The Lectionary Passages for Sunday, February 17, 2021 (Ash Wednesday)

Below are NRSV translations of the lessons from the Old Testament (Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 or Isaiah 58:1-12), the Psalms (Psalm 51:1-17), the Letters (2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10) and the Gospels (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21). Please make any comments concerning the passages you want. Together, let's discuss the Word of God.

Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, it is near— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness spread upon the mountains a great and powerful army comes; their like has never been from of old, nor will be again after them in ages to come.

Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the children, even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep. Let them say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a mockery, a byword among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Isaiah 58:1-12

Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God.

“Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice?” Look, you serve your own interest on your fast day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?

Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.

Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me.

You desire truth in the inward being; therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your holy spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you.

Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your deliverance.

O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

For you have no delight in sacrifice; if I were to give a burnt offering, you would not be pleased.

The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

2 Corinthians 5:20b - 6:10

...we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says, “At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.” See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

A Thought from the Word

A brief thought based on Matthew 1:20-21 - “While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, 'Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.'”

Keep it Light | Parable of the Bridesmaids | Sermon Play

BIXBY, Oklahoma — An Oklahoma husband-and-wife pastor team uses a love for theater to share the Good News with the congregation, providing sermons as plays that often feature modern and humorous takes on biblical stories.

The Revs. Elana Keppel Levy and Lucus Levy Keppel recently took their creative gifts to a new level, with the help of a seminary professor and other pastors from across the country. “Keep it Light” is an 18-minute video retelling of the Parable of the 10 Bridesmaids, presented as a Zoom call between a wedding planner and the bridesmaids.

“Is someone singing ‘Time After Time’? Or am I 2,000 years too early?” asks one participant as the planning begins.

While keeping it light and humorous throughout, the production wrestles with serious biblical questions such as:

• Who is wise?
• Who is foolish?
• What do you do with all that time waiting for the bridegroom to arrive?

“We have to make the stories our own,” Elana Keppel Levy says.

The Revs. Elana Keppel Levy and Lucus Levy Keppel met as students at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where they were involved with a theater group. (Contributed photo)

Spoiler Alert: At the end, all are met with the grace and love of Jesus Christ, as the bridegroom assures those who were ultimately shut out of the wedding that they can repent and try again: “When you live in love, you abide in me and I in you. I am with you even to the end of the age – so keep awake, trust and believe.”

Since 2016, the co-pastors have served together at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Bixby, Oklahoma. They met at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where they were involved in a theater group.

When Pastor Elana put out the casting call for “Keep it Light,” former classmates like the Rev. Susan Carter Wiggins were eager to sign up.

The bridesmaids in the parable are depicted in the play as virtues and vices, such as wrath, envy, kindness and diligence. Draped in pearls and other jewelry, Wiggins played the role of Greed.

“For me, and I’m sure it’s everybody, we all need some kind of diversion. This makes us smile,” said Wiggins, associate pastor for congregational care at Germantown Presbyterian Church in Tennessee. “Pastoring is hard anyway, but in the midst of the pandemic it’s really hard. With Elana and Lucus, knowing them, you knew they were going to create something good.”

After Pastor Elana wrote and distributed the script, each cast member sent in various takes and retakes. Pastor Lucus, the producer, spent three days and long nights putting all the pieces together to create the video. The cast even had a premiere night watch party to see the final version of its work.

Cast members sent in takes and retakes. It took Pastor Lucus three days and three nights to edit the 18-minute “Keep it Light.” (Contributed photo)

Pastor Elana said one of the most gratifying comments she received after showing the video at the church in Bixby was that the play helped a parishioner think about sin and righteousness in a new way.

The laughter brings added value to a message.

“That’s the thing about comedy,” she said. “Only the jester could tell the truth to the king.”

Added Pastor Lucus: “It harkens back to the origins of medieval theater and the way people learned. It was amazing how much theater made a difference in what you learned as you moved forward.”

The video and the entire script are available on Pastor Elana’s Web site, www.somuchbible.com, which offers numerous resources for preachers and worship leaders.

This story first appeared on the Synod of the Sun website.

The Rev. Matt Curry is in search of Good News from ministries throughout the Synod of the Sun that are making connections with their congregations and communities. Do you have an idea to share? Send him an email at cpcwaxpastor@gmail.com.

