|
| History | | Sermons | | Volunteer | | Youth Group | | Photos | | Directions |
|
"What Are We About?" Sherry Lohman - May 2, 2010 (Psalm 148) Revelation 21:1-6 Some of you may know that I use the common lectionary as the source for choosing scripture for Sunday's message. It's not unusual for me to pull from one of the Gospels....for sharing good news. The Epistles, or letters (most of them from the Apostle Paul), are an option, too, but they often appear more directive....Paul gets busy telling everybody what they should or shouldn't do. Of course, those books were written for a particular people, just beginning to pull together as a body, and like any new groups, forming, there was much organization and debate in deciding how to go about things. It's good to keep in mind, that when we read Paul's writing, we're really reading somebody else's mail. Alongside of all these possibilities for today, stood the scripture from Revelations. This particular scripture is frequently used at funerals. It's easy to see why. Death has a way of putting things (life) in perspective, doesn't it? Time seems to stop-maybe even with a slap to the face-a wake-up call that this stuff that we do everyday...whatever it is...is only temporary. Death reminds us to listen to the birds' song, to feel the warmth of the sun on our face and pick up our children/grandchildren and hold them closer. The scripture lends comfort in reassuring us of God's renewal. The book of Revelations, in its entirety, is not an easy book to read. There are 22 chapters, in all, filled with somewhat strange eschatological imagery/end times. (If you're interested in looking at it more closely, I happen to know that Lowell Fenner is taking a class on it at the University....I'll bet he would share some insights with you). I don't know what your immediate reactions are to the book of Revelations. For some, it is all mysterious, with strange language and visuals. To others, it may appear threatening. Revelations is often associated with judgment. Unfortunately, the emphasis sometimes remains there, hovering over folks, like a dark, threatening cloud. I prefer to think that God's victory hovers over us, casting a shadow of love and forgiveness. Isn't that what Jesus' ministry was all about? In Revelations, we find what is called, "apocalyptic literature." Apocalyptic simply means "disclosure," or revealing what is to come, as if a curtain is drawn back and one can see what's coming next. Both Jews and early Christians contributed to these writings. If you look back to some of the books in the Old Testament, you will find similar literature in the book of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Isaiah (most of today's scripture is quoted from Isaiah). In this revealing, we see a final victory over enemies by God's people. Often, in apocalyptic literature, we find it reflects a negative view of the world, but there, too, is an expression of hope for the saving grace in God's new creation-or, in life after this life. To put things in perspective, it might help to know that this particular scripture we read, today, was written the last part of the first century, when the Roman empire was under the authority of Emperor Domitian. I did a little research on him and learned that he had a preference for solitude. One historian claimed that he spent hours alone every day catching flies and stabbing them with a needle-sharp pen while he was Emperor. But, to be fair, this same historian recorded that Domitian was educated, conversed elegantly, and published a book... on baldness. Perhaps the most telling thing I could tell you about him, is that he demanded that his subjects address him as "Lord and God," which actually, wasn't so unusual for emperors. This, in itself, was a continuing source of conflict concerning the early Christians and Jews. Refusing to claim loyalty to the emperor could warrant a death sentence, exile, and at least, harassment. For this reason, Revelations was written in the mysterious form as a way of disguising what was written so it wouldn't be easily identified by the imperial police. In some ways, thinking about such a way of life may make our daily issues seem small. We are free to worship God without fear of death or threat. We don't have to meet secretly, behind closed doors. Still, while our lives are not threatened by authorities for our love and faith in God, I don't want to minimize the fact that we, too, are a burdened people, broken and scarred, emotionally, by the powers and wounds of today's world. So that what John writes for the people in the first century, we can claim for ourselves....that God dwells among us, and there is hope. We can resonate with the voice of reassurance for a group of faithful people aligning with God's will, recognizing that God makes his home among us, (not just here, in the church, on Sundays....but in all of life, among all people). God is here, with us, in our work, in our play, in every encounter; in our debates, in our decisions, our sickness and health, in all of our joys and concerns, in life and in death. It is fitting that we lift up our