Sunday, June 24, 2012

It' has been a great 9 years!!!

Thanks for the memories!!


Charles and Kathy Schuster

Friday's thougths on Sunday's sermon

This is a very rough draft of Sunday's sermon. It needs lots of work. If you have thoughts on this email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your

thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles

THERE IS A STORY ABOUT ALBERT EINSTEIN BEING INVITED TO SPEAK AT SWARTHMORE COLLEGE AT A BANQUET. WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR HIM TO SPEAK HE STOOD UP AND SAID, “I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY. WHEN I DO I WILL COME BACK.” IN SIX MONTHS HE CALLED THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL AND SAID HE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY. THEY SCHEDULED ANOTHER BANQUET AND HE SPOKE.



IT ISN’T I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. IT IS I DON’T KNOW HOW MUCH TO SAY, AND WHEN TO STOP SAYING WHAT I WANT TO SAY.


I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. I JUST DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY. I REMEMBER ONCE OUR BISHOP WROE TO ME RELATED TO SOMETHING I HAD DONE, “I AM SPEACHLESS THINKING ABOUT YOUR BEHAVIOR”, SHE WROTE ME WITH AN EMAIL TO SAY SHE WAS SPEACHLESS AND I WROTE HER BACK SAYING TO HER, “I’VE NEVER SEEN A BISHOP SPEACHLESS COULD I DRIVE TO DENVER TO SEE THAT?”


IN A PIVITOL TIME IN MY LIFE WHEN THERE IS SOMETHING I MIGHT SAY THAT PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO LISTEN TO I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY.


I KNOW I WANT TO GIVE YOU A WORD. I WANT TO CONVEY SOME OF THE WISDOM ACQUIRED OVER THE YEARS. THAT’S WHAT JESUS DID. HE GAVE THEM THE A WORD. HE CONVEYED HIS TRUTH BEFORE HE LEFT THEM.


I’D SAY SOMETHING A LITTLE OBSCURE ABOUT GOD LIKE WHAT ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD WROTE, “IT IS AS TRUE TO SAY THAT GOD IS PERMANENT AND THE WORLD IS FLUENT AS THAT THE WORLD IS PERMANENT AND GOD IS FLUENT.


IT IS AS TRUE TO SAY THAT GOD IS ONE AND THE WORLD IS MANY, AS THAT THE WORLD IS ONE AND GOD MANY.


IT IS AS TRUE TO SAY THAT IN COMPARISON WITH THE WORLD, GOD IS ACTUAL EMINENTLY, AS THAT, IN COMPARISON WITH GOD THE WORLD IS ACUTAL EMINENTLY.


IT IS AS TRUE TO SAY THAT THE WORLD IS IMMANETN IN GOD AS THAT GOD IS IMMANENT IS THE WORLD


IT IS AS TRUE TO SADY THAT GOD TRANSCENDS THE WORLD AS THAT THE WORLD TRANSCENDS GOD.


IT IS AS TRUE TO SAY THAT GOD CREATES THE WORLD AS THAT THE WORLD CREATES GOD.”


I COULD SAY SOME OTHER THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID.


FOR EXAMPLE PLATO SAID GOD IS THE SENSE OF IDEAL THAT DRAWS US TOWARD IT.


AND JAMES CONE WHO SAID GOD IS ALWAYS ON THE SIDE OF THE OPPRESSED AND GOD IS LIBERATION FROM OPPRESSION.


AND SCHLIERMACHER WHO SAID, “THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD BECAUSE THE BIBLE BRINGS US A SENSE OF GOD CONSCIOUSNESS.”


OR KARL BARTH WHO SAID THAT GOD IS THE MYSTERY BEYOND ALL MYSTERY AND THE GOSPEL IS A STONE THROWN AT THE UNIVERSE.


I COULD QUOTE ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD WHO SAID, “THAT RELIGION WILL PROSPER THAT WILL RENDER TO THE COMMON GOOD SOME DEGREE OF ETERNAL GREATNESS.”


I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY AND FOR A CHRISTIAN PREACHER WHEN WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY WE CAN BEGIN TO THINK OF JESUS AND WHAT MIGHT HE HAVE SAID. AT A TIME WHEN IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR HIM TO SAY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN HIS LIFE, “SEEING THE CROWDS HE WENT UP ON A MOUNTAIN AND WHEN HE SAT DOWN HIS DISCIPLES CAME TO HIM AND HE TAUGHT THEM.


WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT HE SAID, AND WHEN IT TRY TO GET IT TOGETHER TO SAY WHAT I THINK I OUGHT TO SAY I BEGIN WITH A WORD ABOUT ATTITUDE.


WE HAVE COME TO CALL IT BE ATTITUDE. YOU KNOW THOSE BEATTITUDES THAT SAY, “BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT, AND BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN, AND BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THRIST FOR WHAT IS RIGHT, AND BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL AND THE PURE IN HEART AND THE PEACEMAKERS.


HE GAVE THEM THE WORD AND I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE YOU A WORD ABOUT ATTITUDE.


I THINK WHAT HAS MADE THIS PLACE WHAT IT IS WRAPS AROUND THE ATTITUDE AND I WANT TO SUGGEST THAT YOU CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN YOUR ATTITUDE; YOU BE ATTITUDE.


HOW IMPORTANT IS ATTITUDE? SOMEONE SAID, “BUZZARD NESTS SELDOM HATCH EAGLES”.


IT’S THE CAN DO ATTITUDE THAT IS HERE. I WAS THINKING OF STORY DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND GENERAL DOUGLAS MACARTHUR CALLED IN ONE OF HIS ARMY ENGINEERS AND ASKED, ‘HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO THROW A BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER?’ ‘THREE DAYS,’ THE ENGINEER TOLD HIM.


‘GOOD!’ SAID THE GENERAL. ‘HAVE YOUR DRAFTSMEN MAKE THE DRAWINGS RIGHT AWAY.’


THREE DAYS LATER THE GENERAL SENT FOR THE ENGINEER AND ASKED HOW THE BRIDGE WAS COMING ALONG. ‘IT’S ALL READY.’ REPLIED THE ENGINEER. ‘YOU CAN SEND YOUR TROOPS ACROSS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS IF YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PANS. THEY AREN’T DONE YET.’


THAT’S THE BE ATTITUDE ABOUT THIS PLACE.


WHEN YOU FINISHED REMODELING THE CHURCH BUT YOU HADN’T BUILT THE SOUTH ENTRANCE THERE WAS A CONGREGATIONAL MEETING AND I REMEMBER A YOUNG WOMAN STANDING UP AT THE MEETING IN THE SANCTUARY, “WE HAVE GONE THIS FAR BUT WE HAVEN’T FINISHED OUR PROJECT. WHEN WE BUILT THE PARLOR WE HADN’T PAID FOR IT. IT’S TIME FOR US TO START A PROJECT AND FINISH A PROJECT. WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR? LET’S GET IT DONE.” AND WE DID.


I REMEMBER A MEETING AT THE CHURCH WHEN THE RECESSION HIT AND IT HIT US HARD AND A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH CAME TO THE ADMINSITRATIVE COUNCIL AND WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT PLEDGES AND BUDGETS AND PROJECTS AND WHAT WE COULD DO AND WHAT WE COULDN’T DO AND A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE LEADERS OF THE CHURCH AND HE SAID, “I THINK WE NEED TO BUILD A HABITAT HOUSE. INSTEAD OF FEELING SORRY FOR OURSELVES WE OUGHT TO TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR SOMEONE ELSE.” AND WE DID.


SO THE WORD I WOULD GIVE YOU IS ABOUT YOUR ATTITUDE AND YOUR BE ATTITUDE; TO KEEP IT AND TO LET IT MOVE WITH YOUR.


THERE IS A JOURNALIST NAMED WILLIAM ZINSSER. HIS FIRST JOB WRITING FOR THE BUFFALO NEWS AS A CUB REPORTER WAS WRITING OBITUARIES. HE WAS THINKING ABOUT THE PULITZER PRIZE. HOW IN THE WORLD ARE YOU EVER GOING TO BE AN AWARD WILLING WRITER DOING OBITUARIES? WHEN IN THE WORLD WHERE I GET A CHANCE TO COVER AN INTERESTING STORY.


BUT THEN HE GOT A BEATTITUDE. HE CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE. HIS EDITOR SAID TO HIM, “LISTEN KID. NOTHING YOU WRITE WILL EVER GET READ AS CAREFULLY AS WHAT YOU ARE WRITING RIGHT NOW. YOU MISSSPELL A WORD, YOU MESS UP A DATE, AND A FAMILY WILL BE HURT. BUT YOU DO JUSTICE TO SOMEBODY’S GRANDMOTHER, TO SOMEBODY’S MOM, YOU MAKE A LIFE SING, AND THEY WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL. THEY WILL PUT YOUR WORDS IN LAMINATE.” ZINSSER GOT AN ATTITUDE; A DIFFERENT ATTITUDE. HE SAID, “I WOULD ASK EXTRA QUESTIONS AND GO THE EXTRA MILE.”


I HAVE A FRIEND WHO WAS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CHURCH HE HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO. HE SAID IT WAS A CHURCH THAT WAS FULL OF OLD PEOPLE AND HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THEM TO CHANGE.


SOMEONE GOT TO HIM AND CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE BY TELLING HIM, “THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CHURCH REALLY KNOW MORE ABOUT CHANGE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW UNTIL YOU GET OLD ENOUGH TO GRASP THE WISDOM THEY HAVE LEARNED. THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAVE A JOB THEY’VE LOVED AND THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS TO FACE ILLNESS, AND SOME OF THEM THE DEATH OF THEIR CHILDREN AND SOME OF THEM THE DEATH OF THEIR HUSBAND OR WIFE. THEY KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO FACE THE FACT THAT THEY CAN’T DO WHAT THEY COULD AND THEY HAVE TO ADJUST. THEY KNOW ALL ABOUT CHANGE BECAUSE EVERY DAY THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH A NEW CHANGE.


BE ATTITUDE IS THE WORD I GIVE YOU. ABOUT AN ATTITUDE THAT SAYS “YES WE CAN.”


SAINT FRANCIS SAID IT, “START BY DOING WHAT IS NECESSARY; THEN DO WHAT IS POSSIBLE; AND SUDDENLY YOU ARE DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE.”


