This week, we pray for Judy Chan and Bruce Van Voorhis, our missionaries to Hong Kong. Judy Chan works for the ecumenical Hong Kong Christian Council with particular responsibilities for radio and newsletter communications. Bruce Van Voorhis is the Coordinator for Interfaith Programs for the regional alliance of YMCAs.
You can read more about the mission to Hong Kong here, including a prayer that shows the vast wealth disparity in this former British protectorate that has been uneasily integrated into China.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Ministries highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Coming Up Sunday, June 17
This Sunday we will join together for worship, continuing our series on the faith of Abraham. There will also be a special tribute to fathers as we celebrate Father's Day. And we will commission the team that will go on the Eastgate mission trip to Joplin next week.
As we reach the midway point in the five-week series on Abraham, we turn to what is probably the most memorable and challenging point in Abraham's life. Having, at long last, been given Isaac, the son that he and his wife Sarah were promised, Abraham is now told by God to go into the mountains and give his son as a burnt offering. In "Binding: The Challenge of Abraham's Faith," we will explore this emotional story, where God dramatically tests Abraham's faith by asking the unthinkable. Just as in last Sunday's examination of Sodom and Gomorrah, though, I believe that this is a way of highlighting a certain aspect through the most extreme example possible.
Near the end of the service, we will pray for those who will serve on our behalf in the effort to rebuild Joplin after last spring's horrific tornado. Our annual mission trip is a part of our commitment to serve others by following Christ's teaching to go out into the world with love and compassion.
As we reach the midway point in the five-week series on Abraham, we turn to what is probably the most memorable and challenging point in Abraham's life. Having, at long last, been given Isaac, the son that he and his wife Sarah were promised, Abraham is now told by God to go into the mountains and give his son as a burnt offering. In "Binding: The Challenge of Abraham's Faith," we will explore this emotional story, where God dramatically tests Abraham's faith by asking the unthinkable. Just as in last Sunday's examination of Sodom and Gomorrah, though, I believe that this is a way of highlighting a certain aspect through the most extreme example possible.
Near the end of the service, we will pray for those who will serve on our behalf in the effort to rebuild Joplin after last spring's horrific tornado. Our annual mission trip is a part of our commitment to serve others by following Christ's teaching to go out into the world with love and compassion.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
June 10 Worship: "Culture Clash: The Location of Abraham's Faith"
During Sunday's joyful worship, we continued our study of Abraham, the father of faith. Having begun our five-week series with a consideration of the multiple chances God gave Abraham to enter into and reaffirm a covenant with God, we turned to the difficult story of Sodom and Gomorrah. While this passage is currently most often cited by people engaged in a debate over homosexuality in the church, I shared my interpretation that the principle lesson of the story has to do with the challenge Lot faces in trying to maintain Abraham's sense of nomadic hospitality in a city setting.
I believe that the key lesson of faith that churches can take from this difficult, violent story is that people of faith are always meant to be simultaneously spiritual pilgrims and a support system for other spiritual pilgrims. By this, I mean that we are supposed to both continue doing the specific things that deepen our personal relationships with God and also look for ways to encourage, teach, comfort, direct, or otherwise support others we come into contact with who are also trying to deepen their own relationships with God.
During the sermon, I mentioned that some congregations seem to focus only on their own pilgrimage, unable to imagine other people having different spiritual needs or being on different spiritual journeys. I even gave a couple of examples of some of the practices of such congregations -- in general, they pattern their church life in ways that exactly conform to their desires for worship practices, service activities, etc. I neglected to mention that there are a few congregations who do the opposite -- they seek to only be waystations for people on a spiritual journey, and they are always looking for the latest cutting-edge approach to interesting people in joining their congregation, but put little effort in developing the faith lives of those who have joined. While I should have pointed out this other end of the spectrum, I omitted it mostly because I believe that most congregations are likely to fall into the trap of becoming insular, only concerned with their own spiritual needs and desires, rather than completely seeker-driven congregations, desperately seeking new members.
Every healthy congregation -- every vibrant religious community -- must find a way to do both of these things well -- developing worship and activities that encourage the members' continued spiritual development and always being mindful that there are spiritual needs that the congregation may need to meet that are different from those cherished and emphasized by current members. I know that Eastgate has experience with this -- no congregation lasts more than 60 years without finding some balance -- but it is an ever-present challenge for every community of faith.
If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you would like to share it with someone else, you can find an audio recording of the sermon here.
I believe that the key lesson of faith that churches can take from this difficult, violent story is that people of faith are always meant to be simultaneously spiritual pilgrims and a support system for other spiritual pilgrims. By this, I mean that we are supposed to both continue doing the specific things that deepen our personal relationships with God and also look for ways to encourage, teach, comfort, direct, or otherwise support others we come into contact with who are also trying to deepen their own relationships with God.
During the sermon, I mentioned that some congregations seem to focus only on their own pilgrimage, unable to imagine other people having different spiritual needs or being on different spiritual journeys. I even gave a couple of examples of some of the practices of such congregations -- in general, they pattern their church life in ways that exactly conform to their desires for worship practices, service activities, etc. I neglected to mention that there are a few congregations who do the opposite -- they seek to only be waystations for people on a spiritual journey, and they are always looking for the latest cutting-edge approach to interesting people in joining their congregation, but put little effort in developing the faith lives of those who have joined. While I should have pointed out this other end of the spectrum, I omitted it mostly because I believe that most congregations are likely to fall into the trap of becoming insular, only concerned with their own spiritual needs and desires, rather than completely seeker-driven congregations, desperately seeking new members.
