Friday, January 27, 2012

How do you know the 'real deal' when you see one? Lots of folks thought Bernie Madoff was the real deal. We think some politicians are the real deal and then go to PolitiFact.com and discover 'Pinocchio' or 'Liar, Liar Pants on Fire'. We find a real deal on a new food processor and see it a week later for $200 less.

We are so inundated by false claims, false information and false prophets that it's easy to become cynical.

I suspect that the 'Man with the Unclean Spirit' in our text and those in his community were cynical when Jesus walked into town. I suspect that this man and his family had been subjected to false claims for a cure over and over again until they didn't trust that anyone could help him.


Jesus astounded the people in the synagogue, the scribes and the Pharisees and the learned ones. They didn't know what to think - they'd seen people who 'talked with authority' before.  But, the unclean spirits who were torturing this
man, knew immediately that Jesus was the real deal. They knew that he had the power to banish them. They knew he had the power to change this man forever. And after Jesus banished them, everyone knew Jesus was authentic - the real deal. They knew he had the power to change lives and to change the status quo.

Look no farther, my friends, the real deal is right here at FCC. Gratefully, we are a place filled with people who are truth tellers, whose caring is sincere, whose longing to make a difference in the world is genuine and whose desire to follow Jesus changes lives and changes the whole world!

So join us on Sunday as we explore this short and 'life-changing' gospel story!

I look forward to seeing all of you for worship and meeting with you as we plan for a new and exciting year at FCC! Blessings - Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

+Deuteronomy 18:15-20

 I Corinthians 8:1-13

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.

Friday, January 20, 2012

"Sometimes.... There are No Words"

Every day of my life is filled with words..... words I write, words I preach, words I read and probably the most important words of all, those I listen to from people who share their lives with me.

But, sometimes, there just are no words, or at least adequate words.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Community Chorus' performance of "The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace". My reaction was immediate and one of deep feeling: I wept and was touched. It was a wonderful and moving experience. But, my response was much deeper, in fact, indescribable. I know that I am truly different after that night. I am still pondering what this will mean and what I need to learn, but I am sure that I will be a fundamentally different kind of peacemaker from now on.

Holocaust survivor and theologian Elie Weisel says that there are no words..... to describe or explain or make sense of the holocaust. People with HIV have consistently told me there are no words when they learned they were HIV+.... only white noise. When I was pregnant with Avary, people would say that having a child fundamentally changes your life. There were no words to describe how my whole life would change.... it just would.

We usually cannot describe the events in our lives that profoundly change us or even those events that change the world. We can only respond as a new person.

In Sunday's text, Mark describes Jesus' calling of the first few disciples. The silence of the disciples is startling.... Not a single word. And, yet their encounter with Jesus changed their whole lives.... and ours. As you prepare for worship, think on those times in your life for which there were no words. Think of how God used those times to change you.

I look forward to seeing all of you on Sunday, Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

Jonah 3:1-5, 10
I Corinthians 7:29-31

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Extremists for Love


In April of 1963, eight white Alabama clergymen wrote a statement to "strongly urge our own Negro community to withdraw support from these (civil rights) demonstrations." "We do not believe that these days of new hope are days when extreme measures are justified in Birmingham." Click here to read the full letter.

In response, Martin Luther King, Jr. composed his Letter from Birmingham Jail, a profoundly compelling challenge to white Christians. It includes oft-quoted lines like, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" and "There comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair." Where the white clergymen argue against "extreme measures," King calls us to be extremists for love and justice. "Was not Jesus an extremist for love?" "Was not Amos an extremist for justice?"

This Sunday, we'll celebrate the baptism of Jesus, an extremist for love, by remembering our own baptism and baptizing little Brandon Andree. And we'll look at the prophetic life and ministry of Martin Luther King, Jr. through the lens of baptism, the Christian sacrament that affirms that every human being is precious to God. I hope you'll join us for a time of worship and reflection as we seek to be extremists for love.

Scriptures for Sunday:
Mark 1:4-11
Ephesians 4:1-6

Blessings,
Manda

Friday, January 6, 2012

"Prepare to Be Surprised"

If you know anything about archetypes, you will readily recognize the magi as 'heroes'. From the time of earliest hunter-gatherer civilizations, humankind has created myths about those (usually men) who leave the tribe to go on a mystical quest or journey. We know these heroes by many names: Hercules, Sir Galahad, Gautama Buddah, Pilgrim and from the Bible - Abraham & Sarah, Joseph.......

On Sunday, we will celebrate and re-member the magi, the three kings or wise men or even astrologers, who went on a particular quest. They were seeking God. It so happens that God beckoned them with a star and like other heroes, they went on a long and probably arduous journey. Like other heroes, they faced the powers and principalities (King Herod) and like others, they were prepared to greet a wealthy, pampered heir in a palace, for whom they had brought suitable gifts. Instead, they got a BIG surprise - a poor, peasant child in a stable!

The magi trusted in the beckoning star and in the journey. They trusted the revelation of this baby instead of the one they imagined. And, they offered their gifts (seemingly unsuitable).

There are many lessons we may learn from these heroes, but one is most certainly that when we trust in the surprises God offers and we offer the best we have to give, we are the ones who are truly blessed. For the magi, the star told a story, but they had to take the journey to get to the surprise ending. So it is with us. Let us spend the coming year watching for the signs of God. Let us take the journey together. Let us offer our gifts because we are so very blessed!

I hope you will all join us on Sunday as we marvel at our puppet kings and as we celebrate the heroes of our faith.

Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:
Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14
Ephesians 3:1-12

Note: The texts in bold type will be read in the worship service and the one with an asterisk will be used as the focus for the proclamation of the word.