Saturday, June 9, 2012
What on Earth am I here for? May 6
4 week sermon series based on "What On Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren
--The Rev. John Donnelly
WONDERFUL. FANTASTIC. INCEDIBLE. That’s the way I describe our 4 week sermon series and bible study. I am not boasting about myself, because our sermon series is based on the internationally bestselling book, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren.
• Now, I believe that some of you have read this book, yes? Did you like it?
• Now, just in terms of book purchases alone, this is the most significant Christian book in the past 50 years.
• Well, the first 7 chapters of that book have been repackaged as the booklet that you received this morning, called “What On earth am I here For?’ This is your book and you are free to take it home today, but you will need to bring them back, because we are going to need these books during all of May. So, if you would like to leave it here, and then write your name on the back—pens can be found in white baskets in each pew. On your way out, you may leave your book in the basket by the door, and it will be waiting for you for the next time.
Before we continue, we are very pleased that our 8th through 12th graders are joining us. Our bible study will be made better by you being here. So, I want to begin by this very serious biblical study, by inviting one of your young people to come up here, and to join me in a game of dice. Yes, today we are making history at CCQF—because this will be the first occasion in 200 years that any clergy person will play a game of craps right before the altar.
So, you roll the dice. To win, you have to get the same score again before you get a 7, 11, or snakes eyes. Now in this crap game, we are not playing for money—rather, we are playing for IQ. In this game, we are pretending that ______, here, has as not been born yet. So, you are going to roll the dice, and see what you end up with. Now, you continue rolling the dice until that number comes up—and if you do, you win an average or above average IQ. If you lose the crap shoot, then you will receive a below average IQ.
There are some big thinkers in our society, who believe that everything that happens, happens by pure chance. “All that happens is purely random—including all the creation of the universe, our planet, animal life, and even human life.” In this worldview, there is not God, or if God exists, God is entirely irrelevant. There is no benevolent presence or spirit behind the universe. Rather, we are all at the mercy of the scientific laws of nature, which operate totally dispassionately until we die and exist no more. Such a world view has been around for several hundred years, and has a strong following among our friends, family, and even without our own community. So l what do you think? Was the universe created totally by random chance? Was your DNA make up a total roll of the dice?
So, let’s look at the Christian worldview. Turn to page 12 in your books, and let’s read the first 2 paragraphs. YOU ARE NOT AND ACCIDENT.YOUR BIRTH WAS NO MISTAKE OR MISHAP, AND YOUR LIFE IS NO FLUKE OF NATURE. YOUR PARENTS MAY NOT HAVE PLANNED YOU, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THAT GOD DIDN’T PLAN YOU. HE WORKS EVEN THROUGH HUMAN ERROR AND FAILINGS, AND HE WAS NOT SURPRISED BY YOUR BIRTH." The dropping down to the line in bold print, “YOU ARE ALIVE BECAUSE GOD WANTED TO CREATE YOU.”
Now to me, that sounds pretty heady. The Lord God king of the universe willfully created ME? Maybe he made a mistake. Why would he want to make little you and little me?
You can find the answer to that question by turning to page 15, looking at the line in bold print, “God made you so that he could love you.” This is the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the central power point of today’s message.
• So, I want you to get this down, but I also want you to personalize it. So, please repeat after me, “GOD MADE ME----SO HE COULD LOVE ME.
Now in the Bible, the Greek word for love, agape, is a verb—its and action. True love expresses itself to the beloved.
• So, let’s open up the floor and hear from some of you: If YOU are an object of God’s love, how does God express this love to you? (Make a list)
What a great God we have! His purpose driven life, is to love us!!!!
As part of God’s love fours, He has a plan for our lives. As Jesus says in today’s Gospel, his plan is that we would have a good life, that our lives would be abundant is hope, abundant in peace, and abundant in love. Ts theme is echoed in today’s Ephesians reading. You will find part of that reading on page 9 in your booklet, the 2nd section in italic print. Let us read together the first line of that passage: IT’S IN CHRIST THAT WE FIND OUT WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE ARE LIVING FOR.”
Look at the 2nd &3rd word of that sentence “In Christ.” Now this simple phrase is totally deceptive. You see, to be, quote “In Christ,” actually means the opposite. It really means that Christ is in YOU. To be In Christ, means that He is in your heart and should, along with his peace, hope, and love. To be in Christ is sort of like the Alien movies, where the monsters were living inside people’s bodies. Well, Jesus is no monster; and He’ll only live in you, if you invite Him in.
How many of us here today were baptized as small children?” How many of you remember it? Whether we remember our baptisms or not, your baptism in Christ was an objective milestone in your life. The Greek word baptism means to immerse, to saturate, like a sponge soaking up water. So that’s why we use the water –as an outward and visible sign of God’s inward and spiritual grace. So baptism is a promise...a promise from God that one day, we will be saturated in Jesus Christ. This occurs in a two stage process:
When a child is baptized, he or she is adopted into God’s family.
For most of us, stage 2 occurs later on, when we voluntarily, individually, invite Christ into our heats, to release His presence, His hope, His peace, and His love. This is the background that makes our scripture on page 9 so important. So, I’d like you to look at it again, but with my amplification.
It is when we have been baptized into God’s family, and has invited Christ into our lives, that we find out who we are, and what we are living for.
So, why on earth and I here? Because God has a purpose for your life and part of that purpose is that you will receive all the abundant love and life that he has planned for you. This is true, no matter if you are: old or young; rich or poor; smart or dumb; healthy or sick; religious or not. None of that matters, because God loves you anyway.
So, I invite all of you, including those of you who are visiting today, to continue to join us in this journey of discovery, as we learn just what on earth we are here for.
• We hope some of you visitors will come back and join us next Sunday.
• Whether you do or not, take your booklet home and enjoy it for yourself.
• Also, we have even launched an online bible study, to which you are invited. Details are in your bulletin.
It is my hope that you will continue to reflect upon these matters. Simply to ask you the question, what on earth am I here for, is to enter a whole dimension of life that is sacred and holy. In Christ, you will find some wonderful answers. AMEN.
Friday, April 13, 2012
The Resurrection Community Part 1
THE RESURRECTION COMMUNITY Part 1
EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 8, 2012
Many Christians are surprised to learn that Jesus did not invent the idea of the Resurrection.
-Resurrection is an ancient term, affirming that the dead will come back to life. Zoresthanism, an ancient Persian religion, affirmed that good would triumph over evil at some date in the future; and that the dead would be brought back new life.
-Throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew faith speaks of a time when the dead will supernaturally come back to life.
No, Jesus did not invent the idea at the Resurrection.
Of course, the Wright Brothers, they did not invent the idea of a flying machine; they were just the first to do it. Likewise, Jesus was the first to Rise from the dead and to open the door to eternal life. This is wonderful for us, because a recent Gallup pole reports that 85% of all Americans believe in heaven.
Over the next 50 days of Easter, here at CCQF we will together explore the proofs of the Resurrection and the resulting reality of eternal life. But today, I would like to explore with you one proof at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and that is the Resurrection Community.
The first member of the Resurrection community was Mary Magdalene of whom we hear in today’s Gospel. She encounters the Risen Lord and calls him “rabboni” which means honored teacher. Contrary to the recent popular fantasy fiction, “The Da Vinci code, Mary Magdelene could not even touch Rabboni Jesus, much less sleep with Him. In today’s Gospel, she is so overcome with joy at seeing the Risen Lord that she reaches out to touch Him. Jesus replies, “No, Don’t do it.” Then Jesus spoke His word to her and taught her about the victory over death. He instructs Mary to go teach His disciples – that they might spiritually grow to understand the incredible significance of the Resurrection. Shortly after that, as we hear in today’s reading, Peter preaches God’s Word of New Life and that day the community of the resurrection grew by 5000 . It was quite a mixture of people – Jews, Greeks, Romans, the rich and poor, the young and the old, saints and sinners, skeptics and believers, longtime followers of Jesus and thousands of newcomers. This unusual diversity of people joining together is only possible, as Peter proclaims, because, quote, God shows no partiality. The community of the resurrection accepts all comers. Period. All people are important to God.
In our day and time, many people are surprised to learn that the earthly Resurrection Community is not the same thing as the institutionalized Christian church. Now some Christian churches are resurrection communities, but not all. Most frequently resurrection communities emerge from dead and dying churches. You see resurrection means coming back to life, after death. No cross and tomb, No East, No New Life.
Today, CCQF is celebrating our 200th Easter Sunday in this, our Bicentennial year. Since I arrived here in September, I have been learning the history at this church through studying and reading, and by listening to hundreds and hundreds of stories about the past life of this church. As some of you know much better than me, during the first 200 years this church has gone through cycles of life, death and resurrection; times of growth and times of decline; times of prosperity and times of scarcity; times when our church was as full as it is today and times when nobody came to church at all for long periods of time.
I believe that CCQF is now growing into a resurrection community. This becomes apparent by looking at the first resurrection community of the apostolic church after the first Easter Sunday, and comparing that with what God is doing among us now.
First, upon encountering the Risen Lord on the first Easter and during the following 50 days that ensues, the disciples and new believers were filled with joy. Mary and the other disciples were so overcome with joy at encountering the Risen Lord, and they fell down and worshipped him.
Likewise, this church is rediscovering that worship is not meant to be BORING, BULLYING OR BURDENSOME. No worship is meant to be joyful. You see, each Sunday is meant to be a mini Easter Sunday, where we encounter the Risen Lord, through hearing his encouraging word, by energetically and joyfully singing his praises, and happily receiving His real and living presence through Holy Communion. Jesus is alive!!!!!Is Jesus Alive? If you believe it say, “He’s Alive.” Okay, we can laugh, smile, sing off key, and enjoy sharing in His Resurrection presence. Joyful worship is becoming a core value of CCQF.
Secondly, another characteristic of a Resurrection community is the positive, encouraging and relevant teaching of God’s work, not as an academic study, but as a means of hearing God’s voice
Some of you may remember my first Sunday here, when during my sermon, I received a cell phone call from God. That occurs because the Risen Lord and I wanted you to know that we can grow to hear His voice, expressing His love for you. Christ Church is dedicated to nurturing everyone’s spiritual growth. For example, rarely have I ever seen a church with such a strong Sunday School as the one this church is blessed to have. I have been so looking forward to today because I have so wanted to worship with our dedicated and faithful Sunday School Teachers and Your Advisors. You see, most of the time we never see these folks during the first part of the service, because they are busy nurturing the spiritual growth of our kids so that they can grow into young women and men of character, faith and generosity. I would like all our Sunday School teachers, youth advisors, first communion teacher, acolyte director and your choir and band director to please stand up, because I have something to say to you.
We honor you. We are proud of your. We are grateful for you. You see, a church without children is a dying church. Because of your labors of love, we are alive in Christ. The Bible says that little children will lead us. Today, we comment you as Resurrection teachers, who serve the same teaching function to us as Mary Magdalene and Peter served on that first Easter. I love them, don’t you?