Every healthy congregation -- every vibrant religious community -- must find a way to do both of these things well -- developing worship and activities that encourage the members' continued spiritual development and always being mindful that there are spiritual needs that the congregation may need to meet that are different from those cherished and emphasized by current members. I know that Eastgate has experience with this -- no congregation lasts more than 60 years without finding some balance -- but it is an ever-present challenge for every community of faith.
If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you would like to share it with someone else, you can find an audio recording of the sermon here.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Prayer for Mission in Ecuador
This week, we pray for Marilyn Cooper and Glen Hebert, our missionaries to Ecuador. In the South American country, they work with an ecumenical organization that supports education opportunities for young people, including the teaching of English.
You can read more about the mission to Ecuador here, including a story about Marilyn beginning an introductory English program for 13 pre-schools.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Ministries 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 Ecuador here, including a story about Marilyn beginning an introductory English program for 13 pre-schools.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Ministries highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
June 3 Worship: "Covenant: The Promise of Abraham's Faith"
We began our summer worship time together with a spirit-filled service, appropriate for this time of year when our thoughts turn more fully to the possibilities of the long warm days of this season. While we had a medical scare after worship -- reminding us again of life's fragile nature -- it was handled capably by the congregation and the emergency personnel. The good news is that it was just a scare -- nothing more.
On Sunday, I began the five-week sermon series on Abraham, the patriarch of Genesis often described as the father of faith. In the sermon, "Covenant: The Promise of Abraham's Faith," I challenged us to appreciate Abraham's acceptance of God's direction without the promise of any immediate rewards -- which is very different from how we approach our relationships with God. (Even for those who mature in their faith and stop treating God as some sort of cosmic vending machine, we still want to feel better, to have assurance, to be promised a glorious existence in the new heaven and the new earth.) It is an important lesson, and a humbling one.
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 listen to an audio file here.
On Sunday, I began the five-week sermon series on Abraham, the patriarch of Genesis often described as the father of faith. In the sermon, "Covenant: The Promise of Abraham's Faith," I challenged us to appreciate Abraham's acceptance of God's direction without the promise of any immediate rewards -- which is very different from how we approach our relationships with God. (Even for those who mature in their faith and stop treating God as some sort of cosmic vending machine, we still want to feel better, to have assurance, to be promised a glorious existence in the new heaven and the new earth.) It is an important lesson, and a humbling one.
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 listen to an audio file here.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Prayer for Mission in Mozambique
This week we pray for Dawn and Jon Barnes, our missionaries to the nation of Mozambique. They serve the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa in their service to the social needs of those in the African nation, including so many suffering with HIV and AIDS.
You can read more about the mission to Mozambique here, including a prayer for the continued growth of the church to meet the needs of those touched by war, famine, and disease.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Ministries 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 Mozambique here, including a prayer for the continued growth of the church to meet the needs of those touched by war, famine, and disease.
There are Christian missionaries serving around the world on our behalf in 70 countries. Each week, Global Ministries highlights one of these missions and asks the church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the gospel.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Coming Up Sunday, June 3
Although the astronomers will differ, I tend to follow the cultural practice of summer lasting from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, at least when planning worship. I've gotten in the habit of offering two sermon series each summer, designed so that people can miss a Sunday or two because of vacations or other such summertime activities without feeling they are entirely lost.
The first sermon series this year is about Abraham, drawn from the extensive stories about the patriarch in the book of Genesis. For five weeks, we will explore different aspects of Abraham's life and faith. While Christians recognize that God is often described as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I feel that most people today have little familiarity or understanding of these faith ancestors. By exploring God's relationship with these patriarchs, we can better understand our own relationships with God.
This Sunday, we will turn our attention to the covenant that God makes with Abraham: if Abraham is faithful to the one God, he will be blessed as the father of many nations. In order to enter into this covenant, Abraham must move his household to a completely new place toward which God directs him, where he will be a foreigner. He also must trust that God will somehow grant him male heirs, despite his and his wife's advanced ages beyond childbearing years. In "Covenant: The Promise of Abraham's Faith," we'll consider how God offers this to Abraham, and how Abraham accepts.
The first sermon series this year is about Abraham, drawn from the extensive stories about the patriarch in the book of Genesis. For five weeks, we will explore different aspects of Abraham's life and faith. While Christians recognize that God is often described as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, I feel that most people today have little familiarity or understanding of these faith ancestors. By exploring God's relationship with these patriarchs, we can better understand our own relationships with God.
This Sunday, we will turn our attention to the covenant that God makes with Abraham: if Abraham is faithful to the one God, he will be blessed as the father of many nations. In order to enter into this covenant, Abraham must move his household to a completely new place toward which God directs him, where he will be a foreigner. He also must trust that God will somehow grant him male heirs, despite his and his wife's advanced ages beyond childbearing years. In "Covenant: The Promise of Abraham's Faith," we'll consider how God offers this to Abraham, and how Abraham accepts.
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