adam vollmer's poem for his uncle eric

There are days where I think about the past,
Wishing I knew how to make those days last.
Listening to songs that remind me of you on blast.
Realizing that the memories of you can never be surpassed.
Seems like days like these are always overcast.
But I’m sitting here in the now.
I find myself wondering how.
How is it fair?
That I’m down here, and your God knows where.
I pray you're up there.
I send another prayer.
You went through so much pain and despair,
You deserve to breathe that heaven air.
So I'm shedding tears in remembrance, not grief.
Even though your time here was too brief.
But you lived life by your own belief.
It was your lifestyle’s answer I’ll never forget.
The diabetes to the Cola, and the cancer to cigarettes.
You lived life how you wanted and that’s what inspires me the most.
I feel a strong bond even if we weren’t so close.
I held your hand as you faded away, you felt so distant.
Now that you’re gone, a part of the world is missing.
I’m writing this crying wishing I could still hug you.
I know you loved me and I hope you know I still love you.

WHERE IS GOD

WHERE IS GOD

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY

IN BIBLICAL TIMES
WHEN ABRAHAM LIVED
WHEN MOSES LIVED
WHEN JESUS LIVED
THE GODS WERE THOUGHT TO DWELL
IN HIGH PLACES
THESE PLACES WERE CALLED
MT OLYMPUS
OR HEAVEN
OR THE FIRMAMENT
OR PARADISE

SO SHRINES WERE BUILT
IN HIGH PLACES
TO WORSHIP THE GODS.

CONVERSELY
SOME OF THE GODS WERE THOUGHT
TO DWELL UNDERGROUND
IN THE WORLD OF THE DEAD
IN PLACES CALLED
HELL
OR HADES
OR THE UNDERWORLD


THE FIRST WORDS OF JESUS
TO SIMON PETER WERE
COME BE MY DISCIPLE
HIS LAST WORDS TO PETER WERE
COME FOLLOW ME.
EVERY STEP OF THE WAY
BETWEEN THOSE TWO CHALLENGES
PETER NEVER FAILED TO FOLLOW
EVEN THOUGH HE OFTEN STUMBLED.







IN MATTHEW
WE SEE PETER
IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
BRAVE ENOUGH
TO WIELD A SWORD
AND CUT OFF
THE EAR OF THE HIGH PRIEST'S SERVANT'

BUT IN THE SAME GOSPEL
PETER
STANDING IN THE HIGH PRIEST'S COURTYARD
WITHERS UNDER THE SCORNING GAZE
OF A SERVANT GIRL
WITHERS TO THE POINT
THAT HE SWEARS
THAT HE DOES NOT KNOW THE MAN


A WHILE AGO
I WAS A WITNESS
TO A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT.

I HAD COME TO HELP MY FRIEND
AND HIS SON--IN-LAW
CONSTRUCT A GARAGE.

THE SON-IN-LAW
WAS INSTALLING A STEEL BEAM
ABOUT A THOUSAND POUNDS
AND DIDN'T WANT ANYONE AROUND
PREFERRING TO WORK ALONE
SO HE SENT HIS FATHER-IN-LAW
AND ME FOR SUPPLIES
WHEN WE CAME BACK
THE STEEL BEAM HAD FALLEN ON HIM

QUICKLY WE CALLED 911
AND THEN TRIED TO LIFT THE BEAM.
IT WAS TOO HEAVY
WE COULDN'T DO IT
SO WHILE WE WAITED FOR THE RESCUE SQUAD
I WENT AND HELD HIS HAND
AND SAID THE LORD'S PRAYER
OUT LOUD IN TO HIS EAR.

I CONTINUED HOLDING HIS HAND
AND PRAYING OUT LOUD
UNTIL THE RESCUE SQUAD CAME

WHEN THEY CAME
THEY PRONOUNCED HIM DEAD

THEN THEY ASKED ME TO LEAVE

AND AS I LEFT A GREAT NUMBNESS
A QUIET AND EMPTINESS
DESCENDED UPON ME.