Advent & Christmas Devotional 2020 - Monday, Nov. 30

Our ‘inner authority’

One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?” He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me: Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” They discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ all the people will stone us; for they are convinced that John was a prophet.” So they answered that they did not know where it came from. Then Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” — Luke 20:1–8

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength. — Isaiah 30:15

I began lighting candles year-round — not just during Advent and Christmas — when I moved into my 18th-century home. It didn’t seem appropriate to me to fill the primitive rooms — complete with small windows and low ceilings — with LED lights. While trying to stay true to the house’s history, there was another reason I began living more by candlelight. I noticed a calming peace washed over me whenever I lit a candle, especially when I was faced with a pressing writing deadline or grappling with a church conflict. The candle gave me permission to be still. It invited me to stop filling my world with words for answers or rebuttals and to listen to God’s whispers.

Those who have studied Howard Thurman’s writings describe him as having a “quiet faith,” and they have noted that throughout his life he sought a deep commitment to silence. It was in this silence that Thurman discovered what he called the “inner authority” — that place in our hearts where we find the strength and purpose to live the lives we are called to live and, by doing so, possibly be able to make a difference in the world.

The priests and scribes were always asking Jesus who gave him the authority to turn the world upside down and to challenge the status quo. We know Jesus’ authority came from above, but what we tend to forget is that Jesus spent quiet time alone with God to renew his strength and to gain clarity.

These days, we are so quick to react with rebuttals and rhetoric. What would happen if we quieted down long enough to tap into that “inner authority” Thurman speaks of? How would God speak to us? What would we be led to do? The prophet Isaiah reminds us that “in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” This Advent, may we find our strength. May we find our inner authority.

Pray

God of great guidance, quiet my heart today so that I can be fully present to you and tap into an “inner authority” which will renew my strength to better serve and glorify you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Go deeper

Turn off your email notifications, cell phones and TVs, and give yourself at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted quiet time to reflect on Thurman’s idea of the power of “inner authority.”

Sunday's Message - The Best We Can with What We’ve Got

Here's the message I offered during the celebration services in First Presbyterian Church, Brilliant, Ohio on Sunday, November 15, 2020.

Matthew 25:14-30 [Contemporary English Version]

The kingdom is also like what happened when a man went away and put his three servants in charge of all he owned. The man knew what each servant could do. So he handed five thousand coins to the first servant, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Then he left the country.

As soon as the man had gone, the servant with the five thousand coins used them to earn five thousand more. The servant who had two thousand coins did the same with his money and earned two thousand more. But the servant with one thousand coins dug a hole and hid his master’s money in the ground.

Some time later the master of those servants returned. He called them in and asked what they had done with his money. The servant who had been given five thousand coins brought them in with the five thousand that he had earned. He said, “Sir, you gave me five thousand coins, and I have earned five thousand more.”

“Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”

Next, the servant who had been given two thousand coins came in and said, “Sir, you gave me two thousand coins, and I have earned two thousand more.”

“Wonderful!” his master replied. “You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!”

The servant who had been given one thousand coins then came in and said, “Sir, I know that you are hard to get along with. You harvest what you don’t plant and gather crops where you haven’t scattered seed. I was frightened and went out and hid your money in the ground. Here is every single coin!”

The master of the servant told him, “You are lazy and good-for-nothing! You know that I harvest what I don’t plant and gather crops where I haven’t scattered seed. You could have at least put my money in the bank, so that I could have earned interest on it.”

Then the master said, “Now your money will be taken away and given to the servant with ten thousand coins! Everyone who has something will be given more, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken from those who don’t have anything. You are a worthless servant, and you will be thrown out into the dark where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain.”

The Best We Can with What We’ve Got

Over the years, I believe that I’ve tried to do the best I could with what I’ve got. In fact, I’ve sort of used those words to shape my life. And that’s a good thing, because I think it’s kept me both realistic and focused. But I’ll tell you, for me, the best part of that little phrase is that I can use it regardless of what’s happening around me. For example, if I’m successful in doing something and I’m getting a lot of praise, I can say, with sort of a modest smile, “Well, I do the best I can with what I’ve got.” And then I’m free to bask in the adoration without becoming too full of myself. On the other hand, if I find myself in a situation where I’m failing miserably, I can say, with a look that just oozes sadness, “Well, I do the best I can with what I’ve got.” And then I can slink off, with what’s left of my self-worth, fairly confident that no one’s going to be coming after me with pitch forks and hot tar. You see, what I mean? This is one powerful statement.

Of course, I recognize that actually doing it, well, that’s a heck of lot harder than just saying it. As a matter of fact, I think making the very most of what we have is something most folks struggle with. I know I do. In other words, we just don’t always do the best we can with what we’ve got. I mean, think about it. Even though we all have a voice, instead of speaking up, we often shut down. And even though we all have hands, instead of reaching out, we often pull back. And even though we all know there are situations all around us where we might make a difference, instead of stepping in, we often turn away. And as a result, stuff that should happen, doesn’t. And if that’s not bad enough, this lack of action is something we know and feel. And if we’re not careful, that knowledge and those feelings can get in the way of our relationships with one another but more importantly, with God. 

