This week we pray for Martha and Jeffrey Mensendiek, our missionaries to Japan. Martha teaches at Doshisha University in Kyoto, and Jeffrey is director of youth ministries at the Emmaus Center in Sendai.
You can read more about the mission to Japan here, which has continued for more than 125 years.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Coming Up Sunday, July 29
On Sunday, we will continue our "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series" with one of this summer's blockbuster comic book movies, "The Amazing Spider-Man." The film, which has grossed over $600 million worldwide in less than a month, is another reboot of the popular franchise. High school student Peter Parker is bitten by some sort of genetically-engineered spider and develops acute senses.
Here is one of the trailers:
As with many superhero movies, one of the main themes is about identity -- often, who gets to know the man behind the superhero's mask. Such knowledge is seen as threatening, depending on who knows. Ironically, this is one of the themes of the opening of the Gospel of John, where Jesus is revealed as God incarnate. While some people are elated discovering the Messiah, some will be threatened by Jesus -- and eventually, some of these people will call out for his execution.
The Gospel of John invites us to become witnesses to the life and example of Jesus, beginning with how he is revealed to be the Christ in multiple locations: with John the Baptist, at the wedding feast in Cana, and in the Temple in Jerusalem. This, coincidentally, is what most comic book movies invite audiences to do -- become witnesses to the transformation of someone into a superhero. We'll consider the similarities, and a couple of the differences, on Sunday.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
How Should the Church Respond to Violence?
Many around the United States are still shaken by the violent shooting in a movie theater last Friday morning in Aurora, Colorado. Dramatic acts of senseless violence, particularly in places where we seek sanctuary (and modern movie theaters are such places in our society), demand our attention. They unsettle us and raise our anxieties by making us feel less safe in our surroundings and more worried about what the people around us might do.
In the days since, various groups have been responding to the tragedy. The news media has been covering the incident using significant resources, offering around-the-clock updates on many aspects of the shooting, including stories about the victims and survivors, the police investigation, and the criminal proceedings against the alleged shooter. The President and other leaders, including those of Hollywood and Denver area sports teams, have visited with those in the hospital and their families. Pundits and commentators have begun speculating about what actions our government and society should take to make sure such awful things do not happen in the future.
As a pastor, I imagine that some wonder how the church and its leaders should respond to such tragedies. Aside from bearing witness to the tragedy in our worship, through prayers for the victims and the affected community, what should Christians do in the face of such violence?
First, we should respond with humility. In the wake of tragedy, we naturally seek information -- lots of information -- about the awful event and how it occurred as we try to make sense of something that seems so senseless. There is no way to stop this natural human response. However, it is important to remember something that our faith in a transcendent God often teaches us -- we will never understand everything about this mass shooting. There are lessons that we can and should learn that may prevent similar violence in the future, but most investigations into crimes that seem irrational -- even where the criminal survives to be thoroughly questioned and studied psychologically -- usually end with as many unanswered questions as they have at the beginning, if not more.
Second, we should seek healing for the victims of violence. In our congregations, we most often preach about Jesus' death on the cross and his teaching, as recorded in the Gospels. But it is clear that in his day-to-day ministry, Jesus sought to bring healing to those suffering in a broken world. It was so important that when (as recorded in Luke 10) he sent out disciples in his name, he commissioned them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the afflicted.
The wider community in central Colorado is aching, not only from this shooting but from the painful reminder of the Columbine shootings in 1999. To this large community, people of faith need to reach out to help individuals affected directly and indirectly by the violence grieve the loss properly. Then, the much harder work begins, in which the bonds of community must be restored and strengthened. In the wake of tragedy, we must counter the destruction that violence causes, and the fears and anxieties that it creates, with healing reminders that love and forgiveness are more life-giving and life-sustaining than hate and retribution. This is not easy work, but it is vital to healing the broken bonds, especially for the young who will bear the scars -- physical, psychological, and emotional -- for the rest of their lives.
