Uniting the Kingdom in Joy, TLC, NL, 2 Sam 5-6, Psalm 150, October 22, 2023

Grace and Peace to you from God, who is worthy of our highest praises, and our Savior Jesus, who is our Christ. Amen.

Today’s scripture reading covers the high points of David’s rise to power. Just the high points. But sometimes, I think we need to stop and recognize those moments when everything comes together.

It had been decades since David was the ruddy-faced shepherd boy, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, great-grandson of last week’s heroine, Ruth. David was worlds away from that day in Bethlehem, called in from the pasture, to be anointed by the prophet Samuel as the future king. So many years battling Philistines and other surrounding nations. So many moments of fearing for his life from his former mentor, King Saul, who was jealous of the handsome, successful young man who God had picked to succeed him. One author said David had the longest, roughest internship ever!

But now King Saul was dead, killed in a battle. And certainly wounding David’s heart, Saul’s son Jonathan had died with him. Jonathan, who had loved David fiercely. David may have grieved with the nation the loss of King Saul, who had lost God’s favor, but his personal pain was the loss of Jonathan, who had more than once saved David from his father’s wrath. It was Jonathan who had given up any sights on reigning so that David could assume the throne. Scholars have argued the nuances of the relationship between these men. Suffice it to say, David was broken over Jonathan’s death.

As David grieved, the people of Judah, the southern kingdom, anointed him king. The people of the northern kingdom of Israel, however, had chosen Saul’s son, Ish-Bosheth, as their leader.

Saul’s death set off a bloody civil war between the houses of Saul and David that lasted years. Before it was over, Saul’s son Ish-Bosheth and his general, Abner, were dead, along with so many troops on each side.

* * *

It is against this text that I read the horrifying news this week from the Middle East. This ground – sacred ground for Jewish, Christian and Islamic people – has been the site of tribal and national wars for centuries, from the wars fought by the people of Israel to claim the promised land, 1400 years before the birth of Christ, to the attacks and responses by Hamas and Israel today. This “HOLY LAND,” with its economic, historic, and religious significance, has been the place of nearly constant bloodshed throughout much of history. I can’t help but think and pray for peace and unity as I read the lesson today.

* * *

And so, with that reality check, this is where our lesson begins. Seven years after Judah had anointed David as their king, the people of the northern kingdom of Israel now wanted David as their king too. “It was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.” David’s forces cleared out the opposing Jebusites who still held Jerusalem. Then he moved the capital of the now unified Israel and Judah north from Hebron to Jerusalem, a better stronghold, but just as importantly, a city in the northernmost part of Judah. Central to the unified kingdom. The message was clear – “I am shepherd over the entire land of Israel. I am your king.”

And, that work complete, David had one more task in mind to unify Israel. He gathered legions to move the Ark of the Covenant – the physical sign of the presence of God restored to the center of Jerusalem. As the Ark was pro-cessed, it was accompanied by jubilant people. There was music: songs, lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals. And dancing! Even King David danced before the Lord. Holy dancing – I think about our little ones, un-self-consciously dancing before the Lord and am overjoyed that they are worshiping that way, the way David must have worshiped God, without restraint.

Psalm 150 captures that moment in time, when Israel was unified, when God’s presence was returned to its central place. Help me recite Psalm 150. You don’t need the words – your part is to say Praise God! with lots of gusto each time I point to you! You can even raise your hands if you feel moved! Stand up, in body or spirit, and try it a couple of times:

Praise God! 
Praise God!

Psalm 150 
Hallelujah! 
Praise God in the holy temple; 
Praise God in the mighty firmament;

Praise God for mighty acts; 
Praise God for exceeding greatness;

Praise God with trumpet sound; 
Praise God with lyre and harp;

Praise God with tambourine and dance; 
Praise God with strings and pipe; 

Praise God with resounding cymbals; Yes, 
Praise God with loud-clanging cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. 
Hallelujah!

Later in his reign, things went downhill for King David. The story of David’s sin with Bathsheba is a tragic abuse of power, and David was called out for it. David lost sight of the most important thing –that God was in control. David, like every person God chose to lead the people, was flawed. His reign was marred by the times that he put his desires over what God needed him to do.

I think one can look to King David as someone who attempted to be a man after God’s heart, and sometimes succeeded greatly, but sometimes missed the mark. I think we can look at ourselves and realize that we, too, have moments when we shine, and moments when we fail, both as individuals, and as a faith community.

But I think what today’s lessons so clearly show is that David celebrated those moments when things came together. He looked to God for his next steps when Israel asked him to be their king, and he brought the people’s focus on God when he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. They celebrated that moment with song and dance. Can you picture David, the king over all of Israel, a nearly 40-year-old David, leaping and dancing before the Lord? He didn’t hold back, thinking about what might go wrong in the future. He danced! He praised the Lord with all his might!