And I’ll tell you, that’s why we’re going to spend a little time talking about how we can make better use of what we have right now. And to that, we’ll use this parable that Jesus taught his disciples to answer three questions: first, what have we’ve got, or better, what have we been given; second, what can we do with it; and third, what do we know going in. And remember, the goal is for us all to understand a little bit better how we can do the best we can with what we’ve got.

But to figure that out, first, we really need to have a good idea about what we actually have, or like I said a minute ago, what we’ve been given. And I think we can get a pretty good idea about what that is by looking at the parable we just read. Remember, according to Jesus, “The kingdom is also like what happened when a man went away and put his three servants in charge of all he owned. The man knew what each servant could do. So he handed five thousand coins to the first servant, two thousand to the second, and one thousand to the third. Then he left the country.” [Matthew 25:14-16, CEV] 

Now that’s what Jesus said, and I think that tells us a lot about our situation. For example, just like we see in the story, God is like the master who gives, and we’re like the servants who receive. And just like it is in the parable, what he gives to each is based on his understanding of us, not our control over him. In other words, what we end up having is based on his will, not our wants. It’s like Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

Together you are the body of Christ. Each one of you is part of his body. First, God chose some people to be apostles and prophets and teachers for the church. But he also chose some to work miracles or heal the sick or help others or be leaders or speak different kinds of languages. Not everyone is an apostle. Not everyone is a prophet. Not everyone is a teacher. Not everyone can work miracles. Not everyone can heal the sick. Not everyone can speak different kinds of languages. Not everyone can tell what these languages mean. [1 Corinthians 12:27-30, CEV]

What each of us receives is going to be different. 

But I’ll tell you, regardless of how much we get, I think it’s really important to remember that what we receive is incredibly valuable and unbelievably precious. Remember, when the boss divided his 8,000 coins three ways, not each servant got the same amount. But given the fact that each coin represented the prevailing wage for a day’s work, even 1,000 coins is a lot of money. It’s like trying to decide whether you’d like to be as rich as Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg or Warren Buffet? I know my answer would be, “yes, please.” Of course, when you’re looking at what we’ve received, it’s not just about money. Like we talked about during the sermon last week, it also involves both our time and our talents. You see, this is what God has given; therefore, this is what we’ve got. And remember, that was our first question. 

And second, what can we do with it? In other words, what can we do with the time and the talents and the money we’ve been given? What can we do with all this stuff we’ve got? Now that’s the question, and again I think we can get a pretty good idea about the answer by looking at the story. I mean, after the man had given his servants their share of the money and after he’d left, those three guys were on their own with a pretty important decision to make, weren’t they? They had to decide what they were going to with their windfall. And according to the story, that’s exactly what they did:

As soon as the man had gone, the servant with the five thousand coins used them to earn five thousand more. The servant who had two thousand coins did the same with his money and earned two thousand more. But the servant with one thousand coins dug a hole and hid his master's money in the ground. [Matthew 25:16-18, CEV]

Now that’s what they did.

And I’ll tell you, as we try to figure out what we’re going to do with the stuff we’ve got, we’ve got a decision to make too. I mean, on one hand, we can make the intentional decision to put our time and our talents and our money to good use. In other words, we can decide to do the very thing Paul challenged the Romans to do:

God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully. [Romans 12:6-8, CEV]

Now this we can do. 

On the other hand, though, we can pretty much throw our gifts in a hole. I mean, either because we’re afraid of failure or just lazy, we can bury what we’ve got in our backyard, can’t we? And we can do it, even though his sort of runs counter what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount:

You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.

You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven. [Matthew 5:13-16, CEV]

And so there it is. We can choose to be salty and bright or to be bland and dim. And since our boss is temporarily out-of-town, the choice about what we’re going to do with what we have, man, that’s really up to us, and that’s also the answer to our second question. 

And so, we know what have we’ve got; and we’ve got a pretty good idea about what can we do with it. And that leaves us with our third question, namely, what do we know going in? In other words, before we take those gifts and talents God has given us and start putting them to use, what are some things we already know? And again, I think this parable gives us a pretty good idea about what some of those things are. I mean, do y’all remember what happened? The boss came home and called in his servants. And while the first two doubled their money, the third guy was afraid of taking a chance and so he buried his coins in the backyard. And when the boss heard from servant number one and servant number two, he said the exact same thing: “Wonderful! ...You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!” [Matthew 25:21 or 23, CEV] But with servant number three, well, it was a little different. 

