Press One To Order Quality Parenting
Children's sermon
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This week’s passage from Proverbs describes the qualities of a “capable wife” who is “far more precious than jewels.” This text is uncomfortable for some feminists because of its exaltation of the wife’s role as domestic goddess -- but that can distract us from what this text is really about: a portrayal of a healthy, well-functioning household. Nothing is more indicative of a family’s health (or conversely, its inner rot) than the development of its children -- and that remains true, even as traditional roles (gender and otherwise) rapidly evolve in contemporary society. In this installment of The Immediate Word, team member Mary Austin points out that “Supermom” can be an impossible standard to live up to -- and with the conventional family model of only the husband working outside the home now accounting for only 7 percent of American households, concerns about how to balance the competing demands of the home and the workplace are all too common. So many modern families cope by outsourcing many domestic tasks once performed by the “capable wife” -- including those associated with parenting. This has led to the widespread notion of “quality time,” as harried parents try to justify the limited amounts of time they are able to spend with their children. But as New York Times columnist Frank Bruni suggests, there’s no substitute for basic presence -- being available at the places and times we least expect to be needed for those moments that are often the most influential on children. Mary reminds us that this is nothing new -- our Proverbs text makes clear that a healthy family is characterized by being connected... both to its own members and to the wider community. Yet modern family life is increasingly characterized by isolation -- both between parents and their children, and between families and society at large.
Team member Robin Lostetter shares some additional thoughts on the gospel text and how Jesus deals with the disciples’ barroom argument about “who’s number one.” Jesus stands their competition completely on its head by observing that “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Jesus than underlines the importance of the powerless in relation to those who usually have influence by saying that whoever welcomes a child (who were typically ignored in Jesus' world) welcomes him. What he’s really saying here is that the things we usually consider important in ranking priorities and achievements are often utterly meaningless -- or even the exact reverse of what God values. Robin explores the difficulty we often encounter in reconciling the attitudes of service and judgment -- a juxtaposition currently in the headlines with the ongoing saga of Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
Press One to Order Quality Parenting
by Mary Austin
Proverbs 31:10-31
The author of Proverbs lifts up Israel’s superwoman, multitasking her way through a day of providing for her family. She rises early, arranging food and supervising her household servants. During the day, she manages to buy property and support her husband. She looks ahead to the coming seasons, and is prepared. Her husband and children seemingly never complain, in a picture of economic and domestic bliss.
Are we modern employees and parents meant to keep up with this woman? Can we come anywhere close to this picture of household harmony? It feels impossible to juggle all that she manages -- and yet modern women (and men) have the same list of responsibilities for children, parents, work, and household maintenance.
In the World
If we met the woman from Proverbs in today’s world, her work might look dramatically different. She might provide food for her family by ordering it from Blue Apron, which sends all the ingredients for a meal in a box, allowing you to cook it all in about 30 minutes. Or perhaps dinner would come from Freshology, which allows you to pick from menus for weight loss, fitness, low cholesterol, and other options. Instead of spinning and weaving, she might just order her clothes from Stitch Fix, which sends a box of clothes chosen by your personal stylist. Keep what you like, and send the rest back.
Ready to buy that field? Zillow can help with the search, and knowing what the price should be. Problems in the perfect household? You can find a friend to listen at 7 Cups of Tea, or professional advice at Talkspace (among other places to find an online therapist). If the kids need to get somewhere, HopSkipDrive can help. “Created by moms, driven with love,” it offers to take the stress and worry out of getting multiple kids to multiple places.
The modern equivalent of the woman from Proverbs can outsource much of her work. Even our intimate relationships can be outsourced, as the Ashley Madison data leak demonstrates. The industrious woman of Proverbs may find herself managing other people who make her household run.
Just like the people of ancient Israel, we have strong opinions about the time and attention women give to family and marriage. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been under fire lately for announcing that she’s expecting twins, and that she plans to take only two weeks off. The real issue, says Leah Eichler, is that “maternity leave hardly exists in the United States, unless you work for a company that voluntarily offers it. (Yahoo itself offers 16 weeks.)” Eichler adds, “While I’m delighted that this second pregnancy didn’t produce the same shock and awe that the first one did in the news media, indicating that it is within the realm of possibility to be a high-profile CEO and pregnant, most view Ms. Mayer as an edge case. She is an outlier who -- owing to her unique position and wealth -- can manage it all.” People have reacted strongly to Mayer’s plans for a very short leave, but have less concern for women without paid leave and without access to help with their children. We also expect more of Mayer and other high-profile women. When male CEOs have children, no one inquires about their parental leave plans or their child-care arrangements. A male CEO who took two weeks off to spend time with a new baby would be lauded as a hero dad. Like the virtuous woman of Proverbs, we have high standards for the women in our public view.
How do parents feel about outsourcing part of their parenting work? Dr. Amber Epp of the University of Wisconsin School of Business, who studies this, says that parents worry about “control -- for example, creating complicated lists of rules for babysitters, and packing lunches and snacks.... They worry about intimacy -- for example, communicating with a nanny via text message throughout the day to be emotionally available to their children even when they are not physically present. And they worry about substitutability, choosing not to outsource the tasks they feel they should do themselves -- those defined by our culture as the iconic tasks of parenthood (subject to individual interpretation by different parents, since cultural opinions about these relatively new services are still evolving).”
We may judge these parents harshly, especially if they outsource things we consider important. Each of us has different opinions about what we can and cannot ask other people to do. Some work feels essential, and other jobs can be done by paid help, family members, friends, or just left undone. Epp notes that parents carefully consider how to allocate time and money to best serve their kids: “When parents make these decisions, they consider the whole package, including services they themselves provide to their children, as well as those others provide.... What are the trade-offs? If they pay someone to complete this task, will it free up the parent’s time to do something he considers more important to do himself? Overwhelmingly, we observed our study participants making thoughtful decisions to provide the best care in ways that would help them preserve their connection with their children.” Perhaps the woman from Proverbs lingers in our heads, offering a standard that no one can really meet.
In the Scriptures
This text often feels like treacherous ground for preaching, trying to extrapolate meaning from a particular cultural view of women. If this is the picture of a virtuous woman, what do we say to women who are single, who don’t have children, who are poor enough that they need to work two jobs, or who are transgendered, to name just a few of the women who are left out of this portrait? Amy Oden writes for Working Preacher: “We recognize in ancient texts the power dynamics that allow men to idealize female virtue in terms that benefit men and often harm women. Notice that this text cannot even imagine a virtuous woman who is unmarried, that is, who is not in relation to a male as wife.”
Still, Oden observes that Proverbs, and this text, come to us as part of the wisdom literature of the Bible. She connects this text with the personification of wisdom, Lady Wisdom, who “calls upon humans to walk in her ways and follow her path. Proverbs 31, then, is set in the larger context of wisdom literature, and the more immediate context of Woman Wisdom. In fact, some argue that the ‘capable wife’ of verses 10-31 does not refer to any actual woman (she’s too good to be true!) but to the ideal of Woman Wisdom herself. Indeed, several verses are reminiscent of earlier depictions of Woman Wisdom in Proverbs.”
There are still some refreshing notes of grace in this text, for women and men.
We notice, too, that part of this virtuous woman’s work is non-traditional. Buying and selling property take her beyond the traditional realm of home and family, and her arms are strong. Her merchandise is profitable, and her husband seems to derive some of his worth from her since people regard her so highly. He sits in the city gate, but she seems to be wise in her own right. “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” This woman is prepared. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” There seems to be a harmony in her relationships that frenzied modern people might envy. She is free to use her talents, which means the same is true for her husband.
And in our world, where there’s relentless pressure for women (and men: see “the dad bod,” for example) to be “hot,” this woman is measured by her hard work and the strength of her character. Amy Oden observes, “This passage offers a radical countercultural message in the profound silence about what she looks like. The closing verse reminds us that ‘beauty is vain,’ not something women (or men) hear anywhere in the daily visual assault of airbrushed female bodies on billboards, magazine stands, and pop-up ads. The silence of Proverbs 31 on appearance is striking, and refreshing. She is praised for the content of her character and the excellence of her endeavors rather than the surface of her skin.” This woman is set free from at least one kind of gender role pressure.
In the Sermon
This woman sets a high bar for accomplishment, for women or men. The sermon might talk about how we define ourselves and others by what we do. We take pride in being busy, and cherish a certain level of perfectionism along the way. This woman is also lauded for her character, and the sermon might explore how we can cherish people for the intangible things instead of for accomplishments.
Since this woman in Proverbs operates outside of her traditional gender roles, the sermon might talk about that kind of freedom, which we all have through our grounding in Jesus. Where could we be more free from the roles we take on? What talents are we using or not using, and how could we be more like this woman, using the full range of our abilities?
The sermon might also look at the things we outsource, for better or worse. Have we given away things that are meaningful to us? Are there things we’d like to have back? Some of our outsourcing is task-oriented, but some of it is emotional. With a screen available at any moment, we can always put off a meaningful conversation. With the ability to hire people, we lose the gift of working alongside people, coming to know them in different ways.
