The Jesus Gang
Children's sermon
Illustration
Preaching
Sermon
Worship
In the wake of the recent Arizona shootings, a great deal of attention has been focused on the tone of our political discourse and the need for more civility regarding those of opposing viewpoints. While it has become clear that harsh rhetoric had no direct bearing on the incident in Tucson, nevertheless President Obama made a pointed reference at last week's memorial service to the toxic atmosphere of our national dialogue, and he made an impassioned plea for our words to be worthy of the victims and to heal rather than wound. But the very fact that this is an issue at all is a testament to the deep divisions in our society, and even much of the argument about civility has fallen victim to political "spin," i.e. our penchant for interpreting events to put the best light on whatever group or ideology we identify with. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Dean Feldmeyer notes that a key fact of modern life is that our outlook on many things is primarily defined by what groups we belong to -- and while that's an important facet of social networking, our tribal loyalties can also deepen the rifts we have with one another. Paul addresses such divisions in the Corinthian church, and given the state of many congregations today, it seems like the church is just as deeply divided as the rest of society. But Dean reminds us that when prioritizing the various "teams" we belong to, it behooves us to put our calling as Christians -- as members of "the Jesus gang" -- at the top of the list. Team member Roger Lovette offers some additional thoughts, and he suggests that the mending of nets imagery from this week's gospel text provides a powerful hint about how we can knit together a common purpose that can keep our differences from tearing us apart.
The Jesus Gang
by Dean Feldmeyer
Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
In Corinth they said: "I belong to Paul"; "I belong to Apollos"; "I belong to Cephas."
In Ohio, our T-shirts say "Buckeyes" or "Bearcats"; "Bengals" or "Browns."
When I go to a music festival, the "bluegrass" musicians and the "old time" musicians congregate in different areas. Their bumper stickers and their T-shirts and even their patter between songs poke teasing fun at each other, and everyone knows to which camp they belong.
Red staters, blue staters; conservatives, liberals; donkeys and elephants. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Unitarians, and even atheists meet together and remind themselves why they are part of this group and not that one.
The need to belong to a group of like-minded people is compelling.
THE WORLD
Psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) studied what he considered to be the healthiest 1% of the students he encountered at Brandeis University, where he taught. His studies led him to create what has become known as "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" -- a list, often arranged in a pyramid, of the needs which motivate all human activity.
At the bottom of the pyramid are the most basic needs, the biological needs for food and shelter. Close to the bottom and still among the most basic and foundational of human needs is the need to belong, to be part of a group. Every person wants to be accepted, supported, and embraced by a group of other people. In fact, most of us need to be a member of several groups -- family, work groups, church groups, office culture, sports teams, professional organizations, clubs, and even gangs -- and we arrange these groups in a hierarchy that we can go to for support and protection in times of great stress or danger, with three or four groups at the top.
So important is this "connectedness" to human development that those who lack it in their lives are two to three times more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to their peers who have personal social connections. In fact, socially isolated people tend to die earlier at two to three times the rate of people who are involved in social networks. (Gatehouse Project [Australia], 1998, and British Medical Journal, 1997.)
The family is the first and most basic social group to which most people cling and belong -- but when the family breaks down, the need for a group to which we can belong is so strong that we will substitute other groups in its place.
Reporting in the Portland Tribune on gang violence in Portland and Gresham, Oregon, Sanne Godfrey notes that the "need to belong fuels gang affiliation." Godfrey adds, "It's easy for kids to join gangs, because it will feel like a family. They are trying to belong to something."
In the wake of last week's horrible shootings in Tucson, Arizona, we saw an initial outpouring of empathy and concern for the victims and their families. People responded, as they did to the horror of 9/11, as members of that group called Americans.
But it did not take long for the main group to become subdivided into factions -- smaller groups intent on interpreting the events of that day through the lens of their own "groupthink." Second amendment advocates quickly explained that guns weren't to blame. Pundits from left and right wanted to assure us that nothing they said caused this, while other pundits insisted that the opposite was so. It was as though everyone stood together at the bedsides of the wounded and the graves of the fallen, but when they departed they went into their own caves where the point of view was narrowed to only that which was immediately before them.
The need to belong, to be a member of a group, can be played out as harmlessly as sporting the colors of your favorite football team or as nefariously as displaying the colors of the Crips and Bloods. Christians must be very careful as we choose the groups with which we will identify and the hierarchy in which we will place them.
THE WORD
This is that rare Sunday when a single theme can be found running through all of the lectionary readings, and that theme seems to be "belonging."
Isaiah
Most scholars believe that Isaiah 9:1-4 is part of a longer hymn or poem written for the coronation of King Hezekiah and later appropriated by Christians as an apt description of Jesus as the King of kings.
The dream is that the reign of this new king will bring the people together again. Naphtali and Zebulon, which were conquered and taken by Assyria, will be returned to their rightful place among the nations of Israel, back where they belong. When the people are together again they will rejoice together, as at the time of harvest.
Psalm
The psalmist stands at the door and knocks, asking God to take him in, to let him live in God's house, presumably as a member of God's family. Those who are members of the household of God need not fear or be afraid of anyone or anything. To be a member of a family is to be sheltered and protected. To be a member of God's family, to live in God's tent, is to be sheltered and protected at the both the cosmic and the personal, spiritual level. It is to be included and approved in the depths of our soul.
1 Corinthians
Paul addresses the issue head-on. It is all well and good to remember who and under what circumstances you were baptized, but ultimately that baptism was into Christ's body and no one else's. The Body of Christ is that group that sits at the top of our hierarchy of groups.
Was your political party crucified for you? Was your candidate for office raised from the dead? Is it a football team that we worship or a flag that mitigates our sin? To what gang does scripture commend us? Are the words of our favorite preacher rendered in red?
No, there is but one group at the top of our pyramid -- and that is the Body of Christ, the Jesus Gang.
Matthew
In the gospel passage, Matthew cements this message with the story of the calling of his first disciples. This first calling is not to believe in or honor or worship or even respect Jesus. No, the calling is to follow Jesus, to walk in his footsteps, to live as he lived, to relate as he related, and if necessary, to die as he died.
So demanding are the membership requirements of this group that few last long among them. But for those who do, the promise is life in the Kingdom of God.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
The sermon based on this theme and these texts can take one of two -- or maybe both -- tracks.
