When we pray in a public setting, it helps to know your audience so that the prayer will make sense in their context. With that being said, I'm not sure if prayer is meant to utilize the autotune feature.
.
Enjoy this Nascar Prayer offered by a pastor.
(Nee'-kos) Biblical Greek Word for "Victory"
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday Worship Preview - August 7
Sunday, August 7 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, August 10 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)
.
.
Sermon – "Joseph: Part I"
Features - 8th Sunday After Pentecost & Holy Communion
Scripture - Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28 & Matthew 14:22-33
.
Theme - On this Sunday, we begin a two-part sermon series on the life of Joseph from the Old Testament. The early part of Joseph’s relationship with his brothers gives us an opportunity to think about how we are to relate to one another.
.
For Better, For Worse
This past weekend, I had the privilege of officiating at my nephew's wedding on a beautiful island near Seattle, Washington. They chose Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 as their scripture which focuses on the importance of having someone who will be there when you fall. I also shared that from this same book of the bible, the author talks about the different seasons of life which include a time to dance and a time to laugh. With the ceremony taking place on a beautiful day in the Pacific Northwest there was plenty of dancing and joy as we celebrated their covenant of Christian marriage.
After arriving home from the wedding trip/vacation, I received news that my nephew's father who had been in ill for a long time passed away at his home in Pennsylvania. My nephew and his wife had already caught a plane to fly from Seattle to Pennsylvania to prepare for his father's funeral service.
In just one weekend, my nephew experienced the wonderful season of dancing and laughter as well as the season of mourning and loss. Thankfully, this newlywed couple can be there for each other through the good and the bad times.
Below is the sermon I offered at their wedding just a few days ago.
Wedding Sermon - Whidbey Island, Washington, July 29, 2011
here today, I want to say thank you for
inviting us to be part of your special day. You
have been gracious hosts and we are
enjoying our time with you on this beautiful
island.
I do want you to know that I gave up tickets to
a U2 concert just to be with you today. But your
wedding is so much better than a rock concert. It’s
a celebration of your new life together as
husband and wife. This is why the writer
of Ecclesiastes talks about the different
seasons of life when he says, “For everything there is
a season, and a time for every matter under
heaven; a time to laugh and a time to dance.”
Weddings are a time of celebration and so we
celebrate with you. I think it’s worth noting
that the first miracle that Jesus performed was
at a wedding when he turned water
into wine. Jesus loved a good party because
he knew that the Kingdom of God
to be a party, not just in heaven, but especially
here on earth.
Danielle, and Kevin , I hear that you like to
attend ugly sweater parties. In fact, that’s how
you met almost two years ago. As we have
talked over the phone to prepare for your
wedding today, I can easily tell that
you both enjoy life and being with family
and friends. I’ve seen your facebook pictures!
You know how to enjoy life.
.One of the things we talked about over
the phone was that it’s important to have fun in life,
especially as a married couple. I mean, just
look around us. God has created this beautiful
earth for us to care for and enjoy, including
the Pacific Northwest, Mt. Rainier
sunsets, unusual rock formations, mountains,
oceans, and exotic animals. God has created
all of this for us to enjoy and celebrate.
In his book, “What’s So Amazing About
Grace,” Phillip Yancey writes, “It is a terrible
thing to be grateful and have no one to thank,
to be awed and have no one to worship.”
life together, know that you do have someone
to thank and to worship, the one who created
the heavens and the earth. But also know that
you will always have each other to celebrate
God’s beautiful creation together.
.
Returning to the writer of Ecclesiastes who
has just told us about the different seasons
of life which include a time to dance and
a time to laugh, he also has some other
important words for us that come from
your scripture reading. He says that
“Two are better than one, because they
have a good reward for their toil. For
if they fall, one will lift up the other; but
woe to the one is alone and falls and does
not have another to help.”
One of the blessings of being a pastor, is that I
get to experience this scripture lived out in the
life of the church.
In one of the churches I served, a man met with
me to tell me about how his world was crashing
down all around him. He and his wife had good
jobs and a loving marriage. But all of this was
tested when he made a mistake and lost his job.
He didn’t know what to do since he felt that he
had lost the trust of his wife not to mention that
his mistake meant that he would probably need
to leave the occupation that he loved.
I listened to his pain for at least an hour there in
my office. I could tell that he felt lost and a
sense of hopelessness. And then the strangest thing
happened that I will never forget.
After we prayed, he got up to leave and as he
opened my office door, there stood his wife.
Knowing that he was meeting with me, and
knowing that he was going through a very
difficult time, she wanted to be there for him
and let him know that she loved him very much.
