Living Stones, Easter 5, May 14, 2017

Fifth Week of Easter (Year A)

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

– John 14:1-3 (NRSV)

Theme: Living Stones

Reflection:  The first three verses of John 14 introduce Jesus’ farewell discourse, John’s transition between Jesus’ teaching and signs, and his passion. Over the next three chapters, John shares a summary: a brief wrap-up of what Jesus has taught the disciples, what he wants them (and us) to remember.

Reassurance is how Jesus starts and ends this discourse. In short, Jesus says to his disciples in today’s verses: You’re going to see some frightening things soon. They may cause you to want to give up.

Don’t. Lose. Hope.

Just like I’m going to be with my Father, soon you will be with us, too. Believe it. It will be beyond your imagination, and everyone who trusts me will be there. In the meantime, remember all the things I’ve done. Keep doing them. Let the world know my Father through your actions. I will empower you – and because there are so many of you, your works will far outshine mine if you keep acting in the spirit of love.

I doubt Jesus meant this metaphor of a house and dwelling places (or mansion and rooms) literally. God probably isn’t running a boarding house. Jesus is preparing a place, he said. The Son is rejoining the Father, the Word with God, continuing to create. The future of God’s family is where God is.

I am uplifted by the first part of this text. The rest of Jesus’ instructions are daunting: “the one who believes in me will also do the works I do…” We believers have some heavy lifting to do to feed the hungry, heal the sick, show hospitality to refugees, care for orphans and widows, show mercy to the grieving and poor, reach out to those as different from us as the Samaritans and Gentiles were to the Jews, forgive one another, and find other ways to love in the spirit of Jesus.

Overwhelming, isn’t it?

We, too, are living in some troubled times. That “Don’t. Lose. Hope.” message is as much for us as the early Christians. Perhaps no believers you know have been stoned lately, but the Christian family is divided, attacked from the inside out, and misrepresented daily. Our enemies aren’t the only ones who can throw rocks.

We need this strong fortress to protect us from these forces that would weaken us. We need divine guidance to lead us to speak out and to take the right actions. We need to become the Lord’s living stones to be built into a community, so we will reveal God’s love to this hurting world. That is our Lord’s work continuing through us, and I pray for the wisdom and strength to do this kingdom work – not all of it, but the work I’m guided to do each day.

At the same time, I know this particular living stone still can be a stumbling block. I need to continue to listen and learn, not shout out the voices of those around me. This living stone needs to be open to be shaped by the work of the Spirit so I can become a perfect fit for the Master Builder’s construction.

I get a little touchy when I’m being chiseled and sanded. Sometimes it scratches and hurts, and I don’t see it as perfecting. I can be downright unbreakable, and it requires the irresistible work of the Spirit to wear me down. It’s my goal to accept this polishing with a bit more grace.
 
(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of the blog post.) 

Faith App:  How are you letting yourself be shaped and placed in God’s spiritual house? Listen this week for how God is working on your rough spots, or calling you to a new responsibility to grow your faith community.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

O Jesus, I Have Promised, ELW 810

Christ Is Alive! Let Christians Sing, ELW 389

Here, O Lord, Your Servants Gather, ELW 530

I Received the Living God, ELW 477

God of Grace and God of Glory, ELW 705

I Know That My Redeemer Lives, ELW 619

Open Your Ears, O Faithful People, ELW 519

That Where I Am, You May Also Be, Rich Mullins/Michael W. Smith

(The story of this song, based on John 14-15: Rich Mullins composed this song as part of a rough recording of songs for his next album, “The Jesus Record,” nine days before his tragic death. Michael W. Smith finished this song for the album Christian artists recorded from his compositions.)

Big House, Audio Adrenaline

One Way, Hillsong United

Shelter (You Are My Refuge), Sonicflood

Keep Making Me, Sidewalk Prophets

MUSIC VIDEO

When Love Broke Through, TobyMac http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44l9PRI4c2M

(This would be a good video to show in a contemporary music service)

LESSONS

Acts 7:55-60 Then they dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him.

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me.

1 Peter 2:2-10 Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house.

John 14:1-14 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.