The sermon might also look at the other side of doing -- being present. Columnist Frank Bruni recently wrote for the New York Times that there’s no substitute for spending time with people, lots of time if we can manage it. Bruni says that when he spends more time with his extended family, there’s a better chance that he’ll be there for the random moments that turn out to matter a lot. “There’s simply no real substitute for physical presence. We delude ourselves when we say otherwise, when we invoke and venerate ‘quality time,’ a shopworn phrase with a debatable promise: that we can plan instances of extraordinary candor, plot episodes of exquisite tenderness, engineer intimacy in an appointed hour.” We have to show up to show that we care. And when we do, people unveil deeper levels of themselves.
The thing we need most from each other is something we can’t outsource to anyone else: time. People can cook for us, comb our kids’ heads for lice, teach them to drive, get them ready for the SAT and the ACT, clean the house, and even get tickets for date night with our partner... and all of that may free up time for what matters most. The thing we have to do all by ourselves is be present. We have to show up to sustain our connection with God, and with each other.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Public Servant of All
by Robin Lostetter
Mark 9:30-37; James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Kim Davis has been a prominent figure in the news in recent weeks. Davis, the county clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, objects to same-sex marriages as being contrary to God’s definition of marriage. In order to avoid charges of discrimination, Davis stopped issuing any marriage licenses following the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex unions nationwide -- even defying a federal judge’s order for her office to resume issuing marriage licenses. Yet Davis persisted... leading to her being jailed for contempt of court. While Davis has become a cause celebre for those opposed to same-sex marriage, one fact remains -- when Kim Davis assumed the position of Rowan County clerk, she agreed to serve the people of Rowan County and to abide by the constitution and laws of the United States.
In the Scriptures
In this week’s gospel passage (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus names servanthood as the hallmark of those who would be first among them. In other words, to be “number 1” in Kingdom jargon means to be the servant of everyone else. It does not mean to be the top wrestler, the most sought-after quarterback, the tennis player who wins the Grand Slam, or the winner of the Miss America contest. It might mean to be their dresser, their doorman, or the person who mops up and locks up when the show is over.
Of course, all these images are metaphorical. One doesn’t have to do demeaning work to be the servant of all. It’s in the attitude. And here is where James 3, among similar biblical passages, comes in to help us understand the nature of servanthood: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.... [T]he wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (James 3:13-14, 17). These traits may be combined with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22b-23a).
And one part of servanthood in particular is described in the last two verses of the gospel reading: “Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me’ ” (Mark 9:36-37). In Jesus’ day, a child had no influence. A child was less of a political, social, and economic entity than a woman, an unclean laborer, or a Samaritan. So servanthood meant to receive those of the lowest stature as equal to or better than oneself -- to be their servant, to receive them as if one were receiving Christ.
In the Headlines
In her own legal statement dated September 1, Kim Davis writes:
I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of scripture and of Jesus himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people’s religious freedom and conscience. I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned -- that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them. I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.
There are at least three issues raised in this statement alone. The first one, in the first sentence, I will discuss in the “In the Sermon” section below. The second issue relates to “I never sought to be in this position.” Actually, she did seek the position of county clerk, knowing that church and state occasionally clash. Davis was not “placed” in this position, she put herself in it. This does not excuse those who would send death threats, but her statements reveal a certain naiveté in her expectations.
Continuing to the last sentence in the quote, “I intend to continue to serve the people” -- ah, that is the crux! In Mark 9:37, serving involves viewing each person who comes to her office as a child of God. In the words of Jill Duffield, “We submit and draw near to God. If we do that everything else will begin to be put in its proper place, our sense of self included. What removes our need to be the greatest according to Mark’s Jesus? Welcoming God through welcoming the children God loves.”
Then after her release from jail, Davis returned to work this Monday (September 14). The question on many minds was whether or not she would follow the judge’s order, or be cited once again for contempt. The following excerpt from CNN’s report documents how Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act has helped -- and may help more in the future -- to provide an accommodation acceptable to all parties:
Before starting her workday, Davis appeared defiant, saying she will not issue any marriage licenses that go against her religious beliefs. But she left the door open for her deputies to continue giving out marriage licenses to same-sex couples as long as those documents do not have Davis’ name or title on them.
The marriage license that the couple received said “pursuant to federal court order” on it, and instead of listing Davis’ name and Rowan County, it says city of Morehead, the county seat.
Davis said Monday that any such licenses “will not be issued or authorized by me.” Her work-around is not to sign them but not interfere with her deputies who do give them out.
One of her attorneys, Roger Gannam, told CNN that Davis should not have to resign or be jailed because “accommodation of religious conscience is the law in Kentucky, including for elected officials.”
Nevertheless, a moral argument has arisen regarding her initial choice. Was it a righteous decision not to sign those marriage licenses due to her personal religious beliefs? Van Jones takes issue with those who compare her actions with those of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.:
I, too, believe that each individual has the moral duty to defy any law that he or she deems unjust. Of course, he or she must do so nonviolently. And he or she must do so publicly, willingly accepting all the legal and personal consequences. These two requirements separate the nonviolent dissenter from the terrorist or the common criminal, who scheme in the darkness and do everything they can to evade capture.... The duty to resist unjust laws falls upon every human being. It is, in fact, the final check against tyranny -- on the right or left....
These comparisons [Rosa Parks and MLK Jr.] are misguided. Parks, King, Fannie Lou Hamer, the freedom riders, and countless others went to jail in defiance of bigoted local laws and practices. They broke local laws -- often (though not always) to extend the protections of U.S. Supreme Court decisions in places that refused to honor those rulings. Yes, Kim Davis is a lawbreaker, for reasons of conscience. That in itself is no dishonor. But Davis is a particular kind of lawbreaker -- one who is using her local authority to try to block federal, judicial rulings. And those decisions are specifically designed to recognize the rights of a historically despised minority group.
That kind of lawbreaking puts Kim Davis more in the tradition of former Alabama governor George Wallace, not of Martin Luther King. Wallace was an ardent segregationist. He notoriously stood in the schoolhouse door, to keep African-American students from integrating white schools. Just like Kim Davis, Wallace was trying to use his local powers to defy the courts. The federal courts in the 1950s and 1960s were newly asserting that a despised out-group had basic rights. That’s exactly what our Supreme Court is doing today, regarding gay men and lesbians. Just like Kim Davis, Wallace's objections were guided by his own moral compass and his own reading of scripture. So Davis does stand in a tradition of scripture-based civil disobedience, and she should claim it. But it is dishonest to try to cloak her in the same garments as Parks or King. To the contrary: Kim Davis is the living heir to the long tradition of local segregationists, whom King specifically denounced at the 1963 March on Washington. He accused them of having their “lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification” because they refused to obey federal court orders to protect the vulnerable minority group of that day. The key to nonviolent civil disobedience is the willingness to step forward honestly and accept all the consequences, legal and otherwise, for one’s stand.
Van Jones’ characterization of “court orders to protect the vulnerable minority group of that day” bears a striking parallel to Jesus’ concern for those on the margins. In this week’s passage from Mark, this is symbolized by a child. But the New Testament is filled with examples of Jesus talking with, healing, and advocating for the vulnerable -- the lepers, the Samaritan woman, the woman perpetually unclean due to an issue of blood, the man born blind, and so on.
Another author has likened Davis’ actions to those of a martyr. In his brief article, Mark Silk suggests that “Martyrdom is a seductive thing in the Christian tradition.” Of Davis, he observes: “she is a Christian convert standing up for her faith, a gladiator in a virtual arena before a shouting public of hundreds of millions, with exultant backers presumably numbering in the millions -- including, today, GOP presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee, who would love those backers to cast their primary votes for him. Embracing what passes for martyrdom in 21st-century America, Davis seems to believe, mistakenly, that no couple obtaining a marriage license from Rowan County without her signature can enter into a valid state of matrimony. Ergo, she is [was] single-handedly preventing same-sex couples from getting married in her jurisdiction.”
It seems martyrdom and stardom have some things in common, now that throwing folk into the lions’ den is out of vogue.
In the Sermon
It certainly seems difficult to reconcile the attitudes of service and judgment. When we judge, we impose our interpretation of God’s law or the Bible, or our version of religion, or simply our personal moral code on another. We do this at great risk, according to the Bible. We’ve been advised to take the log from our own eye before attempting to take the splinter from another’s. We’ve also been warned not to judge, for fear of being judged ourselves.
We all do it, probably on a daily basis. But when a public servant does it overtly, determining which laws he or she will uphold, then there is a community problem. One could make a somewhat facetious comparison to Kim Davis’ actions and suggest “What happens when every Rite-Aid, Walgreen’s, and CVS employee who is Roman Catholic refuses to sell condoms? What happens when every evangelical or Jewish clerk who follows the Torah and works at Sears, J.C. Penney, or Macy’s refuses to sell clothing that is made of a poly/cotton blend?” Our understanding of employment/election contracts becomes void.
