The gospel lesson for the fourth Sunday after Epiphany is Matthew 5.1-12. As we reflect on the words and images of the following video (Matthew 5.1-16) may God grant us the grace to live out these words.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Can We Get Along?
The epistle reading for the Third Sunday after Epiphany is 1 Corinthians 1. 10-18. Here is the reading and some thoughts I shared with my Lectionary study group.
10. Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
11. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
12. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
13. Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15. so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
16. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
17. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18, For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (New Revised English Version)
Now that the decorations are safely put away and the monotony of winter settles in, the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation begins to fade from our imagination. The assurance of blessed communion with others who confess Christ remains a hope at best. The reality of the ordinary life seems to overpower the reality of the grace filled life. Committee meetings, budget reviews, phone conversations with the insurance company, working on the furnace, are viewed as signs of heaven when compared to the bickering, jealousy,and mean spirited battles that is common among the baptised. And yet...
“I believe in the Church”.
The earliest baptismal formulas affirm the centrality of Church in the faith.
The divisions that grieve the Spirit is ever present. Can we heed the plea of the Apostle in the first century and stop passing judgment and make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification?
“I believe in the Church”.
The fundamentalists. The progressives. The loving but culturally, intellectually, spiritually, or theologically limited parishioner who is wrong about human sexuality, war and peace, the authority of the bible, gun control legislation, the church's contribution to the denomination's latest church wide appeal, and whether we should ask Mrs. Thompson to consider hiring an assistant editor for the church's newsletter.
“I believe in the Church”.
"Therefore I will put up with this Church until I see a better one," wrote Erasmus; "and it will have to put up with me, until I become better."
10. Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose.
11. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.
12. What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."
13. Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
14. I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,
15. so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.
16. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)
17. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
18, For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (New Revised English Version)
Now that the decorations are safely put away and the monotony of winter settles in, the mystery and wonder of the Incarnation begins to fade from our imagination. The assurance of blessed communion with others who confess Christ remains a hope at best. The reality of the ordinary life seems to overpower the reality of the grace filled life. Committee meetings, budget reviews, phone conversations with the insurance company, working on the furnace, are viewed as signs of heaven when compared to the bickering, jealousy,and mean spirited battles that is common among the baptised. And yet...
“I believe in the Church”.
The earliest baptismal formulas affirm the centrality of Church in the faith.
The divisions that grieve the Spirit is ever present. Can we heed the plea of the Apostle in the first century and stop passing judgment and make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification?
“I believe in the Church”.
The fundamentalists. The progressives. The loving but culturally, intellectually, spiritually, or theologically limited parishioner who is wrong about human sexuality, war and peace, the authority of the bible, gun control legislation, the church's contribution to the denomination's latest church wide appeal, and whether we should ask Mrs. Thompson to consider hiring an assistant editor for the church's newsletter.
“I believe in the Church”.
"Therefore I will put up with this Church until I see a better one," wrote Erasmus; "and it will have to put up with me, until I become better."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Epiphany of Our Lord
Today's reflection is written by the Abbot of the Order of Corpus Christi, the Right Rev. Richard Hammond Price, OCC
To Speak Now of God: Epiphany - Divine Revelation: "The Feast of the Epiphany of our Lord (January 6) focuses us on “divine revelation” - God revealing himself to us in Jesus Christ. Throug..."
O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, where we may see your glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and for ever. Amen.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
HIP HOP HEIDELBERG
There is a movement among black Christians to affirm the truths of the insights of the Reformers and offer an alternative to the "prosperity gospel" that is a dominant theme in many African American churches; indeed, this other gospel is a popular strain within evangelical Protestantism in general.
St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, understood the necessity to know the culture in order to see how the gospel may address the deepest needs of a people. Hip Hop is a lens through which two generations view the world. Thus, today's ambassadors of Christ must understand, speak, and respond to Hip Hop Culture.
Curt "Voice" Allen is a part of this new Reformation.
St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, understood the necessity to know the culture in order to see how the gospel may address the deepest needs of a people. Hip Hop is a lens through which two generations view the world. Thus, today's ambassadors of Christ must understand, speak, and respond to Hip Hop Culture.
Curt "Voice" Allen is a part of this new Reformation.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Videos About The United Church Of Christ
My communion, the United Church of Christ, has released two new videos about the denomination.