There are moments in our life together that we need to be joyous, our delight and praises unrestrained. Those moments when we begin something new, when something for which we’ve pulled together to create finally happens, when our worship and music overwhelm even the most stoic among us. Those moments when our life together must delight our Creator God, and when that happens, we can’t hold back. We can’t suppress our delight, looking ahead at what might be our next pitfall or disappointment. Like David – and whatever that looks like for Trinity – when that happens, we dance, people of God, we dance with all that is within us! We praise the Lord with all our might!

Amen.

Just When You Think You're Settled, Trips, Travels and Journeys, SOJ, July 2, 2023

In the middle of a move to Missouri for internship, I received an email from Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church Pastor Sharon Brown in Clarkdale, AZ. She was doing a service of travels, trips and journeys for the weekend of July 4, 2023, and who better to talk about journeys than their seminarian, in the middle of yet another one! I recorded the sermon for them for their weekend services.

Grace and Peace to you, from God our Creator, and from Jesus, who is our Christ.

On the move. How fitting that Pastor Sharon asked me to give the reflection to you at Spirit of Joy this week about journeys, when so many things are in flux. As you hear these words Sunday, I bring you greetings from Chesterfield, Missouri, where Mike and I have landed for the next year as I begin my final year of seminary as an intern pastor, a vicar, at Trinity Lutheran Church. I also bring you greetings from my seminary community, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, which just completed its move after 55 years on Hyde Park’s East 55th Street to co-locate with Catholic Theological Union near Chicago’s lakefront. So much change! So many endings and new beginnings!

So, just when you think you’re set and settled in, don’t be surprised if God has other plans. I’m sure Abram and Sarai could relate to that. A child-free couple in their 70s, living on the land, accompanied by their nephew, servants, and all the livestock they could handle. I’m sure they expected to live out their days that way. Then, God approached Abram with a call – THE CALL. You, Abram and Sarai. You, childless ones. You, with no particular claim to fame. You will now be called Abraham and Sarah. I have chosen YOU to be the beginning of an entire chosen people.

“Go. To the land that I will show you.” Go out, to a new and unknown place. Following a call requires a lot of trust.

In 2016, I was working as a vocational specialist at West Yavapai Guidance Clinic, helping people with mental illnesses find jobs. Not an easy job. It often takes a couple of tries before these clients find the right fit. I was no one special. Our son Michael had moved to Portland, Oregon, and we were empty-nesters. I expected to work there until I retired, perhaps in another 10 or 12 years. But God had other plans. A year later, I was submitting my candidacy paperwork to the Grand Canyon Synod office, starting the process to become an ordained pastor.

Last year we sold our home in Prescott Valley and moved to Chicago. And this spring, we prayed for God to prepare the place where we would go for internship and start preparing the place that would be my first call a year later. And as God called Abraham and Sarah, God still is calling old and young people to “Go. To the land that I will show you.”

* * *

You do realize that some churches have existed 50 or even 100 years and have never had anyone experience a call to rostered ministry? While Mike and I are members of Emmanuel Lutheran across the hill, the experience of chartering Spirit of Joy was another milepost on my way to recognizing my call. Along with Pastor Bruce Lerum, Spirit of Joy has been instrumental in the calling of TWO pastors so far. There is something special happening here. The Spirit is at work, giving people a vocation, a direction, a call. And God is not just calling ordained pastors. Each one of you. God has gathered you here, is preparing you, and is sending you out to serve, Gather. Prepare. Serve – G.P.S. The original GPS.

* * *

Do you listen for God’s direction in your life? Many years ago, my brother was stuck. He and his family were faithful worshipers, active in Bible study. He had opened a business, but it wasn’t lucrative enough to support his family. He didn’t know what God had in mind for him next. And that was the conversation he had with some men from his congregation: What am I to do now? I feel like I’m drifting. I’m waiting for direction from God, and I’m not hearing anything. One of these men told my brother “God can’t steer a parked car.” God can use whatever you do for good. God can even direct your steps as you go. Just keep moving.

I think the Psalmist understood that thought. Listen to those words from Psalm 139:

“You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 
you discern my thoughts from far away. 
You search out my path and my lying down 
and are acquainted with all my ways…” 
And then the Psalmist continues: 
“If I take the wings of the morning 
and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 
even there your hand shall lead me, 
and your right hand shall hold me fast.” 

