Way In

Christmas spending

In America

National Retail Federation

Expects sales in November and December to rise 3.8% to a record $469.1 billion

Last year spending went up 5.2% during the holiday season, putting both years above the 2.6% average increase over the past 10 years.

And that’s just in the US

We’re probably the highest

But we’re not the only country spending money at Christmas

I guess there are folks out there working hard to “keep Christ in Christmas”

But somebody sure is spending a lot of money

After all, Christmas is …

Christmas is…December 25 is …what?

Matthew’s gospel says that King Herod the Great died right after the birth of Christ

Herod the Great died in 4BC, right after he ordered the “slaughter of the innocents.” That is to say, all of the 2-year-old boys, because he was after the King of the Jews

So we can say, in the context of historical reference that Jesus Christ was born between the 6^th and 4^th years BC.

But the church didn’t celebrate the Nativity of Christ for another 300 years

Hippolytus of Rome (170-235 AD)

Without going into all of his studies and theories

Known for producing a chronicle of the world

Set the birth of Christ on December 25

Saturnalia

Ancient Roman festival honoring the god, Saturn

Agricultural god over the Golden Age

When people enjoyed and shared the earth’s bounty

Without labor, sort of an egalitarian utopia

Celebrations of the feast reflected that age

Well-established festival by C. 2^nd AD

Festivities took place from December 17

As the days shortened, to the shortest day of the year (solstice) – there was great celebration after that, when the days began to get longer

This was the celebration of the victory of day over night

The festival:

great feasts, even masters provided feasts for their servants

Time off from work

Lots of candles to celebrate light

As the Roman Empire became increasingly Christian (official religion under Emperor Constantine in C. 4 a.d.) …

the chronicles of the church placing Jesus’ birth in December coincided with and were influenced by the festival of Saturnalia

and the celebrations of Christmastide – Advent, Nativity, Epiphany – emerged

fast-forward to the 20^th century

time doesn’t permit a full exposition of the history of Santa Claus

But I will suggest to you a evolving image through the syncretism of

The benevolent St. Nicholas

The poetry of The Night Before Christmas

And commercial development of the persona in Coca Cola ads

Brings us the “jolly old elf” we see everywhere today

Even kneeling at the manger in many crèches

Don’t get me started on that…

So now is the season – a full realization of the syncretism of church and culture

The birth of Jesus, the visit of Santa Claus, and Americans spending over $400 bil.

Despite the commercial excess of spending and promotion

Messiah – God among us – changes everything

The God of all creation has come among us

Jesus Christ, the Light of the World has shown us how to live

Full of grace and truth

To bring about the Kingdom of God

Prophesied by Isaiah

Mary exalted in the Magnificat

Jesus preached, his first sermon at Nazareth

Tell The Story

Read gospel again

See for yourself how this challenges cultural norms, Mary and Joseph’s relationship – which is, in the end, strengthened

How the birth of Jesus changes everything

So What?

Moving from cynicism about the commercialization of Christmas

Remembering what is true about the coming of Messiah

Hear these words from Fr. Daniel Berrigan

Testimony: The Word Made Flesh, by Daniel Berrigan, S.J. Orbis Books, 2004.

It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss—
This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life;

It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction—
This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly.

It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever—
This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful councilor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace.

It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world—
This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world.

It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers—
This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams.

It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history—
This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth.

So let us enter Advent in hope, even hope against hope. Let us see visions of love and peace and justice. Let us affirm with humility, with joy, with faith, with courage: Jesus Christ—the life of the world.

So let it be with us.  Amen.

Dear Friends,

I am writing you with some news I prefer to deliver in person.  Since that’s not possible, this letter will have to do. After much discernment, I have decided not to renew the Stated Supply agreement for another year.  I want you to know that I love the people of the Yellow Springs church and in the community.  You have been very good to me and my family.  You are kind and good people with a terrific sense of humor.  You are committed to living out God’s love in the community, always looking for ways the church can connect.

The match here between the congregation and pastor is a good one.  Our view of life and the work of the church are compatible and I have enjoyed being around you at church, in your homes and in the community.  A pastor is fortunate to enjoy such a good relationship with their church.

My decision has to do with distance.  The drive I make three days a week from Piqua to Yellow Springs is about 92 miles round trip.  The work here is good but the time and distance make for a difficult part-time arrangement.  I feel rooted neither in Piqua nor Yellow Springs.  I was surely aware of these challenges when I accepted your call, and I believe we gave it our best efforts this year.

During my time of discernment, I received a call from the director of the YMCA in Piqua.  I had not applied for the job, but the Director said my name came up in their search for a Director for the Youth Center.  I have accepted this position to begin working full-time in January.  This is a good opportunity that permits my family to remain in Piqua and, for the first time in our marriage, to worship together and be rooted in the same church and community.  I will be involved in some teaching and possibly preaching on occasion at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Piqua but not engaged in full-time parish ministry.

The Session has already begun the process of securing temporary pastoral leadership following my departure.  This leadership in the near term will permit the Session to engage in the search for a longer term pastoral relationship.

In closing, I want to thank you for your friendship, and for welcoming my pastoral ministry among you.  I treasure the year we spent together and I will never forget you.  I am sorry we will not have more time together, but this church will carry on.  As the Apostle Paul wrote, “I thank God every time I remember you.  In my prayers for all of you, I pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this, that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Please keep me in your prayers, as you will be in mine.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Joe

1. Way In
   

   Reading Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi
   

   Got me thinking about the perfect church
   

   Did some “serious” research
   

   I Googled “perfect church”
   

   What I found about the perfect church
   

   85,200,000 hits
   

   Serious and humorous
   

   Some churches that believe they have achieved the perfect church
   

   Atlanta, GA perfectcurch.org
   

   Founded in 1957 and, “the message went from the pulpit to the radio airwaves, from television to newspapers and worldwide magazines.”
   