Indicative 1
Some of our listeners will be faced with that loneliness and depression that comes from having no group to which they can belong. Perhaps their family of origin is dysfunctional or maybe they are simply shy or socially inept. They long to belong, to be part of a group with which they can share their lives, a group who will comfort them in their time of trial, help them in their time of need, and stand beside them in the face of danger. Without this group they find themselves lonely and depressed, their lives thin, insubstantial, and inauthentic.
Imperative 1
If this is the indicative we choose to follow, then the imperative is clearly a call to follow Jesus, to be in that inclusive, loving, Christian group to which others are welcomed, warmed, loved, and cared for. Note the final verse of the gospel reading as a description of the definitive activities of the group we now call the church: teaching, proclaiming good news, and curing every disease and sickness (including loneliness and despair?).
Indicative 2
Others of our listeners will not be faced with the problem of exclusion so much as the problem of too much inclusion. It's not that they need a group to belong to, but that they belong to too many groups -- and all of their groups are making demands on them.
The PTA needs baked goods; the football team needs clean uniforms; the scout troop needs drivers; and there's a dance recital this weekend. The church needs volunteers; the bowling league is Friday night; and I still haven't finished reading the book for my book club.
Most of the time these groups provide networks of support and safety for us and even help us in our striving for self-actualization (Maslow's highest need). But sometimes the groups to which we belong can vie for our attention and our loyalty, distracting and diverting us from our calling as Christians.
Imperative 2
Here, the imperative is prioritization. There is room at the top of the pyramid for only one thing -- and if we truly follow Jesus Christ, that one thing is him. Our other memberships have to find room further down in the hierarchy, for it is to Christ and his body -- the Jesus Gang -- that we first turn in our search for the authentic life.
ANOTHER VIEW
The Mending of Nets
by Roger Lovette
Matthew 4:12-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew's account of the calling of the twelve gives us pause to think. He called two brothers, fishermen -- Simon and Andrew. And then he found two other brothers. The text says, "They were mending their nets."
Can you hear Jesus coming close and asking James and John, "What are you doing?"
Looking up one of the brothers said, "We're mending our nets." And the other brother and the old father Zebedee nodded.
I can almost hear Jesus' response. "Mending nets. You're the kind of disciples I need. Won't you come and follow me? Not only do fishermen have bigger fish to fry -- there is a lot more to net-mending than just this little body of water, important as it is. Follow me and you'll see." And we know the rest of that story.
Those old, hardened fishermen knew that you couldn't catch fish with broken, threadbare nets. But in the days to follow they tried many times to throw out broken nets, not understanding that you did not call fire down on one's enemies even if they were Samaritans. It took them a long time to realize that this pecking order of who's in charge they felt was so important really was not about them after all. Even after all their time together, when Jesus faced his enemies just before his death they wanted him to smite his enemies tooth and claw -- and Jesus refused. And even after their Lord's death they locked themselves behind closed doors, afraid they would be next. Many times their nets had holes in them bigger than a fist.
Their on-again, off-again following we really understand. Yet, when it was all said and done -- after the years together, after the Cross, after Easter morning -- they scattered all over the place to mend nets. They told the story and out of that story would come the gospels. They healed in the name of Jesus. They preached with power and it made a difference. They finally learned, most days, that the mending of nets was still their job after all.
Every congregation has holes in it -- most of the time bigger than any fist. Yet, we too have been called to mend nets. It isn't easy to do in this climate. Someone asked a preacher recently if his church was red-state or blue-state. The preacher replied: "Depends on what side of the altar you are on." And she's right.
Sunday you'll stand before a congregation that mirrors the world. There will be fear so strong you can almost feel it. There will anger, for life has not turned out the way many wished. There will be grief as heavy as that sadness of the morning in Tucson. There will be rage from those who do not know what to do -- so much seems wrong. Some will come and sit down, smoothing out their bulletins just confused, not knowing what to think or which way to go. Someone toward the back might have a gun nestled away in his or her glove compartment, and across the aisle another man may think guns are about the dumbest things there are. And two seats from the front there is a father and mother who wonder about their boy in Afghanistan.
You'll stand in your familiar place, shuffle your notes, and begin to speak. You'll read this old story of James and John and mending nets. You'll talk about the job being far from finished. You may even remind them, your crazy diverse crowd called church, of the prayer found in the Navy hymn, which prays for "those in peril on the sea" -- which really means all of us.
You'll remember, there toward the end, that by a seashore the Lord called out to those who had fished all night and come up with empty nets. He told them to cast out again, and they reluctantly did what their Lord said. They couldn't believe what happened. They hauled their catch to shore, and there were so many they began to count them. One hundred and fifty-three fish -- all kinds. And you'll remind your all-too-human church that this is still our job: to mend the nets, to patch the holes, and to bring in the catch. Who knows? In that net there may just be a Rush and a Glenn and a Rachel and a Keith and a Chris and a Barack and a Sarah and a little girl named Christina and a woman named Gabrielle and hopefully you and me -- all crowded together in a net that does not break. So the benediction finally sounds and you send them out, maybe not two by two but with the same purpose as those Jesus first called by the seashore. Follow me, he said. And maybe we will all find -- we red and blues, we Republicans and Democrats, we weak and strong, faithful and faithless -- what Schweitzer years later said we would find:
"He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside; He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: 'Follow thou me.' And sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who he is."
ILLUSTRATIONS
President Barack Obama's address from the University of Arizona to the citizens of Tucson was more of a sermon than a speech, with his constant quoting of scripture, his emphasis on the persuasiveness of evil, a message of hope, and a call for reconciliation forecasted religious beliefs over partisan politics.
There are many memorable lines in his sermon that were obviously a self-searching of his own soul. One line that particularly stood out regarding the president's sensitivity to the human situation was his reference to Job. President Obama said: "Scripture tells us that there is evil in the world, and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. In the words of Job, 'when I looked for light, then came darkness.' "
This is not an isolated biblical theme. In our lectionary reading the Psalmist eloquently begins by affirming his hope and protection in the Lord. Yet in his humanness he ends on a note of fear and despair when he writes, "Do not hide your face from me." This is a very human response, for no matter how much we believe, there is always that element of doubt. It is an admission that no matter how much we believe in the goodness and protection of God, still "terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding."
Let us live in the affirmation of the Psalmist, but let us not be embarrassed that we also share his uncertainties.
* * *
A study recently released by Stanford University concluded that 20% of all Americans are heroes. A hero was defined as someone who helped during a dangerous emergency, took a stand against injustice, or sacrificed for a stranger. The reason the report is being made public now is because of the review that is being made of those who acted "heroically" during the Tucson shooting at Safeway.
