a reflection on the first 2 years

Reflection on our time together

As was mentioned earlier today, in a less than 2 weeks, I will be part of a conversation with a group of people from this Parish, along with 3 people from Presbytery. This conversation is called Vital Ministry.

It is also just over 2 years since I began in ministry with this Parish;

so, it has been a time for me to reflect on what has happened, or not happened.

For me, this placement was unsettled from the beginning:

Not long after I announced I was leaving my previous church, a child from that place died, a child I knew and cherished. Leaving 2 months after the funeral left like I was abandoning the family.

The week of the Induction in mid-September, I was ill and there were some concerns expressed about aspects of worship.

In November, Ian’s dad turned ninety, and died all within a few weeks.

Then Christmas, a trip overseas, and six months in, I was still trying to find my place, in what is a complex and busy Parish.

With all my experience in churches, as part of congregations as we moved around, and part of presbytery and Synod committees, there are some aspects of church life here that I have not come across before. Some of that is good, some I have concerns about.

In my reflecting, I looked again at the profile you prepared before I arrived.

The profile told me that your experience with Ministers has not always been positive.

It also noted how a dedicated group of people, most who are part of this parish, maintained the life of this church, its life and ministry and mission. Not all parishes are able to do that, not all parishes have people with the gifts and graces to be able to continue the work of Christ in the community without a Minister, especially for the length of time you did.

here are a few sentences from the profile, of what you were hoping and praying for:

The parish needs the continuity of a long-term placement of an experienced minister to enable it to grow, to support the leadership, and to foster the growth of new leadership in the development of new programs and in outreach to the community. The parish needs a minister to lead evangelistic programs and add new members.

That was a good reminder to me of one of the reasons I was keen to talk with the Nominating Committee. You were not wanting a minister to maintain what was, but to work with you for what might be.

I think this Parish has great potential, Friday evening worship is flourishing, with many new families involved. Though we do need something else for the young people once they get to about 9 or 10 years of age.  A youth worker is one of the Parish goals, that requires a substantial increase in our budget. I hope we find a way to raise the extra $35, 000 each year, because some of the families from FFFN are starting to attend less, as their children get older.

In June we will be trialling some Saturday evening worship services; and combined services each Sunday morning for the month with guest preachers. The Moderator has already agreed to preach on Sunday 24^th June.

You were looking for Minister to foster new leaders and develop new programs. Often new programs mean letting go of something else. Fostering new leaders means that some people will need to hand over responsibilities to newly appointed people.

I hope this next year is a time for consolidating the mission teams, recognising the opportunities for welcoming people in ways that allows them to hear the grace and love of God through Jesus.

That is possible, but only if we trust God, and each other.

Hope, seek God

Prior to the readings, there is a short section showing where Jeremiah is on a timeline, and giving a little background. 

after the Bible reading, a reflection From Spill the Beans: I Never Wanted to Live Here

this sermon is followed by a hymn, then my reflection on 2 years of ministry

...

Sometimes life is confusing, the things that happen to us do not make sense.

In this passage, Jeremiah is telling the people in exile, that they will be there for a while, so get used to it.
build your house
raise your family

Plant gardens
let your children marry, even locals

The welfare of the exiles is linked with the welfare of the community.

I wonder if that is true for us today?

In what ways is our welfare linked with that of the poorest in our area?

In our day there are so many voices competing for our attention. Advertisements tell us we need to buy particular clothes or shoes or furniture or car that will make us happy.

If only we lived in a different suburb or region, we would be satisfied.

And when election time rolls around, we will be offered a variety of reasons to vote for each candidate, often to do with how we will personally benefit.

Jeremiah, as with the other prophets, has told the people they are not following God’s commands, they are worshipping idols and sacrificing children.[i] This is not the way that God’s people live.

What we consider commandments, are more like signs.

Because the Lord is your God, this is how you will live, you won’t have idols, you won’t curse God, you won’t kill or steal or cheat others from what is theirs.