I SAID TO MY FRIEND
I FEEL NUMB.

HE SAID
SO DO I

AFTER THAT INCIDENT
I DISCUSSED THE EMPTY FEELING
WITH SEVERAL CLERGY FRIENDS OF MINE
THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON FEELING
THAT THEY ALL HAD SHARED


LISTEN CLOSELY
AS I QUOTE
A PORTION
OF FIRST KINGS
ABOUT ELIJAH


THE WORD OF THE LORD SAID TO ME
GO OUT
AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN
BEFORE THE LORD,
FOR THE LORD IS ABOUT TO PASS BY.

NOW THERE WAS A GREAT WIND,
SO STRONG THAT IT WAS SPLITTING MOUNTAINS
AND BREAKING ROCKS IN PIECES
BEFORE THE LORD,
BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND;

AND AFTER THE WIND AN EARTHQUAKE,
BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE;

AND AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE
A FIRE,
BUT THE LORD WAS NOT
IN THE FIRE;

AND AFTER THE FIRE
A SOUND OF SHEER SILENCE


WHEN ELIJAH HEARD IT,
HE WRAPPED HIS FACE IN HIS MANTLE

THE SHEER SILENCE THAT ELIJAH HEARD
AND THE NUMBING QUIET THAT I HAD FELT
WERE BOTH THE SAME THING

IN BOTH GOD WAS SPEAKING TO MAN
IN A VOICE LOUDER THAN THE WIND
LOUDER THAN THE EARTHQUAKE
LOUDER THAN THE FIRE

IT WAS GOD'S VOICE
YELLING IN MY EAR
LEAN ON ME
LEARN OF ME
I AM ALL YOU NEED RIGHT NOW
AND MY SILENCE AND MY LOVE SURROUND YOU
LEAN ON ME
LEARN OF ME
YOU ARE MY BELOVED

BUT GOD
IS TOO CLOSE TO US
THAT WAY
SO WE LOOK FOR GOD
IN OTHER PLACES
HIGH AND LOW

WE WANT TO BLAME GOD
FOR THE DEATH
WE ENVISION A GOD
WHO PLAYS DICE
WITH HIS CREATIONS

WE ENVISION A GOD
WHO IF HE WERE A REAL FATHER
WE WOULD HAVE HIM ARRESTED
FOR CHILD ABUSE

WE FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE IN A GOD
WHO LOVES US

WE WANT A GOD
WHO LOOKS,
ACTS
AND THINKS LIKE US.

WE FORGET
THAT WE ARE MADE IN HIS IMAGE
NOT HE IN OURS

SO WE LOOK PAST GOD
TO TRY TO FIND GOD
WE ARE NOT THE KIND OF PEOPLE
THAT PAUL WRITES ABOUT IN ROMANS
COUNTERING THE BELIEF
THAT GOD DWELT EXCLUSIVELY
IN HEAVEN
OR IN THE UNDERWORLD
WHEN HE SAYS

PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAITH
WILL NEVER ASK
WHO WILL GO UP TO HEAVEN
TO BRING CHRIST DOWN?”

NEITHER WILL THEY ASK
WHO WILL GO DOWN
INTO THE WORLD OF THE DEAD
TO RAISE HIM TO LIFE?”

ALL WHO ARE ACCEPTABLE
BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH
SIMPLY SAY, “
THE MESSAGE
IS AS NEAR
AS YOUR MOUTH
OR YOUR HEART.


THE MESSAGE THAT GOD
WALKS AMONG US
LAUGHS WITH US
CRIES WITH US
TRIES TO INSPIRE US
SO THAT THE WORLD
WE LIVE IN
MIGHT BE BETTER


THIS PETER KNEW
SIMPLE IMPULSIVE PETER
WHO AT THE VOICE OF JESUS
LEAPED FROM THE BOAT
TO WALK ON WATER
WHO WALKED ON WATER
UNTIL HE THOUGHT
HE WAS DOING IT HIMSELF
THEN HE SANK
AND CRIED
LORD SAVE ME