   Another perfect church – perfectchurch.com
   

   Hard to tell where it is, lists “family” in Hawaii, Illinois, Texas, and South Carolina
   

   Some make fun of the notion of a perfect church
   

   Looking for a cool church
   

   with authentic, non-judgmental members
   

   convicted to serving God with the right mixture of tradition and cutting-edge
   

   People forgive each other and love children (even welcome children)
   

   Enthusiastic and energetic preacher
   

   Makes the Bible come alive
   

   Tells great stories, inspirational
   

   Preaches just long enough
   

   Works with kids and spends all their time with shut-ins
   

   Makes 15 visits every day and is always at the office when needed
   

   Church is neither liberal nor conservative, but just the right mix of both for the full truth
   

   Worship is a smooth and seamless flow of beautiful hymns everybody knows, with prayers and liturgy that make us weep every week
   

   Also among those 82.5 million hits (didn’t go past 1^st page) was a poem
   

   If you should find
   the perfect church
   without fault or smear,
   Please, don’t join that church,
   you’d spoil the atmosphere.

   If you should find the perfect church
   where all anxieties cease,
   Then pass it by lest joining it
   you mar the masterpiece.

   If you should find the perfect church,
   then don’t you ever dare
   To tread upon such holy ground
   you’d be a misfit there.

   But since no perfect church exists…
   made of imperfect men and women,
   Then let’s cease looking for that church,
   and love the one we’re in.

   Of course it’s not a perfect church,
   that’s simple to discern,
   But you and I and all of us
   could cause the tide to turn.

   So let’s keep working in our church
   until the resurrection,
   And then we each will join God’s church
   without an imperfection.

   Bridge
   

   Paul started the church at Philippi
   

   wrote the church this letter from prison
   

   “I thank God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.”
   

   Not a perfect church, Paul wrote to encourage them anyway
   

   Church is the people
   

   No perfect people
   

   So, no perfect church
   

   but here’s what the church can do
   

2. Tell the Story
   

   “Make my joy complete”
   

   You don’t have to be Christ (we can’t)
   

   but be filled with love, compassion, and sympathy
   

   don’t worry so much about WWJD
   

   rather, let us commit to DWJD – Do What Jesus Did
   

   welcome the stranger
   

   seek out the outcast, the ones that don’t seem to fit in
   

   visit the sick, even the ones in jail
   

   feed the hungry, clothe the naked
   

   Do What Jesus Did
   

   Notice how he walked through the community
   

   Taking time to get to know people
   

   Inviting them to come and follow him
   

   …to come – taste and see – that God is good
   

   “be of the same mind,” the church can strive to be like Christ, a living reminder. How?
   

   Do not operate out of selfish ambition or deceit
   

   Don’t do it for what you can get out of it
   

   Look upon others before yourself
   

   Not your interests but the interest of others
   

   God is in Christ, Jesus is Lord, but this is his lordship:
   

   emptied himself, poured out for others, a servant
   

   humble and obedient before God, even to death on a cross
   

   This is the one we call “Lord” and “King”
   

   “Therefore …”
   

   the church’s job is to work out your (pl.) own salvation
   

   for God is at work in you
   

   to work for his pleasure
   

   “Obey God as you have always obeyed me”
   

   “Make my joy complete”
   

   As it does for God
   

3. So What?
   

   God never requires us to be the perfect church
   

   Just like god doesn’t care if we can all sing as beautifully as others
   

   A beautiful singing voice is a true gift – one to be enjoyed
   

   But that never means that those of us who have just a regular singing voice are left out
   

   The Bible says only to “make a joyful noise.”
   

   (again) God never requires us to be the perfect church
   

   given the candidates for membership and leadership; regular imperfect people, and pastors, this is not possible.
   

   God knows that
   

   Jesus did say something about being perfect – twice in the gospels, both in Matthew
   

   Mat. 6:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
   

   “therefore” means we have to look at what he said before, which is:
   

   “love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you”
   

   Mat. 19:21, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give the money to the poor … then come, follow me.”
   

   These 2 ways of perfection aren’t a trap Jesus sets for us – they are ideals
   

   But his best disciples never had to do these things
   

   Followers of Jesus don’t have to be perfect
   

   “love your enemies”
   

   We know what that means
   

   We can understand the attitude
   

   We feel Jesus on this, but we can’t be perfect
   

   How do we know who all our enemies are?
   

   Some may be obvious, but there may be some we don’t even know about
   

   Sell everything you own and give the money to the poor
   

   Everything? Yes, everything. Jesus is plain on that.
   

   But the 12 never had to do this to be disciples
   

   Peter never had to do this to be the Rock Jesus built the church on
   

   But we know what Jesus means
   

   We know that he wants us to have the attitude of compassion, reconciliation, and forgiveness
   

   Perfect? We don’t need to be heroes – perfect saints
   

   Just follow in his ways
   

   What God wants
   

   to do his will, be the living reminder of Christ, the Body of Christ
   

   be like Christ, be of the same mind
   

   he is Lord, and poured himself out for the sake of others
   

   “Work out your own salvation”
   

   Does not mean we can save ourselves, or can earn it
   

   That is the work of God in Jesus Christ
   

   “Work it out” is to be responsible for living as if we are his followers, working out our living after the example of Christ
   

   work it out “with fear and trembling”
   

   doesn’t mean to live as if we’re scared to death of God
   

   but to remember that we do stand accountable before God
   

   the fear and trembling comes from respect and honor – awe, not fear of God’s reprimand
   

   trust in God, he hasn’t poured out himself in Christ as a living example of love and commitment, trying to have us live cowering in fear
   

   rather empowered us in his example to live as the beloved community
   

   Our lives, as the people of God, have been transformed by the image of Christ.
   

   The church, acting as the body of Christ, is called and sent to complete the ministry he began
   

   To unite all people as the kingdom of heaven
   

   What about us?
   