Davis’ statement asks: Who knew “a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of scripture and of Jesus himself regarding marriage”? Central teaching? Jesus mentions marriage only once, in Matthew 19:3-6, and in it he simply asks the Pharisees if they recall reading Genesis 2:22-24, which he quotes in part. A central teaching would have more to do with “love your neighbor,” “feed my lambs,” “repent for the Kingdom is near.” None of the issues above -- condoms, clothing of blended fabrics, or same-sex marriage -- are central teachings of scripture or of Jesus.
In a humorous but stinging response from a group called Planting Peace, a billboard along those same lines was posted in Davis’ community. It stated: “Dear Kim Davis, the fact that you can’t sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we’ve already redefined marriage.”
The same article showing the billboard quotes a statement from Planting Peace lamenting that “there are LGBTQ youth across the world who are taking their lives at an alarming rate because of these messages from society that make them feel broken or less than.” The preacher could take that statement and contrast it with “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
The preacher could delve into contrasting judgement with servanthood, or even do a historical sermon on Calvin’s take on church and state. But to stay with the James and Mark passages, let me close with these words:
Submit yourselves therefore to God.... Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you. (James 4:7a, 8).
“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer:
Proverbs 31:10-31
Children and Parenting in History
In the exhaustive research she did for her book The Sick Child in Early Modern England, 1580-1720, historian Hannah Newton uncovered three important myths about childhood in that era:
1. Children were treated like miniature adults. This myth was perpetuated by the portraits that were painted of children dressed in adult-style clothing -- but in fact, written records show that “they were distinguished fundamentally from other ages [especially] in their physiology and medical treatment.”
2. Children were not loved by their parents. In fact, the literature of that time suggests quite the opposite: “Parents loved their children with the same intensity that we would expect today. The sheer effort, time, and emotion devoted to sick and dying children testifies the extraordinary affection of both fathers and mothers for their offspring.”
3. It is impossible to investigate the experience of childhood in the early modern period because children rarely left written records. In one area, however, parents of that time kept precise and often verbatim accounts of their children’s illnesses, records that give us vast insight into children and parenting in the early modern era.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
John Quincy Adams’ Letter to His Son
In January of 1811, John Adams II (the son of John Quincy Adams) wrote in a letter to his parents that he had been visiting his elderly aunt and reading to her from the Bible each evening. His father’s response has become one of his most famous letters. Among other things, John Quincy Adams says:
This information gave me real pleasure; for so great is my veneration for the Bible, and so strong my belief, that when duly read and meditated on, it is of all books in the world, that which contributes most to make men good, wise, and happy -- that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more steadily they pursue the practice of reading it throughout their lives, the more lively and confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens to their country, respectable members of society, and a real blessing to their parents. But I hope you have now arrived at an age to understand that reading, even in the Bible, is a thing in itself, neither good nor bad, but that all the good which can be drawn from it, is by the use and improvement of what you have read, with the help of your own reflection. Young people sometimes boast of how many books, and how much they have read; when, instead of boasting, they ought to be ashamed of having wasted so much time, to so little profit.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
Modern Parenthood
In 2013, the Pew Research Center analyzed data from 1965-2011 to determine changing trends in how parents use their time. Here are some of the key findings from that analysis:
* Since 1965, mothers have almost tripled the amount of paid work they do each week, but they still lag behind fathers, who work on average 37 hours a week. Meanwhile, fathers have increased their housework and child-care time, but still only do about half of what mothers do.
* In most two-parent households today, both parents work at least part-time. Mothers and fathers in these dual-income households spend a comparable amount of time working each week, when paid work, child care, and housework are combined. Similar to all mothers and fathers, on average, working moms in these households do more housework and child care than working dads.
* Roughly equal shares of working moms and working dads say it is difficult to balance work and family responsibilities. Fully 40% of working mothers and 34% of working fathers say they “always feel rushed.”
* The desire of moms to work full-time is tied almost exclusively to the economy. When times are tough, more women desire to work full-time than when times are good.
* While more mothers now say they prefer full-time work, only 16% of mothers, fathers, and the general public say the ideal situation for a young child is to have a mother who works full-time.
* Dads today spend less time with their kids than moms do, but both parents are spending more time with their kids than they did a generation ago. Still, about half of fathers and a quarter of mothers say they do not spend enough time with their children.
* Despite their challenges, today’s parents believe they are doing a good job raising their children. Moms are more likely than dads to say they are doing an excellent or very good job as parents. Working mothers are particularly likely to rate themselves highly.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
Fishing with Dad
Brooks Adams was a graduate of Harvard and a renowned historian and social critic in the mid-1800s. He was the great-grandson of John Adams, the grandson of John Quincy Adams, and the son of historian, publisher, politician, and diplomat Charles Francis Adams.
Beginning in early childhood, Brooks kept a diary of nearly every day of his life. In one of those childhood entries he wrote: “Went fishing with my father -- the most wonderful day of my life.”
Father Charles also kept a diary. His entry for that day says: “Went fishing with my son today -- a day wasted.”
I guess it’s a matter of perspective.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
The First Shall Be Last
Washington University graduate student Kendall Schler, 26, wanted nothing more than to win the GO! St. Louis Marathon. She just didn’t want to run in it.
So she removed the magnetic strip that automatically registers a runner’s time throughout the race from her number bib, drove around to the finish, waited for the lead bicycle to pass by, and jumped into the race ahead of the other runners.
Last year she did the same thing, but since she came in only third no one checked her out. This time, however, there were questions. She came in well ahead of the expected early finishers, she was wearing her bib wrong, and there were no pictures of her actually running in the race.
Finally she broke down and admitted that she had cheated -- and she was stripped of her 3rd place finish from last year and, of course, her winning trophy from this year’s race. Also, the Boston Marathon rescinded their invitation for her to run there.
Kendall Schler is a case of the first literally becoming the last.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
The Last Shall Be First
In the popular television show Night Court, Judge Harry Stone (played by comedian/magician Harry Anderson) presided over an urban night courtroom where the people working were nearly as wacky as the ones who were being brought before the court.
No less wacky than any of them was the judge himself, who wore 1940s-era ties and a fedora hat and who liked to do magic tricks to entertain the gallery. So offbeat was “His Honor” that every once in a while someone would question how he ever got to be a judge, which was in this case an appointed position.
His explanation was that the previous judge had died suddenly on Labor Day weekend, and when the appointing committee began calling potential appointees no one was home. His name was the last one on the list, and as luck would have it he was at home when the call came through.
When someone would scoff at his name being last on the list, his answer was always the same: “My name may have been the last on the list, but it was on the list.”
***************
From team member Ron Love:
Proverbs 31:10-31
Tom Coughlin, 69, is entering his 46th season as a football coach. Presently the head coach of the NFL’s New York Giants. Coughlin begins each of his team’s morning meetings not with a lecture, but with an inspirational quote or story. He refers to this practice as cognitive psychology. The quotes come from all walks of life, and are sometimes accompanied by a video. The quotes are always printed on the team’s daily agenda, and the players are expected to memorize the quote and use it throughout practice during the day. Coughlin says he does this because “Words still can have great effect if used in a diversified way. You can’t stand there and lecture and expect them to relate if you’re pounding something into their head. But there’s no misinterpretation of an interesting quote or parable. There’s exact meaning, and we all enjoy that more than drilling things into us.”
Application: Proverbs speaks of the importance of an individual having wisdom, and wisdom can be motivating.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
The inspirational quotes and stories coach Tom Coughlin uses with his New York Giants are not picked at random, but are carefully selected to fit the mood of the team: uplifting after a loss, encouraging after a victory. Coughlin takes the time to select the quotes because “I know it’s well worth it because it sticks in the players’ minds.”
Application: The wife described in Proverbs seems to have the ability to know the right thing to say and do at the right time.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Tom Coughlin begins each morning meeting of his New York Giants with an inspirational quote or story. The quotes are always printed on the team’s daily agenda, and the players are expected to memorize the quote and use it throughout practice during the day. If a quote is one the players really relate to, it is printed on t-shirts or turned into posters tacked to the locker room walls. One such quote was “It is amazing what we can accomplish if no one cares who gets the credit.”
Application: James speaks of the importance of having wisdom and understanding, as if we should wear it on a t-shirt.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Steven Colbert, the new host of CBS’s The Late Show, was recently interviewed regarding his Christian faith. Colbert is a devout Catholic and considers himself “born again.” He noted that Pope Francis is a flawed man, just like himself and all people, and sometimes the pope is criticized for being a “fool.” But Colbert said the pope is a “fool for Christ” -- which Colbert interprets as a meaning of love.
Application: James understands that we are not to be perfect, that at times we are foolish. But we are fools who are always drawing near to Christ.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Steven Colbert, the new host of CBS’s The Late Show, often uses satire in his opening monologue. But there is a purpose for this, he explains -- which is to relieve the “loneliness” of his viewers. His goal is “making somebody laugh.” Colbert said in a recent interview that he realizes his jokes will not “change things” in the world, but they could help a single individual.