The master of the servant told him, “You are lazy and good-for-nothing! You know that I harvest what I don’t plant and gather crops where I haven’t scattered seed. You could have at least put my money in the bank, so that I could have earned interest on it.” 

Then the master said, “Now your money will be taken away and given to the servant with ten thousand coins! Everyone who has something will be given more, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken from those who don’t have anything. You are a worthless servant, and you will be thrown out into the dark where people will cry and grit their teeth in pain.” [Matthew 25:26-30, CEV]

Now that’s what happened, and so we, as we consider what we have, like it or not, we know that we’re going to be held accountable for how we use it. I mean, that’s pretty obvious.

But I’ll tell you, I think there are two other things we can know as we move forward that aren’t as obvious. You see, first, we know that the master really wants to reward his servants, because he wants them to make good use of what they have. In other words, I believe God really wants to call us all “good and faithful servants.” That’s one thing we can know going in that the servants didn’t. And second, we know that if we use what we have, man, we’re going to be successful. I mean, no one lost money in the parable. And the two who spoke up and reached out and stepped in, good night, they were incredibly successful, but not the one who shut down, pulled back and turned away. In fact, it reminds me of that old joke about a guy who’s complaining to a friend about how God just doesn’t answer prayers. And he knows this because he’s been praying that he win the lottery for years and nothing’s happened. And when he finishes his rant, his friend says, “Well it would help if you bought a ticket.” Just remember, every parable in which Jesus talked about planting seeds, regardless of what happened along the way, the harvest was certain. And right along with knowing that we’re going to be held accountable by the one who wants to reward us, this we also know going in. 

You know, since it’s served me so well in the past, I’ll probably continue to think in terms of doing the best I can with what I’ve got. And I’ll tell you, based on what Jesus taught in this parable, that might not be a bad idea for all of us. And to make applying it even easiest, we already know, first, what we’ve got, and second, what we can do with it, and third, what we can expect going in. And so, I ask y’all: Starting today, are we going to do best we can with what we’ve got?

The Presbyterian Church of Hopedale Celebration Service - Sunday, November 8, 2020

Here's a copy of the order and the podcast of the worship service I led in the Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio on Sunday, November 8, 2020. Below was our order of worship.

Announcements 

Our Call to Worship: Psalm 70

Leader: Be pleased, O God, to deliver me. O Lord, make haste to help me!

People: Let those be put to shame and confusion who seek my life.

Leader: Let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who desire to hurt me.

People: Let those who say, “Aha, Aha!” turn back because of their shame.

Leader: Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you.

People: Let those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”

Leader: But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God!

People: You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay! 

Congregational Song #286 - Blest Be the Tie That Binds”

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, we confess that we've sinned against you. You’ve equipped us to do the work we’ve been called to do. And you’ve given us many opportunities to share your love, grace and mercy to those around us. And yet, we often hesitate. We’re still when we could be active and silent when we could announce. As a result, we miss the chance to be your people within our community. Merciful Lord, forgive us and help us make good use of the opportunities we now have.

Words of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostle's Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen. 

The Prayers of the People: (followed by The Lord's Prayer)

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Our Gifts to God

Doxology

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 25:1-13

Sermon: Will Christ Know Us

Congregational Song #250 - “Come, Holy Spirit”

Charge and Blessing 

Postlude

Brilliant United Presbyterian Church Celebration Service - Sunday, November 8, 2020

Here's a copy of the bulletin and the podcast of the worship service I led in Brilliant (Ohio) United Presbyterian Church on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Sunday's Message - Don’t Be Like Prufrock

Here's the message I offered during the celebration services in First Presbyterian Church, Brilliant, Ohio and that Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio, on Sunday, November 8, 2020.

Matthew 25:1-13 [Contemporary English Version]

The kingdom of heaven is like what happened one night when ten girls took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom. Five of the girls were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps, but no extra oil. The ones who were wise took along extra oil for their lamps.

The groom was late arriving, and the girls became drowsy and fell asleep. Then in the middle of the night someone shouted, “Here’s the groom! Come to meet him!”

When the girls got up and started getting their lamps ready, the foolish ones said to the others, “Let us have some of your oil! Our lamps are going out.”

The girls who were wise answered, “There’s not enough oil for all of us! Go and buy some for yourselves.”

While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The girls who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed. Later the other girls returned and shouted, “Sir, sir! Open the door for us!”