   We see the example given to us, and have heard the command of Christ to go and be the church, spreading the good news
   

   There is no perfect church, so don’t waste your time looking for it
   

   This will never be the perfect church
   

   But if you’re committed to it being your church, anyway
   

   Trust that by grace, we may be perfected, getting better all the time … a perfecting church
   

   What it means to be a “perfecting church”
   

   Following the living example of Christ
   

   Humility, seeking the welfare of others
   

   Imagine the community built around everybody looking about for everybody else
   

   Don’t look for the church that has it all worked out, look for
   

   Dreamers
   

   People who welcome kids
   

   People who make mistakes
   

   People who enjoy being together – in fellowship
   

   People who don’t mind working for a living
   

   People who turn up with the best they have to offer Jesus, for his church, and for his sake
   

   I had an image of that as you were greeting your new pastor
   

   Before I met all of you, in the warm reception I got from the PNC
   

   Then as I met more and more of you
   

   Hearing how you prepared for me
   

   Panting our rooms in the manse
   

   Providing the goodies I mentioned last week
   

   The continued warm welcome with meals and snacks
   

   Hearing your stories, getting to know you
   

   “It’s a little thing” you may say – “it’s just how we treat each other.”
   

   But it’s a beautiful thing to experience
   

   You know what I mean
   

   You’ve been cared for when you were sick or in need of support
   

   Pastoral care or a call from a concerned member of the church family
   

   To me, it’s more than just a little thing, more than just “the way we do it.”
   

   It’s like little glimpses of the kingdom of God
   

   A peek at the perfecting church, the one that’s getting better all the time
   

   So let’s pay attention to that – perfecting – getting better all the time.
   

   Pay attention to what it’s like to experience god’s love in the love we know in each other
   

   This is the church God is calling us to be
   

   Standing with and for each other – in prayer and presence together
   

   Enjoying being together
   

   Sharing our stories, our hospitality, our lives
   

   Now we know what makes God happy
   

   Keep this text before us >
   

   Not perfect, but perfecting – getting better all the time
   

   Be the church, the living reminder of Christ
   

   Like the beloved church at Philippi that Paul writes to
   

   Make my joy complete
   

   Be of the same mind
   

   Having the same love
   

   Being in full accord, and one mind
   

   Getting better all the time
   

So may it be with us. Amen

1. Way In
   

   When people start to worry about scarcity, they get anxious – there’s not going to be enough

   Examples

   Time

   People get anxious when they’re afraid that, “time’s running out”

   You’re going to miss your ride, not get your grass cut, not get your project or homework finished …

   Starting your summer reading list at the end of August

   Everyone here seems well-organized and planned

   But maybe you’ve had this experience, if even just a few times – “time’s running out!”

   In which case you’ve had a taste of the anxiety from running out of time

   Or maybe you’re like the expression, “if it wasn’t for the last minute, I’d never get anything done.”

   In which case, you’re well acquainted with this anxiety

   In fact, they say that people like us, I mean, people like that
   thrive off of the anxiety

   Food, especially candy

   Trick or Treat season is coming up, extra candy rows set up at the store

   we can’t buy too early at my house, or it will be gone by 10/31

   but you know about how you keep on going, one more house, one more stop

   just to be sure you get enough goodies

   real emergencies – storms, hurricanes, tornadoes

   see how groceries, gasoline, ice, etc. are stock-piled

   Bridge

   This is scarcity, “there’s not going to be enough,” people get a little panicky,

   Hoarding

   Storing it up, “just in case”

   Biblical narrative, up until now, had been the story of abundance

   God created the world

   Called it “good, very good.”

   Made plants, and animals, fish, and birds, and humans

   Saying, “be fruitful and multiply”

   God created the universe and everything in it

   Celebrated in the overflowing abundance

   God blessed Abraham and Sarah

   Blessed them to be a blessing

   Their descendants are numbered more than grains of sand on the beach or stars in the heavens

   Later in Genesis, as a great famine spread, Pharaoh took over the food supply with an iron fist. He did this to keep control over the food supply

   He made the situation worse, the hungry suffered

   Scarcity introduced into the culture of abundance in God

   Today’s reading is a story of humankind’s struggle between the history of God’s generosity and the human myth of scarcity (Brueggeman)

   God promises to provide enough of everything we need, but we insist on acting as if there will never be enough.

2. Tell the Story
   

   Today we find the people of Israel, not long after God delivered them from slavery in Egypt – they are grumbling

   There wasn’t enough to eat

   At least they had food in Egypt

   Why did Moses and Aaron bring them out to the wilderness to starve to death?

   God’s promise

   I will rain bread from heaven

   Each day the people shall gather what they need for that day

   This will be a test, “whether they follow my instruction or not”

   On the eve of the Sabbath, they will gather twice as much; so they will not have to labor after food on the sabbath.

   Moses and Aaron told the Israelites what God said

   Tonight you will know that it was God who delivered you

   And in the morning you will see God’s glory

   These things God will do because he has heard your complaints

   There will be meat to eat in the evening and bread in the morning

   Meat and bread

   In the evening, quails came into the camp

   They were all over the place

   This was food God had not even said much to Moses about

   In the morning, bread covered the ground

   The people asked, “what is it?”
   

   Which, in Hebrew, is
   !m’ (((mannah)
   

   How to get your bread – your “what is it?”

   Gather as much as you need for today, about an omer per each person in your family (about 6.5 pints)

   This was new food for them, a new dining experience

   Bread from heaven, to them it was manna – “What is it?