So, Resurrection communities are characterized by Joyful Worship, Spiritual Growth, and also, New Friendships
To paraphrase Peter in today’s reading, “All people are important to God, and therefore, all people are important to us.” CCQF is growing as a resurrection community as we welcome and make more and more new friendships. We at CCQF are so grateful for the friendships that we have, and we wish to share that with all who wish to come. If you want to come to church once or twice a year, we welcome you. But is you would like friendship, then you will find it here if you hang around for a while. Our children, especially, our new youth group, are showing us how to develop new friendships. You see members of our youth group have family and friends outside of church. But I have seen how they have developed new friendships with kids from different schools, different grades and different cliques. But the hardest barrier to overcome – they have become friends here with kids who even listen to different types of music.
I can testify that I am here today because of the friendship I received at church as a teenager.
-Family dysfunctional and emotionally abusive
-Friends all abused drugs and alcohol
Church became my real family during those troubled times and have ever since.
Now that I am all grown up. Also, church provides a place to celebrate happy times – happy times in daily life and spiritual happy times with our church friends.
God wants us to have friendships with children at the Resurrection.
So, Jesus rose from the dead bringing New Life, which we are now privileged to experience through joyful worship, spiritual growth, and new friendships. This is the Light of Christ shining through this resurrection community and into the Worlds. May all of us come to the light – where like Mary and the first disciples, we will be able to see, hear, be healed, and renewed through the Risen Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
--The Rev. John Donnelly, Christ Church Quaker Farms
EASTER SUNDAY APRIL 8, 2012
Many Christians are surprised to learn that Jesus did not invent the idea of the Resurrection.
-Resurrection is an ancient term, affirming that the dead will come back to life. Zoresthanism, an ancient Persian religion, affirmed that good would triumph over evil at some date in the future; and that the dead would be brought back new life.
-Throughout the Old Testament, the Hebrew faith speaks of a time when the dead will supernaturally come back to life.
No, Jesus did not invent the idea at the Resurrection.
Of course, the Wright Brothers, they did not invent the idea of a flying machine; they were just the first to do it. Likewise, Jesus was the first to Rise from the dead and to open the door to eternal life. This is wonderful for us, because a recent Gallup pole reports that 85% of all Americans believe in heaven.
Over the next 50 days of Easter, here at CCQF we will together explore the proofs of the Resurrection and the resulting reality of eternal life. But today, I would like to explore with you one proof at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and that is the Resurrection Community.
The first member of the Resurrection community was Mary Magdalene of whom we hear in today’s Gospel. She encounters the Risen Lord and calls him “rabboni” which means honored teacher. Contrary to the recent popular fantasy fiction, “The Da Vinci code, Mary Magdelene could not even touch Rabboni Jesus, much less sleep with Him. In today’s Gospel, she is so overcome with joy at seeing the Risen Lord that she reaches out to touch Him. Jesus replies, “No, Don’t do it.” Then Jesus spoke His word to her and taught her about the victory over death. He instructs Mary to go teach His disciples – that they might spiritually grow to understand the incredible significance of the Resurrection. Shortly after that, as we hear in today’s reading, Peter preaches God’s Word of New Life and that day the community of the resurrection grew by 5000 . It was quite a mixture of people – Jews, Greeks, Romans, the rich and poor, the young and the old, saints and sinners, skeptics and believers, longtime followers of Jesus and thousands of newcomers. This unusual diversity of people joining together is only possible, as Peter proclaims, because, quote, God shows no partiality. The community of the resurrection accepts all comers. Period. All people are important to God.
In our day and time, many people are surprised to learn that the earthly Resurrection Community is not the same thing as the institutionalized Christian church. Now some Christian churches are resurrection communities, but not all. Most frequently resurrection communities emerge from dead and dying churches. You see resurrection means coming back to life, after death. No cross and tomb, No East, No New Life.
Today, CCQF is celebrating our 200th Easter Sunday in this, our Bicentennial year. Since I arrived here in September, I have been learning the history at this church through studying and reading, and by listening to hundreds and hundreds of stories about the past life of this church. As some of you know much better than me, during the first 200 years this church has gone through cycles of life, death and resurrection; times of growth and times of decline; times of prosperity and times of scarcity; times when our church was as full as it is today and times when nobody came to church at all for long periods of time.
I believe that CCQF is now growing into a resurrection community. This becomes apparent by looking at the first resurrection community of the apostolic church after the first Easter Sunday, and comparing that with what God is doing among us now.
First, upon encountering the Risen Lord on the first Easter and during the following 50 days that ensues, the disciples and new believers were filled with joy. Mary and the other disciples were so overcome with joy at encountering the Risen Lord, and they fell down and worshipped him.
Likewise, this church is rediscovering that worship is not meant to be BORING, BULLYING OR BURDENSOME. No worship is meant to be joyful. You see, each Sunday is meant to be a mini Easter Sunday, where we encounter the Risen Lord, through hearing his encouraging word, by energetically and joyfully singing his praises, and happily receiving His real and living presence through Holy Communion. Jesus is alive!!!!!Is Jesus Alive? If you believe it say, “He’s Alive.” Okay, we can laugh, smile, sing off key, and enjoy sharing in His Resurrection presence. Joyful worship is becoming a core value of CCQF.
Secondly, another characteristic of a Resurrection community is the positive, encouraging and relevant teaching of God’s work, not as an academic study, but as a means of hearing God’s voice
Some of you may remember my first Sunday here, when during my sermon, I received a cell phone call from God. That occurs because the Risen Lord and I wanted you to know that we can grow to hear His voice, expressing His love for you. Christ Church is dedicated to nurturing everyone’s spiritual growth. For example, rarely have I ever seen a church with such a strong Sunday School as the one this church is blessed to have. I have been so looking forward to today because I have so wanted to worship with our dedicated and faithful Sunday School Teachers and Your Advisors. You see, most of the time we never see these folks during the first part of the service, because they are busy nurturing the spiritual growth of our kids so that they can grow into young women and men of character, faith and generosity. I would like all our Sunday School teachers, youth advisors, first communion teacher, acolyte director and your choir and band director to please stand up, because I have something to say to you.
We honor you. We are proud of your. We are grateful for you. You see, a church without children is a dying church. Because of your labors of love, we are alive in Christ. The Bible says that little children will lead us. Today, we comment you as Resurrection teachers, who serve the same teaching function to us as Mary Magdalene and Peter served on that first Easter. I love them, don’t you?
So, Resurrection communities are characterized by Joyful Worship, Spiritual Growth, and also, New Friendships
To paraphrase Peter in today’s reading, “All people are important to God, and therefore, all people are important to us.” CCQF is growing as a resurrection community as we welcome and make more and more new friendships. We at CCQF are so grateful for the friendships that we have, and we wish to share that with all who wish to come. If you want to come to church once or twice a year, we welcome you. But is you would like friendship, then you will find it here if you hang around for a while. Our children, especially, our new youth group, are showing us how to develop new friendships. You see members of our youth group have family and friends outside of church. But I have seen how they have developed new friendships with kids from different schools, different grades and different cliques. But the hardest barrier to overcome – they have become friends here with kids who even listen to different types of music.
I can testify that I am here today because of the friendship I received at church as a teenager.
-Family dysfunctional and emotionally abusive
-Friends all abused drugs and alcohol
Church became my real family during those troubled times and have ever since.
Now that I am all grown up. Also, church provides a place to celebrate happy times – happy times in daily life and spiritual happy times with our church friends.
God wants us to have friendships with children at the Resurrection.
So, Jesus rose from the dead bringing New Life, which we are now privileged to experience through joyful worship, spiritual growth, and new friendships. This is the Light of Christ shining through this resurrection community and into the Worlds. May all of us come to the light – where like Mary and the first disciples, we will be able to see, hear, be healed, and renewed through the Risen Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.
--The Rev. John Donnelly, Christ Church Quaker Farms
Saturday, March 17, 2012
THE GREAT BELL & THE CROSS
SERMON: The Great Bell and the Cross
The following is a traditional children’s story from Imperial China, early 15th century:
Once there was a Chinese artisan, who was given an impossible job. The Great Emperor of all China commissioned the artisan to make the new imperial bell. Now this was not to be just any bell. This was to be a bell of great power, of perfect tonal quality, whose sound would be unmatched throughout the world.
The future bell maker was met with the Emperor, who told him, “This BELL must be so great that the sound of it will ring out to a distance of thirty-three miles in every direction. To this end, you should add in proper proportions gold and brass, for they give depth and strength to everything with which they mingle. Furthermore, in order that this giant may not be lacking in the quality of sweetness, you must add silver in due proportion.”
Well, the bell maker did not fell up to the job. He knew that if he failed, that he would be executed, for failure was not an option. Likewise, the bell maker’s daughter was deeply disturbed by this assignment. The girl loved her father dearly and there had come into her heart a strange terror at thought of his possible danger.
For two months, the bell maker undertook elaborate preparations for the intricate job of casting the Great bell. All the metals had to mix properly, or he would fail. Finally, the day for the casting arrived. The Emperor and his courtiers assembled at the foundry, next to the daughter. She peered anxiously towards the cauldron of molten liquid, knowing that her father’s life depended on the success of this enterprise.
At last , the Emperor gave the sign. Then the glowing liquid ran forward faster and faster along the channel that led into the great earthen bed, which was the mold or the bell. Well, to the dismay of the bell maker, something had indeed gone wrong. When at last the earthen moulding had been broken, even the smallest child could see that the giant bell, instead of being a thing of beauty was a sorry mass of metals that would not blend.
Upon seeing his failure, the bell maker cried out in agony. However, the Emperor was a reasonable man, and he gave the bell maker another chance to make successfully make the great imperial bell.
For weeks, the bell maker consulted with metallurgists and sought to learn from his mistake. Meanwhile, his devoted daughter continued praying and worrying, with even greater intensity. Once the preparations were finished, the Emperor and his courtiers returned to the foundry. Once again the liquid metal flowed into the cast. But alas, there was failure once again. It was dreadfully ugly, for the gold, silver and the baser elements had again refused to blend into a united whole. Well, this time the Emperor was furious, and he demanded that the bell maker try one more time. If this next time, the bell maker was unsuccessful, then he would be hung.
So, for this last time as the bell maker made these final preparations,
• his heart was heavy, for he felt that he would soon journey into the dark forest, the place from which no pilgrim ever returns.
• His daughter, of course, was deeply distressed. Willingly she would have done anything to save her beloved father. Night and day she racked her brains for some plan, but all to no avail.
On the day before the third casting, the daughter went to consult a local scholar and holy man. She told her story, and the holy man prayed. Then, he spoke to her, saying, “Nothing could be plainer than the reason of your father's failure, for when a man seeks to do the impossible, he can expect only expect failure. Gold cannot unite with silver, nor brass, unless the blood of a maiden is mingled with the molten metals.”
The next day, everyone assembled, one last time, and the foundry. However, unnoticed by all, the bell maker’s daughter had planted herself directly opposite the huge tank in which the molten, seething liquid bubbled. She waited the exact moment when it was starting to be poured. The girl sprang with a wild leap into the boiling liquid, and in her clear, sweet voice, she cried,
"For you, dear father! It is the only way!"