As a contributor to the report, social psychologist Scott Allison concluded, "It's the situation that gives rise to heroism more than anything else. We call it a 'heroic moment.' The terrible tragedy produced heroic opportunities for everyday people to do something extraordinary."
When Jesus called his individuals to "follow me," they immediately left their ordinary daily tasks of life to engage themselves in the extraordinary work of Jesus. A review of the twelve disciples easily demonstrates they were average citizens of the community, who at the appropriate time engaged themselves in the heroic act of sharing the gospel message. And this has been the case for all followers of Jesus during the centuries hence.
Let us be sure that we are aware of "heroic moments" to share the gospel message and minister in the name of Jesus.
* * *
Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, who represents 45 million members of 100,000 Christian congregations in the United States, is directing the annual Week of Prayer and Christian Unity. This ecumenical event is celebrated from January 18th through the 25th. The event was initiated in 1900 by an Episcopalian priest. In 1966 the World Council of Churches and the Vatican became very active participants. In fact, the Roman Catholics have taken the leadership in developing the liturgy.
This year's theme is "One in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer." The focus is on the Christians who reside in the West Bank of Israel. When Israel became a nation in 1948, Christians represented 25% of the population. From the resulting persecution and discrimination, the number has plunged to less than 3%. Thus, the message of Week of Prayer and Christian Unity continues to confront ambitious challenges.
But Kinnamon is not discouraged. He said, "If you look year to year, it'll drive you crazy. But if you look at it over the last 50 years, you can see signs of the spirit." Though the West Bank and many parts of the world are still "quarrelling," we can be heartened by Kinnamon's observation that if one is patient and looks at the big picture, ecumenical progress is being made.
* * *
Quarreling among people with differing opinions haunts us constantly. It is a daily experience that we could do without, but find it impossible to escape. And it has been well established that religion and politics take the forefront in these matters.
The newly elected governor of Maine, Republican and Tea Party supporter Paul LePage, was invited by the NAACP to attend their annual dinner honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day. LePage declined, citing prior commitments as well as stating that there are only so many hours in the day, thus one cannot accept every invitation. This may have rested as an acceptable but disappointing answer, until the governor was asked a second time if, as a Tea Party candidate, the bipartisan response was really a necessity to demonstrate unity with all constituents. To this question the LePage curtly replied, "Tell them to kiss my butt".
The apostle Paul probably heard a lot of posterior kissing as the differing factions in the church at Corinth declared their allegiance to an assorted number of leaders. It was most certainly partisan religion. Congregants had their separate pews, and none were willing to cross the aisle in the spirit of Christian unity.
The only solution, according to Paul, was to place Christ, not individual loyalties, as the centerpiece of the church. If the splintering ideologies in the church, politics, and the community are going to be resolved, it will only be when pettiness is replaced by a higher value of unity for the common good of all.
* * *
Humorist Lewis Grizzard recalls a dispute in a church in his hometown of Moreland, Georgia. A church decided to install chimes that would play hymns over the loudspeaker for the townspeople to enjoy at suppertime. One of the members happened to be a turkey farmer, and he claimed the chimes bothered his turkeys during their evening meal -- thus they weren't eating and getting fat so he could sell them at the market.
Ugliness ensued. The turkey farmer began shooting at the loudspeaker on the church steeple to silence the chimes. Other members of the church, meanwhile, crept into the turkey pens at night carrying hatchets, which spooked the birds, giving them yet another reason not to eat. "Only after the church steeple had been riddled with bullet holes and most of the turkey farmer's flock had suffered complete nervous breakdowns was the matter settled," Grizzard writes. A solution was reached. The church agreed to play the chimes at an hour that would not interfere with the turkey's eating habits, and the turkey farmer called off his artillery.
* * *
There is a story about a couple with differing faith backgrounds who were getting married. She was Episcopalian and he was Southern Baptist -- and after much wrangling, they decided that he should join her Episcopal church.
The young Baptist worked hard to become a good Episcopalian. In time, he was even asked to be a lay reader in the worship services. The husband was fulfilling that role one day when the priest looked over and saw him swinging the censer back and forth, dispersing the sweet-smelling smoke of the incense throughout the congregation.
The man's eyes were tightly shut. He seemed to be mustering something to himself as he swung the censer back and forth. As the priest walked by, he could just barely make out the phrase the man was repeating over and over: "Don't do no good, don't do no harm."
The man was demonstrating a pretty useful skill for those who love Christian unity -- the ability to discriminate between the essential and the inessential, between the things that pertain to the gospel and the things that pertain merely to the institutional church.
* * *
There was a pastor with a problem -- there were two rival factions on his church council, and it was difficult to get any action approved because whatever one side proposed, the other side would vote against. When some very important issues were coming before the council, and inaction would hurt the church for a long time to come, the pastor wondered what could be done to unite the two sides. Then he had an inspiration. On the night of the very important council meeting when the vital issues were to be discussed, he went to the meeting early. There he placed a large picture of Christ at the front of the meeting room. It was plainly visible to all who were in the room. At the start of the meeting he pointed to the picture and said: "Tonight I want all of you to remember that you are here not for yourselves but to work for the cause of Christ. On each matter coming to a vote tonight I want you not to look at one another but at Christ. Then ask yourself how Christ would want you to vote on that motion." As the evening progressed, the important issues came up for a vote. Whenever one side made a motion, the other side was about to voice its opposition. But each time before calling for the vote, the pastor would turn and look at the picture of Christ and the eyes of all the council members followed his gaze. For the first time in months the two sides considered not how they could prevent a motion from passing, but how they should vote in the light of their professed loyalty to Christ. By looking at Christ and not at one another they reached harmony and agreement. In the early church there was dissension. Various groups were in contention with one another. Paul brought harmony and agreement by asking the various factions to forget personalities and look only at Christ and what was needed to further his kingdom.
* * *
In the ancient world, it was an amazing sight to see the great monuments erected. There were no super hydraulic-powered cranes to lift heavy objects into place. Everything was done by hand, with the use of ropes and pulleys and levers and slides. Alone, no individual could possibly set one of the great stone obelisks in place. Even many workers could not accomplish it, if they were all pulling or pushing in different directions at their own discretion. No. What was needed was for everyone to work together in concert. The pyramids, the towering obelisks, the great columns supporting chamber roofs are a testimony to the efforts of hundreds and thousands of workers, united in a common purpose with a clear plan.