If we are walking with God, those steps are being directed. God knows what we are thinking, the roads we are traveling, what we are doing. No matter the path we take, God’s hand is guiding us. In my own life, even the roads that looked like dead-ends to me at the time, or were difficult or painful episodes, in retrospect were occasions that I learned something I needed for the future.

* * *

In the short passage that we heard from Mark’s gospel, Jesus gives Simon and his colleagues a training in a handful of words. In just five verses, Jesus guides his followers in the rhythm of living as disciples. First, he goes off to pray. We should begin our days and our work in prayer. It’s important! Second, the disciples searched for him. We need to actively discern what Jesus is calling us to do. And third, they went off into the neighboring towns, where Jesus proclaimed the message and healed. We need to get outside of our walls and serve in whatever ways we determine we are being called to act.

Take heart, Spirit of Joy. God is with you as you journey, as you seek to determine how God is calling you to do ministry here at this place and throughout the entire Verde Valley. God’s Spirit is up to something in the people gathered, prepared, and serving here. Stay in prayer, seek our Christ’s purpose, and get out into the community to serve out that purpose. I am praying that God, who began good work in you, and in this place, will grow and perfect it in the years ahead. Until I can be with you again and Mike as well, trust in God’s call and keep moving ahead! Amen.

Meeting the Risen Christ, Easter 4A, April 30, 2023

Somehow, the disciple Thomas follows me wherever I go. Emmanuel, Spirit of Joy and for this sermon, Pilgrim. I was supposed to preach my final Ministry In Context field placement sermon at Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School in Chicago on Good Shepherd Sunday, Easter 4A. But since a guest preacher wanted that text the Sunday after Easter, we flipped and picked up Thomas on Easter 4.

Slide 1 (Title slide)

What DO you believe in?

What do you believe in so completely that it would be difficult if not impossible to shake it? What events, principles and institutions do you trust so thoroughly that you would stake your life on them?

After the past few years, I think that list has dwindled for many of us. We’ve struggled to keep our faith in things we once considered trustworthy beyond question:

• After nearly 7 million people died from Covid-19, many of us no longer trust institutions like the Centers for Disease Control, or even trust our neighbors to do what is necessary to keep us safe during a deadly pandemic.
• After so many mass shootings in this country, with no end in sight, we don’t trust that our elected officials are acting in our best interests.
• With most scientific minds in agreement that we’re going to need to change the way we behave to have a livable planet, we don’t trust that our children and grandchildren will have the same opportunities and a better life than we had.
• With our media pandering to the left and to the right, we don’t trust that our news reports represent the truth.

That’s my short list. I imagine you have a list like this, too.

So I ask again, what DO you believe in?

Today’s gospel asks us to ponder that question. We find ourselves with Jesus’ closest followers: on Easter night, most of them were gathered in Jerusalem. It is three days after Jesus, their teacher was crucified. A few women said they saw Jesus early this morning, and he said he was going on to meet the disciples in Galilee; Peter had gone into the tomb and he reports seeing the discarded grave cloths. Cleopas and another follower just ran back all the way from Emmaus where they believe they met Jesus in the breaking of the bread.

Mind you, these are folks who are still on edge – their fears are very real. It the Romans could crucify Jesus for riling up the city, what will they do if these disciples start spreading the news that this Jesus rose from the dead? No doubt, their conversations center on what they believe, and what will they do with their beliefs.

Slide 2

Suddenly, Jesus is standing there with them.

This group of disciples saw the risen Christ – saw him, heard him, felt his presence among them. They had no doubt Christ had risen, risen as he said he would. What a celebration that must have been!

Somehow, though, Thomas missed out. Our text doesn’t tell us where Thomas was, just that he wasn’t with the other 10. If we remember our last words with Thomas, he was the one that convinced the disciples to leave the Jordan for Bethany and Jerusalem, even if it meant dying with Jesus. So, some people have suggested Thomas was out looking for his Lord. Just the kinda guy Thomas was. Whatever the explanation for his absence, Thomas missed it. The Celebration. The Rejoicing. The Big Reveal.

So, I think Thomas gets a terribly bad rap from gospel writer John, who tells us that Thomas insisted on seeing Jesus’ wounds before he would believe. That and Jesus’ response have given Thomas a dreadful nickname through the church’s history: Doubting Thomas. Completely unwarranted in my book. Wouldn’t you want to know for sure if you were among the disciples? The others saw Jesus, touched his wounds. Why would we expect anything different from Thomas?

Slide 3

So, a week later, Thomas is with them. And Jesus joins them again. And you hear something from Thomas that is missing from the week before – a testimony: Thomas recognizes Jesus, sees his wounds and exclaims: “My Lord and My God!” No holding back. No uncertainty. No doubts. A declaration of faith in five words: “My Lord and My God.” No one else had that kind of immediate, profound response. So I’ve always preferred to call Thomas “Faithful Thomas.” “Believing Thomas.” “Trusting Thomas.”

