February 9, 2021

February 9, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

You shall put these words of mine in your heart and soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and fix them as an emblem on your forehead.  Teach them to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. —Deuteronomy 11:18-19

These are the things you must insist on and teach... set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. — 1 Timothy 4:11-12

The last time I checked the pandemic statistics, the numbers were somewhat better.  Perhaps they are up again as you read this, but I think that overall there is reason for optimism.  New vaccines are coming out all the time, people have become better at social distancing, and the healthcare system is improving its therapies for the disease.  There is still a ways to go; but although we should not forget immediate concerns, it may be time to start thinking about the aftermath. 

The bad news — the very bad news — is that eventually there will be more pandemics.  The conditions that led to this one, poverty in some areas that gives rise to outbreaks plus rapid transportation that can spread disease across the globe, are still with us.  Perhaps our very next crisis, though, will be something else.

Regardless, we hope that during our present troubles we have learned things, both “practical” and spiritual, that we can use next time.  To do so can be valuable for ourselves, but is even more important, I think, for someone else: our children.

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of teaching our children.  I believe that, of all the sacred duties we have as Christians, teaching the children is close to the top.  Some of us still have children in our homes; others have young grandchildren or nieces or nephews; or we might have close friends with little ones.  But even if we don’t have children close to us, our example and attitudes during this crisis are important. 

What I am saying is that how we deal with our current situation — our faithfulness, our courage, our service to others, and so on — can set the stage for how those who come after us handle the situations that they encounter.  Undoubtedly, we have fallen short at times, but we can do better in the days to come.

We have been given the privilege of living through a time filled to the brim with peril and with promise.  We have been given a rare chance to provide a very special gift to our children and to our children’s, children’s, children.  May the Lord’s Spirit guide us through all of this.  As the old hymn puts it, “Grant us wisdom, grant us courage, for the living of these days.”

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty 

February 8, 2021

February 8, 2021

When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. – Mark 6:34

Priest and author Henri Nouwen describes the very life of Jesus as being a life of compassion.  Nouwen calls the life of compassion a “path of downward mobility,” claiming that Jesus chooses pain, rejection, persecution, and even death.  This in rather contrast to what most people pursue as “upward mobility” toward power, authority, influence, and wealth.  Jesus did not reach down and lift up the poor from above.  Instead, Jesus became poor – he suffered with or Jesus lived with compassion.  It is only, according to Luke, through the crucifixion and resurrection that enables redemption, and indeed relief from suffering for all humanity.

The compassion that Jesus shows, is in a stark contrast to what we often believe to be compassion in our society today. Most of the time, when we talk about having compassion, we mean that we should do something from our lofty estate, for someone else, who is “less fortunate.”

We say we are being compassionate because we volunteer at the soup kitchen or donate money to help natural disaster victims, and don’t get me wrong, these are all very important acts as Christians. We should use the blessing that we have to help those who are in need. But, in our Christians vernacular, these acts of piety, or acts of charity, and they may be done because we have a heart of compassion. Or these acts may be done because we empathize and understand the reality of the world that we are a part of is also where the marginalized are living. 

We may have our hearts broken for the refugee, and for the deported, and want to rise to action.  All of this, in the call of faith, is also important to who we are as we represent the love of God. However, compassion, the kind of compassion that Jesus shows in this miracles and teachings of his life, are is the embodiment of who Jesus truly is for all human kind - for all human suffering.  This is the compassion that looks for a way to be justice and mercy as God’s people; by going and being like, being with, and suffering with those people, just as those people suffer. Not everyone is called to go and do this, some are simply called to have mercy and show charity and piety.   But to borrow from Henri Nouwen once more: Compassion means going directly to the people and the places where suffering is most acute, most propionate, and building your home there. God’s compassion is total, it’s all-in, is absolute, is unconditional, is without reservation or hesitation.

Having the compassion of Jesus, or that Jesus teaches, we then choose to suffer the way others suffer, we embrace their pain, their marginality, and maybe even truly walk in their shoes.  Through faith and compassion we hear Jesus say this suffering is also shared by God; who chose to suffer the greatest of losses to bring humanity the greatest of joys.  Our faith is founded in the stories of Jesus ,in sharing in the experience of knowing that we have died with Christ, and we have also risen with him to live a life of compassion for all, and with all who suffer. In suffering, however, we find hope. A hope renewed in the everlasting life we have in Jesus our Christ.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

February 7, 2021

February 7, 2021

For those joining our online it is available beginning at 9:00 a.m. – stmarkknox.org/sermons

For those who will be joining us in person, 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary, please remember your mask and your social distancing.