Sure, they are good rules to live by, but when we live by rules, we look for loopholes.

When we live in relationship with God, our lives are changed.

Because God is God, we don’t need idols

Because God is our God we don’t need to cheat each other

Because God is our God we don’t need to steal or murder

Etc.

The people of Israel and Judah had forgotten what it meant to live as God’s people,
they had abandoned the ways of God,
    of helping the poor, the orphan and the widow

    of worshipping only the Lord
    of valuing all life

and the consequence was destruction of the city and temple

exile of the leaders, and later others.

The prophet Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem, when the section from Chapter 29 was sent to the exiles in Babylon.

Even with the pain and anguish of exile, and Jeremiah’s words to settle in for the long haul – there is also hope in this reading.

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

[Jeremiah 29: 11-14 NRSVA]

God said: I will bless you with a future filled with hope

Seek me and I will let you find me

Sounds like hide and seek to me, except God is in clear view

Next week we begin Advent and the theme for the first week is traditionally hope.

What will you hope for this year?

Where do you find God in that hope?

---

[i] https://thebibleproject.com/explore/jeremiah/

Induction: abundant life

Thank you for inviting me to be part of this service this afternoon.

It is a privilege to be here today, to celebrate with Rev Sue Scott and the Kincumber Congregation, this formal commitment to being in ministry together, even though you have been in ministry together for some time now. 

One of my favourite phrases from the New testament is in our reading this afternoon. John 10:10

I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
Or from the Living Bible
My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. [TLB]

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

Amidst a world of violence and theft and terror and destruction, we hear a message of abundant life.

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

If that is the purpose of Jesus, is it not also our purpose?

In the reading from John’s gospel, Jesus compares himself to the gate keeper, and the gate; both keep the sheep safe from predators and thieves.

I know the term gatekeeper tends to have a negative connotation in many churches. I hope this congregation doesn’t have those kind of gatekeepers, you know, one or two people who keep a tight hold on everything that happens, such as who has access to buildings, keys, and nothing happens without their say so, even if they are not in a formal leadership role.

Jesus wasn’t keeping people out, or locking them in. In the analogy, Jesus was the one who kept the sheep safe from thieves and bandits.

I think of Jesus as the Lollipop person at the school crossing, making sure the children, and adults, get across the road safely.

Friday mornings for me is Playgroup, and we have volunteers who open doors for people to come and go, but we keep the door closed to ensure little ones only leave with a parent or caregiver.

A different kind of gatekeeper, one who enables and welcomes, one who offers assistance that allows people to take up opportunities for friendship and support. People who welcome, hold a crying baby, or makes a cup of tea.

That is how I see Jesus the gatekeeper, not building a prison to keep some in and everyone else out, but a gatekeeper who offers us more than we can imagine.

..

When I hear about people being saved, or salvation, generally it is about salvation from sin, or guilt, or the eternal repercussions of sin. But I wonder if salvation is about more than that.

Salvation as forgiveness of sin is wonderful, but Jesus offers us more than that, much more.  Jesus doesn’t just erase our failures. In Jesus we are offered life, abundant, overflowing life.

Not survival,
not mere existence
but flourishing, thriving, joy-filled life.

I wonder what that life looks like for you?

I wonder what abundant life looks like not only for you, but for all people.

Turning to Isaiah for a few moments:

 “Come,
    let’s climb God’s Mountain,
    go to the House of the God of Jacob.
He’ll show us the way he works
    so we can live the way we’re made.” [msg]

We are made in the image of God, part of worship is reminding us that we are made in the image of God; and offering support and encouragement to live the way we are made, in God’s image, with abundant life.

But, there’s more! 😊

We aren’t offered abundant life, this amazing gift, just for ourselves. As we live out the life God has given us, we live in ways, we offer ministry in ways, that offers that life to all people.

