Reign of Christ

This Sunday is the last Sunday in the Christian liturgical year, traditionally known as "Christ the King" Sunday, and in many modern churches as "Reign of Christ" Sunday. Interestingly, most of the scripture texts are about shepherds and sheep, with the implication that Jesus is the shepherd par excellence. But much more of the focus is on how we are to act, whether we are shepherds (as in Ezekiel) or sheep (as in Matthew). The Matthew text, in particular, is familiar to us, and rather than reflect at length on it, I want to share with you some other readings that play with these same themes, both drawing on the Matthew text. I hope you'll read these and the scriptures for Sunday and consider what our still-speaking God might be saying to you. Blessings and peace, and I hope to see you Sunday! 

- Manda

A reading from the Islamic tradition:

       On the day of judgment God Most High will say,

       "Son of Adam, I was sick and you did not visit Me."

       He will reply, "My Lord, how could I visit Thee

       when Thou art the Lord of the Universe!"

       He will say, "Did you not know

       that my servant so-and-so was ill

       and yet you did not visit him?

       Did you not know that if you had visited him

       you soon would have found Me with him?"

       -Hadith of Muslim

"You Who Bless" by Jan Richardson

You Who Bless

You
who are
yourselves
a blessing

who know
that to feed
the hungering
is to bless

and to give drink
to those who thirst
is to bless

who know
the blessing
in welcoming
the stranger

and giving clothes
to those
who have none

who know
to care
for the sick
is blessing

and blessing
to visit
the prisoner:

may the blessing
you have offered
now turn itself
toward you

to welcome
and to embrace you
at the feast
of the blessed.

(To see a longer reflection and art work by Jan Richardson on the Matthew text, click here.) 

Texts for Sunday:
Ezekiel 34:11-24 
Matthew 25:31-40

Ohhhh...Dearrrrr! (for Sunday 10/23/11)

I have always loved Eeyore - even had a stuffed version on my bed from childhood through young adulthood! And, I 'm not sure why. He seems sooo gloomy and I've never been. Remember? Eeyore was perpetually pessimistic - his most familiar phrase was "Ohhhh.... Dearrr!" One day, Tigger greeted Eeyore in the woods by asking, "Isn't it a beautiful, sunny day?" And, Eeyore replied, "Yeahhhhh, but it might rain tomorrow."

What I've learned over the years is that Tigger and Eeyore are both right - today IS beautiful and it MIGHT just rain tomorrow!

On Sunday, we will explore the stories of "Sending Out the Spies" found in the Book of Numbers (chapter 13). Interesting.... they sent out two sets of 12 spies. One group came back exuberantly  describing the 'land of milk and honey', while the other described the fierce, armed tribes that roamed the land. And, they were both correct. Like Tigger and Eeyore, the two sets of spies balanced each other. They encouraged moving into the Promised Land, but with warnings of the dangers to be faced.

So it is with us. Every decision to change jobs, move, get married, have children, etc. Comes with blessings and warnings. Every decision that a church makes to embrace the promises of God comes with exciting possibilities and challenges that may be scary.

The good news is that Eeyore eventually joins Tigger, Pooh Bear and his other pals in their schemes for adventure, despite is reluctance or gloominess. AND, the Hebrews did choose to trust in the promises of God, even though there were many battles to be fought.

I actually think I've needed Eeyore in my life and all of the people who have represented him. We all need the Tiggers and the Eeyores to help us find the balance - the way forward with clear expectations. I'm glad we're Bound for the Promised Land.... Tiggers, Eeyores and all!

I'm hoping to see you all on Sunday - Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

+ Luke 9:1-6

* Sending Out the Spies - Numbers 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.

When Did We Start Electing Such Young Presidents? (for Sunday 10/16/11)

The first President I remember is Ike. His grandson went to kindergarten with me and we had our own Secret Service Agent - Johnnie Powers! To my young mind, President Eisenhower was grandfatherly - what a President should be.  Later, I remember my mother's friends talking about John Kennedy: too young, too handsome, too 'smiley'. And, now we have another young, handsome, 'smiley' President.

I go to the ENT doctor and he doesn't look old enough to have finished college, much less be a medical specialist. It happens all the time - those people in power seem so young. And, of course, it's not that they're so young, it's that I'm getting old!

Some of  the Hebrews must have felt this way when Joshua started taking over! Moses was old, known, trustworthy and  here comes this uppity, young military guy! Edgy, pushy, even. He was full of new ideas and plans. What some of them couldn't see was that Joshua was what they needed to fight the upcoming battles, to mobilize the young and make it possible for them to claim the Promised Land. They couldn't see that it wasn't that Joshua was too young, it's that Moses and his generation were too old to create a new future.

The good news is that Joshua wasn't a radical or a wild man. God had chosen well. He was truly edgy, pushy and had many new ideas, but he had lived in the desert long enough to know. He loved and understood the past leaders, he honored their traditions and all of the things they had built. BUT, he also had a new energy and new skills and a toughness that was needed.

It's the way it's always been and always will be. As we get older, the leaders get younger. God knows that we are always needing new life and new ideas and new ways of being. Our job is to pick good leaders and to trust them to lead us into the future. Tough job - for the Hebrews, for Moses and for us, but well worth it!

You might just want to read a bit of Joshua's story - it has an amazingly contemporary ring!

Hoping to see you all on Sunday - Blessings - Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

+Matthew 16:13-20

*Deuteronomy 31

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.