   Some who probably couldn’t eat a full omer, some might have eaten a little more

   Maybe finishing up what was on somebody else’s plate

   But the commandment was to take what you need for today

   Don’t take more for tomorrow – God will provide then, too

   You don’t need to store anything up

   But trust in God to provide

   In fact, the scriptures tell us that whatever was left aside for tomorrow was spoiled by the next day

   God’s provision was enough

   And God would always provide

   God’s message, “Just take what you need for today, I will provide what you need each and every day”

   God even provided for the Sabbath

   On the day before, the people were able to gather extra

   So they could rest on the Sabbath day

   But stockpiling in the other days, just to have extra was punished

   Still, some saved some over for tomorrow, in case God forgot

   And what they saved was spoiled the next day

3. So What?
   

   God provides enough for us every day

   “give us this day our daily bread”

   Yet, over the ages, we have not always trusted in God’s provision

   We tend to store up God’s bounty

   Although it’s reasonable for a people to store food and provisions aside

   As in storing food up before the harsh winter when harvesting isn’t possible

   There are ways like this that are consistent with God’s commandment to the people

   There’s a difference in taking in what we need for our family

   And storing some away as we need it

   One of the Hebrew people’s need was to minimize what they had to carry

   They were always on the move, during the wilderness times

   So they also trusted in God to be there when they needed God – to provide for them as they travelled

   Food is an example …

   others

   We must use God’s gifts as God instructs us

   there is enough for everybody,

   but there will be those who take extra rather than trust God for their share, in case God forgets them tomorrow

   What does this mean for us today?

   God has always promised to remember us and not leave us alone

   God already had a plan to feed the Israelites while they were in the desert.

   It had already occurred to God that his people would need to eat while they were in the wilderness 40 years

   God was patient with the people’s grumbling, and told Moses to go ahead and tell them how the food would come

   The manna came every day

   God’s promise is fresh and new each day

   And there will be enough

   The test of faith is, will we trust in God to provide?

   We are not altogether unlike the people in the wilderness. There is a teaching that, “If you ask anybody in the church whether they believe that God is the only God, the Creator of the Universe, they will surely answer ‘Of course he is! Everybody knows that!’ But if you ask them if they trust in God alone to provide everything they need, they may be taken a little aback, ‘Sure, but I have something saved up just in case.’

   Belief and trust go together. Faith is believing in something you can’t see.

   The one who believes completely, trusts completely. But when belief is a little short, so is trust – and faith

   So when we believe, that is when we trust in God, we may gather in a day’s portion every day and not worry about tomorrow.

   Heard a story about a relief truck that arrived in MS after Katrina

   giving out hot dogs

   they had enough to give everybody all they wanted that day

   the people were taking what they needed right then – there was not stockpiling.

   Surely there were some greedy

   But most wanted to be sure everybody got something to eat

   Will we trust in God to provide? Or will we fall under the myth of scarcity?

   Do we take all we can get today, because there might not be enough tomorrow?

   Do we take what we need, but resent those who got what they need, too – even the ones we think don’t deserve it?

   Do we take extra and store it away, even when we can hear the cries of those who are going without? For this is what spoils our hoarded away portion.

   What is it? !m’ That’s what the Israelites called the bread from heaven.

   What is it for us?

   Is it money, power, privilege, status, etc.?

   That is for each of us to decide.

   The lesson is, will we take extra just in case God forgets, or will we trust that God will provide the amount we need … every day, and not second-guess God about tomorrow.

So may it be with us. Amen.

Rev. Joe Hinds

Matthew 18:21-35

1. Way In
   

   Where were you at this moment a decade ago?

   Where were you? Who was with you?

   … when you first heard the news

   8:46am when AA11 crashed into the North Tower of the WTC in NYC

   9:03am when UA175 crashed into the South Tower

   9:37am when AA77 crashed into the Pentagon

   10:03am when UA93 crashed into a field in western Pennsylvania

   Where? (anybody share?)

   It’s likely that you will never forget where you were on 9/10/01

   Like the day MLK or JFK were shot

   Or the day Apollo 11 landed on the moon

   Today is a day for remembering, and honoring memories

   A day we remember how our hearts were broken

   We reach out in our own ways to those who lost family, friends, colleagues

   And in our shared humanity, each of us lost somebody that day

   We honor the heroes

   …the ones who were inside of burning and crashing buildings, and led others out

   …and the ones who ran into the burning and crashing buildings

   To rescue survivors, care for the injured, and tend to the dead

   There are so many stories of 9/11

   The airwaves and print media are full of them

   especially a decade later

   If I didn’t know better, I would think today’s gospel lection from Matthew was contrived

   To bring a gospel lesson of forgiveness on the 10^th anniversary of 9/11?

   Really? That’s just too churchy.

   But it’s not contrived, I do know better

   The lectionary we follow (3-year cycle of Sunday scripture lessons)

   First set out in 1969, and revised in 1994.

   Hasn’t been changed since then

   So today’s gospel lesson may be ironic, but not contrived

2. Tell the Story
   

   The disciple, Peter, asked Jesus how many times he should forgive a person

   As many as 7 times?

   Jesus answered, not 7, but 70

   And he told a parable

   Beginning as most parables do, “The kingdom of heaven is like…”

   A king wishing to settle his accounts with his slaves

   One owed him 10,000 talents

   This debtor didn’t have the money to repay the debt

   So the king sold the slave, his family, and their possessions

   To bring an amount that would pay the debt

   The slave pleaded for patience to give him time to repay

   The king released him and forgave the debt

   Then that same slave went to someone who owed him 100 denarii

   Seized him by the throat and demanded to be paid

   When this debtor pleaded for patience until he could repay

   The slave refused and threw him in prison

   When the king heard what happened he called for his slave

   Admonished him for not extending the same mercy he received

   The king handed over the slave to be tortured until he paid the full debt

   Let this be a lesson, Jesus said

   God will do the same to you

   If you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart

3. So What?
   

   Jesus tells us to forgive

   Expanding on our most gracious offering of 7 times ten times

   Not 7 but 70

   Then he tells a parable comparing the kingdom of heaven to a king

   I wish I could ask Jesus about this

   About the king whose first response is to sell the slave away to get his money

   Then, after great pleading, releases the debtor

   But then, after the same slaves acts without mercy towards his own debtor

   The king is full of anger and hands his slave over to be tortured

   As a preacher in CO says, that’s about 76 forgivenesses short of what Jesus teaches

   Kazy and I have been talking about preaching on 9/11 – a Decade later

   Today’s reading begins with the phrase, “Then Peter came and said to him (Jesus).”