AND NEVER UNDERESTIMATE WHAT GOOD CAN BE DONE IF YOU WORK TOGETHER. HELEN KELLER SAID IT, “ALONE WE CAN DO SO LITTLE; TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH.”


I WANT TO GIVE YOU A WORD LIKE THE BE ATTITUDES. LIKE JESUS SPOKE WHEN HE SAW THE CROWD AND HAD THEM SIT DOWN ON THE HILL.


I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY SO I WILL DO WHAT JESUS DID I WILL GIVE YOU AN AWARD.


HE TOLD THEM, “YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH,” AND “YOU ARE THE LIGHT TO THE WORLD”.


HE GAVE THEM AN AWARD. THIS CHURCH DOES GET ITS SHARE OF AWARDS AND LETTERS OF COMMENDATION FROM VARIOUS PEOPLE. I WANT TO GIVE YOU AND AWARD. I AM REMINDED OF SOMETHING LEONARD BERNSTEIN SAID. IF YOU EVER HAVE SEEN VIDEO OF HIM CONDUCTING AN ORCHESTRA IT LOOKS LIKE HE BECAME COMPLETELY WRAPPED UP IN THE MUSIC. HE SAID ONCE, “YOU BECOME THAT COMPOSER.” HE WOULD LOSE A SENSE OF HIMSELF. HE WOULD BECOME THE MUSIC.


THE AWARD I GIVE YOU IS THAT SAME THING. THE AWARD YOU OUGHT TO GET YOU SHOULD GET AS A CHURCH BUT I THINK IT GOES BACK TO THE KIND OF PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH.


THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE OF GREAT ACCOMPLISMENT BUT YOU’D NEVER KNOW IT BECAUSE PEOPLE HERE DON’T TALK ABOUT IT.


THE PEOPLE HERE HAVE BEEN THROUGH REALLY HARD THINGS IN LIFE BUT INSTEAD OF BREAKING YOU DOWN YOU LOOKED AT THE PROBLEM AS CHALLENGES AND YOU KEPT ON GOING BUT YOU EVEN BUILT UP SPEED. IT SEEMED THE MORE YOU WERE DEFEATED THE MORE STRENGTH YOU FOUND TO FACE THE NEXT CHALLENGE.


SUE MONK KIDD ONCE WROTE ABOUT RABBI LIEBERMAN AND TELLS HOW HE FELL ASLEEP ONE NIGHT AND HAD A DREAM. IN THE DREAM HE DIED AND GOES TO STAND BEFORE THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF GOD. AS HE WAITS FOR GOD TO SPEAK, HE FEARS GOD WILL ASK HIM, ‘WHY WEREN’T YOU MOSES…OR DAVID…OR SOLOMON?” INSTEAD GOD SURPRISES HIM. GOD SIMPLY ASKS, “WHY WEREN’T YOU RABBI LIEBERMAN?” SUE CONTINUES BY WRITING, “WHEN MY LIFE IS OVER, I DOUBT GOD WILL ASK ME WHY I WASN’T I MOTHER TERESA. THE QUESTION I MOST FEAR IS< “WHY WEREN’T YOU SUE MONK KIDD?” THE MOST GRACIOUS AND COURAGEOUS GIFT WE CAN OFFER THE WORLD IS OUR AUTHENTICITY, OUR UNIQUENESS, THE EXPRESSION OF OUR TRUE SELVES.”


THAT’S THE AWARD I WOULD GIVE YOU. YOU HAVE COME ACROSS AS THE PERSON YOU WERE BORN TO BE. PECULIARITIES, AND ECCENTRICITIES AND STRANGENESS AT TIME. DEMANDING AND THOUGHTFUL AND KIND AND WONDERFUL. YOU HAVE PRESENTED YOURSELVES AS NO LESS THAN OTHER PEOPLE BUT NOT GREATER IN YOUR MINDS. THERE IS NOT ARROGANCE HERE, THERE IS SINCERETY AND CHARACTER.


HOW DO YOU FIGURE A CHURCH WHOSE ENERGY IS SUCH THAT THEY CAN PUT TOGETHER A GARAGE SALE THAT INVOLVES TWO TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCKS TO STORE ALL THE STUFF THAT COMES IN OR AN ALL CHURCH PICNIC WHERE THE HIGHLIGHT IS DUNKING THE MINISTERIAL STAFF IN A WATER TANK BY THROWING PROJECTILES AT A TARGET? HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN A CHURCH THAT THERE IS A PULPIT CONVERTED TO A BASKET LIFT WHERE THE PREACHER HAD TO CLIMB A LADDER TO GET UP TO THE PLACE WHERE THE SERMON WAS PREACHED AND IT BOBBED UP AND DOWN THE CONGREGATION WATCHED, AND HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN A CHURCH WHERE THE YOUTH GROUP ADVENT DINNER THEATER IS BEGUN WITH THE SENIOR MINISTER BEING INVOLVED AS A VIDEO DRIVING ONE OF THE TEENAGERS AROUND AS IF A CHAUFFER DELIVERING A ROCK STAR TO A CONCERT?


WE FOUGTH ABOUT WHETHER THE AMERICAN FLAG OUGTH TO BE IN THE SANCTUARY AND THE BATTLE WAS INTENSE BUT WE WENT OUT FOR BREAKFAST AND CONTINUED TO BE FRIENDS EVEN IN OUR DISAGREEMENT. WE DEBATED OVER THE BUILDING OF A COLUMBARIUM BUT WHEN WE FINISHED IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN ENJOYED BY EVERYONE YOUNG AND OLD. WE HAD BATTLES OVER THE KITCHEN AND AT ONE TIME EVERYTHING WAS LOCKED UP AND NOW IT IS OPENED UP FOR COMMUNITY USE.


WE HAVE DISAGREED WITH EACH OTHER AND WE HAVE STAYED TOGETHER. YOU ARE WHO YOU ARE AND I GIVE YOU THE AWARD FOR ANTHENTICITY. YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND THE LIGHT TO THE WORLD.


I GIVE YOU AN AWARD AND I GIVE YOU A WORD.


FINALLY, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A WARNING.


JESUS SAID, “DON’T PUT YOUR LIGHT UNDER A BASKET.” HE SAID, “DON’T THROW YOUR SALT ON THE GROUND TO BE TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT.”


I WANT TO GIVE YOU A WARNING. THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PUT THE CHURCH DOWN; PEOPLE WHO WILL SAY THAT THE CHURCH HAS NO FUTURE, DON’T LISTEN TO THEM.


THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO THINK IF THE CHURCH DOESN’T DO WHAT THEY THINK THE CHURCH OUGTH TO DO THEY WILL THINK THE CHURCH ISN’T WHAT THE CHURCH SHOULD BE.


THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO WILL FORGET THAT THE CHURCH IS ABOUT ALL IF US NOT JUST SOME OF US, DON’T LET THEM CONTROL IT.


DON’T LET ANYONE TELL YOU WHAT YOU SHOULD DO OR WHO YOU SHOULD BE. DON’T LET ANYONE PUT YOU DOWN IN THE CHURCH, OUT OF THE CHURCH OR BEYOND THE CHURCH.


THE CHURCH IS BIGGER THAN ANY ONE OF US AND ITS MISSION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ALL OF US TOGETHER.

Wednesday's thoughts

The Future of the Church

There is an ongoing debate about the future of the United Methodist Church and the opinions are a different as the people making their opinions known. There isn't going to be one simple answer to this but many options and each to be applied to each particular church. Given the variety of churches in our denomination and given that our church is international the cultural contexts will dictate the direction appropriate to the setting.

There are "church growth" people who think the church ought to take growth as its primary motivation. In truth, at some point we are going to have to address our decline as a denomination. We must pay attention to the patterns of decline and it is important to discover why we have declined and how we might reverse the decline. The concern I have for this approach is that it calls for some practices that lead us to a lack of integrity in the name of growth. We are directed to know how much people give and pledge to the church. I find that invasive and inappropriate and if that is what is required to call the members of the church into accountability I would rather not be part of it. The focus on numbers could also have a chilling effect on the program of the church and could tend to force us to develop a church program that appeals to the least common denominator at the expense of moving the church forward with a program that is launched from a position of excellence and greatness. In other words, if we appeal to what we think people want we may overlook what people need but don't know they want and the church settles for less at a time when it has a chance to reach for the most.

There are worship people who think the church ought to surrender to the will of a shallow theology and a worship quality that encourages a superficial relationship with Jesus Christ and music in worship that is mindless and strange. At First Church Rebecca has developed an alternative worship service that is interesting without being shallow with music that is singable but with words that have theological depth. She and Ryan have elevated alternative worship and have attracted a small, but dedicated, following.

I think we have addressed the church growth issue and the future of the church issue by maintaining a sense of integrity and excellence. It don't see radical change coming with the change of leadership and I am hopeful that First Church will continue to be a leader in the denomination and will continue to prove you can move forward without losing your mind and without surrendering your principles.

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net

If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles Schuster

Monday's thoughts

What is the future of the church? What is the future of the United Methodist Church? What is the future of First United Methodist Church in Fort Collins?

Those are three very separate questions although you would think they might inspire pretty much the same answer.

I worry about the Christian Church in the world. I fear it will hold onto a doctrine that does not reflect what the original message from which it sprung represents. Christianity had been a call for calm and peace in the world. It had been an interpretation of religion that gave a message of tolerance and forgiveness and joy in life. Much of the Christian faith has become judgmental and mean and exclusive.

I worry about the United Methodist Church in the world. I find our denomination becoming preoccupied with survival. I see some of the leaders of the church working hard to reverse the membership decline by resorting to a hard head count and to techniques to bring the numbers up by catering to the cultural bias rather than following the counter-cultural message of the Gospel. Our primary mission is to be faithful not popular. If we lose our mission in order to attract more members we will lose our focus and we will have forgotten who we are.

I worry about First United Methodist in Fort Collins. I think any time there are major transitions in churches there is concern about the future. Nine years ago there was much to fret over when I arrived. What happened that was healthy and what has made it possible for First Church to thrive is the way in which the people here could look past the differences and were able to embrace each other as brother and sister. It became more an issue about our church than it was a competition over who would control it.