BUT JESUS REACHED DOWN
AS HE DID SO MANY TIMES WITH PETER

AS HE DOES SO MANY TIMES WITH US
AND SAVES US
AS HE SAVED PETER

AND WHEN HE SAVES US
HE SAYS TO US
WHAT I HAVE DONE
YOU MUST DO
I GIVE YOU A WORLD TO SAVE.
TO MAKE BETTER
TO ROOT OUT EVIL

EARLY MAN DISCOVERED FIRE.
IT MADE LIFE BETTER FOR HIM
I GIVE YOU LOVE
AND I ASK YOU
TO SHARE IT WITH ALL

BUT AS PAUL SAYS
IN ROMANS
BUT HOW ARE THEY TO CALL
ON ONE
IN WHOM THEY HAVE NOT BELIEVED?
AND HOW
ARE THEY TO BELIEVE
IN ONE
OF WHOM THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD?
AND HOW
ARE THEY TO HEAR
WITHOUT SOMEONE
TO PROCLAIM HIM?
AND HOW ARE THEY
TO PROCLAIM HIM
UNLESS THEY ARE SENT?

AS IT IS WRITTEN, “
HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET
OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS!

BUT I SAY
HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET
OF THOSE
WHO DARE TO LEAP FROM THE BOAT
AND WALK ON WATER FOLLOWING JESUS


WE ARE CHALLENGED
TO REMEMBER
THAT GOD DOES NOT LIVE
REMOTELY IN THE SKY
OR UNDER THE EARTH
BUT HERE WITH US.

WE ARE CHALLENGED
TO REMEMBER
THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US
IN THE SILENCE OF OUR HEARTS
AND WE NEED
TO BE QUIET
AND LISTEN

WHICH IS TO SAY
THAT WE MUST PRAY

AND FINALLY
WE ARE CHALLENGED
TO REMEMBER
THAT IF WE BRING LOVE
INTO THE WORLD
AND INTO OUR LIVES .
WE WILL ONCE MORE
HAVE GIVEN MAN FIRE

AND WE ARE ASKED
TO BE WILLING
TO LEAP
FROM THE BOAT IN FAITH
KNOWING GOD
WILL SUSTAIN US
AND BRING US
SAFELY HOME

THE PURSE

THE PURSE



LET ME START BY TELLING YOU A FEW STORIES

THE WORD CALENDAR
COMES FROM THE LATIN WORD CALENDS
WHICH MEANS THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
SO A CALENDAR
IS A DEVICE
THAT HELPS PEOPLE
FIND THE FIRST OF THE MONTH

THE WORD CALENDS
ALSO MEANS
THE COIN PURSE OF THE MONEY LENDER
WHO WOULD COME BY
ON THE FIRST OF THE MONTH
WITH HIS PURSE OPEN
TO RECEIVE THE PAYMENTS DUE HIM

DURING THE ADVENT SEASON
THAT PRECEDED THE MILLENIUM
I WAS ASKED TO PREACH
ON THE MILLENIUM
THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF FEAR
IN THE COMMUNITY
ONE FEAR WAS THAT THE COMPUTERS WOULD FAIL
THE OTHER WAS A STRONG UNDERCURRENT
THAT GOD HAD PICKED THE YEAR 2000
AS A TIME TO COME
TO COLLECT OUR DEBT TO HIM
THAT HE WOULD COME WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
LIKE A MONEY LENDER DEMANDING PAYMENT
AND BECAUSE WE WERE IMPOVERISHED
AND COULDN'T PAY
WE WOULD BE PUNISHED

NOT A NEW IDEA
OUR FOUNDER
MARTIN LUTHER
LABORED MUCH OF HIS LIFE
UNDER THE IDEA
THAT TRY AS HE MIGHT
HE COULD NOT PLEASE GOD
AND AS A RESULT
AN ANGRY
MEAN SPIRITED GOD
WOULD PUNISH HIM

IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
NICODEMUS
COMES AT NIGHT
TO MEET WITH JESUS

HE WAS AN IMPORTANT RICH MAN
A LEADER IN THE COMMUNITY
HE CAME AT NIGHT
HIS COMING AT NIGHT
DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
HE WAS AFRAID TO BE SEEN
WITH JESUS

A JEWISH PROVERB OF THE TIMES
SAID
IF YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO A MAN DEEPLY
COME TO HIS HOUSE WHEN THE CHILDREN
WERE ASLEEP
AS THOSE OF US WHO ARE
OR WERE PARENTS KNOW
THAT USUALLY MEANS
LATE AT NIGHT
SO NICODEMUS
CAME TO JESUS AT NIGHT

WHO WAS THIS NICODEMUS
A PHARISEE
A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE
AN OBSERVER OF ALL THE LAWS
THAT MUST BE OBEYED
TO PLEASE GOD

JUDAISM HAD DISINTEGRATED
INTO A SERIES OF MAN MADE LAWS
CREATED BY A PROCESS CALLED PILPUL
WHICH WAS A STUDY OF THE LAW
TO DISCOVER ALL ITS SHADES AND MEANINGS
AND THE ONES WHO PROMOTED THIS STUDY
WERE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

SOME EXAMPLES OF THESE MAN MADE RULES
YOU COULDN'T WORK ON THE SABBATH
SO A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG
COULD NOT WALK ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE THE LEG WAS A BURDEN
AND THEREFORE WALKING WAS WORK

IF YOU WERE HURT
YOU COULD BANDAGE THE WOUND
BUT YOU COULDN'T PUT MEDICINE ON THE WOUND
BECAUSE THAT WAS WORK

ALSO IF A GENTILE WOMAN WAS HAVING A BABY
YOU COULDN'T HELP HER
BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT ONE OF THE CHOSEN PEOPLE
TO WHOM THE LAW HAD BEEN GIVEN

THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES
WERE CONSTANTLY STUDYING THE LAW
ADDING SOME REQUIREMENTS
TO DAILY LIVING
OR FORBIDDING
SOME ACTIONS
IN DAILY LIVING
YOU REMEMBER THAT JESUS WAS ACCUSED
OF BAD CONDUCT
WHEN HE HEALED PEOPLE ON THE SABBATH DAY
BECAUSE HEALING WAS WORK

THEY OPPRESSED THE PEOPLE SO MUCH
WITH THESE LAWS
THAT JESUS CRIED OUT
YOU MAKE UP HEAVY BURDENS
FOR MEN TO CARRY
BUT DO NOTHING
TO HELP THEM CARRY
THEIR BURDENS

OR AGAIN JESUS CRIED OUT
THE LAW EXISTS FOR THE PEOPLE
NOT THE PEOPLE FOR THE LAW

SO NICODEMUS
A GOOD MAN
BURDENED DOWN BY LAWS
HE COULD NOT KEEP
OR FOUND IT DIFFICULT
TO KEEP
COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO FIND THE LIGHT
COMES IN THE NIGHT
TO HAVE HIS BURDEN LIGHTENED

AND JESUS SAYS TO HIM
JESUS SAYS TO HIM
BE BORN AGAIN

HOW MANY TIMES
HAVE WE SAID
IN OUR OWN LIFE
I AM TIRED OF THE WAY THINGS ARE
I AM GOING TO TRY TO CHANGE MY LIFE
I WILL BE REBORN


BUT HOW WE SAY
WITH NICODEMUS
HOW CAN WE BE REBORN
AND JESUS SAYS
BY THE WATER AND THE SPIRIT
OF YOUR OWN BAPTISM
BY THAT BAPTISM
YOU HAVE RECEIVED REBIRTH
YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN

BUT
HAVING BEEN GIVEN SUCH A GIFT
WE FEEL UNWORTHY
WE CANNOT MEASURE UP TO THE MARK
WE CANNOT FILL THE MONEY LENDER'S
PURSE
UNWORTHY OF THE GIFT OF REBIRTH
WE FEEL THAT WE WILL BE CRUSHED
BY ITS WEIGHT
BY ITS OBLIGATIONS

