Reflection and Anticipation

For November 28, 2010

This is the first Sunday in Advent and Thanksgiving weekend. It is also the first Sunday of the 2011 church liturgical year which serves as a time to both reflect back on our year long journey through the life of Christ and to look forward to the coming reign of Christ as King of the earth and his completion of a new creation.

We first look back on those things which have held meaning for us this past year:

· Take a moment to write down the things of the past year for which you are truly thankful:


It is also important to reflect on our faith life during the past year. Our spiritual blessings and growth can be taken for granted and the writer of Ephesians turns our attention to them:

Ephesians 1:3-6 How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

· What spiritual blessings does the writer celebrate in these words? What meaning do these words have for you?

· What spiritual blessings of this past year would you give thanks for today?


We can now look forward to the coming year:

The writer of Revelations speaks to the establishment of God’s kingdom here on earth. Advent is the time when we celebrate the initiation of that process – the coming of the Messiah, our Savior.

Revelation 21:3 I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: "Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They're his people, he's their God. He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone." The Enthroned continued, "Look! I'm making everything new. Write it all down—each word dependable and accurate

· What comes with the establishment of God’s Kingdom on earth? What is your reaction to this imagery; do you include thoughts and hopes like this in your personal faith life? What is your vision of Christ's return and how significant is it in your spiritual life?

But we live in the in-between times, between the Savior’s birth and the promise of Revelations 21. As Paul wrote in the letter to the Romans:

Romans 8:18-21That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

· Is there a sense of the in-between, now and not yet, in your spiritual life? What do you find reassuring about that reality and what is spiritually challenging?

· Do you think that the things we consider the ups and downs of a typical life are of the intensity the writer speaks of as “hard times”? When might this scripture take a very meaningful place in our spiritual lives.

· Are there ways in which the Kingdom of God is alive among us today? What would you point to as concrete examples in your life or in our faith community?

As a closing take a moment to reflect on your spiritual blessings and your hopes and prayers for the future work of God in your life, the lives of those around you and for the world. Compose a prayer to frame your reflections in a personal Advent prayer. You might consider using it in your personal devotionals during the Advent Season:

Closing Prayer

We give you thanks, O God, for the many blessings in our lives. But we long for the fullness of your peace and justice in our midst. Strengthen us to do our part in bringing your promises to life in our waiting world. Amen.


Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, Romans 15:4-13, Matthew 3:1-12

Sing A New Song

For November 14, 2010

The Psalms have been a part of individual and corporate worship and a source of spiritual growth, enrichment, consolation and encouragement since they were written many centuries ago. Traditionally David is credited as their author but many biblical scholars feel that there are many authors. You can find many sources for background on the Psalms with the following taken from Introducing the Psalms by Dennis Bratcher:

The psalms were used by the Israelites in the context of worship to provide a structure in which they could bring their praises, thanks, hurts and grief honestly and openly before God. The Psalms were not thundered from Sinai or received in a vision. They are the prayers and praises of God's people preserved by the community of faith. As such, they have become authoritative for us: a guide for worship, an example of honesty before God, and a demonstration of the importance of prayer and meditation.
The Psalms serve as a valuable example for us of both the need and value of expressing heartfelt feelings to our God. This is an important component of a healthy and vibrant spiritual life. One of the many of the psalmist’s themes is praise of God. Today’s example is Psalm 98 which speaks to the many blessings God has showered upon the people of Israel. We will use it a inspiration for writing our own praise psalm. There is a worksheet at the end of this discussion guide that can be used to structure your work.

For the purposes of our work today Psalm 98 is divided into three parts: How God has blessed Israel (why God should be praised), the way in which the psalmist wishes God to be praised, and what God has in store for Israel.

Blessings 1 Sing to God a brand-new song. He's made a world of wonders! He rolled up his sleeves,
He set things right.
2 God made history with salvation, He showed the world what he could do.
3 He remembered to love us, a bonus. To his dear family, Israel—indefatigable love. The whole earth comes to attention. Look—God's work of salvation! Praise 4 Shout your praises to God, everybody! Let loose and sing! Strike up the band!
5 Round up an orchestra to play for God, Add on a hundred-voice choir.
6 Feature trumpets and big trombones, Fill the air with praises to King God.
7 Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, With everything living on earth joining
in.
8 Let ocean breakers call out, "Encore!" And mountains harmonize the finale— What is Coming 9 A tribute to God when he comes, When he comes to set the earth right. He'll straighten
out the whole world, He'll put the world right, and everyone in it.
Blessings
• The writer begins with a reminder to the Israelites of the God’s faithfulness to the covenant he made to them through Abraham. What are some specific events you can think of that are evidence of God’s faithfulness to them? Have these blessings from God been noticed by others?