Summary of the Lessons: What are we allowing God to make of us? Some people are living stones, open to whatever purpose God has for them, ready to be chiseled and shaped and polished. Others are murderous stones with their hands over our ears, shouting so they never recognize the voice of God, stumbling blocks for others. The difference is that some people are opened by the Holy Spirit, others are unwilling to see.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

L:  Christ is Risen!

C: He is Risen, Indeed!

L:  Protect me, O Lord, give me a safe shelter

C:  Rescue me from the perils that surround me

L:  Please listen to me when I cry out in anguish,

C:  Surround me like a fortress until I feel secure.

L:  I’ve given myself to you alone, come what may,

C:  On your rock-solid foundation I’m building my life.

L:  Guide me around every unseen trap and temptation.

C:  Master Builder, keep refining me every day of my life.

L:  From my first cry to my last breath, my life is yours.

C:  Lord, deliver me from people who would harm me.

L:  Every day I listen and try to do what makes you smile,

C:  In your kindness, Faithful One, please come to my aid.

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, we confess how closed-minded we are about your truths,

C:  Our scriptures, as well as preachers and teachers, reveal you to us.

L:  But we reject people who see visions, dismiss their dreams.

C:  Open our eyes and ears to the Spirit at work throughout our church.

L:  Lord, we confess we struggle to allow you to guide our lives,

C:  Information is available 24/7, as fast as the speed of our internet,

L:  But you say you are the way, the truth and the life every moment

C:  Help us place our times in your hands, even when we are afraid.

L:  And Lord, we confess how we resist your attempts to grow us;

C:  Our hearts are hard, far from the softness of your servant heart.

L:  Eternal life is our focus, rather than building your kingdom now.

C: Keep shaping us, Lord, as we discover how to love like you did.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  A rock is an object – one we can use to build up or tear down. We know rocks in construction can build homes and communities, and rocks in walls divide. Rocks in landscapes add beauty, and rocks used as weapons can kill. We need to consider our own rocks of intolerance, hurtful words and spiteful actions, and stop ignoring the injustices that put God’s people to death. Open our eyes and ears to the cries of your people now.

Hear this Good News:  Our faithful God has redeemed us from our actions that cause distress and division. We who believe in God are not rejected or put to shame. Even with all our flaws and rough edges, God has chosen us, sees us as holy, and with great mercy, has forgiven us. Walk in the way, the truth and life of Jesus the Christ

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Ever-Creating God … Use us as your living stones, precious and chosen, to construct your spiritual house. Shape us into structures of welcome and grace, joined together with joists of justice and mortar of mercy. Give us this shared vision, so all people will begin to see God’s kingdom rising, not someday, but in our world starting today.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for revealing yourself to us in this gift of bread and wine. Thank you for choosing us and continuing to grow and shape us as living stones to create your spiritual house, your kingdom come in this place. Send us now, still rough and unfinished, but willing to share your love and light with everyone we meet.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  You are our rock and our refuge,

C:  We can rely on you to shelter us;

L:  You are our solid cornerstone,

C:  The foundation that never fails.

L:  Go now, as living stones, to love and to serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God!

First Reading Acts 7:55-60 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Much like Jesus’ first sermon in his hometown incited violence, Stephen’s prophetic words following the resurrection incite the Jewish leaders.

⁵⁵ But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” ⁵⁷ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. ⁵⁸ Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he died.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2:2-10 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The writer of 1 Peter provides Gentile believers with their identity in Christ. But we, too, fall into this description of the raw materials of the kingdom.

² Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation— ³ if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

⁴ Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and ⁵ like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in scripture:

“See, I am laying in Zion a stone,
    a cornerstone chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

⁷ To you then who believe, he is precious; but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected
    has become the very head of the corner,”

⁸ and

“A stone that makes them stumble,
    and a rock that makes them fall.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

¹⁰ Once you were not a people,
    but now you are God’s people;
once you had not received mercy,
    but now you have received mercy.

Gospel John 10:1-10 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: This passage begins John’s farewell discourse that continues from the Last Supper to Jesus’ capture in the Garden of Gethsemane. In these three chapters, Jesus gives his disciples (including us) promises and vision for the future.

