SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2020

“Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence.” This is one of the many things psychoanalyst and philosopher Eric Fromm wrote in his 1956 book, The Art of Loving. Fromm’s larger point was love, rather than being a mysterious gift that cannot be understood, is actually a skill that can be taught and developed. He also noted that in the modern era we live alienated lives, and that our longing for interpersonal connection is deep and profound. So, love is both an urgent necessity, and is a capacity that must be nurtured with great intentionality.

Some of what Fromm wrote sounds a great deal like some of the basic teachings of Jesus. Once, when asked (he was being tested) what was the greatest commandment, Jesus quoted from the Shema, found in Deuteronomy 6, that we are to love the Lord with all our heart and soul and mind. And before anyone could ask a question, he said, “And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” In other words, if you want to know what is at the center of living the faith, see these two commandments. Everything else must correspond to those, or we have departed from the faith.

Jesus’ teachings about love are at the same time lovely and demanding. Jesus did not just teach us to have a sentimental regard for the other. Jesus went so far as to teach love for the enemy…love for those with whom you do not easily connect. How in the world do we do that? How can we do that as a community of faith? How can we come close to that in a world in which so many seem to be at each other’s throats?

We’ll talk about that in the online service on Sunday. Mary Beth and Jimmy will co-preach a sermon titled “Stronger Together: Reflections on Learning to Love”, arising from Matthew 22:34-40. The scripture lesson will be read by Dana Thomas, with great help from Dean, Cam and Maia. And a “Stronger Together” stewardship moment will be shared by Charlie Nelms. We will pray, sing hymns, share a children’s moment, and hear wonderful music by our Sanctuary Singers, led by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee.

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream, which you will find by visiting www.smumc.church.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2020

One of the deep affirmations of our faith is that we are made in the image of God. And for generations, theologians have wrestled with the meaning and implications of those words. Some have suggested that it refers to something in our being, or to our capacity to be in relationship, or to some Godlike function we possess, such as creativeness.

Episcopalian theologian and author Barbara Brown Taylor once wrote, after returning from a long flight, that she loves watching travelers returning from international flights, being greeted by their adoring family and friends. She said that seeing their faces reminded her why she loved being alive. She also said that it reminded her “that the truest thing about being human—the thing deepest down in us—is not sin but the divine image.”

In an attempt to trip him up, Jesus was once asked if it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar. Taking a coin, Jesus pointed out that it was the Emperor’s image on the coin. He responded, “‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” It was a response that evokes even more questions, and in particular, it asks us what it means that we are bearers, not of the image of Caesar, but of the image of God. What does it mean that we are capable of honoring deep truth, of practicing profound goodness and love, or creating and relishing great beauty?

In our worship service on Sunday, we’ll explore this theme. The sermon, titled “Stronger Together: Spotting the Image of God Among Us”, will work with some of those questions that the passage draws out of us. We’ll have a time for children, a stewardship moment with Brandt and Dian Ludlow, and music from our Sanctuary singers, accompanied by Nara Lee and directed by Gerry Sousa. We will also have a brief update of the recent meeting of the Indiana United Methodist Annual Conference.

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream, which you will find by visiting www.smumc.church.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2020

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11, 10:30 AM

WORSHIP SERVICE

Joseph Scriven was an Irish poet who was best known for writing the beloved hymn, “What A Friend We Have in Jesus.” Joseph’s life was punctuated with heartache. He was engaged to be married at the age of 23, but his fiancé died tragically the night before their wedding. During his days of grieving, he connected with the Christianity of the Plymouth Brethren, and perhaps because of this influence, left Ireland and migrated to Canada when he was 25. Many years later, when he heard that his mother was sick in Ireland, and he was financially unable to travel there, he composed this hymn and sent it to her as a prayer. He never dreamed the hymn would be published in the newspaper, and eventually become so well known to so many. Joseph spent much of his later years walking the Canadian country side seeking to do good for others.