• Write down the writer’s reflections on blessings to Israel in the praise psalm. You may use the worksheet at the end of this discussion guide as a format for your work.

• God has been present in creation, past history and our lives today. What comes to your mind as some of the more important of these blessings including your personal blessings? Write down your thoughts on the worksheet.

Praise • The writer begins the psalm by urging us to sing a “brand-new song” of praise, what does that mean to you?

• What is the purpose of praise for God? Do you think that God expects or requires praise? What are the benefits of praising and who needs/receives the biggest blessings from praising?

• Write down what you see as the methods the psalmist is calling for on the praise psalm worksheet.

• What emotion do you see behind the psalmist’s wishes for Israel’s praise of God? Who does he hope becomes involved with the people in this praise?

• How can we go about praising God as individuals, a congregation, and a world? Are there ways to praise God that don’t involve music and singing? The prophet Micah suggests:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

• Write down your ideas for appropriate praise of God on the worksheet

What is Coming • The writer joyfully finishes with the future blessings of God. What is their scope, who will be involved, is it beyond the nation of Israel? Write down you understanding of these blessings on the worksheet?

• What are God’s promises that you joyfully anticipate for yourself, those you love, our congregation and all of creation. Try and narrow them down to the most important and list them on the worksheet.

Closing Litany From Psalm 96

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Jeremiah 23:1-6, Luke 1:68-79 or Psalm 46, Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:33-43

Worksheet for composing a psalm of Praise

Take all of the ideas you have written down and try to assemble them as a poem, narrative, bullet points or in any other way that communicates your feelings about praising God. Some begin their prayers and meditations with some time for praise of God. You might want to used your personal psalm in this way. Reflect on your feelings as you complete your work.

Praise -How has God blessed me, us and all creation

What does the writer of Psalm 98 include as reasons to praise God:

What are the things you would include as reasons to praise God:


How would you express them in psalm of praise:

Praise - How should God be praised?

What means of praise does writer of Psalm 98 called for:

What would you call for as praise for God:

How would you express them in psalm of praise:



What is Coming:

What is the psalmist conviction that God has in store for us:


What do you expect to happen as a result of God’s grace and love for us:


How would you express them in psalm of praise:

Get To Work

For 11/7/2010

Beginning in 539 BCE the Babylonian exiles began to return to Jerusalem with high hopes and enthusiasm. When they arrived the economic conditions, destroyed temple and threats from local enemies confronted them. In the midst of all of this a second temple was constructed but it was a poor semblance of the grandeur of Solomon’s temple. In the midst of the depression and disappointment the prophet Haggai confronts the Governor Zerrubbable, grandson of the last Jewish king, with prophesy calling for the construction of a temple fit for worship. When finished it would be fit to honor God and restore the proper feasts and religious practices. The very short book of Haggai contains only five oracles all clearly dated between August 29 and December 18, 520 BC

· Think of a time when you were struggling with disappointment whether health, financial, relationship or spiritual. What were some things that got you headed back in the right direction? What did you need in order to deal constructively with hard times? Now read Haggai’s prophecy for the down in the mouth Israelite refugees:

Haggai 1:14-15 This is how God got Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people moving— got them working on the Temple of God-of-the-Angel-Armies. This happened on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

Haggai 2:1-3 On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of God came through the prophet Haggai: "Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the people: 'Is there anyone here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much, right?

4-5"'So get to work, Zerubbabel!'—God is speaking. "'Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!' "'Get to work, all you people!'—God is speaking. "'Yes, get to work! For I am with you.' The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! 'Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I'm living and breathing among you right now. Don't be timid. Don't hold back.' …

9'This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.' Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies."

· What motivated this back to work movement that Haggai took to and urged up Zerubbabel? What makes the initiation of this project different than something that Zerubbabbel might have initiated on his own? Why might God have wanted the temple reworked and rebuilt? Did God want a magnificent edifice or was something else behind this project?

· What might have been some of the challenges that the Israelites faced in building a new temple that was worthy of the grandeur of the first? What attitudes, skills, financial limitations might have existed as well as challenges of restoring livable conditions.

· In addition to being a wonderful building the temple represented much more to the people as Solomon declared and prayed in these selections from Solomon’s prayer 1 Kings 8:

Can it be that God will actually move into our neighborhood? … Keep your eyes open to this Temple night and day, this place of which you said, "My Name will be honored there," and listen to the prayers that I pray at this place.

When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that's prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, hearts penetrated by the disaster, hands and arms thrown out to this Temple for help, Listen from your home in heaven.

When someone hurts a neighbor and promises to make things right, and then comes and repeats the promise before your Altar in this Temple, listen from heaven and act accordingly: Judge your servants, making the offender pay for his offense and setting the offended free of any charges.

