"Ann Frank Remembered"
On the Sunday after the fourth of July we want to think about our freedom and we want to be sure we don't take it for granted. Miep Gies is the woman who did Ann Frank and her family from the Nazis shortly after the Frank family escaped to Denmark. Miep is the one who preserved the diary that has become a famous archive of the atrocity of the persecution of the Jews and the rising above that persecution of the spirit of love as found in the words of a child.
In the introduction of the book Miep writes, "In some instances many of the details of events recorded in this book are half-forgotten. I have reconstituted conversations and events as closely as possible to the way I remember them. It is not easy to recall these memories in such detail. Even with the passing of time, it does not get easier.
My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."
How do we see to it that freedom is preserved? How do we protect the freedom we have and work to maintain it?
On the Sunday after the 4Th of July we remember the founding of our nation in spirit of freedom that declared an independence over all attempts to subjugate us to the arbitrary will of a foreign government.
As I work through the week I am going to be thinking about freedom and how to preserve it. I'm going to think about personal freedom and corporate freedom. I'm going to think about how we are free to express ourselves in this country and how we are called upon to allow all people to express that freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and freedom of thought.
Where do you experience a lack of freedom? How should we, in our day, battle to keep the freedom we have? to insure the freedom for others?
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.
In the words of Miep Gies, "My story is a story of very ordinary people during extraordinarily terrible times. Times the like of which I hope with all my heart will never, never come again. It is for all of us ordinary people all over the world to see to it that they do not."
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
This is my last sermon at FUMC; well, at least it is my last sermon as an associate appointed to serve here. I have been thinking about the way each of you have touched my life and have helped to mold me and shape me into the clergywoman I am today.
Those who have challenged me have empowered me to take authority and claim it and stand on it as a minister of God. If we have disagreed, it has made me stronger because I had to listen to you, figure out why I disagreed with you and whether that was valid or not, and then take a stand.
Those who have shared classes and support groups and circle meetings and committee meetings and coffee shop conversations (and so on) with me have helped me to connect to the world around me. Your special touch, in whatever capacity, has enabled me to see connections I never knew before and to connect old ways with new and old people with new. I have learned to pull you all into the same boat and to connect you with other boats sailing on the same sea.
Those who have been with me through all of the good and bad times here have changed me. I am not the same person I was when I arrived two years ago. I am stronger, more determined, and hopefully, I am a better minister than I was in 2007. I owe all of my successes to you and what you have meant to me, and I shoulder any of the failures as my own. I have truly been changed for good because I have been among you for the last two years.
This is a great church. The people here are strong, supportive, courageous, and abundantly generous. Anyone who is fortunate enough to walk with you for part of their faith journey is sure to be truly enriched and enormously blessed. I know I have been.
Peace,
Pam
Those who have challenged me have empowered me to take authority and claim it and stand on it as a minister of God. If we have disagreed, it has made me stronger because I had to listen to you, figure out why I disagreed with you and whether that was valid or not, and then take a stand.
Those who have shared classes and support groups and circle meetings and committee meetings and coffee shop conversations (and so on) with me have helped me to connect to the world around me. Your special touch, in whatever capacity, has enabled me to see connections I never knew before and to connect old ways with new and old people with new. I have learned to pull you all into the same boat and to connect you with other boats sailing on the same sea.
Those who have been with me through all of the good and bad times here have changed me. I am not the same person I was when I arrived two years ago. I am stronger, more determined, and hopefully, I am a better minister than I was in 2007. I owe all of my successes to you and what you have meant to me, and I shoulder any of the failures as my own. I have truly been changed for good because I have been among you for the last two years.
This is a great church. The people here are strong, supportive, courageous, and abundantly generous. Anyone who is fortunate enough to walk with you for part of their faith journey is sure to be truly enriched and enormously blessed. I know I have been.
Peace,
Pam
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Wednesday's Thoughts
The way I see it the interwoven stories in Mark 5 of the woman with the hemorrhage and Jairus' daughter explore three themes related to 'touch' and what it means to 'touch another person.'