* * *
The terrible and destructive floods besieging Australia are a part of our daily headline news, as they should be. The film footage coupled with reporters' commentaries describes a disaster that is devastating so many innocent people.
Ecumenical News International continually reports how churches of all denominations are working together in unity to alleviate the plight of their constituents. Some programs are planned, others are spontaneous, but all are directed to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of those who are suffering. Perhaps their work can best be summoned up by Rev. David McGovern, Brisbane director of Catholic Mission, when he spoke for everyone involved: "It's symbolic that people are finding their churches to be a place of refuge."
Isaiah said, "For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken." The Australian clergy, as much as they wish, cannot part the waters like Moses, but they are living out the words of Isaiah by breaking the yoke of the oppressive flood waters through making their church buildings sanctuaries to all of those in need of refuge.
* * *
Twitter and Facebook are alive with shattering news -- your zodiac sign has changed. Over several millenniums, since the Zodiac was first designed in Babylonia, the earth has shifted on its axis. The change has been subtle enough to propel a Libra into being a Virgo.
Those who are more researched and educated on astrology have noted the panic is mostly in vain. There are two zodial calendars. The shifting of the earth's axis only affects those who follow the "sidereal zodiac." Most Westerners adhere to the "tropical zodiac," which has remained unchanged. So a Libra can still be assured that they with are associated with initiation, creativity, and leadership.
This is an issue for those who follow false teachings and worship more than a single deity. Matthew reports that Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues. One of his primary goals was to clear up the misunderstanding that the people had regarding the Messiah. Those who listened and accepted his teachings had a new understanding and a renewed peace. The present zodiac crisis demonstrates that as Christians we must constantly be involved in a teaching ministry.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: God is our light and our salvation!
People: God is the stronghold of my life.
Leader: One thing we have asked of God.
People: We ask only to live in God's presence.
Leader: God will hide us in divine shelter.
People: God will set us high on the rock of salvation.
OR
Leader: Come and be part of God's family.
People: We would join in any group to belong.
Leader: Come and be part of God's family.
People: We want to belong to something!
Leader: You don't have to give up your identity to belong to God.
People: We gladly join with God and God's people!
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"All People Who on Earth Do Dwell"
found in:
UMH: 75
H82: 377, 378
PH: 220, 221
NNBH: 36
NCH: 7
CH: 18
LBW: 245
"Holy God, We Praise Thy Name"
found in:
UMH: 79
H82: 366
PH: 460
NNBH: 13
NCH: 276
LBW: 535
"Jesus, United by Thy Grace"
found in:
UMH: 561
"Help Us Accept Each Other"
found in:
UMH: 560
PH: 358
NCH: 388
CH: 487
"Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"
found in:
UMH: 559
H82: 518
PH: 416, 417
NCH: 400
CH: 275
LBW: 367
"Jesu, Jesu"
found in:
UMH: 432
H82: 602
PH: 367
NCH: 498
CH: 600
CCB: 66
Renew: 289
"Let There Be Peace on Earth"
found in:
UMH: 431
CH: 677
"Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life"
found in:
CCB: 26
"We Are One in Christ Jesus" ("Somos uno en Christo")
found in:
CCB: 43
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us in your image of loving kindness: Grant us the grace to find in your love all that we need to live in harmony with all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We enter into your presence, O God, to worship you and praise you for your loving kindness toward us. Help us to hear your message of love so deeply that we find no need to exclude others or to cling to some group for our sense of belonging. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our need to feel accepted at the cost of rejecting others.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have created us in love and have called us your children when we have strayed and rebelled against you. In spite of this, we strive to be accepted and to be loved. We cling to others for a sense of belonging, instead of finding that in you. We reject others so that we feel better about ourselves. We claim to be your children, made in your image, yet we act in ways opposite your great love. Forgive us and give us the strength of your Spirit to find in you all the acceptance we need, so that we can love as you love. Amen.
Leader: God's love is steadfast and sure. God welcomes us back into the family whenever we are ready to enter.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We praise you, O God, for your love that embraces all of your creation. You created us for your great love, and for your love you continue to dwell among and within us.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have created us in love and have called us your children when we have strayed and rebelled against you. In spite of this, we strive to be accepted and to be loved. We cling to others for a sense of belonging, instead of finding that in you. We reject others so that we feel better about ourselves. We claim to be your children, made in your image, yet we act in ways opposite your great love. Forgive us and give us the strength of your Spirit to find in you all the acceptance we need, so that we can love as you love.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which we have been blessed by your great love for us. We thank you for our home, the earth, which supplies all our needs. We thank you for the church, where we can learn to live in community with one another. Most of all we thank you for Jesus, who dwelt among us and showed us how to love both our friends and our enemies. We thank you for his continued presence among and within us.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray to you for one another in our needs, and for all your children throughout the world. We pray especially for those who feel rejected and alone. We pray for those who struggle with the loneliness of illness and death. We pray for ourselves, that we may have the strength and desire to be part of your healing presence in our families, our communities, and the world.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father... Amen.
(or if the Lord's Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Visuals
pictures of people shaking hands, hugging, walking arm in arm, etc.
Children's Sermon Starter
Divide the children by having them sit in groups, such as "those who have blue eyes and a yellow dress on." Each group should be so unique that there is only one child in the group. Tell them you have a task for each group. Ask them to lift something that is not too heavy, but that can't be lifted by one child either because it is too long or awkward (something like a piano bench). Tell them they must do it in their group with no help from other groups. Then ask them to join together and try to lift it. Talk about how much better things go when we work together and don't separate ourselves from other people.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Working Together
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Object: a simple jigsaw puzzle with only a few pieces
Good morning, boys and girls! I have a job for us to do this morning. I want us to put this puzzle together. (show the puzzle) I will give out the pieces to the puzzle (pass them out), and then I want you to put it together by each person adding your piece where it belongs. Let's get started. (let them put the puzzle together)
That went well, didn't it? Everyone cooperated and the pieces all fit in nicely. Can you imagine how hard it would be to put the puzzle together if nobody wanted to cooperate? How could we have gotten the puzzle together if some of you had refused to add your piece when it was needed? Would we have been able to put the puzzle together? (let them answer)
The Bible tells us that we all need to work together in the church. God wants us to be united in what we believe, teach, and practice. If everyone cooperates and does their part, we can have a good church where a lot gets done. But if some people won't cooperate and they refuse to help the others get jobs done, we won't have a very good church, will we? (let them answer) No, we won't. I'm sure all of you would like to see us have a strong, healthy church that gets the Lord's work done, don't you? (let them answer)
Okay, let's ask God to help us have that kind of church.
