1/25
Back to church after a day long
retreat at Stony Point with Presbytery’s Committee
on Witness to Society and the World. (CWSW). I can never remember that.
It’s part of the work when money has disappeared and structures crumbling how
to start all over building from the grass roots up. Stony Point’s Rick right
there, helping us work it through. It's the same story everywhere in the church.
Berik and Leila have a new opening upstairs. With a live band. These openings have become anticipated events among a certain circle.
Berik and Leila have a new opening upstairs. With a live band. These openings have become anticipated events among a certain circle.
Getting few things set for tomorrow. Too tired and
beat to join RL for awhile.
1/26
The bitter cold continues. Joe et
al have to be moved on. (Just call 911…)
Deacon James shows up early to
help set up. Dion quickly creating our circle of chairs. Jeremy warming up,
getting ready.
We
start with How Firm a Foundation with
a good solid beat and rootsy feel. And with Psalm 27, we do the Lord is my light which always has a good roll to it.
Great for jazz improv over, if only Andre were here.
Young couple comes in, sits in the
pews awhile. Leaves. Sometimes coming up front is in intimidating. But if they’d only stay for the
reflection…
The first reading is ISAIAH 9:1-4. OK, so it’s the season of Epiphany.
Light again. I get it. So enough with 2 The
people who walked in darkness
have seen a great
light; those who lived in a land of deep
darkness — on them
light has shined….this was the first reading for midnight mass on Christmas Eve.
But the context is different. Now it’s a metaphor, not for the birth, but the
beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
People wonder abut the day of
Midian. And while we are talking, Stephen looks it up. Somehow I’d forgotten the
wonderful story with Gideon. God wanting only those who lapped water like dogs.
The torches in jars. The trumpets..(Judges 7 and 8….)
People are clear…they’re looking
for upbeat, positive passages during this winter season. The weather is cold
enough.
The SECOND
READING( 1 CORINTHIANS 1:10-18) speaks of a church divided. Not over theology
or doctrine or ideas but over
personalities. When you read Paul's personal words re his baptisms, 14I thank God that I baptized none
of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15so that no one can say that you
were baptized in my name. 16(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond
that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) You just know that has to
be authentic, never intended to be read as scripture 2000 plus years later.
Also good to note that Chloe was
clearly a female head of household with money. Perhaps even the sponsor/host of
the church.
Paul calls us back from what
divides us, to what is central. As Dion
says that’s all it is, to remember why we are here, for God, and for each
other. The rest doesn’t matter.
Finally,
the GOSPEL, MATTHEW 4:12-23. The
beginning of Jesus’ministry. We note that in this gospel, Jesus waits until
John’s ministry has ended before launching his own. And that he begins pretty
much continuing John’s message, 17From that time Jesus began to
proclaim, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.
We note that he had made a strategic retreat
to Capernaum to avoid Herod. And that we’e got prophecy fulfillment again.
*Did Jesus go this route because he knew people would connect to what they knew?
*Did he
actually seek to fulfill prophecy?
*Did he even
have a choice?
And we’re
fascinated in his calling of the fishers
to make them fishers of men, as the King James says. And we stop to recognize
that ti's is the story of ordinary people, in the midst if ordinary lives,
called out to do extraordinary things. Everyday
people, as Sly Stone once sang….
We wonder how
they could leave…immediately…until I recall that in Occupy I knew a number of
people who had waked away form jobs, families, lives because they believed it
was a kairos moment, a moment to decide.
Marsha as
always is wishing the Bible gave us more details. What exactly is it we are
supposed to do?
And we also
note that they were mending their nets and that my
colleague Heidi had done a whole sermon on mending their nets. Old needs people who can fix
things. Take what we have, tears, holes and all, and make it work…
Parenthetically, as Jesus preaches
good news, I mention that the word,
evangelium, gospel, good news…had political import. Usually with news of
military victories. But also to announce tax relief, the end of a tax. For an
occupied people, that would be good news.
Someone asks why when Jesus heals it’s
always …every disease and every sickness among the people….No wonder people followed.
In the end we’re left with Zebedee in the
boat. Why didn’t he go? Too old? How does he feel about his boys leaving?
Happy? Sad? Abandoned? Stunned? What is going on in that boat with Zebedee
alone? We’ll continue to reflection that…
Session confirms Stephen as our
commissioner for the next Presbytery meeting. To speak to our overture about drug policy and the devastating and unfair affect of current drug laws on the
poor and people of color.
Jamie will come with me to work on my apartment
. Step by step.
Call from RL. The boiler's off. Head back to he church. Nothing we do works. This is not good.
Call from RL. The boiler's off. Head back to he church. Nothing we do works. This is not good.
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