1. Touch empowers people. Jairus knows that Jesus has the power to make his daughter live again. But it isn't until Jesus reaches out and grabs her hand that she does indeed live. She has been empowered to live a new life, a resurrected life. We lay hands on each other in ceremonies like ordination as a ritual 'empowering' persons for the work of ministry. What other ways do we touch each other to empower?
2. Touch changes people. The woman with the hemorrhage knows that she can be forever changed if she can touch Jesus' robe. She reaches out and seeks the change, takes a big leap of faith, and grabs the robe. She is forever changed. Is it something Jesus did, or something her reaching to touch Jesus did? We change ourselves and each other when we touch one another's lives.
3. Touch connects people. Jesus has his back to the woman, but he immediately senses the power when she grabs his robe. He senses the connection between them. Touch can connect people in ways we can't necessarily see on the surface, but we can feel deep in our bones. The ways we touch each other leads us to connections far beyond the initial encounter. How do our connections at FUMC reach way beyond our walls?
I'd love to hear from you. Email me at pameverhart@fcfumc.net or click the comments link below. : )
Peace,
Pam
1. Touch empowers people. Jairus knows that Jesus has the power to make his daughter live again. But it isn't until Jesus reaches out and grabs her hand that she does indeed live. She has been empowered to live a new life, a resurrected life. We lay hands on each other in ceremonies like ordination as a ritual 'empowering' persons for the work of ministry. What other ways do we touch each other to empower?
2. Touch changes people. The woman with the hemorrhage knows that she can be forever changed if she can touch Jesus' robe. She reaches out and seeks the change, takes a big leap of faith, and grabs the robe. She is forever changed. Is it something Jesus did, or something her reaching to touch Jesus did? We change ourselves and each other when we touch one another's lives.
3. Touch connects people. Jesus has his back to the woman, but he immediately senses the power when she grabs his robe. He senses the connection between them. Touch can connect people in ways we can't necessarily see on the surface, but we can feel deep in our bones. The ways we touch each other leads us to connections far beyond the initial encounter. How do our connections at FUMC reach way beyond our walls?
I'd love to hear from you. Email me at pameverhart@fcfumc.net or click the comments link below. : )
Peace,
Pam
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday's Thoughts
In the Broadway musical "Wicked," the two main characters, Elphaba and Glinda, share a song ("For Good") in which they tell each other of how they have been changed just because they happened to meet each other in their journey through life. One of the most poignant lines in the song is: I don't know if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you I have been changed for good."
The author of Mark, Chapter 5, tells us the miracle stories of the woman with the hemorrhage coming up to Jesus and touching his cloak and being healed just from the touch. She touches him, reaches out to him, and is forever changed for the better.
Also in this story is Jesus reaching out to touch Jairus' dead daughter, who is, just by Jesus' touch, resurrected. Changed for good.
We all touch each others' lives in different ways and none of us can be quite sure how our encounters with one another change not only ourselves, but also change the world. This sermon will explore the way our lives touch and connect with one another.
I will miss being with you here at FUMC when I move on to St James, Central City, beginning July 1. I am thinking a lot about the countless ways you have all touched me during my two years here as associate pastor. Because I knew you I am changed for good.
If you have comments you would like to share with me on this topic, email me at pameverhart@fcfumc.net or click the link below.
Peace.
Pam
The author of Mark, Chapter 5, tells us the miracle stories of the woman with the hemorrhage coming up to Jesus and touching his cloak and being healed just from the touch. She touches him, reaches out to him, and is forever changed for the better.
Also in this story is Jesus reaching out to touch Jairus' dead daughter, who is, just by Jesus' touch, resurrected. Changed for good.
We all touch each others' lives in different ways and none of us can be quite sure how our encounters with one another change not only ourselves, but also change the world. This sermon will explore the way our lives touch and connect with one another.
I will miss being with you here at FUMC when I move on to St James, Central City, beginning July 1. I am thinking a lot about the countless ways you have all touched me during my two years here as associate pastor. Because I knew you I am changed for good.
If you have comments you would like to share with me on this topic, email me at pameverhart@fcfumc.net or click the link below.
Peace.