14 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

⁸ Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. ¹² Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. ¹³ I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

Voice of the Shepherd, Easter 4, May 7, 2017

Fourth Week of Easter (Year A)

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Abundant life is not something to earn or achieve, buy or barter for. Rather, it is a gift, the sheer gift of a God who loves us enough to lay down his life for us. There are so many thieves and bandits in this world who would rob us of life, who would cheat us of abundance. And so Jesus comes as the gatekeeper and good shepherd, the one who knows his sheep -- intimately and truly -- and who calls us by name so that we, hearing the difficult truth about ourselves, may believe and receive the second and wonderful truth about God's great and victorious love for us.

– David Lose

Theme: Voice of the Shepherd

Reflection:  If you were to ask me to name the best teacher I’ve ever known, Mrs. Vick would get my vote, hands down.

Gwen Vick wasn’t my kindergarten teacher. She wasn’t my son’s kindergarten teacher either. But reporting on education in a small community for eight years, I spent a lot of time in her classroom.

•               Mrs. Vick loved teaching.

•               Mrs. Vick loved teaching kindergarten.

•               Mrs. Vick loved mentoring kindergarten teachers.

•               Mrs. Vick loved her students.

•               And her students loved her.

Every school day, she was absorbed in preparing these early learners with the fundamentals of every subject they would take in the future – math, language, science, social studies, art, physical education and more. She modeled kindness and manners. She taught these impulsive 5- and 6-year-olds patience. She delighted in creativity.

And teaching kindergarten was her life. She planned lessons in the evenings, designed bulletin boards over the weekends, dreamed up new ideas to inspire her children over the summer. She talked her husband into building her a workroom at their rural Arizona home so she had the space to create and store all the materials she used. I’ve never met someone so devoted to her vocation.

By mid-year, students would freeze in mid-sentence when she asked for their attention. They recognized her voice in the gym, in the cafeteria, on the playground. She knew her students and their families, making sure a little one ate breakfast if she didn’t have enough at home, or went to the nurse’s office for clean clothing or a nap if he needed them. These children were fortunate enough to have everything they needed to learn, and as a result, they were filled with wonder and joy in abundance.

An hour of watching her work with and care for her students would recharge my soul for days to come.

Good Shepherd Sunday isn’t my favorite week of the church year. Most people’s knowledge of sheep is limited to “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and “Baa, Baa Black Sheep.” That is, sheep are raised for wool and meat, and their skills are limited to following and going astray. Today's Bible readers don’t have the deep knowledge of sheep and shepherds that our ancestors did.

I’ve often thought that Good Shepherd Sunday needs a new image to which today’s disciples could relate. Sheep, shepherds, pastures and gates are irrelevant to most people.

If Jesus had come to earth in our lifetime, perhaps we would be celebrating Good Kindergarten Teacher Sunday, and the children that hear the teacher’s voice and follow her, because she cares for them and provides for their every need.

I know I’m outnumbered. Psalm 23 is by far Christians’ favorite Psalm and most often the only one they can recite by heart. I’d venture to guess that more art exists of Jesus as the Good Shepherd than any other image of Jesus, except possibly Jesus on the cross.

But when I think of people devoted to the lives in their care, I picture this wonderful teacher, surrounded by her beaming students, a contemporary flock with their dedicated shepherd.

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of the blog post.) 

Faith App:  Is there someone you can reach this week with a small gift of abundant life? It doesn’t have to be costly, in fact it may cost nothing at all. Consider inviting someone to lunch, visiting a shut-in or someone who lives in a nursing home, taking a child fishing or on a hike, or teaching a senior to use Facetime or Skype with their grandchildren.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

The King of Love My Shepherd Is, ELW 502

I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say, ELW 332/611

The Lord’s My Shepherd, ELW 778

Jesus Calls Us; o’er the Tumult, ELW 696

Lead Me, Guide Me, ELW 768

My Shepherd, You Supply My Need, ELW 782

Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us, ELW 789

God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending, ELW 678

Have No Fear, Little Flock, ELW 764

Amazing Grace, ELW 779

We Are Called, ELW 720

You Never Let Go, Matt Redman

Shoulders, For King and Country

He Will Carry Me, Mark Schultz

Sound of Your Voice, Steven Curtis Chapman

Good to Be Alive, Jason Gray

Forever Reign, One Sonic Society/Hillsong

Blink, Revive

LESSONS

Acts 2:42-47 All who believed were together and had all things in common.

Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

1 Peter 2:19-25 Now you have returned to the shepherd and the guardian of your souls.

John 10:1-10 He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 

Summary of the Lessons:  It is not only Jesus who is the Shepherd and the Gate, but once we recognize the Shepherd and follow his voice, we are called to start living into this abundant life as a community, securing this goodness for all the people of God. How can we live with glad and generous hearts and not assure the same for our neighbors?

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 23

L:  Christ is Risen!

C:  He is Risen Indeed!

L:  Gentle Good Shepherd, you provide everything I need,

C:  Lush, verdant pastures with time to rest and recharge,

L:  Scenic, still waters to restore my overwrought soul,

C:  Well-worn paths to walk, so I can learn to rely on you.

L:  Even when the way leads into death’s dark valley,

C:  I’m not afraid, because I see you walking beside me,

L:  I know you can protect me from every danger,

C:  I follow, and my trust increases with every step.

L:  You serve me a feast, even as threats surround me,

C:  Sweet oil bathes my brow, gifts overwhelm me.

L:  You pursue me with love throughout my life;

C:  Invite me to stay in your home forevermore.

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, allowing you to lead should come naturally,

C:  To follow the voice of the Shepherd who loves us,

L:  To ignore the lure of possessions and false idols,

C:  But how easily our desires can lead us astray.

L:  Gratitude also should flow from our lips, Lord,

C:  When we consider how much we’ve been given,

L:  When we realize everything comes to us as gift,

C:  But we forget to praise you, God, for our success.

L:  Finally, Lord, we struggle to be the body of Christ,

C:  When we ignore the needs of others around us,

L:  When we focus on our individual heavenly reward,

C:  Rather than building your kingdom, day by day.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God ... we fall far short of the vision you have for us, in hearing your voice, responding in gratitude to your gracious providing, and sharing our abundance with others. It's a tall order to maintain life in community. Guide us, we pray, to be generous to those who have need, patient with those with different opinions, and kind to those who are hurting.

Hear this Good News:  This promise is certain – No matter how far astray we wander, or how often we fail to heed our Shepherd’s voice, goodness and mercy pursues us every day, not because of anything we’ve done, but by the overflowing grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Your sin is forgiven, and you are restored to the fellowship of God’s fold.

In the name of…

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Shepherd King … we pray that we always will recognize your voice, calling us away from distractions that rob us of peace, onto the path that leads to life – abundant and joyful life in you. Help us to be thankful for every gift you’ve given us, and with glad and generous hearts, share what we have with all your beloved people, assuring they, too, have everything they need to live well.  Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for this table you’ve provided for us – lavish bread and overflowing cup, small signs of the abundant life you promise. Because of your gentle tending, we’ve learned to trust you and recognize your voice. Lead us out, ready to share what you’ve given us, so that through our lives, others also may know your love. Amen. 

SENDING

L:  Through the teaching and the worship

C:  In our gatherings and breaking bread,

L:  As we pray and serve people in need,

C:  Abundant life is given and received.

L:  Go now, beloved flock, to love and to serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God!

First Reading Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Following the Holy Spirit’s arrival at Pentecost, the apostles and new disciples lived in an idyllic community. This kind of communal and spiritual perfection is hard to maintain.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

⁴³ Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All who believed were together and had all things in common; ⁴⁵ they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. ⁴⁶ Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous^[c] hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Second Reading 1 Peter 2:19-25 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: The writer of 1 Peter is addressing persecuted exiles who are following the Way, dispersed from their homeland and having no rights or ownership in their land. Take heart, the text says. Your Lord and Savior Jesus also suffered unjustly.

¹⁹ For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God’s approval. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

²² “He committed no sin,
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

²³ When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel John 10:1-10 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: John continues his many “I am” references to try to capture the essence of who Jesus is. Today, Jesus uses two metaphors first century people would have understood to describe his care for his beloved people.

10 “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. ² The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ⁶ Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁷ So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.