The one point at which I thought we failed to remember that was the year we debated whether the American flag would be in the sanctuary. We had established a compromise at which the preacher who preached the sermon would determine if the flag should be present and the flag would be in the sanctuary four times a year (Flag Day, 4th of July, Memorial Day, and Veterans Day). The debate was divisive and it almost erupted into something very ugly. I think we almost forgot we were a church during that debate. I was sad for the church then.

If First Church can maintain its focus and can continue to show respect for its diversity and differences while holding everything together.

What do you think about the future of First Church, the United Methodist Church, and the Christian Church in general?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"When Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"

Three points to this sermon:

1. When smoke gets in your eyes you can't see with your eyes as well but there is a chance you can see with your heart that you are not alone in the struggle. Fort Collins is a wonderful community. Its true character shows through all the time. Since the fire the best character of the community has emerged. We are more of a community now than we have been because what happens to one of us happens to all of us because it could have been any of us if we owned a home in the mountains.

2. There will be a time when the smoke clears and we will be able to notice that what we see is only partial because there is more to see than we see and more to know than we know.

3. There will be a time when there is no smoke and we can see forever. It sometimes takes a lifetime to see forever. For some of us who have had troublesome relationships with our fathers it may take a lifetime to understand him. For those of us who live with unanswered questions it may take a lifetime to have some sense of how those questions can be answered.

Smoke gets in our eyes but the smoke clears and we can see forever.

What do you think about this and how are you dealing with the fire and the threat to the city, to your home, to the homes and lives of your friends?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Charles Schuster

Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Smoke Gets In Your Eyes"

Is there a theological perspective that comes from the tragic turn of events with the fire? Are there some things to be learned from this?

When smoke gets in your eyes you realize that we are all in this together. There is no place where the smoke is not and it doesn't matter who you are the smoke has its effect. If you are a professor or a garbage collector or a preacher or a teacher or a mother of five, we are all in this together.

If you are liberal or conservative or friend or foe we are all in this together. Are eyes are hurting because of the smoke but we are all in this together.

The smoke in our eyes opens our eyes to the fact that we are all in this together.

When the smoke clears we are able to see the future coming and tomorrow trying to be born. When the smoke clears we will be able to think about how far we can see and how clean the air is and how lucky we are.

When the smoke clears and when the smoke gets in our eyes there are things for us to learn and understand.

There is nothing wasted in life. There is nothing that comes to us, good or bad, tragic or wonderful, big or small, that doesn't have some sense of the possibility for something to be learned and celebrated.

Our eyes are wide open and there is smoke in our eyes but we are not broken or defeated we are looking at the possibility for something important to happen.

What good is coming out of the fire in the mountains?

What is there to learn from this?


If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Tuesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

So now we are down to two Sundays and there is more to say than I have time to say it. The concert Sunday was an example of something that is so evident at the church. There is so much talent in First Church and the variety of musical expression was an incredible example of what it means to express our sense of the holy in ways that communicate metaverbally.

Possibly the most glaring error we have made as Christians is the way in which we have tried to speak of God. We have used words that seem anthropomorphic in an attempt to describe God in terms that are human. We talk about God acting or God speaking or God being almost like a human being/superhero type of force when we really don't think of God that way. We pray to God as if God were a "cosmic butler" who can come into our lives and bring us from the brink of disaster to a sense of health and wholeness.

God is more than we can say but clearly involved in what we know. God is the presence we cannot deny but it is difficult to speak of God with any degree of connection to what we think. But it is the case that speaking of God is one of the most difficult tasks we have and it is one of the most important jobs the church has.

Last Sunday Karen Stoody turned a Sunday afternoon into a moment we will never forget by inviting some of the most talented people in Fort Collins to express their faith in music. The expression in the sanctuary was a response to the disaster in the mountains. The music was a prayer to God saying, in music, what none of us could speak with our words.

It was a call to God to be present to us. It was an expression of love and concern for the victims of the fire and a prayer for the safety of the people who came to put it out.

Sunday afternoon was a theological event. It was theology set to music and it was an expression of the ineffable nature of God in ways we all could understand.

It was an honor to be there.

Karen Stoody and her musicans rock!!!!


If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.

If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.



Charles Schuster

Wednesday's thoughts

Whatever do we mean when we speak of God? I'm not sure our words match the experience. I believe theologians have not helped us think through what we think and how we think theologically.

There are theologies that trivialize God by creating a sense of familiarity that is so casual and easy that it really doesn't describe much more than a human being with an omnipotent potential and a judging attitude. It isn't God being talked about it's our own bias applied to the situations that offend us.

There are theologies that intellectualize God to the point that what is described is inscrutable and it reduces God to an obscure concept that no one can understand.

I have thought the church was basically a theological institution. It is a place we come to learn more about God, to share our insights about what we think about God. It is a place where we can grow in our understanding of God and it is a place where we can share our experience of God.

The future of the church, I think, is dependent upon our making God relevant for the new day dawning. The next several years the mainline churches will have a challenge to try to do that. First Church is the largest main line church in Fort Collins. We have a unique task in maintaining a tradition but building on it so that the tradition doesn't take us back but moves us forward.

When you think of God what do you believe you are describing. When you experience the presence of God when do you and how do you experience it?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

Okay, three more weeks to preach at First Church and I've got more to say than there is time to say it. My Build a Sermons are going to be on the order of what I would like to have said if I'd have had more time.

1. Religion calls for so many alternate and conflicting movements that it's hard to track them down to what  is right and proper. For example the conservative and liberal elements are foundation to our faith. Therefore, what is required of us is both risk and reality. We've got to live on the edge of adventure but we've got to savor the way it's always been. Without risk reality becomes pedestrian. Without a sense of reality risk becomes foolish.

2. If I had it to do over again I would have done more with drama and dance in the church. I think some of the greatest religious truths are best expressed in movement and in dramatic portrayals. I have overused words. Words and sermons are fine but there is a level of communication I neglected while I have been at First Church.

3. The most effective means of communication is to lay out a puzzle and then invite the congregation to solve it. I have tended to give too many answers in my sermon and I have tried to tie up too many points into something cogent and neatly packaged.

4. I should have done more with biblical scholarship than I've done. I have spent most of my time doing that sort of thing in the classes I've taught. Actually, biblical scholarship is on the cutting edge of the theological impulse these days. I think the best preacher on our staff currently, or since I have been on the staff the past 9 years is Rebecca. She does biblical scholarship and uses that in her sermons as effectively as any preacher I've heard in the Rocky Mountain Conference.

These are just some thoughts about what I would like to have done if I had more time. I express my frustration about retirement. Basically, what is upsetting to me is to have come to this time in my life and to have found that I am 68 years old and I have a whole lot more I want to do. I will have to find some other way to do it because I am convinced our church needs an influx of new thoughts, new approaches, and a younger face to its leadership.

If you have thoughts on any of this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

There is something that has been on my mind I would like to address in some sermon before I leave Fort Collins. Maybe it's just a matter of getting this out of my system.

It has to do with the decline in the membership numbers in the United Methodist Church. There is a sense that our church is in a "free fall" decline toward extinction. Some have speculated the reason for this decline is we have moved away from the Gospel and have become too concerned about social issues and controversial subjects.

I think it's just the opposite. I don't think we are in decline because we are too controversial or too intellectual or have strayed too far from the Gospel. I think we are in decline because our church has become irrelevant to the issues of the day.

I think churches like First United Methodist Church are strong and growing because we ask a great deal of ourselves and because we are not afraid to tackle difficult and controversial issues.

The time we spend in church means something because the things we are involved in are important and we know it.

I think our church is growing and doing well because we have come to believe that theology is not a reductionistic exercise in how we meet Jesus on a personal level whose words we can manipulate to fix our bias and how God is a figment of our need and how prayer is reduced to a superstitious petition for privilege and good fortune.

This church has taken theology and mission seriously and we are not in decline.

This church has believed in the priesthood of the laity and there is activity and energy here.

This church has opened its doors to the homeless and how reached out into the world.

This church provides leadership for the Rocky Mountain Conference in many ways.

This church recognizes the importance of multiple experiences of worship and has traditional and alternative worship formats.

In a denomination that is in a decline how do we explain the fact that this church is not in decline?

What do you think? If you have some thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

There are two quotes from Thrity Umrigar's book, The World We Found that will direct the sermon Sunday. The book is the Fort Collins "read" and the subject of a book review I will be doing on June 20th.

She hesitated. "I--I don't know." She looked around the room, trying to find the right words. "I don't know if the world we dreamed of is an illusion, a 'children's palace,' as Laleh's father used to call it." She looked at Diane sharply as a thought hit her. "But I do know this--that my desire for that world was true. It was the truest thing I've ever felt, as true as my love for you. -- And I'd like to believe that that means something. You know?"

And then the other quotation:

"This. Life. This meeting and parting. This winning and losing. Here I was this morning, barely able to get out of bed. Didn't have any reason to, you know? And this afternoon, I force myself to leave the house, to buy food for dinner tonight. It seemed like just another ordinary day. The kind that kills you by not killing you. Know what I mean? And then, the two of you walk into my life. Just like that. No warning, nothing. And I feel like someone has peeled off twenty-five years of deadness and make me alive again. But then, it's life, right?"

What is life but what we wish it could be and what it becomes when we are present to the people we love?

Friendship can turn our lives around? Friendship can make us realize that an ordinary day is not ordinary.

How have you experienced this? Are you experiencing it now?

If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.


I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

I'm doing a book review on the 20th of this month on Thrity Umrigar's book The World We Found. This is a highly complex book about three women who were friends years ago. One of them it dying. She lives in America. The other two live in Bombay, India. One of the Indian women is in a terrible marriage and she and her friend find a way to visit America and their dying friend.

It is an interesting a complex book. Ultimately, it is the story of how death enable someone to find new life.

All of this brings to mind the final days of Jesus' life and his last meal with his friends. He speaks of his death and how his death leads to new life.

Communion is a meal at which death is announced and death overcome is anticipated.

Umrigar's book brings to us the complex circumstance that happens when we realize that the only way to move to new life is to give up our old life. The only way to see the future in is to face it and work ourselves through it.

If we are on the cusp of great changes in our lives there is fear and joyful anticipation. We know things will never be the same but we are not concerned about how things will change.

If we are evolving as human beings we are going to need to die to who we have been.

Do you have a sense of that in your life; I do?

