"Absalom, Absalom"
The sermon will be based on the book by William Faulkner. The way in which we explore the Faulkner book is the use of Faulkner's method. He explores the life of a man named Thomas Stutpen and his family. The method is the presentation of the story in a non-chronological manner. We are never sure of the time or place as Faulkner writes but the story peels off the various layers of the story so that by the end of the book we have a significant glimpse of the family and the primary figure in the book.
There is a complexity in every life that defies the telling of the story in a simple manner. That is true of each of us. That is true of the characters in the Bible.
What we are to ourselves as we see ourselves to be may be very different as we are to others and what they see in us.
Who we are as we relate to our friends and family will not be exactly the same as how we related to business associates or school classmates or the people at the church. We are complex people and there is a sum total that is the measure of us. Sometime we are aware of it and sometimes we are not.
In the next few "build a sermon" inputs I will share more about where this book is taking us and how we can apply it to our faith.
For now I ask you to consider what we might find if we peel away the layers of your life? How are you to others? How are you as you see yourself in comparison to it? Is there a difference? Are they the same?
If you have thoughts about this 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
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
"The Flat Earth Society"
Thomas Friedman's view that the world is flat; that we have much in common and can learn to celebrate that.
Pentecost was a time when people from different cultures and countries spoke in their own language but everybody understood each other.
Pentecost brings to us the idea of the power of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church.
We think about when Pentecost happens;
Three aspects of Pentecost
1. When people, in the worst of times, gather to be thankful.
2. When people, in the midst of change, believe that the mighty wind blowing will take us to a better time.
3. When people who are different are together in a common mission and understand each other, in spite of the differences.
Gratitude
Optimism
Diversity
Pentecost
The Holy Spirit
Tongues of Fire
The rush of a mighty wind
Have you experienced such an event? What brought it on and what difference did it make?
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
Thomas Friedman's view that the world is flat; that we have much in common and can learn to celebrate that.
Pentecost was a time when people from different cultures and countries spoke in their own language but everybody understood each other.
Pentecost brings to us the idea of the power of the Holy Spirit and the birthday of the church.
We think about when Pentecost happens;
Three aspects of Pentecost
1. When people, in the worst of times, gather to be thankful.
2. When people, in the midst of change, believe that the mighty wind blowing will take us to a better time.
3. When people who are different are together in a common mission and understand each other, in spite of the differences.
Gratitude
Optimism
Diversity
Pentecost
The Holy Spirit
Tongues of Fire
The rush of a mighty wind
Have you experienced such an event? What brought it on and what difference did it make?
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
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"The Flat Earth Society"
Thomas Friedman in his book "The World is Flat" has this observation:
"The two greatest dangers we Americans face are an excess of protectionism--excessive fears of another 9/11 that prompt us to wall ourselves in, in search of personal security--and excessive fears of competing in a world of 11/9 that prompt us to wall ourselves off, in search of economic security. Both would be a disaster for us and for the world."
On Pentecost Sunday, which is next Sunday; May 31st, the disciples met to celebrate a harvest festival and they were impacted by the Holy Spirit. People spoke in different languages but everyone understood. It was a time like our time without the clarity of understanding. Is it possible for people to speak in their own language and for understanding to happen?
That is what a present day Pentecost could and should become. Can the Christian faith enter into conversation with people of other faith traditions? Is it possible for clarity amid the confusion? Do we not have an important role and seeing to it that it happens?
This sermon will have us look toward the future and to isolate the unique responsibility the Christian Church and the United Methodist Church has today. We will think about the world as it is and as we would like it to be. We will consider what we can do, here in Fort Collins, and how the dialogue that begins here will have consequence beyond us.
What do you think the role of the church should be today with regard to interfaith dialogue? If you have thoughts on this subject 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
Thomas Friedman in his book "The World is Flat" has this observation:
"The two greatest dangers we Americans face are an excess of protectionism--excessive fears of another 9/11 that prompt us to wall ourselves in, in search of personal security--and excessive fears of competing in a world of 11/9 that prompt us to wall ourselves off, in search of economic security. Both would be a disaster for us and for the world."