Third, we should not falsely judge. A few among us will be entrusted with the criminal process. These people will, of necessity, make judgments regarding punishing the alleged gunman. Many, as community leaders and members, will make judgments about any necessary changes -- to laws, to procedures, to security systems, to emergency response -- that might benefit our communities in the future. And almost all of us will make decisions about how the threat of such violence affects the safety of ourselves and our families.
But, we cannot judge too broadly. If we do, we'll imagine potential mass murderers in untold numbers of our neighbors, if not even some relatives. This is counter-productive and more destructive of our communities than the irrational act of violence in the movie theater. The harsh reality, and one that Christians who truly admit the reality of human sinfulness should appreciate, is that we are all sinners capable of doing terrible things to one another. If we do not take up guns and knives against other people, we open our mouths and say hateful things. We shun and ostracize. We belittle and bully. Each of us is capable of destroying the relationships among our families, our workplaces, our schools, and our communities; and with shame, we each know that at points -- usually in the not too distant past -- we have said and done things that have unnecessarily hurt others.
Yet, as Christians, we know that this is only part of the story. Through Christ, we are reminded of the divine gift of each person -- so much so, that Jesus promised that God will count it as a personal favor each time we reach out to other human beings who are hungry, sick, naked, alone, or in prison. In the wake of tragedy, it can be unbelievably challenging to see this so-called divine spark in those who caused such pain and suffering. But we are challenged to do just that, each day, in every child of God whom we meet on this earth. We must see the value of life in both the victims and those whose actions victimized them -- in both gunshot victims and shooters, and everyone else in between.
It is not easy, and, needless to say, we as Christians will not do it perfectly. But if we do it intentionally and honestly -- if, through our faith, we respond more with love and forgiveness, we can counter the despair and nihilization of tragedy with peace and with hope, with a divine assurance larger than any of us. We can mend, and even cherish more fully, the tenuous bonds that tie us one to another. We can sacrifice a bit of our time, energy, and money to strengthen others and help them through a difficult patch. Not one of us can do it alone; but a movement of countless Christians, through small acts of love and giving, can offer a glimpse of God in the face of the violence and destruction that is not-God. And this is no small thing.
In the days since, various groups have been responding to the tragedy. The news media has been covering the incident using significant resources, offering around-the-clock updates on many aspects of the shooting, including stories about the victims and survivors, the police investigation, and the criminal proceedings against the alleged shooter. The President and other leaders, including those of Hollywood and Denver area sports teams, have visited with those in the hospital and their families. Pundits and commentators have begun speculating about what actions our government and society should take to make sure such awful things do not happen in the future.
As a pastor, I imagine that some wonder how the church and its leaders should respond to such tragedies. Aside from bearing witness to the tragedy in our worship, through prayers for the victims and the affected community, what should Christians do in the face of such violence?
First, we should respond with humility. In the wake of tragedy, we naturally seek information -- lots of information -- about the awful event and how it occurred as we try to make sense of something that seems so senseless. There is no way to stop this natural human response. However, it is important to remember something that our faith in a transcendent God often teaches us -- we will never understand everything about this mass shooting. There are lessons that we can and should learn that may prevent similar violence in the future, but most investigations into crimes that seem irrational -- even where the criminal survives to be thoroughly questioned and studied psychologically -- usually end with as many unanswered questions as they have at the beginning, if not more.
Second, we should seek healing for the victims of violence. In our congregations, we most often preach about Jesus' death on the cross and his teaching, as recorded in the Gospels. But it is clear that in his day-to-day ministry, Jesus sought to bring healing to those suffering in a broken world. It was so important that when (as recorded in Luke 10) he sent out disciples in his name, he commissioned them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the afflicted.
The wider community in central Colorado is aching, not only from this shooting but from the painful reminder of the Columbine shootings in 1999. To this large community, people of faith need to reach out to help individuals affected directly and indirectly by the violence grieve the loss properly. Then, the much harder work begins, in which the bonds of community must be restored and strengthened. In the wake of tragedy, we must counter the destruction that violence causes, and the fears and anxieties that it creates, with healing reminders that love and forgiveness are more life-giving and life-sustaining than hate and retribution. This is not easy work, but it is vital to healing the broken bonds, especially for the young who will bear the scars -- physical, psychological, and emotional -- for the rest of their lives.