This, then, my children, is the time-worn legend of the great bell of Peking, a tale that has been repeated a million times by poets, story-tellers and devoted mothers. You must know that on this third casting, when the earthen mould was removed, there stood revealed the most beautiful bell that eye had ever looked upon. When it was swung up into the bell-tower there was immense rejoicing among the people. The silver and the gold and the iron and the brass were all held together by the blood of the one who willingly sacrificed herself for the one she loved. That sacred bell rang out over the great city, sounding a deeper, richer melody than that of any other bell within the limits of the whole empire, or, for that matter, of the entire world. And later the Emperor had the bell engraved, to extol the girl who died to save her loved one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, some people who initially hear this story find it disturbing. I know I did, when I first heard it in a professor’s sermon in seminary. But, then again, the blood sacrifice of Jesus is very disturbing, so maybe it is appropriate or us to reflect upon this as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter.
You see, there are some ways in which we can be compared to the bells in today’s story.
• Those bells were each comprised of different elemental metals. Like the bells, each of us is comprised of many elements—like our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our relationships, our work, and our families, and the like.
• Like the Emperor in the story, God has a picture of us being perfect and uniquely wonderful, because God created us to ring out our chimes with beauty, boldness, and abandon.
However, also like the first two bells in the story, there are times when the elements of our life not mix well together:
• Spending too much time at work, on a regular basis, does not mix well with a wholesome and balanced family life.
• How often do we face problems where our heart is pulling us in one direction, our head in another direction, and someone else recommending a 3rd way?
• Or maybe one of our relationships breaks our heart, or dies ?
• Or maybe our bodies suffer health problems, which do not mix with the rest of our life?
But like the bell maker, we have someone in our lives who loves us more than life itself. 2000 years ago, there was a perfect man, who looked into our futures, even though we had not even been born or thought of. Like the girl in the story who foresaw her father heading for disaster, Jesus also foresaw us heading for disaster. You see, humanly speaking, our lives are very fragile. They can be shattered in an instant. So Jesus foresaw that, He decided to help us out:
• You see, Jesus can help us make reconciliation in our broken relationships, because He is the Prince of Peace.
• Jesus can help us when we are confused, and feeling pulled p part in different directions. He is THE wonderful counselor.
• Jesus can help us and our families discover and live out new priorities, because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
• Jesus can help us when we are sick or bereaved. Today’s scriptures remind us that He lifted up upon the cross that we might be saved from our troubles and our sins.
All of this is available to us, because Jesus, the perfect God-man voluntarily sacrificed his human life and shed his blood in an act of unselfish love. Like the girl in the story, he plunged to certain death. Simultaneoulsy, he absorbed our heart ache and sins within in Himself, and that killed Him. But something miraculous then occurred: God raised Jesus to new life, so that He might bring to you and me the very peace, wisdom, guidance, healing and comfort that God wants us to receive.
All this, done or for you and me, because of His love and because, as the little girl said when she plunged to her death, “There was no other way.”
We may not understand it all, but here is something that we can understand---God’s love is like a supernatural adhesive, which can taken the broken pieces of our lives, and put them back together. And not just put them back together, make us stronger. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that he came not to condemn us, but to put his arms around us to pull each of us together in his amazing love. All we have to do, according to today’s scriptures is to turn to him and to ask for “Help.” The Bible says that in this way: Please repeat after me: “ Lord has mercy on me.”
I know this is true, for I have seen it happen in the lives of many people, not just the super spiritual, but regular folks like you and me.
I can remember several times when my whole life and everything I valued seemed to be falling apart: Deep conflict in family; chronic debilitating asthma, followed by depression, which was then followed by burnout at work. On each occasion, I felt had no way to turn. So, not knowing what else to do, I turned to the cross o Jesus. I am speaking figuratively, of course, but each time I mentally visualized Jesus hanging on the cross, with me looking up at Him. Then, I mde a very complicated and theologically correct prayer, and here is the transcript: HELP. I had no fancy words. I felt desperate. I didn’t know what even to ask for. I just called out for help and then waited. ..Patiently waited, beneath the cross of Jesus.
Well, shortly after my prayer, I somehow began to feel stronger. I did not have solutions, but as Paul says in today’s reading, by grace through faith, I chose to believe that God would help in some way.
• So, I began by deciding to trust Jesus with the next ten minutes of my life. Did I believe that God could help me through the next ten minutes? Later, trusted him with the next hour, and the next hour then became the next day.
• Slowly, I began the darkness began to lift and through the dim light I can see new paths, leading to some possible new solutions, As I started making progress, I felt stronger both physically and emotionally. The conflict moved to reconciliation, and I later rediscovered God’s joy in my work.
Now, you story is probably different than my story. But know that God wants your life to ring out with beauty, boldness, and beneficence. This we all can do, due to the cross and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly, Christ Church Quaker Farms, Oxford, CT, March 18, 2012
The following is a traditional children’s story from Imperial China, early 15th century:
Once there was a Chinese artisan, who was given an impossible job. The Great Emperor of all China commissioned the artisan to make the new imperial bell. Now this was not to be just any bell. This was to be a bell of great power, of perfect tonal quality, whose sound would be unmatched throughout the world.
The future bell maker was met with the Emperor, who told him, “This BELL must be so great that the sound of it will ring out to a distance of thirty-three miles in every direction. To this end, you should add in proper proportions gold and brass, for they give depth and strength to everything with which they mingle. Furthermore, in order that this giant may not be lacking in the quality of sweetness, you must add silver in due proportion.”
Well, the bell maker did not fell up to the job. He knew that if he failed, that he would be executed, for failure was not an option. Likewise, the bell maker’s daughter was deeply disturbed by this assignment. The girl loved her father dearly and there had come into her heart a strange terror at thought of his possible danger.
For two months, the bell maker undertook elaborate preparations for the intricate job of casting the Great bell. All the metals had to mix properly, or he would fail. Finally, the day for the casting arrived. The Emperor and his courtiers assembled at the foundry, next to the daughter. She peered anxiously towards the cauldron of molten liquid, knowing that her father’s life depended on the success of this enterprise.
At last , the Emperor gave the sign. Then the glowing liquid ran forward faster and faster along the channel that led into the great earthen bed, which was the mold or the bell. Well, to the dismay of the bell maker, something had indeed gone wrong. When at last the earthen moulding had been broken, even the smallest child could see that the giant bell, instead of being a thing of beauty was a sorry mass of metals that would not blend.
Upon seeing his failure, the bell maker cried out in agony. However, the Emperor was a reasonable man, and he gave the bell maker another chance to make successfully make the great imperial bell.
For weeks, the bell maker consulted with metallurgists and sought to learn from his mistake. Meanwhile, his devoted daughter continued praying and worrying, with even greater intensity. Once the preparations were finished, the Emperor and his courtiers returned to the foundry. Once again the liquid metal flowed into the cast. But alas, there was failure once again. It was dreadfully ugly, for the gold, silver and the baser elements had again refused to blend into a united whole. Well, this time the Emperor was furious, and he demanded that the bell maker try one more time. If this next time, the bell maker was unsuccessful, then he would be hung.
So, for this last time as the bell maker made these final preparations,
• his heart was heavy, for he felt that he would soon journey into the dark forest, the place from which no pilgrim ever returns.
• His daughter, of course, was deeply distressed. Willingly she would have done anything to save her beloved father. Night and day she racked her brains for some plan, but all to no avail.
On the day before the third casting, the daughter went to consult a local scholar and holy man. She told her story, and the holy man prayed. Then, he spoke to her, saying, “Nothing could be plainer than the reason of your father's failure, for when a man seeks to do the impossible, he can expect only expect failure. Gold cannot unite with silver, nor brass, unless the blood of a maiden is mingled with the molten metals.”
The next day, everyone assembled, one last time, and the foundry. However, unnoticed by all, the bell maker’s daughter had planted herself directly opposite the huge tank in which the molten, seething liquid bubbled. She waited the exact moment when it was starting to be poured. The girl sprang with a wild leap into the boiling liquid, and in her clear, sweet voice, she cried,
"For you, dear father! It is the only way!"
This, then, my children, is the time-worn legend of the great bell of Peking, a tale that has been repeated a million times by poets, story-tellers and devoted mothers. You must know that on this third casting, when the earthen mould was removed, there stood revealed the most beautiful bell that eye had ever looked upon. When it was swung up into the bell-tower there was immense rejoicing among the people. The silver and the gold and the iron and the brass were all held together by the blood of the one who willingly sacrificed herself for the one she loved. That sacred bell rang out over the great city, sounding a deeper, richer melody than that of any other bell within the limits of the whole empire, or, for that matter, of the entire world. And later the Emperor had the bell engraved, to extol the girl who died to save her loved one.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now, some people who initially hear this story find it disturbing. I know I did, when I first heard it in a professor’s sermon in seminary. But, then again, the blood sacrifice of Jesus is very disturbing, so maybe it is appropriate or us to reflect upon this as we prepare for Good Friday and Easter.
You see, there are some ways in which we can be compared to the bells in today’s story.
• Those bells were each comprised of different elemental metals. Like the bells, each of us is comprised of many elements—like our bodies, our minds, our hearts, and our relationships, our work, and our families, and the like.
• Like the Emperor in the story, God has a picture of us being perfect and uniquely wonderful, because God created us to ring out our chimes with beauty, boldness, and abandon.
However, also like the first two bells in the story, there are times when the elements of our life not mix well together:
• Spending too much time at work, on a regular basis, does not mix well with a wholesome and balanced family life.
• How often do we face problems where our heart is pulling us in one direction, our head in another direction, and someone else recommending a 3rd way?
• Or maybe one of our relationships breaks our heart, or dies ?
• Or maybe our bodies suffer health problems, which do not mix with the rest of our life?
But like the bell maker, we have someone in our lives who loves us more than life itself. 2000 years ago, there was a perfect man, who looked into our futures, even though we had not even been born or thought of. Like the girl in the story who foresaw her father heading for disaster, Jesus also foresaw us heading for disaster. You see, humanly speaking, our lives are very fragile. They can be shattered in an instant. So Jesus foresaw that, He decided to help us out:
• You see, Jesus can help us make reconciliation in our broken relationships, because He is the Prince of Peace.
• Jesus can help us when we are confused, and feeling pulled p part in different directions. He is THE wonderful counselor.
• Jesus can help us and our families discover and live out new priorities, because Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.
• Jesus can help us when we are sick or bereaved. Today’s scriptures remind us that He lifted up upon the cross that we might be saved from our troubles and our sins.
All of this is available to us, because Jesus, the perfect God-man voluntarily sacrificed his human life and shed his blood in an act of unselfish love. Like the girl in the story, he plunged to certain death. Simultaneoulsy, he absorbed our heart ache and sins within in Himself, and that killed Him. But something miraculous then occurred: God raised Jesus to new life, so that He might bring to you and me the very peace, wisdom, guidance, healing and comfort that God wants us to receive.
All this, done or for you and me, because of His love and because, as the little girl said when she plunged to her death, “There was no other way.”