A line in the hymn reads, “Are we weak and heavy laden?” There’s no need to specify the challenges 2020 has brought us all, and how the feelings of weakness and being laden with heavy loads is so deeply common. We all know them. The hymn’s response is “Take it to the Lord in prayer.” So we have to ask, how is it that prayer helps us when we are feeling weakened and wearied, and when the challenges of the pandemic, the protracted quest for racial justice, when the contentious political season drags on? How does prayer strengthen us? What kind of prayers might better equip us to live as the children of light in a season of darkness?

It is clear that Jesus believed prayer to be essential to the spiritual tasks facing disciples. One of the most well known passages in the Gospels is a brief modeling of how those who followed Jesus were to pray. There is much guidance in these few verses in Matthew 6:9-13, but one thing is clear: while we are invited to ask for what we want, prayer is so much more than that. The soulful prayer life to which Jesus points is one of linking up to what the Divine is doing in the world. And what if our very first response to the brokenness is around us is to pray, finding the strength and guidance and forgiveness we need to leave our world more reflective of the Divine will.

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “Are We Weak and Heavy Laden?” The Scripture from Luke will be read by Mike Sonneborn. There will be a Stewardship moment from Jonathan and Brittany Purvis as we move forward with our “Stronger Together” campaign. We will sing hymns, pray and have a children’s moment. And the Sanctuary Singers, under the direction of Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee, will sing “This is the Day”, an anthem John Rutter composed for the occasion of the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. 

We look forward to connecting with you on the Live Stream, which you will find by visiting www.smumc.church.

Sunday October 4, 2020

Eighteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Rev. Mary Beth Morgan, preaching
Stronger Together: Planting Seeds of Grance and Community by Saying “Yes”
Galatians 6:1-6, 9-10

As I write this, there is creativity and joy under a set of open canopy tents on the church lawn. Six “family units” (a parent, guardian or caregiver with a child/children) are safely socially distanced in defined areas. Wonderful teachers, from our Nursery School & Kindergarten’s Connect Program, are leading them in activities. They are safely engaging in their family units, while still being “connected” with everyone present. There is excitement, discovery, wonder and care for each other.

This month we are focusing on stewardship, with the theme Stronger Together. On this World Communion Sunday, we will spend some time in worship reflecting on the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians. In the Message translation, it begins with the invitation “Live creatively, friends.” (6:1) Stewardship invites us to share our resources, and the gifts and talents we all have to share. This time of pandemic calls us to live creatively, and discover new ways to live God’s call to us. Paul reminds us to reach out to those who are oppressed, share each others burdens, not tire of doing good, and to work for the benefit of all people. Often, opportunities to embrace these are right in front of us. When we say “yes”, we may be planting seeds of grace that become deeply rooted and make us stronger together.

Our time of worship will include inspiring music from our singers and organist, Nara Lee, a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, reading of the scripture passage from Hyun Kwon and Yena Park (in Korean and English), a Stewardship Moment from Kevin Theile, and the celebration of Holy Communion. You are invited to have bread and juice, or other items, on hand. The sermon is titled Stronger Together: Planting Seeds of Grace and Community by Saying “Yes”.

If you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, or will be joining us for the first time, we look forward to connecting with you on the livestream at 10:30 am. www.smumc.church.

Sunday September 27, 2020

“And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands”.(Isaiah 55:12) When the worries of life and the heaviness of the world’s ache are just too much, do you allow yourself the sacred privilege of sitting among trees? When you long to be refreshed, do you just go sit among that the forest to listen to the restoring music of what poet Wendell Berry called the “timbered choir”? Have you ached with creation’s groaning as you watched image after image of the devastating fires out west? Trees are given to us, in part, to serve as sacraments, means of grace, and as links to life to help us live abundantly in the world.