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
– Luke 7:11-13

Tucked in the scripture after the Luke’s account of the Roman Centurion’s faith and the healing of his servant is another healing story. Jesus enters a small town called Nain, which is more of village, near his home town of Nazareth.  His disciples are with him, amazed by the things that Jesus has already done, full of life, and having their faith in him increase each day, and with each new sign.  A large crowd has gathered around Jesus, and what we see is an episode of life, of celebration and witness, and then coming from the opposite direction is a second procession, one that is an episode of mourning and of death.

Where we meet Jesus is in this collision of life and death.

The gospel tells us, Jesus sees the widow, mourning for her son, and has compassion on her.  The word used for compassion, here, is only used 3 times in Luke’s gospel, and this is the first, (the other two are found in the parable of the good Samaritan, and the parable of the prodigal son). 

For this woman, whom Jesus has compassion, this is at least the second death that she has experienced in her life, and is almost assured death for herself.  In the first-century society, a woman would depend upon her husband, his brothers (if he had any), and her sons to provide for her, to sustain her life.  She now not having a husband, nor a son, is doubly vulnerable and would live only by the alms that would be given out of mercy. Her very life, now depended on the mercy of others.

Jesus sees this woman, and has compassion on her.  The word compassion, here, however is a little bit deeper than what we normally would think.  “Com - passion” literally means to suffer with, the word here tells that Jesus felt her pain deep within his gut.  Jesus, in his depth, and in his heart, is truly suffering with this woman who has endured one of the most difficult of all human experiences, and fully empathizes with her loss.

Perhaps, Jesus is thinking of his own mother, and the loss she will later experience?

Regardless, this compassion that Jesus feels motivates another miraculous sign.  One greater than we have seen to this point.  We might contrast this with the Centurion, who was a man of faith, but whose servants ask for a healing from Jesus. We might even point out that this miracle has very little if not nothing to do with faith, and is not even asked for, but Jesus is prompted simply because of his compassion for this woman.

Jesus feels deep in himself the despair of this woman.  Much like Jesus feels the deep despair of sin with each of us, the despair of the separation between God and humankind. At this moment, Jesus, out of compassion raises the dead son back to life.

Jesus compassion alone brings the dead to life.

Faith and compassion grows in us as we grow as disciples of Jesus. We allow our hearts and minds to be filled with the good news of God’s love.  We celebrate the great abundance of life we have been given through Christ; and then, when we are bombarded with mourning and death, we let Christ’s compassion rise to the occasion in us, to call out to death and offer life in Jesus name.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

February 6, 2021

February 6, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – Sue Biggerstaff

Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.  - Acts 20:28

This month we celebrate the 65th anniversary of St. Mark.  In doing so, we need to remember those who have passed through its doors and kept the faith.

When a small group of people decided that a Methodist Church was needed in the Rocky Hill area, they went to work to make it happen.  The first congregation met at the Rocky Hill Elementary School on February 26, 1956.  They then obtained land on Northshore Drive to construct an educational building. They moved into this building in September of 1958.  With a growing attendance, more space was needed, and a sanctuary was dedicated on October 11, 1964.  The church was named for St. Mark because his gospel is known as a gospel of action.  Our founders were definitely people of action.

Over the years we have seen many changes to the building and grounds.  Some of these include an extension to the educational building, the purchase of land on both sides of the property, and the addition of the St. Mark Memorial Garden.

Another change that was barely noticed over the years was the name.  From early documents and pictures, the church was named St. Marks Methodist Church.  At some point, according to bulletins, it became St. Mark's.  Finally, at an unknown date, it became St. Mark.  According to one report, a former minister commented that the church was not St. Mark's but God's. Thus the apostrophe was eliminated.

As the years have passed our church and grounds may look different, and our name has changed a little, but our mission remains the same.

 Rev. Larry Carroll expressed it this way:

 "We are a pilgrim people.  We like our spiritual ancestor, Israel, are also moving, growing, changing, becoming. Becoming the individuals and church God wants us to be is our goal.  So long as we are faithful to this task, God provides the necessary resources to overcome any obstacles. This is a promise from God through Jesus Christ."

This past year has been difficult because we could not come together for fellowship and worship.  Perhaps it has been a time to remind us that we are the church.  We are the ones who spread the good news.  We are the ones who carry out the Great Commission.  Our founders were people of action.  Are we carrying on their mission? 