Pam
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
"A Word To The Wise is Superfluous"
What can we say to someone who is moving to a new place? What advice can we give them? What help can we provide if the place is the problem and if the people are impossible?
Some places are like that. What can we do if the place is a problem?
Our job is to work toward the transformation of the world. If the place is a problem then we are appointed there; we are put there for a reason. Our job is to transform the place we are put.
What if the people are impossible? What if their behavior is hard to understand? How do we handle their strangeness?
We are sent to places where the people are impossible for a purpose. Our job is to make disciples of Jesus. That doesn't, necessarily, mean converting people to our faith. It isn't about evangelism in the sense of making people become Christian. It goes deeper than that. Our task is to employ the essence of the Christian faith to help the people become disciples of a way of life that understands the God of love, the Grace of God, the good in the world; doing for others; reaching out to those on the periphery.
If we are put into a strange place our job is to transform it. If we are put in the middle of strange people our job is to make disciples of the Gospel of Jesus.
That's what we can tell someone who is moving to a new place and that's what we can remind ourselves to do as we look at the places we have been put.
What do you think? If you have ideas 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
What can we say to someone who is moving to a new place? What advice can we give them? What help can we provide if the place is the problem and if the people are impossible?
Some places are like that. What can we do if the place is a problem?
Our job is to work toward the transformation of the world. If the place is a problem then we are appointed there; we are put there for a reason. Our job is to transform the place we are put.
What if the people are impossible? What if their behavior is hard to understand? How do we handle their strangeness?
We are sent to places where the people are impossible for a purpose. Our job is to make disciples of Jesus. That doesn't, necessarily, mean converting people to our faith. It isn't about evangelism in the sense of making people become Christian. It goes deeper than that. Our task is to employ the essence of the Christian faith to help the people become disciples of a way of life that understands the God of love, the Grace of God, the good in the world; doing for others; reaching out to those on the periphery.
If we are put into a strange place our job is to transform it. If we are put in the middle of strange people our job is to make disciples of the Gospel of Jesus.
That's what we can tell someone who is moving to a new place and that's what we can remind ourselves to do as we look at the places we have been put.
What do you think? If you have ideas 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
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
"A Word to the Wise is Superfluous"
The sermon represents a word I'd like to share with Pam Everhart since this will be the last time I can do that. Next Sunday Joel and Pam and I will be at Annual Conference in Grand Junction, and the 28th Pam is preaching in her final Sunday with us.
What I would like to say to her is the fundamental premise of the Christian faith that we are resident aliens. Our world is a strange place to us. We are in the world but not of the world as people of faith.
Wil Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas have written a book entitled Resident Aliens. They promote the idea that we are living in a world in which we are not altogether at home.
That idea wasn't original with them. They learned the truth of it in their understanding of the gospel.
This is what they wrote;
Here [in the sermon on the Mount] is an invitation to a way that strikes hard against what the world already knows, what the world defines as good behavior, what makes sense to everybody. The Sermon, by its announcement and its demands, makes necessary the formation of a colony, not because disciples are those who have a need to be different, but because the Sermon, if believed and lived, makes us different, shows us the world to be alien, and odd place where what makes sense to everybody else is revealed to be opposed to what God is doing among us. Jesus was not crucified for saying or doing what made sense to everyone. People are crucified for following a way that runs counter to the prevailing direction of the culture…
Do you experience a certain strangeness in the world that you know? Do you find yourself wondering why things are as they are and how to make thing the way they should be?
Do the values of the culture we are in seem at odds with the faith that you embrace as Christians? If so then we are seeing something that we should be seeing. How do we respond to it?
What do we do about it?
The book written by Edith Wharton that is directing my thinking is Ethan Frome. Ethan Frome lived in the town of Starkfield. It is described as a place where there was a "contrast between the vitality of the climate and the deadness of the community." It was a place where it was said, "Most of the smart ones get away."
In the 137th Psalm the words, "How do we sing the Lord's Song in a strange land?"
That is our problem and that is our challenge. We live in a strange land. We are resident aliens. We are in the world but not of it.