Once Jesus told of a story of someone who had planted a fig tree, hoping to enjoy its fruit. But after three years, the tree had not yielded any figs. He complained to the gardener that the tree was barren, and should be cut down. But the gardener urged patience, “Let it alone for one more year”. The gardener promised to nurture it, and to see if in time, it would yield greater fruit. Sometimes, the gardener seems to be saying, "You could make great mistakes about the value of someone or something because they are not giving you what you want at the moment you want it." Sometimes, in life and in faith, growth takes time. Trees help us learn that…and so much more.

Sunday at St. Mark’s, we celebrate the earth and its fullness as we celebrate a Creation Care Sunday. As United Methodist Bishops wrote in a Pastoral Letter in 2009, we are to practice “environmental holiness”, and to “look forward to the renewal of the whole creation and commit ourselves to this vision.” Particularly, on Sunday, we’ll reflect on the sacred gift that trees are to us. The sermon is titled, “The Blessed Life of Trees” arising from Romans 8:18-25, and Luke 13:6-9. The service has been crafted with input from members of the St. Mark’s Creation Care Team, and readings will be offered by Tom Mooradian, Josie Sparks, Charlie Matson, Eleanor Lahr, and Marlen Rust.” We will also have a Zoom conversation John Lawrence, who is the Executive Director of Sycamore Land Trust. The Land Trust is a non-profit that since 1990 has sought to protect land by owning and caring for nature preserves, and by holding conservation easements that protect privately owned properties. We will also have prayers, a moment for children of all ages, and the Sanctuary Singers, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by Nara Lee will sing “Great Trees”, composed by Malcolm Dalglish, based on a poem by Wendell Berry.

Sunday September 20, 2020

Life is pretty challenging these days and we deeply want to believe that we are all in this together. But sometimes it does not seem that everyone is showing up on time to help. So how do you feel about “late arrivals to the party”? How do you feel about “arriving late” yourself? Say you’re cleaning the kitchen and you are almost done, and at the last minute, someone says, “Hey, can I help?” Or you’re mowing the grass on a hot day, and you have just a little left in the back yard to finish, and a friend comes over and says, “Hey, let’s finish this up, and reward ourselves for this hard job with a nice cold glass of lemonade.” Or maybe you’ve been involved for years in a process to bring change in an issue of justice, and someone who has joined your group recently is interviewed in the local paper about their having contributed to the project. How do you feel? Are you glad they came to help? Or do you carry some irritation that they have done so little, and you have done so much. Or do you recall, in your honest heart, that at certain times, you showed up pretty late in significant ways?

There is a story in the Scripture that has this as its theme. In Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hires laborers to work in his vineyard. But throughout the day, even up to very late in the day, the landowner kept hiring others to come in to work. When it came time to hand out the pay for the day, those who came in late in the day received the same amount as those started early in the morning. The “all day” workers who had carried on in the heat were miffed, and began to complain to the landowner about this “injustice”. But the landowner replies, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose? Or are you envious because I am generous?”

Clearly, this is one of those stories of Jesus that is intended to get people asking questions? How is it fair to reward people differently who did different amounts of work? How does mercy dance with justice in the parable? Is this story about salvation, in a strictly ‘spiritual’ sense, or does it include the biblical economic mandates about real landowners and real laborers and what a just wage might entail. At the very least, the story indicates that God has a deep compassion for those arrive late, who for whatever reason are not the first in line.

We’ll see where that story takes us as the sermon on Sunday is titled, “The Stunning Mercy Awaiting Those Who Are Late to the Party,” arising from Matthew 20:1-16. In our live stream worship service on Sunday morning, the biblical lesson will be read by Gene and Leana McClain. we’ll sing hymns, prayer, and have a children’s moment. We'll also have a moment for ministry as Dan Hughes brings a word about our Stephen Ministry. Our singers and organist Nara Lee, under the direction of Gerry Sousa, will bring us some great music.

We look forward to connecting with you on the livestream at 10:30 at www.smumc.church.

