Sunday, December 8, 2019

Advent Dreams, Advent Actions: Fireworks in the Season of Advent

Rev. Jimmy Moore, preaching
Matthew 3:1-12

This goes into the category of “Don’t try this at home, kids.” I once accidentally caused a ruckus at a holiday meal at my home when I was boy, old enough to know better. It was raining and I was bored, so I went to the back of the house to “play”. To my surprise, and joy, I found some firecrackers and some matches, and commenced lighting the firecrackers and throwing them out the window. The rain was loud, and the window was high, and no one else could hear anything.  But once I got a little crossed up, and threw the match out the window, and kept the lit firecracker in my hand. I realized my error just in time to drop the firecracker before it detonated but not in time to drop it outside. When it exploded, it sent a regrettably loud noise throughout the entire house, to say nothing of the unmistakable odor of gunpowder.  This sent my visibly irritated mother back to where I was…back to the room where I wished I was not.  Let’s just say that the next hour or two of my life were not pleasant. I won’t be chronicling them.

 We assume that fireworks really don’t go well with the Advent/Christmas season. But if that is so, why do the lectionary passages of Advent include John the Baptist. He was nothing if he not a firecracker, ready to cause emotional and religious distress to many of the settled parties of his day. Clearly the church in its longer and deeper wisdom have wanted us to see in Advent a time to see settled structures undergo some loud shaking, and to see fear and greed be asked to remove themselves from places of prominence in our hearts.

 So are we not entering a season of peace and goodwill? Why bring up John the Baptist, and his finger pointing and fiery sermons? Sure…it is a time in which the ages old longing for peace in the heart and peace in the world finds hope.  But it is also a time when we are reminded that much of what we have built is keeping us from peace…from the deep experience of the Divine in our midst. And this, too, is Advent.

 We’ll talk about this in the sermon on Sunday morning in worship which is titled, “Advent Dreams, Advent Actions: Fireworks in the Season of Advent,“ arising from Matthew 3: 1-12. During the service, the Chancel Ringers will ring, and the Chancel Choir, directed by Gerry Sousa, will lead us as well. And we’ll celebrate the baptism of one of our very young ones. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

Sunday, December 1 - First Sunday of Advent; Holy Communion; World AIDS Day

Advent Dreams; Advent Actions: Stories in a Quilt

Rev. Mary Beth Morgan, preaching with Ed Brandon and Mark Cox
Isaiah 2:1-5

A woman, surrounded by squares of fabric, was asked what she was quilting. She responded “I am quilting a story that continues to unfold even as I sew these pieces together.” We are blessed again, this Sunday, to have a collection of panels from the AIDS Quilt here at St. Mark’s that represents an unfolding story. We are grateful to Ed Brandon who made this possible, and created one of these panels.

The National AIDS Memorial reminds us that the AIDS Quilt commemorates over 105,000 people who have died of AIDS. The “panels serve as both a memorial and a storyteller. Each panel visually documents the evolution of one of the nation’s ongoing civil rights struggles.” They invite us to remember, repent, honor the life of each person, and to advocate for and support those living with HIV/AIDS and their loved ones, around the globe. Ed Brandon and Mark Cox will share a few stories and important insights with us on this first Sunday in Advent.

The scripture passage for this week is Isaiah 2:1-5. The prophet envisions the nations (all peoples) “streaming” to learn to live by God’s Law, Rather than responding to a quest for power and wealth, or reacting to fear and prejudice, they will be moved by and internal quest and drive for peace. “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks.” The sermon title is Advent Dreams and Advent Actions: Stories in a Quilt . We will celebrate Communion together, and collect items for Backpack Buddies.

All are invited, on Sunday morning, to get some breakfast anytime between 9:00-10:15am, which is provided this week by the Reconciling Ministries Team. Donations are appreciated, and will go to the United Methodist Church Global AIDS Fund. Plan to come back at 5pm for Advent Night and Hanging of the Greens, including a turkey-free meal. (See details in the article included here.) If this will be your first Sunday at St. Mark’s, or you have been here for decades, we look forward to sharing this time together on Sunday!