Prayer: Dearest God, please lead us all to do the things that we can do to make this church strong and healthy. Teach us to work together in love. Amen.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, January 23, 2011, issue.
Copyright 2011 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
The Jesus Gang
by Dean Feldmeyer
Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23
In Corinth they said: "I belong to Paul"; "I belong to Apollos"; "I belong to Cephas."
In Ohio, our T-shirts say "Buckeyes" or "Bearcats"; "Bengals" or "Browns."
When I go to a music festival, the "bluegrass" musicians and the "old time" musicians congregate in different areas. Their bumper stickers and their T-shirts and even their patter between songs poke teasing fun at each other, and everyone knows to which camp they belong.
Red staters, blue staters; conservatives, liberals; donkeys and elephants. Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians, Catholics, Unitarians, and even atheists meet together and remind themselves why they are part of this group and not that one.
The need to belong to a group of like-minded people is compelling.
THE WORLD
Psychologist Abraham Maslow (1908-1970) studied what he considered to be the healthiest 1% of the students he encountered at Brandeis University, where he taught. His studies led him to create what has become known as "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs" -- a list, often arranged in a pyramid, of the needs which motivate all human activity.
At the bottom of the pyramid are the most basic needs, the biological needs for food and shelter. Close to the bottom and still among the most basic and foundational of human needs is the need to belong, to be part of a group. Every person wants to be accepted, supported, and embraced by a group of other people. In fact, most of us need to be a member of several groups -- family, work groups, church groups, office culture, sports teams, professional organizations, clubs, and even gangs -- and we arrange these groups in a hierarchy that we can go to for support and protection in times of great stress or danger, with three or four groups at the top.
So important is this "connectedness" to human development that those who lack it in their lives are two to three times more likely to experience depressive symptoms compared to their peers who have personal social connections. In fact, socially isolated people tend to die earlier at two to three times the rate of people who are involved in social networks. (Gatehouse Project [Australia], 1998, and British Medical Journal, 1997.)
The family is the first and most basic social group to which most people cling and belong -- but when the family breaks down, the need for a group to which we can belong is so strong that we will substitute other groups in its place.
Reporting in the Portland Tribune on gang violence in Portland and Gresham, Oregon, Sanne Godfrey notes that the "need to belong fuels gang affiliation." Godfrey adds, "It's easy for kids to join gangs, because it will feel like a family. They are trying to belong to something."
In the wake of last week's horrible shootings in Tucson, Arizona, we saw an initial outpouring of empathy and concern for the victims and their families. People responded, as they did to the horror of 9/11, as members of that group called Americans.
But it did not take long for the main group to become subdivided into factions -- smaller groups intent on interpreting the events of that day through the lens of their own "groupthink." Second amendment advocates quickly explained that guns weren't to blame. Pundits from left and right wanted to assure us that nothing they said caused this, while other pundits insisted that the opposite was so. It was as though everyone stood together at the bedsides of the wounded and the graves of the fallen, but when they departed they went into their own caves where the point of view was narrowed to only that which was immediately before them.
The need to belong, to be a member of a group, can be played out as harmlessly as sporting the colors of your favorite football team or as nefariously as displaying the colors of the Crips and Bloods. Christians must be very careful as we choose the groups with which we will identify and the hierarchy in which we will place them.
THE WORD
This is that rare Sunday when a single theme can be found running through all of the lectionary readings, and that theme seems to be "belonging."
Isaiah
Most scholars believe that Isaiah 9:1-4 is part of a longer hymn or poem written for the coronation of King Hezekiah and later appropriated by Christians as an apt description of Jesus as the King of kings.
The dream is that the reign of this new king will bring the people together again. Naphtali and Zebulon, which were conquered and taken by Assyria, will be returned to their rightful place among the nations of Israel, back where they belong. When the people are together again they will rejoice together, as at the time of harvest.
Psalm
The psalmist stands at the door and knocks, asking God to take him in, to let him live in God's house, presumably as a member of God's family. Those who are members of the household of God need not fear or be afraid of anyone or anything. To be a member of a family is to be sheltered and protected. To be a member of God's family, to live in God's tent, is to be sheltered and protected at the both the cosmic and the personal, spiritual level. It is to be included and approved in the depths of our soul.
1 Corinthians
Paul addresses the issue head-on. It is all well and good to remember who and under what circumstances you were baptized, but ultimately that baptism was into Christ's body and no one else's. The Body of Christ is that group that sits at the top of our hierarchy of groups.
Was your political party crucified for you? Was your candidate for office raised from the dead? Is it a football team that we worship or a flag that mitigates our sin? To what gang does scripture commend us? Are the words of our favorite preacher rendered in red?
No, there is but one group at the top of our pyramid -- and that is the Body of Christ, the Jesus Gang.
Matthew
In the gospel passage, Matthew cements this message with the story of the calling of his first disciples. This first calling is not to believe in or honor or worship or even respect Jesus. No, the calling is to follow Jesus, to walk in his footsteps, to live as he lived, to relate as he related, and if necessary, to die as he died.
So demanding are the membership requirements of this group that few last long among them. But for those who do, the promise is life in the Kingdom of God.
CRAFTING THE SERMON
The sermon based on this theme and these texts can take one of two -- or maybe both -- tracks.
Indicative 1
Some of our listeners will be faced with that loneliness and depression that comes from having no group to which they can belong. Perhaps their family of origin is dysfunctional or maybe they are simply shy or socially inept. They long to belong, to be part of a group with which they can share their lives, a group who will comfort them in their time of trial, help them in their time of need, and stand beside them in the face of danger. Without this group they find themselves lonely and depressed, their lives thin, insubstantial, and inauthentic.
Imperative 1
If this is the indicative we choose to follow, then the imperative is clearly a call to follow Jesus, to be in that inclusive, loving, Christian group to which others are welcomed, warmed, loved, and cared for. Note the final verse of the gospel reading as a description of the definitive activities of the group we now call the church: teaching, proclaiming good news, and curing every disease and sickness (including loneliness and despair?).
Indicative 2
Others of our listeners will not be faced with the problem of exclusion so much as the problem of too much inclusion. It's not that they need a group to belong to, but that they belong to too many groups -- and all of their groups are making demands on them.
The PTA needs baked goods; the football team needs clean uniforms; the scout troop needs drivers; and there's a dance recital this weekend. The church needs volunteers; the bowling league is Friday night; and I still haven't finished reading the book for my book club.