Sunday, September 13, 2020

Fifteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Rev. Mary Beth Morgan, preaching
Disciples in Training: Nurturing a Community of Transformation and Abundance
Romans 12:1-8

Have you had opportunities to work or serve in the world (paid or volunteer) that have made an unexpected difference in your life? It could have been a summer job as a teen, a long career, a volunteer opportunity, or other kinds of service with others. Are there gifts you have gained from these that you now are blessed to share with others?

This Sunday, we will spend some time with the Letter of Paul to the Romans (12:1-8). We explore more deeply what it might mean to live as a community of faith, in which the abundance of gifts we share are honored and shared as reflections of God’s love. This is in both good times and hard times.

In these past days, our local community has been aching and grieving the loss of the Mumper family in a terrible tragedy. As individuals, of all ages, have been sharing memories with me about Jakob (age 18) and Emma (age 26), I have been moved by how many lives they touched. Some of these were from brief encounters, and others from long friendships, but all had an impact that is being felt deeply.

Regardless of how old each of us is, the place(s) we have lived, or the opportunities we have had in life, each of us has an abundance of gifts to share. When we freely share those in community, and welcome the gifts of others, our abundance gives us opportunities to help bless and transform a hurting world.

Our time of worship will include inspiring music from our singers and organist, Nara Lee, a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, reading of the scripture passage by Cooper Tucker, and a sermon titled as Disciples in Training: Nurturing a Community of Transformation and Abundance.

We look forward to connecting with you on the livestream at 10:30 at www.smumc.church.

Sunday September 6, 2020

Have you been in conversations in which at least one of the parties in the discussion believed they have been wronged, or harmed by another? If we go by our recent record as humans, chances are those conversations have not gone so well. A common response is for those in the conversation to keep distant from each other. That can be useful if that time is used to reflect and regroup, but if the distancing protracts, it can exchange of one kind of harm to another.   

In his book The Great Divorce, C.S. Lewis describes hell as a vast gray and rainy city, a city where people live only at the outer fringes. At its center sit rows and rows of empty houses. The houses are empty because those who once lived in them have quarreled with the neighbors, and moved as far from them as they could. That, Lewis suggests, is why hell is so large, as they chose distance over connection, because they could imagine no other engagement but confrontation. Remarking on this, Barbara Brown Taylor suggests that we are called to confront and make up, forgive and seek forgiveness, to throw block parties in the deserted center of hell.  

Jesus sought to bring this point home to the disciples. If one of you, have a problem with another,go talk about it…just the two of you. If there is no resolution, bring a couple of other loving people along. And then, if there is no resolution, you can take it to the church. And if then, there still is no help, regard the other as a “Gentile or tax-collector.” And that begs the question…just how did Jesus regard “those” kinds of people? There’s much to digest here, and we’ll attempt to do that in worship on Sunday morning in our live stream worship. The sermon is titled, “Binding and Loosing: Building Community, Repairing Harm,” arising from Matthew 18: 15-20, which will be read by Dan and Whitney Sullivan. We’ll have a time for children, hymns, prayers, and we will share in Holy Communion virtually. Music will be provided by our sanctuary singers, directed by Gerry Sousa and accompanied by organist Nara Lee.

We look forward to connecting with you on the livestream at 10:30 am. www.smumc.church.

Sunday August 30, 2020

Thirteenth Sunday of Pentecost
Rev. Jimmy Moore, preaching
Reflections on a Vulnerable Messiah
Matthew 16:13-28



In these days of pandemic and social challenge, one could be forgiven for having at least a fleeting wish to be invulnerable. When we were children, many of us developed a fondness for superheroes. Of course, the unique gifts they possessed included the ability to fly, to see through walls, and to travel faster than anyone could imagine. But chief among these special strengths was invulnerability. Nothing could hurt the superheroes. They were, for all intents and purposes, invincible. For all children, especially those who have suffered loss or face great obstacles, invulnerability is a quite an attractive fantasy.  

The writer and poet Madeleine L’Engle says that “when we were children, we used to think that when we were grown up we would no longer be vulnerable. But to grow up is to accept vulnerability. To be alive is to be vulnerable.” Or as Brene Brown says it, “Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, joy, courage, empathy, and creativity. It is the source of hope, empathy, accountability, and authenticity. If we want greater clarity in our purpose or deeper and more meaningful spiritual lives, vulnerability is the path.”  