But the groom replied, “I don’t even know you!”

So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.

Don’t Be Like Prufrock

Now, y’all may not know this about me, but I’ve always enjoyed poetry. Of course, to be completely honest, there’s a difference between “enjoy” and “love.” And the reason I can’t say I love it is, well, often I don’t understand the poems themselves. But give me something by Edgar Allen Poe or Edwin Arlington Robinson or my gosh, Robert Frost; I’m telling you, that’s good stuff. I mean, how can you beat Frost’s “Fire and Ice”: 

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

Now you tell me that doesn’t hit the bull’s eye now-a-days.

But you know, as much as I enjoy these other guys, my all-time favorite poet is an Englishman named T.S. Elliot. Now, to me, his stuff is great. As a matter of fact, if you’ve ever heard of the musical Cats, most of the lyrics are right from a collection of poems he wrote for a cat-loving friend. And whenever I read the “Journey of the Magi,” I’ve got to tell you, it gives me chills. But of everything he wrote, the poem that means the most to me personally is the very first one he published, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” And I’ll tell you, maybe the reason it’s meant so much to me is that I can sort of identify with it, and that fact really scares me.

Now if you don’t already know, the poem is about a man, J. Alfred Prufrock, who lives his life assuming there’ll always be time to do the things he knows he should be doing. For example, he says: 

There will be time, there will be time

To prepare a face to meet the faces that you meet;

There will be time to murder and create,

And time for all the works and days of hands

That lift and drop a question on your plate;

Time for you and time for me,

And time yet for a hundred indecisions,

And for a hundred visions and revisions,

Before the taking of a toast and tea.

You see, for him, there’ll always be time.  And because that’s what he believes, J. Alfred Prufrock does nothing, and that’s reflected in how he sees his life. In fact, at one point, he states, “I have measured out my life with coffee spoons,” and at another, he says, 

I should have been a pair of ragged claws 

Scuttling across the floors of silent seas.

You see, he believes that there’s nothing that must be done today that can’t be put off until tomorrow, and since tomorrow never really comes; you get the idea.

And like I said, I can kind of identify with that attitude, and frankly, sometimes that really scares me. But let’s get real, I don’t think I’m all that unique. I mean, don’t a lot of folks, don’t a lot of us sort of make that same assumption? And not only do we do it in our everyday lives, I think it’s also true in the way we approach how we live as Christians. I mean, I believe we all know what we’re suppose to do, right? Christ said we should love God and love our neighbors. And how can we show love to our neighbors? Well, we can do that by feeding the hungry and providing something to drink for thirsty. We can welcome the stranger and clothe the naked. And we can care for folks who are sick and visit people in prison. My gosh, that’s what Jesus will say a little bit later in chapter 25. You see, this is something we already know, right? And so here’s the $64 question: why are we, why am I not doing those things today? Good question. And the answer, man, we’ll have the time to do them tomorrow, right? And we’ll have the ability to do them after the holidays, right? And we’ll have the means to do them when this pandemic breaks, right? Like Prufrock said, “There will be time.” And of course, he’s right, that is until he’s not, until we’re not, until I’m not. I mean, things happen. And situations change. And options disappear. And then, when it comes to living the kind of lives we have the opportunity to live right now, well, we’re about as useful as a crab at the bottom of the ocean. We’ve just plain lost our chance.

And you know, isn’t that the very thing Jesus described in the passage we read this morning, you know, the one about the “...ten girls [who] took their oil lamps and went to a wedding to meet the groom.” Remember Jesus said five of those young ladies were foolish, because they “...took their lamps, but no extra oil.” Of course, I don’t know about y’all, but I can understand why they did that. Man, they made the same kind of assumptions we make about our time and our abilities and our means, didn’t they? I mean, they must have assumed that the bride groom would come on time, right? And they must have assumed that they had plenty of oil, right? And they must have assumed that they’d have an even better time at the party without worrying about all that extra oil they’d brought, right? Now that’s what I think they probably assumed. And everything would have been frozen peaches and cream, if those assumptions had been true. There was just one problem; they weren’t. The bride groom was late. And those five girls ran out of oil for their lamps. And as they were scrambling around trying to get more, they were locked out of the party. Sorry about your luck. Of course, this had nothing to do with luck.