They embraced for the next couple of minutes telling
each other over and over again, “I love you.” And
they said to each other, “We’ll get through this. I
love you.”
When they finally left my office, call it a sixth
sense or a premonition, but I knew that he was
going to be OK. They were going to be OK.
Why? “Two are better than one for if one
falls, the other will be there to help.”
Danielle & Kevin – Our prayer for you is
that you will continue to laugh and dance
and enjoy God’s beautiful
creation together. And during those times when
you stumble and fall, remember that you have each
other. And you have God..
Monday, July 25, 2011
Marriage, Politics, & Compromise
As I prepare to officiate for my nephew's wedding this weekend, our nation's debt ceiling crisis dominates the news. My wedding homily will highlight the importance for a husband and wife to look out for the interests of each other. Can a connection be made between marriage and what we're seeing on Capitol Hill?
Sometimes, married couple participate in a wedding renewal service. I have officiated for many of these. These services remind the couple of the vows they made to each other during their wedding ceremony. The traditional vows which are still used today in the United Methodist Church offer these words:
"In the name of God, I (Name), take you, (Name), to be my wife/husband, \to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until we are parted by death. This is my solemn vow."
These are beautiful words, but what does it mean to live them out day after day and year after year? When I ask couples who come to renew their wedding vows what has helped them the most, they almost always say something about the art of compromise. So much for the phrase, "Compromise is a dirty word!"
None of this means that compromise is an easy thing. We all have principles that sometimes conflict with someone else's principles and beliefs. A very wise friend of mind who is a highly respected pillar in her church has a long history of helping people and groups within the church to find common ground and points of compromise. She often will pose this question to someone who is bound and determined to not accept any compromise whatsoever. "(Name), is this really a hill you're willing to die on?"
In case you think that I'm comparing apples to oranges by seeing a parallel between the present political debt ceiling stalemate in DC with disagreements in a marriage, just ask couples who have been married for any length of time. No matter how much a husband and wife love each other, debates over such things as spending vs. savings or what should go on the grocery list when money is tight will test the marriage covenant. How couples work through these areas of disagreement will reveal the degree of sincerity of their wedding vows.
So maybe, we need to have Democrats and Republicans renew their past commitment to help bring unity to our fractured and polarized country.
Compromise isn't a dirty word.
.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Sunday Worship Preview - July 31
Sunday, July 31 - (8:15 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. Traditional Services & 9:45 A.M. Praise Service) & Wednesday, August 3 (6:30 P.M. Casual Service @ Crossroads, 2095 Fair Avenue)
.
.
Sermon – "The Greatest Letter Ever Written: Romans 12-16"
Features - 7th Sunday After Pentecost
Scripture - Romans 15:14-33
.Theme - The fourth part of our series on the Book of Romans focuses on chapters 12-16 and the theme of “God’s People in God's World.”
.
Friday, July 22, 2011
What Are Your Favorite Summer Shoes?
What to do?
We often use the phrase, "our walk with Christ" to speak of our Christian faith. As I contemplate what my next pair of summer shoes will be, it's also good for me to think about what kind of spiritual shoes/sandals will best help me in my "walk with Christ."
In other words, am I prepared for those times in my journey when it's a long walk with Christ and I need something a little more rugged? And what about those times when Jesus wants me to get out of my comfort zone and walk on the water, like Peter? Do I have a pair of beach shoes? Sometimes, Jesus calls me to offer his good news at a funeral service. Are my dress shoes available for the task?
A former District Superintendent who is a friend of mine once told me about a time that he met with a pastor who he was about to introduce to the congregation. The two of them agreed to meet at the District Superintendent's office before going to the church so they could go over some information about this new church.
My friend was surprised when this pastor showed up in sneakers (tennis shoes.) Thinking that he was going to change shoes before the meeting with the church, the pastor responded, "Nah. This is what I like to wear. A suit and tie with tennis shoes."
That didn't go over too well with the people of his new church. If I remember correctly, this pastor lasted one or two years at his new appointment. If only he would have thought about what shoes he needs for which part of his "walk with Christ."
Back to my summer sandal/shoe dilemma - Today, I bought a pair of sandal-like shoes with one velcro strap. I can tell that my feet are going to really hurt if I try to wear them on long walks.
I miss my old sandals!
.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
I Saw God's Kingdom Today
Maple Street UMC in Lancaster, Ohio has opened a free store which provides clothing and household items for people in need. Next to the store, they were serving their weekly Wednesday lunch. It was a busy place!
As I walked around the aisles, it felt like a little heaven was touching earth. The hungry were being fed. The poor were receiving clothes. And the people of the church were using their gifts to be a blessing to others.
I saw God's kingdom today.
.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)