Vol 5 No 23 - Ordinary?

It can get lost in all the buzz, can't it?  So many things going on - a three-day weekend, school letting out in many places, summer travel season starting, gas prices rising, vacation planning - you get the picture.  Especially this year, we can forget a most important component of our weekend celebration, one that should be a focal point of this weekend's activities.

I am, of course, talking about Trinity Sunday.  Having celebrated Pentecost Sunday last weekend, we are now in what has historically been known as Ordinary Time - that season from now until Christ the King Sunday where we live out a life in anticipation of Christ's second coming.  The first of these Sundays is known as Trinity Sunday.  We particularly celebrate the fullness of the Trinity today because, in a way, we have come "full circle" from expectation from the Father (Advent), to incarnation and ministry of the Son (Christmastide, Season after Epiphany, Lent/Easter) to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (late Eastertide through Pentecost).

This weekend is so important for all of us, not only for the informal transition to summer - and the celebration of Trinity Sunday - because of our nation's observance of Memorial Day.  For many reasons, I am fond of Memorial Day, since it calls us to remember that, as a society we didn't get to where we are without the sacrifices of others.  In the midst of all your other Memorial Day activities, take the appropriate amount of time this weekend to honor those who died in service to others.  Remember in your prayer their families and those still grieving their loss.

Even with all the other activities going on, this weekend is first and foremost all about remembering the sacrificial work of others.  Sunday, we will remember and celebrate the work of the Triune God (father, son, and spirit).  Monday, we will observe an appropriate remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives for others.  Every day, we will give thanks to God for our many blessings (seen and unseen).

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 22 - Do I Have To?

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans.  About a quarter before nine, while we was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed.  I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

In his own hand, from his journal entry for May 24, 1738, Rev. John Wesley records the account of his assurance of salvation in Christ.

Worship this Sunday will focus on the joy of celebrating Pentecost Sunday, and I think it is wonderful that our secondary observation will be Heritage Sunday, that time every year on the Sunday before May 24 where we give thanks to God for the life and ministry of John & Charles Wesley.  The events of one of these days, the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, directly influenced the other - for the assurance that was given to Wesley was indeed the work of the Holy Spirit.

To me the most striking thing about this is his attitude.  Wesley wasn't seeking to go hang out with this group of people, joining together for study.  He was, as he said, going 'very unwillingly' to a society (think modern-day small group), and wound up with the assurance of salvation through the gift of the Holy Spirit.

There's a strong word in this that has nothing to do with the institution of Methodism or it's history or even John Wesley himself: The Holy Spirit acted to bring about the assurance of salvation to a man who wasn't even wanting to be there.

This is probably the most important thing to remember in a society (and even some of us who are reading this e-mail) wherein we'll 'go to church' or 'go to Bible study' when 'I feel like it' or 'the Spirit moves me.'  THANK GOD John Wesley didn't use his emotions as a barometer to measure whether or not he should engage in the life of the Christian community.  

The question is, do you? And if you do, then ask yourself if you have any idea what you may be missing?  Wesley went 'very unwillingly' and wound up, through the grace of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, literally changing the world, including YOUR life.

Wonder what the Holy Spirit has in store for us this week?  Bring a friend for worship this week, and be sure to stay afterward for the joy of fellowship over our covered dish lunch (main course provided).

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 21 - The Infantile Church

"...[A]nd you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

These words from the first chapter of Acts are, as Luke records it, the last words of Christ before he ascended into heaven.  We will hear these words set in the larger context of Acts 1:1-11 as we observe Ascension Sunday during worship this week.  Thinking and praying about these passages, I was reminded once again how easily we can lose the majesty and splendor of the ascension with so much focus on the birth of the church at Pentecost.

Yet the ascension is a core tenet of our faith, a value shared across the church ever since it's founding.  We affirm our belief in the resurrection both in the Nicene and Apostle's creed.  Affirming our belief in the ascension of Christ into heaven is affirming our belief in the hope that Christ has fulfilled all that was promised, giving us hope for Christ's coming again in glory to bring about the new heaven and new earth.

I'm very excited about celebrating Pentecost Sunday on the 23rd.  It will be a great day of joy in our congregation as we worship together and dine together immediately afterwards.  Let's not rush it, though, and miss another very important observance - an observance filled with hope and joy about what was, what is, and what is to come.

See You Soon!

Lamar

Vol 5 No 20 - National DAY of Prayer (?)

I'm honored to do it, of course.  It's always a privilege to join together with the local officials, clergy, and citizens at City Hall to observe the National Day of Prayer (tomorrow, noon).  

Reading some of our media websites this morning, however, I have been reminded once again how divisive this day has become in our culture, and it makes me kind of sad to see it come.

Relax, I'm not opposed to it.

And, quite frankly, I'm not surprised that many who do not share the Christian faith (or any faith, for that matter, since prayer is part of many different religious traditions).  Honestly, the question of what kinds of religious observances the state should endorse (or sponsor) is a healthy part of the discourse any society should have in the enacting and implementation of the laws and norms with which we govern ourselves.

But it does strike me how violent people's emotions get in this discussion.  What struck me this morning was not the opposition to this day (for two reasons: 1 - these objections come every year, and 2 - they really should surprise no one).  No, I was saddened to see how militant and angry some within the Christian tradition are about various government officials (at all levels) choosing to participate in, not participate in, or even observe, the National Day of Prayer.

This saddened me because I firmly believe that when we, the Christian church (of all denominational stripes) get supremely giddy or supremely angry due to an official of a secular, earthly kingdom choosing to observe or not observe a National Day of Prayer, we have given them too much power.

As people who live through the lens of Easter, those whose citizenship is ultimately found in the kingdom of God, not the kingdom of man, we must remember that EVERY DAY for us is a Day of Prayer.  EVERY DAY is a day for us to pray for our nation - it's citizens and it's leaders - to follow God's will.  EVERY DAY is a day for us to gather with one another to pray for our communities to be places where the glory of God shines.

Oh, and if we have to rely on a governmental decree to mark or a governmental place to hold the National Day of Prayer, does that say more about the government or more about us?

As I said at the beginning of this message, I'm glad that we hold this observance at City Hall, and I really look forward to being there.  If the day comes where elected officials choose not to participate, or governmental property is not available, it should really make no difference.  It should make no difference because when God's people are truly called to a time of prayer, then we will gather.  Period.

See You Soon!

Lamar