And that was shown by the other five girls Jesus mentioned in the same story. You see, instead of assuming that everything would just work out the way they expected, these young ladies made a pretty important decision and took some pretty definite action. I mean, think about it, they decided that they weren’t going to assume that the groom would be on schedule; therefore, they already had all oil they needed; therefore, they were going to enter the party with their lamps lit. In other words, they decided not to view their oil like we often view our time and our abilities and our means. Instead, they simply brought more oil then they thought they needed. And so, when the groom was delayed, they were prepared. And when he finally came, they were ready to wake up, grab their lamps and start to party down. And isn’t that exactly what happened? Jesus said, “While the foolish girls were on their way to get some oil, the groom arrived. The girls who were ready went into the wedding, and the doors were closed.” [Matthew 25:10, CEV]

And I’ll tell you, I think even Jesus knew that the story applies to us, because at the very end, he said, “So, my disciples, always be ready! You don’t know the day or the time when all this will happen.” [Matthew 25:13, CEV] You see, there’s really no reason why we should be like any one of those five foolish girls. Instead, as it relates to what God has called us to do, we can reject some of those assumptions we just love to make. For example, we can reject the assumption that we’ll always have time, because let’s face it, we don’t. Just yesterday, I heard about a friend of mine over in Weirton, not much older than me, who died of COVID-related causes. Whether it’s because Jesus comes down here or we’re called up there, our time here on earth is limited, and we’re certainly being foolish if we assume it’s not. And as to our abilities, we’re a pretty mature bunch here this morning. Let me ask you, how many of y’all are in the same physical shape you were in, let’s say, thirty years ago? I’m not. Is your memory as good as it was when you were twenty-five? Mine isn’t. And even though we’ve acquired a whole pile of wisdom along the way, right now, have we done all those things we wanted to accomplish when we were young, looking into the future? I haven’t. Let’s just say our abilities change as time passes. And when you’re talking about means or maybe better, money, personally, I’ve got a daughter in college, a new hot water heater that we had to purchased in the summer, a roof that will be replaced in the next couple of weeks, and my severance package, which includes health insurance, will end at the beginning of February. Happy days. My means are limited, and I believe so are yours. And to assume that all three things are without limit, man, that would be foolish, wouldn’t it? We need to reject the assumptions.

But that’s not all we can do. Once we’ve removed the rose colored glasses, we can start taking action right now, you know, just like those wise girls in the story. For example, at this moment, we’re all above ground, right? Then let’s make use of the time we’ve been given to do something that brings glory to God and shows love to our neighbors. And even though we may not be as strong or as sharp as we were, we can still call someone who might be a little lonely. And we can still offer help to a family that’s grieving a lost. Man, we can still do something as simple as smile when we pass someone on the street. And I’ll tell you, those are some things we can do even when our bank accounts are on the low side. You see, we can use what we have right now. Instead of worrying about what we’ve lost or focusing on what we might get, we can take the time and the talents and the money we have right at this moment and to use them as best we can to make the world around us a better place. And I’ll tell you, if we do, if we claim the opportunities we now have, we’re going to find that the party is better than we may have thought on our best day.

As a matter of fact, I think we’re going to feel a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that, sadly, our friend from the poem never felt. I mean, remember how I started this by talking about “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” and how he lived his life assuming there would always be time. Well, just listen to how the poem ends:

I grow old ... I grow old ...I shall wear the bottoms of my trousers rolled.

Shall I part my hair behind?   

Do I dare to eat a peach?

I shall wear white flannel trousers, 

and walk upon the beach.

I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.

I do not think that they will sing to me.

I have seen them riding seaward on the waves

Combing the white hair of the waves blown back

When the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea

By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown

Till human voices wake us, and we drown.

Brothers and sisters, reject the assumptions. Claim the opportunities. And for heaven’s sake, don’t be like Prufrock.

Sunday's Message - The Community of Saints

Here's the message I offered during the celebration services in Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio, on Sunday, November 1, 2020.

Matthew 5:1-12 [NRSV]

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Community of Saints

Now, I’m guessing that some, if not most of y’all don’t know what November 1 is on the church calendar. You see, in America, this is traditionally the day we swear off candy, at least for a little while, because we spent a fair amount of time last night gorging ourselves on the sweets that either the kids brought home or we didn’t give out. Either way, coming down from that sugar rush is no “piece of cake.” But even though that might be a big deal for us, that’s not why today is important around the church.

You see, November 1st is All Saints’ Day, the one day each year when Christians remember and celebrate all the saints who don’t play in New Orleans. And I’ll tell you, it’s been that way for almost 1,300 years. Of course, in churches that recognize certain really holy people who’ve died and been canonized, well, today is dedicated to all of them. But in churches like us who recognize what’s called “the sainthood of all believers,” we can remember all Christians, both living and dead. And even though it wasn’t planned, personally, I think it’s really cool that we baptized Tucker this morning, because through his baptism, he entered the church, a new family, the community of saints. 