Gracefully Submitted,
Sue Biggerstaff

February 5, 2021

February 5, 2021

Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. — 1 Peter 3:8

As you might know, the ‘W’ in the designation of motor oil (for example, 10W-40) stands for “winter.”  Unlike water, which quickly turns to a solid at a certain point when chilled, motor oil gradually thickens as it gets colder.  At some point, though, it becomes so thick that it prevents the normal movement of the parts around it (“freezes the engine.”)  On the other hand, if it gets very hot, it can become so thin that it no longer sticks to surfaces, and fails to lubricate. The optimum temperature varies depending on the specific oil.  Most motor oil is a blend (multi-grade oil) designed to adapt to a wide range of temperatures.

The SAE number (Society of Automotive Engineers) of an oil is a measure of its thinness: the higher the number the thinner the oil.  The W number (“10” in 10W-40) is the SAE number at the freezing point of water, 32 degrees Fahrenheit.  The second number (“40” in this case) is the SAE number at the boiling point of water, 212 degrees Fahrenheit.  A “perfect” oil would maintain the same “thinness” over all temperatures — about 25W-25.  In our climate, 10W-40 usually works well.  In harsher climates, though, you might need a different type of oil.  You might even need to switch oil as the seasons change.

Just as adaptability in you motor oil is good for your engine, adaptability in Christians is good for the machinery of God’s kingdom.  We should strive for, among other things, those virtues that promote adaptability: tolerance, forbearance, patience, selflessness.  Because the stress of our daily lives distracts us so much, we need to pray often for the Spirit to guide us to these things.

However, there is inevitably a limit to an individual’s adaptability, as with an oil.  For that reason, it’s good to have others available.  For that reason, we need to be in community with others whose gifts are different from our own, and whose collective gifts —a “blend” if you like — are much greater than our own.  It’s why John Wesley frowned on solitary Christianity; it’s why connectionism is so important to modern Methodism; it’s why Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

I’m thankful to be part of such a community at St Mark.  I look forward to seeing you all again.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

February 4, 2021

February 4, 2021

…God will take great delight in you; in love God will no longer rebuke you, but rejoice over you with singing.  - Zephaniah 3:17

There is no doubt in my mind that music isn’t an important aspect of life.  There is evidence all throughout history of musicians, lyricist, and others who use sound waves to convey a message to their audience.  The sounds of melodies and harmonies come together and find a way to meet our soul where it is, and perhaps even take us on a journey.

A good song, even if we have never heard it before, has a way of telling a story that our soul can understand, it will often have highs and lows, and can even take us to new places we have never been, all without physically moving.  The late professor Ellsworth Kalas said of the old hymns of Charles Wesley and his contemporaries “could even, for a moment, take us to the heavenly realm that awaits when this life is over.” 

Music plays a vital role in every aspect of our lives; as we are nurtured and soothed as children, as we rebel in adolescence, as we seek peace and acceptance in young adulthood, as we cherish our faith and life in older adulthood, and as we seek the peace only God can give at the end of life.  In all things, music is there. 

The prophet Zephaniah who lived and prophesied in the days of King Josiah in Judah tells of how the Lord will wipe everything off the face of the earth, how the people are called to repentance, and how every nation on the coastlands near Israel will be judged and wiped out by the remnant of people who remain. Even Jerusalem will be judged for its unfaithfulness.  However, at the end of all of this judgement comes restoration. 

This is how many of the prophets saw God working; warning of destruction, repentance of God’s people, judgement of the unfaithful, and restoration.  Yet in the restoration, Zephaniah calls The Lord our God a “warrior who saves.” Zephaniah understands God on multiple levels, as the one who creates all things, who can destroy all things, who is righteous, yet merciful, who is mighty yet brings salvation.  And in the restoration, this God delights in singing over the restored with great joy.

Every day we hear songs on the radio, in the places of commerce, at the workplace, perhaps even in our homes as we work.  Different music can take us to different places, however, perhaps the best songs are the ones that remind us of the restoration of God, that take us to the place where we long for nearer to the heart of God.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

February 3, 2021

February 3, 2021

Jesus said to them, “why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts.?”
– Luke 24:38

‘Seeing is believing’ is an old idiom we think might come from ancient times, however, the first known recording of this idea happened during the mid-seventeenth century.  The idea expressed here is that one needs concrete, physical evidence to be convinced that something has actually happened. 

When we think about the faith of stories from on old, we often find that people believed what they were told. Or at least that is how it seems, but if we flash forward to now, we find that people are exactly how they have always been.  There are some who will believe everything they read on the internet, and there are some who are always skeptical.

I won’t ask that you identify where you might fall on the spectrum, but with the speed in which certain stories, and especially those internet pictures called ‘memes’ can spread, we all might be tempted to believe many things that may or may not be true.  Much of that depends on how much we trust the source, or at least the one that shared the item. 