Most of the time these groups provide networks of support and safety for us and even help us in our striving for self-actualization (Maslow's highest need). But sometimes the groups to which we belong can vie for our attention and our loyalty, distracting and diverting us from our calling as Christians.
Imperative 2
Here, the imperative is prioritization. There is room at the top of the pyramid for only one thing -- and if we truly follow Jesus Christ, that one thing is him. Our other memberships have to find room further down in the hierarchy, for it is to Christ and his body -- the Jesus Gang -- that we first turn in our search for the authentic life.
ANOTHER VIEW
The Mending of Nets
by Roger Lovette
Matthew 4:12-23; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Matthew's account of the calling of the twelve gives us pause to think. He called two brothers, fishermen -- Simon and Andrew. And then he found two other brothers. The text says, "They were mending their nets."
Can you hear Jesus coming close and asking James and John, "What are you doing?"
Looking up one of the brothers said, "We're mending our nets." And the other brother and the old father Zebedee nodded.
I can almost hear Jesus' response. "Mending nets. You're the kind of disciples I need. Won't you come and follow me? Not only do fishermen have bigger fish to fry -- there is a lot more to net-mending than just this little body of water, important as it is. Follow me and you'll see." And we know the rest of that story.
Those old, hardened fishermen knew that you couldn't catch fish with broken, threadbare nets. But in the days to follow they tried many times to throw out broken nets, not understanding that you did not call fire down on one's enemies even if they were Samaritans. It took them a long time to realize that this pecking order of who's in charge they felt was so important really was not about them after all. Even after all their time together, when Jesus faced his enemies just before his death they wanted him to smite his enemies tooth and claw -- and Jesus refused. And even after their Lord's death they locked themselves behind closed doors, afraid they would be next. Many times their nets had holes in them bigger than a fist.
Their on-again, off-again following we really understand. Yet, when it was all said and done -- after the years together, after the Cross, after Easter morning -- they scattered all over the place to mend nets. They told the story and out of that story would come the gospels. They healed in the name of Jesus. They preached with power and it made a difference. They finally learned, most days, that the mending of nets was still their job after all.
Every congregation has holes in it -- most of the time bigger than any fist. Yet, we too have been called to mend nets. It isn't easy to do in this climate. Someone asked a preacher recently if his church was red-state or blue-state. The preacher replied: "Depends on what side of the altar you are on." And she's right.
Sunday you'll stand before a congregation that mirrors the world. There will be fear so strong you can almost feel it. There will anger, for life has not turned out the way many wished. There will be grief as heavy as that sadness of the morning in Tucson. There will be rage from those who do not know what to do -- so much seems wrong. Some will come and sit down, smoothing out their bulletins just confused, not knowing what to think or which way to go. Someone toward the back might have a gun nestled away in his or her glove compartment, and across the aisle another man may think guns are about the dumbest things there are. And two seats from the front there is a father and mother who wonder about their boy in Afghanistan.
You'll stand in your familiar place, shuffle your notes, and begin to speak. You'll read this old story of James and John and mending nets. You'll talk about the job being far from finished. You may even remind them, your crazy diverse crowd called church, of the prayer found in the Navy hymn, which prays for "those in peril on the sea" -- which really means all of us.
You'll remember, there toward the end, that by a seashore the Lord called out to those who had fished all night and come up with empty nets. He told them to cast out again, and they reluctantly did what their Lord said. They couldn't believe what happened. They hauled their catch to shore, and there were so many they began to count them. One hundred and fifty-three fish -- all kinds. And you'll remind your all-too-human church that this is still our job: to mend the nets, to patch the holes, and to bring in the catch. Who knows? In that net there may just be a Rush and a Glenn and a Rachel and a Keith and a Chris and a Barack and a Sarah and a little girl named Christina and a woman named Gabrielle and hopefully you and me -- all crowded together in a net that does not break. So the benediction finally sounds and you send them out, maybe not two by two but with the same purpose as those Jesus first called by the seashore. Follow me, he said. And maybe we will all find -- we red and blues, we Republicans and Democrats, we weak and strong, faithful and faithless -- what Schweitzer years later said we would find:
"He comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside; He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks to us the same word: 'Follow thou me.' And sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfill for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as an ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who he is."
ILLUSTRATIONS
President Barack Obama's address from the University of Arizona to the citizens of Tucson was more of a sermon than a speech, with his constant quoting of scripture, his emphasis on the persuasiveness of evil, a message of hope, and a call for reconciliation forecasted religious beliefs over partisan politics.
There are many memorable lines in his sermon that were obviously a self-searching of his own soul. One line that particularly stood out regarding the president's sensitivity to the human situation was his reference to Job. President Obama said: "Scripture tells us that there is evil in the world, and that terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding. In the words of Job, 'when I looked for light, then came darkness.' "
This is not an isolated biblical theme. In our lectionary reading the Psalmist eloquently begins by affirming his hope and protection in the Lord. Yet in his humanness he ends on a note of fear and despair when he writes, "Do not hide your face from me." This is a very human response, for no matter how much we believe, there is always that element of doubt. It is an admission that no matter how much we believe in the goodness and protection of God, still "terrible things happen for reasons that defy human understanding."
Let us live in the affirmation of the Psalmist, but let us not be embarrassed that we also share his uncertainties.
* * *
A study recently released by Stanford University concluded that 20% of all Americans are heroes. A hero was defined as someone who helped during a dangerous emergency, took a stand against injustice, or sacrificed for a stranger. The reason the report is being made public now is because of the review that is being made of those who acted "heroically" during the Tucson shooting at Safeway.
As a contributor to the report, social psychologist Scott Allison concluded, "It's the situation that gives rise to heroism more than anything else. We call it a 'heroic moment.' The terrible tragedy produced heroic opportunities for everyday people to do something extraordinary."
When Jesus called his individuals to "follow me," they immediately left their ordinary daily tasks of life to engage themselves in the extraordinary work of Jesus. A review of the twelve disciples easily demonstrates they were average citizens of the community, who at the appropriate time engaged themselves in the heroic act of sharing the gospel message. And this has been the case for all followers of Jesus during the centuries hence.
Let us be sure that we are aware of "heroic moments" to share the gospel message and minister in the name of Jesus.