Third, we should not falsely judge. A few among us will be entrusted with the criminal process. These people will, of necessity, make judgments regarding punishing the alleged gunman. Many, as community leaders and members, will make judgments about any necessary changes -- to laws, to procedures, to security systems, to emergency response -- that might benefit our communities in the future. And almost all of us will make decisions about how the threat of such violence affects the safety of ourselves and our families.
But, we cannot judge too broadly. If we do, we'll imagine potential mass murderers in untold numbers of our neighbors, if not even some relatives. This is counter-productive and more destructive of our communities than the irrational act of violence in the movie theater. The harsh reality, and one that Christians who truly admit the reality of human sinfulness should appreciate, is that we are all sinners capable of doing terrible things to one another. If we do not take up guns and knives against other people, we open our mouths and say hateful things. We shun and ostracize. We belittle and bully. Each of us is capable of destroying the relationships among our families, our workplaces, our schools, and our communities; and with shame, we each know that at points -- usually in the not too distant past -- we have said and done things that have unnecessarily hurt others.
Yet, as Christians, we know that this is only part of the story. Through Christ, we are reminded of the divine gift of each person -- so much so, that Jesus promised that God will count it as a personal favor each time we reach out to other human beings who are hungry, sick, naked, alone, or in prison. In the wake of tragedy, it can be unbelievably challenging to see this so-called divine spark in those who caused such pain and suffering. But we are challenged to do just that, each day, in every child of God whom we meet on this earth. We must see the value of life in both the victims and those whose actions victimized them -- in both gunshot victims and shooters, and everyone else in between.
It is not easy, and, needless to say, we as Christians will not do it perfectly. But if we do it intentionally and honestly -- if, through our faith, we respond more with love and forgiveness, we can counter the despair and nihilization of tragedy with peace and with hope, with a divine assurance larger than any of us. We can mend, and even cherish more fully, the tenuous bonds that tie us one to another. We can sacrifice a bit of our time, energy, and money to strengthen others and help them through a difficult patch. Not one of us can do it alone; but a movement of countless Christians, through small acts of love and giving, can offer a glimpse of God in the face of the violence and destruction that is not-God. And this is no small thing.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
July 22 Worship: "Tootsie"
On Sunday, we gathered for another Spirit-filled worship service. Our prayer time indicated that several of us are worried about people who are facing health challenges this summer, and we continue to pray for them and for their loved ones. But the service wasn't only somber as we also were blessed by the choir singing the popular "River in Judea."
The sermon, another in the "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series," featured a classic movie released 30 years ago this year, the classic, Oscar-winning comedy "Tootsie." In the movie, the lead character, an actor who impersonates a woman to land a role on a soap opera, learns how to be a better man by impersonating a woman -- that is, by lying to many people and deceiving them. This is similar to the personal deception endured by the prophet Hosea, who applies its lessons to Northern and Southern Jewish kingdoms in the 8th Century BC.
Unfortunately, because of the broken, sinful world in which we live, we can learn a lot about relationships by dealing directly with deception. The problem, though, is that there are limits to how we can apply these lessons to our relationships with God, who never deceives us or lies to us.
If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with other people, you can find an audio recording here.
The sermon, another in the "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series," featured a classic movie released 30 years ago this year, the classic, Oscar-winning comedy "Tootsie." In the movie, the lead character, an actor who impersonates a woman to land a role on a soap opera, learns how to be a better man by impersonating a woman -- that is, by lying to many people and deceiving them. This is similar to the personal deception endured by the prophet Hosea, who applies its lessons to Northern and Southern Jewish kingdoms in the 8th Century BC.
Unfortunately, because of the broken, sinful world in which we live, we can learn a lot about relationships by dealing directly with deception. The problem, though, is that there are limits to how we can apply these lessons to our relationships with God, who never deceives us or lies to us.