On Pentecost Sunday, which is next Sunday; May 31st, the disciples met to celebrate a harvest festival and they were impacted by the Holy Spirit. People spoke in different languages but everyone understood. It was a time like our time without the clarity of understanding. Is it possible for people to speak in their own language and for understanding to happen?
That is what a present day Pentecost could and should become. Can the Christian faith enter into conversation with people of other faith traditions? Is it possible for clarity amid the confusion? Do we not have an important role and seeing to it that it happens?
This sermon will have us look toward the future and to isolate the unique responsibility the Christian Church and the United Methodist Church has today. We will think about the world as it is and as we would like it to be. We will consider what we can do, here in Fort Collins, and how the dialogue that begins here will have consequence beyond us.
What do you think the role of the church should be today with regard to interfaith dialogue? If you have thoughts on this subject 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
Friday, May 22, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
"It's All Right To Be Left"
On this Memorial Weekend out thoughts turn to those who have served our country through military service and to the friends and loved ones who have died. What we all have in common is we are survivors. Three thoughts occur to me related to that. These ideas are driven by the 24Th Chapter of the gospel of Luke and the final conversation the disciples had with the Risen Christ:
1. He opened their minds; we have revelations concerning life and death. We realize it is hard to love after loss but important to do so.
2. He led them out; we have resolutions that come to us as we think of ways to honor those who have died. We resolve to keep their spirits alive by what we do with our lives.
3. He built them up by blessing them; we have renaissance and rebirth when we realize that the best way to honor those who have gone before us is to live our dream to the fullest.
Sunday will be all about revelation, resolution, and renaissance.
We reflect
We resolve
We are reborn
We become fully ourselves and give to others our greatest tribute as, inspired by their memory, we learn to reach the potential God gave us.
What are your thoughts? How best can we honor those who have gone before us? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read you ideas click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
On this Memorial Weekend out thoughts turn to those who have served our country through military service and to the friends and loved ones who have died. What we all have in common is we are survivors. Three thoughts occur to me related to that. These ideas are driven by the 24Th Chapter of the gospel of Luke and the final conversation the disciples had with the Risen Christ:
1. He opened their minds; we have revelations concerning life and death. We realize it is hard to love after loss but important to do so.
2. He led them out; we have resolutions that come to us as we think of ways to honor those who have died. We resolve to keep their spirits alive by what we do with our lives.
3. He built them up by blessing them; we have renaissance and rebirth when we realize that the best way to honor those who have gone before us is to live our dream to the fullest.
Sunday will be all about revelation, resolution, and renaissance.
We reflect
We resolve
We are reborn
We become fully ourselves and give to others our greatest tribute as, inspired by their memory, we learn to reach the potential God gave us.
What are your thoughts? How best can we honor those who have gone before us? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read you ideas click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
"It's All Right To Be Left"
The concept I am struggling with is the idea that it is more difficult for survivors than it is for those who have gone before us. The writer who has put this idea into my mind is Forester Church and in his book Love and Death.
This is what he has written:
"Few of us are unafraid of death. Death is the ultimate mystery. But there is a way to counter this fear. It lies in our courage to love. Our courage to risk. Our courage to lose. Many people have said it in many different ways. The opposite of love is not hate. It is fear.
There are so many instances in our daily lives when our fears stand in the way of our potential to love. How many ways we find to armor and protect ourselves. We sense the risk, of course. That is the main reason we act in the ways we do. Every time we open ourselves up, every time we share ourselves with another, every time we commit ourselves to a cause or to a task that awaits our doing, we risk so very much. We risk disappointment. We risk failure. We risk being rebuffed or being embarrassed or being inadequate. And beyond these things, we risk the enormous pain of loss.
For instance, however much we try we cannot fully protect our loved ones from fatal illness or accidental death. However much we love them, we cannot insulate them from failure and disappointment. However much we would wish to, there are times when we are powerless to heal or save.
We pay for love with pain, but love is worth the cost."
Forester Church is reflective about these matters because he has learned he does not have long to live. He is thinking about his loved ones and the legacy of his life.