· What does Solomon lift up as important roles for the temple in the life of the Israelites? With this in mind what would have been the impact on the people if it were restored to its previous glory?

· Use the link to look at the description and diagrams of Solomon’s temple in Wikipedia that was the model for their efforts. What do you think about the complex? What are some features which meet the purposes for its construction?

· What are some of the purposes for this congregation’s facilities? What are some ways we can capture them and also what message should we send to the community as we make decisions about their condition, appearance and use?

· In spite of the promise rebuilding the temple held there were very real obstacles to overcome as we discussed previously. What does God guarantee the people through Haggai’s prophecy in verses 4-5? What does God remind them of in order to give credibility to the promise?

· Verse 9 is the bottom line in the reconstruction project. What will be the most important result of their work? What will bring about the wholeness and holiness God speaks of? What does it say about the importance of experiencing our liturgy and traditions in building a vital faith life together?

· What can we learn from this scripture about our congregational life? What words from the prophecy resonate with you as we move into our future? What do we need to understand about challenges and concerns we might have?

· What can we take from the prophecy and apply to our personal situation. What does it say to you about handling difficulties and disappointment? Have you ever experienced encouragement and motivation in your faith life?

Closing Prayer

Send out Wisdom from the throne of your glory, O Lord, that being present she may labor with us: that we may know at all times what is pleasing to you. Amen. From Oxford Book of Prayer

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Isaiah 65:17-25 or Malachi 4:1-2a, Isaiah 12 or Psalm 98, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, Luke 21:5-19

My God, Not Another Meeting

For 10/31/2010

Life is composed of the meaningful and also of the trivial. Unfortunately the trivial and routine can conspire to drive out the meaningful by dominating our time and energy. The same can be true of our spiritual lives if we lose focus and find ourselves occupied by the form of congregational life while missing its real substance. The writer of Isaiah 1 expresses what might be God’s (and possibly our own) frustration with what can become routine in congregational life:

Isaiah 1:13-17"Quit your worship charades. I can't stand your trivial religious games:Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You've worn me out!I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning.When you put on your next prayer-performance, I'll be looking the other way.No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I'll not be listening.And do you know why? Because you've been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.Go home and wash up. Clean up your act.Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don't have to look at them any longer.Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the down-and-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenseless.

· Isaiah first expresses great frustration with meetings, what do you think are some root causes for this complaint. Are meetings necessarily a bad thing, when have they seemed productive or unproductive to you? When do you think that God, possibly as opposed to ourselves, might think that a meeting was worthwhile? What are some crucial elements in meeting together that Isaiah might find makes such a gathering meaningful?

· The next source of frustration is religion, religion, religion. How do you interpret this criticism, what might be some specifics about “religion” that upset God? What are some specifics that either upset you or make you uncomfortable about congregational “religious” life?

· Isaiah next tells us that because of the transgressions that our prayers will not be heard. Do you think that our prayers can be ignored? What other meaning might “not be listening” have? in John’s gospel Jesus teaches the disciples about the need to integrate the Spirit’s presence in our activities if they are to be meaningful with the following:

But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.

Does this add anything to your thoughts on meaningful prayer and congregational life? How would you incorporate this teaching into the activities and programs of your congregation?

· What is the essence of God’s instructions in the last section of this scripture? What is the nature of a meaningful response in living as God would have us? How do we translate these instructions into the priorities and activities of the congregation? Can you make any connection between Isaiah’s words and Jesus’ teaching in John’s gospel above?

A second Lectionary scripture for today is a letter the Apostle Paul wrote to a congregation he for which he has great admiration and love. In it he talks about his prayers for them:

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.

· What are the two specifics that Paul prays for in the life of the church at Thessalonica? What are some ideas that can be taken from these words and incorporate into our congregational life?

· How do you interpret the concept of a congregation being made “fit for what he’s called you to be”? Do you think that each congregation has a different calling? What are some examples that you can think of?

· According to Paul what must we as humans do and then where must the spiritual enter in order for us to be “fit”? Has our congregation taken any steps in this direction? What more might we do?

· Paul begins a teaching with “If your life honors..,” What do you take from this? How might we have a sense that Jesus is ‘honoring’ what we do as a congregation? What should we be looking for?

· ‘Freely’ is used twice in the final sentence. What does Paul want us to understand about the support system and the power of Jesus’ example our faith brings to us in being “what he’s called you to be.” What do you think that we can do to better tap into this gracious presence in our congregational life?

Closing Prayer

O God, we are bound by old habits and customs that are so much a part of our life that we lose sight of the new life you have called us to live. Give us the wisdom and courage to break with the past and be about your work. Amen.


Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures: Haggai 1:15b-2:9 or Job 19:23-27a, Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21 or Psalm 98 or Psalm 17:1-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17, Luke 20:27-38