This Sunday I will be addressing two scriptures in a sermon entitled "Hidden Truths on the Rungs of a Ladder". They are: Genesis 28:10-16 and John 18:33-38.
The emphasis will be on TRUTH. Pilot asked the profound question to Jesus: "What is truth?" Jacob discovered the answer to this question in his dream. The ladder that stretched from earth to heaven, according to Genesis, was symbolic of a connection between Jacob and God: "I am with you....I will keep you wherever you go." Jacob needed this reassurance. It was a truth he could believe in.
Ladders have a way of helping us sort out the truths in our lives. We go up the rungs of the ladder, believing we know what is right and true. Ah, but we might miss it. For instance, the bottom rung on the ladder speaks to our experiences about life. The next rung represents the meanings we put on these experiences. In other words, we begin to tell ourselves a story. The next rung is where we draw conclusions. My story must be correct! And, then our hurt or happy feelings follow and we believe we are operating out of a truth, which in reality might be only a partial truth, or no truth at all.
I suspect the most fragile relationships are between two people who believe they know the truth about one another, only to find out later they missed one of the rungs on the ladder. Sunday we will speak to the importance of seeking the truth. We need it like we need food, water or air. Truth, in relationship to one another and in relationship to God, is life-giving. Just ask Jacob!
I look forward to seeing you Sunday.
David
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Earth Day 2009
Sunday at FUMC we will celebrate Earth Day. We will recognize our calling by God to care for the earth and all its creatures, the task designated by God for humankind upon our creation. Dr. Holmes Rolston, from CSU, will lead us in worship as our guest preacher. The scripture readings from Job (28:25-30. 39-41, 39: 1-8), help us to align our thinking as we consider our relationship with the good earth and with her creator. Verses 28 and 29 state: Does the rain have a father? Who fathers the drops of dew? From whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? All of Creation belongs to God, but God entrusts us to care for what God has created.
We instinctively know this. And yet, so often we take a major part in damaging the earth. We make choices that stall or even kill new growth of plants, and, as a result, the new and sustained growth of animals. We drive. We build. We 'create' our own order without taking into account God's created order.
Many have made great strides to reverse or stop the faulty choices we have made. Renewed interest in ecology and long term sustainability are rampant. It has become an expected norm to 'go green.'
As people of faith, we are called to lead the way in the care and consideration of God's creation. We know that God has called us to this task. We know that the creation and humankind exist in tandem with one another, as a gift from God.
What has God called you to be, or do, or explore as a part of your role in caring for the blessed creation? What can we do as a church to continue forward movement in ecological faithfulness?
We would love to hear from you.
You may post here, or send emails to pameverhart@fcfumc.net or jkershaw@fcfumc.net
Peace.
We instinctively know this. And yet, so often we take a major part in damaging the earth. We make choices that stall or even kill new growth of plants, and, as a result, the new and sustained growth of animals. We drive. We build. We 'create' our own order without taking into account God's created order.
Many have made great strides to reverse or stop the faulty choices we have made. Renewed interest in ecology and long term sustainability are rampant. It has become an expected norm to 'go green.'
As people of faith, we are called to lead the way in the care and consideration of God's creation. We know that God has called us to this task. We know that the creation and humankind exist in tandem with one another, as a gift from God.
What has God called you to be, or do, or explore as a part of your role in caring for the blessed creation? What can we do as a church to continue forward movement in ecological faithfulness?
We would love to hear from you.
You may post here, or send emails to pameverhart@fcfumc.net or jkershaw@fcfumc.net
Peace.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Friday's thoughts
Easter Sunday Worship
8am -- sermon (Come and See)
9:30 am -- sermon (Come and See)
11:00 am -- sermon (Come and See)
I am preaching in all four services
Charles Schuster
What Easter does for us and the message of hope Easter gives to us is one of the most powerful and important we hear any time of year.
Our attention is given to the risen Christ and to the "turn around" the disciples demonstrated after Jesus' death upon the cross; after the body was taken to the tomb; and after the disciples realized that death could not hold Jesus and that his spirit continued to live and continued to inspire them to fulfill the gospel in the way they lived their lives. Put simply, if you want proof of the resurrection you don't have to look further than the existence of the church. Had there not been something that turned the disciples around there would be no church that bears the name Christian today.
There are three ways I am suggesting Easter speaks to us.
1. When we have done something that we wish we hadn't; there is hope for us and we need not live with regret.
2. When things have been done to us that we wish wouldn't have happened; there is hope for us and we need not look to retreat.
3. When all has been said and done for us and we face the end of our lives; there is hope for us and we need not languish in resignation.
The most important thing for us to realize about Jesus and resurrection has more to do with us than with Jesus; but because of what happened to Jesus, what we will want to remind ourselves is "there is hope for us."
Is there any more important message than that?
What do you think? If you have ideas on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to let others read and respond to your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
"Come and See"
Much of Easter is to be seen or heard. It is a time in which the senses are alive and driven to explore into areas not known.
We bring in the cross and we put flowers on it. We tune up our voices and our choirs and we experience the beauty a time of year that is spring and new birth. It is the way we celebrate resurrection.
Henri Nouwen wrote, "Resurrection is not just life after death. First of all, it is the life that bursts forth in Jesus' passion, in his waiting. The story of Jesus' suffering reveals that the resurrection is breaking through even in the midst of the passion."