Is it harder to love than to die?
Some think so.
What do you think?
If you have thoughts on this subject 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
The concept I am struggling with is the idea that it is more difficult for survivors than it is for those who have gone before us. The writer who has put this idea into my mind is Forester Church and in his book Love and Death.
This is what he has written:
"Few of us are unafraid of death. Death is the ultimate mystery. But there is a way to counter this fear. It lies in our courage to love. Our courage to risk. Our courage to lose. Many people have said it in many different ways. The opposite of love is not hate. It is fear.
There are so many instances in our daily lives when our fears stand in the way of our potential to love. How many ways we find to armor and protect ourselves. We sense the risk, of course. That is the main reason we act in the ways we do. Every time we open ourselves up, every time we share ourselves with another, every time we commit ourselves to a cause or to a task that awaits our doing, we risk so very much. We risk disappointment. We risk failure. We risk being rebuffed or being embarrassed or being inadequate. And beyond these things, we risk the enormous pain of loss.
For instance, however much we try we cannot fully protect our loved ones from fatal illness or accidental death. However much we love them, we cannot insulate them from failure and disappointment. However much we would wish to, there are times when we are powerless to heal or save.
We pay for love with pain, but love is worth the cost."
Forester Church is reflective about these matters because he has learned he does not have long to live. He is thinking about his loved ones and the legacy of his life.
Is it harder to love than to die?
Some think so.
What do you think?
If you have thoughts on this subject 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
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"The Most Frightening Thing on Earth"
Sermon for Sunday, May 24Th.
Forester Church is dying. He has a terminal illness. He is a preacher and an author. He is the son of Frank Church, a famous congressman. Forester Church is dying.
He has written a book about what he is experiencing now. He is convinced the thing he most fears in the world is not death. What is more frightening than death is love. Love means we attach ourselves to others knowing we may lose them. To love is the most frightening thing in the world.
His book is full of wisdom. (The title of his book is "Love and Death").
He writes:
"Religion is our human response to the dual reality of being alive and having to die.
We are the religious animal; knowing that we must die, we cannot help but question what life means.
We are more alike in our ignorance than we differ in our knowledge.
God is not God's name. God is our name for that which is greater than all and yet present in each.
Whether or not there is life after death, surely there is love after death.
The one thing that can never be taken from us, even by death, is the love we give away before we die.
The purpose of life is to live in such a way that our lives will prove worth dying for."
I think these are profound ideas. What do you think? What strikes you about death/life/love?
If you have insights write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Sermon for Sunday, May 24Th.
Forester Church is dying. He has a terminal illness. He is a preacher and an author. He is the son of Frank Church, a famous congressman. Forester Church is dying.
He has written a book about what he is experiencing now. He is convinced the thing he most fears in the world is not death. What is more frightening than death is love. Love means we attach ourselves to others knowing we may lose them. To love is the most frightening thing in the world.
His book is full of wisdom. (The title of his book is "Love and Death").
He writes:
"Religion is our human response to the dual reality of being alive and having to die.
We are the religious animal; knowing that we must die, we cannot help but question what life means.
We are more alike in our ignorance than we differ in our knowledge.
God is not God's name. God is our name for that which is greater than all and yet present in each.
Whether or not there is life after death, surely there is love after death.
The one thing that can never be taken from us, even by death, is the love we give away before we die.
The purpose of life is to live in such a way that our lives will prove worth dying for."
I think these are profound ideas. What do you think? What strikes you about death/life/love?
If you have insights write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday thoughts
Bishop Richard Wilke is preaching Sunday. Bishop Wilke is one of the authors of the Disciple Bible Study. He is one of the most influential Bishops in the United Methodist Church and he will dedicate the church members who have been through the Disciple Bible study this past year.
His sermon "A Famine in the Land" focuses on the importance of integrity and the ways we miss it.