In a well-known conversation with his disciples, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah. As soon as he does this, Jesus changes the conversation. He then begins to tell the disciples some unhappy news. He tells them that he must go to Jerusalem to suffer. And then he says that if anyone wants to be a disciple, that they too must take up their cross and follow him. That is, they, like Jesus, must find a path to vulnerability if they want to find strength in faith and love.  

We’ll talk about this in worship on Sunday morning, as the sermon is titled “Reflections on a Vulnerable Messiah”, arising from Matthew 16:13-28. We’ll have a children’s moment, a time of prayer and some wonderful music. This Sunday, our five singers will join our new organist, Nara Lee, in offering Fauré's "Cantique de Jean Racine" as the morning's anthem.

We look forward to connecting with you on the livestream at 10:30 at www.smumc.church.

sunday, august 2, 2020

Ninth Sunday of Pentecost
Rev. Jimmy Moore, preaching
So Much from So Little: The Sacramental Quality of Abundance
John 6: 1-13

Have you ever found yourself in a situation in which the challenges you were facing seemed larger than your capacity to deal with them? Sometimes we feel so small, and the problems staring us in the face seem like giants. Your resources just did not add up to the need. Perhaps with the swirl of pandemic, unrest, and political tension, many of us feel just like that. Or perhaps the mountain before us is something much more personal…part of our own individual story. What do we do with that sense that there is not enough in us to deal with the circumstances before us?

There is a story in the life of Jesus that is called the “feeding of the multitude” that dramatically enacts the dilemma of not having enough for the task at hand. Some version of the feeding is found in all four gospels. In the version in John’s Gospel, a large crowd has gathered to listen to Jesus. But because they were in a fairly remote location, the disciples realized that there was no way there would be bread available for so many. But Andrew, one of the disciples, finds a little boy with two fish and five loaves of bread. Jesus blessed the food, and in ways that are not explained to us, there is enough food for the crowd. Such abundance stunned the crowd, and understandably, this became a very well-known story in the community of disciples.

At the very least, this story suggests to us that we may be able to make it after all. We may not have much, but somehow, it will be enough. The question is how that plays out in the real life of the people of God. Have you seen that grace become reality in your life and the life of the community? What did that look like in the everyday graces of your life? Poet David Whyte writes,

"This is the time
of loaves
and fishes.
People are hungry
and one good word is bread
for a thousand."

We’ll unpack this in worship on Sunday. The sermon is titled, “So Much from So Little: The Sacramental Quality of Abundance” arising from John 6: 1-13. Also in the service, we will hear a solo from Brianna Murray, have a children’s moment, have hymns, a time of prayer, and celebrate Holy Communion Virtually.

We’ll look forward to connecting with you on the life stream at 10:30 at www.smumc.church.

sunday, july 26, 2020

Eighth Sunday of Pentecost
Reverend Mary Beth Morgan, preaching
Numbers 6:22-27
Blessing in the Midst of it All

Last week in worship, we considered, in the Book of Joshua, the stones that the people would set as markers of great visitations of God, visible reminders that God was with them. There was also a verbal way in which this awareness of the presence of the Divine was conveyed wherever they were. The “priestly blessing”, in Numbers 6, gave consistent words of grace given by God to religious leaders to say to the people. This blessing, which is still shared in both Christian and Jewish communities, begins with the words, “The Lord bless you and keep you”. And it includes a longing that the very “face of the Lord” would shine on them. This powerful expression means more than that “God smiles on them,” as some translations read. It means that the Lord looks upon the people of God with favor, and is blessing their very existence and sojourn in the world.

The stones became tangible reminders of the sacred memories held by previous generations, and passed down to new generations who were adding their own. This Sunday, in the Book of Numbers, we are going back (sort of a biblical “prequel”) to some of those previous generations whose stories and memories were poured symbolically into these stones. These memories included times of joy, immense sorrow, war, devastation and ordinary days.