When the people worship,

they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
    and their spears into pruning-hooks;

Or
They will turn weapons into welcome signs
    and bombs into tools and toys. [laughing bird]

In what ways does your life together break down barriers, hostilities;

In what ways does your life together change words that break people into words that build up;

In what ways does your life together offer hope and peace and joy to people in your local community?

Now I know someone will tell me that you are too old or too small a congregation or too … too something; and it is impossible for you to do anything.

If you truly believe that, if you truly believe that it is impossible for you as a congregation to offer love and grace in the local community; I ask you not to waste my friend’s time. Sue is ordained into the Ministry of Deacon, she has passion and gifts in community development, and a love for the people on the margins.

As Sue is inducted this afternoon,
I remind you that she is not your servant,
at times you will not like what she preaches,
at times you will be disappointed

Sue, as with all of you, is a servant of Jesus.

As servants of Jesus,

as people of God,

the body of Christ,

people in whom the Holy Spirit dwells,

may you always work for the coming kingdom,

where weapons become welcome signs

where words build up

where actions invite

where we live out the words of Jesus:

My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

May God continue to bless this congregation and Rev Sue Scott, as together you live the abundant life, and serve in ways that enhances the lives of people in this community. 

worship and justice

Amos spoke of the evil in the surrounding nations and in Israel.

Then in the section we heard this morning, he tells the people of Israel that God has seen that they are:

-      dishonest witnesses

-      abusing the poor

-      cheating

-      taking bribes

-      building expensive homes

I wonder what Amos might say about our current times:

        Environmental degradation

        Violence

        Homelessness

Millions of asylum seekers around the world

“An unprecedented 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from home. Among them are nearly 22.5 million refugees, over half of whom are under the age of 18.” [June 2017] [i]

        Inequality,

Sexual violence  

        And I am sure you could name more.

The final sentence of our reading this morning:

Let justice and fairness flow like a river that never runs dry. (CEV)

Or you may be more familiar with

Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (NRSVA) [Amos 5:24]

Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (NRSVA) [Amos 5:24]

What are some of the obstacles to justice and righteousness.

-      Greed

-      Self-interest or self-importance

There may be others, but anything else I thought of fitted into one of those areas, greed and self-interest.

Justice and righteousness are gifts, not burdens. They are “primarily gifts from God which Israel can allow to flourish, can support, or can obstruct, indeed (Amos 5:7; 6:12) can overthrow.” ^[ii]

I wonder who are our modern day prophets?

Who are the people who speak against greed and corruption?

Who are the people who speak for the widows and orphans?

Who are the people who speak for the homeless and hungry?

Is it the churches, the people of God???

Some are.

Organisations like Love Makes a Way …a movement of Christians seeking an end to Australia’s inhumane asylum seeker policies through prayer and nonviolent love in action.[iii]

And Act for Peace, the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia, Act for Peace helps communities affected by poverty and conflict in more than 130 countries. “Our Vision: A peaceful world where all people share a safe, just and dignified life. “[iv]

But many of our prophets are not Christians.

………

The last section we heard read this morning, reminded me of another Scripture passage:

“What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels?

If I did not love others,

    I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

1 Corinthians 13: 1 

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

We can sing praise, we can pray, we can spend hours at the church each week; but what does it all mean if the way we live is not transformed?

Amos says:

I, the Lord, hate and despise

your religious celebrations

    and your times of worship.

I won’t accept your offerings

or animal sacrifices—

    not even your very best.

No more of your noisy songs!

I won’t listen

    when you play your harps.

But let justice and fairness

flow like a river

    that never runs dry.

Amos was telling the people of Israel that worship and sacrifices and songs, no matter how good, are not acceptable if our lives do not reflect the life God has given us. that doesn’t mean we should stop worshipping, just that worship on its own is not enough.

Amos saw people going to the temple, making their sacrifices and offerings and singing songs. 
“In their minds they had done this so God would be pleased with them.