Have you ever had a sense that things are moving too fast and things are out of control?

How do you look at that change as something positive rather than something to fear?

If you have thoughts on this important subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

It comes down to this;

The text referred to in the 2nd Chapter of Acts if from Joel and it suggests that "young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams."

It's all about visions and dreams.

When we're young we have visions. We are driven to fulfill our hopes. We are hurled into our future with the sense that there are things we must do and we have to get onto doing them. We have to make a difference in the world and time is running out. There is the flame inside us that flickers. We have a job to do and we have changes to make.

It's all about dreams when we age. It's about looking back to see where we've been. Some of the past haunts us and the dreams become our cross the carry. We wish things could have been different. We wanted things to be other than they were.

There were bad decisions.
There were times when we should have risen to the occasion and we lapsed into a failed attempt to accommodate the occasion.

We are haunted by our dreams; they are our cross the carry.
We are hurled by our visions; they are the flame that ignites us.

The cross and the flame has become a symbol for two groups that I'm aware of.

The cross and the flame is a symbol for racism; the KKK and the cross and the flame is a symbol for Methodism. Sunday is Pentecost. It's the birth of the church. The church is a place that helps us learn to carry our crosses and invites us to feed the flame of our imagination.

If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

If you'd like a rough draft of the sermon let me know and I will be happy to send it to you.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Re-Member"



Pentecost and Memorial Day put together opposite impulses and that is what we have to do on Sunday. We have to think about how young men and women have visions and old men and old women have dreams. It's in the 2nd Chapter of Acts. It is the Pentecost event reported by the writer who wrote the Gospel of Luke. Peter gives a speech and he talks about the Spirit of God and how the sun turns to blood and how the Spirit comes into the people and there are dreams and visions.


Memorial Weekend is a time for dreams. We look back to the past and we remember the way things were and the people who were important to us. We remember the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. We remember the legacy they have left for us.
Pentecost is a time to think about the birth of the church and to tap into the vision we have for the future; the future of the church; the future for our nation; the future for each of us.


Pentecost and Memorial represent the merger of conservative/liberal. There is a part of the liberal aspect of our thinking that is conservative and there is a part of the conservative part of our thinking that is liberal. In fact liberal and conservative; holding on to the past and moving toward the future; reactionary thinking and progressive thinking are part of the same thought.


We can embrace one without the other; Are you conservative? Are you liberal? Do you have dreams? Do you have visions?

Are your dreams related to your visions and are your visions growing out of your dreams?


If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.


I look forward to hearing from you.




Charles Schuster

Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

  "Re-Member"


Pentecost and Memorial Day put together opposite impulses and that is what we have to do on Sunday. We have to think about how young men and women have visions and old men and old women have dreams. It's in the 2nd Chapter of Acts. It is the Pentecost event reported by the writer who wrote the Gospel of Luke. Peter gives a speech and he talks about the Spirit of God and how the sun turns to blood and how the Spirit comes into the people and there are dreams and visions.


Memorial Weekend is a time for dreams. We look back to the past and we remember the way things were and the people who were important to us. We remember the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. We remember the legacy they have left for us.


Pentecost is a time to think about the birth of the church and to tap into the vision we have for the future; the future of the church; the future for our nation; the future for each of us.




Pentecost and Memorial represent the merger of conservative/liberal. There is a part of the liberal aspect of our thinking that is conservative and there is a part of the conservative part of our thinking that is liberal. In fact liberal and conservative; holding on to the past and moving toward the future; reactionary thinking and progressive thinking are part of the same thought.


We can embrace one without the other; Are you conservative? Are you liberal? Do you have dreams? Do you have visions?


Are your dreams related to your visions and are your visions growing out of your dreams?


If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.


I look forward to hearing from you.






Charles Schuster

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Re-Member"

We have concurrent themes going next Sunday. Pentecost is the recollected time on the Acts of the Apostles when it was thought that the church was born. The story is told that the disciples were gather together to celebrate a Thanksgiving event fifty days after Passover. It was a time when the people of Israel remember that the "angel of death" Passed Over their houses and they were spared. Pentecost stands for the celebration when the barley harvest was over and the wheat harvest was to begin. The people  would bring an offering of barley to the Temple in Jerusalem as a token of gratitude for their survival and for their thriving as a nation.

The disciples had experienced the death on the cross of their leader. Jesus had appeared to them but they were still in mourning and disbelief and they didn't know what they would do.

At the Pentecost celebration the holy spirit fell upon them and they began to find direction for their lives and the church was born.

It was a time when people remembered the past and when they began to build something new.

I've been looking at the DVD the church made of the military veterans in our congregation. Several of our church members spoke about their military experience and a DVD was made of it. Most of the veterans are still alive but some have died. It was an inspiring time to watch those speeches.

Next Sunday is both Pentecost Sunday and Memorial Weekend. We remember, with gratitude those who have gone before us, but that memory enables us to look toward our future. Our remembering gives us an opportunity to "re-member".

The foundation of the past and the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedom requires that we take a careful look at our future to be sure that we know the foundation upon which we are building and to enable us to move forward. Remembering leads to re-membering. Once we are re-membered we are building a future that would make the people who have gone before us proud.

Who are the people in your past you remember? If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Tuesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"This Sunday is Confirmation Sunday. Fifteen of our youth, who have been meeting regularly with Sam, will be joining our church. It will be my privilege to preach for the services.







The title of the sermon will be: "The 8th Wonder of the World - The Gap", and will be based on five Scriptures:


Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 1:18-23, Luke 2:41-52, Matthew 3:13-17 and Matthew 4:18-22.






What we discover in these Scriptures is a Gap...a Gap of history from when Jesus was 12 years of age until he began his ministry at age 30. We know so little of what happened to him after he left the Temple in Jerusalem and went with his parents to live in Nazareth. We can only imagine how he "grew in years, in wisdom and in favor with others" during those


18 years.






The question for all of us, and especially for the 15 Confirmands, is "how do we gain wisdom?"....."how did Jesus gain wisdom?" My best guess is wisdom comes from experiences.....in relationships, with discovering something about ourselves we did not know was tucked deeply inside our souls, and in learning to love ourselves in the good times and the bad.






Sunday will be a good time to explore The Gap....those years we know so little about, and those years that are some of the most important in our lives.






I look forward to seeing you this Sunday. It can be a time to re-affirm our faith along with 15 youth."

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

Of all the possibilities and directions a sermon on Mother's Day might take the one that seems most controversial and interesting is the last part of the sermon this Sunday. I can support the idea that 1. Our mother taught us to sing. I can believe it is important that we learn to sing "a new song".

The third phase of this sermon suggests that the new song we sing has a quality to it that we won't realize for  long, long time. Some of us never completely see it. This is what happens I believe: The new song we learn to sing; the one we thought was our song turns out to be her song. We have a subtle influence in our lives and we may or may not realize it. It comes out to us in a variety of ways. We will find ourselves saying some of the things our mother said, or doing some of the things she did. We will discover that our voice is a copy of her voice and we might hear it in the inflection or the tone of our speaking.

Isn't it true that the more things change the more they remain the same.

How do you find your mother's influence in your life? Does it seem you are singing her song, if you think about it, and how does it make you feel to realize that?

I loved my mother as much as any son could love his mother. She was an amazing, courageous, funny, creative, wonderful human being. When I find her influence in my life in ways I hadn't realized I find it irritating.

How about you?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the readers of this blog see your input click on the 'comments' box below.

If you would like a copy of a rough draft of the sermon let me know and I will send it to you tomorrow morning or later tonight (Friday night or Saturday morning).

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

There is a tension in the sermon as we think of our mother. Most of our mothers gave us a foundation that has helped define for us our identity and our values. She gave us the song to sing and we learned it. As we grew up we perfected it but we know it was the song she taught us.


The psalmist suggests that we learn to sing a new song. Psalm 98 reminds us how God is asking us to sing a new song. There comes a time in our lives when we realize the song we are singing is not our mother's song but our own song.

We are supposed to learn from the foundational song we were given to sing but we are instructed to sing a new song and to find our music and words in the lives we live.

What is the new song you have learned? How does it differ from the one your mother taught you?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have other people read you thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.



Charles Schuster

I will send a copy of the sermon in a rough draft format on Friday if anyone wishes to receive it. Just let me know.

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

Mother's Day
May 13, 2012

This is the story of a man who is remembered for his mother.

This is his story:

He was a young man who flunked out of a chemistry class at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He once said, "if silicon had been a gas I would have been a general."

He was a caustic and sarcastic man who when confronted by someone who was not known to him and who said to him, "You know, I passed you house last night." This man interrupted the stranger and said, "Thank you."

When we think of this man we don't remember much about him but we remember his mother, Anna. She had been ill. He made her pose for him for three days. Finally, she was so exhausted she had to sit down.

There is the famous portrait of Anna sitting down.

She is the famous one. He is just her son. His name was James Whistler. Anna Whistler is known as "Whistler's Mother". Her portrait is famous.

Mother's Day is a time for us to think about our mothers and a time to think about what we do to bring her honor.

When we think of Jesus we remember his mother, Mary.

She pulled him from the Temple when he was 12 years old and got lost in the crowd.
She pushed him into his ministry at a wedding by asking him to "turn water into wine."
She visited him while he was preaching and she heard him say, "Who is my mother?"
She stood beside him as he died on the cross.

We are Christians because of the Gospel of Jesus but Sunday, May 13th we remember Mary, his mother and we remember our mother and we think about what we have done or what we could do to honor her.


If you have thoughts about this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the readers of this blog read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Tuesday Thoughts on Sunday's Worship

Sunday we will celebrate "Youth Ministry Sunday". The youth program at the church has been, historically, one of the most important Sundays of the year. The worship service will be led by youth the sermon will be preached by the youth and we will see and hear perspectives that will amaze us and inspire us.

I will post additional information about the service when I receive it. I will pass it on.

If you have thoughts about the church or our future write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have others read your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's Sermon

The following is a rough draft of the Sunday sermon. It is in capitol letters and it needs lots of help. If you have ideas email me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.

If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below. Here is the sermon that is trying to suggest "We are rejected but often we are selected for something better when we are rejected.