Application: As we draw near to God, we will also be drawing near to others.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Author Jennifer Weiner, known for her novel All Fall Down, recently wrote in the New York Times about the “guilt in her heart” she feels because each year she watches the Miss America pageant. As a feminist Weiner concedes she is “conflicted as I flout the First Rule of Feminism,” which is to judge women by their “character” and “not the quality of their spray-tan shape.” Watching the contestants, she acknowledges that “Judging is wrong... but I’ll do it.”
Application: James speaks of sin and guilt, and how we must try to avoid it by drawing near to God.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
Jennifer Weiner started watching Miss America contests as a young girl, and still does as an adult. But after she turned 25 and was no longer be eligible for the competition, she writes that the dream that originally started her viewing the pageants “died hard.” At a young age, she says, “I was young enough to believe that I could grow up to be one of those glittering, glossy-toothed, big-haired creatures.”
Application: If we follow the teaching of Jesus and desire not to be first, not to be Miss America, then we will understand our Christian calling.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
The Gallup-Purdue Index is the first study to ever measure the relationship between a student’s college experience and his or her future success and self-worth. The aim of the study was to determine if attending an expensive private college or an Ivy League school makes a significance difference in a student’s future, compared to attending a state institution -- and the conclusion is that it did not. The study examined five areas after graduation: relationships, health, community, economics, and sense of purpose. The study concluded, “The percentage of graduates who described themselves as thriving in all five of those areas varied little based on the kind of school they’d attended.” The only qualifying factor was a student’s relationship to the college he or she attended.
Application: The colleges that consider themselves to be first are equal to the ones that society deems as last. The significance is not in the college but in a student’s relationship to the institution.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who was jailed for five days for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is an apostolic Christian. Many have inquired about her long dresses and uncut hair, so a Religion News Service piece described the practices of apostolic Christians. The reason for Davis’ public appearance is called “external holiness.” It is to demonstrate that followers of Pentecostalism are not a part of this world. It is interesting to note that only women, not men, have restrictions on their public appearance.
Application: The discussion of who will be first and who will be last is really a discussion about not drawing attention to ourselves, but rather to Jesus.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
During his daily morning homily a few weeks ago, Pope Francis made the strong pronouncement that “if you do not know how to forgive, you are not a Christian.” The pope said forgiveness is a “key word” for Jesus. The pope said that if you are not merciful, then you “risk that the Lord will not be merciful with you.” He also went on to instruct priests that if they do not have a calling to be merciful, then they should remain out of the confessional booth and seek an administrative position in the church.
Application: Jesus implies that with a childlike faith we are to also have a sense of innocence, which means to be forgiving.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
Christians have been following the football career of quarterback Tim Tebow because of his devotion to the Lord and his public confession of his faith. “Tebowing” is still a part of our vocabulary. The former Heisman Trophy winner had a successful year with the Denver Broncos in 2010, but his football career has floundered ever since. This year he was in training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, competing to be their third-string quarterback -- but he was recently released from the team. Tebow will return to his position as a commentator for SEC Nation, the broadcasting position he held in 2013 before trying to return to professional football.
Application: Tim Tebow is a good of example of someone who, whether he is first or last, is always first for the Lord.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.
People: Happy are those who do not take the path that sinners tread.
Leader: Happy are those whose delight is in the law of God.
People: Happy are those who meditate on God’s law day and night.
Leader: They are like trees planted by streams of water.
People: They yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
OR
Leader: Rejoice! Let us praise the God of all wisdom.
People: Glory and praise to our God.
Leader: God calls us to the fount of wisdom this day.
People: We come with joy to drink of God’s wisdom.
Leader: God desires to guide us into the fullness of life.
People: We will follow God’s wisdom and know eternal life.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
“God Hath Spoken by the Prophets”
found in:
UMH: 108
LBW: 238
W&P: 667
“Many Gifts, One Spirit”
found in:
UMH: 114
NCH: 177
“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
found in:
UMH: 127
H82: 690
PH: 281
AAHH: 138, 139, 140
NNBH: 232
NCH: 18, 19
CH: 622
LBW: 343
ELA: 618
W&P: 581
AMEC: 82, 83, 55
“Jesus Calls Us”
found in:
UMH: 398
H82: 549, 550
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171, 172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
ELA: 686
W&P: 345
AMEC: 238
“Jesu, Jesu”
found in:
UMH: 432
H82: 602
PH: 367
NCH: 498
CH: 600
ELA: 708
W&P: 273
CCB: 66
Renew: 289
“Lord, Speak to Me”
found in:
UMH: 463
PH: 426
NCH: 531
ELA: 676
W&P: 593
“Open My Eyes, That I May See”
found in:
UMH: 454
PH: 324
NNBH: 218
CH: 586
W&P: 480
AMEC: 285
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
found in:
CCB: 7
“Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life”
found in:
CCB: 26
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELA: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who is wisdom beyond knowing: Grant to us the courage to live out our roles in life by seeking the way of servant and the caregiver; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you this day, O God of Wisdom. You are wise, and you invite us to walk in the paths of wisdom. Help us to live in the way of service and care, that we may fulfill our creation promise. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the foolish ways we try to find our identity in what others think of us.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have made us and claimed us as your very own children, and yet sometimes we don’t act like we are part of your family. When we don’t feel very good about ourselves, sometimes we try to build ourselves up by acting like we are better than other people. We fail to fulfill our roles wisely because we listen to voices other than yours. Renew us, and fill us with your wisdom that we might live. Amen.
Leader: God knows us and loves us. Receive God’s grace and wisdom, that you may truly live as God’s children.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord’s Prayer)
Wisdom and glory and honor are yours by right, O God. We worship and adore you in your eternal wisdom.
(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 made us and claimed us as your very own children, and yet sometimes we don’t act like we are part of your family. When we don’t feel very good about ourselves, sometimes we try to build ourselves up by acting like we are better than other people. We fail to fulfill our roles wisely because we listen to voices other than yours. Renew us, and fill us with your wisdom that we might live.
We thank you for all the ways in which you seek to bless us. We thank you for the wisdom that you built into creation. We thank you for the wisdom of the community of faith. We thank you for Jesus, who shared your wisdom with us.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for all who are in need this day. We pray that we may all drink deeply of your wisdom so that we may live together in peace and harmony.
(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.
Children’s Sermon Starter
Ask the children about playing “pretend.” You can pretend to be all grown up, you can pretend to be an animal, or you can pretend to be anything you want to be. If you are all pretending to be flying in space, everyone needs to act like you are all in space. They will talk to you like you were an astronaut. But it is only “pretend.” Saying that you are an astronaut doesn’t really make you one. That is also true when we are not playing pretend. People can talk to you like you are stupid or not worth playing with, but that doesn’t make it so. You still are who you are: a wonderful child of God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
God’s #1
by Chris Keating
Mark 9:30-37
Materials needed:
photographs of famous athletes or successful persons;
a large star cut from yellow posterboard, with yarn tied around it so it can be worn around a child’s neck; and
a sheet of small star stickers
Oh, it is hard to be humble.
It can be even harder teaching children about humility, especially during the fall of the year when we are bombarded with messages about who is “number one.” High school, college, and professional football teams are all trying to be number one. Major league baseball is headed toward a big playoff season. A lot of great teams are playing excellent baseball right now, but only one will win the World Series and be known as the champion.
As the children gather, show them pictures of famous athletes, celebrities, or successful people. Invite them to think about what it takes to be “the best” at something. (The best student does her or his homework and gets good grades; the best musician practices and learns how to master an instrument; the best athlete works hard and excels in sports, and so on.) But what does it mean to be the best at following Jesus?
Is it possible to choose who would be the best? It would be very hard. How could we decide which of our church’s members loves God the most? As it turns out, this isn’t a new question. Jesus’ disciples were arguing about it one day as they walked around. They wanted to know who was the greatest -- and every disciple thought he should be the most important.
To illustrate this point, invite one of the older children to stand up and place the big star around her or his neck. (You could have some fun with this by inviting a tall teenager to be “number one,” or even the tallest adult from the congregation.) Next, place one of the star stickers on the smallest child present (if someone has a baby, ask the parents if they wouldn’t mind if you placed a star on the baby).
This is what we think makes people great! If you are the tallest, the smartest, the most talented person, then you must be the best. Anyone can see that the tall teenager or adult is bigger than the baby. Which one do you think would win a church basketball game?
But this is not how Jesus sees us. When the disciples were arguing about who was number one, he shook his head. He stopped walking, sat down, and told them: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” And then, to show them he really meant what he said, Jesus took a small child and placed the child in front of the crowd. He said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Showing kindness to people who have the least to give something back to us is what it means to be humble.
Huh? That’s surprising! Maybe that means we should take the big star from the teenager and place it around the neck of the small child. Jesus seems to be saying that being “number one” is not always about being the strongest, oldest, or most talented. Whoever wants to be great, says Jesus, should practice being humble. To remind the children that even the smallest acts of kindness and service make a difference, give each child a star sticker to wear. We don’t need the big star to show that we are important to God. Instead, those who wear the small stickers remember that even the smallest act of kindness is important to God. That is how we become “#1” for God.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, September 20, 2015, issue.
Copyright 2015 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.