* * *
Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, who represents 45 million members of 100,000 Christian congregations in the United States, is directing the annual Week of Prayer and Christian Unity. This ecumenical event is celebrated from January 18th through the 25th. The event was initiated in 1900 by an Episcopalian priest. In 1966 the World Council of Churches and the Vatican became very active participants. In fact, the Roman Catholics have taken the leadership in developing the liturgy.
This year's theme is "One in the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer." The focus is on the Christians who reside in the West Bank of Israel. When Israel became a nation in 1948, Christians represented 25% of the population. From the resulting persecution and discrimination, the number has plunged to less than 3%. Thus, the message of Week of Prayer and Christian Unity continues to confront ambitious challenges.
But Kinnamon is not discouraged. He said, "If you look year to year, it'll drive you crazy. But if you look at it over the last 50 years, you can see signs of the spirit." Though the West Bank and many parts of the world are still "quarrelling," we can be heartened by Kinnamon's observation that if one is patient and looks at the big picture, ecumenical progress is being made.
* * *
Quarreling among people with differing opinions haunts us constantly. It is a daily experience that we could do without, but find it impossible to escape. And it has been well established that religion and politics take the forefront in these matters.
The newly elected governor of Maine, Republican and Tea Party supporter Paul LePage, was invited by the NAACP to attend their annual dinner honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day. LePage declined, citing prior commitments as well as stating that there are only so many hours in the day, thus one cannot accept every invitation. This may have rested as an acceptable but disappointing answer, until the governor was asked a second time if, as a Tea Party candidate, the bipartisan response was really a necessity to demonstrate unity with all constituents. To this question the LePage curtly replied, "Tell them to kiss my butt".
The apostle Paul probably heard a lot of posterior kissing as the differing factions in the church at Corinth declared their allegiance to an assorted number of leaders. It was most certainly partisan religion. Congregants had their separate pews, and none were willing to cross the aisle in the spirit of Christian unity.
The only solution, according to Paul, was to place Christ, not individual loyalties, as the centerpiece of the church. If the splintering ideologies in the church, politics, and the community are going to be resolved, it will only be when pettiness is replaced by a higher value of unity for the common good of all.
* * *
Humorist Lewis Grizzard recalls a dispute in a church in his hometown of Moreland, Georgia. A church decided to install chimes that would play hymns over the loudspeaker for the townspeople to enjoy at suppertime. One of the members happened to be a turkey farmer, and he claimed the chimes bothered his turkeys during their evening meal -- thus they weren't eating and getting fat so he could sell them at the market.
Ugliness ensued. The turkey farmer began shooting at the loudspeaker on the church steeple to silence the chimes. Other members of the church, meanwhile, crept into the turkey pens at night carrying hatchets, which spooked the birds, giving them yet another reason not to eat. "Only after the church steeple had been riddled with bullet holes and most of the turkey farmer's flock had suffered complete nervous breakdowns was the matter settled," Grizzard writes. A solution was reached. The church agreed to play the chimes at an hour that would not interfere with the turkey's eating habits, and the turkey farmer called off his artillery.
* * *
There is a story about a couple with differing faith backgrounds who were getting married. She was Episcopalian and he was Southern Baptist -- and after much wrangling, they decided that he should join her Episcopal church.
The young Baptist worked hard to become a good Episcopalian. In time, he was even asked to be a lay reader in the worship services. The husband was fulfilling that role one day when the priest looked over and saw him swinging the censer back and forth, dispersing the sweet-smelling smoke of the incense throughout the congregation.
The man's eyes were tightly shut. He seemed to be mustering something to himself as he swung the censer back and forth. As the priest walked by, he could just barely make out the phrase the man was repeating over and over: "Don't do no good, don't do no harm."
The man was demonstrating a pretty useful skill for those who love Christian unity -- the ability to discriminate between the essential and the inessential, between the things that pertain to the gospel and the things that pertain merely to the institutional church.
* * *
There was a pastor with a problem -- there were two rival factions on his church council, and it was difficult to get any action approved because whatever one side proposed, the other side would vote against. When some very important issues were coming before the council, and inaction would hurt the church for a long time to come, the pastor wondered what could be done to unite the two sides. Then he had an inspiration. On the night of the very important council meeting when the vital issues were to be discussed, he went to the meeting early. There he placed a large picture of Christ at the front of the meeting room. It was plainly visible to all who were in the room. At the start of the meeting he pointed to the picture and said: "Tonight I want all of you to remember that you are here not for yourselves but to work for the cause of Christ. On each matter coming to a vote tonight I want you not to look at one another but at Christ. Then ask yourself how Christ would want you to vote on that motion." As the evening progressed, the important issues came up for a vote. Whenever one side made a motion, the other side was about to voice its opposition. But each time before calling for the vote, the pastor would turn and look at the picture of Christ and the eyes of all the council members followed his gaze. For the first time in months the two sides considered not how they could prevent a motion from passing, but how they should vote in the light of their professed loyalty to Christ. By looking at Christ and not at one another they reached harmony and agreement. In the early church there was dissension. Various groups were in contention with one another. Paul brought harmony and agreement by asking the various factions to forget personalities and look only at Christ and what was needed to further his kingdom.
* * *
In the ancient world, it was an amazing sight to see the great monuments erected. There were no super hydraulic-powered cranes to lift heavy objects into place. Everything was done by hand, with the use of ropes and pulleys and levers and slides. Alone, no individual could possibly set one of the great stone obelisks in place. Even many workers could not accomplish it, if they were all pulling or pushing in different directions at their own discretion. No. What was needed was for everyone to work together in concert. The pyramids, the towering obelisks, the great columns supporting chamber roofs are a testimony to the efforts of hundreds and thousands of workers, united in a common purpose with a clear plan.
* * *
The terrible and destructive floods besieging Australia are a part of our daily headline news, as they should be. The film footage coupled with reporters' commentaries describes a disaster that is devastating so many innocent people.
Ecumenical News International continually reports how churches of all denominations are working together in unity to alleviate the plight of their constituents. Some programs are planned, others are spontaneous, but all are directed to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of those who are suffering. Perhaps their work can best be summoned up by Rev. David McGovern, Brisbane director of Catholic Mission, when he spoke for everyone involved: "It's symbolic that people are finding their churches to be a place of refuge."
Isaiah said, "For the yoke of their burden, and the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, you have broken." The Australian clergy, as much as they wish, cannot part the waters like Moses, but they are living out the words of Isaiah by breaking the yoke of the oppressive flood waters through making their church buildings sanctuaries to all of those in need of refuge.