We may not understand it all, but here is something that we can understand---God’s love is like a supernatural adhesive, which can taken the broken pieces of our lives, and put them back together. And not just put them back together, make us stronger. Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel that he came not to condemn us, but to put his arms around us to pull each of us together in his amazing love. All we have to do, according to today’s scriptures is to turn to him and to ask for “Help.” The Bible says that in this way: Please repeat after me: “ Lord has mercy on me.”
I know this is true, for I have seen it happen in the lives of many people, not just the super spiritual, but regular folks like you and me.
I can remember several times when my whole life and everything I valued seemed to be falling apart: Deep conflict in family; chronic debilitating asthma, followed by depression, which was then followed by burnout at work. On each occasion, I felt had no way to turn. So, not knowing what else to do, I turned to the cross o Jesus. I am speaking figuratively, of course, but each time I mentally visualized Jesus hanging on the cross, with me looking up at Him. Then, I mde a very complicated and theologically correct prayer, and here is the transcript: HELP. I had no fancy words. I felt desperate. I didn’t know what even to ask for. I just called out for help and then waited. ..Patiently waited, beneath the cross of Jesus.
Well, shortly after my prayer, I somehow began to feel stronger. I did not have solutions, but as Paul says in today’s reading, by grace through faith, I chose to believe that God would help in some way.
• So, I began by deciding to trust Jesus with the next ten minutes of my life. Did I believe that God could help me through the next ten minutes? Later, trusted him with the next hour, and the next hour then became the next day.
• Slowly, I began the darkness began to lift and through the dim light I can see new paths, leading to some possible new solutions, As I started making progress, I felt stronger both physically and emotionally. The conflict moved to reconciliation, and I later rediscovered God’s joy in my work.
Now, you story is probably different than my story. But know that God wants your life to ring out with beauty, boldness, and beneficence. This we all can do, due to the cross and mercy of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly, Christ Church Quaker Farms, Oxford, CT, March 18, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Celebration/Installation Sermon by The Rev. Ellen A. Donnelly
Celebration of Our New Ministry
With the Installation of The Rev. John A. Donnelly
Christ Church Quaker arms, Oxford, CT March 3, 2012
Sermon by The Rev. Ellen A. Donnelly
Well, here’s is a historic occasion. This is, of course, the bicentennial year for Christ Church, which is celebrating 200 years of ministry in this place. And now we are gathered today to celebrate the latest chapter in that history – the new ministry which belongs to the people of Christ Church and their new Rector, John Donnelly. It is also a real family occasion, since we have among us today, in addition to the Christ Church family, the family of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, represented by Bishop Laura and others, the St. Michael’s Wayne, NJ family (welcome, old friends), the far-flung Donnelly family, and the family of the Quaker Farms community. Of course, it’s also a family occasion because the preacher is the wife of the new rector. I admit I was rather surprised when John invited me to preach at this service, since he had just escaped from 30 years of having to listen to me preach every other week. So I want you to know, dear, that I am strenuously resisting the temptation to regale your congregation with stories that might embarrass you (like falling through the roof of the parish hall, for instance), or, on the other hand, to impress upon you the priority of your Honey-Do list over your church work. Not going there. So you can breathe easy.
Now, turning to the Word of God, the Scriptures that John chose for this occasion, you will notice, are all about LIGHT. The prophet Isaiah urges us to “walk in the light of the Lord.” The psalmist says “in your light we see light.” St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, says to us, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. [So] Live as children of the light.” And the Apostle John says that Jesus was Himself the “[true] light of all mankind…..[and that light continues to shine] in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Now I happen to know that Fr. John has been lifting up this light theme in recent months, and – no surprise there - has even come up with a visual representation of what the Bible says. So here is Christ Church, lit up with the light of the Lord, as the Bible tells us God wants it to be. And today we’re singing some of Fr. John’s favorite songs about that light – “Praise the Lord, I saw the light!” and “Shine Jesus shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory” – great songs all. But perhaps we would do well to look a little more closely at what exactly this light of the Lord is. The Bible, in both Old Testament and New, uses “light” as an image, a symbol, of the very presence of God Himself. God wants to be present in our world, He wants to be present in this church. When He is present, a church shines with His light; when He’s not, the light is out..
So the question is: how does Christ Church get lit, so to speak? It seems to me that 3 things are needed for any church to shine. The first is that God’s light must shine inside you individually. After all, the church isn’t a building, it’s a community of believers; if this church is going to shine, it’s going to have to start with you. So what does it look like when God’s light shines in you? Well, it’s all about love. The Bible says that God IS love, which is to say that what God does is to love, and that means that He loves YOU personally. But God’s love doesn’t do you any good til you believe it and accept it; and then you begin to love Him back out of gratitude that He loves you. It’s that love relationship between the Lord and you that gives you the peace, joy, and hope that is visible – and that’s the light of God’s love shining in you. Now I can see the light shining in a bunch of you this morning. And I think you’d all agree that there’s nothing spooky about it; it’s not just for the spiritually advanced. It’s for everybody. So if you know you don’t have it, then just look around and fine someone who’s shining and ask them how they got it; it’s that simple.
So that’s the first thing that has to happen for a church to shine with God’s light: a critical mass of its members have to have the light inside them. The second thing that has to happen is that the light of God’s love has to shine inside the church. Again, it’s all about love: God’s light shines inside these walls when you love each other. That’s what St. Paul means when he says “you are now light in the Lord, so live as children of the light.” You have the chance every time you come together to be the human face of God’s love to each other, by accepting each other as God has accepted you.
Now, unless Christ Church is very different from every other church I’ve ever known, that’s easier said than done. In any church, there are some people you like and some you don’t; in any church there are disagreements, conflicts, grudges. And the light of God’s love can get smothered by the lack of love among its members. But a church where sincere love among the members is taught and highly valued is a church that is much more likely to have the light of God’s love shining inside it. And I know that many of you are making an effort in that direction with your Lenten Bible study “Love One Another.”
And finally, the third thing that has to happen is that the church – which means YOU – must be committed to shining the light of God’s love outside the walls of this building. God loves you individually, each of you, but He also loves the world outside your doors; the Bible tells us that He loves that world so much that He gave His son to bring each and every human being home to His family. And He needs YOU to be channels for that love to shine forth into Oxford today. He needs you to be the human face of His love in your community. He needs you to offer His love to the world just the way He offered it to you.
Of course, you are already doing that here at Christ Church; your pizza nights open to the community are one example. But generally speaking, people who don’t know God’s love aren’t going to come to you; you have to go to them. How do you do that? Well, try asking yourselves this question: If Jesus lived in Oxford today, who would touch His heart? Who would He want to reach out to with His unconditional love? If you ask the Lord to open your eyes to the needs in your community, He will do it. And then you will be able to see those people around you who need YOU to be the human face of God’s love. The more you put your time and energy and resources into serving the world for Jesus’ sake, the brighter God’s love will shine through you. That is God’s plan for His church. That is the reason He planted this church in this spot 200 years ago and has allowed it to keep going….so that you can be a shining light for Him.
Fortunately, you have chosen a Rector who excels at love. John Donnelly is undoubtedly the most indiscriminate lover I have ever known! He loves the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the sad and the happy, the powerful and the weak; he loves those he agrees with and those he disagrees with; he loves believers and sceptics alike. He has been the human face of God’s love to hundreds and even thousands of people during his 30 years of ministry. He is uniquely suited and qualified to lead this church to become a church that shines with the light of God’s love. What a gift of grace He will be to you in the years to come!
In conclusion, it is customary on these occasions for the preacher to deliver a “charge” – a word, hopefully from the Lord – to the new Rector. But I sense that the Lord wants to speak to the Rector and the people of Christ Church together. So I would ask Fr. John and all the members of Christ Church to stand.
Dear people, deeply loved by God, as you embark on your third century in this place, be closely attentive to the new Word the Lord has for you today. Love is not an optional extra. God’s amazing, extravagant, unconditional love for the world He made IS the message. God’s love – shining in you, shining among you, shining outside you – IS what the church is meant to be. So don’t waste your time and His by putting all your energies into merely surviving. Dare to dream big dreams, dare to believe that God can use you to be the human face of His love in Oxford. Dare to hope that you can shine the light of His love into the darkness of a world that has no hope without Him. God has sent your Rector here to be the human face of His love for you, and through you, the world around you. He wants you to cherish him; John, He wants you to cherish them. Never forget that it is all about love. Everything else will fade away – the sermons, the programs, the dinners, the magic tricks, even this beautiful building – none of that will last. But the love that you receive from the Father of all mercies will last; the love that you give Him in return will last; the love that you show to each other will last; the love you show the world around you will last. Let that be your purpose, your mission, your goal.
So I invite the congregation to join you in standing and making this song a prayer: “I want to walk as a child of the light….shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.”
With the Installation of The Rev. John A. Donnelly
Christ Church Quaker arms, Oxford, CT March 3, 2012
Sermon by The Rev. Ellen A. Donnelly
Well, here’s is a historic occasion. This is, of course, the bicentennial year for Christ Church, which is celebrating 200 years of ministry in this place. And now we are gathered today to celebrate the latest chapter in that history – the new ministry which belongs to the people of Christ Church and their new Rector, John Donnelly. It is also a real family occasion, since we have among us today, in addition to the Christ Church family, the family of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, represented by Bishop Laura and others, the St. Michael’s Wayne, NJ family (welcome, old friends), the far-flung Donnelly family, and the family of the Quaker Farms community. Of course, it’s also a family occasion because the preacher is the wife of the new rector. I admit I was rather surprised when John invited me to preach at this service, since he had just escaped from 30 years of having to listen to me preach every other week. So I want you to know, dear, that I am strenuously resisting the temptation to regale your congregation with stories that might embarrass you (like falling through the roof of the parish hall, for instance), or, on the other hand, to impress upon you the priority of your Honey-Do list over your church work. Not going there. So you can breathe easy.
Now, turning to the Word of God, the Scriptures that John chose for this occasion, you will notice, are all about LIGHT. The prophet Isaiah urges us to “walk in the light of the Lord.” The psalmist says “in your light we see light.” St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, says to us, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. [So] Live as children of the light.” And the Apostle John says that Jesus was Himself the “[true] light of all mankind…..[and that light continues to shine] in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Now I happen to know that Fr. John has been lifting up this light theme in recent months, and – no surprise there - has even come up with a visual representation of what the Bible says. So here is Christ Church, lit up with the light of the Lord, as the Bible tells us God wants it to be. And today we’re singing some of Fr. John’s favorite songs about that light – “Praise the Lord, I saw the light!” and “Shine Jesus shine, fill this land with the Father’s glory” – great songs all. But perhaps we would do well to look a little more closely at what exactly this light of the Lord is. The Bible, in both Old Testament and New, uses “light” as an image, a symbol, of the very presence of God Himself. God wants to be present in our world, He wants to be present in this church. When He is present, a church shines with His light; when He’s not, the light is out..