Team member Robin Lostetter shares some additional thoughts on the gospel text and how Jesus deals with the disciples’ barroom argument about “who’s number one.” Jesus stands their competition completely on its head by observing that “whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Jesus than underlines the importance of the powerless in relation to those who usually have influence by saying that whoever welcomes a child (who were typically ignored in Jesus' world) welcomes him. What he’s really saying here is that the things we usually consider important in ranking priorities and achievements are often utterly meaningless -- or even the exact reverse of what God values. Robin explores the difficulty we often encounter in reconciling the attitudes of service and judgment -- a juxtaposition currently in the headlines with the ongoing saga of Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses.
Press One to Order Quality Parenting
by Mary Austin
Proverbs 31:10-31
The author of Proverbs lifts up Israel’s superwoman, multitasking her way through a day of providing for her family. She rises early, arranging food and supervising her household servants. During the day, she manages to buy property and support her husband. She looks ahead to the coming seasons, and is prepared. Her husband and children seemingly never complain, in a picture of economic and domestic bliss.
Are we modern employees and parents meant to keep up with this woman? Can we come anywhere close to this picture of household harmony? It feels impossible to juggle all that she manages -- and yet modern women (and men) have the same list of responsibilities for children, parents, work, and household maintenance.
In the World
If we met the woman from Proverbs in today’s world, her work might look dramatically different. She might provide food for her family by ordering it from Blue Apron, which sends all the ingredients for a meal in a box, allowing you to cook it all in about 30 minutes. Or perhaps dinner would come from Freshology, which allows you to pick from menus for weight loss, fitness, low cholesterol, and other options. Instead of spinning and weaving, she might just order her clothes from Stitch Fix, which sends a box of clothes chosen by your personal stylist. Keep what you like, and send the rest back.
Ready to buy that field? Zillow can help with the search, and knowing what the price should be. Problems in the perfect household? You can find a friend to listen at 7 Cups of Tea, or professional advice at Talkspace (among other places to find an online therapist). If the kids need to get somewhere, HopSkipDrive can help. “Created by moms, driven with love,” it offers to take the stress and worry out of getting multiple kids to multiple places.
The modern equivalent of the woman from Proverbs can outsource much of her work. Even our intimate relationships can be outsourced, as the Ashley Madison data leak demonstrates. The industrious woman of Proverbs may find herself managing other people who make her household run.
Just like the people of ancient Israel, we have strong opinions about the time and attention women give to family and marriage. Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has been under fire lately for announcing that she’s expecting twins, and that she plans to take only two weeks off. The real issue, says Leah Eichler, is that “maternity leave hardly exists in the United States, unless you work for a company that voluntarily offers it. (Yahoo itself offers 16 weeks.)” Eichler adds, “While I’m delighted that this second pregnancy didn’t produce the same shock and awe that the first one did in the news media, indicating that it is within the realm of possibility to be a high-profile CEO and pregnant, most view Ms. Mayer as an edge case. She is an outlier who -- owing to her unique position and wealth -- can manage it all.” People have reacted strongly to Mayer’s plans for a very short leave, but have less concern for women without paid leave and without access to help with their children. We also expect more of Mayer and other high-profile women. When male CEOs have children, no one inquires about their parental leave plans or their child-care arrangements. A male CEO who took two weeks off to spend time with a new baby would be lauded as a hero dad. Like the virtuous woman of Proverbs, we have high standards for the women in our public view.
How do parents feel about outsourcing part of their parenting work? Dr. Amber Epp of the University of Wisconsin School of Business, who studies this, says that parents worry about “control -- for example, creating complicated lists of rules for babysitters, and packing lunches and snacks.... They worry about intimacy -- for example, communicating with a nanny via text message throughout the day to be emotionally available to their children even when they are not physically present. And they worry about substitutability, choosing not to outsource the tasks they feel they should do themselves -- those defined by our culture as the iconic tasks of parenthood (subject to individual interpretation by different parents, since cultural opinions about these relatively new services are still evolving).”
We may judge these parents harshly, especially if they outsource things we consider important. Each of us has different opinions about what we can and cannot ask other people to do. Some work feels essential, and other jobs can be done by paid help, family members, friends, or just left undone. Epp notes that parents carefully consider how to allocate time and money to best serve their kids: “When parents make these decisions, they consider the whole package, including services they themselves provide to their children, as well as those others provide.... What are the trade-offs? If they pay someone to complete this task, will it free up the parent’s time to do something he considers more important to do himself? Overwhelmingly, we observed our study participants making thoughtful decisions to provide the best care in ways that would help them preserve their connection with their children.” Perhaps the woman from Proverbs lingers in our heads, offering a standard that no one can really meet.
In the Scriptures
This text often feels like treacherous ground for preaching, trying to extrapolate meaning from a particular cultural view of women. If this is the picture of a virtuous woman, what do we say to women who are single, who don’t have children, who are poor enough that they need to work two jobs, or who are transgendered, to name just a few of the women who are left out of this portrait? Amy Oden writes for Working Preacher: “We recognize in ancient texts the power dynamics that allow men to idealize female virtue in terms that benefit men and often harm women. Notice that this text cannot even imagine a virtuous woman who is unmarried, that is, who is not in relation to a male as wife.”
Still, Oden observes that Proverbs, and this text, come to us as part of the wisdom literature of the Bible. She connects this text with the personification of wisdom, Lady Wisdom, who “calls upon humans to walk in her ways and follow her path. Proverbs 31, then, is set in the larger context of wisdom literature, and the more immediate context of Woman Wisdom. In fact, some argue that the ‘capable wife’ of verses 10-31 does not refer to any actual woman (she’s too good to be true!) but to the ideal of Woman Wisdom herself. Indeed, several verses are reminiscent of earlier depictions of Woman Wisdom in Proverbs.”
There are still some refreshing notes of grace in this text, for women and men.
We notice, too, that part of this virtuous woman’s work is non-traditional. Buying and selling property take her beyond the traditional realm of home and family, and her arms are strong. Her merchandise is profitable, and her husband seems to derive some of his worth from her since people regard her so highly. He sits in the city gate, but she seems to be wise in her own right. “Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.” This woman is prepared. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” There seems to be a harmony in her relationships that frenzied modern people might envy. She is free to use her talents, which means the same is true for her husband.
And in our world, where there’s relentless pressure for women (and men: see “the dad bod,” for example) to be “hot,” this woman is measured by her hard work and the strength of her character. Amy Oden observes, “This passage offers a radical countercultural message in the profound silence about what she looks like. The closing verse reminds us that ‘beauty is vain,’ not something women (or men) hear anywhere in the daily visual assault of airbrushed female bodies on billboards, magazine stands, and pop-up ads. The silence of Proverbs 31 on appearance is striking, and refreshing. She is praised for the content of her character and the excellence of her endeavors rather than the surface of her skin.” This woman is set free from at least one kind of gender role pressure.
In the Sermon
This woman sets a high bar for accomplishment, for women or men. The sermon might talk about how we define ourselves and others by what we do. We take pride in being busy, and cherish a certain level of perfectionism along the way. This woman is also lauded for her character, and the sermon might explore how we can cherish people for the intangible things instead of for accomplishments.
Since this woman in Proverbs operates outside of her traditional gender roles, the sermon might talk about that kind of freedom, which we all have through our grounding in Jesus. Where could we be more free from the roles we take on? What talents are we using or not using, and how could we be more like this woman, using the full range of our abilities?
The sermon might also look at the things we outsource, for better or worse. Have we given away things that are meaningful to us? Are there things we’d like to have back? Some of our outsourcing is task-oriented, but some of it is emotional. With a screen available at any moment, we can always put off a meaningful conversation. With the ability to hire people, we lose the gift of working alongside people, coming to know them in different ways.
The sermon might also look at the other side of doing -- being present. Columnist Frank Bruni recently wrote for the New York Times that there’s no substitute for spending time with people, lots of time if we can manage it. Bruni says that when he spends more time with his extended family, there’s a better chance that he’ll be there for the random moments that turn out to matter a lot. “There’s simply no real substitute for physical presence. We delude ourselves when we say otherwise, when we invoke and venerate ‘quality time,’ a shopworn phrase with a debatable promise: that we can plan instances of extraordinary candor, plot episodes of exquisite tenderness, engineer intimacy in an appointed hour.” We have to show up to show that we care. And when we do, people unveil deeper levels of themselves.
The thing we need most from each other is something we can’t outsource to anyone else: time. People can cook for us, comb our kids’ heads for lice, teach them to drive, get them ready for the SAT and the ACT, clean the house, and even get tickets for date night with our partner... and all of that may free up time for what matters most. The thing we have to do all by ourselves is be present. We have to show up to sustain our connection with God, and with each other.
SECOND THOUGHTS
Public Servant of All
by Robin Lostetter
Mark 9:30-37; James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Kim Davis has been a prominent figure in the news in recent weeks. Davis, the county clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky, objects to same-sex marriages as being contrary to God’s definition of marriage. In order to avoid charges of discrimination, Davis stopped issuing any marriage licenses following the Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex unions nationwide -- even defying a federal judge’s order for her office to resume issuing marriage licenses. Yet Davis persisted... leading to her being jailed for contempt of court. While Davis has become a cause celebre for those opposed to same-sex marriage, one fact remains -- when Kim Davis assumed the position of Rowan County clerk, she agreed to serve the people of Rowan County and to abide by the constitution and laws of the United States.