I HAVE BEEN AROUND THE ELECT AND THEY ARE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER PEOPLE. THEY WALK IN A DIFFERENT WAY AND WITH A DIFFERENT STRIDE. THEY SPEAK WITH A SENSE OF CONFIDENCE. THEY ARE THE ELECT. THEY ARE THE ONES CALVIN THOUGHT WERE THE PRIVILEGED.


THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN WE ARE THE ELECT. MAYBE IT WAS LITTLE LEAGUE AND SOMEBODY THOUGHT WE COULD PLAY RIGHT FIELD AND WE DID AND WHEN THE TIME CAME AND THE CATCH NEEDED TO BE MADE WE MADE IT.

THERE WAS A TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A TEACHER WHO BELIEVED THAT THE GRADE POINT AVERAGE AND THE TESTS SCORES REALLY DIDN’T MEASURE OUR ACADEMIC ABILITY AND THERE WAS SOMEONE WHO BELIEVE THAT WE COULD BE THE STUDENT THAT, FROM TIME TO TIME, WE BECAME. AND WE WERE THE ELECT.

THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A TIME WHEN WE FELT THE SUPPORT OF FRIENDS AND WE PUT OURSELVES IN LINE WITH THE STRUGGLES THAT EVERYONE FACED AND WE WERE THE ELECT AND WE HELPED MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND THE DIFFERENCE WE MAKE WAS DECISIVE AND IT FELT SO GOOD.

THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN WE FELT SO GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES LIKE WE HAD BEEN SINGLED OUT AND PUT ON A PEDISTAL; LIKE WHEN THE ROLL WAS CALLED UP YONDER WE WERE THERE; LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING UNIQUE ABOUT US AND WE ROSE TO THE OCCASION.

IT’S SUCH A GOOD FEELING AND ONE WE WILL NEVER FORGET, BUT IT DOESN’T LAST.

THE BEST WE CAN HOPE FOR IS THAT WE EXPECT RESPECT. IF WE ARE NOT THE ELECT WE CAN AT LEAST EXPECT RESPECT. WE EXPECT RESPECT. WE WOULD LIKE, IF WE ARE NOT AMONG THE ELECT THAT WE WOULD FIND RESPECT.

NICE PEOPLE GET RESPECT. THEY DON’T DO SPECTACULAR THINGS AND THEY ARE NOT IN THE HEADLINES BUT THEY GET RESPECT FOR THE LITTLE THINGS THEY DO.

IT’S THE BEHIND THE SCENES KIND OF THINGS. IT’S THE SORT OF THING THAT HAS TO BE DONE AND IT DONE WELL BUT IT DOESN’T DRAW ATTENTION TO ITSELF.

SOMEONE HAD TO MODEL WHAT A GOOD SHEPHERD WAS SO WHEN JESUS THOUGHT ABOUT HIS LIFE’S MISSION HE KNEW ABOUT THE SHEPHERD WHOSE VOICE THE SHEEP RECOGNIZE; THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO TENDS THE FLOCK GETS RESPECT FOR WHAT HE DOES.

THAT’S THE LEAST WE CAN HOPE FOR THAT WE WOULD BE THOUGHT OF AS GOOD WORKERS WHO DO THE BEST WE CAN WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHAT WE CAN.

TO BE REPECTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW US IS A GREAT THING AND IT IS SOMETHING WE ASPIRE TO.

IT IS OUR HOPE. IT IS OUR DESIRE.

SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, WE ARE DEJECTED BECAUSE WE ARE REJECTED. SOMETIMES WE DO NOT RECEIVE RESPECT AND WE EXPERIENCE REJECTION.

AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN’T MATTER HOW HARD WE TRY OR HOW WELL WE DO. MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING ABOUT US THEY DON’T LIKE AND WE DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT IS. MAYBE IT’S SOMETHING WE SAID. MAYBE IT’S THE WAY YOU LOOK OR THE WAY YOU ACT. MAYBE IT’S SOME PAST HISTORY YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN OR A PRESUPPOSITION PEOPLE HAVE THAT IS BASED ON NOTHING THAT IS TRUE.

LEONARD SWEET REMEMBERS THE STORY OF A LITTLE GIRL NAMED THELMA. SHE WAS 8 YEARS OLD. SHE WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN GIRL TO ATTEND A PUBLIC SCHOOL IN MISSISSIPPI. BEFORE SHE LEFT TO GO TO SCHOOL THAT FIRST DAY HER MOTHER DRESSED HER IN A CUTE PINK DRESS. WHEN THELMA SHOWED UP AT SCHOOL THE TEACHER SAID, “THELMA, I WANT YOU TO STAND RIGHT THERE BY YOUR SEAT. YOU ARE NOT TO SIT.”

THELMA DID AS SHE WAS TOLD, SHE STOOD AS THE REST OF THE THIRD-GRADE CLASS MARCHED PAST AND SPAT IN HER SEAT. AFTER THE OTHER CHILDREN REACHED THEIR SEATS, THE TEACHER INSTRUSTED THELMA, “YOU CAN SIT DOWN NOW.”

WHEN ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL OFFERED THE RIGHTS TO THE TELEPHONE FOR $100,000 TO CARL ORTON, PRESIDENT OF WESTERN UNION, ORTON REPLIED, ‘WHAT USE WOULD THIS COMPANY MAKE OF AN ELECTRICAL TOY?”

WHEN STEPHEN KING ALMOST MADE A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MISTAKE WHEN HE THREW IS CARRIE MANUSCRIPT IN THE GARBAGE BECAUSE HE WAS TIRED OF THE REJECTIONS, “WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SCIENCE FICTION WHICH DEALS WITH NEGATIVE UTOPIAS. THEY DO NOT SELL.” HIS WIFE FISHED IT OUT OF THE GARBAGE.

IN 1998 SERGEY BRIN AND LARRY PAGE APPROACHED YAHOO WITH A SUGGESTED MERGER WITH THE GOOGLE WHICH THEY HAD COFOUNDED. THE YAHOO EXECUTIVES COULD HAVE SNAPPED UP THE COMPANY FOR A HANDFUL OF STOCK. BUT THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE YOUNG GOOGLERS KEEP WORKING ON THEIR LITTLE PROJECT AND COME BACK WHEN THEY HAD GROWN UP.”

WAS REJECTED FOR HIS BROTHER ABEL AND IT ENDED IN AMURDER AND A QUESTION, “AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?”

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS THE CHOSEN PEOPLE UNTIL THE EXILE AND SOME OF THEM THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS THE REJECTED PEOPLE. ONE OF THEM WROTE A POEM TO THAT FACT, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU REJECTED ME?”

IT WAS JEREMIAH WHO FELT REJECTED WHO PRAYED TO GOD SAYING, “WHY DOES THE WAY OF THE WICKED PROSPER?” WHICH IS TO SAY, “WHY DO WE KEEP LOSING AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T DESERVE IT, WHY DO THEY KEEP WINNING?”

JOB NOT ONLY FELT REJECTED BY GOD FOR ALL THE BAD LUCK THAT HE HAD; HE LOST HIS FAMILY, HE LOST HIS HOME, HE LOST HIS CHILDREN, AND IT GOT SO BAD FOR HIM HE WAS READY TO CURSE GOD AND DIE.

WE EXPECTED TO BE RESPECTED, BUT AT TIMES WE WERE DEJECTED BECAUSE WE WERE REJECTED.

AND THEN WE CAME TO SEE IT. OUR REJECTION WAS A SELECTION. WE WERE REJECTED IN ORDER TO FIND OURSELVES AGAIN. THE STONE THAT WAS REJECTED BECAME THE CORNER STONE. JESUS WHO GAVE HIS LIFE AND WAS REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT HE WAS SELECTED BECAUSE HE WAS REJECTED.

HIS REJECTION LED TO HIS SELECTION AND HIS LIFE’S PURPOSE CAME BECAUSE OF HIS BEING TURNED DOWN BY THE VERY PEOPLE WHO HE THOUGHT WOULD HAVE STOOD UP FOR HIM.

MOSES WAS A MURDERER AND HE RECYCLED HIS RAGE AND BECAME THE GREATEST LEADER IN ISRAEL.

JACOB WAS A THEIF AND A SCHEEMER AND HE RECYCLED HIS CUNNING AND BECAME THE FATHER OF A GREAT NATION.

DAVID WAS AN ADULTERER AND HE RECYCLED HIS PASSION AND BECAME ISRAEL’S GREATEST KING.

PETER WAS AN IMPULSIVE BOASTFUL FISHERMAN AND HE RECYCLED HIS PRIDE AND BECAME THE ROCK UPON WHICH THE CHURCH WAS BUILT.

MARY MAGDALENE RECYCLED HER UNDICIPLINED HABITS AND BECAME A COMPASSIONATE LOVER OF GOD.

SAUL OF TARSIS WAS A PERSECUTE OF CHRISTIANS AND HE RECYCLED HIS HATRED AND BECAME A GREAT MISSIONAL LEADER.

RUTH WAS AN IDOL WORSHIPPER AND SHE RECYCLED HER PAGANISM AND BECAME ONE WHO BECAME A PROGENITOR OF JESUS THE CHRIST.

JESUS WAS A FAILED MESSIAH WHO BECAME A MESSIAH OF ANOTHER WAY.

JANE PAULEY REMEMBERS THE DAY IN HIGH SCHOOL SHE TRIED OUT AS CHEERLEADER. IT WAS THE DREAM SHE ASPIRED TO AND SHE JUST KNEW SHE WOULD BE GOOD AT IT.

THE REMEMBERS IT VIVIDLY. THE YEAR WAS 1965. SHE WRITES: “IN SEPTEMBER OF TENTH GRADE, I TRIED OUT FOR JUNIOR VARSITY CHEERLEADER IN THE GYM. SHRIEKS OF TEENAGE JUBILATION REVERBRATED AROUND THE CINDER-BLOCK WALLS WHEN THE NAMES OF THOSE CHOSEN WERE CALLED—BUT NOT MINE. NAMES WENT CARTWHEELING DOWN THE HALLS MY NAME FOLLOWING ALONG IN A WHISPTER SUMMONING THE ONE PERSON WHO WAS LISTENING FOR IT—MY SISTER, IS DISSOLVED INTO HER ARMS; SUCH A SCENE. IT WAS THE SADDEST DAY OF MY LIFE—AND THE LUCKIEST.