If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with other people, you can find an audio recording here.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Prayer for Mission in South Africa
This week we pray for Scott Couper, Susan Valiquette, and Kristine Tisinger, our missionaries to South Africa. Scott and Susan serve at the Inanda Seminary, while Kristine is a Global Mission Intern serving the Theological Education by Extension College in Johannesburg.
You can read more about the mission to South Africa here, including a couple of the day-to-day challenges that 25% unemployment causes in the South African capital city and how one school is trying to change that through education for about 3500 students.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights on of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
You can read more about the mission to South Africa here, including a couple of the day-to-day challenges that 25% unemployment causes in the South African capital city and how one school is trying to change that through education for about 3500 students.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights on of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Coming Up Sunday, July 22
This week, as we continue our "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series," we'll turn back the clock and look at one of the biggest hits 30 years ago, the gender-bending comedy, "Tootsie." Starring Dustin Hoffman as a temperamental actor who has been blacklisted as too much trouble, the film tells the story of Michael Dorsey, who in a fit of anger auditions for a soap opera and lands the role, as a woman, Dorothy Michaels.
Here is one of the DVD release trailers:
Aside from being a ridiculously funny movie, the movie raises a series question underneath its comedy: Is there any benefit to lying? In "Tootsie," the troublesome actor becomes a better and more cooperative man by seeing the world through a woman's eyes. He also nearly destroys relationships with his agent (and by implication, the acting community), his roommate (Bill Murray), his good friend (Teri Garr), the woman he falls for (Jessica Lange, who won an Oscar for her performance), and that woman's father, who falls for Dorothy (Charles Durning).
In a drama, most of these relationships would be devastated when the lie was exposed, but in this movie, there is a happy ending. This reminds me of the prophet Hosea, whose troubled marriage and dysfunctional family -- caused generally by lying and cheating -- offer a perspective on the nation's broken relationship with God -- also generally caused by lying and cheating.
Here is one of the DVD release trailers:
Aside from being a ridiculously funny movie, the movie raises a series question underneath its comedy: Is there any benefit to lying? In "Tootsie," the troublesome actor becomes a better and more cooperative man by seeing the world through a woman's eyes. He also nearly destroys relationships with his agent (and by implication, the acting community), his roommate (Bill Murray), his good friend (Teri Garr), the woman he falls for (Jessica Lange, who won an Oscar for her performance), and that woman's father, who falls for Dorothy (Charles Durning).
In a drama, most of these relationships would be devastated when the lie was exposed, but in this movie, there is a happy ending. This reminds me of the prophet Hosea, whose troubled marriage and dysfunctional family -- caused generally by lying and cheating -- offer a perspective on the nation's broken relationship with God -- also generally caused by lying and cheating.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
July 15 Worship: "Brave"
On Sunday, we gathered for worship amid more heat and sunshine. The sermon was the second in this year's "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series," focusing on the new Pixar animated film, "Brave." From this new fairy tale set in ancient Scotland, we focused on the maturing of the Scottish king's teenage daughter, Princess Merida, as she learns to balance her need for independence with her responsibilities to her family and the kingdom.
Listening to the sermon myself, I feel that I may have sounded too one-sided. In an attempt to focus on the responsibility that people have to learn from previous generations -- a responsibility described for Christians in Hebrews 11 -- I spoke very little about growing into our individual gifts. I believe both are necessary for all people, and I believe that most teenagers and young adults spend the years between age 12 and 28 learning those varied and important lessons in general. However, I worry that many Christians never really learn either of those lessons very deeply.
It is an interesting challenge for all people of faith, isn't it? How much are we to be guided by the legacy and teaching of those who came before us? And how much are we to seek out God's specific gifts and insights for each individual, cultivating them and trying to live them out fully?
If you missed the sermon on Sunday, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you would like to share it with someone, you can find an audio recording here.
Listening to the sermon myself, I feel that I may have sounded too one-sided. In an attempt to focus on the responsibility that people have to learn from previous generations -- a responsibility described for Christians in Hebrews 11 -- I spoke very little about growing into our individual gifts. I believe both are necessary for all people, and I believe that most teenagers and young adults spend the years between age 12 and 28 learning those varied and important lessons in general. However, I worry that many Christians never really learn either of those lessons very deeply.