The point is all items seem to raise questions by some or many, and everything becomes a matter of debate, but what about our faith? The disciples were together after the resurrection, and according to the gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John even the news of the resurrection, though it was foretold by Jesus caused them to have some doubts.

Even when Jesus appeared with them in the locked upper room, still fear and doubt overshadowed what they saw with their own eyes.  It wasn’t for some, until they could see the marks of crucifixion and to touch the body of Jesus did they truly believe. It was just seeing, it was having the physical in front of them, which gave them the true belief in what had happened.

Since such time many have produced doubts of such events, but over and again we realize that If such events had not occurred, what else would have caused so many to endure torture, and death at the hands of their oppressors? Even when we fear the powers of our world today, or have doubts, I call us to remember what Jesus said to those disciples long ago, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (John 20:29).

Grace & Peace,
Sam

February 2, 2021

February 2, 2021

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:31

I hope that we recognize the above verse from the time when Jesus calls Peter out of the boat to walk on the water. Jesus is already walking on the water on his way to meet the disciples. They fear he is a ghost, but Jesus tells them it is he. Peter responds by saying, “if it is you, call me out on the water with you.” Jesus calls him, and Peter steps out of the boat with great faith and begins to walk on the water.

If we could end the story there, it would seem to be a great call for people to have faith, to remove any doubt, and trust in the calling of Jesus to go wherever it is that Jesus tells our hearts to go.  This could lead us to do many great and wonderous things in the name of Jesus for the kingdom that is already and not yet. However, that is not the point of the story, nor where the story ends, and we all know what happens next.

Peter sees the dangers of the waters and the waves, loses sight of Jesus, allows his doubts to overcome his faith and begins to sink. 

I’ve heard many pastors and preachers want to scold Peter for his lack of faith, or believe that Peter was being scolded by Jesus, but the way that Matthew records this scene, I don’t know if we can accurately translate “ye of little faith…” to be a reprimand, but an acknowledgement of the internal struggle – the desire to believe in something greater, and the dark reality of the world around us.

We may think of doubt as a detrimental to faith, but doubt can also have a way of helping balance our faith. Doubts might call us to search deeper in the scriptures, pray more fervently, and make sure that what we are doing is from God, and not our own desires, or the desires of another pushing us. Doubt and faith, in balance, help us to understand the reality of our calling to love one another as Jesus has first loved us. As we keep our eyes on Jesus, our hope is found in the one who has overcome the world, not with power, might, and sword; but with forgiveness and reconciliation.

The kingdom of God is one of peace. It often takes a lifetime to find it, but the peace of God is ready and available for those who seek it out in faith, letting go of the doubt, and choosing to keep their eyes on Jesus.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Worship Update (Reopening: FEB 7, 2021)

We plan to resume our in-person worship service on February 7, 2021. We will have one service at 10:00 am.  In addition, the online service will continue to be available at 9:00 am each Sunday for those who wish to remain a part of the online community for any reason.

A few things you will need to know as you plan to worship in-person with us.

1.      Everyone present must wear a mask (we will have some available if you forget)

2.      When you arrive please “check-in” with the ushers. (We are required to keep an accurate account of everyone present. )

3.      Many of the pews in our sanctuary will be roped off, please do only sit in an open area, and we will do our best to keep 6 feet distance between family units.

4.      Tithes and offerings may be left in the offering plates located at designated areas in the back and front of the sanctuary – you may leave these as your enter or as you leave.

I greatly look forward to seeing you in the Sanctuary Sunday! I hope you have a blessed week, and find ways to be blessed by blessing others each and every day!

Grace & Peace,
Sam

February 1, 2021

February 1, 2021

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. – Philippians 4:8

A positive attitude can go a long way. At least that is what I heard from various coaches and teachers while growing up.  The focus being that if we wanted to succeed in life, we had to keep a positive attitude.  However, keeping such positivity in the darkness of the world can seem, at times an impossible task. 

We are bombarded with news reports, work, life stressors, and various other things that stive to make us feel down about things, to lose that positive attitude.  Some days even the most positive of us struggle to make it through, and we have to remind ourselves that others are watching.  Even when we don’t feel positive about anything, some of us may have learned how to fake it, at least for the benefit of others, but does faking a positive attitude really make a difference?

I think the answer may depend on how we ‘fake’ such positivity. I like any of us can be down at time, lose an optimistic hope, and worry about the days ahead. However, there is something underneath such feelings that I can cling which helps, and that is knowing the God of Scripture, and believing that God is with me, even in such hard times.