What advice do we give Pam as she leaves our church and moves to Central City? It is a strange land. Every place is somewhat strange. How do we sing the Lord's Song?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles (aka Chuck) Schuster
The sermon represents a word I'd like to share with Pam Everhart since this will be the last time I can do that. Next Sunday Joel and Pam and I will be at Annual Conference in Grand Junction, and the 28th Pam is preaching in her final Sunday with us.
What I would like to say to her is the fundamental premise of the Christian faith that we are resident aliens. Our world is a strange place to us. We are in the world but not of the world as people of faith.
Wil Willimon and Stanley Hauerwas have written a book entitled Resident Aliens. They promote the idea that we are living in a world in which we are not altogether at home.
That idea wasn't original with them. They learned the truth of it in their understanding of the gospel.
This is what they wrote;
Here [in the sermon on the Mount] is an invitation to a way that strikes hard against what the world already knows, what the world defines as good behavior, what makes sense to everybody. The Sermon, by its announcement and its demands, makes necessary the formation of a colony, not because disciples are those who have a need to be different, but because the Sermon, if believed and lived, makes us different, shows us the world to be alien, and odd place where what makes sense to everybody else is revealed to be opposed to what God is doing among us. Jesus was not crucified for saying or doing what made sense to everyone. People are crucified for following a way that runs counter to the prevailing direction of the culture…
Do you experience a certain strangeness in the world that you know? Do you find yourself wondering why things are as they are and how to make thing the way they should be?
Do the values of the culture we are in seem at odds with the faith that you embrace as Christians? If so then we are seeing something that we should be seeing. How do we respond to it?
What do we do about it?
The book written by Edith Wharton that is directing my thinking is Ethan Frome. Ethan Frome lived in the town of Starkfield. It is described as a place where there was a "contrast between the vitality of the climate and the deadness of the community." It was a place where it was said, "Most of the smart ones get away."
In the 137th Psalm the words, "How do we sing the Lord's Song in a strange land?"
That is our problem and that is our challenge. We live in a strange land. We are resident aliens. We are in the world but not of it.
What advice do we give Pam as she leaves our church and moves to Central City? It is a strange land. Every place is somewhat strange. How do we sing the Lord's Song?
If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles (aka Chuck) Schuster
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Monday's thoughts
"The Age of Innocence"
This sermon will be based upon the book by Edith Wharton. Edith was born in 1862 to a wealthy New York family. She grew up in a house with a large library so literary interests were a part of her life given the environment from which she came.
She married a man who was much older than she and was not happy in her marriage. She was inspired to write as a result of trying to come to terms with some bad decisions she had made and the various ways she had ruined her life.
The book The Age of Innocence addresses some of the problems of a societal order that has changed and the ways in which class systems clash as people try to come to terms with what they do not like and do not understand.
I equate much of what I found in this book to our present age. We are living in a time of great societal and political upheaval. We are looking at a future that is unknown and there are two groups of people in a struggle with each other. There are people who have benefited from the status quo who are afraid of change. There are people who are hoping for a change in the status quo and are anticipating better times ahead. We are seeing the rising of expectations along with the falling of old systems. People are confused and afraid.
That was the environment about which Edith writes and that is the environment in which we find ourselves these days.
What do you see in the current climate and situation in the world and in your life? Are you hopeful or afraid of the future? Is change coming? Will it be good?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts and respond click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
This sermon will be based upon the book by Edith Wharton. Edith was born in 1862 to a wealthy New York family. She grew up in a house with a large library so literary interests were a part of her life given the environment from which she came.
She married a man who was much older than she and was not happy in her marriage. She was inspired to write as a result of trying to come to terms with some bad decisions she had made and the various ways she had ruined her life.
The book The Age of Innocence addresses some of the problems of a societal order that has changed and the ways in which class systems clash as people try to come to terms with what they do not like and do not understand.
I equate much of what I found in this book to our present age. We are living in a time of great societal and political upheaval. We are looking at a future that is unknown and there are two groups of people in a struggle with each other. There are people who have benefited from the status quo who are afraid of change. There are people who are hoping for a change in the status quo and are anticipating better times ahead. We are seeing the rising of expectations along with the falling of old systems. People are confused and afraid.