Today, we are building our own collection of memories and blessings that we will hold, and future generations will inherit. For this Sunday’s worship, individuals and families were invited to share an image of a memory they will hold from this time of pandemic. Your photos and words were great in number and in thoughtfulness and grace. We will share these (in video form) in the worship service, which will also include inspiring music from our musicians and singers, a children’s moment, prayer and reflection, reading of the scripture from the Hebrew Bible (Numbers 6:22-27) from both Abby Brass (sharing a translation in English) and Aaron Comforty (sharing a translation in Hebrew with a brief reflection). The sermon title is “Blessing in the Midst of it All.” We look forward to worshiping together, on the livestream, this Sunday at 10:30am.

sunday, july 19, 2020

Seventh Sunday of Pentecost
Reverend Jimmy Moore, preaching
Joshua 4:1-7; 19-24
What Do These Stones Mean?: Holy Markers in the Life of the Beloved Community

What are those places and times that have served as holy moments and sacred space for you? We all have them. They are the stories to which we return to help define our lives, to understand who we are as the children of God in the Beloved Community. Anniversaries and birthdays are intended to serve as sacred reminders that we are loved and gifted, and they help sustain and orient us. When we are discouraged and disoriented, perhaps as many of us are in these challenging days, literally or spiritually we return to these storied experiences to see what grace they still possess for us.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, there are multiple stories of the People of God setting up stones as markers of times and places where the Divine had been powerfully experienced. One of these is found in Joshua 4, when the Israelites were crossing the Jordan, Joshua told them to choose twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan and to take them where they were camping. These stones were to become a sign, so that future generations would see them and ask, “What do these stones mean?” The question was to evoke a story of God’s presence in their life together.

This Sunday, we’re suggesting that you gather a few stones to have on a table nearby as you stream the worship service. See if these stones can help you think concretely about those times and places where your life, or the life of the community, has been graced. The sermon Sunday is titled, “What Do These Stones Mean?: Holy Markers in the Life of the Beloved Community” arising from Joshua 4: 1-7; 19-24. In addition to prayers and a moment for children, our singers will help guide our worship, and will be joined by oboist Rebecca McGuire.

We look forward to your joining us on the livestream at www.smumc.church at 10:30 on Sunday morning. And remember, if you cannot make that time, the service is recorded and available to watch at a time more convenient for you.  

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Reverend Jimmy Moore, preaching
Matthew 13:24-30
What if a Weed is but an Unloved Flower

How are we to deal with things that are going badly in our personal life, family, or in our larger society? You’re pretty sure you know what the “good” should look like, but there are things in plain view that are clearly broken. What should we do?

Here’s one approach: “Patience is a virtue.” We’ve all heard that one. Shakespeare said it with greater flourish when he wrote, “How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?” So…take your time, right? 

But we also know that whether you are a parent or a leader of an organization, you can’t always afford to wait. As Dr. King wrote in the Letter from the Birmingham Jail, “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!' But there comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.”

Once Jesus told a story about a farmer who, when informed that there were weeds growing in the wheat crop, resisted the field workers’ suggestion that they go in and remove the weeds. The farmer instead urged patience, and told them to leave the weeds in place until the harvest. Attempting to move the “weeds” would cause harm to the “wheat.”

The story evokes questions. Why would Jesus tell a story urging patience? Do we really know that a weed looks like? Do “wheat” and “weed” represent people?

We’ll talk about this and more in the Sunday sermon, which is titled, “What if a Weed Is But an Unloved Flower,” arising from Matthew 13:24-30. We’ll sing hymns, have a moment for children, spend some time in prayer, and have a biblical reading from Tom Shafer. In addition to our Sunday morning musicians, we will be joined by Suyeon Ko, a wonderful flautist who has graced our Sunday worship services several times before.