Sunday, November 24, 2019

From My Place at the Table, What is One Thing I Will Do Today?

Rev. Mary Beth Morgan, preaching
Luke 22:14-20

These days, it seems we cannot turn on the radio or the television without someone telling us how complicated our Thanksgiving gatherings are going to be next week.  On face value, that is understandable in the context of impeachment hearings, primary election debates, and divergent views on political, societal, environmental and justice issues.

Yet, this week we are reminded, again, that we do not have the corner on the market of possible, or probable, tension at a shared meal.  In worship this Sunday, we are invited back into the story of Jesus’ last meal with his disciples (as told in the Gospel of Luke).  Jesus tells them that the one about to betray him is at the table. The disciples respond by debating which one of them it is.  Later, others get into a dispute about which one of them will be regarded as the greatest.

Jesus gives thanks to God, and he serves them the meal.  He tells them “the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves… I am among you as one who serves.” On this Sunday designated as “Christ the King” Sunday, we are reminded that Jesus, in word and example, is still teaching us those lessons.  What is something you are thankful for today?  From your place at the table, what is something you can do today to help nurture a little grace, care and justice in the life of another or in the world?

We will be blessed these next two Sundays to have a panel from the AIDS Quilt here at St. Mark’s.  Its presence invites us reflect on its witness in the world and calls to each of us to remember, repent, honor the life of each person represented, and advocate for and support those living with HIV/AIDS.

This Sunday morning, all are welcome and invited to get some breakfast anytime between 9:00-10:15am, gather around tables in Garton Hall, and listen to some live music- or head to an adult Sunday School class.  You will see many Thanksgiving Baskets in Garton Hall, which will be delivered to individuals and families in our community after worship.  If this will be your first Sunday at St. Mark’s, or you have been here for decades, we look forward to sharing this time together on Sunday!

Sunday, November 17, 2019

A Community of Shepherds

Rev. Jimmy Moore, preaching
Jeremiah 23:1-6

In our local social media scene, there is a Facebook page for folks whose pets have gone missing. Most who initiate posts there are understandably distraught. Many of us have pets who are absconders, who when given the opportunity will run from us like Harrison Ford ran from Tommy Lee Jones in “The Fugitive.” And there are times when the Facebook community of friends actually helps find the little runaways. But whether that happens or not, it is pretty clear that the distraught owner feels a great deal of care coming from the community of fellow animal lovers. It really is good to not be alone when you are reaching out in care and love.

A common metaphor for that care in the Scriptures is “shepherd”. Often it is God who is the shepherd as we read in the very well-known Twenty Third Psalm. And in the Christian Scriptures, in Luke, Jesus speaks of the shepherd who goes in search of the one lost sheep ... the absconder. In the Gospel of John, Jesus likens himself to the Good Shepherd, whose care for the sheep includes a protective love for them entails taking risks. And in Jeremiah 23, the “weeping prophet” who is speaking to those going into exile laments the faithless “shepherds” (leaders) who have divided and abandoned the people of God. Jeremiah promises that God will raise up shepherds who will truly care for the sheep.

In short, this is true: it is not only God who shepherds, nor a few select leaders. We are all called to be shepherds and as a community, to organize around the shepherding love for all of God’s people. The community of shepherds will not run from danger, nor abandon the flock to pursue greener personal pastures. It is not just the solitary soul who goes after lost and discouraged ones. The community of shepherds organizes itself to be welcoming, affirming, inspiring and brave.

 We’ll talk about this in worship at 10:30 on Sunday, as the sermon is titled “A Community of Shepherds”, arising from Jeremiah 23:1-6. The Chancel Choir, led by Gerry Sousa, will lead us in music. We will also celebrate Holy Communion. We’ll look forward to seeing you in worship on Sunday.