thanks and praise, just as the Psalm echoes, praising God, sun and moon and shining stars! Fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind! Mountains hills, trees, wild animals, creeping things and flying birds....even Kings of the earth and all peoples, all peoples, young men and women alike...Praise the Lord! That's what we do, and we do that collectively, on Sundays. You do this in your secular lives, too, all throughout the week---it is evident in your actions, your thoughts, prayers, cards and e-mails; your visits and help with others. Outside these doors, we have a pile of shoes (Soles for Souls), waiting to be delivered---this is another form of discipleship. Our Magnet team, a specially chosen group of folks from our church, have worked hard at putting into words, who we are, as a particular group of people, here at Hope UMC. Who we are defines what we do, or, how we are; a close up look at our hearts. They have been working on our vision statement, and thus far, have arrived at this: (I'll read it slow-it's important you hear every word) Hope UMC is a Beacon of light and hope, faith-filled, offering strength and love, created by the grace of God, sharing God's joy and love; a safe haven in the midst of turbulent life. We recognize, respect, and honor our individual differences and strengths. In our efforts to go beyond boundaries, we embrace our passions in our mission to heal and empower every human life. We are a never ending celebration of life; a beacon of hope. This is what we are about. Do you all identify with that? Does it reflect, accurately, who we are, how we are, and the mission before us. When I was a kid, in the 50's, churches sent missionaries to foreign lands. They collected money to support these missions. We continue to do that, but as we have moved into the 21st century, our awareness has broadened. We understand, now, that there are those, sitting outside our back door who have no hope. What are we about? What is our main business? We are not here to perpetuate the tradition-not here to maintain the building-not here just for "our people," though we do embrace everyone who walks through these doors. How will we share God's renewal? These are guiding questions that will help shape and inform our daily lives, if we embrace them. If you're having difficulty answering that question, I offer this: reflect on our Vision statement, but this time, put your own name in place of Hope UMC. You are a Beacon of light and hope, faith-filled, offering strength and love, created by the grace of God, sharing God's joy and love; you are a safe haven in the midst of turbulent life. You recognize, respect, and honor individual differences and strengths. In your effort to go beyond boundaries, you embrace your passions in your mission to heal and empower every human life. You are a never ending celebration of life; you are a beacon of hope. This is what YOU are about....God's purpose for you. As a church, we may be moved in specific directions in prayer, grace or forgiveness. We may engage in witness and invitation to folks outside of the church. (By the way, do you know that faith is spread more by laity than by clergy?) At my Mom's funeral, a woman from our church came up to me afterwards (Edith), and told me that Mom was the reason she joined the church. Mom wouldn't have thought of herself as an evangelist, or even a disciple...but this invitation is what we're talking about. Reaching out, inviting, including. We don't know what's going on in other people's lives....all we can do is extend the invitation to hope. We can't help the whole world, put shoes on every foot or even feed the hungry in Iowa City, alone. But we are all baptized into the ministry, and God has plans for us; plans to share that ministry in a multitude of different ways. Who knows what we will be focusing on in the near future....we may be moved to organize a food drive for the hungry, a spring clean up for home-bound seniors... cleaning up a section of the shoulder of a local highway... working on a Habitat for Humanity house... writing notes for an elderly member of our congregation... inviting neighbors to work with us on a community garden... helping at Ronald McDonald houses... reading to children at a local library... holding a car wash for Haiti... volunteering at a local nursing home... working with local fire departments to check smoke detector batteries, and providing new ones where necessary, across the community...or a thousand other, even better ideas that you come up with right where we are! The possibilities are unending. Have you got some ideas? We are only beginning to help God make all things new! With the eyes of Jesus, and a heart for our community and world-wide sisters and brothers we can share our light and hope. This is what we are about! Can our kind of church change this kind of world? Not without God's help, not without God's Spirit, and certainly, not without God's people. Thanks be to God for YOU, for listening for God's voice of reassurance and hope, for remaining faithful, and aligning with God's intentions, for making all things new. Amen. |