I think Easter is a time when we look at the worst life gives us and we face it down and then the best that life offers comes through.
We imagine the disciples experiencing Jesus' death and their own disappointment in their lack of courage. We imagine how they must of felt when they began to see that their worst fear was overcome by the greatest hope. Jesus, death was followed by his resurrection.
I believe that is central to our faith, but I also think it is a mistake to claim more than we should in trying to understand it. The most important part of the Easter story is hope. The most important message of Easter is the way it speaks to every one of us.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Easter worship
6am in the Parlor sermon "It was Early in the Morning"
8, 9:30, 11:00n in Sanctuary "Come and See"
Much of Easter is to be seen or heard. It is a time in which the senses are alive and driven to explore into areas not known.
We bring in the cross and we put flowers on it. We tune up our voices and our choirs and we experience the beauty a time of year that is spring and new birth. It is the way we celebrate resurrection.
Henri Nouwen wrote, "Resurrection is not just life after death. First of all, it is the life that bursts forth in Jesus' passion, in his waiting. The story of Jesus' suffering reveals that the resurrection is breaking through even in the midst of the passion."
I think Easter is a time when we look at the worst life gives us and we face it down and then the best that life offers comes through.
We imagine the disciples experiencing Jesus' death and their own disappointment in their lack of courage. We imagine how they must of felt when they began to see that their worst fear was overcome by the greatest hope. Jesus, death was followed by his resurrection.
I believe that is central to our faith, but I also think it is a mistake to claim more than we should in trying to understand it. The most important part of the Easter story is hope. The most important message of Easter is the way it speaks to every one of us.
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.
If you are willing to have others read your thought click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Easter worship
6am in the Parlor sermon "It was Early in the Morning"
8, 9:30, 11:00n in Sanctuary "Come and See"
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Monday's thoughts
Easter Sunday
April 12Th
6:00 am Sunrise Service
"It Was Early In the Morning"
The aspect of the Easter story from Mark's Gospel is the prevailing chaos that surrounded the scene. The worst thing that could be imagined happened. It was early in the morning and everybody had run for their lives. Jesus had been crucified. the disciples had gone back home believing they had chosen to follow a failed messiah, and three women went to the tomb to deal with a dead body. What followed in sequence can only be described as chaotic; in fact the women ran in fear. Mark ends the account suggesting that the women did nothing to promote the idea that the tomb was empty and a later writer added the part of the story (often listed as a footnote) that the women did go to speak to the disciples and Jesus did appear to them telling them to "go out into the world and preach the gospel."
The sunrise service sermon will focus on the chaos of Easter and he confusion of life and how we face it and how we turn it around.
We are living in a time of confusion and it's important for us to find hope and to live in that hope until the hope we have in our hearts becomes realized.
Easter Worship 8am, 9:30am, 11am
"Come and See"
John 20:19 begins "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week"
This service will revolve around a more empirical approach to Easter. The terror and chaos of the early encounters have passed. Now it comes to us to find evidence we can see and trust that there message of Easter speaks to us.
I will point so several ways in which the Easter message is as alive today as it was in the "Upper Room" when Jesus appeared to the disciples.
The message of Easter hope is not a once and for all kind of thing. It comes to us and it is real and tangible for us. It is the central message of the Christian faith.
It suggests:
Never give up because you never know what can happen next. Death will not have the last word. Love prevails.
Christ is alive and Christ, the Lord, is risen today.
Easter strikes us on so many different levels.
It is one of the most exciting days of the year.
What do you hope to hear this Easter morning? If you have some thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
April 12Th
6:00 am Sunrise Service
"It Was Early In the Morning"
The aspect of the Easter story from Mark's Gospel is the prevailing chaos that surrounded the scene. The worst thing that could be imagined happened. It was early in the morning and everybody had run for their lives. Jesus had been crucified. the disciples had gone back home believing they had chosen to follow a failed messiah, and three women went to the tomb to deal with a dead body. What followed in sequence can only be described as chaotic; in fact the women ran in fear. Mark ends the account suggesting that the women did nothing to promote the idea that the tomb was empty and a later writer added the part of the story (often listed as a footnote) that the women did go to speak to the disciples and Jesus did appear to them telling them to "go out into the world and preach the gospel."
The sunrise service sermon will focus on the chaos of Easter and he confusion of life and how we face it and how we turn it around.
We are living in a time of confusion and it's important for us to find hope and to live in that hope until the hope we have in our hearts becomes realized.
Easter Worship 8am, 9:30am, 11am
"Come and See"
John 20:19 begins "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week"
This service will revolve around a more empirical approach to Easter. The terror and chaos of the early encounters have passed. Now it comes to us to find evidence we can see and trust that there message of Easter speaks to us.
I will point so several ways in which the Easter message is as alive today as it was in the "Upper Room" when Jesus appeared to the disciples.
The message of Easter hope is not a once and for all kind of thing. It comes to us and it is real and tangible for us. It is the central message of the Christian faith.
It suggests:
Never give up because you never know what can happen next. Death will not have the last word. Love prevails.
Christ is alive and Christ, the Lord, is risen today.
Easter strikes us on so many different levels.
It is one of the most exciting days of the year.
What do you hope to hear this Easter morning? If you have some thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
