last word.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but in John’s gospel there are no miracles. Instead, John calls them signs – pointing to who Jesus really is. In these last few weeks, we have seen some pretty mighty signs. And this week, Jesus shows all of his cards.  It is as if he is saying: you want signs? Healing a blind man? Or restoring hearing to a deaf man? Did you see that lepers who were made clean? And how about the demons cast out from people who had suffered for years? Do you need more convincing? OK, what do you think of this?

Jesus saved the best for last. He didn’t rush to Lazarus’ bedside to cure him. He waited for days, and only when Jesus had been dead for four days did he call him back into life. Our cynical side asks why he didn’t save Mary and Martha a lot of grief by coming as soon as he heard. But as always, Jesus had a bigger lesson to teach. I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.  Resurrection is not just about life in the hereafter… it is about life in the here and now.

Before Jesus, Death was the grim reaper, stalking the world in search of souls. Jesus changes all of that. In this exchange, Jesus is pushing the message forward… changing the whole focus of the discussion about the meaning of life, real life. Death is not the dreaded conclusion to a meaningless existence. Our fate is not extinction. Death to our old lives is a beginning, not an end, our passage to life that will never end. Death came into the world through sin, but it is conquered by the one who was sinless and who brings new meaning to what it means to be alive.[i]

Each week, we recite together either the Apostle’s Creed or Nicene Creed. The Latin word Credo is usually translated as “believe,” so it is fitting that each section begins with the phrase, “I believe…” In the last 30 years, many people have told me that they have a hard time reciting the Creeds, because they aren’t really sure they believe everything in them. Some things they just don’t have enough information about, and others things are just hard – maybe impossible – to believe.

Writer Adam Hamilton recently wrote about devotional book about the Creed, and in its introduction, he said something that felt very true. He wrote: “Belief is a decision of the will.”^[ii] In the baptismal and confirmation liturgies, we ask parents, confirmands and congregation to reaffirm their commitment to God and Christ by reciting the Creed. In this action, we offer people the chance to take the focus off of what we can fathom for ourselves and to instead focus on what Christians for two centuries before us have confessed. We place our faith in not what we already know, but on what will be revealed to us in the days and years of faithful living.

It makes sense that traditions that perform infant baptisms also see the Creed as a source of inspiration and guidance. God’s grace is not dependent on our abilities or knowledge. It is grounded in the relationship of the Trinity to itself and to us. The Creed is something that we grow into. We flesh it out in our relationship with Christ and with one another.^[iii]

This idea takes on even more meaning when we realize that translators often choose the simplest, pithiest words when bringing Greek, Latin, and Hebrew concepts into the English language... we’ve talked about this before. The Creed becomes more of a living profession if we translate credo as “believe into,” rather than simply “believe.” “Believing into” is about relationship. “Believing into” is about trust and willingness to grow and change. “Believing into” is about not always clinging to ideas just because we have always had them. “Believing into” is the very definition of new life.

So, when we recite or pray the Creed, the real question is not whether we give intellectual assent to the ideas about who God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit are, but instead whether we are prepared to entrust our lives to a God who, in three persons united in one Being, does or is like what each article of the creed professes.

When we proclaim, "I am believing into the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” What does this statement mean to us, personally? How is it lived out in our own faith journeys? Where are the examples that we live what we believe? Do people know that we are Christians without our every opening our mouths? Do we live as if we believe that Jesus is, in fact, the resurrection and the life?^[iv]

The eternal promises of Jesus’ resurrection cannot be refuted. They are proclaimed in the New Testament writings and the Church has built a foundation of ministry on them for almost 2000 years. But the promise of resurrection is also a story to be lived and believed in the present day. Ministry and mission are not about getting to people to believe and profess faith in the Jesus story. They must also be about living out that story every single day.

What does that look like? The message of Jesus and the good news of the gospel should make a tangible difference in the world now, make things possible now, open up opportunities and options now, transform relationships now. It means that the promises of God are present tense, not just about the future. It means living in the here and now and letting the future promises of Jesus take care of themselves, because God is always faithful.^[v]

When we begin the process of living out our baptismal faith, we never know where that process will take us. And while we often wish that our faith in Christ will protect us from the dangers of the world, we often find that we are heading into unknown places where our trust in God and the promises of new life and resurrection are our only hope. We look at the news and are tempted to see only death and destruction, but if we look deeper, we will see faithful followers of Jesus, wading into muddy, dangerous waters.

As Christians we are called to live into our beliefs… the belief that God created and loves everyone… the belief that speaking truth to power will sometimes make us feel less safe… the belief that our safety is not actually our first responsibility.

Our main text today is often called, “the raising of Lazarus,” but is important to note that the actual sign Jesus performs only takes up just two of the forty-five verse of this story. Maybe that’s because, for John, it’s not the sign that matters most, but instead how Jesus interprets it and how we respond. Lazarus will die again, but in the process, the world has changed. Now we are empowered to be a part of the life-changing process of unbinding and freeing people from the power of death, and if we act on our beliefs – if we believe into our faith, the Church will change the world.[vi]

Sojourner’s Magazine recently highlighted an article, “When Christians Love Theology More Than People,” and this quote made me take a look inside: “You may have the most intellectually sound theology, but if it's not delivered with love, respect, and kindness - it's worthless. The practical application of your love is just as important as the theology behind it. Our faith is evidenced by how we treat others. Does the reality of your life reflect the theory behind your spiritual beliefs?”[vii]

I have seen the amazing ways that people have lived into their belief… stories that live out God’s good news. They are too many to name, but I have been especially touched by those who have stepped outside their comfort zones.  Some have opened up their church buildings or raised money for Muslim, Jewish and Christian congregations who buildings or cemeteries have been burned or damaged beyond repair… Others have offered sanctuary or legal advice to those who are in danger of being deported without a hearing.

Churches are hosting farmer’s markets as a way of gathering the community, and others have taken vacation bible school to the neighborhoods, instead of requiring the children to come to them. Some have even left the comfort of reliable jobs and predictable housing in response to God’s call to be present with people who don’t even know they need Jesus. All of this is living into belief.

God is calling each of us to do the same. When we do, our dry bones become fleshed out, and with Spirit breath, we truly know that Jesus is the resurrection and the life and has promised to give us, not just more life, but life with all the abundance we could never imagine. So let’s go live it!

Peace, Deb

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[i] David F. Sellery, “Big Deal,” This Week’s Focus, 2014

http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=dbffd2070718c7bb6a1b9b7e0&id=b558b2495b&e=9d753c1a09

[ii] Adam Hamilton, Creed: What Christians Believe and Why, 2017, Location 116.

[iii] Taylor Burton-Edwards, Fifth Sunday in Lent | Believe! — Preaching Notes, April 2, 2017 (Year A) | Living Our Baptismal Calling Series https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/fifth-sunday-in-lent-believe-preaching-notes

[iv] ibid.

[v]  David Lose, “Present-tense Salvation,” Dear Worship Preacher, April 2, 2014,

http://www.workingpreacher.org/craft.aspx?post=3135

[vi] ibid.

[vii] Steven Mattson, “When Christians Love Theology More Than People,” Sojourner’s, January 22, 2014,

https://sojo.net/articles/when-christians-love-theology-more-people

copyright - Deb Luther Teagan 2017