We look forward to connecting with you on the live stream on Sunday morning. Go to www.smumc.church for the 10:30 service.

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Reverend Jimmy Moore, preaching
Learning From Jesus About Steel and Velvet
Matthew 11: 16-30

Have you noticed there’s a great deal of meanness out there these days? We are seeing people yelling at each other, often without a particular point, sometimes even waving guns at each other. Have you ever had any of that meanness directed toward you? And may I dare ask: have you noticed that such meanness has a way of reaching down inside of you and making you feel like acting pretty mean yourself? As Elizabeth Chang wrote in the Washington Post this week, Americans are living in a big “anger incubator”.

And have you further noticed that religion, which we expect to help us address our meanness and out of control anger, is not only of questionable usefulness, it is sometimes a part of the problem? Andy Rooney, long a writer and commentator for CBS News, once said, “I'd be more willing to accept religion, even if I didn't believe it, if I thought it made people nicer to each other but I don't think it does.” And it’s too bad Rooney did not find faith to be of help, because there were times when he said some pretty mean things himself.

So how do we find our way to be, say, and do urgent words and deeds, and not dip into the toxic pool of vindictive and petty meanness? Surely there must be paths to develop the qualities that Carl Sandburg saw in Abraham Lincoln, when he said that Lincoln possessed both “steel and velvet”, that is, strength and gentleness. Is it possible that neither must necessarily cancel out the other, and that both can be living qualities in the same person?

Jesus, in one of his conversations with his disciples, demonstrated the capacity to hold these things in tension. In this “chat”, Jesus spoke very firmly about his “generation”, in which people criticized John the Baptist for being more disciplined in his social practices, while in the next breath, chastising Jesus for being more relaxed. Then, in the same narrative, Jesus offers some of his most tender words, inviting the heavily burdened and wearied to learn a new way, to take “my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart.”

Let’s chat about this on Sunday morning. The sermon is titled “Learning From Jesus About Steel and Velvet”, arising out of Matthew 11: 16-30. In the sermon, we’ll see what we can learn from the life of Lincoln, and also from the grandmother of Howard Thurman. Thurman was an influential though not widely known African American pastor, theologian and mentor to leaders of the Civil Rights movement. We’ll also have a moment with children, prayers and hymns, and we will celebrate Holy Communion virtually.

In addition to our own Sunday morning musicians, we’ll be joined by Violinists Alejandro Guillén, conductor of the Bloomington Symphony, and his wife Sarah Cranor. We do look forward to the music this Sunday morning. Join us on the livestream for the 10:30 service.

Sunday, June 28

Reverend Mary Beth Morgan, preaching
Mark 4:1-20
Turning the Soil

In the late 1980’s, I was fortunate to be teaching in multi-age classrooms with mainly 4th-6th graders. At that time, the Choose Your Own Adventure books were very popular with this age group. There was not one set ending for each book. The reader was given an opportunity choose among paths to take. The chosen path would lead to a particular continuation of the story and its ultimate ending. It could end well for the reader, or even have a dire ending. (And, yes, there was a temptation to sometimes look ahead to have a better outcome . . .). While there were challenges with these books, they also nudged open a door to remind the reader that the stories of our lives are not static. Storying is a process.

This Sunday, we have the opportunity to enter into, what may seem for many, a familiar story from the Bible: The Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20). Jesus shares this parable about a sower, seed and soil with the invitation for us to enter into it from the context of its telling and our context today. As Amy-Jill Levine and Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso remind us, “A parable casts two images side by side: the story in the text and the story of our own lives. When we explore the connection, we think about our relationships and our place in the world; we consider how we can be better people.” Together, we will have an opportunity to reflect together on “Turning the Soil” in this time and place that we share as a community and world.

We will also have a children’s moment, share in a time of prayer, hear the scripture reading from the Davis family, and be blessed by our music leadership with some wonderful and moving pieces and hymns this week. If this will be your first time joining us, or if you have been part of the St. Mark’s community for decades, we look forward to connecting together on the livestream this Sunday!