So the question is: how does Christ Church get lit, so to speak? It seems to me that 3 things are needed for any church to shine. The first is that God’s light must shine inside you individually. After all, the church isn’t a building, it’s a community of believers; if this church is going to shine, it’s going to have to start with you. So what does it look like when God’s light shines in you? Well, it’s all about love. The Bible says that God IS love, which is to say that what God does is to love, and that means that He loves YOU personally. But God’s love doesn’t do you any good til you believe it and accept it; and then you begin to love Him back out of gratitude that He loves you. It’s that love relationship between the Lord and you that gives you the peace, joy, and hope that is visible – and that’s the light of God’s love shining in you. Now I can see the light shining in a bunch of you this morning. And I think you’d all agree that there’s nothing spooky about it; it’s not just for the spiritually advanced. It’s for everybody. So if you know you don’t have it, then just look around and fine someone who’s shining and ask them how they got it; it’s that simple.
So that’s the first thing that has to happen for a church to shine with God’s light: a critical mass of its members have to have the light inside them. The second thing that has to happen is that the light of God’s love has to shine inside the church. Again, it’s all about love: God’s light shines inside these walls when you love each other. That’s what St. Paul means when he says “you are now light in the Lord, so live as children of the light.” You have the chance every time you come together to be the human face of God’s love to each other, by accepting each other as God has accepted you.
Now, unless Christ Church is very different from every other church I’ve ever known, that’s easier said than done. In any church, there are some people you like and some you don’t; in any church there are disagreements, conflicts, grudges. And the light of God’s love can get smothered by the lack of love among its members. But a church where sincere love among the members is taught and highly valued is a church that is much more likely to have the light of God’s love shining inside it. And I know that many of you are making an effort in that direction with your Lenten Bible study “Love One Another.”
And finally, the third thing that has to happen is that the church – which means YOU – must be committed to shining the light of God’s love outside the walls of this building. God loves you individually, each of you, but He also loves the world outside your doors; the Bible tells us that He loves that world so much that He gave His son to bring each and every human being home to His family. And He needs YOU to be channels for that love to shine forth into Oxford today. He needs you to be the human face of His love in your community. He needs you to offer His love to the world just the way He offered it to you.
Of course, you are already doing that here at Christ Church; your pizza nights open to the community are one example. But generally speaking, people who don’t know God’s love aren’t going to come to you; you have to go to them. How do you do that? Well, try asking yourselves this question: If Jesus lived in Oxford today, who would touch His heart? Who would He want to reach out to with His unconditional love? If you ask the Lord to open your eyes to the needs in your community, He will do it. And then you will be able to see those people around you who need YOU to be the human face of God’s love. The more you put your time and energy and resources into serving the world for Jesus’ sake, the brighter God’s love will shine through you. That is God’s plan for His church. That is the reason He planted this church in this spot 200 years ago and has allowed it to keep going….so that you can be a shining light for Him.
Fortunately, you have chosen a Rector who excels at love. John Donnelly is undoubtedly the most indiscriminate lover I have ever known! He loves the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the sad and the happy, the powerful and the weak; he loves those he agrees with and those he disagrees with; he loves believers and sceptics alike. He has been the human face of God’s love to hundreds and even thousands of people during his 30 years of ministry. He is uniquely suited and qualified to lead this church to become a church that shines with the light of God’s love. What a gift of grace He will be to you in the years to come!
In conclusion, it is customary on these occasions for the preacher to deliver a “charge” – a word, hopefully from the Lord – to the new Rector. But I sense that the Lord wants to speak to the Rector and the people of Christ Church together. So I would ask Fr. John and all the members of Christ Church to stand.
Dear people, deeply loved by God, as you embark on your third century in this place, be closely attentive to the new Word the Lord has for you today. Love is not an optional extra. God’s amazing, extravagant, unconditional love for the world He made IS the message. God’s love – shining in you, shining among you, shining outside you – IS what the church is meant to be. So don’t waste your time and His by putting all your energies into merely surviving. Dare to dream big dreams, dare to believe that God can use you to be the human face of His love in Oxford. Dare to hope that you can shine the light of His love into the darkness of a world that has no hope without Him. God has sent your Rector here to be the human face of His love for you, and through you, the world around you. He wants you to cherish him; John, He wants you to cherish them. Never forget that it is all about love. Everything else will fade away – the sermons, the programs, the dinners, the magic tricks, even this beautiful building – none of that will last. But the love that you receive from the Father of all mercies will last; the love that you give Him in return will last; the love that you show to each other will last; the love you show the world around you will last. Let that be your purpose, your mission, your goal.
So I invite the congregation to join you in standing and making this song a prayer: “I want to walk as a child of the light….shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.”
Saturday, February 25, 2012
YOUTH GROUP FASTS FOR THIRTY HOURS
Starving So Others Don't Have To
Youth group participates in 30 Hour Famine, raises more than $3,000.
By Paul SingleY, OXFORD PATCH
Twenty one local youths, and parent volunteers, participated in 30 Hour Famine this weekend to raise money and awareness for people living in poverty:Kayla Buypal, Dana Cote, Gabriela Lombari, Jessie Peck, Hanna Falconer, Hannah Macisco, Jackie McDonnell, Katelyn Wentz, Camille Glasow, Shauna Olsen, Hannah McDonnell, Katelyn Capodagli, Gianna Carloni, Meghan Sastram, Sydney Borkowski,Tammy Borkowski, Ella Sastram, Connor McDonnell, Ken Sharrow, Jeremiah Burr, Chris Wentz, Zachary Burr, Sam Low-Chappell, Tim Osborn, Dan Osborn, Tyler Sharron and Don Peck.
A group of 21 local youths are going without food for 30 hours this weekend to raise money for, and awareness of, people around the world who starve on a regular basis, though not by choice.
The Oxford youths, ranging from ages 11 to 18, are members of a youth group at Christ Church Quaker Farms which participates in several charitable events, especially those that help people who are poor and/or hungry. This weekend, the group has joined 150,000 of their peers worldwide in an event called 30 Hour Famine. The youths go 30 hours without food and learn what it takes to overcome hunger, according to the event’s website. Through pledges from members of their respective communities, participants raise money to help feed hungry children and families around the world and “refuse to be told they can’t make a difference,” the 30 Hour Famine website states.
“I hope people see what we’re doing and see that kids can make a difference,” said Sydney Borkowski, 12. “If you see a problem and think it’s too big and you say, ‘Oh, someone else will fix it,’ you can’t think that way because you can do whatever you set your mind to.”
The youth group members set out to raise a significant amount of money to benefit the 30 Hour Famine charity, which is organized by World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. The Oxford youths had raised $3,081 as of Saturday (the group is still collecting; see how to donate below). The 30 Hour Famine website states “every $30 raised by your group can help feed and care for a child for a month,” meaning at least 102 children will be fed for a month based on money the Oxford group has raised thus far.
‘It Takes Willpower’
At 6:30 Friday night, the participants - who were about six hours into their famine at that point – made jokes about being hungry and how they didn’t know they if they would make it the full 30 hours. However, they knew their suffering would be worth it in the end.
“Even though it’s going to be hard for us, I feel like we’re doing the right thing because when you think about it, most of us eat more in a day than some people do in a month,” said 11-year-old Dana Cote, who also attends Great Oak Middle School. “Then we throw away all of the left over food when we could be giving it to people in need.”
Chris Wentz, an Oxford High School graduate, said he’s completed a similar famine-type event with the Boy Scouts and that he was proud of himself when it was over.
His sister, Katelyn Wentz, who is also participating in the 30 Hour Famine, said “it takes a lot of will power to go without food for this long.”
Eye-opening Experiences
The Christ Church Quaker Farms youth group’s adult organizers, some of whom are also participating in the famine, are trying to keep the students focused on their goal by explaining the bigger picture.
“A lot of the focus is on serving God,” said Jackie McDonnell, youth group coordinator. “God says serve the hungry, and when you feed the hungry, you are serving God.”
Other lessons the organizers are teaching include those that put their lives into perspective. For example, McDonnell said, the youths watched a film Friday night that showed how difficult life is for people in Third World Countries. Whereas Oxford children and teens may complain about small things such as how their blankets are getting thin or whether they should “be able to ride shotgun in the car,” there are children their age who “have to walk 10 miles to get water for the day,” McDonnell said.
The youths had a chance to see that perspective first hand during a recent youth group experience. Adult organizers invited youth group members to a dinner in the church hall. When they arrived, the group members were told whether they were eating as if they were in first, second or third world countries. The First World country eaters got a full meal complete with meat, potatoes, vegetables, etc., whereas the Third World eaters got a ration of rice with no silverware.
“It was a real eye opener,” McDonnell said, adding that the youths eventually shared their food with each other because they were given that option.
The adult organizers hope this weekend’s event will give students even more perspective. Don Peck said it is one thing to read and to hear about a person being hungry, “but to actually experience it is going to be a powerful and eye-opening experience.”
Parent Georgiana Glasow said she believes this weekend's events will be great for her teenage daughter, Camille, who attends Oxford High School.
"I'm thrilled she's taking part in something where she can think of others and not just her own 16-year-old self," Georgiana Glasow said.
Helping Those Less Fortunate
The youth group was formed in September to “give kids a place where they can feel comfortable being Christians and practicing their faith…in a place where it doesn’t have to be such a personal experience, and they can share it with others,” McDonnell said.
The youth group has done some amazing philanthropic work in its short tenure. Group members have volunteered in an urban community in Cole County, Penn., where they helped people in an old cole mining community who had seen the demise of the mining industry and many had fallen into poverty. The youths painted, cleaned houses, did yard work, went to nursing homes and just helped in any way they could. This summer, they plan to do something similar in Newport, Tenn., where 29 percent of the community lives below the poverty line.
The group has also sponsored an impoverished child through World Vision, which is how it learned of the 30 Hour Famine.
‘It Makes You Wonder Why’
The famine will wrap up around 6:30 tonight. But don’t expect the youths to celebrate by indulging in a steak and potatoes dinner, an endless pasta feast or even McDonald’s burgers and fries. No, they will continue their education in Third World living.
The team will be served a makeshift “re-vive meal,” which is often given to malnourished people in the poorest parts of the world to fill their bodies with necessary nutrients and calories. The meal, which sounds less than appetizing, consists of peanut butter, dried milk, oil and a little sugar.
Then, tomorrow morning, the youths will deliver a sermon during a church service in which they will discuss their experience.
Between now and then, the youths, who are staying at the church hall for much of this weekend, will complete odd jobs around the church building, such as painting and cleaning. All the while, they will keep in mind why they are voluntarily going hungry.
“We have all of this food in our country that we don’t eat, yet there are people around the world who are going hungry every day,” said Sydney Borkowski, the 12-year-old Oxford girl. “It makes you wonder why.”
About 30 Hour Famine From Its Website
This is your chance to join other groups of students all over the world in learning the truth about hunger, poverty, and injustice — then overcome it all with love.
Worldwide, 925 million people are hungry. Every day, as many as 11,000 children under age 5 die due to hunger-related causes. That’s one kid every 8 seconds.
The Famine gives your group a chance to do something about it — to rise up and serve the hungry.