   Which begs the question, “what were they talking about before?”

   Before today’s reading Jesus was talking to the disciples about how to respond when someone sins against you

   “point out the fault when the two of you are alone,” he says

   If they listen to you, then you have the chance for reconciliation

   If they don’t listen to you, take 1 or 2 others along with you

   If they still don’t listen, bring it before the whole community

   If they still won’t listen, let that one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector

   In other words, let them be

   For whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven

   And whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven

   Let it go. Move on. Don’t let the transgression bind you up. Life is too short

   Then Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive

   Not 7 but 70

   Greek word we translate into English as “forgive” is

   avfi,hmi (aphiemi)

   Commonly translated in English as “forgive”

   Also has another nuance: leave, leave behind, release

   The same word appears …

   “Immediately they left their nets and followed him (Jesus)” MT 4:20

   “Leave your gift there before the altar” MT5:24

   When Jesus healed a woman, “he touched her hand and the fever left her.” MT8:15

   When Jesus stumped the religious officials, “they were amazed; and they left home and went away” MT22:22

   In the garden at Gethsemane, Jesus left the disciples to go away and pray MT26:44

   Today, a decade later, as I read Matthew

   I can’t tell you that I am at a place of forgiveness

   Not for the people that organized and carried out such unspeakable evil

   What about the nuance of release? What about that?

   In any case, to forgive, is not always the same as pretend it never happened

   There may be consequences

   There may be hurts that can’t be healed

   Can I choose to release, and not be bound?

   In terms of 9/11, to be bound is to fall into

   Jingoism, isolationism, hate, exceptionalism, closing down

   To be released is to carry on, to choose life

   To be released is to be free to love

   Yesterday may family participated in Cameron’s Smile 5K

   Started last year by a family from Kazy’s church

   Their 17-year old son died after a long illness at age 17

   Cameron had a big smile and a big heart

   Cameron had a wish to go to Disney World with his family

   His wish was granted by the Make a Wish Foundation

   Now the Cameron’s Smile 5K raises money for M.A.W.

   My son, Paul, and I were talking after the race

   “Daddy, I’m sad that Cameron died”

   “Me, too, son”

   As we talked we decided that it was good …

   …to be able to remember Cameron

   …and do something to help somebody else

   Maybe help another sick child’s wish happen

   I think we were talking about being released

   Pauly has been thinking a lot today – later he asked me what happened on 9/11

   We talked about that, too

   And it made him sad

   Then I remembered what Mr. Rogers said about when children saw scary things in the news

   “‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers—so many caring people in this world.”

   As we talked more about the mean and scary things people did on 9/11 …

   …it was good to remember the heroes

   Firefighters, police officers, EMTs

   And many others who rescued people

   And think about what we could do to make the world better

   Alan Jackson, a singer from Georgia wrote a song about 9/11

   Asks “Where were you when the world stopped turning?”

   Sings about dealing with the tragedy

   Moving from shock, anger, sorrow, and fear

   To pride in the heroes

   Looking up to heaven and at yourself for what really matters

   Doing intentional acts of love

   The singer says he remembers a story from Sunday School

   Faith, hope, and love are good gifts from God

   And the greatest is love.

   May we remain convinced that love matters, that peace can prevail

   May we be released from bondage to the things that lock out love

   and freed to love

   It may sound simple – simplistic

   But love makes all the difference

   Call someone to tell them you love them

   Notice the sunset

   Speak to a stranger

   Reject violence – real and in movies and games

   Hold hands, give blood, cling to family and friends

   Share your food, open your home, make music

   Plant a garden, get to know a stranger

   Work for justice, volunteer

   Turn off the TV, cellphone, computer

   Sit on the porch, visit someone who’s sick

   Listen more

   Remember that everything is not about you

   We are freed – to remember – and to live, as if love makes all the difference

So let it be with us. Amen

(When talking to children about scary things in the news, Mister Rogers says to look for the helpers)

August 7, 2011

First Presbyterian Church of Yellow Springs

Rev. Joe Hinds

Matthew 14:22-33

1. Way In
   

   My Experience
   

   Lifeguard Lessons: Alpine Camp, ca. 1972
   

   Had to find a big rock (ca. 20 lbs.) and bring it to the surface
   

   Very tired in the water, was afraid of drowning
   

   Drowning as a universal expression of helplessness
   

   we can all relate to fear of drowning
   

   going down for the last time
   

   “breathing” in lung-fulls of water
   

   Surprised to learn that many of the avid fishermen I met on Long Island, even the commercial fishermen; the ones who make their living from the heart of the sea
   

   were not swimmers
   

   some simply did not enjoy it after working all day on the water, there were others who never learned
   

   heard stories of falling overboard wearing heavy gear, waders filling with water
   

   Horrifying and touching story in the paper last week
   

   2 women caught in the undertow while swimming in Lake Ontario
   

   Literally did not believe they would make it out alive
   

   my own experience of Gardiner’s Bay in the boat in rough water
   

   You know what I mean. Open water, rough water, it’s a scary place to be
   

   Bridge
   

   Keep those in mind while we think about today’s lesson
   

2. Tell the Story
   

   Context
   

   After Jesus heard of John the Baptist’s execution at the hands of Herod, he went away by boat to a quiet place.
   

   Sea of Galilee, Lake Gennesaret
   

   The crowds found Jesus
   

   he responded to their needs
   

   had compassion for them and cured their sick
   

   evening came, disciples asked Jesus to send the crowd away so they could buy themselves some food
   

   Jesus said to let them stay and give them something to eat
   

   A miraculous feeding
   

   Disciples could only find 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish
   

   Jesus blessed this much food, and told the disciples to start feeding the crowd
   

   By the time they were done everybody had enough to eat
   

   There were 5,000 men there, plus women and children who were not counted
   

   Today’s reading begins that same evening
   

   Dismissals after supper
   

   Jesus sent the disciples across the lake in the boat
   

   He stayed behind and dismissed the crowds
   

   Jesus went up the mountain (again) to pray
   

   Meanwhile that evening out on the boat
   

   Evening = not as late as night, prob. before 9 p.m.
   