The apostle Paul writes to the Philippians a great letter of encouragement, and in the midst of that, he tells them to dwell on or think about the things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, and excellent. When we think about those things, I think we will have an easier time keeping a positive attitude, I know I do.  Dwelling on the things we cannot change, or the things that bring us down have the effect of bringing us down. However, the opposite is also true, and if we heed Paul’s advice to dwell on the excellent things, it lifts us up, and helps to realize life is better than the negatives. 

So, however, you may be feeling today, let’s work on focusing on the things that are worthy of praise, allowing God to lift us up, and helps us keep that positive attitude in all things.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 31, 2021

January 31, 2021

To join our online worship service at 9 am or after, please visit: stmarkknox.org/sermons

27 After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And he got up, left everything, and followed him. – Luke 5:27-28

Of all the calling stories in the Bible, the calling of Levi might be one of my favorite.  It teaches us that change is not easy.  Change requires a lot of effort on our part, it requires a lot of trust on our part, it requires us to do something, or give up something, or a combination of the two.

So Jesus says to Levi, a wealthy tax collector, one who is despised among his own people because, like most tax collectors in that time, a little extra is given to them off the top (or in some cases they took a little off the top) to further their personal wealth. They were seen as crooks of their own people.  It’s why we often, in Scripture, see the phrase: “tax collectors and sinners” because to the Jews, and as called out by the Pharisees, these were one in the same.

Yet, Jesus calls Levi, and Levi immediately leaves his tax table behind, and goes with Jesus. Levi leaves behind the life that he has in luxury, though he is despised by his own people, for the purpose of following Jesus.  In the case of Levi, he has to do the both, the giving up of something old, and the doing of something new.

This tax collector leaves his life as it was, and enters into a new life, now working with Jesus to give hope to the poor, and encouragement to the down-trodden.  Eventually, recording all of these works in a gospel that we know in his geek name, Matthew. 

However, at the time Matthew was called, he still had friends from his old way of life, they like him were sinners.  And as Jesus called Levi from his table, collecting taxed, Levi invited Jesus into his home, he gathered the sinners he know together, to have a feast with Jesus.

Now that there is a sermon in and of itself, of how when we do change, when we do repent, our call is not just to leave behind everything we once knew, and to just forget about the people of our past; but like in the case of Levi, let’s give them the opportunity to hear this reason for a change in our life.  It is the job of the redeemed let people know of our redemptions and let them make a decision for themselves.  Let’s lead them to the fountain of living water that they might drink form the never ending well of the Holy Spirit and find their lives forever changed, because that is what happened to us.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 30, 2021

January 30, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

I know all the birds of the air, and all that moves in the field is mine. — Psalm 50:11

The seagulls are back.

As I told the children a few years ago, and I’m sure many of you overheard, there is a flock of seagulls that winters on London Lake.  They usually show up around Thanksgiving and stay through early March.  I haven’t been out much this winter, but I did see them over on the lake recently.  I don’t know how long they’ve been coming; I first saw them 22 years ago.  Some years there seem to be more than others, but one occasion when I tried to count them I counted over 50 before they flew away.

The story I have been told about how they got here is that many years ago the flock was blown off course by a storm and ended up in the vicinity of West Town Mall.  Workers at the restaurants began feeding them leftovers.  Apparently the birds appreciated Knoxville hospitality enough that that decided to return every winter.

So much has changed since they started coming.  So much has changed since the last time they came!  I find a lot of consolation in the fact that many of the rhythms of life, great and small, continue despite human problems.  I have learned to appreciate small miracles; a flock of birds may not seem to compare to some miracles, but all are testimonies to the same God.  So let’s show hospitality to them all.  In the midst of our present troubles, praise God!

Gracefully submitted, 
David Petty

January 29, 2021

January 29, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. —1 Corinthians 10:16

Tomato plants need a lot of water, but if you overwater them, especially some varieties, the tomatoes can grow so fast that that they begin to split.  Something like that seems to have happened to the church in Corinth.

Corinth was the Second City of the Greek peninsula, behind only Athens in its intellectual and cultural fame, and probably an even bigger center of trade.  With its booming multicultural population and the relative religious tolerance of the Greeks, it looked like a great place to start a church.  Apparently the church there did well for a while, but by the time of Paul’s first known letter to it (perhaps 5-10 years after the founding) divisions were forming.  We don’t know exactly what the divisions were  about (reading an epistle is like listening to one end of a telephone conversation and trying to figure out the whole conversation) but from the early part of the letter it seems to have had to do with what Paul calls wisdom.