IT WAS MY INTRODUCTION INTO THE VAST VARSITY SISTERHOOD OF DASHED DREAMS. SINCE 6TH GRADE I HAD WORN THE COVETED SWEATER EMBLAZONED WITH A LARGE LETTER. THE WHITE PLEATED SKIRT THE TENNIS SHOES THAT PRACTICALLY GLOWED AFTER EVERY COAT OF WHITE LIQUID SHOE POLISH—THEY WERE MINE. THOUGH I COULDN’T DO FLIPS OR SPLITS OR EVEN JUMP VERY HIGH I HAD MADE NO OTHER PLAN.

THEY SAY THAT WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES ANOTHER DOOR OPENS. THE PROBLEM IS THE FIRST ONE DOESN’T CLOSE; IT SLAMS SHUT IN YOUR TEAR STREAKED FACE, WHILE THE OTHER ONE OPENS SO UNEVENTFULLY YOU DON’T KNOW YOU’VE PASSED THROUGH A GOLDEN DOOR. THAT’S HOW IT WAS FOR ME IN 1965 AND SO OFTEN SINCE. LIFE COMES OUT OF THE BLUE.

I SIGNED UP FOR A NOVICE DEBATE TOURNAMENT. THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW LIFE FOR A YOUNG WOMAN WHO BECAME DEBATE CHAMPION UNDEFEATED; GOVERNOR OF GIRL’S STATE, THE FIRST WOMAN CO-ANCHOR AT NBC, MEMBER OF THE TODAY SHOW CAST, NEWSMAGAZINE DELIVERER ON DATELINE. SHE IS AN AUTHOR WHO WROTE A BOOK DEALING WITH HER BI-POLAR DISORDER CALLED SKYWRITING, SHE HAS WON MANY AWARDS INCLUDING THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN BROADCAST JOURNALISM.’

REJECTED BUT SELECTED BECAUSE HER REJECTION OPENED UP FOR JAME PAULEY A PATH THAT TOOK HER LIFE IN AN EXCITING DIRECTION.

WE CAN LOOK AT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUCCEEDED AND EVERY ONE OF THEM REVEALS WHAT IT MEANS TO SEE REJECTION AS SELECTION.

ONE MAN WROTE, “WE KEEP GOING BACK, STRONGER, NOT WEAKER, BECAUSE WE WILL NOT ALLOW REJECTION TO BEAT US DOWN. IT WILL ONLY STRENGTHEN OUR RESOLVE. TO BE SUCCESSFUL THERE IS NO OTHER WAY.”

MARK HANSEN WHO PUT TOGETHER THE CHICKEN SOUP BOOKS HAS A MOTTO FOR HIS LIFE THAT IS LISTED IN THE LETTERS SWSWSWSW WHICH STANDS FOR “SOME WILL, SOME WON’T SO WHAT—SOMEONE’S WAITING.”

AND BARBARA KINSOLVER BEST SELLING AUTHOR HAS THIS ADVICE, “THIS MANUSCRIPT OF YOURS THAT HAS JUST COME BACK FROM ANOTHER EDITOR IS A PRECIOUS PACKAGE. DON’T CONSIDER IT REJECTED. CONSIDER THAT YOU’VE ADDRESSED IT TO THE EDITOR WHO CAN APPRECIATE MY WORK AND IT HAS SIMPLY COME BACK STAMPED “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS.” JUST KEEP LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT ADDRESS.”

AND SYLVESTER STALLONE WHO SAID, “I TAKE REJECTION AS SOMEONE BLOWING A BUGLE IN MY EAR TO WAKE ME UP AND GET GOING, RATHER THAN RETREAT.”

HER NAME WAS MEIP GEIS. SHE KNEW A FAMILY YEARS AGO. IN FACT IT WAS DURING A VERY DARK TIME IN HISTORY AND MEIP AND HER HUSBAND KEPT THIS FAMILY THEIR HOME SHELTERED FROM THE NAZIS BUT EVENTUALLY THEY WERE DISCOVERED AND TAKEN TO A PRISON CAMP WHERE THEY ALL DIED.

MEIP FOUND THE DIARY THAT SHE THOUGHT THE WORLD OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO READ. SHE SUBMITTED IT TO A PUBLISHER. THIS IS THE LETTER SHE RECEIVED;

THE REJECTION SLIP READ, “THE GIRL DOESN’T, IT SEEMS TO ME, HAVE A SPECIAL PERCEPTION OR FEELING WHICH WOULD LIFT THAT BOOK ABOVE THE CURIOSITY LEVEL.”

THE DIARY OF ANN FRANK IS ONE OF THE MOST UPLIFTING AND INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS EVER WRITTEN. IT CONTINUES TO GIVE HOPE TO THE WORLD AND THE BOOK HAS BECOME A PLAY AND A MOVIE.

THE NAZI’S TRIED TO SILENCE THE TRUTH. THE PUBLISHER TRIED TO LIVES AND SPEAKS THROUGH HER PROFOUND WORDS.

EVEN DEATH COULD NOT DENY ANNE FRANK THE VOICE THAT HAS SPOKEN THROUGH THE AGES UNTIL OUR DAY. IT WAS A REJECTION THAT BECAME A SELECTION AND IT ALWAYS DOES IF WE WAIT LONG ENOUGH WE CAN SEE IT.

ESTELLE FRANKL WAS RIGHT WHEN SHE WROTE IN HER BOOK SACRED THERAPY , “WHEN ADVERSITY AND ILLNESS ARE VIEWED AS AN ESSENTIAL AND VITAL FORCE IN HUMAN GROWTH AND TRANSFORMATION, NOT JUST THINGS TO BE ENDURED OR OVERCOME, THEY ARE GRANTED A SACRED ROLE IN OUR LIVES.”

EVERY TIME WE ARE REJECTED ON ONE LEVEL WE ARE SELECTED ON ANOTHER LEVEL. EVERY TIME THERE IS A INITIAL NO GIVEN TO US THERE IS AN ETERNAL YES TO FOLLOW.

EVERY TIME LIFE REDUCES US IN STATURE AND STRENTH THERE IS SOMETHING OF THE SPIRIT THAT RISES TO THE OCCASION AND HELPS US UNDERSTAND THAT MEANING COMES TO US WHEN WE LEAN INTO OUR PAIN; WHEN WE BEAR UP UNDER OPPRESSION AND CONQUOR IT BY BEING PRESENT TO AND THROUGH IT.

REMEMBERING THE PROTOTYPE OF IT ALL AND THE ONE WHO IS THE AUTHOR OF OUR FAITH, CHRIST JESUS WHO WAS “THE STONE THAT WAS REJECTED BY THE BUILDERS THAT BECAME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER.”

HIS NAME WAS JOHN; WHEN HE WAS A YOUNG MAN HE WAS CONSCRIPTED BY THE BRISTISH TO SERVE IN THE NAVY. HE ROSE TO BECOME THE CAPTAIN OF HIS SHIP. ON A PARTICULARLY STORMY NIGHT AND THE SHIP ALMOST LOST AT SEA JOHN DID SOMETHING HE HAD NEVER DONE BEFORE, HE PRAYED TO GOD. AND THEN HE DID SOMETHING ELSE THAT SURPRISE EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM. HE STUDIED FOR THE MINISTRY. AS A PART OF A SERMON AND A WORSHIP SERVICE AND IN REFLECTING UPON HIS ROLE IN THE SLAVE TRADE HE WROTE A SONG.

HIS REJECTION, LED TO A SELECTION AND IT REMINDS ALL OF US THAT THERE ARE BAD THINGS THAT HAPPEN AND GOOD THINGS THAT COME. ALWAYS; ALWAYS; FOREVER.

Wednesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

The sermon pushes three areas of thought.

Here are the points I plan to try to develop:

There are people and sometimes we, ourselves, feel like we are the "elect".

But...

1. Most of the time the best we can do is to expect respect. There are times when we do get respect. We may not be seen as "the elect" but we can expect respect.

2. Sometimes we are dejected because we are rejected. We are put down and singled out. We are humiliated by other people and we understand what it means to be rejected.

3. What we can achieve in life is the realization that we are selected to be rejected because there is something we can learn from being rejected. The rejected become the selected when the rejected realize that when life says, "no" something else in life says, "yes". There is never a time when we are rejected that we cannot find something alternative that leads to something more important than what we were rejected by.

When were you rejected? Jesus, was the stone that was rejected that became the "cornerstone" for the building of God's Kingdom.

We are the rejected who become the selected if we can see it.

What thoughts do you have on this? When were you rejected? How did it feel? How did you respond?

If you would like a rough draft of the sermon I can send it to you. If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

"Selected to Be Rejected"

In Acts 4:5-12 we discover the early Church had pointed out that Jesus was one who was rejected. The author (Luke) wrote, "This is the stone which was rejected by you builders, but which has become the head of the corner."

I wanted to do a sermon on all the people who have been rejected at one time or another. In so many ways haven't we all found ourselves rejected and isn't it almost as if the our rejection was the thing that allowed us to accomplish some of the most important tasks in our lives and haven't we seen how the rejected people have been the ones, in retrospect, who have been able to make such major accomplishments?

How have you been rejected?

Was it in high school when you tried out for the basketball team and didn't make it (like Michael Jordan)?

Was it in college when a speech teacher told you you should do something in your life that would preclude public speaking (like United Methodist Bishop Robert Spain)?

Was it the realization that you had no aptitude for math that made you consider following some other discipline of study (like Albert Einstein)?

We are Judeo/Christian people. We are descendants of the Chosen People of Israel who were rejected in Egypt, rejected by Assyria/rejected by Babylon. We are Christian people who are followers of a crucified savior.

Do you have thoughts or stories about rejection and it's imperative to succeed?

Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net.

If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Tuesday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

This Sunday is Women's Sunday where we will celebrate the unique ministry of women in our church and beyond. Our service of worship this Sunday will be about weavers, a traditional occupation for women. Weavers are also, for our faith, those who weave pain, loss, and suffering into a community of support, hope and love. Weaving is literal and symbolic. Where do you see the weavings of our church, our community, our faith? Share a story...

If you have stories to share write Reverend McFee at rebeccamcfee@gmail.com. If you are willing to share your stories with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

Sunday, April 22nd will be "Women's Ministry Sunday". This was established in the late 1980's when there were very few women in Senior Ministry positions in the Rocky Mountain Conference. The church wanted our congregations to experience the diversity and strength of women clergy and so it established the Sunday as a day to be selected by the local church to exhibit the church's ministry with and for women.