This is one of Bishop Wilke's favorite stories from his childhood:
"When I was a teenager, I worked summers raising alfalfa hay. We had no cattle, so I would sell the hay to farmers and ranchers. One day a Mennonite farmer bought my hay, shook hands with me, and agreed on a price: $20 a ton in the field. Then he added, 'My dog will be in the cab.' I was only sixteen, so I told my dad about the transaction. He nodded in agreement with the price, smiled at the handshake, but then grew very serious when I mentioned the dog. 'What did he mean,' I asked, 'the dog will be in the cab?' Bad carefully explained that the driver would weigh his truck, empty, and then would weigh it again, loaded with hay. The elevator operator would note on the weight ticket whether the driver was in or out of the truck. But the dog? If the dog were weighed in the empty truck but jumped out of the loaded truck, I would be cheated.
Now I was only 16, but I started figuring: $20 a ton, a penny a pound. If the dog weighed 27 pounds, I would lose 27 cents. I smiled, but Dad was thoughtful. 'He wanted you to know that his handshake meant absolute integrity.'"
We are in for a treat listening to Bishop Wilke. What examples do you have of absolute integrity? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing for others to read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
His sermon "A Famine in the Land" focuses on the importance of integrity and the ways we miss it.
This is one of Bishop Wilke's favorite stories from his childhood:
"When I was a teenager, I worked summers raising alfalfa hay. We had no cattle, so I would sell the hay to farmers and ranchers. One day a Mennonite farmer bought my hay, shook hands with me, and agreed on a price: $20 a ton in the field. Then he added, 'My dog will be in the cab.' I was only sixteen, so I told my dad about the transaction. He nodded in agreement with the price, smiled at the handshake, but then grew very serious when I mentioned the dog. 'What did he mean,' I asked, 'the dog will be in the cab?' Bad carefully explained that the driver would weigh his truck, empty, and then would weigh it again, loaded with hay. The elevator operator would note on the weight ticket whether the driver was in or out of the truck. But the dog? If the dog were weighed in the empty truck but jumped out of the loaded truck, I would be cheated.
Now I was only 16, but I started figuring: $20 a ton, a penny a pound. If the dog weighed 27 pounds, I would lose 27 cents. I smiled, but Dad was thoughtful. 'He wanted you to know that his handshake meant absolute integrity.'"
We are in for a treat listening to Bishop Wilke. What examples do you have of absolute integrity? Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing for others to read your response click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, May 8, 2009
Friday's thoughts
"Momma Mia"
There are stages we go through with our mothers. The sermon will look at those stages. This is what I'm thinking as I reflect upon the stages Jesus went through with his mother.
1. Momma, look at me!
Jesus in the temple at age 12. His mother said to him, "Didn't you know how worried your father and I would be?" And he said to her, "Momma, look at me. I am about God's business."
2. Momma, let me be!
Jesus and his mother at the wedding at Cana. The wine ran out and Jesus' mother, Mary, told him what he ought to be doing about it. He said to her, "What has this to do with you?"
3. Momma, let me see!
Jesus on the cross saying to John, "Behold, my mother!" There came a time when he looked at her and there was a level of mutuality they had never had before.
We go through stages with our parents. It moves from needing their support, feeling their interference, to having an, almost, peer relationship.
If our mothers are still living it is good to think about this and develop it. If our mothers have died we look back and remember with a sense of pride and wonder.
How is it with you and your mother?
How was it?
How will it be?
If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
There are stages we go through with our mothers. The sermon will look at those stages. This is what I'm thinking as I reflect upon the stages Jesus went through with his mother.
1. Momma, look at me!
Jesus in the temple at age 12. His mother said to him, "Didn't you know how worried your father and I would be?" And he said to her, "Momma, look at me. I am about God's business."
2. Momma, let me be!
Jesus and his mother at the wedding at Cana. The wine ran out and Jesus' mother, Mary, told him what he ought to be doing about it. He said to her, "What has this to do with you?"
3. Momma, let me see!
Jesus on the cross saying to John, "Behold, my mother!" There came a time when he looked at her and there was a level of mutuality they had never had before.
We go through stages with our parents. It moves from needing their support, feeling their interference, to having an, almost, peer relationship.