So where does that leave us, nearly two millennia after the Resurrection? The ones who saw the empty tomb and the Risen Savior have been long gone since the early second century. We can’t talk to anyone who knew Jesus, much less reach out and touch Jesus’ hands and feet and side. Twenty generations have passed between us and those who saw the resurrected Jesus.

Perhaps it was not Thomas, but disciples like us that Jesus was addressing when he said “Blessed are those who have not seen but yet have come to believe.”

Blessed are we, who come together, week after week, to worship the Risen Christ that we confess, though we have never seen him…

…Or have we? Have we never seen Jesus?

Perhaps none of us were there that night, but, for one, I know I’ve seen Jesus. I’ve had the privilege of serving the past eight months at Pilgrim, working alongside you, sharing conversations and building relationships. And while I’ve been here, I’ve seen Jesus. I have. I’d like to tell you where that’s happened:  

• I’ve seen Jesus in people who week after week gather to prepare hot meals for people who are hungry, not only for food, but also for a kind word, a place to belong. I know I’ve seen Jesus at Hot Meals.
• I’ve seen Jesus in people who care deeply about worship – people who practice and lead music, who bake bread and prepare communion. I’ve seen Jesus in our young people who faithfully show up to carry the cross and serve as acolytes. I’ve seen Jesus in multimedia technicians who work behind the scenes to carry our worship to those who cannot get to this place. I’ve seen Jesus in our worship.
•  I’ve seen Jesus in people who make sure people who have mobility challenges get to worship and are taken Holy Communion in their homes and hospital beds. I’ve seen Jesus in the way that you care for the least, the longing, the lonely. I’ve seen Jesus among the Care Team. 
• I’ve seen Jesus in our staff: in our pastor who is sometimes sending emails after midnight and with his family have opened their home to people, teaching hospitality without preaching a word. I see Jesus in the diligence of each of our staff: the mix of seriousness and joy in their work. I see Jesus in two interim school administrators who stepped up when they were needed, and in every teacher who puts in a full day here, then goes home and grades papers and creates projects and participates in fund-raising and service projects. Pilgrim staff – I’ve seen Jesus in you.

I could do this all day but indulge me just one more sighting: I’ve seen Jesus on Zoom. Yes, Jesus on Zoom! I’ve seen Jesus in a group who assembles every single Saturday morning to pray for the ministries of this congregation, for our kids, Pilgrim School, people who are sick or in need, for the needs of the community, the nation and the world. I have never experienced anything like it, and if you’ve never logged on, you should make time some Saturday morning at 8:30. Prayer team – I’ve seen Jesus in you.

I suspect that there have been a few Jesus sightings among you as well. Places where the Risen Christ is present for you. Here, in the body of Christ, gathered to worship, to serve, to build relationships. We occasionally hear “Jesus sightings” in Mission Moments and Testimonies. Perhaps “Jesus sightings” need to be a regular part of our life together as Easter People.

That’s because I am convinced that the way that our Christian faith is sustained in this age, this time in which our faith in so many other things is shaken, is through our relationships with others. Other Christ-followers who have seen the risen Christ. And those who need to hear about those Jesus sightings to grow and sustain their faith. We feed each other every time we gather, at the Lord’s table and around the fellowship table. At our Bible studies and at choir practice. At church council and at the quilting group. This is why we can’t do our Christian faith alone To become Jesus’ disciples, we need one another.

Slide 4

Pastor Kyle Childress explained it this way: 

"Sometimes we have to keep at it in order to get it. We keep talking, keep showing up in worship, keep praying, keep singing hymns, keep forgiving and receiving forgiveness, keep feeding the hungry and giving a cup of cool water in his name, keep practicing the Way of Jesus and we too will see the Risen Jesus. By our continuing dialogue with Jesus, we are trained and taught by him in how to see him. It is as if the scales slowly fall from our eyes, and one day we look up and we recognize the Risen Christ in ways and places we never had before. He was in front of our noses the whole time. "

Final Slide (Title Slide Again)

Pilgrim, my time with you is growing short. So just a few more thoughts for you:

Keep loving each other and loving the world. Keep worshiping together and welcoming everyone, including those the world struggles to include. Keep doing life together, even when it’s challenging. Keep forgiving one another, because we are all broken and in need of grace. And while we keep walking the Way of Jesus, day by day, moment by moment, look around. Look around and see the Risen Christ in this place, and in each other.

Amen.