Sunday, November 10

Rev. Jimmy Moore, preaching
Exodus 3:1-15

Do you know some people who have made a difference in the world and in your life? If you do, who are they, and why did they have such an impact? If some of these folks are coming to mind, you will recognize that several things about them are likely true. They probably had fairly ‘normal’ lives in which they sought to make a living, have friends and/or family, and live honorably. At some point, they became convinced that the choices they made in their lives mattered, and whether from a sense of duty or delight or a combination of both, they made decisions that impacted other real human lives. What do these special ones and the calling they embraced teach the rest of us about our own callings?

In the third chapter of Exodus, we read of Moses shepherding in the mountains when he came upon a bush with a flame coming from its center. In this burning bush, Moses hears the voice of God calling to him to lead the people of God from their bondage in Egypt to a spacious and fertile land. For Moses, understandably, seeing a burning bush was a strange thing. But what was stranger still was that God was reaching out to him, with all of his inadequacies and failings, to undertake this great calling. Indeed, we often find ourselves not up to the challenges that God places before us in life.

We will work with this in a special way at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church this Sunday. On that date sixty years earlier, the Rev. Dr. Joe Emerson experienced his first Sunday as pastor of St. Mark’s. This Sunday, Joe will share with us some of his memories and reflections from those years. During his pastorate at St. Mark’s, the church experienced significant growth and built the sanctuary that is still the worship home of the congregation. And during those years, Joe went to Selma, Alabama during the tumultuous time of the Civil Rights Movement to march with Dr. King and many others who were seeking to encourage a more just society in our country and in that region. We really look forward to hearing what Joe has to share.

And in the spirit of this theme of calling, Jimmy Moore’s sermon is titled, “Strange Callings and Sacred Journeys”, arising from Exodus 3:1-15. The Chancel Choir, under the direction of Gerry Sousa, will lead us in worship. We look forward to a special time this Sunday at St. Mark’s.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Wonder, Grow, Play, Create - Love

Rev. Mary Beth Morgan, preaching

Mark 10:13-16

It was likely an ordinary February day, in 1969, when a small committee was formed to explore the possibility of starting a Nursery School at St. Mark’s. The following October, St, Mark’s Nursery School began with one class of three-year-olds. Since then, well over 100 teachers, hundreds of children and families from Bloomington and all over the world, have been blessed by this incredible ministry.

As we prepare to celebrate the 50th Birthday of the Nursery School & Kindergarten this Sunday, I imagine that the seed for this may have been someone simply saying “I wonder if we might start a Nursery School?” Nurturing a sense of wonder remains a cornerstone. Mary Jane VanHook, who was the Nursery School Director for decades, had this quote from Rachel Carson posted in her office: “For a child to keep alive her inborn sense of wonder, she needs at least one adult with which to share it, rediscovering with her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in,” The same is true for our spiritual growth.

This Sunday, we hear from the Gospel of Mark of a time when people were bringing children to Jesus so he might bless them. His disciples try to send them away, but Jesus said “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to those such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Jesus started with a small group of disciples, and nurtured a sense of wonder with them by his example, and in parables and possibilities. We are called to nurture this, as well.

We begin every Sunday with breakfast anytime between 9:00-10:15 am. Nursery School alumni and friends, of all ages, will be participating in worship leadership. We welcome and celebrate the presence of everyone in worship, from all faith and spiritual traditions or none in particular. Please stay after worship for a great 50th Birthday Party with lunch, birthday cake, singing, Aaron Messer (the amazing balloon guy) and more. (See the expanded article in this newsletter for more information.) There is no cost for breakfast or lunch. Donations are appreciated to support the Mary Jane VanHook Nursery School Scholarship fund. If you are a Nursery School alum, teacher, parent, friend, part of the greater community, or didn’t even know we had a Nursery School, we look forward to worshiping and celebrating together this Sunday!