But God was not pleased with them.”[v]

 “Where there is poverty, injustice or anything else that is not in keeping with God’s vision, God does not want you to “go to church” and then ignore the plight of the world. Rather, God’s desire is that we put worship in the right perspective – part of a life lived well.”[vi]

There are so many situations in the world that need changing, and each one of us can not address all of them. But that doesn’t mean we can turn a blind eye to injustice when we see it.

-      We cannot pretend domestic or family violence does not happen

-      We cannot go on using more and more of the earth’s resources without thinking about our long term impact

-      We cannot ignore the health and educational disadvantage of indigenous and rural communities

-      We cannot close our ears and hearts to people seeking asylum

-      We cannot look the other way when people are not paid a living wage, when commerce threatens our families, when dollar is considered the saviour of the world.

God wants more than worship. Also in chapter 5, Amos says:

‘If you really want to live,
you must stop doing wrong
    and start doing right.’
and
‘Choose good instead of evil!
    See that justice is done.’

Worship is important, but not the end of the story.

 “We have been united with Christ in baptism. Our lives are lived in union with him. We aren’t joined to Jesus just so we can attend church on Sunday. We are joined to Christ so that we can continue his work in all that we do.”[vii]

You may have heard this before:

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours;

no hands but yours;

no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which the compassion of Christ must look out on the world.

Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good.

Yours are the hands with which He is to bless His people.”[viii]

Are you open to the transforming power of God?

Where are joining in the work of justice and fairness?

---

[i] http://www.unhcr.org/en-au/figures-at-a-glance.html

[ii] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=3467

[iii] http://lovemakesaway.info/who-we-are/

[iv] https://www.actforpeace.org.au/Learn/Why-we-are-here

[v] http://zionelginil.org/it-starts-not-ends-with-worship/

[vi] http://zionelginil.org/it-starts-not-ends-with-worship/

[vii] http://zionelginil.org/it-starts-not-ends-with-worship/

[viii] https://www.catholicity.com/prayer/prayer-of-saint-teresa-of-avila.html

time out

We have been following the Old Testament, touching on a few stories. You will know other stories, hopefully you have been able to note where they come in the overall story.

So far, we have been looking mainly at history.

[slide 1]

We started at the creation story in Genesis One, the Patriarchs, the time in Egypt, Moses, Exodus, skipped over Judges, then the call of the boy Samuel, anointing of David, and the building of the Temple by Solomon.

God had warned the people of Israel what would happen if they had a King. After just 3 kings, Saul, David and Solomon, the kingdom divides.

[ slide 2]

This morning we meet Elijah, but first a bit more background.

Solomon had many wives, mostly foreign women, this was part of a plan to maintain peace in the neighbourhood, and it did. But it also meant the influence of foreign gods.

1 Kings 11: 3 - 6

Seven hundred of his wives were daughters of kings, but he also married three hundred other women.

As Solomon got older, some of his wives led him to worship their gods. He wasn’t like his father David, who had worshiped only the Lord God.  Solomon also worshiped Astarte the goddess of Sidon, and Milcom the disgusting god of Ammon.  Solomon’s father had obeyed the Lord with all his heart, but Solomon disobeyed and did what the Lord hated.

The worship of the Lord was what had held the twelve tribes of Israel together, but the Monarchy was not able to maintain that bond, especially when the Monarchy no longer was true to the Lord.

[ slide 3]

Back in Exodus, when the people arrived in the promised land, each tribe settled in an area.

[ slide 4]

The twelve tribes spilt into two Kingdoms, the Northern Kingdom, Israel and the Southern Kingdom, Judah.

Today’s readings take place in the Northern Kingdom.

Elijah is a prophet, over the next few weeks we will hear more from the prophets. Prophets in the Bible are not fortune tellers, or predictors of the future. Prophets are people who speak the message of God.

Elijah is concerned at the way the King and Queen, and others, are not following the Lord, many are following Baal. Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal, to see which god is greatest, The Lord or Baal.

Our first reading this morning was about that contest, The Lord won, and Elijah and the crowd killed the prophets of Baal.

This happened at Mt Carmel.