Paul speaks negatively of wisdom; this is odd, because the Bible holds wisdom in high regard.  There are entire chapters in Proverbs devoted to it.  The explanation for Paul’s attitude has to do with his somewhat ironic definition of wisdom.  He is apparently speaking of the “wisdom” of the Greek thinkers — their endless arguments over trivial points and abstract ideas.  In verses 2:6-7 he distinguishes between this and true wisdom, what he calls “God’s wisdom.”

Over the course of the letter, Paul develops several arguments for church unity.  Chapter 10 is a brief foreshadowing of his description, two chapters later, of the first communion.  The passage in Chapter 12 is one of four communion descriptions in the New Testament (the others are in Matthew, Mark, and Luke), and it’s perhaps the best written.  The remarkable thing is that that Paul’s version, quotable as it is, does not seem to be primarily about communion itself.  Instead he seems to be using the communion account as a way emphasizing that we are “one body.”  This is essentially the same point that he makes, more succinctly, back in Chapter 10.

Divisiveness in the church obviously did not end in Corinth; it has continued ever since and is a hot topic in our denomination now.  It’s a complex problem and it is not my place to judge the wisdom of folks who disagree with me. But I agree with the political leaders who say that what unites us is greater than what divides us, and I think that applies even more to the church than to the political world.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 28, 2021

January 28, 2021

Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me. – John 12:26

Who do you know to be a true follower of Christ; a true servant to the King?  We would like to think the answer to that question is easy enough to answer in ourselves.  After all, we all have chosen Christ as our Lord and Savior, so we are surely followers of Christ; aren’t we?  This is what we believe, yet when we read what Jesus says to those who say they want to follow him, we see that some are called to leave their family behind (Mk 1:17).  Others are told to not wait till tomorrow (Mt 8:22).  Others still, called to leave their job (Mk 2:14), or sell all they have, give the money to the poor, then follow (Mk 10:21).  And all this is not to mention the most famous: “deny yourself, pick up your cross daily and follow me” (Mk 8:34). 

When we think about each of these acts before following Christ, we find that we are way more comfortable following Christ as longs as it’s on our terms instead of His.  Following Christ on our terms means we can stay where we are, we can choose where our money goes, we can remain with our families, and take care of the day to day practices of our lives.  However, if we are following according to our terms Christ is not first and foremost.  On our terms we are centering everything on the mantra of “what’s best for me and mine.”  Yet, at the same time we might boisterously sing “I surrender all…” 

If we are to read and adhere to the scriptural understanding of following Christ, then why do we only follow when it is convenient?  Being a follower and disciple of Christ goes so much further than “faithfully participating in [the church’s] ministries by your prayers, presence, gifts, service and witness.”  It is understanding that Christ is the head of the church, and we are the body, working together for the purpose of God’s kingdom.  As Christians in today’s society we must stand out against the grain and place God’s kingdom first, at the top, before anything else.  We are the church the body of Christ, and must support one another in the ministries of God’s kingdom.  Think about that which God has done in your life, and ask whether you are truly following with an appropriate response.  Beyond this, find joy in your discipleship and be truly blessed by following God’s presence in your life, for joy follows obedience to God’s promises.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 27, 2021

January 27, 2021

O Lord, I love the house in which you dwell, and the place where your glory abides.
 – Psalm 26:8

…Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price…
- 1 Corinthians 6:19

Where do we find God? That question might take us in many directions and much of it depends on how we were formed in our childhood, and our current relationship with God.  Hopefully, we can learn to recognize God in everything as God is the maker of all things, and recreator of hope in us.

The psalmist, we must remember, comes from a different time, a time in which they believed the glory of God dwelled in the temple of God, and even in a special place within the temple where early on the Arc of the Covenant was kept.  In the days from Moses until Solomon the temple of the Lord was a tent that could be moved from place-to-place, the location of the temple didn’t matter as much as that the temple was were one would find the Arc, and therefore the presence of God.  After the temple was built during the time of King Solomon, the Jews refocused their aspects of worship to be in the temple in Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the city promised to their ancestors, and the temple, there, would be the place where God’s presence could be found.

As the generations past, the temples was destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed again, leaving the sense of identity for many who worshiped God in a state of flux; however, as Christians we also rely on the teachings of Jesus, his apostles, and of course Paul. Paul tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This means the place where the glory dwells is in us, who believe.

So, where can we find God? We find God in ourselves as we offer ourselves to the love and grace God pours out in us. We find God in the eyes of another, knowing that there is no one that God does not choose to love. We find God in the warm conversations we have with loved ones and strangers. We find God as we worship in truth whether in a sanctuary, our home, or our car singing along to the radio. We find God in the place where God’s glory dwells as we seek to abide in his Word and Truth each day of this life on until everlasting life.  Let his glory be found in you today and always.