It is an interesting challenge for all people of faith, isn't it? How much are we to be guided by the legacy and teaching of those who came before us? And how much are we to seek out God's specific gifts and insights for each individual, cultivating them and trying to live them out fully?
If you missed the sermon on Sunday, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you would like to share it with someone, you can find an audio recording here.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Prayer for Mission in China
This week we pray for Tom and Lynnea Morse, our missionaries to China. Tom helps the Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital with their English language communication, while Lynnea teaches English through a Church World Service program.
You can read more about the mission to China here, including a story about one of the many congregations that is making a difference despite government obstacles for churches.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
You can read more about the mission to China here, including a story about one of the many congregations that is making a difference despite government obstacles for churches.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Coming Up Sunday, July 15
This week, we'll continue our "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series" with a sermon discussing the new animated film, "Brave." The latest feature from Pixar and Disney features a new fairy tale set in historic Scotland. Here is the trailer:
The princess, Merida, is a headstrong young woman, determined to find her own way in the world instead of following tradition. However, in trying to "change her fate," she discovers that there could be awful consequences to her independence.
This reminds me of the description of Christian believers found in the book of Hebrews. After we are described as belonging to the "royal priesthood," the author details the many ancestors of faith, linking our faith to theirs. What, as Christian believers, do we owe those who came before us? What new paths can we take? These are two questions of both "Brave" and the letter to the Hebrews, which we will consider Sunday.
The princess, Merida, is a headstrong young woman, determined to find her own way in the world instead of following tradition. However, in trying to "change her fate," she discovers that there could be awful consequences to her independence.
This reminds me of the description of Christian believers found in the book of Hebrews. After we are described as belonging to the "royal priesthood," the author details the many ancestors of faith, linking our faith to theirs. What, as Christian believers, do we owe those who came before us? What new paths can we take? These are two questions of both "Brave" and the letter to the Hebrews, which we will consider Sunday.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Someone Changing the Church That You've Never Heard Of
Each week, I spend a half hour enjoying Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, a PBS show that offers news and features on issues of religion. That program has long been supported by grants from the Lilly Endowment, based in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana.
In Indiana, gifts from the Endowment are noticeable in many places, particularly at colleges around the state, many of which, like my alma mater Wabash College, have a Lilly Library. Less known, though, is that one of the main focuses of the Lilly Endowment is on strengthening religion, religious education, and religious institutions. Each year, the Endowment gives away millions of dollars in grants to support these efforts to various groups.
A couple of weeks ago, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly ran a story about Craig Dykstra, who has served as the head of the Endowment's religion division for 15 years and will return to teaching full-time. You can watch the story or read a transcript of it here.
From the story, you may not get a full understanding of the impact that Dykstra has had on the church, through his direction of Endowment grants. (My instinct is that Dykstra would have been uncomfortable with a laundry list of programs supported or, more importantly, begun by the religion division during his tenure at the Lilly Endowment.)
However, I believe that the Lilly Endowment is on the front lines of trying to address some of the key challenges facing American churches now and in the near future. In particular, they searched for inventive ways to address some of the decline of churches in the United States. Their solution, which has been supported well beyond $1 billion, has been to invest in pastors who will lead congregations (and beyond) in facing these challenges.
In particular, they have invested heavily in programs to sustain and transform seminary education; they have created fellowships for beginning clergy to work as full-time associates under the direction of skilled senior ministers after they graduate seminary (so that they are better able to face the challenges they will likely face when they become the sole ministers of small congregations -- which is where most recent seminary graduates find their first calling); and they have worked to develop ways to sustain healthy pastoral leadership -- or, if you prefer, to fight against clergy burnout -- through programs that encourage pastoral sabbaticals, create clergy support groups around educational opportunities, and train ministers to be better stewards of their own time, health, and financial resources. (I'm sure the work extends beyond these programs, but these are some that I have interacted with in the last ten years.)
