Sabbath of Thanksgiving

This Sunday we begin our Christian new year with the advent of Advent. We are entering a season of waiting and watching, preparing our hearts to receive God's presence.

This week, the United States takes time out to celebrate Thanksgiving. Whatever our sordid history or troubled present, at our best, we are a people who give thanks and share our blessings. Yet how well do we really embody a spirit of thanksgiving this season? I myself am making my lists, spending time shopping and cleaning and cooking, preparing for guests (my parents are coming to town, and you'll get to meet them on Sunday!), and trying to get ahead on some work. I am determined to spend some time relaxing and enjoying my family, but I know it will be a challenge - how quickly things come up and stress takes over!


Every year the same drama plays out in our culture, from the frenzy of preparations, to the tired cleaning up and dealing with leftovers. And then comes Friday - "Black" Friday as it's often called - the day when everyone rushes to buy things they probably don't need, all because it seems to be a good deal. So we go from frantically preparing for a time of Thanksgiving, to a brief and sometimes stressful or lonely (depending on family dynamics) Thanksgiving day, right back to a focus on consuming - getting more, for a better deal, than we really needed in the first place.

And somewhere in there, we have lost the concept of Sabbath, a time to worship and be renewed, to just be and take in the blessings that surround us. In her article Black Friday and the Importance of Sabbath Rest, Danielle Tumminio writes, "Even though Black Friday is not on a Saturday or Sunday, it follows a period of heightened work and stress; it's a natural time for rest, and yet, it's a time in which rest is not encouraged. One at a time, we can change this culture. As God's children, it is our responsibility to find that rest for ourselves because without it, regardless of religious affiliation, we will psychologically dry up like turkey left too long in the oven."



So perhaps this year we can start Advent a bit early - every year we enter into the same drama, hearing the story of Christ's impending birth, allowing our hearts to sit with the anticipation and hope of a world transformed. And if, for you, this season is one of loneliness and heartache, you may know better than the rest of us what it means to long for a new world, where every tear will be dry and you will know the deep peace of God's presence. 


Wherever you find your hearts this season, will you accept the challenge and honor the Sabbath this week? As you sit around your tables and celebrate the Eucharist (Greek for Thanksgiving), let the moments linger and savor the gift of Sabbath. And I will do the same.

I wish you all Thanksgiving blessings, and I look forward to beginning the new year with you on Sunday.

In peace,
Manda

Texts for Sunday:

Psalm 98

Matthew 1:18-25

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

"For Those Who Walk the Walk"

On Sunday, we will ponder the rather complicated parable of the talents. My 6th Grade Sunday School teacher once said, "There are two sins: 1.) Using people & loving things and 2.) Failing to use your God-given talents to do all you can to make a difference in the world."

As I put the texts with her wisdom, I feel so grateful for all of the people who use their talents to 'walk the walk' of service to others. Certainly the usual suspects are teachers and medical providers and social workers. And there are those we honor this weekend, our veterans who have truly 'walked the walk' to serve their country. In this moment, I am grateful for my colleague and friend, Margie Mayson, the Pastor of St. Paul's United Methodist Church who died suddenly on Tuesday. Like so many local church pastors I've met over the years, Margie always worked every day to use her talents to love her people, encourage them and help them use their talents to make a difference. I also think of all of the people in this church who so freely 'walk the walk' and use their talents in ways great and small to make a difference in their families, in our church, in our community and in the world.

So, I invite you to read the text and think a bit about the people who've made a difference in your life. Think a bit about how you are using your own talents. Think a bit about how God might be calling you to make a difference.

Hoping to see you all on Sunday, Laura Lee

"The Little Holidays - Big Surprises"

I like the little holidays the best. You know, my birthday or Arbor Day. Last week, it was National Deviled Eggs Day. That was fun. These are days that aren't burdened by commercialism or the weight of generations of tradition. I love the big holidays, too. Especially Christmas and Easter or even Pentecost. But, there are the 'little' holidays in the life of the church that are truly wonderful, like Transfiguration Sunday. These holidays (holy days) remind us of important experiences in the life of Christ or in the history of our faith and because they aren't burdened by lots of traditions, they have the capacity to surprise us.

On Sunday, we will be celebrating two of the Church's lesser celebrated holidays: Reformation Sunday  and All Saints Day. We will do those things that ground us to these days: honor the saints who have died over the past year and singing "For all the Saints". We will also celebrate  in a special and surprising way. Vikar Markus Krieger will be our guest. He will preach and will offer an AfterWord forum. Markus is a pastor in the EKHN (Evangelical Protestant Church in Germany) and is spending an 'intern' year here in the NY Conference. So, we will be celebrating our German protestant roots with a German partner in ministry! And, this time of celebrating will be blessed with communion.

I'm looking forward to this big celebration of little holidays that are truly important in our common life. I expect to be a bit surprised and hope you will all come expecting something new.

Hoping to see you on Sunday - Laura Lee

So, Go Ahead..... Plant a Tree (For Sunday, 10-30-11)

Recently, one of my heroes died - Wangari Maathai. In 2004, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She wasn't a head-of-state or a diplomat or a military person. She was a biologist. She wasn't an old western world white man. She was a young African woman. She didn't end wars or protest corrupt governments. She planted trees!

Amazing: to connect peacemaking with planting trees. And yet, her Green Belt Movement has probably created more peace that anyone can ever imagine. In Kenya (and now throughout the world), planting trees is saving the planet, saving water, saving agriculture, empowering poor people - especially women..... And, all of the problems these trees solve are often the sources of war. What also inspires me about Dr. Maathai is that she planted trees (millions of them) and died before ever seeing them grow to full maturity. She staked her whole life on a future she would never see.

So it was with many of the Hebrews on the journey to the Promised Land. They moved through the desert, organized themselves and birthed future generations believing that God's promises were sure and that there would be a land and a new life ahead. They did so knowing that most of the people who started the journey would never actually inhabit this promised land. Like Dr. Maathai, they planted trees: trees of community, hope and faith. They planted the trees of life that would sustain their people into the future.

So it is with the church - with our church. We are in the business of planting trees. Every time we nurture a child through Children's Worship and loving relationships; every time we support bringing clean water to a desperate community or when we work to help our whole community feed starving children.... in fact, whenever we do pretty much anything around here..... we are planting trees of community, life, hope and peace that we may never see.

All it takes is a bit of faith - in God, in each other, in all that is good and right in the world. Sooo, go ahead and plant a tree. Invest in the future of FCC, of children here and abroad, in the promises of peace. You'll feel good and you will make a real difference.

Come on Sunday as we celebrate the Promised Land into which we are moving. Come, bring your pledges, your cans, your hearts, your hopes for the future. And, I look forward to greeting you all.

Blessings, Laura Lee

Texts for This Week:

+Psalm 25:4-15

*Joshua 3 - Crossing the Jordan

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.

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.