Source: www.30hourfamine.org
Youth group participates in 30 Hour Famine, raises more than $3,000.
By Paul SingleY, OXFORD PATCH
Twenty one local youths, and parent volunteers, participated in 30 Hour Famine this weekend to raise money and awareness for people living in poverty:Kayla Buypal, Dana Cote, Gabriela Lombari, Jessie Peck, Hanna Falconer, Hannah Macisco, Jackie McDonnell, Katelyn Wentz, Camille Glasow, Shauna Olsen, Hannah McDonnell, Katelyn Capodagli, Gianna Carloni, Meghan Sastram, Sydney Borkowski,Tammy Borkowski, Ella Sastram, Connor McDonnell, Ken Sharrow, Jeremiah Burr, Chris Wentz, Zachary Burr, Sam Low-Chappell, Tim Osborn, Dan Osborn, Tyler Sharron and Don Peck.
A group of 21 local youths are going without food for 30 hours this weekend to raise money for, and awareness of, people around the world who starve on a regular basis, though not by choice.
The Oxford youths, ranging from ages 11 to 18, are members of a youth group at Christ Church Quaker Farms which participates in several charitable events, especially those that help people who are poor and/or hungry. This weekend, the group has joined 150,000 of their peers worldwide in an event called 30 Hour Famine. The youths go 30 hours without food and learn what it takes to overcome hunger, according to the event’s website. Through pledges from members of their respective communities, participants raise money to help feed hungry children and families around the world and “refuse to be told they can’t make a difference,” the 30 Hour Famine website states.
“I hope people see what we’re doing and see that kids can make a difference,” said Sydney Borkowski, 12. “If you see a problem and think it’s too big and you say, ‘Oh, someone else will fix it,’ you can’t think that way because you can do whatever you set your mind to.”
The youth group members set out to raise a significant amount of money to benefit the 30 Hour Famine charity, which is organized by World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. The Oxford youths had raised $3,081 as of Saturday (the group is still collecting; see how to donate below). The 30 Hour Famine website states “every $30 raised by your group can help feed and care for a child for a month,” meaning at least 102 children will be fed for a month based on money the Oxford group has raised thus far.
‘It Takes Willpower’
At 6:30 Friday night, the participants - who were about six hours into their famine at that point – made jokes about being hungry and how they didn’t know they if they would make it the full 30 hours. However, they knew their suffering would be worth it in the end.
“Even though it’s going to be hard for us, I feel like we’re doing the right thing because when you think about it, most of us eat more in a day than some people do in a month,” said 11-year-old Dana Cote, who also attends Great Oak Middle School. “Then we throw away all of the left over food when we could be giving it to people in need.”
Chris Wentz, an Oxford High School graduate, said he’s completed a similar famine-type event with the Boy Scouts and that he was proud of himself when it was over.
His sister, Katelyn Wentz, who is also participating in the 30 Hour Famine, said “it takes a lot of will power to go without food for this long.”
Eye-opening Experiences
The Christ Church Quaker Farms youth group’s adult organizers, some of whom are also participating in the famine, are trying to keep the students focused on their goal by explaining the bigger picture.
“A lot of the focus is on serving God,” said Jackie McDonnell, youth group coordinator. “God says serve the hungry, and when you feed the hungry, you are serving God.”
Other lessons the organizers are teaching include those that put their lives into perspective. For example, McDonnell said, the youths watched a film Friday night that showed how difficult life is for people in Third World Countries. Whereas Oxford children and teens may complain about small things such as how their blankets are getting thin or whether they should “be able to ride shotgun in the car,” there are children their age who “have to walk 10 miles to get water for the day,” McDonnell said.
The youths had a chance to see that perspective first hand during a recent youth group experience. Adult organizers invited youth group members to a dinner in the church hall. When they arrived, the group members were told whether they were eating as if they were in first, second or third world countries. The First World country eaters got a full meal complete with meat, potatoes, vegetables, etc., whereas the Third World eaters got a ration of rice with no silverware.
“It was a real eye opener,” McDonnell said, adding that the youths eventually shared their food with each other because they were given that option.
The adult organizers hope this weekend’s event will give students even more perspective. Don Peck said it is one thing to read and to hear about a person being hungry, “but to actually experience it is going to be a powerful and eye-opening experience.”
Parent Georgiana Glasow said she believes this weekend's events will be great for her teenage daughter, Camille, who attends Oxford High School.
"I'm thrilled she's taking part in something where she can think of others and not just her own 16-year-old self," Georgiana Glasow said.
Helping Those Less Fortunate
The youth group was formed in September to “give kids a place where they can feel comfortable being Christians and practicing their faith…in a place where it doesn’t have to be such a personal experience, and they can share it with others,” McDonnell said.
The youth group has done some amazing philanthropic work in its short tenure. Group members have volunteered in an urban community in Cole County, Penn., where they helped people in an old cole mining community who had seen the demise of the mining industry and many had fallen into poverty. The youths painted, cleaned houses, did yard work, went to nursing homes and just helped in any way they could. This summer, they plan to do something similar in Newport, Tenn., where 29 percent of the community lives below the poverty line.
The group has also sponsored an impoverished child through World Vision, which is how it learned of the 30 Hour Famine.
‘It Makes You Wonder Why’
The famine will wrap up around 6:30 tonight. But don’t expect the youths to celebrate by indulging in a steak and potatoes dinner, an endless pasta feast or even McDonald’s burgers and fries. No, they will continue their education in Third World living.
The team will be served a makeshift “re-vive meal,” which is often given to malnourished people in the poorest parts of the world to fill their bodies with necessary nutrients and calories. The meal, which sounds less than appetizing, consists of peanut butter, dried milk, oil and a little sugar.
Then, tomorrow morning, the youths will deliver a sermon during a church service in which they will discuss their experience.
Between now and then, the youths, who are staying at the church hall for much of this weekend, will complete odd jobs around the church building, such as painting and cleaning. All the while, they will keep in mind why they are voluntarily going hungry.
“We have all of this food in our country that we don’t eat, yet there are people around the world who are going hungry every day,” said Sydney Borkowski, the 12-year-old Oxford girl. “It makes you wonder why.”
About 30 Hour Famine From Its Website
This is your chance to join other groups of students all over the world in learning the truth about hunger, poverty, and injustice — then overcome it all with love.
Worldwide, 925 million people are hungry. Every day, as many as 11,000 children under age 5 die due to hunger-related causes. That’s one kid every 8 seconds.
The Famine gives your group a chance to do something about it — to rise up and serve the hungry.
Source: www.30hourfamine.org
Friday, February 17, 2012
200th Annual Meeting Sunday Christ Church Quaker Farms
SERMON February 12, 2012
Jesus proclaims, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell—and great was its fall.”—Matthew 4:24-27
CONGRATULATIONS. You are here on this historic occasion for the 200th Annual Meeting Sunday for Christ Church Quaker Farms. 200 years ago, on this very date, the founders of this church, who were then called subscribers, signed their names on the dotted line, pledging to give money, materials, and in kind services, to erect this building in which we now sit. One year later, in 1813, the first Annual Meeting was held, as building construction continued, and as God began to form a community of people, of whom we are the spiritual descendents.
As I read today’s Gospel, I reflected upon the history of Christ Church Quaker Farms. Yes, the world wide, universal, one, holy, catholic and apostolic church is built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord. As we have previously discussed, this is the universal church which transcends space and time, which the Bible calls the Body of Christ. Jesus tells us that the powers of hell will not prevail against this church.
However, here in the local church, we need a solid foundation of a common Christ centered ministry, if our parish is to survive the winds and storms of life. Christ will give us all we need out of His riches in glory, but we have to be willing to do our part, or the church will sink in the sand.
(PAUSE & SMILE).There is a 600 year old church in Mexico City, which in 1960 was discovered to be literally sinking in the sand. They discovered that part foundation was faulty, because it had been built upon sand and clay. The church was endangered of permanent structural damage, until they shored up the foundation to save it.
About a year ago, I had my initial interview with the Search Committee and Vestry of CCQF. I remember how they proudly affirmed that this church is a, quote, “ Christ centered , bible believing, spirit filled, & eucharisticly oriented parish.” Some spoke their strong faith in Jesus Christ. Others spoke of the strong children’s ministry; and still other though the church was like a big extended family. Certainly, these sentiments revealed part of a Rock-solid-Christ-foundation, which under girded this parish.
However, the Search Committee and Vestry also openly spoke of aspects of the of the spiritual and community foundation which were not Jesus-rock-solid. Figuratively speaking, it appeared that some aspects of church life were built upon “sinking sand,” which was not supporting the weight of the church. So, my visual aid here is our model of Christ Church, which is teetering off the rock, into the sand. In particular, the Vestry spoke to me of 3 foundational weaknesses, which needed some Christ centered foundational strengthening:
The first concerned church music. I was informed of many disappointments and concerns about the turnover of organists during the previous three years; and the inability to secure even temporary musicians to provide for Sunday worship. Others told me of their efforts to use recorded music, which was really just a stop gap measure. (BRIEF PAUSE & SMILE) Obviously, a solid ministry of music is crucial to joyful worship (Ps. 100). So, my priority has been and is the development , enrichment, and expansion of a joyful program of church music, whereby we can express our love to God and deepen our communion with Him. Your lay leadership and I are devoted to using BOTH traditional (user friendly) hymns & organ music AND tasteful and sing able contemporary music. We believe that this style of blended music will best enable us all, in the wide variety of folks who call this church their home, to give glory to God, and to receive His blessings of praise and song. During this past month and a half, we giving this plan a test drive now, using two wonderful musicians , who really have to drive a distance to get here—Mike Beresford, leading contemporary music, and this parish’s old friend, Rob Simon, back up there on the organ bench. We appreciate their ministries, don’t we?? Further, we are seeing a resurgence of our Kid Choir and our Youth Group Band under the leadership of Amy Cody. I believe that this is a powerful underutilized resource, unlike what I have previously seen in any other of my parishes. Come back next Sunday, and you will delight in what you hear.
So, as we offer all this to God, He is guiding us to strengthen our worship music, that it would grow Rock solid in Jesus Christ.
The second foundational weakness , of which I was apprised, concerns stewardship. This was appeared to be a large hole in the foundation of this church, and this hole would fill up with red ink once a new rector was called.
However, this past fall, this church took one huge giant step on towards a more solid financial foundation. In 2011, 33 of you made financial pledges to support your church. However, in 2012, we have seen a huge increase over last year's number. In 2012, we have received 20 additional pledges—that is an increase of over 60% in the pledging base of this church!!!!!! Now, counting on everyone to do the right thing and to fulfill your pledges, this will be an income increase of 25% for 2012.This is one of the largest increases that I have ever heard of . Also, 18 of you increased your previous year’s pledge. I think that the Lord and this church deserve a clap offering, don’t you???
With a growing commitment to cheerful giving through biblical stewardship, we are beginning to drain the hole of red ink, and it in with the solid rock of Christ centered cheerful giving. We are off to a very strong start together. However, the Vestry is still using reserve funds to pay for non funded operating expenses. But as we continue to build upon our stewardship program in 2012 & 2013,
we can achieve a more solid financial footing in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Right????