The full fruit of these efforts will only begin to appear in the next ten to twenty years, but I know that they will dramatically change the church. It may not forestall the membership and attendance decline, but it certainly will improve the leadership of congregations -- and likely regions, presbyteries, conferences, and maybe even entire denominations. And I know that the Lilly Endowment will continue to be on the front lines trying to invest in the future of Christian congregations when Dykstra's successor begins his tenure.
These are people that you'll probably never meet; they may even be names you'll never remember. But they carry a big financial stick -- WISELY -- and they are shaping the future of the church. So this is an opportunity to tip our hats and say thank you to someone who has done such service on our behalf, and wish Dr. Dykstra well as he returns to the classroom, where he will continue shaping the future of the church through his students.
In Indiana, gifts from the Endowment are noticeable in many places, particularly at colleges around the state, many of which, like my alma mater Wabash College, have a Lilly Library. Less known, though, is that one of the main focuses of the Lilly Endowment is on strengthening religion, religious education, and religious institutions. Each year, the Endowment gives away millions of dollars in grants to support these efforts to various groups.
A couple of weeks ago, Religion and Ethics Newsweekly ran a story about Craig Dykstra, who has served as the head of the Endowment's religion division for 15 years and will return to teaching full-time. You can watch the story or read a transcript of it here.
From the story, you may not get a full understanding of the impact that Dykstra has had on the church, through his direction of Endowment grants. (My instinct is that Dykstra would have been uncomfortable with a laundry list of programs supported or, more importantly, begun by the religion division during his tenure at the Lilly Endowment.)
However, I believe that the Lilly Endowment is on the front lines of trying to address some of the key challenges facing American churches now and in the near future. In particular, they searched for inventive ways to address some of the decline of churches in the United States. Their solution, which has been supported well beyond $1 billion, has been to invest in pastors who will lead congregations (and beyond) in facing these challenges.
In particular, they have invested heavily in programs to sustain and transform seminary education; they have created fellowships for beginning clergy to work as full-time associates under the direction of skilled senior ministers after they graduate seminary (so that they are better able to face the challenges they will likely face when they become the sole ministers of small congregations -- which is where most recent seminary graduates find their first calling); and they have worked to develop ways to sustain healthy pastoral leadership -- or, if you prefer, to fight against clergy burnout -- through programs that encourage pastoral sabbaticals, create clergy support groups around educational opportunities, and train ministers to be better stewards of their own time, health, and financial resources. (I'm sure the work extends beyond these programs, but these are some that I have interacted with in the last ten years.)
The full fruit of these efforts will only begin to appear in the next ten to twenty years, but I know that they will dramatically change the church. It may not forestall the membership and attendance decline, but it certainly will improve the leadership of congregations -- and likely regions, presbyteries, conferences, and maybe even entire denominations. And I know that the Lilly Endowment will continue to be on the front lines trying to invest in the future of Christian congregations when Dykstra's successor begins his tenure.
These are people that you'll probably never meet; they may even be names you'll never remember. But they carry a big financial stick -- WISELY -- and they are shaping the future of the church. So this is an opportunity to tip our hats and say thank you to someone who has done such service on our behalf, and wish Dr. Dykstra well as he returns to the classroom, where he will continue shaping the future of the church through his students.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
July 8 Worship: "Dark Shadows"
On Sunday we gathered for worship, at the end of a rather ridiculously warm holiday week. Despite the weather, our worship was joyous and faithful. We were blessed by a wonderful solo from Tom Rebecchi, among other things.
The sermon was the first of this year's "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series," exploring some of the religious themes in some of this summer's big movie releases. We considered the time-bending aspects of Tim Burton's comic vampire story, "Dark Shadows." We looked at the central figure, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), who tries to bring his 18th century sensibility to his dysfunctional descendants. This attempt to take the lessons of the past and apply them to the (then) present of the 1970s is similar to religious reform movements, including the first one described in the Bible, King Josiah's reform. Such things are especially interesting for Disciples given our denomination's/movement's birth as part of the reform movement known as Restorationism in the early 1800s.
If you missed the sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone (perhaps a Johnny Depp fan or a Tim Burton nut), you can find the audio recording here.
The sermon was the first of this year's "Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series," exploring some of the religious themes in some of this summer's big movie releases. We considered the time-bending aspects of Tim Burton's comic vampire story, "Dark Shadows." We looked at the central figure, Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), who tries to bring his 18th century sensibility to his dysfunctional descendants. This attempt to take the lessons of the past and apply them to the (then) present of the 1970s is similar to religious reform movements, including the first one described in the Bible, King Josiah's reform. Such things are especially interesting for Disciples given our denomination's/movement's birth as part of the reform movement known as Restorationism in the early 1800s.
If you missed the sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone (perhaps a Johnny Depp fan or a Tim Burton nut), you can find the audio recording here.
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Prayer for Mission in Chile
This week we pray for Elena Huegel, our missionary to Chile. She serves as a environmental, peace, and Christian education specialist at the Shalom Center.
You can read more about the mission to Chile here, including a description of an unusual woman, Tatiana, who is finding hope and purpose through the work of the Shalom Center.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
You can read more about the mission to Chile here, including a description of an unusual woman, Tatiana, who is finding hope and purpose through the work of the Shalom Center.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Friday, July 6, 2012
Coming Up Sunday, July 8
This Sunday, we begin the Summer Blockbuster Sermon Series, which look at religious themes in some of this summer's movies. I cannot lie -- this began as a lark one summer, but has grown into an annual tradition that I greatly enjoy. It is a challenge, for many reasons, but it is also fruitful because it often reminds us that the themes of the Bible are not ancient artifacts, but are alive -- if sometimes hidden -- in the stories that entertain us.
First up is Tim Burton's movie version of a 1970s syndicated soap opera, "Dark Shadows." The movie features the story of a man cursed to be a vampire, Barnabas Collins, who is unearthed after almost 200 years and returns to his family home, where he discovers his very dysfunctional descendants. Here is the trailer:
Rest assured, I will not claim that there are vampires in the Bible on Sunday. However, the undying character of vampires allows them to be time travelers. In this case, Barnabas brings an 18th Century sensibility to the 20th Century, which impacts his heirs in mostly positive ways. This, then, is a story, in a costume drama, of a reform or a revival. As such, we will compare it to a key religious reform movement in the Bible, led by King Josiah and described in 1 Kings.
First up is Tim Burton's movie version of a 1970s syndicated soap opera, "Dark Shadows." The movie features the story of a man cursed to be a vampire, Barnabas Collins, who is unearthed after almost 200 years and returns to his family home, where he discovers his very dysfunctional descendants. Here is the trailer:
Rest assured, I will not claim that there are vampires in the Bible on Sunday. However, the undying character of vampires allows them to be time travelers. In this case, Barnabas brings an 18th Century sensibility to the 20th Century, which impacts his heirs in mostly positive ways. This, then, is a story, in a costume drama, of a reform or a revival. As such, we will compare it to a key religious reform movement in the Bible, led by King Josiah and described in 1 Kings.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Book Review: The Messiah of Morris Avenue
For some time, I have been posting reviews of many books I read online in various places. I have decided to start posting religious-related book reviews here. The first is a novel that offers a modern retelling of the gospel.
The Messiah of Morris Avenue: A Novel by Tony Hendra (Henry Holt, 2006), hardcover, 256 pages
A few years ago a popular song asked, "What if God was one of us?" For many Christians, the question causes us to imagine how the Gospel stories would be different if Jesus were to be born in our lifetime, into a world of air travel, microwave cooking, and electronic communication so different from ancient Judea. Tony Hendra accepts this challenge in "The Messiah of Morris Avenue," retelling the story of Jesus if he were to be born in the United States sometime in the near future.
Told from the perspective of a jaded journalist -- in a future where newspapers have been replaced with online sources that pursue tabloid, TMZ-style stories at the local level -- the novel focuses on the investigation of nebulous miracles attributed to a young Hispanic man named Jay. In search of this man described as wearing a hooded sweatshirt, the cynical reporter Johnny Greco encounters the small group closest to the purported wonderworker, a collection of unemployed outcasts, most who had served time in prison — drug addicts, prostitutes, and petty thieves.