And so, since this is both the focus of the day and what we’ve been doing here this morning, we’re going to spend some time dealing with what this community is really all about. And to do that, we’re going to use the scripture I just read, a passage called The Beatitudes to sort of be a guide. And I think that really works, and I’ll tell you why. In these twelve verses, I believe we can get a pretty good understanding of these three things about the community of saints: first, what we are; second, what we can be; and third, what we can expect. And that’s going to be our approach this morning.

And like I said, I think we can get all that from The Beatitudes, especially when you divide them into three sections, with the first one defining what we are. But before I say anything else, let me be clear; this is not what we want to be nor is it what God wants us to become. No, I think this is all about what we actually are. And I’ll tell you, I think that makes sense when we consider each one of the four verses. 

For example, when Jesus said “blessed are the poor in spirit...,” I think he was talking about folks who have lost their hope. In other words, for whatever, I believe these are people on both sides of the stained glass who know that they really aren’t in control of their lives, much less their world. Of course, they may also be poor economically or emotionally or physically, but their fundamental issue is that they just can’t see any reason to be hopeful as they look at what’s happen around them. Those are the poor in spirit, and I’ll tell you, doesn’t that describe us now-a-days, and I’m talking about both inside and outside the church? My gosh, not only are we in the middle of a pandemic, but it’s getting worse. The economy’s a mess. And we’re coming to the end of the nastiest, most deceit-filled election I’ve seen in my 63 years. Outside of God, do we really have any good reason to hope? Right now, I think most of us are poor in spirit. 

And when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn....,” man, I can identify with that too. You see, these are folks who have lost their joy. Man, they’re starved for some good news, you know, some ray of sunshine, some reason to be happy. But finding that kind of thing, man, it’s tough. And so they mourn. They mourn the loss of people they loved, the loss of health and stability they once enjoyed, maybe even, that old-timy value system and social structure they once valued. For them, greatness was in the past, and even though they may pretend we can get it back, deep down they recognize that no one can turn back the clock. And so they mourn, because that’s really all they can do, and tell me that doesn’t apply to a lot of folks we see every day. 

And as to “blessed are the meek...,” man, I think that fits us too. And even though we might define meekness as being humble and gentle, given the first two Beatitudes, I don’t think Jesus had anything positive in mind when he used that word. You see, in the real world, how are the humble and the gentle often treated? Man, they become the doormats, the guys who are called demeaning names, the one’s whom bullies pick on, right? Frankly, I don’t think most people choose to be meek. Instead they have meekness thrust upon them. And why is that? Because they lack power: power to stand up for what they believe is right and power to confront what they know is wrong and power to shift things from the wrong to the right. Man, I’m just a little guy. And in the face of money and arrogance and just, plain meanness, what can one meek guy do? 

And you know, when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness...,” well, I that we can recognize this in ourselves as well. You see, if they hunger and thirst for righteousness, they must be seeking something that they don’t have. Like I said earlier, few of us are hungry for candy on November 1st. No, I think most of us want to do what’s righteous and right, but that’s not always easy to see. For example, like I said a minute ago, we’ve got an election in three days. Which is the right guy, not the one who’s best for me and mine and not the one who comes closest to my opinions and assumptions and my gosh, certainly not the one who’s the lesser of two evils? But which one most clearly reflects the values of Jesus Christ and which one would most likely follow his example? Which one is the righteous choice? Man, discovering the right path is tough. No wonder we want to find it like a hungry man wants a sandwich or a thirsty woman a bottle of water. 

You see, taken together, I believe these first four Beatitudes describe the kind of people who make up the community of saints, because they’re also the kind of folks who make up the world. Like it or not, we’re men and women, we’re brothers and sisters who feel from time-to-time like we’ve lost our hope and our joy, our power and our direction. That’s what we are. And that’s the first thing we can see in this passage. But that’s not all, and I’ll tell you why.

Second, I believe The Beatitudes also point to what we can be and become, and for me, that’s what we can find in the next four verses. For example, when Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful...,” I don’t think it takes a brain surgeon to figure out that Jesus wants his people, the saints, us, to show some compassion in our daily living, you know, to love one another as we’ve been loved and to make the decision to love our neighbors just like we love ourselves. Jesus wants us to be merciful; I mean, dah. 