That was the environment about which Edith writes and that is the environment in which we find ourselves these days.
What do you see in the current climate and situation in the world and in your life? Are you hopeful or afraid of the future? Is change coming? Will it be good?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts and respond click on the box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
Friday, June 5, 2009
Friday's Thoughts
How important is it to:
1. Make a name for ourselves
2. Establish a reputation that is congruent with our self identity
3. Leave a legacy that will remain beyond our death
How important is it to think about this and attempt to form identity, reputation, and legacy?
We live in the tension between being concerned about those things to the point of being preoccupied, and caring so little about those three things that we fail to live with any intentionality.
If we are preoccupied with identity, reputation, and legacy we will create something that is distorted and indicative of nothing.
If we ignore the importance of identity, reputation, and legacy we are apt to live a life that is random and not thought through.
I think we have to be able to answer the questions:
Who are we and do we like who we are?
How do others see us and is their opinion justified in light of how we see ourselves?
Will we leave something in our life for the people who follow after us that is representative of the best we have to offer?
How do you answer those questions? Is it important to live intentionally? I think it is.
What are your 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
1. Make a name for ourselves
2. Establish a reputation that is congruent with our self identity
3. Leave a legacy that will remain beyond our death
How important is it to think about this and attempt to form identity, reputation, and legacy?
We live in the tension between being concerned about those things to the point of being preoccupied, and caring so little about those three things that we fail to live with any intentionality.
If we are preoccupied with identity, reputation, and legacy we will create something that is distorted and indicative of nothing.
If we ignore the importance of identity, reputation, and legacy we are apt to live a life that is random and not thought through.
I think we have to be able to answer the questions:
Who are we and do we like who we are?
How do others see us and is their opinion justified in light of how we see ourselves?
Will we leave something in our life for the people who follow after us that is representative of the best we have to offer?
How do you answer those questions? Is it important to live intentionally? I think it is.
What are your 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
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday's thoughts
When we look at William Faulkner's book and when we think about Absalom, third son of David several important truths come forward.
It is important that we make a name for ourselves. There is part of life that calls for us to find out who we are and to live in such a way that fulfills that identity. We see ourselves as generous, or talented, or compassionate. We have a sense of ourselves and it is important to develop that. We have to find a way to be at home within ourselves. We have to make a name for ourselves and we will want to be comfortable with that.
Also, there is what other people think of us. There is a reputation to consider. We develop a reputation by trying to convince there people around us that what they see in us is what we are. Sometimes, we want to persuade others that we are something other than what they see. Sometimes we will want to perpetuate an image so that others will see more in us than there is. It is a dangerous approach to life to live this way. In fact, we will want to try to develop congruence between who we see ourselves as being and who others see us as.
Identity is important to us as we make a name for ourselves. Reputation is important to us as we strive to have other people see us in a positive way. Congruence comes when our reputation is the same as our identity.
What is your reputation?
What is the name you have made for yourself?
The final stage of this has to do with legacy? I will write about this on Friday if I can get the sermon to that point.
Do you have thoughts about this? If so 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
It is important that we make a name for ourselves. There is part of life that calls for us to find out who we are and to live in such a way that fulfills that identity. We see ourselves as generous, or talented, or compassionate. We have a sense of ourselves and it is important to develop that. We have to find a way to be at home within ourselves. We have to make a name for ourselves and we will want to be comfortable with that.
Also, there is what other people think of us. There is a reputation to consider. We develop a reputation by trying to convince there people around us that what they see in us is what we are. Sometimes, we want to persuade others that we are something other than what they see. Sometimes we will want to perpetuate an image so that others will see more in us than there is. It is a dangerous approach to life to live this way. In fact, we will want to try to develop congruence between who we see ourselves as being and who others see us as.
Identity is important to us as we make a name for ourselves. Reputation is important to us as we strive to have other people see us in a positive way. Congruence comes when our reputation is the same as our identity.
What is your reputation?
What is the name you have made for yourself?
The final stage of this has to do with legacy? I will write about this on Friday if I can get the sermon to that point.
Do you have thoughts about this? If so 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
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