Faith, the Family Trip (August 11, 2013)

"Leap of Faith" by Tiffany Davis-Rustam

The unknown can be a scarey place.  No one knows this better than Scaredy Squirrel, the frightened protagonist of Melanie Watt's delightful children's book series.  Scaredy is terrified of leaving the safety of his nut tree until one day. . .I won't spoil it for you, but let's just say that Scaredy "discovers something really uplifting."

I paired this story in worship with Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, in which the unknown author of Hebrews recalls the story of Abraham and Sarah, two people who long ago heard God's voice calling them to leave their home and set out on a journey to an unknown place.   During my sermon, which was geared toward children and adults alike, I wondered aloud whether or not Abraham and Sarah's decision to step out in faith was really as easy as the author of Hebrews makes it sound.  

After spending some time imagining what Abraham and Sarah's life might have been like before God called them (with the help of midrashim in the form of Jacqueline Jules' children's books Abraham's Search for God and Sarah Laughs), I then reflected on what it might mean to have faith:

A Service of Mantling (June 30, 2013)

For our June 30th worship service, we met in the sanctuary for a time of remembering and renewing the covenant we made in 2006 to be an Open and Affirming congregation. After this brief service, we carpooled downtown to St. Louis PrideFest to walk with other UCC churches in the parade.

A SERVICE OF COVENANT (MANTLING)

Words of Introduction
In our Scripture reading this morning, we heard the story of the prophetic mantle, a loose sleeveless garment that symbolized the prophet’s spiritual empowerment and calling, passing from Elijah to Elisha. Elisha is at first unsure about his ability to take up this mantle, so he hesitates. In middle of political power games always bending the world toward greater wealth and power for some and suffering for many, will Elisha be able to discern God’s voice and speak up against injustice with the power of God’s spirit? [1] It’s a question not only for Elisha, but for us here today as well.

Elijah at Horeb (June 23rd, 2013)

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.  When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’  - 1 Kings 19:11-13

For this service I created a powerpoint with animation and sound of the wind, earthquake, and fire to enhance our dramatic reading of the Scripture.  I am working on turning it into a video, so I can post it, but for now here's a preview:

What's the Measure? (July 14, 2013)

On Sunday, we were asking the question, what's the measure? How do we, better yet, how does God measure our lives? The message began and ended with a quartet singing, "Seasons of Love" from Rent. Thanks to Still Waters for the idea. Here are a couple snippets from the service, which incorporated the lectionary texts from Amos and Luke:

Back in the 8th century B.C.E. there was a prophet named Amos. Once, Amos had a vision from God. In it, he saw God standing beside a wall that had been built with the help of a plumb line - and in case you’re not sure what a plumb line is I just happen to have one with me today. A plumb line is a tool used in construction to make sure that the walls are built perfectly straight. If you hang it off the side of a building and wait for it to stop moving then that would give you a perfectly straight, vertical line to use as your guide.  

So in Amos’s vision, God is standing in front of the wall holding a plumb line and God says “Amos, what do you see?”

Faith is. . . the last of the bread (June 9, 2013)

"Faith is. . .the last of the bread: Here is what faith really is. . .When you get down to the last of the bread and still break it, not knowing if you will ever break it again, that is faith."

Preaching on Elijah and the Widow of Zarapeth (1 Kings 17:8-16), I was inspired by the above photo and caption I ran across on the website of a church in the UK.   The theme "faith is. . .the last of the bread" wove its way into my sermon.  I also created the following visual display, and referred to it as I retold the story to the children.

Ideas for Trinity Sunday

Painting by Anthony J. Kelly, professor of Theology at Australian Catholic University

•  Worshiping with Children offers some great tips for talking about the Trinity with children:

Trinity Sunday calls us in two slightly different directions.  It is an opportunity to tell the children about the trinity which is often referred to in worship, but seldom explained.  Fairly simple introductions of the Trinity and highlighting its use in worship helps.  But, Trinity Sunday is also really “God Sunday,” an opportunity to celebrate the mystery of God that is more than we ever fully understand.  Both are important to children.

The Seasons of the Church Year

Created for Samuel United Church of Christ, Summer 2011

 

Surprise! (Easter 2013)

Easter Sunday 2013 - Children's Time

How many of you like surprises?   How many of you were surprised earlier today when all the confetti came flying out of the cannon and the air was filled with Alleluias?  Do you know why we did that?  Because today is Easter, and Easter is a story that started out sad but ended with a big surprise!    
 

The sad part is that there were some people who did not like Jesus.  They were really angry with him—so angry that they decided to kill him by hanging him on a cross.

It was a very sad day.  Jesus’ friends took his body off the cross, wrapped it gently in white cloths, and laid it in a cave. A big rock was rolled across the entrance to the cave so that no one could get in.

On Sunday morning, Jesus’ friend Mary came to the cave, but when she arrived the stone had been rolled away.  The tomb was empty!  Jesus’ body was gone!

At first Mary was so sad because she didn’t know what had happened.  She thought that somebody had stolen Jesus’ body.  Then she saw someone in the garden who she thought was the gardener---but, surprise! it was Jesus.  Jesus told her to go and tell his friends what she had seen.  So Mary ran back to tell Jesus’ friends, “Jesus is alive! I saw him!” 

At first no one believed her.  It was hard to imagine how something so sad could turn into such a wonderful surprise.

I have something to show you.  . .