And as to what he was thinking when he said “blessed are the pure in heart...” now, for me that has everything to do with being devoted to God. I’m telling you, I think Christ wants his followers to have a clear and concentrated focus, in others words, to be willing to deny self and to take up the cross and to follow him and to do that even though the world tells us that you have to look after number one and that carrying a cross is for suckers and losers and that really following the teachings and claiming the values of Christ is probably going to leave you at the end of the line, which, by-the-way, even Jesus knew would happen and that’s why he said, “the first will be last and the last will be first.” And yet, pure of hear is what we’ve been called to be. 

Just like we’re expected to be work for peace. I mean, when he said, “blessed are the peacemakers...,” man, that was meant for us. You see, along with showing compassion to others and devotion for God, we’re also called to work for unity and reconciliation and healing within our broken planet. And if you think this kind of thing isn’t necessary within our world and country, within our communities and churches, even within our families and friendships, you must have been living under a rock for the last few years. Man, we’re suppose to be peacemakers. 

And I’ll tell you, Jesus’s last statement in this group of four, “blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake...,” I’m telling you, that’s crucial. I mean, we can decide to be merciful and pure in heart, and we can try to be peacemakers until the cows come home; this is the kind of righteous action that folks may hunger to know. But if we have some kind Polly Anna assumption that doing it is going to be easy, that people are going to praise and appreciate our dedication and devotion, well, I think it may be time to take off the rose colored glasses so that we can be ready to face the adversity and opposition that we’re going to face. I mean, the folks hated Jesus so much they nailed him to a cross. Why should we assume that they’re going to treat us any better? You see, I think Jesus has called us to become people who show compassion to others and devotion for God, and who are peacemakers and prepared to face adversity. And that’s exactly what we can be, the second thing I think The Beatitudes show us about the community of saints.

And third, right along with showing us what we are and what we can be, this passage seems crystal clear about what we can expect. I mean, that’s certainly true about what we can expect from the world around us. And I think to make sure we understood that, Jesus changed from third to second person in the last two verses. Do you want to know how the world is going to receive us? Just listen:

Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. [Matthew 5:11-12, NRSV]

I’ll tell you, if we expect anything else, we’re probably deceiving ourselves. And I’ll tell you something else, if we receive anything other than what Jesus talked about right here, in other words, if the world just loves what we’re  sharing and if it agrees with our message and if it praises us for what we’re doing, we’ve probably watered down the gospel so much that it’s no longer what the author of the Letter to the Hebrews described when he wrote, “Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” [Hebrews 4:12, NRSV] Let’s just say the world will probably hate us just as much as it hated the one we follow. That we can expect. 

But that’s really less than half the story, because the last time I looked God is still in charge and his will is going to be done on earth as it is in heaven. And what is the basis for his will? Man, that’s simple; it’s love, and that love should also shape our expectations. For example, in spite of what we are, God still loves us. And for that reason, 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” [Matthew 5:3-6, NRSV]

And when we become what we can be, then...

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3-6, NRSV]

In other words, even though the world may revile us and persecute us and utter all kinds of evil against us falsely on account of Jesus Christ, we can expect to be blessed by God. And that’s the third thing we can learn from this passage.

And so, on this Sunday when we focus on both the saints and the baptism, I think we can leave this service with a pretty good idea about this body called the church. You see, I think The Beatitudes remind tell us of what we are; that we’re a group of people who can understand what it’s like to lose hope and joy, power and direction. But it also points to what we can be, a body that exists to show compassion and to demonstrate devotion and to seek unity and to face opposition. And finally, in these words of Jesus, we can know what we can expect: persecution from the world but blessings from God. You see, this is exactly what the community of saints is all about.

The Presbyterian Church of Hopedale Celebration Service - Sunday, October 11, 2020

Here's a copy of the order and the podcast of the worship service I led in the Presbyterian Church of Hopedale, Ohio on Sunday, October 11, 2020. Below was our order of worship.

Announcements 

Junior Sermon

Our Call to Worship: Psalm 23

Leader: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

People: He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

Leader: He leads me in the right paths for his name's sake.

People: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.

Leader: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

People: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Congregational Song: “Solid Rock”

Prayer of Confession

Gracious God, we confess that we've sinned against you.  We know you’ve called us to share your goodness and your grace with others, and yet we resist. Instead of doing those simple things that communicate love, we consider the costs and we make excuses. Merciful Lord, forgive us and challenge us to get up and to become involved in your witness.

Words of Forgiveness

Gloria Patri

Affirmation of Faith: The Apostle's Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.  Amen. 

The Prayers of the People: (followed by The Lord's Prayer)

Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Our Gifts to God

Doxology

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14

Sermon: In the Narrative

Congregational Song: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”

Charge and Blessing 

Postlude