Our church has had women clergy for many, many years. We have never had a woman Senior Minister and we have celebrated "Woman's Ministry Sunday" for the past nine years.

This coming Sunday Rebecca McFee will be our preacher. In the past we have had Janet Forbes, Trudy Robinson, Joyce Curtis, Pam Everhart, Opalanda Pugh, and Carol Fox.

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

What I'm looking for in the sermon is "Christ Events" as we read the story of the resurrection in the 20th Chapter of the Gospel of John. The story of Thomas who came into the scene after the Risen Christ appeared in the Upper Room opens up a number of important issues.

First of all Thomas claims to believe because he has been able to see and John has us understand how Jesus said, "You believe because you have seen. Happy are those who believe even though they have not seen". In effect we are looking at the power that comes when believing is seeing. What have we come to believe about Easter and when do we see the Risen Christ in our lives?

Secondly, in the story we read that there were deeds the Risen Christ performed that were not recorded. Every time we discover good deeds done for the sake of the need to have them done and not for getting credit for doing them it becomes a Christ Event.

On the Sunday after Easter we continue to affirm that "Christ the Lord is Risen Today."

If you would like a copy of a rough draft of the sermon let me know and I can email it to you. I have the ability to email that from home on Saturday as well as any time today (Friday).

If you have some thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of this blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.



Charles Schuster

Wednesday's reflection on Sunday's sermon

The post-Easter response may be more important than all the impressive music and all the detailed build up to Easter Sunday itself.

The Easter story in John does have that interesting interaction with the "Doubting Thomas" who could not believe he was seeing the Risen Christ unless he could touch the wounds caused by the crucifixion.

It is very clear to me what the writer of the Gospel is trying to do. It was written at least 70 years after Jesus' death on the cross. That means it was written so long after the first Easter event that the people who would have heard the stories about the empty tomb and the appearances would have been long gone. Many of them were killed as Christian martyrs.

John's resurrection appearance is written for our benefit and all of us who could not have understood the precipitating events that led to the legend of Easter.

Those who have seen and believed have understood that seeing is believing. For the rest of us we have to believe before we can see because we have seen nothing.

What we believe about Easter determines what we see.

What do you believe?

What do you see?

If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts on the church web page so that others can read what you've written click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Monday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

One of the most debated subjects for Christians with regard to Easter and resurrection is the question of the form of the resurrected Christ. Was the resurrection Christ a physical presence or a spiritual form? Did he come to the disciples as a body or as a spirit?

I think it was a spiritual presence and I completely understand how that could happen. I happens in our lives all the time. There are people who have died and who continue to have a living presence with us even though they are not with us in body at all.

We know loved ones who are almost as alive to us now as when they were actually with us and interacting with us on a daily basis.

Other people see this very differently. They believe that Easter is suspension of natural law and that the Risen Christ was actually a bodily form with whom the disciples. The premise is based on the idea that God is God and God can do anything including bring back the dead in a bodily form.

The Gospel of John gives us no help. If you look at the 20th chapter beginning with the 18th verse (which is where we left off on Easter Sunday) we find Jesus appearing to the disciples in the Upper Room. John makes it very clear that the room was shut tight. The doors were closed and the windows were not open and the Risen Christ comes through the walls of the room. In other words the it is a spiritual presence that confronts the disciples that time.

I could be confident that I am right about the assumption of the spiritual presence except that John also suggests that Thomas touches the wound made by the torture of the crucifixion. That implies a physical presence for the Risen Christ.

The debate is not settled and so it continues.

What do you think?

Was the Risen Christ a spiritual presence or a physical form?

If you have thoughts on this subject write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the other readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster

Friday's thoughts on Sunday's sermon

The following is a very rough draft of the sermon. I could turn out very different than what you read here. I value your thoughts about it and suggestions. Write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to share your thoughts with the readers of the blog click on the 'comments' box below.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Charles Schuster


Note: The capitol format is what I use in the first draft of a sermon before I hand write it for the worship service.


THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE COLOR WHITE THAT YOU FIND IN ALL THE ACCOUNTS OF EASTER. WHITE! IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK THERE IS A YOUNG MAN IN A WHITE ROBE AT THE TOMB. IN MATTHEW THERE WAS AN ANGEL WHOSE FACE SHONE LIKE LIGHTENING AND WHOSE ROBE WAS WHITE AS SNOW. IN LUKE’S GOSPEL THERE WERE TWO MEN STANDING AT THE TOMB IN DAZZELING APPAREL, AND IN JOHN’S WE READ THIS MORNING THERE WERE TWO ANGELS IN WHITE.
THE COLOR IS WHITE THIS MORNING. WE SEE THE WHITE LILIES UP HERE IN FRONT. WE SEE WHITE ON STOLES ON THE MINISTERS. THE LITURGICAL COLOR IS WHITE. WHITE ISN’T A COLOR IT IS THE PRESENCE OF ALL COLOR.
THURSDAY NIGHT OUR TEENAGERS REENACTED THE LAST SUPPER AND THEY HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE AND IF YOU WATCHED THEM YOU SAW THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT THEY WERE DOING. SOMETHING HAPPENED TO THEM WHEN THEY STUCK THE POSE OF THE DIVINCI PAINTING. THEY WERE TRANSFORMED. WE WERE ALL TRANSFORMED. ALL THE DISCIPLES WERE THERE. EVERYONE WAS THERE BUT JESUS. HE WAS PORTRAYED BY A CANDLE; A WHITE CANDLE
IF ANY OF US HAD TRIED TO REENACT THE DIVINCI LAST SUPPER WE WOULDN’T HAVE HAD A CLUE EITHER. WE WOULD HAVE WONDERED WHAT IT WAS ALL ABOUT.
FRIDAY WE WENT TO BLACK. WE STARTED THE SERVICE IN LIGHT AND WE GRADUATED OURSELVES DOWN TO DIM AND THEN TO DARK AND THEN WE WENT TO THE COLOR BLACK. NOW BLACK IS NOT A COLOR. BLACK IS THE ABSENCE OF COLOR.
TODAY THE COLOR IS WHITE. WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH A TIME WHEN WE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND IT WENT TO BLACK BUT TODAY THE COLOR IS WHITE AND WHITE IS THE PRESENCE OF COLOR. IT WAS A DARK AND STORY NIGHT BUT THERE IS A SIGN OF REIGN. THE REIGN OF GOD. THE POWER OF GOD. THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND THE COLOR IS WHITE.
IT HAPPENED IN A CHURCH. IT HAS HAPPENED IN OTHER CHURCHES AND IT MAY HAVE HAPPENED HERE. IT HAPPENED IN MY HOME CHURCH WHERE I GREW UP. I SAW IT HAPPEN. IT HAPPENED IN CHURCH IN A SANCTUARY ON EASTER SUNDAY. IT WAS A WOMAN DRESSED IN WHITE.
EDNA HAD SUNG IN THE CHOIR FOR YEARS. SHE HAD ALSO SUNG IN THE CONCERT HALL. HER VOICE WAS TRAINED; LIKE “JULIARD TRAINED”. HER PROFESSOR WAS A MAN NAMED BLACK BUT SHE WAS A WOMAN IN A WHITE DRESS.
WHAT A VOICE! WHAT A TREMENDOUS SOPRANO VOICE! IT WAS THE KIND OF VOICE THAT COULD RAISE THE ROOF; OR THE DEAD. IT WAS THE KIND OF VOICE THAT WOULD ALERT THE LIVING TO THE FACT THAT LIFE IS GOOD. THE WOMAN DRESSED IN WHITE.
IT HAD BEEN A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT FOR HER BUT THERE WAS A CHANCE OF REIGN; THE REIGN OF GOD.
SOMETHING HAPPENED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT WITH HER. SHE KNEW AT FIRST AND COVERED IT PRETTY WELL PRETENDING TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND BUT REALLY NOT QUITE GETTING IT. IT WAS FRIGHTENING AND SHE TRIED VALLIANTLY TO KEEP IT TO HERSELF BUT THERE CAME A POINT SHE COULD NO LONGER CONCEAL THE CONFUSION.
THINGS THAT ONCE CAME NATURALLY TO HER BECAME A CHALLENG SHE COULD NOT QUITE GRASP.
HER MIND, ONCE SHARP, NOW WAS BEGINNING TO DIM TO THE POINT THAT IT WAS BULENT AND THOUGHT WAS PAINFUL.
IT WAS AS IF THEE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN HER MIND, ONE BY ONE, SLOWLY YET ENEXORABLY.
ALZHEIMERS TOOK HER IN ITS GRIP AND SHE HAD TO DROP OUT OF EVERYTHING THAT WAS NEAR AND DEAR TO HER AND IT WAS A LOSS FOR ALL CONCERNED.
NO MORE VOLUNTEER WORK AT THE HOSPITAL WHERE HER HUSBAND HAD BEEN ONE OF THE SURGEONS.
NO MORE CONCERTS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER.
NO MORE STANDING BEHIND A DESK AT THE BANK WHERE SHE WAS EMPLOYED.
NO MORE SOLOS IN THE CHURCH CHOIR.
NO MORE CHURCH UNTIL SHE GOT THE MEDICINE RIGHT.
THE WOMAN WITH THE WHITE DRESS. HER NAME WAS EDNA. THE NAME EDNA COMES FROM THE WORD EDEN. IT MEANS PARADISE.
AND EASTER SUNDAY CAME AND SHE WENT WITH HER FAMILY TO CHURCH TO WORSHIP; TO THE FAMILIAR PLACE; AND THE FAMILIAR FACES.
SHE WASN’T SURE WHERE SHE WAS BUT SHE KNEW IT WAS A PLACE SHE LIKED TO BE. AND THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE TO HER SHD DIDN’T KNOW WHO THEY WERE BUT THEY SEEMED TO BE HAPPY TO SEE HER AND THEY WERE.
IT WAS A WARM PLACE; THE FLOWERS WERE BEAUTIFUL BUT IT WAS A BIT STRANGE FOR HER; THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE DRESS NAMED EDNA—IN PARADISE. IT WAS A STRANGE PLACE UNTIL…….
DURING THE FIRST HYMN AND THE CONGREGATION STOOD AND THE HYMNALS WERE AIMED AND LIFTED HIGH AND THE ORGAN WHEEZED AND THE CONGREGATION BEGAN TO SING, “CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN…TODAY.”
AND THE WOMAN WITH THE WHITE DRESS DID SOMETHING SHE HADN’T DONE IN MONTHS. SHE OPENED HER MOUTH AND SHE SANG.
OBLIVIOUS TO HER SURROUNDINGS; IMPERVIOUS TO THE PEOPLE LOOKING, SHE SANG WITH ALL THE POWER OF THAT MAGNIFICENT VOICE—A VOICE THAT COULD CARRY A CHOIR THROUGH A CANTATA. IT WAS POWERFUL AND MAGNIFICENT AND THE CONGREGATION BEGAN TO HEAR IT LIKE THEY REMEMBERED IT AND ONE BY ONE THEY STOPPED SINGING.
THE ORGANIST REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND SHE SLOWED DOWN THE PACE AND THE PIPES LINED UP WITH THE CADENCE OF THE WOMAN WITH THE WHITE DRES WHO HAD NOW BECOME SOLOIST.
CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN TODAY
EARTH AND HEAVEN IN CHORUS SAY
RAISE YOUR JOYS AND TRIUMPHS HIGH
SING YE HEAVENS AND EARTH REPLY.”
THE ORGANIST FINALLY STOPPED PLAYING AND THE SOLO TURNED A COPELLA AND THE WOMAN IN WHITE FINISHED THE HYMN FROM MEMORY NOT EVEN LOOKING AT THE BOOK AND THEN IT WAS OVER AND THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN.
AND FOR A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE DEAD AND GONE WAS ALIVE AND PRESENT. FOR A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME THE CHURCH HAD A GLIMPSE OF A GREATNESS THAT COULD NOT BE STIFFLED BY DEGENERATION.
DEMINTIA WAS DEFEATED FOR A MOMENT AND ONE LITTLE CHILD SAID TO HIS MOTHER AS THEY SAT IN THE PEW, “WHO IS THAT WOMAN IN THE WHITE DRESS, MOMMA AND WHY ARE PEOPLE CRYING?”
AND HIS MOTHER TURNED AND SAID TO HER SON, “THAT WOMEN IN THE WHITE DRESS IS WHAT EASTER IS ALL ABOUT.”
GOD MET THEM AT THE TOMB
GOD MEETS US AT THE TOMB OF DIMINISHMENT.
ALWAYS—ALWAYS TO SPEAK, TO WALK, TO SEIZE SOMETHING BY THE HAND AND WILL SAY TO ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT THE THINGS THAT CHANGE FOR THE WORSE AT THE WAY LIFE DISINTEGRATES AT THE DIMISHMENTS WE FACE; AGE WILL DO IT, BUT WE CAN FACE IT, GRIEF WILL DO IT, WE CAN FACE IT, NOTHING THAT WAS IS EVER GONE. EASTER IS ABOUT CHRIST THE LORD IS RISEN…..NOT THEN, NOT THERE, BUT HERE AND NOW—IN US. THE WOMAN IN WHITE; EDNA; SHE WAS IN PARADISE.
IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT AND THERE WAS A CHANCE OF REIGN; THE REIGN OF GOD.
IT HAPPENED IN THE DARK RECESSES OF A BASKETBALL ARENA IN CHICAGO. THERE WAS A MAN DRESSED IN WHITE AND HE WORE SHORTS AND A SHIRT AND THERE WAS A BIG RED NUMBER ON HIS BACK. IT WAS NUMBER 23. BUT I GET AHEAD OF MYSELF.
A LITTLE CHILD NAMED CORNELIUS ABRAHAM MCGEE WAS 6 YEARS OLD WHEN HE AND HIS 4 YEAR OLD BROTHER LATTIE WERE TORTURED.
IT WAS A LONG HOT SUMMER AND THE BOYS WERE BEATEN AND STARVED AND HANGED UPSIDE DOWN IN A LOCKED CLOSET MOUTHS TAPED SHUT AND FEET TIED TO A CLOSET ROD AND BURNED WITH A HOT IRON.
NO ONE KNEW BECAUSE NO ONE HEARD AND NO ONE TOLD. LITTLE LATTIE DIED AND HIS MOTHER AND HER BOY FRIEND WENT TO TRIAL AND WERE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE TESTIMONY OFFERED BY CORNELIUS.
A WRITER FROM A CHICAGO NEWSPAPER GOT INVOLVED AND HE DID MORE THAN WRITE ABOUT THE LITTLE BOY HE TOOK AN INTEREST.
HE DISCOVERED THAT CORNELIUS LOVED BASKETBALL. HE MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO TAKE HIM TO A GAME AND THAT’S WHERE HE MET THE MAN DRESSED IN WHITE WITH THE NUMBER 23 ON HIS BACK—MICHAEL JORDAN.
CORNELIUS GOT TO MEET MICHAEL JORDAN.
THE MEETING WAS DRAMATIC. IT WAS AN EVENT.
WIDE WITH FRIGHTENED EYES; EYES THAT HAD SEEN THINGS NO HUMAN SHOULD EVER SEE THE LITTLE BOY WITH THE WIDE EYES AND HE SAID NOTHING AS THEY WALKED DOWN THE STAIRWAY AND THE DOOR OPENED AND THE MAN DRESSED IN WHITE STOOD AND LEANED DOWN.
“HI CORNELIUS, I’M MICHAEL. YOU GOING TO CHEER FOR US TONIGHT. WE’RE GOING TO NEED IT. I WANT YOU TO SIT BESIDE ME ON THE BENCH.”
RIGHT NEXT TO MICHAEL JORDAN, THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER TO PLAY THE GAME.
WHEN JORDAN WAS ON THE COURT CORNELIUS WOULD BE SAVING HIS SEAT FOR HIM. NOTHING COULD BRING HIS BROTHER BACK. NOTHING COULD UNDO WHAT HAD BEEN DONE. BUT CORNELIUS WAS SITTING IN A CHAIR NEXT TO THE WORLD’S GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER AND HE WAS DOING SOMETHING HE HADN’T DONE IN MONTHS; HE WAS LAUGHING OUT LOUD. HE WAS LAUGHING OUT LOUD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
A LITTLE BOY WATCHES A HERO
A LITTLE BOY LEARNS TO LAUGH AGAIN
A LITTLE BOY LAUGHING OUT LOUD FOR THE FIRST TIME.
A LITTLE BOY WHO HAD LITTLE REASON TO LOOK FORWARD INTO HIS LIFE BEGINS TO SEE THAT THERE IS A FUTURE IN THE HUMAN STORY.
BUT THIS IS NOT JUST THE TALE OF A CHILD AND HIS HERO; CHARMING AS IT IS.
REMEMBER JAMES JORDAN; MICHAEL JORDAN’S FATHER? JAMES JORDAN WAS MURDERED. TWO YOUNG MEN ROBBED HIM; THEN THEY KILLED HIM. IT WAS WEEKS BEFORE THEY FOUND THE BODY. WHEN THE MAN DRESSED IN WHITE WITH THE NUMBER 23 ON HIS BACK KNELT DOWN AND LOOKED INTO THE EYES OF A LITTLE BOY AND THE TWO OF THEM LOOKED AT EACH OTHER SOMETHING HAPPENED; IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THE COURAGE TO STARE VIOLENCE DOWN.
THE SCORE OF THE BASKETBALL GAME DOESN’T MATTER; WHO WON; WHO LOST. THE ADORATION OF A SUPERSTAR IS SHALLOW; TWO MEN—CORNELIUS, AGE 9, MICHAEL JORDAN AT HIS PEAK. TWO MEN LOOKED VIOLENCE IN THE EYE.
LIKE ANOTHER MAN THEY CALLED JESUS; SUPERSTAR; SAVIOR; THE CHILD; HEROIC FIGURES WHO WALKED THROUGH THE VALLEY OF VIOLENCE AND VIOLENCE DID NOT PREVAIL.
HEROIC FIGURES WHO LEARNED IF YOU TAKE AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH ALL PEOPLE WILL BE BLIND AND WILL HAVE TO EAT WITH SORE GUMS.
HEROIC FIGURES WHO LEANED TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK, WHO LEARNED TO TRUST THAT ALTHOUGH THERE ARE PEOPLE ON THIS EARTH WHO ARE MEAN AND HATEFUL MOST PEOPLE ARE THOUGHTFUL; MOST PEOPLE ARE KIND; MOST PEOPLE ARE FULL OF COMPASSION.
HEROIC FIGURES WHO WOULD NOT GIVE IN TO VIOLENCE BY TURNING BITTER.
HEROIC FIGURES WHO UNDERSTAND THERE IS A FUTURE TO THE STORY; THERE IS A FUTURE TO THE HUMAN STORY.
VIOLENCE IS A THREAT TO ALL OF US; IT TOOK A BROTHER; IT TOOK A FATHER; IT TOOK THE SON OF GOD; IT TAKES OUR MOTHERS AND OUR SISTERS.
AND YET ONE LITTLE AFRICAN AMERICAN BOY AND HIS FRIEND, THE ONE DRESSED IN WHITE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER FACE TO FACE AND STARING VIOLENCE DOWN A LITTLE BOY LAUGHED AND A SUPERSTAR SMILED AND THERE IS A FUTURE TO THE HUMAN STORY.
GOD MET THEM AT THE TOMB; GOD MEETS US AT THE TOMB OF VIOLENCE AND GOD IS NOT AFRAID OF VIOLENCE ALWAYS—ALWAYS TO SPEAK; TO WALK; TO SEIZE SOMETHING BY THE HAND.

GOD MET THEM AT THE TOMB AND THERE WAS SOMEONE DRESSED IN WHITE; THE PRESENCE OF ALL COLORS AND IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT BUT THERE WAS A CHANCE OF REIGN; THE REIGN OF GOD WHICH COMES WHENEVER SOMEONE REMEMBERS A SONG AND SINGS IT; WHENEVER ONE OF US OR ALL OF US STAND UP TO VIOLENCE BY REMEMBERING THAT WE WORSHIP ONE WHO WAS CRUCIFIED BUT STILL LIVES WHOM WE CALL THE PRINCE OF PEACE.