A Steady God In An Unsteady World
Stories
Contents
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Steady God In An Unsteady World" by Stan Purdum
Sermon Starters: "Party Down" by C. David McKirachan
"Strut Your Stuff" by C. David McKirachan
What's Up This Week
The authors for this All Saints' Day are Stan Purdum and David McKirachan. This StoryShare installment is about how God is always there for us no matter what we do. Also about how we should always rejoice in his salvation so that we are able to be good examples of Christ's glory.
A Story to Live By
A Steady God In An Unsteady World
By Stan Purdum
The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
-- Psalm 24:1-2
On a recent Tuesday morning, Reverend Bloomingwhere I.M. At was drinking coffee in the local Zippity Burger franchise prior to going to the office. A few minutes later, Reverend Hesa Goodpastor, the minister of a nearby church of another denomination and a good friend of Reverend At's, came over and sat down, coffee cup in hand.
"Good morning, Bloom," Goodpastor said.
"Morning, Hesa," replied At.
"Say," said Goodpastor, "did you hear that Watt A. Hardworker has just resigned his pulpit and is moving to another church? That makes four pastors who have moved from our town since last June. I'm really getting concerned about this frequent turnover of pastors here."
"I am, too," agreed At. "For one thing, folks get attached to one minister and some drop out of church when the pastor leaves."
"Yes, and not only that, frequent pastoral changes contribute to a sense of instability in a community's religious life."
For the next several minutes the two men discussed what they knew of the circumstances leading to each of their colleagues' moves. Then At observed, "Well, they each moved for different reasons, but the total effect is that the ministry in this town appears in flux."
"Right," said Goodpastor.
"But I guess that's not so different from what happens to laypeople too, though," At said. "I know we've both seen active members of our church have to move elsewhere because of promotions, lost jobs or whatever. It sometimes seems that everything is changing."
Later, after both men had gone to their churches to begin the day's work, Reverend At found that his mind continued to dwell on the whole business of life's rapid change. He reflected on his own experience. He fully intended to remain in his present appointment for as long as the bishop would allow. At and his family liked the church and the community. Neither Bloomingwhere nor Mrs. At cared for the uprooting that frequent moves entailed. The Ats thought the town's school system was a progressive one and considered the community a good place to raise their children. Also, At firmly believed that God's call is always to be God's person wherever one finds oneself.
Still, At thought, one never knows what surprises that next day will bring. With all of this in mind, he began to work on his sermon for the next Sunday.
After the service the following Sunday, several members of At's congregation commented that the sermon that morning was the best Reverend At had ever preached. He had based in on Psalm 24 and titled it, "A Steady God in an Unsteady World." In it, At had expounded on the theme that God stands by us with unfaltering love through whatever changes come our way.
At and Goodpastor met for morning coffee two days later; Goodpastor mentioned that positive comments on At's sermon had ever reached his ears. The two men then talked of their commitments to stay with their current churches and of some of their goals for their ministries.
As they parted that morning, Goodpastor said, "You know, Bloom, I think you're right. We hope to bring stable ministries to our churches and to the community, but in the final analysis, the only real stability comes from the God we serve. How can we help folks to realize that commitment to the church does not mean coming only when we like the current pastor and staying away when we don't? How can we enable people to see that commitment to Christ is a bigger matter than loyalty to the person in the pulpit?"
"Why don't we just tell them?" At suggested.
And so they did.
Stan Purdum is the pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Waynesburg, Ohio. He has served as the editor for the preaching journals Emphasis and Homiletics, and he has written extensively for both the religious and secular press. Purdum is the author of New Mercies I See (CSS) and He Walked in Galilee (Abingdon Press), as well as two accounts of his long-distance bicycle journeys, Roll Around Heaven All Day and Playing in Traffic.
Sermon Starters
Party Down
By David McKirachan
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
-- Isaiah 25:6-9
I was chairperson of the strategy committee of the presbytery. "The Vision Committee" as someone had titled it took on the nickname of "David's Dreamers." I got sent to events about visioning and revisioning and rediscovering our vision and claiming our vision. I felt like an ophthalmologist.
The organizational structures of the church are grim. They talk about money and product and power. And I totally sympathize with the discontinuity between getting such business done and the vision of the Bible. It just doesn't seem to match. I mean, really, if you want to get something done, don't pray about it. Agendas tend to dissolve in the face of prayer. Our budgets tend to get weird when we let the Holy Spirit in. And power politics, well, the meek and the poor are bit restrictive in their priorities.
I found my theology and my discernment and my sense of God's presence did little but make trouble in the august convocations of elders and pastors. At a class on spiritual gifts I took a test on discovering my own spiritual gifts and found that my highest score was in the gift of hospitality. I'm a party animal and good at it. The light bulb went on. So, I passed my gavel on to a more capable administrator, much to the relief of many, and without anybody's permission formed the "Tea and Crumpets Committee" of the presbytery. Our purpose was to encourage and facilitate fellowship. Hee Hee... I never invited anybody to join, but we had great attendance. We had no funding, but we were able to initiate all kinds of events (with great refreshments) and we had a blast.
Scripture's vision of the kingdom has never been a committee meeting, unless there are really good refreshments and lots of laughter, in other words a party. Isaiah understood this. Just read the scripture. God's promise is not grim, it's a blast.
My brother, quoting someone else told me that life is not a dress rehearsal. This is our turn to shine. NOW! I know, I know, what would the world come to if we stopped keeping track of... well, that's a different gift. I don't advocate for the abolition of management. I do advocate for Joy, Glory, Song, Fellowship, and according to Isaiah "a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees..." Let's stop being so careful and worried and afraid and "rejoice in God's salvation." Attendance might improve.
Strut Your Stuff
By David McKirachan
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."
-- Revelation 21:1-6
One of my favorite things about being a minister is marrying people. There are few more highly motivated human beings on the planet than brides. Most grooms are confused and nervous. But something happens to a woman when she puts on a wedding dress. The risk and sorrow and trouble and stress of life and marriage melt away like sugar in a flood. What is left is a vision that somehow the bride inhales. For a few moments the difficulties of life, the disappointments and vicissitudes all take a backseat and are silenced by that vision of glory that is being a bride.
Others in the bridal party are not gifted with this vision. They usually need a little work. During the rehearsal, I tell those preceding the one in white that everyone will be looking at them as they walk down the isle. If they choose to attempt to seem small, curling in on themselves, everyone will be looking at them as they attempt to hide in plain sight. The only option at this point is to strut their stuff. I tell them, "Realize you are the most gorgeous example of you on the planet and that the bride has chosen you to accompany her in her glory. Wow 'em." Many of them giggle. Some of them look at me like a pain. Some of them planned to do that anyway.
As the Body of Christ, too often we curl in on ourselves because we are embarrassed, because we've been taught that we shouldn't be showy or stand out or be rude. We mistake self-confidence for arrogance. But each of us is the best example of us that is on the planet and we have been invited by the Lord to accompany Him in His journey from glory into glory. Where do we get off trying to hide behind a lousy body image or excuses about how lavender just isn't our color? We need to get over our paltry excuses. This is our opportunity to strut our stuff, to be saints, to be examples of Christ's glory that set the stage for His coming.
Besides, the reception is coming and that's going to be a blast.
C. David McKirachan is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury in central New Jersey. He also teaches at Monmouth University. Two of his books, I Happened Upon a Miracle and A Year of Wonder, have been published by Westminster John Knox Press. McKirachan was raised in a pastor's home and he is the brother of a pastor, and he has discovered his name indicates that he has druid roots. Storytelling seems to be a congenital disorder. He lives with his 21-year-old son Ben and his dog Sam.
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here share-a-story@csspub.com and email the story to us.
**************
StoryShare, November 1, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
What's Up This Week
A Story to Live By: "A Steady God In An Unsteady World" by Stan Purdum
Sermon Starters: "Party Down" by C. David McKirachan
"Strut Your Stuff" by C. David McKirachan
What's Up This Week
The authors for this All Saints' Day are Stan Purdum and David McKirachan. This StoryShare installment is about how God is always there for us no matter what we do. Also about how we should always rejoice in his salvation so that we are able to be good examples of Christ's glory.
A Story to Live By
A Steady God In An Unsteady World
By Stan Purdum
The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
-- Psalm 24:1-2
On a recent Tuesday morning, Reverend Bloomingwhere I.M. At was drinking coffee in the local Zippity Burger franchise prior to going to the office. A few minutes later, Reverend Hesa Goodpastor, the minister of a nearby church of another denomination and a good friend of Reverend At's, came over and sat down, coffee cup in hand.
"Good morning, Bloom," Goodpastor said.
"Morning, Hesa," replied At.
"Say," said Goodpastor, "did you hear that Watt A. Hardworker has just resigned his pulpit and is moving to another church? That makes four pastors who have moved from our town since last June. I'm really getting concerned about this frequent turnover of pastors here."
"I am, too," agreed At. "For one thing, folks get attached to one minister and some drop out of church when the pastor leaves."
"Yes, and not only that, frequent pastoral changes contribute to a sense of instability in a community's religious life."
For the next several minutes the two men discussed what they knew of the circumstances leading to each of their colleagues' moves. Then At observed, "Well, they each moved for different reasons, but the total effect is that the ministry in this town appears in flux."
"Right," said Goodpastor.
"But I guess that's not so different from what happens to laypeople too, though," At said. "I know we've both seen active members of our church have to move elsewhere because of promotions, lost jobs or whatever. It sometimes seems that everything is changing."
Later, after both men had gone to their churches to begin the day's work, Reverend At found that his mind continued to dwell on the whole business of life's rapid change. He reflected on his own experience. He fully intended to remain in his present appointment for as long as the bishop would allow. At and his family liked the church and the community. Neither Bloomingwhere nor Mrs. At cared for the uprooting that frequent moves entailed. The Ats thought the town's school system was a progressive one and considered the community a good place to raise their children. Also, At firmly believed that God's call is always to be God's person wherever one finds oneself.
Still, At thought, one never knows what surprises that next day will bring. With all of this in mind, he began to work on his sermon for the next Sunday.
After the service the following Sunday, several members of At's congregation commented that the sermon that morning was the best Reverend At had ever preached. He had based in on Psalm 24 and titled it, "A Steady God in an Unsteady World." In it, At had expounded on the theme that God stands by us with unfaltering love through whatever changes come our way.
At and Goodpastor met for morning coffee two days later; Goodpastor mentioned that positive comments on At's sermon had ever reached his ears. The two men then talked of their commitments to stay with their current churches and of some of their goals for their ministries.
As they parted that morning, Goodpastor said, "You know, Bloom, I think you're right. We hope to bring stable ministries to our churches and to the community, but in the final analysis, the only real stability comes from the God we serve. How can we help folks to realize that commitment to the church does not mean coming only when we like the current pastor and staying away when we don't? How can we enable people to see that commitment to Christ is a bigger matter than loyalty to the person in the pulpit?"
"Why don't we just tell them?" At suggested.
And so they did.
Stan Purdum is the pastor of Centenary United Methodist Church in Waynesburg, Ohio. He has served as the editor for the preaching journals Emphasis and Homiletics, and he has written extensively for both the religious and secular press. Purdum is the author of New Mercies I See (CSS) and He Walked in Galilee (Abingdon Press), as well as two accounts of his long-distance bicycle journeys, Roll Around Heaven All Day and Playing in Traffic.
Sermon Starters
Party Down
By David McKirachan
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death for ever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces, and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
-- Isaiah 25:6-9
I was chairperson of the strategy committee of the presbytery. "The Vision Committee" as someone had titled it took on the nickname of "David's Dreamers." I got sent to events about visioning and revisioning and rediscovering our vision and claiming our vision. I felt like an ophthalmologist.
The organizational structures of the church are grim. They talk about money and product and power. And I totally sympathize with the discontinuity between getting such business done and the vision of the Bible. It just doesn't seem to match. I mean, really, if you want to get something done, don't pray about it. Agendas tend to dissolve in the face of prayer. Our budgets tend to get weird when we let the Holy Spirit in. And power politics, well, the meek and the poor are bit restrictive in their priorities.
I found my theology and my discernment and my sense of God's presence did little but make trouble in the august convocations of elders and pastors. At a class on spiritual gifts I took a test on discovering my own spiritual gifts and found that my highest score was in the gift of hospitality. I'm a party animal and good at it. The light bulb went on. So, I passed my gavel on to a more capable administrator, much to the relief of many, and without anybody's permission formed the "Tea and Crumpets Committee" of the presbytery. Our purpose was to encourage and facilitate fellowship. Hee Hee... I never invited anybody to join, but we had great attendance. We had no funding, but we were able to initiate all kinds of events (with great refreshments) and we had a blast.
Scripture's vision of the kingdom has never been a committee meeting, unless there are really good refreshments and lots of laughter, in other words a party. Isaiah understood this. Just read the scripture. God's promise is not grim, it's a blast.
My brother, quoting someone else told me that life is not a dress rehearsal. This is our turn to shine. NOW! I know, I know, what would the world come to if we stopped keeping track of... well, that's a different gift. I don't advocate for the abolition of management. I do advocate for Joy, Glory, Song, Fellowship, and according to Isaiah "a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees..." Let's stop being so careful and worried and afraid and "rejoice in God's salvation." Attendance might improve.
Strut Your Stuff
By David McKirachan
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life."
-- Revelation 21:1-6
One of my favorite things about being a minister is marrying people. There are few more highly motivated human beings on the planet than brides. Most grooms are confused and nervous. But something happens to a woman when she puts on a wedding dress. The risk and sorrow and trouble and stress of life and marriage melt away like sugar in a flood. What is left is a vision that somehow the bride inhales. For a few moments the difficulties of life, the disappointments and vicissitudes all take a backseat and are silenced by that vision of glory that is being a bride.
Others in the bridal party are not gifted with this vision. They usually need a little work. During the rehearsal, I tell those preceding the one in white that everyone will be looking at them as they walk down the isle. If they choose to attempt to seem small, curling in on themselves, everyone will be looking at them as they attempt to hide in plain sight. The only option at this point is to strut their stuff. I tell them, "Realize you are the most gorgeous example of you on the planet and that the bride has chosen you to accompany her in her glory. Wow 'em." Many of them giggle. Some of them look at me like a pain. Some of them planned to do that anyway.
As the Body of Christ, too often we curl in on ourselves because we are embarrassed, because we've been taught that we shouldn't be showy or stand out or be rude. We mistake self-confidence for arrogance. But each of us is the best example of us that is on the planet and we have been invited by the Lord to accompany Him in His journey from glory into glory. Where do we get off trying to hide behind a lousy body image or excuses about how lavender just isn't our color? We need to get over our paltry excuses. This is our opportunity to strut our stuff, to be saints, to be examples of Christ's glory that set the stage for His coming.
Besides, the reception is coming and that's going to be a blast.
C. David McKirachan is pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury in central New Jersey. He also teaches at Monmouth University. Two of his books, I Happened Upon a Miracle and A Year of Wonder, have been published by Westminster John Knox Press. McKirachan was raised in a pastor's home and he is the brother of a pastor, and he has discovered his name indicates that he has druid roots. Storytelling seems to be a congenital disorder. He lives with his 21-year-old son Ben and his dog Sam.
**********************************************
How to Share Stories
You have good stories to share, probably more than you know: personal stories as well as stories from others that you have used over the years. If you have a story you like, whether fictional or "really happened," authored by you or a brief excerpt from a favorite book, send it to StoryShare for review. Simply click here share-a-story@csspub.com and email the story to us.
**************
StoryShare, November 1, 2006, issue.
Copyright 2006 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 517 South Main Street, Lima, Ohio 45804.