In the Scriptures
In this week’s gospel passage (Mark 9:30-37), Jesus names servanthood as the hallmark of those who would be first among them. In other words, to be “number 1” in Kingdom jargon means to be the servant of everyone else. It does not mean to be the top wrestler, the most sought-after quarterback, the tennis player who wins the Grand Slam, or the winner of the Miss America contest. It might mean to be their dresser, their doorman, or the person who mops up and locks up when the show is over.
Of course, all these images are metaphorical. One doesn’t have to do demeaning work to be the servant of all. It’s in the attitude. And here is where James 3, among similar biblical passages, comes in to help us understand the nature of servanthood: “Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.... [T]he wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy” (James 3:13-14, 17). These traits may be combined with the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22b-23a).
And one part of servanthood in particular is described in the last two verses of the gospel reading: “Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me’ ” (Mark 9:36-37). In Jesus’ day, a child had no influence. A child was less of a political, social, and economic entity than a woman, an unclean laborer, or a Samaritan. So servanthood meant to receive those of the lowest stature as equal to or better than oneself -- to be their servant, to receive them as if one were receiving Christ.
In the Headlines
In her own legal statement dated September 1, Kim Davis writes:
I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of scripture and of Jesus himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people’s religious freedom and conscience. I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned -- that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them. I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.
There are at least three issues raised in this statement alone. The first one, in the first sentence, I will discuss in the “In the Sermon” section below. The second issue relates to “I never sought to be in this position.” Actually, she did seek the position of county clerk, knowing that church and state occasionally clash. Davis was not “placed” in this position, she put herself in it. This does not excuse those who would send death threats, but her statements reveal a certain naiveté in her expectations.
Continuing to the last sentence in the quote, “I intend to continue to serve the people” -- ah, that is the crux! In Mark 9:37, serving involves viewing each person who comes to her office as a child of God. In the words of Jill Duffield, “We submit and draw near to God. If we do that everything else will begin to be put in its proper place, our sense of self included. What removes our need to be the greatest according to Mark’s Jesus? Welcoming God through welcoming the children God loves.”
Then after her release from jail, Davis returned to work this Monday (September 14). The question on many minds was whether or not she would follow the judge’s order, or be cited once again for contempt. The following excerpt from CNN’s report documents how Kentucky’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act has helped -- and may help more in the future -- to provide an accommodation acceptable to all parties:
Before starting her workday, Davis appeared defiant, saying she will not issue any marriage licenses that go against her religious beliefs. But she left the door open for her deputies to continue giving out marriage licenses to same-sex couples as long as those documents do not have Davis’ name or title on them.
The marriage license that the couple received said “pursuant to federal court order” on it, and instead of listing Davis’ name and Rowan County, it says city of Morehead, the county seat.
Davis said Monday that any such licenses “will not be issued or authorized by me.” Her work-around is not to sign them but not interfere with her deputies who do give them out.
One of her attorneys, Roger Gannam, told CNN that Davis should not have to resign or be jailed because “accommodation of religious conscience is the law in Kentucky, including for elected officials.”
Nevertheless, a moral argument has arisen regarding her initial choice. Was it a righteous decision not to sign those marriage licenses due to her personal religious beliefs? Van Jones takes issue with those who compare her actions with those of Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.:
I, too, believe that each individual has the moral duty to defy any law that he or she deems unjust. Of course, he or she must do so nonviolently. And he or she must do so publicly, willingly accepting all the legal and personal consequences. These two requirements separate the nonviolent dissenter from the terrorist or the common criminal, who scheme in the darkness and do everything they can to evade capture.... The duty to resist unjust laws falls upon every human being. It is, in fact, the final check against tyranny -- on the right or left....
These comparisons [Rosa Parks and MLK Jr.] are misguided. Parks, King, Fannie Lou Hamer, the freedom riders, and countless others went to jail in defiance of bigoted local laws and practices. They broke local laws -- often (though not always) to extend the protections of U.S. Supreme Court decisions in places that refused to honor those rulings. Yes, Kim Davis is a lawbreaker, for reasons of conscience. That in itself is no dishonor. But Davis is a particular kind of lawbreaker -- one who is using her local authority to try to block federal, judicial rulings. And those decisions are specifically designed to recognize the rights of a historically despised minority group.
That kind of lawbreaking puts Kim Davis more in the tradition of former Alabama governor George Wallace, not of Martin Luther King. Wallace was an ardent segregationist. He notoriously stood in the schoolhouse door, to keep African-American students from integrating white schools. Just like Kim Davis, Wallace was trying to use his local powers to defy the courts. The federal courts in the 1950s and 1960s were newly asserting that a despised out-group had basic rights. That’s exactly what our Supreme Court is doing today, regarding gay men and lesbians. Just like Kim Davis, Wallace's objections were guided by his own moral compass and his own reading of scripture. So Davis does stand in a tradition of scripture-based civil disobedience, and she should claim it. But it is dishonest to try to cloak her in the same garments as Parks or King. To the contrary: Kim Davis is the living heir to the long tradition of local segregationists, whom King specifically denounced at the 1963 March on Washington. He accused them of having their “lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification” because they refused to obey federal court orders to protect the vulnerable minority group of that day. The key to nonviolent civil disobedience is the willingness to step forward honestly and accept all the consequences, legal and otherwise, for one’s stand.
Van Jones’ characterization of “court orders to protect the vulnerable minority group of that day” bears a striking parallel to Jesus’ concern for those on the margins. In this week’s passage from Mark, this is symbolized by a child. But the New Testament is filled with examples of Jesus talking with, healing, and advocating for the vulnerable -- the lepers, the Samaritan woman, the woman perpetually unclean due to an issue of blood, the man born blind, and so on.
Another author has likened Davis’ actions to those of a martyr. In his brief article, Mark Silk suggests that “Martyrdom is a seductive thing in the Christian tradition.” Of Davis, he observes: “she is a Christian convert standing up for her faith, a gladiator in a virtual arena before a shouting public of hundreds of millions, with exultant backers presumably numbering in the millions -- including, today, GOP presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee, who would love those backers to cast their primary votes for him. Embracing what passes for martyrdom in 21st-century America, Davis seems to believe, mistakenly, that no couple obtaining a marriage license from Rowan County without her signature can enter into a valid state of matrimony. Ergo, she is [was] single-handedly preventing same-sex couples from getting married in her jurisdiction.”
It seems martyrdom and stardom have some things in common, now that throwing folk into the lions’ den is out of vogue.
In the Sermon
It certainly seems difficult to reconcile the attitudes of service and judgment. When we judge, we impose our interpretation of God’s law or the Bible, or our version of religion, or simply our personal moral code on another. We do this at great risk, according to the Bible. We’ve been advised to take the log from our own eye before attempting to take the splinter from another’s. We’ve also been warned not to judge, for fear of being judged ourselves.
We all do it, probably on a daily basis. But when a public servant does it overtly, determining which laws he or she will uphold, then there is a community problem. One could make a somewhat facetious comparison to Kim Davis’ actions and suggest “What happens when every Rite-Aid, Walgreen’s, and CVS employee who is Roman Catholic refuses to sell condoms? What happens when every evangelical or Jewish clerk who follows the Torah and works at Sears, J.C. Penney, or Macy’s refuses to sell clothing that is made of a poly/cotton blend?” Our understanding of employment/election contracts becomes void.
Davis’ statement asks: Who knew “a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of scripture and of Jesus himself regarding marriage”? Central teaching? Jesus mentions marriage only once, in Matthew 19:3-6, and in it he simply asks the Pharisees if they recall reading Genesis 2:22-24, which he quotes in part. A central teaching would have more to do with “love your neighbor,” “feed my lambs,” “repent for the Kingdom is near.” None of the issues above -- condoms, clothing of blended fabrics, or same-sex marriage -- are central teachings of scripture or of Jesus.
In a humorous but stinging response from a group called Planting Peace, a billboard along those same lines was posted in Davis’ community. It stated: “Dear Kim Davis, the fact that you can’t sell your daughter for three goats and a cow means we’ve already redefined marriage.”
The same article showing the billboard quotes a statement from Planting Peace lamenting that “there are LGBTQ youth across the world who are taking their lives at an alarming rate because of these messages from society that make them feel broken or less than.” The preacher could take that statement and contrast it with “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
The preacher could delve into contrasting judgement with servanthood, or even do a historical sermon on Calvin’s take on church and state. But to stay with the James and Mark passages, let me close with these words:
Submit yourselves therefore to God.... Draw near to God, and God will draw near to you. (James 4:7a, 8).
“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).
ILLUSTRATIONS
From team member Dean Feldmeyer:
Proverbs 31:10-31
Children and Parenting in History
In the exhaustive research she did for her book The Sick Child in Early Modern England, 1580-1720, historian Hannah Newton uncovered three important myths about childhood in that era:
1. Children were treated like miniature adults. This myth was perpetuated by the portraits that were painted of children dressed in adult-style clothing -- but in fact, written records show that “they were distinguished fundamentally from other ages [especially] in their physiology and medical treatment.”