[slide 5]

When Queen Jezebel heard what had happened, she threatened the life of Elijah and he ran away. He ran from Mt Carmel, to Beersheba, left his servant there, and walked another day into the desert. He falls asleep, an angel rouses him with food and water, he falls asleep, again an angel rouses him with food and water. Then Elijah travels for forty days, which means a long time.

[slide 6]

Elijah ends up on the mountain of the Lord, Mt Horeb, also known as Mt Sinai.  This is the Mountain where Moses received the Law, and the people made the golden calf. And now, Elijah has travelled to this mountain, to meet God. Twice the Lord asks Elijah

 “Why are you here, Elijah?”

Elijah replied, “I’ve been very passionate for the Lord God of heavenly forces because the Israelites have abandoned your covenant. They have torn down your altars, and they have murdered your prophets with the sword. I’m the only one left, and now they want to take my life too!”

The Lord tells Elijah to stand at the entrance of the cave,

Then the earthquake, wind and fire, and God speaks not in the noisy or extravagant, but in sheer stillness, or a still small voice, depending on translation.

Elijah was running away, fearful for his life, and wondering if it would be better to just die.

I wonder when you have felt like Elijah, wanting to run away, wishing God would take your life, because living has become too difficult or painful.

I wonder when you have felt like running away and starting all over again somewhere else. I know women whose partners are violent who choose to run and hide, because that feels safer than their partner finding out where they are.

People are targeted in various places because of their religion, ethnicity or family connections, some choose to run away, to look for a safe place to live and raise a family.

Some people resort to drugs, legal and illegal, to escape their pain and fear;

And some people need a break, time out.

And often some time out helps. Some space to breathe without wondering what else will happen next.

Some time to rest and be nourished by food and drink and sleep.

On the mountain, Elijah stops running, from Jezebel, and from being a prophet. On the mountain, Elijah stops and meets with God, is reminded of God’s presence, God’s call on his life and God sends Elijah back with work to do.

Elijah’s journey goes from running away from Jezebel in fear of his life; and becomes a time to meet with God, to be nurtured, and to have his call affirmed.

Here this morning, we take time out;

Time out from busyness

Time out from the words that tell us we are failures

Time out from the background noise of radio and TV and iPods and traffic

Time out to be

Time out to reconnect with the source of life

Tie out to remember the story of life, and how your story intertwines with the God story.

We share together, remembering we are not alone, God is with us, but we are also a community of faith, a community that cares and prays together, that sings and learns together, that shares bread and juice, and life and love.

As saints we meet around the table, not because we are perfect, but because the Lord, our God, invites us.

Part of our response is to accept the invitation to bread and juice.

Another part of our response is to let the peace of God guide us, that we may be saints who let the light of God shine in our lives, that others may see beauty, hope and love.

Building the Temple

The people of Israel wanted a King, like the other nations around them. Up to this time, the people were led by Moses, and the judges, leaders appointed by God. After the years in the wilderness, as they settled into the land, the people wanted to be a nation like the other nations around them.

No longer a nomadic people, now they are settling down and they want what other settled people had, and part of that is having a King.

Back in 1 Samuel, the people asked Samuel for a king. Samuel talked with God about it, and then said to the people of Israel:

1 Samuel 8: 10 - 20

Samuel told the people who were asking for a king what the Lord had said:

If you have a king, this is how he will treat you. He will force your sons to join his army. Some of them will ride in his chariots, some will serve in the cavalry, and others will run ahead of his own chariot. Some of them will be officers in charge of a thousand soldiers, and others will be in charge of fifty. Still others will have to farm the king’s land and harvest his crops, or make weapons and parts for his chariots. Your daughters will have to make perfume or do his cooking and baking.

The king will take your best fields, as well as your vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his own officials. He will also take a tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and officials.

The king will take your slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and make them do his work. He will also take a tenth of your sheep and goats. You will become the king’s slaves, and you will finally cry out for the Lord to save you from the king you wanted. But the Lord won’t answer your prayers.