Although skeptical, Greco is intrigued by the mysterious teacher, eventually meeting with Jay. While not convinced that he is Jesus reborn, the reporter believes him to be sincere, something quite unusual in the context of cynical and cutthroat reporting that has come to define Jay's industry. As might be expected, the growing notoriety of the Hispanic wonderworker attracts the attention of the religious powers that be, including the dominant televangelist James Sabbath. The resulting conflict parallels the narrative arc of the Gospels, if with slightly more attention and empathy given to the religious elites.
Hendra generally stays close to the contours of the original stories about Jesus, using wonderful ingenuity to create a modern equivalent to the story filled with marvelous details, such as the federal lethal injection facility he imagines. As might be expected of an author who previously edited humor magazines, there are many laughs, including several witty barbs against the Religious Right bogeyman that serve as the novel's high priest. However Hendra, sensitively and rightly, is more interested in a search for true faith wherever it might be found; this marvelous book is one such fruitful search.
The Messiah of Morris Avenue: A Novel by Tony Hendra (Henry Holt, 2006), hardcover, 256 pages
A few years ago a popular song asked, "What if God was one of us?" For many Christians, the question causes us to imagine how the Gospel stories would be different if Jesus were to be born in our lifetime, into a world of air travel, microwave cooking, and electronic communication so different from ancient Judea. Tony Hendra accepts this challenge in "The Messiah of Morris Avenue," retelling the story of Jesus if he were to be born in the United States sometime in the near future.
Told from the perspective of a jaded journalist -- in a future where newspapers have been replaced with online sources that pursue tabloid, TMZ-style stories at the local level -- the novel focuses on the investigation of nebulous miracles attributed to a young Hispanic man named Jay. In search of this man described as wearing a hooded sweatshirt, the cynical reporter Johnny Greco encounters the small group closest to the purported wonderworker, a collection of unemployed outcasts, most who had served time in prison — drug addicts, prostitutes, and petty thieves.
Although skeptical, Greco is intrigued by the mysterious teacher, eventually meeting with Jay. While not convinced that he is Jesus reborn, the reporter believes him to be sincere, something quite unusual in the context of cynical and cutthroat reporting that has come to define Jay's industry. As might be expected, the growing notoriety of the Hispanic wonderworker attracts the attention of the religious powers that be, including the dominant televangelist James Sabbath. The resulting conflict parallels the narrative arc of the Gospels, if with slightly more attention and empathy given to the religious elites.
Hendra generally stays close to the contours of the original stories about Jesus, using wonderful ingenuity to create a modern equivalent to the story filled with marvelous details, such as the federal lethal injection facility he imagines. As might be expected of an author who previously edited humor magazines, there are many laughs, including several witty barbs against the Religious Right bogeyman that serve as the novel's high priest. However Hendra, sensitively and rightly, is more interested in a search for true faith wherever it might be found; this marvelous book is one such fruitful search.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
July 1 Worship: "Honor: The Reward of Abraham's Faith"
On Sunday, we gathered for another Spirit-filled worship service, celebrating a special birthday and our very successful Vacation Bible School last week.
The sermon completed our five week series on the patriarch Abraham and his example of faith. In "Honor: The Reward of Abraham's Faith," we considered how Abraham was blessed at the end of his life by the Hittites in the surrounding land and by his sons Isaac and Ishmael. These stories remind us of how people can unexpectedly pay tribute to our faithful living if we live with humility and focus on God similar to Abraham.
If you missed the sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone, you can find an audio recording here.
The sermon completed our five week series on the patriarch Abraham and his example of faith. In "Honor: The Reward of Abraham's Faith," we considered how Abraham was blessed at the end of his life by the Hittites in the surrounding land and by his sons Isaac and Ishmael. These stories remind us of how people can unexpectedly pay tribute to our faithful living if we live with humility and focus on God similar to Abraham.
If you missed the sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone, you can find an audio recording here.
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