2. Children were not loved by their parents. In fact, the literature of that time suggests quite the opposite: “Parents loved their children with the same intensity that we would expect today. The sheer effort, time, and emotion devoted to sick and dying children testifies the extraordinary affection of both fathers and mothers for their offspring.”
3. It is impossible to investigate the experience of childhood in the early modern period because children rarely left written records. In one area, however, parents of that time kept precise and often verbatim accounts of their children’s illnesses, records that give us vast insight into children and parenting in the early modern era.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
John Quincy Adams’ Letter to His Son
In January of 1811, John Adams II (the son of John Quincy Adams) wrote in a letter to his parents that he had been visiting his elderly aunt and reading to her from the Bible each evening. His father’s response has become one of his most famous letters. Among other things, John Quincy Adams says:
This information gave me real pleasure; for so great is my veneration for the Bible, and so strong my belief, that when duly read and meditated on, it is of all books in the world, that which contributes most to make men good, wise, and happy -- that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more steadily they pursue the practice of reading it throughout their lives, the more lively and confident will be my hopes that they will prove useful citizens to their country, respectable members of society, and a real blessing to their parents. But I hope you have now arrived at an age to understand that reading, even in the Bible, is a thing in itself, neither good nor bad, but that all the good which can be drawn from it, is by the use and improvement of what you have read, with the help of your own reflection. Young people sometimes boast of how many books, and how much they have read; when, instead of boasting, they ought to be ashamed of having wasted so much time, to so little profit.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
Modern Parenthood
In 2013, the Pew Research Center analyzed data from 1965-2011 to determine changing trends in how parents use their time. Here are some of the key findings from that analysis:
* Since 1965, mothers have almost tripled the amount of paid work they do each week, but they still lag behind fathers, who work on average 37 hours a week. Meanwhile, fathers have increased their housework and child-care time, but still only do about half of what mothers do.
* In most two-parent households today, both parents work at least part-time. Mothers and fathers in these dual-income households spend a comparable amount of time working each week, when paid work, child care, and housework are combined. Similar to all mothers and fathers, on average, working moms in these households do more housework and child care than working dads.
* Roughly equal shares of working moms and working dads say it is difficult to balance work and family responsibilities. Fully 40% of working mothers and 34% of working fathers say they “always feel rushed.”
* The desire of moms to work full-time is tied almost exclusively to the economy. When times are tough, more women desire to work full-time than when times are good.
* While more mothers now say they prefer full-time work, only 16% of mothers, fathers, and the general public say the ideal situation for a young child is to have a mother who works full-time.
* Dads today spend less time with their kids than moms do, but both parents are spending more time with their kids than they did a generation ago. Still, about half of fathers and a quarter of mothers say they do not spend enough time with their children.
* Despite their challenges, today’s parents believe they are doing a good job raising their children. Moms are more likely than dads to say they are doing an excellent or very good job as parents. Working mothers are particularly likely to rate themselves highly.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
Fishing with Dad
Brooks Adams was a graduate of Harvard and a renowned historian and social critic in the mid-1800s. He was the great-grandson of John Adams, the grandson of John Quincy Adams, and the son of historian, publisher, politician, and diplomat Charles Francis Adams.
Beginning in early childhood, Brooks kept a diary of nearly every day of his life. In one of those childhood entries he wrote: “Went fishing with my father -- the most wonderful day of my life.”
Father Charles also kept a diary. His entry for that day says: “Went fishing with my son today -- a day wasted.”
I guess it’s a matter of perspective.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
The First Shall Be Last
Washington University graduate student Kendall Schler, 26, wanted nothing more than to win the GO! St. Louis Marathon. She just didn’t want to run in it.
So she removed the magnetic strip that automatically registers a runner’s time throughout the race from her number bib, drove around to the finish, waited for the lead bicycle to pass by, and jumped into the race ahead of the other runners.
Last year she did the same thing, but since she came in only third no one checked her out. This time, however, there were questions. She came in well ahead of the expected early finishers, she was wearing her bib wrong, and there were no pictures of her actually running in the race.
Finally she broke down and admitted that she had cheated -- and she was stripped of her 3rd place finish from last year and, of course, her winning trophy from this year’s race. Also, the Boston Marathon rescinded their invitation for her to run there.
Kendall Schler is a case of the first literally becoming the last.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
The Last Shall Be First
In the popular television show Night Court, Judge Harry Stone (played by comedian/magician Harry Anderson) presided over an urban night courtroom where the people working were nearly as wacky as the ones who were being brought before the court.
No less wacky than any of them was the judge himself, who wore 1940s-era ties and a fedora hat and who liked to do magic tricks to entertain the gallery. So offbeat was “His Honor” that every once in a while someone would question how he ever got to be a judge, which was in this case an appointed position.
His explanation was that the previous judge had died suddenly on Labor Day weekend, and when the appointing committee began calling potential appointees no one was home. His name was the last one on the list, and as luck would have it he was at home when the call came through.
When someone would scoff at his name being last on the list, his answer was always the same: “My name may have been the last on the list, but it was on the list.”
***************
From team member Ron Love:
Proverbs 31:10-31
Tom Coughlin, 69, is entering his 46th season as a football coach. Presently the head coach of the NFL’s New York Giants. Coughlin begins each of his team’s morning meetings not with a lecture, but with an inspirational quote or story. He refers to this practice as cognitive psychology. The quotes come from all walks of life, and are sometimes accompanied by a video. The quotes are always printed on the team’s daily agenda, and the players are expected to memorize the quote and use it throughout practice during the day. Coughlin says he does this because “Words still can have great effect if used in a diversified way. You can’t stand there and lecture and expect them to relate if you’re pounding something into their head. But there’s no misinterpretation of an interesting quote or parable. There’s exact meaning, and we all enjoy that more than drilling things into us.”
Application: Proverbs speaks of the importance of an individual having wisdom, and wisdom can be motivating.
*****
Proverbs 31:10-31
The inspirational quotes and stories coach Tom Coughlin uses with his New York Giants are not picked at random, but are carefully selected to fit the mood of the team: uplifting after a loss, encouraging after a victory. Coughlin takes the time to select the quotes because “I know it’s well worth it because it sticks in the players’ minds.”
Application: The wife described in Proverbs seems to have the ability to know the right thing to say and do at the right time.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Tom Coughlin begins each morning meeting of his New York Giants with an inspirational quote or story. The quotes are always printed on the team’s daily agenda, and the players are expected to memorize the quote and use it throughout practice during the day. If a quote is one the players really relate to, it is printed on t-shirts or turned into posters tacked to the locker room walls. One such quote was “It is amazing what we can accomplish if no one cares who gets the credit.”
Application: James speaks of the importance of having wisdom and understanding, as if we should wear it on a t-shirt.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Steven Colbert, the new host of CBS’s The Late Show, was recently interviewed regarding his Christian faith. Colbert is a devout Catholic and considers himself “born again.” He noted that Pope Francis is a flawed man, just like himself and all people, and sometimes the pope is criticized for being a “fool.” But Colbert said the pope is a “fool for Christ” -- which Colbert interprets as a meaning of love.
Application: James understands that we are not to be perfect, that at times we are foolish. But we are fools who are always drawing near to Christ.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Steven Colbert, the new host of CBS’s The Late Show, often uses satire in his opening monologue. But there is a purpose for this, he explains -- which is to relieve the “loneliness” of his viewers. His goal is “making somebody laugh.” Colbert said in a recent interview that he realizes his jokes will not “change things” in the world, but they could help a single individual.
Application: As we draw near to God, we will also be drawing near to others.
*****
James 3:13--4:3, 7-8a
Author Jennifer Weiner, known for her novel All Fall Down, recently wrote in the New York Times about the “guilt in her heart” she feels because each year she watches the Miss America pageant. As a feminist Weiner concedes she is “conflicted as I flout the First Rule of Feminism,” which is to judge women by their “character” and “not the quality of their spray-tan shape.” Watching the contestants, she acknowledges that “Judging is wrong... but I’ll do it.”
Application: James speaks of sin and guilt, and how we must try to avoid it by drawing near to God.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
Jennifer Weiner started watching Miss America contests as a young girl, and still does as an adult. But after she turned 25 and was no longer be eligible for the competition, she writes that the dream that originally started her viewing the pageants “died hard.” At a young age, she says, “I was young enough to believe that I could grow up to be one of those glittering, glossy-toothed, big-haired creatures.”
Application: If we follow the teaching of Jesus and desire not to be first, not to be Miss America, then we will understand our Christian calling.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
The Gallup-Purdue Index is the first study to ever measure the relationship between a student’s college experience and his or her future success and self-worth. The aim of the study was to determine if attending an expensive private college or an Ivy League school makes a significance difference in a student’s future, compared to attending a state institution -- and the conclusion is that it did not. The study examined five areas after graduation: relationships, health, community, economics, and sense of purpose. The study concluded, “The percentage of graduates who described themselves as thriving in all five of those areas varied little based on the kind of school they’d attended.” The only qualifying factor was a student’s relationship to the college he or she attended.