Grace & Peace,

January 26, 2021

January 26, 2021

I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

Since March of 2020, loneliness and isolation has been more the norm for a large number of people. We started with orders to stay at home, then came the recommendation for those at high risk to remain at home. Even the places we often went and trusted for safety and security were no longer available for us. If we continued to participate in a worship service it was online, and as grateful as we are to have the opportunity to be connected in that way, we all can admit it is not the same. While I remain hopeful that we will reopen for in-person worship in the near future, I know several will remain at home, still, as they did during our last reopening.

I say this, not to discount the efforts that have been made to keep our church connected, but to help us understand, together, it is hard to feel connected when physically we are so disconnected. Especially, for many, during these cold winter months, the feelings of isolation can be overwhelming. More than ever this is a time to check on one another, to let them know they are being thought about, prayed for, and that they are loved.

Jesus tells his disciples that they need to remain connected to the vine to bear fruit, but so many feel cut off because their main sources of connection have been stopped.  However, Jesus also tells the disciples that even though he will not always be with them physically, they will know he is there through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus points them (and us) to the God who abides with us, who is there in our times of isolation, who comforts our ever needs. Yet, we are also called to be God’s hands and feet, to remind one another in our own words, or in the words that God gives, that we love them as God loves them. 

Time apart are hard, but God abides with us, and I pray we may abide in him, as we wait and hope to join again in the congregation, together, for worship.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 25, 2021

January 25, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

And I said to him, “Run, say to that young man: Jerusalem shall be inhabited like villages without walls because of the multitude of people that inhabit it.  For I will be a wall of fire around it, says the Lord, and I will be the glory within it. — Zechariah 2:4-5

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. — Ephesians 2:14

Among all the headlines about politics, the pandemic, wars or rumors of wars, and celebrity scandals, one subject that keeps bobbing up like a cork is Wall Street.  Wall Street, of course is a term used to symbolize the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, and related institutions in the area around that street, that constitute the financial center of New York City and to some extent of the world.  So I thought it would be interesting to think about the street itself.

Wall Street extends for eight blocks (less than half a mile) across the southern end of Manhattan island.  Some historians believe it was named for the Walloons, an ethnic group from southern Holland that settled in the area.  More likely, however, is that it was named for a wall that was initially constructed along what would become the street’s north side in the 1650’s, in an attempt to keep out hostile Indians as well as pirates and perhaps the British. 

Human-built walls don’t always work.  How well this wall worked is unclear; the marshy terrain of the island at that time would probably have made it easy to gain access to the city by another route.  In any event, the British had already taken over the city before the wall was completed and the street was surveyed.  Within a few decades a securities and exchange business, and unfortunately a slave market, were thriving on the street.

Walls have been built for all sorts of reasons over the centuries— think of the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, and even the wall under construction (as of this writing) along the U. S. border.  Some walls are to keep out the elements (for example, sea walls), some to keep people out (the Great Wall) and some to keep people in (the Berlin Wall.)  So it should not be surprising that the Bible uses the word to express different things.  God is a wall that protects us, but Gods tears down walls as well.

In these times, as in Old Testament times, we often need the reassurance that God protects us, standing as straight and firm as a well-built wall.  Perhaps if our fears center on a pandemic rather than a physical enemy, a wall may not be the symbol that first comes to mind.  If our biggest enemies are our own sins — pride, greed, and so on — perhaps a wall is not the most obvious symbol.  But the point is the same.

Yet there is a time, as Paul reminds us, for breaking down some walls.  For walls can be bad as well as good.  I think another passage in Isaiah, 60:18, resolves the contrast nicely: “Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders, you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise.”  It is salvation that protects us from all real harm, and that brings us together with all God’s people.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 24, 2021

January 24, 2021

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But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” – Luke 4:43

Tucked between Jesus rebuke in his hometown of Nazareth and the calling of the first disciples, we find Jesus is continuing to preach in synagogues, now in Capernaum. In this city in Galilee, Jesus heals many sick and casts out demons. The people view Jesus as their Messiah, and they do not want him to leave.

I know I’ve heard the message many times, and I would venture to guess you have heard something to the effect: accept Jesus as your personal savior.  I understand the intent of such message is that we would accept the grace that God offers through Jesus, follow him, become a disciple, and live a life abundant and blessed because we belong to God.  However, sometimes the way the message is said, it can be interpreted as Jesus being only a personal savior.

I look to this short passage in Luke to remind us that Jesus came to be a savior for all.  His purpose was the proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to many cities, and through his disciples to all the cities that were and ever will be.  The message of salvation is a message of good news for the world, for its people, and the coming kingdom of God is a complete new creation.