   Boat was far from land
   

   Many stadia (stadi,ouj pollou.j)
   

   Stadium, Greek unit of measure
   

   about 200 meters, 650 ft.
   

   standard for a foot race in ancient Olympic event (stadium, name for arena)
   

   So the boat was far out, many stadia from land, “many” x 200 meters, and the wind was against the boat
   

   Boat was battered by the waves
   

   the storm lasted all night
   

   Jesus walks on the water
   

   Early the next morning, Jesus came walking up. On the water!
   

   Disciples’ reaction; terrified, thought he was a ghost, cried out in fear
   

   Jesus, “Take heart, it is I, do not be afraid.”
   

   Peter tries it
   

   “Lord if it’s you, get me out there on the water, too.”
   

   And Jesus said, “Come on out.”
   

   Peter started walking, but became afraid when the wind picked up
   

   Peter started to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me.”
   

   Jesus responds
   

   Immediately reached out his hand and caught Peter
   

   “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
   

   Jesus and Peter got back in the boat, then the wind stopped
   

   Everybody in the boat worshipped Jesus, saying, “Truly you are the son of God.”
   

3. So What?
   

   The Big Idea
   

   The disciples recognized Jesus
   

   One who does miraculous things, like God does.
   

   As in walking on water
   

   When he said “It is I,” that is reminiscent of how God identified himself to Moses at the burning bush; “I am.”
   

   Peter speaks/acts on behalf of the others: represents their strengths and weaknesses
   

   Jesus said that Peter had “little faith.” This is not to say he had no faith, just not as much as he could have
   

   Yet this is Peter, the one upon whom Christ will build his church
   

   Jesus Christ, the one who gives us the assurance, even in times of great fear, that we are able to follow his ways as long as we rely on him.
   

   Conclusion
   

   Faith
   

   Peter had enough faith to step out of the boat in the first place
   

   His fear of the dangerous water overcame him, his calling out to Jesus saved him
   

   We need life preservers for the water
   

   Life jackets
   

   Lift us up, keep us from drowning
   

   Buoys
   

   Channel markers that show the way
   

   Lights
   

   Mark dangerous waters, rocks
   

   For us
   

   We have the faith to step out of the boat in the first place
   

   Yet, like Peter, our faith is still little
   

   And, like Peter, it is still enough to get us by for a moment
   

   But we need the help of Christ
   

   Who always reaches out to save us
   

   Faith is what we need for the long haul
   

   It took only the regular amount of faith for Peter to step out of the boat in the first place
   

   Yet he needed to reach out to Jesus for the journey the rest of the way
   

   When we decide to follow Jesus, to live as he teaches, to see him in others, and to be a living reminder of his ways of peace, community, and justice…
   

   We need to know his presence: seen/known in the church – the Body of Christ
   

   Charge: Let us be Christ for each other, supporting one another in his name along our journey of faith.
   

   We had enough to get us to step out of the boat in the first place
   

Let us look to him, finding him in others, being as Christ for others in our own journey.

Rev. Joe Hinds

Matthew 14:13-21

1. Way In
   

   Do you have a summer reading list? For the beach, the camp, maybe just at home?

   I do, or I did.

   We did a lot of reading the last couple of weeks

   I carried a whole suitcase of books.

   How about you?

   So imagine settling down to start your book

   Make yourself comfortable

   Open up your book, start to read …

   Chapter 1, page 1, 1^st paragraph, 1^st sentence, reads like this …

   “Now when she heard this, she left in a boat …”

   Is that a great opening sentence, or what?

   Really gets your attention

   Makes you want to read more

   I don’t know about you, but I would want to know that the “this” is

   That’s the way today’s gospel reading begins

   1^st sentence really draws you in

   “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself.”

   What Jesus heard is in the verses, at the end of chapter 13, right before today’s reading

2. Tell the Story
   

   (Context) Recent past

   Death/execution of John the Baptist

   (start with this phrase) Jesus had just received the news that Herod had executed his cousin John t. B.

   Herod had arrested and imprisoned him

   Over some remarks John had made about the legitimacy of his marriage

   Then, just a few days before, at a great banquet honoring Herod’s birthday party …

   Herod made a promise to his wife’s daughter after her dance which pleased Herod’s court immensely

   Herod promised her anything she wished

   Her birthday wish, prompted by her mother, was to have the head of the prisoner – John the Baptist brought to her on a platter

   So she could give it is a gift to her mother

   (pause) King Herod kept his promise

   And the scriptures say, in the verse just before today’s reading, that John’s followers “went and took his body and buried it, then they went to tell Jesus.”

   This is what Jesus heard when he withdrew from the crowds to go off to a deserted place by himself

   No doubt, Jesus was weary from the long spell of preaching and teaching among the people

   He had been on the road constantly since appointing the 12 disciples

   Teaching them and preparing them for ministry

   And, as Jesus himself described it, “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” (11:5 f.)

   Besides that, he told the crowds that were following him “no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist

   Now he learns that his cousin, the prophet was executed by a brutal and lascivious King, on the careless whim of a spiteful queen, making nothing more of John’s life than a horrifying game

   Jesus needed to get away, but this was not to be the day for that

   Today’s reading

   The crowds found where he went by boat, and they followed him on foot

   Seeing them, Jesus went ashore,

   Despite his own grief and need for rest, he was full of compassion for the people

   he cured the ones among them who were sick

   The disciples noticed that it was getting closer to suppertime, said to Jesus

   It’s getting late, Lord, and we’re in the middle of nowhere

   How about you send the crowds away

   so they can go into town to buy something to eat

   Jesus may have thrown his hands up or rolled his eyes when he said,

   They don’t need to go anywhere

   YOU give them something to eat

   “But we don’t have anything to give them”

   Only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish

   Remember there are 5,000 men here “not counting women and children”

   So if there was 1 woman and 1 child for every man there were 15,000

   Safe to say there were 10,000 – 15,000

   Jesus said, bring me what you have

   He had the crowd sit down

   He took the loaves and fish

   gave thanks to God and blessed them

   Jesus gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disc. gave them to the crowds

   Everybody ate and were filled

   And there were 12 baskets filled with what was left over

3. So What?
   

   Everybody knows the story of the feeding the 5,000

   And that was sure enough a miracle

   But did you notice how the disciples responded at first?

   When they realized it was getting close to supper time?

   “We don’t have enough food, Jesus better send all these people home”

   But Jesus, already having compassion for the crowds as he did his healing …

   He told the disciples, “You give them something to eat.”

   They said, “But look Lord, all we have is 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish”

   But Jesus said, “Bring me what you have.”

   Have you ever felt like the disciples?

   We don’t have enough, we might use it all up here

   Could this be like the church? Are we ‘enough?’

   We only have a few members, Lord

   We don’t have as many as we used to

   It may not be enough

   I only have $5 for the offering this week

   I just started reading the Bible, I’m a “new” Christian

   I love to sing, but I can’t carry a tune in a bucket

   Do we feel there are things holding us back?

   Are we afraid that there won’t’ be enough if we use it all up today

   To all of these, Jesus answers “Bring me what you have”

   In the hands of the disciples 2 fish and 5 loaves were a meager meal

   Not even enough to feed the 12 of them, let alone the huge crowd before them

   In Jesus’ hands this was a gift

   “Bring me what you have”

   He took it and gave thanks to God for it

   Then, in Jesus’ hands the gift expanded

   The disciples saw the scarcity and it scared them

   “send them home”

   Jesus saw the bounty in God’s possibility

   And the disciples’ humble gift was all he needed

   It’s the same with us

   When we feel inadequate, afraid there isn’t enough

   When we forget about God providing everything we need

   Jesus says, “Bring me what you have”

   It’s enough, we’re enough

   In his hands, the humble gift we bring of ourselves is enough

   As long as we offer all we have

   Not holding anything back, ‘just in case’

   The difference was, Jesus gave thanks to God for what they had

   Then it was more than enough

   Jesus said, “Bring me what you have.” The other thing is that he made the disciples part of the miracle

   Now Jesus, being Jesus, could have made the miracle happen any kind of way

   He could have had the crowds sit down

   And make a KFC 2 piece meal plop down in everybody’s lap

   The miracle could have taken any form

   And he didn’t need the disciples’ help

   Jesus chose to teach the disciples something through the miracle

   Took what they had and expanded the gift

   And he made the disciples a part of it

   Jesus did the miracle

   He’s the one with the power to produce bounty from scarcity

   But the miracle came through the hands of the disciples

   The disciples weren’t just observers of, but participants in the miracle

   And so we are called

   Not as just observers or readers of the Word, but doers of the word

   The miracles of God’s provision in Jesus call us to be participants

   As the 16^th century nun, Teresa of Avila wrote:

   Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, yours are the eyes through which he looks he looks with compassion on the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless the world now.

   Bring what you have. In the service of Jesus Christ and his church, it is enough.

   Be part of the miracle.

So let it be with us. Amen

June 5, 2011

First Presbyterian Church of Yellow Springs

Rev. Joe Hinds

Acts 1:6-14

1. Way In (“Is it time?”)

Looking off into space – or at least not where I’m going

New Orleans

As a kid, teenager

Going with my Father to Saints football games

Then after, walking with him and his buddies through he French Quarter

Looking with great interest into the clubs and bars we passed

Open doors, barkers out front calling folks in

Looking so intently at what was happening inside

I walked into a light pole

Dad and his friends had a good time with that

New York

Visits when we lived on Long Island

Walking down the streets, esp. around Central Park and Financial District

Looking up at all the tall buildings

Danger of stepping off the curb

Into an intersection where traffic signals were considered suggestions

Or roadways where so many cars, busses, taxis, trucks, and bikes where constantly whizzing past

So we find the Disciples today

On a hillside outside Jerusalem

Mt. of Olives

Looking off into space – or at least not where they were going

2. Tell The Story

Context

Ascension

40 days since Resurrection

Disciples spent the time with the risen Lord

Now is the time for what Jesus told them would happen

Paying better attention now?

He also told them about his death and resurrection

Learned to listen better by now? To believe?

Still, the Disciples were “losing” Jesus – again

Luke begins the Acts of the Apostles

“In the first book (gospel) … I wrote about all Jesus did

From the beginning (Luke 1)

To write an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us

Until he was taken up into heaven (Luke 24)

I am sending you what my Father promised

The Holy Spirit, Advocate, Pantocrator

Acts 2, Pentecost – gift of the Holy Spirit

So stay in Jerusalem until you have been clothed with power from on high

“You are witnesses of these things

Then he led them to Bethany

He lifted up his hands

He blessed them

While he was blessing them he was carried up into heaven

And they worshipped him

Returned to Jerusalem with great joy

And they were continually in the temple blessing God

Verse previous to today’s reading from the NT

John baptized you with water,

But you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now

Today’s reading

So, Lord. Is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?

This was the prophecy of the Messiah, when he came

After Israel had been under different rule and occupation for generations

… Is this the time?

To be free of Roman occupation

And be restored to how it was before under King David?

But Jesus responds

That time is not for you to know – only God knows when

But you:

Will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes

And you will be my witnesses

In Jerusalem

In Judea

And Samaria

And to the ends of the earth

When he said this he was lifted up

And a cloud took him up and out of sight

While they were standing there looking …

At the last spot in the sky where they saw Jesus

Two men in white robes stood by them

Men of Galilee, why are you standing here looking towards heaven?