The first video, "Uniquely UCC", offers an invitation to those outside the church to take a look at a church which seeks to offer an extravagant welcome to all.
The second video, "UCC Values", shares our church's understanding of its values and how we seek to live them.
My parish, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, can be seen in both of them. In the first, members of Ainsworth are seen carrying the church's banner at a peace rally (at about 0.55 seconds). In the second, Ainsworth in worship is seen at the beginning (0.05), and church members at the peace rally are seen later (3.06) .
The United Church of Christ seeks to live out the call of Jesus to join him in the ministry of reconciliation of peoples and all creation.
"No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."
Here are the recent videos:
The first video, "Uniquely UCC", offers an invitation to those outside the church to take a look at a church which seeks to offer an extravagant welcome to all.
The second video, "UCC Values", shares our church's understanding of its values and how we seek to live them.
My parish, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, can be seen in both of them. In the first, members of Ainsworth are seen carrying the church's banner at a peace rally (at about 0.55 seconds). In the second, Ainsworth in worship is seen at the beginning (0.05), and church members at the peace rally are seen later (3.06) .
The United Church of Christ seeks to live out the call of Jesus to join him in the ministry of reconciliation of peoples and all creation.
"No matter who you are, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here."
Here are the recent videos:
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veteran's Day Reflections: What is the More Excellent Way?
Is it not providential that the same day that the United States honors military veterans, the Church remembers Martin of Tours, a military man who laid down his weapons in order to follow the Prince of Peace?
Martin, a fourth century follower of Christ, chose to abandon his military career after he became convinced that there was a more excellent way. He refused to go into battle. He was not a coward, his trust in his God was his security. "Put me in the front of the army, without weapons or armor; but I will not draw sword again. I am become the soldier of Christ."
We live in a nation which is the new empire, the new Rome. While we respect those who sacrifice their security by taking up arms to defend their country, we should respect and honor those who do not believe in the redemptive value of violence, but believe in the redemptive and transformative power of love.
A new proposal would expand the definition of conscientious objector status to soldiers who believe a specific war is immoral. The "Just War" doctrine offers a stringent test that must be met before a nation embarks on warfare. It recognizes the destructive power of violence and permits a defensive war only when specific criteria are met. Recent US armed conflicts have not met the just war criteria. This proposal will allow soldiers the option to obtain conscientious objector status when they believe a specific war does not fulfill just war criteria.
On Veterans' Day let us remember the countless number of veterans for peace. Let us examine the wars we are involved in and seek a better way.
"I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield...I ain't gonna study war no more."
Martin, a fourth century follower of Christ, chose to abandon his military career after he became convinced that there was a more excellent way. He refused to go into battle. He was not a coward, his trust in his God was his security. "Put me in the front of the army, without weapons or armor; but I will not draw sword again. I am become the soldier of Christ."
We live in a nation which is the new empire, the new Rome. While we respect those who sacrifice their security by taking up arms to defend their country, we should respect and honor those who do not believe in the redemptive value of violence, but believe in the redemptive and transformative power of love.
A new proposal would expand the definition of conscientious objector status to soldiers who believe a specific war is immoral. The "Just War" doctrine offers a stringent test that must be met before a nation embarks on warfare. It recognizes the destructive power of violence and permits a defensive war only when specific criteria are met. Recent US armed conflicts have not met the just war criteria. This proposal will allow soldiers the option to obtain conscientious objector status when they believe a specific war does not fulfill just war criteria.
On Veterans' Day let us remember the countless number of veterans for peace. Let us examine the wars we are involved in and seek a better way.
"I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield...I ain't gonna study war no more."
Friday, November 5, 2010
The United Church of Christ: Seeking to be a Church of Extravagant Welcome
Here is the newest video about the United Church of Christ. Members of my church, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, are featured at a rally with the church's banner proclaiming that we are a multi-racial, multi-cultural, open and affirming church.
Here is a video about the United Church of Christ. We seek to be a church of extravagant welcome. My parish, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, is seen in worship as the video opens. Later members of my church can be seen at a peace rally carrying our church's banner.
Uniquely UCC from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.
Here is a video about the United Church of Christ. We seek to be a church of extravagant welcome. My parish, Ainsworth United Church of Christ, is seen in worship as the video opens. Later members of my church can be seen at a peace rally carrying our church's banner.
UCC Values from United Church of Christ on Vimeo.
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