I find it hard, sometimes, to boil the message of salvation down to a personal savior. Personable in relationship, yes. Knowing each saved by name, yes. Loving each the same, yes. However, it is we who belong to God through Jesus, not Jesus who belongs to us. The message of ‘personal savior’ gives the notion of possession, and we must not reverse the roles. For the same message of the coming kingdom of God is good news for us, and for all. Therefore, as we grow to see the kingdom of God we must allow the message of salvation to move from us, though it is still with us. We must understand this is a message to be shared with others. Perhaps, as we grow in our understanding, we might also realize that God’s good news is shared by us and through us as we live as disciples of the one who saves us, and all by His amazing grace.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

January 23, 2021

January 23, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith... — Hebrews 11:39-12:2

I don’t often read of a group of people being called a cloud.

In fact, except for this familiar verse from Hebrews and various paraphrases, I don’t think I’ve ever read of it.  The witnesses here are Old Testament figures listed previously in Chapter 11 —  Abraham, Jacob, Moses, and many others.  I suppose it might be that these are called a cloud because they are not fully visible and because they are “all around us.”  But there are other possibilities.

Hebrews is so named because it was written to a group of Hebrews, or perhaps because it was written in the style of Hebrew writing of that era. There is a large body of Jewish literature from this period (and others), and it uses some typical literary techniques.  One such technique is a type of allusion that uses a word or short phrase as a sort of “code” or “shorthand” that refers to longer passage (often in scripture).  The closest I can come to a modern illustration would be the term “sour grapes.”  Here the two simple words are intended to evoke Aesop’s complete little narrative of the fox and the grapes.

So possibly the word “cloud” is there to remind us of something in the Hebrew Scriptures.  I know of three main uses of cloud imagery on the Old Testament.  One is the cloud that led the Israelites through the wilderness (during the day) and that enveloped Moses when he spoke with God.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke pick up this image in their descriptions of the transfiguration of Christ.  Another image, in Isaiah 4:13, describes the Messiah as coming on the clouds.  It’s used again in Daniel and several times in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, and Revelation).

But the Bible’s first mention of clouds, and it’s one that especially interests me, is a passage beginning with Genesis 9:13: “I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”  The passage occurs at the end of the story of the great flood,  and the image (presumably a rainbow) represents God’s promises.

Of course I don’t know whether the writer of Hebrews actually intended to imply “promise” in 12:1, but it fits the context.  Although these witnesses did not receive the promise, they were certain of it; and their testimony was in their actions.  They are, to borrow a phrase from earlier in Chapter 11, evidence of things unseen.

That cloud of witnesses has grown a lot since Hebrews was written (we might want to call it a “crowd of witnesses.”)  It includes many New Testament figures not mentioned there, as well as saints of the church and figures like Martin Luther and John Wesley.  We have our own cloud of invisible witnesses from St. Mark; to our sorrow, several folks have left to join them in just the past few months.

But I would like to mention two other clouds.  One is simply ourselves.  In these days of social distancing, even those of us who are quite alive have become almost invisible to each other.  Although we are apart, however, we surround and sustain each other.  Second, I remind you of our pastor and church staff.  We do get to see many of them occasionally, either online or on those occasions when we have been able to have sanctuary services.  But for the most part they are an invisible cloud, supporting and nurturing our community — as they were long before the pandemic hit.  Thank the Lord for all of these.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

January 22, 2021

January 22, 2021

See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. – Psalm 139:42

The intent of the heart can be a profound yet difficult reflection. This psalm of David, seeks for the prayer to understand that true intention is known only by the individual and God. God searches deep within, sees our innermost person, and chooses to love and forgive us. 

It’s a wonder that God will choose to love us, knowing the deep darkness that we hold inside at times.  However, as the psalmist says, “even the darkness is not dark to you…” The truth of the psalm is that we are inescapable from God. God is with us, and for us. God chooses us, and wants for us to choose love.

It’s hard to admit that the evil we see in our world, and even in us at times is a choice we have made.  We choose to deny God when we choose to hate another. We choose to abandon God when choose wickedness. We choose God, however, when we repent of wicked ways. We choose God when we seek to be better. We choose God when we chose to love those with whom we disagree. We choose God when we realize there is no place we can hide from God, and relinquish ourselves to his loving arms.

The beauty of grace is that it is always available, always in abundance, and is always lavished on those who choose God.  May we allow God to rout out any wickedness that may be hiding in us, and lead us in the way everlasting in grace, peace, and love. Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam