Matthew 8:18-22 and I Corinthians 4:8-13   “Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:19 NKJV   Last week, we explored the powerful song from Aretha Franklin about respect. We found that people could simply command respect by being who God created them to be. But this week, we realize that such action inevitably leads to detractors. Perhaps for no one is this more clear than Jesus himself. He went from town to town preaching and healing, doing the work that God had called him to do. But he seemed to have constant problems with those who knew him as a young child, believing him to be impudent and overstepping his place. Several times, he is quite frustrated with others’ opinions. In fact, when his family is trying to call him away from preaching, perhaps embarrassed by his actions, Jesus refuses simply to acknowledge them. He motions to the crowd, telling them,  “Here are my mother and my brothers!” In today’s text, because of his family’s embarrassment and his hometown’s judgments, he feels out of place:  “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”  And then, a few sentences later, he utters that confusing line to the person who asked to bury his father before following Jesus:  “Let the dead bury their own dead." Countless tomes have been written trying to interpret these words from a theological point of view. However, in my mind, it’s clear: Jesus is simply frustrated and taking it out on this would-be follower. But feeling out of place did not end with Jesus. Some decades ago, Bob Dylan sang these provocative words: How does it feel? To be without a home, Like a complete unknown, Like a rolling stone. I must be honest. For decades upon decades, I never liked Bob Dylan’s music. In fact, whenever it came on the radio, I was aghast that somebody with such a grating voice had become so popular. But recently, something changed, and I don’t know how to account for it. I’ve come to truly treasure his music and be powerfully moved by his voice and his vocal interpretation.  The Times They Are a-Changin’ ,  Tangled Up in Blue , and  Hurricane  are masterpieces of music with a message. But one stands above the rest for me. In his raspy, nasally voice, when he croons out those words  “How does it feel?” , it wakes you up and leads you to consider your own sense of place in this world. The lyrics are powerful and confusing at the same time, which enables us each to consider the song from our perspective. At one point, he sings about those who have fallen on hard times: Once upon a time you dressed so fine Threw the bums a dime in your prime,  didn’t you? … Now you don’t talk so loud Now you don’t seem so proud About having to be scrounging your next meal. These words force us to powerfully consider that any success that we have can very quickly turn around on us. Our sense of pride and place based on accomplishments, possessions, or others’ opinions of us is an utter house of cards. How  does  it feel? First, hopefully, thinking about it makes us look differently at the person scrounging for their next meal or at the person who has suffered career or personal shame. It can be too easy to look on them with scorn and blame. In large part, this was the hands-on ministry of Jesus. Many people he cared for were the complete unknowns, without a home, that Dylan sang about. The lepers, the lame, the religious and social outcasts—all of them were cut off from the life of the community. Dylan forces us to confront that part of ourselves that feels superior, and Jesus shows us how to treat those having to scrounge for a scrap of respect. The song is not only about a sense of homelessness but about Dylan’s utter frustration with his sense that so many people in his world are simply fake. It is when he sings these incomprehensible lines that, at the same time, capture his anger: You used to ride on a chrome horse with your diplomat Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat. Ain’t it hard when you discovered that He really wasn’t where it’s at, After he took from you everything he could steal. Paul the apostle felt like everything had been stolen from him as well, and as a result, he felt he had no home in this world. Once he became a follower of Jesus, the people of Damascus sought to kill him. Determined he would not leave the town alive, they posted guards; he miraculously escaped by being let down the city wall in a basket at night. But Paul would not only have to avoid his fellow Jews. Many of the Christian converts, both Gentile and Jew, questioned his status as an apostle, and he constantly had to re-establish his authority as an emissary of God. Listen to his pain once again from our Corinthian text: For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, as though sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to mortals. We are fools for the sake of Christ, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed and beaten and homeless, and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we speak kindly. We have become like the rubbish of the world, the dregs of all things, to this very day. Rarely have so few words captured such complete despair, despondency, and desperation. This is why he yearns to go to heaven to be with God; in fact, he begs to go to heaven, to no longer be judged and reviled by people from every facet of his life. He wants to be home—not a rolling stone. Like Dylan, Paul, and Jesus, there is a sense within each one of us that we are not truly at home. And, surprisingly, at times, this can be precisely the right feeling. As Dylan wrote: When you ain’t got nothing,  you got nothing to lose. You're invisible now,  you’ve got no secrets to conceal. It is in moments at the bottom—when you’ve lost everything, feel that no one is on your side, and believe you’ve failed at life— that finally perhaps we are open to realizing the truth. This world is not our true home. We have been made for something more sublime, more complete, more authentic, more honest, more open, and more beautiful. It is a place not found on this earth; Paul knew this. Like all of us at times, he spewed his frustration, but at other times, he voiced the truth with rapturous hope, no matter what would come. Such as when he’s able to say,  “To live is Christ; to die is gain.” Once we discover our authentic self—the person that God made us to be—that’s when we are free. Truly free from the expectations of others; truly free from our own self-doubt and self-loathing; truly free to be just who you are. And then you feel at home. When Dylan first performed  Like a Rolling Stone , according to one account, his former fans were booing and yelling,  “Get rid of the electric guitar!”  As one critic wrote, many folk fans saw this as a betrayal, calling him a Judas. But for Dylan, it set him free. Dylan is not truly singing about other people. Perhaps, more than anything, the song is about himself. Biographer of Dylan, Robert Shelton, wrote:  “‘Rolling Stone’ is about the loss of innocence and the harshness of experience. Myths, props, and old beliefs fall away to reveal a very taxing reality.”  The phony people in his world frustrated him, but perhaps most troubling was his own feeling that he was not being his true self. This is what he said about the time of the song: Last spring, I guess I was going to quit singing. I was very drained, and the way things were going, it was a very draggy situation ... But Like a Rolling Stone changed it all. I mean, it was something that I myself could dig. It’s very tiring having other people tell you how much they dig you if you yourself don’t dig you. Because of his popularity with acoustic music fans, Dylan had been channeled into a particular style that he didn’t feel was authentic. Combined with the phony crowd, like Jesus, he felt like a man without a home. But this song changed all that. In fact, the words didn’t begin as a song; it was just a journal of sorts that he had started. Listen to what he had to say about them: This long piece of vomit, 20 pages long, and out of it I took Like a Rolling Stone and made it as a single. And I’d never written anything like that before, and it suddenly came to me that was what I should do ... When you realize why God has put you on this earth, you will feel a sense of place, a sense of purpose, and when the arrows of scorn fly, they cannot penetrate. There is a sense of self and confidence because you know that whatever happens on this earth and in this place, it’s not your true ultimate destiny. One day, you will feel complete, perfect, and whole. How does it feel to be on this earth? It feels frustrating, confusing … hard, beautiful, wonderful, glorious; it feels like home. Amen.

John 2:1-15  “Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” - Ephesians 5:19 NKJV Chutzpah is a Hebrew word that has been adopted into Yiddish and then English. Chutzpah has been defined as audacity, insolence, impudence, gall, brazen nerve, effrontery, incredible guts, presumption, and arrogance. Yet something essential about chutzpah is missing from all these words. Chutzpah can be destructive and ugly or vital and fantastic, but never in-between.  ( www.Chabad.org ) It is an amazing word, especially with its dual implication of being ugly or fantastic. But it’s often a matter of perspective whether the actions are viewed as holy or otherwise. For centuries, warped notions of propriety might have made the determination. Still, in parts of India, a  Dalit  (untouchable) shopping in the “wrong” store would be considered an affront. In America, a few decades ago, a Black person sitting at the front of the bus would provoke scorn, or a woman standing in a pulpit would be seen as blasphemous. But thankfully, through the holy chutzpah of many, norms have evolved. In fact, the great story of Scripture is that of many women not sitting on their hands, allowing their fate to be dictated to them or their people. It was their very impudence and audacity that helped God’s work of salvation continue—their holy chutzpah. “ Well-behaved women seldom make history ” is certainly true for the Bible. Rahab, the Canaanite prostitute, spied for the Israelites, helping them defeat Jericho while saving her family. Ruth connived to create a match for her daughter-in-law, Naomi, by threatening the reputation of a very important man (who is actually Rahab’s son!). They eventually became the great-grandparents of King David. Esther risked her life by appearing before the king unannounced. Her gumption worked, and she outwitted the evil Haman by exposing his devious plans to exterminate the Jews. And Mary simply orders Jesus, the young man she knows to be God, to turn water into wine, rather than asking, setting the stage for his first miracle. All of these women just as easily could have been labeled as insolent and arrogant. But their chutzpah was born not just of temerity but of a demand for our RESPECT! Another woman with chutzpah took the song of an adored, famous colleague, Otis Redding. He sang about a man wanting respect in his own home, and she completely reversed the meaning, adding the now-famous spelling out, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” Aretha Franklin took the ballad, jazzed it up with backup singers and energy. Redding commented on it in 1967 at the Monterey Pop Festival by saying, “ This next song is a song that a girl took away from me. A good friend of mine, this girl, she just took the song, but I’m still going to do it anyway. ” Later, he stated he liked what Aretha did with the song. As I listened to the song again in contrast with Otis Redding’s (an admittedly excellent version), I am simply in awe not only of her vocal chops but her confident, powerful presence. I realized she exemplified the difference between someone who demands respect as opposed to someone who commands it. If somebody shouts long enough, “ You must respect me! You must respect me! ” it’s clear that they don’t feel that respect and perhaps don’t truly respect themselves. Ms. Franklin’s personal presence, the way in which she sings, the way in which she interprets the words, commands respect. You simply give it to her by virtue of her charisma, confidence, and message. Ms. Franklin received tremendous respect for her music. In fact, one year Rolling Stone Magazine voted her version of "Respect" as number one on a list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. They explained their choice: “ [It] catalyzed rock & roll, gospel, and blues to create the model for soul music that artists still look to today. ” I remember when I first heard Aretha Franklin’s version. I realize now that she did not so much demand respect from others but commanded it, which is true of all these women. The way Ms. Franklin performed it, brimming with vitality, confidence, and truth, I am convinced spurred many to discover that respect is something God gives by virtue of our birth and cannot be taken or given by mere mortals. In 1972, a few years after Ms. Franklin sang “Respect,” a tiny young blond thing, mini-skirt and all, commanded respect at a staid Presbyterian Church on the Upper West Side, Broadway Presbyterian. Known as the mini-skirted Jesus freak, Abigail Rian Evans was the first installed woman pastor in New York City Presbytery. At only 35 years old, she brokered peace during the Columbia protests between the students and administration. (Would that she had been available these past couple of years!) She commanded rather than demanded respect in the same fashion as Ms. Franklin. She didn’t try to convince people that she deserved to be a minister; she simply did ministry. Mary did not have to tell Jesus to listen to his mother—she spoke with authority, and he listened. Without a means to survive or a husband to take care of her, Ruth refused to sit on the sidelines and await her fate. She moved forward in bold trust that God would work with her to bring about a good future. All these women demonstrate that when you believe in what God has given you, who God has made you to be, and what God has challenged you to do with it, you will simply command respect by virtue of the passion and purpose with which you act. From the Detroit Free Press, critic Brian McCollum wrote: “ Franklin's song has been dissected in books and academic papers, held up as a groundbreaking feminist and civil rights statement in an era when such declarations weren't always easy to make.” When asked about her audacious stance amidst the feminist and Civil Rights Movement, Franklin told the Detroit Free Press, “I don't think it's bold at all. I think it's quite natural that we all want respect—and should get it. ” (July 13, 2017, Detroit Free Press, as quoted from Wikipedia) If we live our lives according to the morals and principles that God has taught us, then respect belongs to us all. But not all commands for respect deserve the same attention. Chutzpah means having the gumption to flout conventions to achieve our ends, but whether it’s holy or not depends on the person. The type of respect that the biblical women commanded was different than the ways in which we see power exercised in the world today. All too often, those who demand rather than command respect are using leverage to create fear in those to whom they relate. This happens with those who have official power, elected officials, or bosses. It’s the type of boss that everyone is too anxious to tell the truth to. That person demands a certain fealty that gives the aura of respect, but in fact, it is most often contempt coupled with fear. But this tactic is not only used by those in authority. We see it exercised by those with the power of a microphone, a keyboard, or a social media following that attempt to demand respect for their opinions by threatening the livelihood of those with whom they disagree. Both of these approaches are the ugly and destructive type of chutzpah. In contrast, there is another aspect of respect that comes out in Ms. Franklin’s version. If someone truly respects us, they should respect us enough to be forthright and open with us. Ms.Franklin and her co-creators inserted this notion in her version of the song. The repeated “ sock it to me ” line, sung by Franklin’s sisters, was an idea that Carolyn and Aretha had worked out together. Aretha said, “ Some of the girls were saying that to the fellas, like ‘sock it to me’ in this way or ‘sock it to me’ in that way. It’s not sexual. It was nonsexual, just a cliché line .” (Wikipedia) It can simply mean something like “ tell me ” or “ give it to me straight. ” If we fear someone rather than respect them, we will never give it to them straight. But if we truly see another as a person of value, as a person made by God, then not only will we be willing to speak the truth, but we will want to speak it, to be open with them. It was the type of truth that Jesus told. He didn’t sugarcoat his message, and he was especially open with the disciples. At the Last Supper, He told them difficult truths about themselves, about how they would betray Him. Upon hearing this, Peter insisted he would never! Jesus did not shy away from the tense moment and gave the hardest news to Peter: “ Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times. ” And granted, there is a certain willingness in today’s world to speak hard truths. Unfortunately, too often, we’re only willing to do so because we’ve written someone off, and we just want to inflict pain. Jesus respected the disciples enough to tell them the hard truths, but He did not end with it. “ I no longer call you servants but friends… and there is no greater love than this: a friend lays down his life for others. ” He continues to promise them that He will bring them to a heavenly kingdom eventually. Jesus certainly “ socked it to ” the disciples. He respected them enough to allow them to see the truth about themselves, but it was only out of love. True respect—authentic respect—can only be born from love. May we have holy chutzpah to flout those norms which degrade and diminish ourselves and others, and may we be open enough to want others to “ sock it to me ” out of love.and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on January 26, 2024. Heavenly Father as we thank you for food, we remember the hungry.  As we thank you for our health, we remember the sick.  Lord, we thank you for our friends, and so we remember those who are friendless.  Lord, we thank you for our freedoms and therefore remember those who are enslaved.  Hear us, Lord, as we pray to you silently for the little things and for the big things that we are grateful for in our lives: Lord, may those who lead the nations of the world be given wisdom and insight, caring hearts, kind words and actions.  We pray for all people living in places where there is war or famine, where there is flooding or there are fires or any other tragedy.   Bring them peace, comfort them, and strengthen them.  We pray for all who mourn this day, as we whisper their names in the silence, asking you that they may feel your care for them.     Almighty God, we pray for our families and friends.  May we be able to help each other just as you love and help us.  We pray for ourselves – for all that we will do this day and this week, and for all those who we will meet.  Loving God, we give this day and this week into your hands.  Be with us in all that we will do and say.  May we enjoy this week and learn and grow in it.  Hear us, God, as we prayer our silent prayers of petition:   O God, give us grace to work for those things that we have prayed for, and in the purpose of your love, answer our prayers and fulfill our hopes, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Genesis 9: 8-17 Popular songs throughout the decades have had an incredible ability to capture the mood of America: our fears, our dreams, our loves, and our failings. Over the next several weeks, we will explore a few of these iconic songs, such as Lennon’s  Imagine , Aretha’s  R-E-S-P-E-C-T , and Dylan’s  Like a Rolling Stone. These songs powerfully captured the times from which they came but also express an ageless depth that transcends time and place. Like biblical literature, they address themes that will forever be a part of the human experience, but unlike the Bible, their solutions are ultimately unsatisfying. Lennon wants us to imagine there’s no heaven above or hell below. It challenges us to conceive a world that is void of doctrines or beliefs that split humanity into the haves and the have-nots. Aretha’s  R-E-S-P-E-C-T  was an anthem of women, specifically Black women, commanding respect and expressing the essence of that movement in a way legislation could not. Dylan asked us, “How does it feel?... To be without a home, like a complete unknown, like a rolling stone?” It was the buildup of his own frustration with the expectations placed upon him that didn’t match his own sense of self, as well as his increasing sense of displacement in a world whose values didn’t align with his own. Each one of these songs powerfully expresses our deepest yearnings: a world in which our cultures don’t divide us, a world in which everybody is given respect, a world in which we can be fully ourselves—not having to conform to the artificial expectations that make us feel like aliens in our own skin. Today, we will examine what was voted as the most influential song of the 20th century: a song filled with sweet innocence, lofty dreams, and a simple but powerful notion that a better world can be found—but only in dreams— Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Dorothy’s frustrations mount early in  The Wizard of Oz . Finding herself in a dry, dusty, featureless landscape, the town spinster Miss Gulch threatens her dog, Toto, striking fear into this simple girl’s heart. Frustrated, Aunt Em suggests, “Find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble.” Despite her young age, Dorothy already realizes this isn’t possible. She walks off by herself saying, "Someplace where there isn't any trouble. Do you suppose there is such a place, Toto? There must be. It's not a place you can get to by a boat, or a train. It's far, far away. Behind the moon, beyond the rain." And then begins the immortal classic,  Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Thousands upon thousands of years ago, the people of God had a similar dream for a better world, and they too looked to the rainbow. Back then, it was a hope that floods would no longer destroy the Earth. Even today, despite our incredible technology, water’s power to level towns and even civilizations is a growing threat. Just imagine what it must’ve been like for people so long ago. In fact, they could only imagine that such incredible destructive forces were born of the power of God’s wrath. But in many ways, the story of the flood—while it begins with familiar interpretations of the times in which it was written (that the destructive forces of nature were a result of the wrath of the gods)—ends offering an entirely different understanding. One that is not fully understood until the person of Jesus. At the end of the story, God places a rainbow in the sky. It is a sign of promise—in fact, an everlasting covenant from God—that never again will the Earth be destroyed by the waters of the flood. But there is much more to this covenant than initially meets the eye. For the rainbow is shaped like that instrument of war: a “bow.” In fact, that’s the word the Bible uses—not “rainbow” but “bow.” Essentially, God is putting away weapons of war. This is the hidden promise in the story that the Israelites first conceived. All too often in ancient times (in fact, Plato was one of the first people to observe this), people’s conceptions of the gods were often actually all the worst traits found in humans: greed, lust, jealousy, violence, rage, betrayal, and indifference. In this story, the Israelites share a radical new understanding: God’s ways are not our ways. And then finally, in the person of Jesus, we see just how far God will go to avoid using violence as a means. Eventually, the Israelites’ hope expanded beyond that of floods to imagine an age when swords would be so unnecessary that they would be beaten into plowshares. They dreamed about a time when crops would be plentiful and there would be perfect justice. People are filled with dreams today; it’s why they come to New York City. Dorothy sang about her lofty dreams, and children today still dream of a better world—but some of these dreams are more heartbreaking than others. A teacher in New York asks her class on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to write about their dreams. These are the 1995 "dreams": Michael dreams that the leukemia will go away. Brandon dreams that someday he will have a dad, "for real." Amber dreams that someday she and her mom can be "safe." Marcia dreams that she can stay in this house and the judge won't make her go back to "the one where you are always scared." Cheri dreams of food—"a lot" and "a lot of it." Monica dreams that Daddy really wasn’t killed so Mom can buy something that isn’t food. Jane dreams that "no one kills me before 16 so I can drive away." Chris dreams that he gets a new heart before this one stops. Tim dreams that someday he can be an artist and not have to fight. Perry dreams that people will stop selling drugs so the cops will stay away. Ashley and Ralph "don't have time to dream 'cause living's hard work." By the way, these are 6-, 7-, and 8-year-olds. ( New York Times ) As we reflect on Judy Garland’s life, we see that, in many ways, her life, like these children’s, was lived on this side of the rainbow. It was a song that both blessed her and haunted her. “It’s like being a grandmother in pigtails,” she once said. And of course, her tragic early death might tempt us to dismiss fanciful, optimistic dreaming. But in this song, there is more than just fanciful dreams. There's a land that I heard of Once in a lullaby Somewhere over the rainbow Skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true This is why we are here in church: because we believe dreams like Dorothy’s are not simply naïve, overly optimistic wishes, but that they really do come true. Over the Rainbow  is filled with optimism. As outrageous and naïve as our hopes can be, we should never stop singing about them or writing about them; we should never stop working toward them. We need to dream because these dreams help us to see the world God meant for us. Dreaming is the world’s way of expressing hope. At Brick Church, we have embraced a challenge: to be a beacon of hope. But to be a beacon of hope, first, we have to have hope. And hope is different from a dream or a wish. A dream is born of a fantasy that, somehow magically, the world will simply be better because we wished upon a star. But hope is born of faith—faith in God. The same God that loved us enough to come down and sacrifice Himself for us is the God that has promised us a mending of the world. All those lofty dreams of our most popular songs ultimately find their fulfillment through God in Jesus Christ. But Christian hope does not mean sitting on our hands, waiting for God to do all the hard work. Christian hope is a call to action. For Brick, that call means listening to the lofty dreams of every child and every person in the city—for a life filled with peace, not violence; for a life filled with plenty, not want; for a life of fulfillment and meaning, not drudgery and distress. And it is our job to bring the other side of the rainbow to this side of reality and make these dreams come true, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Please bring some extra cash to Sunday Worship on February 9th to donate and support our Confirmands' annual Souper Bowl Sunday. During this event, Confirmands research organizations that serve people in need and then have a debate on which organization(s) should receive the funds. Thank You!

“Speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” - Ephesians 5:19 (NKJV) Popular songs are popular for a reason: they strike a chord within humanity by expressing our greatest hopes, deepest fears, and most fervent longings for our personal lives and for a better world. They are both uniquely powerful in the time in which they were written and performed, and speak to current circumstances, possessing a timeless quality that transcends any particular time and place. In this way, popular songs are similar to many Biblical stories. Biblical stories have captured the imagination across thousands of years, languages, continents, religions, and peoples. Even today, they address themes that resonate with our lives. By examining the similarities and differences between popular music and Biblical themes, we find a place of intersection between our sacred and secular lives. We also discover the language the non-religious, non-Christian world uses to express its own hopes and dreams. Some of the popular songs we’re going to explore, like John Lennon’s "Imagine," ask us to envision a world with no heaven or hell. In a sense, he expresses a desire for a world free of belief systems or structures that create the haves and have-nots. But ultimately, the world he envisions isn’t one empty of meaning and purpose—it is unsatisfied. Learn more about "Imagine" by John Lennon here. Aretha Franklin’s re-envisioning of Otis Redding’s "Respect" served as a powerful anthem for women, particularly Black women, in its time. Her interpretation transcended the legislative moment, commanding a solidarity of hope for all people. In this way, her music reflects an ancient desire: that all people receive the dignity with which God created them, a dignity inherent in our divine nature. Learn more about "Respect" sung by Aretha Franklin here. Bob Dylan, in his song "Like a Rolling Stone," asks us, “How does it feel?” “How does it feel to be without a home , like a complete unknown?” While expressing his personal frustrations with the public’s expectations of his music, he reflects the desire of many Americans who increasingly feel out of place in their own country. Learn more about "Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan here. Ultimately, Dylan expresses a shared feeling, even with that of Jesus, who at one point felt so rejected by His hometown that He said, “Birds have nests and foxes have holes, but the Son of Man has no place to rest His head.” (Matthew 8:20) Each one of us feels like a rolling stone because our ultimate home is not in this world but in our heavenly one. That subliminal feeling—feeling out of place and out of time—reflects a truth: our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. Prayer of Confession Lord, You have made us to be in community with each other and with You. But too often we listen to the beat of our own drum while failing to appreciate the song You have given others. Open our spirits to the creative passions and wisdom You have placed in others that we might harmonize our voices with people of different faith and insight all to Your glory. Amen.

Luke 2:22-35 If it were up to most Presbyterians, evangelism would be spelled with four letters. We seem to fall into two categories: those who are too embarrassed and introverted to do it and those who hate the very idea of it. However, evangelism as we know it today is largely a product of 21st-century culture, not a reflection of Jesus’ command to “ Go into the world and make disciples .” Evangelism springs from the Greek word “ euangelion ,” which means good news. In Mark 5, a man who suffers the torment of demon possession is liberated by Jesus’ power. The man wants to follow Jesus, but instead, Jesus tells him, “ Go and tell what the Lord has done for you .” In other words, share your story. Our task in spreading the good news is not to try and convince people that Jesus is Lord or some other doctrine but to tell the story of what God has done in our lives with zeal. One children’s song tells it this way: “ Come and see what God has done, God is awesome, in every way .” I count this as one of the greatest privileges of the ministry: to hear the stories of God’s active wonders in your lives. Members have shared with me stories of healing that occurred beyond medical knowledge, of finding hope in darkness, of discovering purpose where before there was only doubt and wandering. Sharing our stories gives God’s actions double and triple-layered effects. When God heals, the recipient is blessed. When that person tells the story, the hearer is blessed. And when the hearer shares that story, those hearers are enriched. It is because of people like the man healed of the demon who shared his story that we have the Bible. God’s word is largely a collection of people sharing their stories. The most powerful and illuminating ones have become a part of scripture. These stories, all of them, are still taking place today. When we share our stories, we are, in one sense, creating pieces of scripture. How boring it would be if all the stories were the same. Perhaps this is another quality of certain kinds of evangelism that has turned people away from it. Evangelism often makes the whole of scripture into one story that you have to experience or else. But the Presbyterian Book of Order describes the Great Ends of the Church—not “end” but “ends” plural. To read scripture is to discover many stories: Of healing from disease. Of liberation from captivity. Of purpose from meaninglessness. Of good from evil. Of justice rolling down like water. These stories were so powerful that thousands of years later, they still can transform our hearts and minds. One type of story does not have more validity or import than another, for they all share the common theme that God is active in the world. Our story today comes from Luke, and it is about the fulfillment of a dream in an old man’s heart. Simeon says, “ Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation .” But the way in which Simeon uses this word “ salvation ” and the way evangelism uses it today are two very different things. Modern evangelistic use of the word “ salvation ,” though it does have important insight into Jesus, is ultimately reductionistic. These images of salvation describe Jesus as the holy firefighter, the Tupperware God, the Defibrillator Divine. That is Jesus who saves us from something: from hell, from sadness, from oblivion. Indeed, as a prison chaplain, I saw how powerful these stories were. This sense of freedom from sin is real and powerful. However, all too often we treat this Christ as an All-State agent who has secured our souls in case of some catastrophe. If our soul is threatened with fiery torment or extinction, we want the firefighter Jesus to burst into the maelstrom, slap those paddles on our chest, and once revived, go back to our lives as they were. But Jesus saves us to live a full life NOW! He saves us from spiritual malaise, from mental anguish, and from exhaustion. Let us listen once again to Simeon’s words: “ Mine eyes have seen salvation. ” Right at that moment, he knew healing—salvation—which was a moment of sheer joy. The gift of sight in this life can offer tremendous healing, as it was for Simeon. And sometimes it’s in surprising moments that we suddenly feel healed by what we see. For me, some years ago during challenging days in the pastorate, I was with my fellow staff at a retreat in the evening. It had been a time of especially difficult session meetings and conversations with parishioners. It was during the denominational fights, and some of our most fundamental members wanted us to leave the denomination. Their sometimes cruel words and harsh judgments were becoming harder and harder to bear. It seemed like my whole life revolved around those conversations. But that evening, at the end of our work, the staff went outside. The canopy of the dark night sky surrounded and enveloped us in a cocoon-like warmth. Away from the lights of the city, the stars leaped out of the heavens. Even the Milky Way was visible! I hadn’t seen stars like that since I was 14 years old. Suddenly, I felt connected to the human race since the dawn of time. I felt connected to those wise men who followed a star. We were out there to see the Perseid meteor shower, and it did not disappoint. As those meteors struck the atmosphere and lit up like fireworks, we simultaneously shouted, “ Did you see it? ” or “ Wow! That was a big one! ” We laughed and felt the power and presence of Almighty God—the God who made those heavens. It was beautiful, ancient, transcendent, and holy. I can only imagine how Simeon felt at viewing not just stars but the Morning Star who delivered us all. These moments—the bonds of life and of death, of joy and of sorrow, often all intermingled together—are the unbreakable bonds forged by the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Featuring artists from Brick Church Community Theater, students ages 4-9 will gain experience in acting, improvisation, singing, dancing, and audition preparation. These performing arts classes will help students increase their confidence, build self-esteem, and explore self-expression in a supportive environment.   Class materials will be scripts and songbook from The Wizard of Oz. Click here to view photos from Cinderella and here for a look behind the scenes!

Luke 2:1-20 Luke’s Gospel is filled with powerful phrases but the one that has especially caught my attention this year is that marvelous phrase “ Mary treasured these things and pondered them in her heart .” Like many of us, Mary has been swept along by events. An angel appears to her; she’s going to have a child for which she had no decision-making power. Caesar proclaims the great taxation (thanks, Caesar!), so now she has to walk some 80 miles while nine months pregnant. Apparently, she had no family in Bethlehem and there's no proper place for her to sleep (since there was no room in the inn) much less a proper place to deliver her firstborn son. Then in the midst of this most unsanitary of places (perhaps a barn?) suddenly, shepherds show up and tell her a shocking story. Finally, finally, she’s able to take a moment to pause and reflect or, as Luke tells us, to ponder and to treasure. And it led me to thinking about the things that we treasure or “value” and the cost we’re willing to pay. And that perhaps all too often the cost we pay doesn’t align with the value we gain. Remember that  Furby Furblets Fierce & Fabulous 2-Pack  cost you so much, not just in the amount of money that you had to fork over but the hours that you had to wait in line. And then, much to your dismay you see this toy, that your child desperately insisted they had to have, has been unused, untouched, since it was opened last Christmas. As we shop for goods and services, we realize the cost of that trendy bauble is whatever we’re willing to put on our charge card. But the dust it gathers on the closet shelf discloses its value to us is as nothing. We spend too much capital—that is, money, time, emotional energy, relationship energy, and our intellect—on that which is not of true value. At times, we pay a high cost for a low return. The good news is that, overall, as Americans, we are a relatively satisfied group. The  Gallup Poll  conducted an interesting survey: The main life evaluation question asked in the poll is: “ Please imagine a ladder, with steps numbered from 0 at the bottom to 10 at the top. The top of the ladder represents the best possible life for you, and the bottom of the ladder represents the worst possible life for you. On which step of the ladder would you say you personally feel you stand at this time? ” (This is also known as the “Cantril Ladder”.) The United States measured 6.5 on the ladder, whereas unsurprisingly those in Haiti measured 3.6. But countries like Finland, Sweden, England, and others all scored higher than the U.S. There is a broad correlation between wealth and happiness, which we have known since the dawn of civilization; this is why Mary’s hopes for her child underscore her hope that he will bring good news to the poor. We all need food, shelter, health, and education. Without these, it’s very hard to be satisfied with life. Last century, the New York professor and psychologist, Abraham Maslow, explained that our ability to be satisfied with life is tied to a hierarchy of needs. And unless the base-level needs are met—food, water, shelter, and safety—then we can never be truly at peace. But because we have a hierarchy of needs, simply having our basic necessities met is not sufficient for lasting peace. We need to go a layer deeper than economic satisfaction. For though, overall, as a country, we are happier than most, there is a level of disease and disorientation in our country—especially among young people who are having a harder and harder time finding direction and purpose. And I think it’s because we fail to emulate Mary, who takes time to reflect. We may not feel we have the time to ponder and treasure, but truly we will be worse for it. “ Reflection, meditation, and prayer help us to renew ourselves in God’s love, as we strive daily to become better people .” – Queen Elizabeth II Mary has charted a path for us that helps us to “buy” those things whose value is timeless and priceless. I know it sounds like I’m talking about shopping—I’m really not. And perhaps as we go deeper into Mary’s story, it will become clear. For Mary not only ponders the problems of the world, she treasures its gifts. She treasures her son—her healthy and strong firstborn son! She knows that birthing a child is dangerous for mother and child, so she treasures a successful birth! She treasures all that has led to this day to support her in this awesome task. She treasures even the appearance of the shepherds, for they have brought her an amazing story and showed her that hope is already reaching beyond her. She is showing how to reach beyond our basic needs; it requires a leap of faith. A leap of faith in which we no longer spend all our capital on things of fleeting value. And once again, I don’t mean money. Mary believed the angel! She invested her whole life in this promise. Jesus called it “ the pearl of great price.”  When a man finds this pearl of inestimable value, he will sell everything he has in order to obtain it. Mary is going to pay the hardest cost that any mother can. But she has seen the value for the whole world. For she knew, based on the mission Jesus would have, that the Messiah—her very own son’s life—would not be easy. Perhaps Mary was tempted—tempted to shelter her child from this high calling; tempted to lead him away from this path in order to keep him safe, as is our parental instinct. There would be a great cost to pay for everyone, especially her child. As Adam Smith, titan of economic theory, wrote: “ The real price of everything, what everything really costs to the man who wants to acquire it, is the toil and trouble of acquiring it .” In some ways, classic economic theory describes perfectly the path that God took to save humanity through the birth of Jesus. God paid a great price in becoming human; Jesus paid the price of scorn, rejection, ridicule, and a painful physical death. Jesus paid everything He possibly could because He valued you and me and everyone.  He was not going to leave humanity sitting on a shelf gathering dust. And for God, cost and value align perfectly. There is a moment for Mary, and for all of us who seek a life of meaning, that we must take a leap. A leap beyond our own base needs. It’s this which enables us to pay a high cost for that which is of true value. As people of faith, we believe that God did not make us only to eat, drink, and work but to engage in the sublime, the beautiful, the mysterious, the sacred, and the holy. And especially in the most transcendent thing of all—a love that knows no boundary, measure, or barrier. As Mary pondered and treasured, it was clear that she had fully embraced God’s plan. She placed high hopes in this child to bring good news to the whole world. The baby shows us that we are treasured by God. This is what Mary is reflecting upon—she is treasuring God's treasuring of us. This is what Mary treasured the most—the depth of love God has for us shown in the gift of this child. Amen.

Shared during Sunday Worship on December 22, 2024. O God of every good and perfect gift, in your great love you chose to illumine the darkness with the Light that is Jesus Christ.  May his Light guide us in our pilgrimage through this world and lead us, at the end, into the perfect brilliance of your eternal glory.   May your Spirit rule our coming Christmas celebrations.  May that spirit which dwelt in Jesus find us and form us - his spirit of unhesitating and boundless love, overflowing joy, and resolute commitment to peace.   We pray that the gifts given and received in this season, recalling as they do the gifts of the Magi, might in the joy they bring, lead us toward an unselfishness of spirit that lasts beyond Christmas and finds its highest joy in the joy of others.   May the Christmas feasts we sit down to this season remind us of the great blessings of our lives and incline us toward a deep gratitude for all that comes to us.  In the midst of our great plenty, may we remember the poor, the hungry and the homeless.  May the One born in borrowed lodgings to a poor family deepen our commitment to the well-being of all your children everywhere.   May the family reunions of these days lead love to grow among all families.  May old hurts be forgiven and even stronger ties come to bind husband and wife, parent and child, brother and sister, friend and friend.   In the peace of a city Sunday, we pray this day for our nation and our world, especially that our leaders may find hearts of wisdom and wills resolute for peace.    We praise you this day for the gift of your Son Jesus the Christ, our Lord and Savior, who was born humbly, lived simply, and died at the hands of a sinful humanity.  We praise you that he still lives in and for the world he loves.  In the cold of the day, may we again be overtaken by the warmth of his love.  May our words speak it, may our priorities declare it, may the very living of our lives show it.  Amen.

Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) In our society, there are many different types of speech: casual conversations, sermons, lectures, stump speeches, and more. But there is a type of speech found in Scripture that is largely neglected in the modern world. And I believe we are worse for it. Luke’s Christmas story features several examples of this unique way of speaking known as blessings or benedictions. The word “benediction” comes from Latin: “bene” (good) and “dicere” (to say) — meaning “good word.” It is markedly different from a simple compliment. A benediction is a good word infused with godliness. It is something the preacher does at the end of every service. And when we say them, we do so with a clear-eyed focus that we want nothing less for those gathered than the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, than the amazing fellowship of the Holy Spirit, and the profound love of God. Our benedictions are drawn from Scripture and so they not only express what is in my heart, and Caroline’s heart, and Adam’s heart, but what is in the heart of God. Offering the benediction is one of the greatest privileges that we have. In reciting these words, I can feel God expanding my own heart. As we look out on the congregation, we see people filled with great joy and deep sorrow — people who are just growing their families and others who have had them shattered. But in reciting these scriptural benedictions, we realize that God knows the heart of each person who hears it. But this is where we fail, for by no means are benedictions meant only to come from pastors. This morning we shall explore how Elizabeth offers a benediction to Mary as a template so that all of you would feel equipped to offer blessings for others. A Christmas gift that you can give, perhaps unlike any other. As a reminder, Elizabeth is expecting John, the forerunner of the Messiah. Upon greeting her cousin Mary, she offers a good word to capture the power of the moment. “ Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord. ” Clearly, Elizabeth had some divine insight when Mary arrived, for a child moving in a mother's womb is an everyday occurrence for an expectant mother. But Elizabeth senses something more. This encounter becomes something greater than the meeting of two cousins: something greater than the meeting of two expectant mothers. It shapes the encounter into a holy moment. The fact that Elizabeth translated a kick in the gut as a transcendent moment is the first step to being able to offer a benediction. We must cultivate our ability to see the presence of God in the world. By the way, this is why hateful speech can be so damaging. Because rather than recognizing God within a person, you are essentially saying the opposite; that you see evil and weakness. The different parts of Elizabeth’s blessing each serve to enrich her gift to Mary. “Blessed are you among women” Elizabeth’s first words acknowledge that God has looked upon Mary with divine favor, that she has special status. It would help put Mary at ease, assuring her that her previous vision of an angel wasn’t a delusion, and that her cousin believes in her. “And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Elizabeth is letting Mary know that simply being in her presence is a gift. This was my personal experience with several of my professors in seminary. One in particular, J. Christian Becker, was an irascible sort who surprisingly used a lot of four-letter words in his lectures. He was not what one might call refined or “holy” in appearance. But as I reflect on his power to open the depths of Paul’s Letter to the Romans, I realize I count myself as extremely lucky to have had the chance to hear him. I wish I had thought to tell him as much. Don’t miss those moments to let others know that you are blessed simply by knowing them. “Blessed is the fruit of your womb.” This moves us into one of the most unique and powerful aspects of benedictions. Elizabeth is telling Mary about her future. She’s expressing a confidence that Mary will bring this child into the world and that this child will be a source of enrichment for the world. By using the word “blessed,” she’s declaring that this is not happenstance but part of God’s design; that God has a plan for Mary’s future that will bring life to others. “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” At this point Elizabeth has moved from talking about God’s goodness and her own personal joy, to Mary. This final piece is crucial. She is observing the unique character and strength of Mary. These words expressed confidence not only in God but in her young cousin who was about to bear child out of wedlock, at such a young age, with such a huge responsibility. These words would have given Mary confidence that she was up to the task. She’s recognizing Mary’s trust  is a key strength to what will take place.   One friend of mine had a gargantuan task to help bring a sense of peace to his extended family after the tragic loss of his young niece. But he remembered some words that were offered to him by his colleague. This is what he told me, “ Hebrews 13:5 promises, 'I will never leave or forsake you.' I am stamping this on my heart and claiming this promise for you! I have been praying for you and you are all prayed up .” Then came the point in the service when he had to speak. He simply did not think he could go through with it.  “…Right before the service I teared up. …didn’t think I could do it. Then I remembered the text and I thought, yes, I could do it.” When his friend wrote,  “You are all prayed up,”  she was essentially saying,  “I know you can do this. I know you are going to do it. You are going to be the gift your family needs.”  Her belief not only in God but in him gave him confidence to face one of the hardest things in his life that brought hope to his whole family.  The benediction not only realizes that God’s future will come to pass but that that individual will play a part in it and they will need strength of character to do so.  Giving someone a benediction or a blessing may sound a bit daunting at first. But it’s surprising how meaningful just a handful of words can be. It’s not uncommon in the South, when you’re going through the McDonald’s drive-through, for the cashier to tell you to, “ Have a blessed day .” And there are moments when you realize that they truly mean it. And it means something—it truly does. But you don’t have to use the word “blessed.” I remember at a restaurant one mother was doing an especially excellent job with three very young children. Near the end of the meal a stranger walked up to her and said you are an amazing mother. It was obvious to everyone how incredibly patient, wise, and loving she was with her children. And not to mention somewhat exasperated. But when that stranger offered those words, you could see in her weary face an exceeding joy. Elizabeth knew such joy in meeting Mary. And wanted to give her this special gift, for perhaps she knew that the years ahead we’re not going to be kind to Mary or her child.  Jesus’ friends from His hometown would reject Him. He would have difficulty relating to his own family. His people would not accept them. And one day, Mary would face the greatest heartbreak that any mother could possibly confront—the death of her son. Elizabeth was giving Mary a crucial gift in this benediction, the gift of courage. In recognizing Mary’s ability to trust that a miraculous child was going to be born to her, she was also saying that she was going to have the strength of character to see this journey all the way to its conclusion. For the blessing of us all. Amen

High School Students are invited to join us June 15–21 for an unforgettable and life-changing experience in Boston, Massachusetts . The Mission Trip is an incredible opportunity for us to come together as a community, united in our shared purpose of service, learning, and personal growth.  Register by March 1, 2025.   Register here  |  Pay here