The people would not listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want to be like other nations. We want a king to rule us and lead us in battle.”

Saul is the first King of Israel, and David the second King. David is known as a great king, but he had his share of problems. David killed Goliath, he was known as a great warrior, but he also killed Uriah, husband of Bathsheba, after taking Bathsheba as his own. David had eight wives and at least 20 sons.[i]

While it would be expected that the eldest son would follow his father as King, this was not the case. While some of his older sons prepared themselves to lead Israel, David indicated that Solomon, a son of David and Bathsheba, is the one who will be King. [1 Kings 1:28]

David had wanted to build a temple, but God said that David’s son would build the temple.

Following the Biblical dating, the temple was built in the mid-900’s BCE. It’s called both the First Temple and Solomon’s Temple, and this original building was destroyed by the Babylonians in 587 BCE.[ii]

The sacred chest, also known as the ark of the covenant, held the 2 stone tablets of the ten commandments. This chest had moved with the people, been to battle, and housed in a tent. But now, Solomon would build a temple, a place fit for God, and place for keeping the sacred chest.

Of course, Solomon did not build the temple on his own.

[1 Kings 5: 13 – 18]

Solomon ordered thirty thousand people from all over Israel to cut logs for the temple, and he put Adoniram in charge of these workers. Solomon divided them into three groups of ten thousand. Each group worked one month in Lebanon and had two months off at home.

He also had eighty thousand workers to cut stone in the hill country of Israel, seventy thousand workers to carry the stones, and over three thousand assistants to keep track of the work and to supervise the workers. He ordered the workers to cut and shape large blocks of good stone for the foundation of the temple.

Solomon’s and Hiram’s men worked with men from the city of Gebal, and together they got the stones and logs ready for the temple.

I wonder how the people felt about being conscripted into this work?

Did it remind them of their time as slaves in Egypt?

Did they remember the words of Samuel to their ancestors about the way the King would take their sons to work for the king?

Even though Solomon has built a Temple, he acknowledges that we cannot confine God to a building.

While this might be an interesting story, I wonder what it tells us today:

·    In a world where religion is not the centre of society

·    Where many of us sense God more easily in places other than this building.

This is part of the story of the presence of God with people throughout history.

For the people of Israel, the sacred chest with the stone tablets was very important; what things are important to this church as we worship God together?

When I asked on Friday evening what special things were in the church, lots of great answers; including

the Bible,

communion table,

baptismal font,

the cloth on the communion table,

the cross,

the banners,

the lectern,

pulpit

piano

organ

and the wall where the images from the data projector show up.

They didn’t know all the proper names, but they did notice lots about what is in the worship space.

The Temple was a place for worshipping God, and that is why buildings like this one were built – to worship God.

If I asked how we worship God, what would you include?

The children offered:

prayer

Bible reading

Singing

Saying thank you to God

Caring for people

Being kind

Eating together and

Drinking together

The Sacred Chest was moved into the Temple during the festival of shelters, this was a festival that reminded the people of the time they lived in shelters in the wilderness.

Solomon led the people in praise and prayer.

Praise the Lord, the one who brought the people out of Egypt,

Who freed us from slavery

Who led us through the wilderness

And bought us to a new land as promised.

Lord, our God, there is no other God like you,

You always keep your promises

You forgive our sins

You are loyal to us

teach us the way to live

Please listen to us when we cry out for help

For rain during a drought

For courage when surrounded by enemies.

And again, Solomon spoke to the crowd:

Praise the Lord! God was with our ancestors, and will never abandon us.

We will now have some time for reflection

---

[i] The number of sons mentioned by name in the Hebrew Bible is 19. In addition, two further unnamed sons are recorded as having been born in Jerusalem, one, probably both, having died in infancy. One of these was the first child born of David's adulterous relationship with Bathsheba. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_David

[ii] https://revgalblogpals.org/2013/10/21/narrative-lectionary-gods-dream-house-1-kings-51-5-81-13/