Jesus has been taken into heaven

And he will return the same way

Then they returned to Jerusalem

From Olivet, atop the Mt. Of Olives

Near Jerusalem

A sabbath’s journey away

Meaning, a distance short enough to walk on the Sabbath

A day of rest, when no further exertion or travel was permitted

Back to Jerusalem to the room upstairs

The room where they had been staying since Jesus’ crucifixion

The room of the Last Supper

The room where the risen Lord returned after resurrection

the remaining followers of Jesus stayed in Jerusalem

Eleven disciples

Judas Iscariot was no longer among them

Along with

Certain women

Including Mary, Jesus’ mother

And his brothers

All of these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer

3. (So What?) Is it time?

The last words spoken between the Disciples and Jesus before his ascension

D: Is it time?

J:

The time is not for you to know

He didn’t answer that question

But you will receive power

And you will be my witnesses

Two realms of purpose

God is in charge of the disposition of the world

That seems fair

God, the Creator of the universe and everything in it

In God’s own time

Jesus’ followers – their purpose, our purpose

Mission

Witnesses

And not in the sense of sitting in the witness box to tell what we saw

But witnesses to the world

Beginning where we are

For the disciples – Jerusalem

For us – our home/our community

And going into the world

The known world

As the disciples know it

As we know it

Witnesses to the world

Of God’s saving love of Jesus Christ

Having seen and received that love for ourselves

Now living as witnesses to God’s love

By the way we live our lives

So that the world will know

Does that sound like just religious” talk”?

The kind of stuff you expect the preacher to say?

“Go into all the world and tell them Jesus loves them”

<dramatize that>

“Now let’s go have coffee and go home so we can get some lunch”

“I mean….’into the whole world,’ what are we supposed to do with that?”

Are we with the disciples on that one?

OK, Lord. We’ve all seen some pretty amazing things these last few years

All those miracles

Healing people

Walking on water

Feeding multitudes

Feast for hundreds from a few fish and loaves of bread

Making fine wine from a few barrels of washing water

Broken down barriers between rich and poor

Turned people’s lives around

And beat the high religious officials and politicians in games of “Stump the Chumps”

with the high

And lately …

We’ve been through Easter and all that…

After you were executed

We saw you raised from the tomb

And walk on the earth for the last 40 days

Now isn’t it time for you to do something else?

Time for you to do the next big thing?

Isn’t it time for the next chapter of the Jesus story?

Is it time to see Jesus doing the next big thing?

How about restore the kingdom?

Kick the Romans out of Jerusalem

And all the rest of our territory

And make it God’s Kingdom again?

Like back in the good old days

Is it time to watch Jesus do the next big thing?

The next part of his act?

No. Now it’s time for us.

And we are witnesses

I spend time looking at my old sermons and messages

It may be said that I spend a lot of time in this pulpit talking about our work as the hands and feet of Jesus in the world

Doing justice

Offering hospitality

Organizing ourselves around the best ways to do these things

But I believe that these are at the foundation of what Jesus calls the church (us) to do and to be

There is time for talking about theology and history

The doctrine and context of the scriptures and our faith

But today, thinking about Jesus’ final words before ascending to heaven

Because that’s important

The Last Words Before He Went To Heaven

Don’t you think that means something?

Not just, “Alright, see y’all later. Take it easy.” “Take care” “Bye”

Left the disciples/us with 2 things: Assurance and Practice

Jesus assures the Disciples/Us

That he will not abandon us – never leave us orphaned

“I am with you always, until the ends of the earth”

Promises the presence of the HS

In which we will know God’s presence and power

Practice

As Jesus lived and walked among God’s people

He devoted himself to prayer, worship, and fellowship

Many times he went away to pray

And called the disciples to follow him

He worshipped and praised God

In the temple

And in practice, before meals, and gathering with friends and the community

And he never ceased reaching out to others

Inviting them in

Even foreigners, sinners, strangers – the likes of me and you

And we see the disciples get right to it

Devoting themselves to prayer

In community with the others

Then as we follow today’s reading we will see them

Practicing collaborative leadership

Right away they restore the body of leadership

Replacing Judas

And expectantly awaiting the gift of the Holy Spirit

Which we will see next Sunday

And the growing community devoted themselves to

The teaching of the apostles

Fellowship

Breaking bread

The prayers

Daily practice, 7x

Is it Time?

Yes, this is the time

To work for the kingdom that God has promised

Which is to carry out the mission that Jesus left us with

To witness to the world – beginning where we are

To his saving love

“As I have lived you,” he said

Loving God

Loving your neighbor as Yourself

Even loving your enemies

Christianity Today, May 18, 1998, “The Day We Were Left Behind”, Barbara Brown Taylor

Eleven “abandoned” disciples with nothing to show for all their following.
But in the days and years to come it would become very apparent what had happened to them.
With nothing but a promise and a prayer,
those 11 people consented to become the church,
and once they did that,
surprising things began to happen.

They began to say things that sounded like him,
and they began to do things they had never seen anyone but him do before.
They became brave and capable and wise.
Followers became leaders,
listeners became preachers,
converts became missionaries,
the healed became healers,
and disciples became apostles,
witnesses of the risen Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit.

That probably was not the way they would have planned it.
If they had had their way,
they would probably have tied Jesus up so that he could not have gotten away from them,
so that they would have known where to find him and rely on him forever.
Only that is not how it happened.
He went away – he was taken away -
and they stood looking up toward heaven.

Then, they stopped looking up toward heaven,
looked at each other instead,
and got on with their commission of being Christ’s witnesses,
Christ’s body on earth.
To this day, too many Christians still stand staring up in heaven,
or worse yet, sit around doing little themselves,
waiting for something to happen,
waiting for Jesus to do something about the church, the world, our own lives,
when we ought to be getting on with the commission we have clearly been given, of being Christ’s witnesses,
of being Christ’s body, his hands and his feet, on earth.
We must finish the work Jesus began.

Is it time that Jesus will restore the kingdom?

That is not for us to know

But we have the power and the practice

To bring about God’s kingdom of peace

By living as Jesus teaches

So do we want to spend the rest of our days standing on the side of the hill staring off into space?

Or working for God’s peace, love, and justice in the world.

So may it be with us. Amen

Peace