Application: The colleges that consider themselves to be first are equal to the ones that society deems as last. The significance is not in the college but in a student’s relationship to the institution.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
Kim Davis, the Rowan County, Kentucky clerk who was jailed for five days for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is an apostolic Christian. Many have inquired about her long dresses and uncut hair, so a Religion News Service piece described the practices of apostolic Christians. The reason for Davis’ public appearance is called “external holiness.” It is to demonstrate that followers of Pentecostalism are not a part of this world. It is interesting to note that only women, not men, have restrictions on their public appearance.
Application: The discussion of who will be first and who will be last is really a discussion about not drawing attention to ourselves, but rather to Jesus.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
During his daily morning homily a few weeks ago, Pope Francis made the strong pronouncement that “if you do not know how to forgive, you are not a Christian.” The pope said forgiveness is a “key word” for Jesus. The pope said that if you are not merciful, then you “risk that the Lord will not be merciful with you.” He also went on to instruct priests that if they do not have a calling to be merciful, then they should remain out of the confessional booth and seek an administrative position in the church.
Application: Jesus implies that with a childlike faith we are to also have a sense of innocence, which means to be forgiving.
*****
Mark 9:30-37
Christians have been following the football career of quarterback Tim Tebow because of his devotion to the Lord and his public confession of his faith. “Tebowing” is still a part of our vocabulary. The former Heisman Trophy winner had a successful year with the Denver Broncos in 2010, but his football career has floundered ever since. This year he was in training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles, competing to be their third-string quarterback -- but he was recently released from the team. Tebow will return to his position as a commentator for SEC Nation, the broadcasting position he held in 2013 before trying to return to professional football.
Application: Tim Tebow is a good of example of someone who, whether he is first or last, is always first for the Lord.
WORSHIP RESOURCES
by George Reed
Call to Worship
Leader: Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked.
People: Happy are those who do not take the path that sinners tread.
Leader: Happy are those whose delight is in the law of God.
People: Happy are those who meditate on God’s law day and night.
Leader: They are like trees planted by streams of water.
People: They yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
OR
Leader: Rejoice! Let us praise the God of all wisdom.
People: Glory and praise to our God.
Leader: God calls us to the fount of wisdom this day.
People: We come with joy to drink of God’s wisdom.
Leader: God desires to guide us into the fullness of life.
People: We will follow God’s wisdom and know eternal life.
Hymns and Sacred Songs
“God Hath Spoken by the Prophets”
found in:
UMH: 108
LBW: 238
W&P: 667
“Many Gifts, One Spirit”
found in:
UMH: 114
NCH: 177
“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”
found in:
UMH: 127
H82: 690
PH: 281
AAHH: 138, 139, 140
NNBH: 232
NCH: 18, 19
CH: 622
LBW: 343
ELA: 618
W&P: 581
AMEC: 82, 83, 55
“Jesus Calls Us”
found in:
UMH: 398
H82: 549, 550
NNBH: 183
NCH: 171, 172
CH: 337
LBW: 494
ELA: 686
W&P: 345
AMEC: 238
“Jesu, Jesu”
found in:
UMH: 432
H82: 602
PH: 367
NCH: 498
CH: 600
ELA: 708
W&P: 273
CCB: 66
Renew: 289
“Lord, Speak to Me”
found in:
UMH: 463
PH: 426
NCH: 531
ELA: 676
W&P: 593
“Open My Eyes, That I May See”
found in:
UMH: 454
PH: 324
NNBH: 218
CH: 586
W&P: 480
AMEC: 285
“Sweet, Sweet Spirit”
found in:
CCB: 7
“Your Loving Kindness Is Better than Life”
found in:
CCB: 26
Music Resources Key:
UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
H82: The Hymnal 1982 (The Episcopal Church)
PH: Presbyterian Hymnal
AAHH: African-American Heritage Hymnal
NNBH: The New National Baptist Hymnal
NCH: The New Century Hymnal
CH: Chalice Hymnal
LBW: Lutheran Book of Worship
ELA: Evangelical Lutheran Worship
W&P: Worship & Praise
AMEC: African Methodist Episcopal Church Hymnal
CCB: Cokesbury Chorus Book
Renew: Renew! Songs & Hymns for Blended Worship
Prayer for the Day / Collect
O God who is wisdom beyond knowing: Grant to us the courage to live out our roles in life by seeking the way of servant and the caregiver; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
OR
We praise you this day, O God of Wisdom. You are wise, and you invite us to walk in the paths of wisdom. Help us to live in the way of service and care, that we may fulfill our creation promise. Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Leader: Let us confess to God and before one another our sins, and especially the foolish ways we try to find our identity in what others think of us.
People: We confess to you, O God, and before one another that we have sinned. You have made us and claimed us as your very own children, and yet sometimes we don’t act like we are part of your family. When we don’t feel very good about ourselves, sometimes we try to build ourselves up by acting like we are better than other people. We fail to fulfill our roles wisely because we listen to voices other than yours. Renew us, and fill us with your wisdom that we might live. Amen.
Leader: God knows us and loves us. Receive God’s grace and wisdom, that you may truly live as God’s children.
Prayers of the People (and the Lord’s Prayer)
Wisdom and glory and honor are yours by right, O God. We worship and adore you in your eternal wisdom.
(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 made us and claimed us as your very own children, and yet sometimes we don’t act like we are part of your family. When we don’t feel very good about ourselves, sometimes we try to build ourselves up by acting like we are better than other people. We fail to fulfill our roles wisely because we listen to voices other than yours. Renew us, and fill us with your wisdom that we might live.
We thank you for all the ways in which you seek to bless us. We thank you for the wisdom that you built into creation. We thank you for the wisdom of the community of faith. We thank you for Jesus, who shared your wisdom with us.
(Other thanksgivings may be offered.)
We pray for all who are in need this day. We pray that we may all drink deeply of your wisdom so that we may live together in peace and harmony.
(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.
Children’s Sermon Starter
Ask the children about playing “pretend.” You can pretend to be all grown up, you can pretend to be an animal, or you can pretend to be anything you want to be. If you are all pretending to be flying in space, everyone needs to act like you are all in space. They will talk to you like you were an astronaut. But it is only “pretend.” Saying that you are an astronaut doesn’t really make you one. That is also true when we are not playing pretend. People can talk to you like you are stupid or not worth playing with, but that doesn’t make it so. You still are who you are: a wonderful child of God.
CHILDREN’S SERMON
God’s #1
by Chris Keating
Mark 9:30-37
Materials needed:
photographs of famous athletes or successful persons;
a large star cut from yellow posterboard, with yarn tied around it so it can be worn around a child’s neck; and
a sheet of small star stickers
Oh, it is hard to be humble.
It can be even harder teaching children about humility, especially during the fall of the year when we are bombarded with messages about who is “number one.” High school, college, and professional football teams are all trying to be number one. Major league baseball is headed toward a big playoff season. A lot of great teams are playing excellent baseball right now, but only one will win the World Series and be known as the champion.
As the children gather, show them pictures of famous athletes, celebrities, or successful people. Invite them to think about what it takes to be “the best” at something. (The best student does her or his homework and gets good grades; the best musician practices and learns how to master an instrument; the best athlete works hard and excels in sports, and so on.) But what does it mean to be the best at following Jesus?
Is it possible to choose who would be the best? It would be very hard. How could we decide which of our church’s members loves God the most? As it turns out, this isn’t a new question. Jesus’ disciples were arguing about it one day as they walked around. They wanted to know who was the greatest -- and every disciple thought he should be the most important.
To illustrate this point, invite one of the older children to stand up and place the big star around her or his neck. (You could have some fun with this by inviting a tall teenager to be “number one,” or even the tallest adult from the congregation.) Next, place one of the star stickers on the smallest child present (if someone has a baby, ask the parents if they wouldn’t mind if you placed a star on the baby).
This is what we think makes people great! If you are the tallest, the smartest, the most talented person, then you must be the best. Anyone can see that the tall teenager or adult is bigger than the baby. Which one do you think would win a church basketball game?
But this is not how Jesus sees us. When the disciples were arguing about who was number one, he shook his head. He stopped walking, sat down, and told them: “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” And then, to show them he really meant what he said, Jesus took a small child and placed the child in front of the crowd. He said, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.” Showing kindness to people who have the least to give something back to us is what it means to be humble.
Huh? That’s surprising! Maybe that means we should take the big star from the teenager and place it around the neck of the small child. Jesus seems to be saying that being “number one” is not always about being the strongest, oldest, or most talented. Whoever wants to be great, says Jesus, should practice being humble. To remind the children that even the smallest acts of kindness and service make a difference, give each child a star sticker to wear. We don’t need the big star to show that we are important to God. Instead, those who wear the small stickers remember that even the smallest act of kindness is important to God. That is how we become “#1” for God.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Immediate Word, September 20, 2015, issue.
Copyright 2015 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.