If our mothers are still living it is good to think about this and develop it. If our mothers have died we look back and remember with a sense of pride and wonder.
How is it with you and your mother?
How was it?
How will it be?
If you have thoughts write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the congregation click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
"Who is My Mother?"
If we look through picture albums we will discover snap shots of our childhood, young adulthood, advanced adulthood. We will be able to look at the way things were and the way things are and we will realize something about who we are and who our mother was to us.
For some of us our mother was a supportive presence. She was there for us. She watched us in our sport's games, our piano recitals, or dramatic portrayals, and our struggle for identity and clarity of self.
For some of us our mother was the impetus that propelled us into action. She goaded us and hassled us and irritated us until we began to realize she was right and we acted as she thought we should or we acted in a manner that was right for us against her wishes.
What about the person she was or is, in and of herself? What pleases her? What troubles her? What did she do when she discovered her limitations? How would she have lived her life if she had lived at a different time and place?
How do we get to know our mothers as human beings?
Who is your mother?
Do you know her?
If you have thoughts on this 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
If we look through picture albums we will discover snap shots of our childhood, young adulthood, advanced adulthood. We will be able to look at the way things were and the way things are and we will realize something about who we are and who our mother was to us.
For some of us our mother was a supportive presence. She was there for us. She watched us in our sport's games, our piano recitals, or dramatic portrayals, and our struggle for identity and clarity of self.
For some of us our mother was the impetus that propelled us into action. She goaded us and hassled us and irritated us until we began to realize she was right and we acted as she thought we should or we acted in a manner that was right for us against her wishes.
What about the person she was or is, in and of herself? What pleases her? What troubles her? What did she do when she discovered her limitations? How would she have lived her life if she had lived at a different time and place?
How do we get to know our mothers as human beings?
Who is your mother?
Do you know her?
If you have thoughts on this 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
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"Mother's Day" May 10th
I am working with several ideas for the Mother's Day sermon. Sue Monk Kidd in her book, "The Secret Life of Bees" develops a fictional story about a young girl whose mother was killed. She struggles with the idea that her mother left her and tries to come to terms with the idea that she is a "motherless child". The book pursues the question, "Who is my mother?" and concludes that one has parental role models. No matter what our mother was able to do for us or failed to do for us; no matter if we know our mothers or if we never knew her; no matter how much we appreciated our mothers or how much we failed to understand her, there are parental role models. When Sue Monk Kidd asks the question, "Who is my mother?" she looks out and sees many people are her mother. There is comfort in that.
I think what I am going to try to do with this theme is to lift up the importance of knowing who our mother is and allowing her to be who she is. Our mother was not perfect; she was not divine and yet the imperfections made her special.
What does our mother want from life? Is she happy with her lot in life or would she have wanted to take a different path? Was motherhood restrictive or liberating? If she had lived at a different time and place would she have chosen a different path? In a world where men dominate does she ever wish she were a man?
I'd love to hear what you know about your mother. What is special about her; odd about her; wonderful about her?
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
I am working with several ideas for the Mother's Day sermon. Sue Monk Kidd in her book, "The Secret Life of Bees" develops a fictional story about a young girl whose mother was killed. She struggles with the idea that her mother left her and tries to come to terms with the idea that she is a "motherless child". The book pursues the question, "Who is my mother?" and concludes that one has parental role models. No matter what our mother was able to do for us or failed to do for us; no matter if we know our mothers or if we never knew her; no matter how much we appreciated our mothers or how much we failed to understand her, there are parental role models. When Sue Monk Kidd asks the question, "Who is my mother?" she looks out and sees many people are her mother. There is comfort in that.
I think what I am going to try to do with this theme is to lift up the importance of knowing who our mother is and allowing her to be who she is. Our mother was not perfect; she was not divine and yet the imperfections made her special.
What does our mother want from life? Is she happy with her lot in life or would she have wanted to take a different path? Was motherhood restrictive or liberating? If she had lived at a different time and place would she have chosen a different path? In a world where men dominate does she ever wish she were a man?
I'd love to hear what you know about your mother. What is special about her; odd about her; wonderful about her?
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
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