* * *
Twitter and Facebook are alive with shattering news -- your zodiac sign has changed. Over several millenniums, since the Zodiac was first designed in Babylonia, the earth has shifted on its axis. The change has been subtle enough to propel a Libra into being a Virgo.
Those who are more researched and educated on astrology have noted the panic is mostly in vain. There are two zodial calendars. The shifting of the earth's axis only affects those who follow the "sidereal zodiac." Most Westerners adhere to the "tropical zodiac," which has remained unchanged. So a Libra can still be assured that they with are associated with initiation, creativity, and leadership.
This is an issue for those who follow false teachings and worship more than a single deity. Matthew reports that Jesus went throughout Galilee teaching in the synagogues. One of his primary goals was to clear up the misunderstanding that the people had regarding the Messiah. Those who listened and accepted his teachings had a new understanding and a renewed peace. The present zodiac crisis demonstrates that as Christians we must constantly be involved in a teaching ministry.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: God is our light and our salvation!
People: God is the stronghold of my life.
Leader: One thing we have asked of God.
People: We ask only to live in God's presence.
Leader: God will hide us in divine shelter.
People: God will set us high on the rock of salvation.
OR
Leader: Come and be part of God's family.
People: We would join in any group to belong.
Leader: Come and be part of God's family.
People: We want to belong to something!
Leader: You don't have to give up your identity to belong to God.
People: We gladly join with God and God's people!
Hymns and Sacred Songs
"All People Who on Earth Do Dwell"
found in:
UMH: 75
H82: 377, 378
PH: 220, 221
NNBH: 36
NCH: 7
CH: 18
LBW: 245
"Holy God, We Praise Thy Name"
found in:
UMH: 79
H82: 366
PH: 460
NNBH: 13
NCH: 276
LBW: 535
"Jesus, United by Thy Grace"
found in:
UMH: 561
"Help Us Accept Each Other"
found in:
UMH: 560
PH: 358
NCH: 388
CH: 487
"Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation"
found in:
UMH: 559
H82: 518
PH: 416, 417
NCH: 400
CH: 275
LBW: 367
"Jesu, Jesu"
found in:
UMH: 432
H82: 602
PH: 367
NCH: 498
CH: 600
CCB: 66
Renew: 289
"Let There Be Peace on Earth"
found in:
UMH: 431
CH: 677
"Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life"
found in:
CCB: 26
"We Are One in Christ Jesus" ("Somos uno en Christo")
found in:
CCB: 43
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who created us in your image of loving kindness: Grant us the grace to find in your love all that we need to live in harmony with all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We enter into your presence, O God, to worship you and praise you for your loving kindness toward us. Help us to hear your message of love so deeply that we find no need to exclude others or to cling to some group for our sense of belonging. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially our need to feel accepted at the cost of rejecting others.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have created us in love and have called us your children when we have strayed and rebelled against you. In spite of this, we strive to be accepted and to be loved. We cling to others for a sense of belonging, instead of finding that in you. We reject others so that we feel better about ourselves. We claim to be your children, made in your image, yet we act in ways opposite your great love. Forgive us and give us the strength of your Spirit to find in you all the acceptance we need, so that we can love as you love. Amen.
Leader: God's love is steadfast and sure. God welcomes us back into the family whenever we are ready to enter.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord's Prayer)
We praise you, O God, for your love that embraces all of your creation. You created us for your great love, and for your love you continue to dwell among and within us.
(The following paragraph may be used if a separate prayer of confession has not been used.)
We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have created us in love and have called us your children when we have strayed and rebelled against you. In spite of this, we strive to be accepted and to be loved. We cling to others for a sense of belonging, instead of finding that in you. We reject others so that we feel better about ourselves. We claim to be your children, made in your image, yet we act in ways opposite your great love. Forgive us and give us the strength of your Spirit to find in you all the acceptance we need, so that we can love as you love.
We give you thanks for all the ways in which we have been blessed by your great love for us. We thank you for our home, the earth, which supplies all our needs. We thank you for the church, where we can learn to live in community with one another. Most of all we thank you for Jesus, who dwelt among us and showed us how to love both our friends and our enemies. We thank you for his continued presence among and within us.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray to you for one another in our needs, and for all your children throughout the world. We pray especially for those who feel rejected and alone. We pray for those who struggle with the loneliness of illness and death. We pray for ourselves, that we may have the strength and desire to be part of your healing presence in our families, our communities, and the world.
(Other intercessions may be offered.)
All these things we ask in the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray together, saying:
Our Father... Amen.
(or if the Lord's Prayer is not used at this point in the service)
All this we ask in the Name of the Blessed and Holy Trinity. Amen.
Visuals
pictures of people shaking hands, hugging, walking arm in arm, etc.
Children's Sermon Starter
Divide the children by having them sit in groups, such as "those who have blue eyes and a yellow dress on." Each group should be so unique that there is only one child in the group. Tell them you have a task for each group. Ask them to lift something that is not too heavy, but that can't be lifted by one child either because it is too long or awkward (something like a piano bench). Tell them they must do it in their group with no help from other groups. Then ask them to join together and try to lift it. Talk about how much better things go when we work together and don't separate ourselves from other people.
CHILDREN'S SERMON
Working Together
1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Object: a simple jigsaw puzzle with only a few pieces
Good morning, boys and girls! I have a job for us to do this morning. I want us to put this puzzle together. (show the puzzle) I will give out the pieces to the puzzle (pass them out), and then I want you to put it together by each person adding your piece where it belongs. Let's get started. (let them put the puzzle together)
That went well, didn't it? Everyone cooperated and the pieces all fit in nicely. Can you imagine how hard it would be to put the puzzle together if nobody wanted to cooperate? How could we have gotten the puzzle together if some of you had refused to add your piece when it was needed? Would we have been able to put the puzzle together? (let them answer)
The Bible tells us that we all need to work together in the church. God wants us to be united in what we believe, teach, and practice. If everyone cooperates and does their part, we can have a good church where a lot gets done. But if some people won't cooperate and they refuse to help the others get jobs done, we won't have a very good church, will we? (let them answer) No, we won't. I'm sure all of you would like to see us have a strong, healthy church that gets the Lord's work done, don't you? (let them answer)
Okay, let's ask God to help us have that kind of church.
Prayer: Dearest God, please lead us all to do the things that we can do to make this church strong and healthy. Teach us to work together in love. Amen.
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The Immediate Word, January 23, 2011, issue.
Copyright 2011 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to The Immediate Word service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons and in worship and classroom settings only. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