So far this morning, we have discussed how both music and stewardship are growing in strength. The last foundational weakness identified by the Vestry concerned some divisions within the congregation. Over the last several years, some parishioners had been upset by various disputes---
• over diocesan and national church politics;
• and over disputes between sub groupings within this congregation.
The Vestry told me that they lamented that such conflict had weakened the foundation of this church, and had resulted in declines in membership and stewardship.
Well, as I said last week, now is the time to leave all that in the past. Paul tells us top fprget what is past and to press on to the upward calling for Jesus Christ.
• So now is the time for us to to forgive, to forget,
and to forward march.
So, together, some “concrete” steps have been taken to bring better unity to the congregation:
• First of all, some of you, who had temporarily stopped worshipping here, have come back to the fold. Praise God. That is a sign of growing healing and unity.
• Secondly, church politics and other divisive issues are not, and will not be included in my preaching or ministry. Period. My calling is to proclaim that each and every one of us, through the grace of Jesus Christ, is important to God. Neither I, nor this parish, can afford to engage in needless/ and futile arguments, which the Bible speficly condemns as sin against the Body of Christ. All of our energy and resources must be directed toward building up our parish here, so that we can shine the light of Christ into the world.
•Also, the people of Christ Church are initiating new activities which actually bring us together. Already, we are seeing this congregation come together through more intergenerational & family activities, such as Family Eucharists, Bicentennial festivities, dinners, and more. This all demonstrates that we are making efforts to work, play, and come together on the rock foundation of Jesus Christ.
So, it seems to me that in the past 5 months, that we have seen some real progress….progress involving you , me, and the Holy Spirit.
• I continue to marvel at the opportunities that God has given us, and I am thrilled to be part of this growing family of faith.
• You see, before arriving here in mid September, I did not know you; but I knew that “you are Important to God.” But now , I know you better; and now, you are important to me, too.
(Put the church on the rock)
As we begin this church’s 3rd century, I trust that we are shoring up the foundation,
• and keeping faith with our parish’s founders, and all spiritual foremothers and forefathers,
• that we will shine the Light of Christ , into our homes, into our neighborhoods & communities, and our world (Mt. 4:14-16).
BLESSED BE THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly
Jesus proclaims, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts upon them, is like a wise man, who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against the house, and it fell—and great was its fall.”—Matthew 4:24-27
CONGRATULATIONS. You are here on this historic occasion for the 200th Annual Meeting Sunday for Christ Church Quaker Farms. 200 years ago, on this very date, the founders of this church, who were then called subscribers, signed their names on the dotted line, pledging to give money, materials, and in kind services, to erect this building in which we now sit. One year later, in 1813, the first Annual Meeting was held, as building construction continued, and as God began to form a community of people, of whom we are the spiritual descendents.
As I read today’s Gospel, I reflected upon the history of Christ Church Quaker Farms. Yes, the world wide, universal, one, holy, catholic and apostolic church is built upon the firm foundation of Jesus Christ our Lord. As we have previously discussed, this is the universal church which transcends space and time, which the Bible calls the Body of Christ. Jesus tells us that the powers of hell will not prevail against this church.
However, here in the local church, we need a solid foundation of a common Christ centered ministry, if our parish is to survive the winds and storms of life. Christ will give us all we need out of His riches in glory, but we have to be willing to do our part, or the church will sink in the sand.
(PAUSE & SMILE).There is a 600 year old church in Mexico City, which in 1960 was discovered to be literally sinking in the sand. They discovered that part foundation was faulty, because it had been built upon sand and clay. The church was endangered of permanent structural damage, until they shored up the foundation to save it.
About a year ago, I had my initial interview with the Search Committee and Vestry of CCQF. I remember how they proudly affirmed that this church is a, quote, “ Christ centered , bible believing, spirit filled, & eucharisticly oriented parish.” Some spoke their strong faith in Jesus Christ. Others spoke of the strong children’s ministry; and still other though the church was like a big extended family. Certainly, these sentiments revealed part of a Rock-solid-Christ-foundation, which under girded this parish.
However, the Search Committee and Vestry also openly spoke of aspects of the of the spiritual and community foundation which were not Jesus-rock-solid. Figuratively speaking, it appeared that some aspects of church life were built upon “sinking sand,” which was not supporting the weight of the church. So, my visual aid here is our model of Christ Church, which is teetering off the rock, into the sand. In particular, the Vestry spoke to me of 3 foundational weaknesses, which needed some Christ centered foundational strengthening:
The first concerned church music. I was informed of many disappointments and concerns about the turnover of organists during the previous three years; and the inability to secure even temporary musicians to provide for Sunday worship. Others told me of their efforts to use recorded music, which was really just a stop gap measure. (BRIEF PAUSE & SMILE) Obviously, a solid ministry of music is crucial to joyful worship (Ps. 100). So, my priority has been and is the development , enrichment, and expansion of a joyful program of church music, whereby we can express our love to God and deepen our communion with Him. Your lay leadership and I are devoted to using BOTH traditional (user friendly) hymns & organ music AND tasteful and sing able contemporary music. We believe that this style of blended music will best enable us all, in the wide variety of folks who call this church their home, to give glory to God, and to receive His blessings of praise and song. During this past month and a half, we giving this plan a test drive now, using two wonderful musicians , who really have to drive a distance to get here—Mike Beresford, leading contemporary music, and this parish’s old friend, Rob Simon, back up there on the organ bench. We appreciate their ministries, don’t we?? Further, we are seeing a resurgence of our Kid Choir and our Youth Group Band under the leadership of Amy Cody. I believe that this is a powerful underutilized resource, unlike what I have previously seen in any other of my parishes. Come back next Sunday, and you will delight in what you hear.
So, as we offer all this to God, He is guiding us to strengthen our worship music, that it would grow Rock solid in Jesus Christ.
The second foundational weakness , of which I was apprised, concerns stewardship. This was appeared to be a large hole in the foundation of this church, and this hole would fill up with red ink once a new rector was called.
However, this past fall, this church took one huge giant step on towards a more solid financial foundation. In 2011, 33 of you made financial pledges to support your church. However, in 2012, we have seen a huge increase over last year's number. In 2012, we have received 20 additional pledges—that is an increase of over 60% in the pledging base of this church!!!!!! Now, counting on everyone to do the right thing and to fulfill your pledges, this will be an income increase of 25% for 2012.This is one of the largest increases that I have ever heard of . Also, 18 of you increased your previous year’s pledge. I think that the Lord and this church deserve a clap offering, don’t you???
With a growing commitment to cheerful giving through biblical stewardship, we are beginning to drain the hole of red ink, and it in with the solid rock of Christ centered cheerful giving. We are off to a very strong start together. However, the Vestry is still using reserve funds to pay for non funded operating expenses. But as we continue to build upon our stewardship program in 2012 & 2013,
we can achieve a more solid financial footing in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Right????
So far this morning, we have discussed how both music and stewardship are growing in strength. The last foundational weakness identified by the Vestry concerned some divisions within the congregation. Over the last several years, some parishioners had been upset by various disputes---
• over diocesan and national church politics;
• and over disputes between sub groupings within this congregation.
The Vestry told me that they lamented that such conflict had weakened the foundation of this church, and had resulted in declines in membership and stewardship.
Well, as I said last week, now is the time to leave all that in the past. Paul tells us top fprget what is past and to press on to the upward calling for Jesus Christ.
• So now is the time for us to to forgive, to forget,
and to forward march.
So, together, some “concrete” steps have been taken to bring better unity to the congregation:
• First of all, some of you, who had temporarily stopped worshipping here, have come back to the fold. Praise God. That is a sign of growing healing and unity.
• Secondly, church politics and other divisive issues are not, and will not be included in my preaching or ministry. Period. My calling is to proclaim that each and every one of us, through the grace of Jesus Christ, is important to God. Neither I, nor this parish, can afford to engage in needless/ and futile arguments, which the Bible speficly condemns as sin against the Body of Christ. All of our energy and resources must be directed toward building up our parish here, so that we can shine the light of Christ into the world.
•Also, the people of Christ Church are initiating new activities which actually bring us together. Already, we are seeing this congregation come together through more intergenerational & family activities, such as Family Eucharists, Bicentennial festivities, dinners, and more. This all demonstrates that we are making efforts to work, play, and come together on the rock foundation of Jesus Christ.
So, it seems to me that in the past 5 months, that we have seen some real progress….progress involving you , me, and the Holy Spirit.
• I continue to marvel at the opportunities that God has given us, and I am thrilled to be part of this growing family of faith.
• You see, before arriving here in mid September, I did not know you; but I knew that “you are Important to God.” But now , I know you better; and now, you are important to me, too.
(Put the church on the rock)
As we begin this church’s 3rd century, I trust that we are shoring up the foundation,
• and keeping faith with our parish’s founders, and all spiritual foremothers and forefathers,
• that we will shine the Light of Christ , into our homes, into our neighborhoods & communities, and our world (Mt. 4:14-16).
BLESSED BE THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly
Saturday, February 4, 2012
3 STREAMS, ONE RIVER PART 4
3 STREAMS, ONE RIVER—THE SPIRIT BRINGS UNITY
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Now, this represents something. Some wise guy at 8am said that it represents Eli Manning after today’s Super Bowl. Actually, I would like for you to use your imaginations for a moment, and pretend that this is your own physical body.
I am now shaking this figure to illustrate a distressed body—a body which is out of balance. When we don’t exercise Good judgment, and we don’t eat right, or exercise, and I don’t get enough sleep, or drink too much, then we might weaken our personal immune systems, and become sick. Or, if we put ourselves in harm’s way, by speeding down Quaker farms Road, or the like, then we may lose our balance and become injured. And of course, if you I break my leg because I was reckless on our skate boards, then our whole bodies will hurt. Now, I know that this seems rather obvious to you all; which is why I believe that the image of the church as the Body of Christ is really ingenious. Our bodies and their proper functioning are very important to us. Therefore, it should be easy for us to appropriate the spiritual truth and live it out in the church. Right? No, wrong. Going back t the earliest days of the Christian church, living together in Christian community has always been problematic.
This is the context behind today’s reading from St. Paul, which was a letter written in 60AD. The recipient was the Body of Christ located in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, located in what we know now as the nation of Turkey. And I can tell you, Paul spoke TURKEY to them. Like most churches, then and now, this church suffered from unnecessary conflict: Factionalism, quiet rudeness, gossip, slander, and long term grudges. So Paul commands them to stop. He says, as we heard in today’s reading,
Do not let any evil or unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. 31 get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
I think that it is interesting that Paul describes such talk as EVIL. If our words and actions hurt one another, then such words and actions are evil in the sight of God. Instead, our words and actions should not tear down, but should build up the members of the Body. I don’t know about you, but I think that there is a lesson here for all of us.
So, let’s look at this more deeply. Please take out your bulletin and turn to page 2, so that we can look at a passage from Paul’s letter:
• Looking at Verse one, 2nd line, Paul says”live a life worthy of the Calling you have received.” So, if you are a believer, who is a member of a church, then God has been the one who has invisibly worked through the circumstances of your life to give you your faith, and to make you part of the Body of Christ. Paul sees this as an extreme honor, one which needs to impact our all of our words and deeds in a god-honoring manner.
• He goes on in verse 2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patiently, bearing with one another in love.” Later in this passage, Paul expands upon this when he says, “Speak the truth in love.” Many of us want to make our voices heard. Well, that’s fine, but Paul is saying that if you are going to say something, say it in a manner that shows love and respect, or keep your mouth shut. “Speaking the truth in love” contrasts evil speech, which does not communicate love. This is important, because evil speech and deeds cause disunity hurt, anger, ill feelings in the Body. This destroys the balance in the Body of Christ. God wants balance, harmony, and peace in his body, as we hear in verse 3.
Let us read together, saying, ”Make every effort to guard the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” Unity is something which must be guarded and protected. Unity is precious. Why? Because unity is holy…unity is the holy gift to us from God the Holy Spirit. Social clubs, corporations, and councils of government are not the recipients of this holy gift. Therefore, not to protect and guard this holy unity is to defile His Body, the church.
• Paul goes on to tell us how sacred this unity is . Let us read together verses 4-6, saying,” There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all …” So, together, through the Spirit, we can share the supernatural unity that God wants on earth for those who are members of His church.
Indeed, on the night before Jesus died for us, he prayed for such unity for his followers, saying,” I pray for those who will believe in me, that ALL of them may be one, Father, just as you and I are one. I give them the power to be brought to complete unity, that the world will know that they come from me.” This complete unity is beautifully illustrated in the concluding song at the end of today’s service, as we will sing, “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord…they will know we are Christians by our love.”
So, the first key to church unity is this: we admit that Jesus has a will for his church—that we all should be one, not divided. Then, we need to individually confess our sins, and seek reconciliation with those we may have offended. Now, much of the time, most people may think that this is too hard, or we may think that someone else should make the first move and apologize to us. Well, that’s a rationalization , which is shared by all too many.
PAUSE
And you know, part of that is true. I spent the first 10 years of my ordained ministry, trying to get people to be respectful and caring towards one another. Sometimes it worked, but most of the time it didn’t last. And of course, churches of all denominations, locally and nationally, are now highly conflicted; and in my mind, such conflict desecrates the Body of Christ. And there were times when I threw up my hands in despair.
But then, I learned that my vision of the church as the body of Christ was incomplete. You see, I had forgotten all about the Head.
(*PUT ON HEAD)
You see, a body is no good without a head. Without the head, the body would be cantankerous chaotic coagulations of carnage. It is sad, but I have found that most churches really do not understand that Jesus wants to be the real Head of the church.
• Jesus wants to call the shots.
• Jesus wants to lead us forward to share His glory and mission.
• Jesus wants us to speak and treat one another, just like He treats us: with forgiveness, mercy, patience, and reconciliation.
• Jesus has a plan for each church, to give us a hope and future; and He wants us to discern, together, in unity, what that plan might be, and how we can live it out.
BUT, we will never be able to discern that plan unless we do all that we can, individually and as the body, to work towards greater and greater unity and peace in our relationships.
• You see, God’s word clearly says that I cannot have unity with God, unless I have unity with my brother and my sister….I cannot have peace with God unless I am continually working towards peace in my relationships.
How can we begin? Well, I personally have learned much about this from the life and example of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis lived in Italy at the turn o the 13th century, at a time of massive international church conflict between neighbors and church goers, between laity & clergy, between the rich and poor, between Bishops and the Pope, and on and on and on. One day Francis went to a ruined church to pray, and looked at a cross, of which this one is a copy. As he prayed, he thought that he heard Jesus say, “Go rebuild my church.” So, immediately, Francis began gathering stones and started reconstructing the ruined chapel, where he had been praying. Once finished, God spoke to Francis again, telling him not to rebuild the church with stone and mortar, but with words of compassion, acts of peace and forgiveness. So, Francis obeyed that simple command, and soon millions and millions of Christians throughout Europe began to do likewise. The church leadership turned to Jesus in a new way, and began to acknowledge Him as the rightful head of the church. Please turn your prayer books to page 833, the prayer of St. Francis, page # 62. We will be using their prayer as our concluding prayer after communion, but I would like for you to look at it now: Here is how each of us can bring unity and peace, as we speak the truth in love.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
So, look at this list, and choose one first step. And as we continue celebrating our parish’s bicentennial, I am convinced that Jesus is calling us to greater unity that together we might brightly shine his light in the darkness of our world, and that they would know we are Christians by our love. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Now, this represents something. Some wise guy at 8am said that it represents Eli Manning after today’s Super Bowl. Actually, I would like for you to use your imaginations for a moment, and pretend that this is your own physical body.
I am now shaking this figure to illustrate a distressed body—a body which is out of balance. When we don’t exercise Good judgment, and we don’t eat right, or exercise, and I don’t get enough sleep, or drink too much, then we might weaken our personal immune systems, and become sick. Or, if we put ourselves in harm’s way, by speeding down Quaker farms Road, or the like, then we may lose our balance and become injured. And of course, if you I break my leg because I was reckless on our skate boards, then our whole bodies will hurt. Now, I know that this seems rather obvious to you all; which is why I believe that the image of the church as the Body of Christ is really ingenious. Our bodies and their proper functioning are very important to us. Therefore, it should be easy for us to appropriate the spiritual truth and live it out in the church. Right? No, wrong. Going back t the earliest days of the Christian church, living together in Christian community has always been problematic.
This is the context behind today’s reading from St. Paul, which was a letter written in 60AD. The recipient was the Body of Christ located in the ancient Roman city of Ephesus, located in what we know now as the nation of Turkey. And I can tell you, Paul spoke TURKEY to them. Like most churches, then and now, this church suffered from unnecessary conflict: Factionalism, quiet rudeness, gossip, slander, and long term grudges. So Paul commands them to stop. He says, as we heard in today’s reading,
Do not let any evil or unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up. 31 get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”
I think that it is interesting that Paul describes such talk as EVIL. If our words and actions hurt one another, then such words and actions are evil in the sight of God. Instead, our words and actions should not tear down, but should build up the members of the Body. I don’t know about you, but I think that there is a lesson here for all of us.
So, let’s look at this more deeply. Please take out your bulletin and turn to page 2, so that we can look at a passage from Paul’s letter:
• Looking at Verse one, 2nd line, Paul says”live a life worthy of the Calling you have received.” So, if you are a believer, who is a member of a church, then God has been the one who has invisibly worked through the circumstances of your life to give you your faith, and to make you part of the Body of Christ. Paul sees this as an extreme honor, one which needs to impact our all of our words and deeds in a god-honoring manner.
• He goes on in verse 2, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patiently, bearing with one another in love.” Later in this passage, Paul expands upon this when he says, “Speak the truth in love.” Many of us want to make our voices heard. Well, that’s fine, but Paul is saying that if you are going to say something, say it in a manner that shows love and respect, or keep your mouth shut. “Speaking the truth in love” contrasts evil speech, which does not communicate love. This is important, because evil speech and deeds cause disunity hurt, anger, ill feelings in the Body. This destroys the balance in the Body of Christ. God wants balance, harmony, and peace in his body, as we hear in verse 3.
Let us read together, saying, ”Make every effort to guard the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace” Unity is something which must be guarded and protected. Unity is precious. Why? Because unity is holy…unity is the holy gift to us from God the Holy Spirit. Social clubs, corporations, and councils of government are not the recipients of this holy gift. Therefore, not to protect and guard this holy unity is to defile His Body, the church.
• Paul goes on to tell us how sacred this unity is . Let us read together verses 4-6, saying,” There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all …” So, together, through the Spirit, we can share the supernatural unity that God wants on earth for those who are members of His church.
Indeed, on the night before Jesus died for us, he prayed for such unity for his followers, saying,” I pray for those who will believe in me, that ALL of them may be one, Father, just as you and I are one. I give them the power to be brought to complete unity, that the world will know that they come from me.” This complete unity is beautifully illustrated in the concluding song at the end of today’s service, as we will sing, “We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord…they will know we are Christians by our love.”
So, the first key to church unity is this: we admit that Jesus has a will for his church—that we all should be one, not divided. Then, we need to individually confess our sins, and seek reconciliation with those we may have offended. Now, much of the time, most people may think that this is too hard, or we may think that someone else should make the first move and apologize to us. Well, that’s a rationalization , which is shared by all too many.
PAUSE
And you know, part of that is true. I spent the first 10 years of my ordained ministry, trying to get people to be respectful and caring towards one another. Sometimes it worked, but most of the time it didn’t last. And of course, churches of all denominations, locally and nationally, are now highly conflicted; and in my mind, such conflict desecrates the Body of Christ. And there were times when I threw up my hands in despair.
But then, I learned that my vision of the church as the body of Christ was incomplete. You see, I had forgotten all about the Head.
(*PUT ON HEAD)
You see, a body is no good without a head. Without the head, the body would be cantankerous chaotic coagulations of carnage. It is sad, but I have found that most churches really do not understand that Jesus wants to be the real Head of the church.
• Jesus wants to call the shots.
• Jesus wants to lead us forward to share His glory and mission.
• Jesus wants us to speak and treat one another, just like He treats us: with forgiveness, mercy, patience, and reconciliation.
• Jesus has a plan for each church, to give us a hope and future; and He wants us to discern, together, in unity, what that plan might be, and how we can live it out.
BUT, we will never be able to discern that plan unless we do all that we can, individually and as the body, to work towards greater and greater unity and peace in our relationships.
• You see, God’s word clearly says that I cannot have unity with God, unless I have unity with my brother and my sister….I cannot have peace with God unless I am continually working towards peace in my relationships.
How can we begin? Well, I personally have learned much about this from the life and example of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis lived in Italy at the turn o the 13th century, at a time of massive international church conflict between neighbors and church goers, between laity & clergy, between the rich and poor, between Bishops and the Pope, and on and on and on. One day Francis went to a ruined church to pray, and looked at a cross, of which this one is a copy. As he prayed, he thought that he heard Jesus say, “Go rebuild my church.” So, immediately, Francis began gathering stones and started reconstructing the ruined chapel, where he had been praying. Once finished, God spoke to Francis again, telling him not to rebuild the church with stone and mortar, but with words of compassion, acts of peace and forgiveness. So, Francis obeyed that simple command, and soon millions and millions of Christians throughout Europe began to do likewise. The church leadership turned to Jesus in a new way, and began to acknowledge Him as the rightful head of the church. Please turn your prayer books to page 833, the prayer of St. Francis, page # 62. We will be using their prayer as our concluding prayer after communion, but I would like for you to look at it now: Here is how each of us can bring unity and peace, as we speak the truth in love.
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light;
So, look at this list, and choose one first step. And as we continue celebrating our parish’s bicentennial, I am convinced that Jesus is calling us to greater unity that together we might brightly shine his light in the darkness of our world, and that they would know we are Christians by our love. AMEN.
--The Rev. John Donnelly
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)