BUT JESUS SAYS
MY FATHER SO LOVED THE WORLD
HE SENT ME
HE SENT ME
TO SAVE IT
AND ANYONE WHO BELIEVES IN ME
BELIEVES IN THE FATHER
AND WILL RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE

BUT THE GIFT IS TOO GREAT
TOO GREAT FOR US
TOO GREAT FOR US
WHO ARE TOO SMALL
HOW CAN WE EVER REPAY YOU
BELIEVE IN ME
IS ALL I ASK
BELIEVE
AND LET YOUR LIFE FLOW
FROM THAT BELIEF
BELIEVE IN ME

BUT WE SHALL STUMBLE
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE WEAK
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE UNWORTHY
BELIEVE IN ME
BUT WE ARE SINNERS
I HAVE FORGIVEN YOU

SO WHEN THE TEMPTER COMES
AS COME HE WILL
TO MAKE YOU DOUBT
YOUR BELIEFS
TO MAKE YOU FEEL
UNLOVED AND UNWANTED BY GOD
TELL THE TEMPTER
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
TELL THE TEMPTER
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID
MY DEBT HAS BEEN PAID BY JESUS
WHO DID NOT PAY
THE GREAT PRICE HE PAID
SO THAT LATER HE COULD DESTROY ME
AS YOU ARE TRYING TO DESTROY ME

TELL THE TEMPTER
WHEN HE COMES
WITH HIS OPEN PURSE
TELL THE TEMPTER THE MONEY LENDER
TELL HIM

CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID

CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL

CLOSE YOUR PURSE
AND MARK MY BILL
PAID IN FULL BY JESUS

THE PARADE

THE PARADE

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE
A FEW STORIES WITH YOU

IN ANCIENT ROME
AND IN OTHER CAPITAL CITIES
AROUND THE TIME THAT JESUS LIVED
WHEN A RULER WAS VICTORIOUS IN BATTLE
THEY WOULD RAISE A MONUMENT TO HIM.
ON IT THE RULER WAS OFTEN SHOWN
RIDING A MAGNIFICENT PRANCING HORSE.
BEHIND HIM WALKED HIS PRISONERS OF WAR,
ALWAYS CHAINED
SOMETIMES BY THE NECK.

THE POSE OF THE RULER WAS PROUD
AND ARROGANT,
THE POSE OF THE CAPTIVES
WAS ONE OF NO HOPE

WHEN I WAS COURTING MY WIFE BARBARA
I TOOK HER TO HER FIRST
THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE.
SHE WAS EXCITED AS A YOUNG CHILD
WHICH THOSE OF YOU
WHO KNOW HER
IS NO SURPRISE
YOU KNOW THAT SHE INTENSELY LOVES
AND LIVES LIFE.

THE PARADE HAD ALL THE NORMAL THINGS
THE BANDS, THE FLOATS, THE CLOWNS
ALL OF WHICH SHE ENJOYED
WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

AT THE END OF THE PARADE
SANTA CLAUS CAME BY
ON A MAGNIFICENT FLOAT
WITH ELVES, REINDEERS AND SLEIGH.
SANTA WAVED TO THE CROWD FIRST ONE SIDE
THEN THE OTHER.
AS HE PASSED US
BARBARA GRABBED MY ARM IN A DEATH GRIP
YELLING OUT LOUD
HE LOOKED AT ME
HE LOOKED AT ME
HE LOOKED AT ME PERSONALLY.

WHEN I WAS STILL WORKING IN INDUSTRY
EVERY SATURDAY WE WORKED,
DONUTS WERE BROUGHT IN.
ONE FOR EACH.
DURING THOSE TIMES
WHEN I WAS ACTIVELY BATTLING
THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE.
I WOULD GO UP TO THE DONUT
AT 8 O'CLOCK AND SAY

I CANNOT, WILL NOT, SHOULD NOT EAT YOU.

AT NINE O'CLOCK THE DONUT CALLED TO ME
BECAUSE IT HAD MY NAME ON IT
AND I SAID TO IT
I CANNOT, WILL NOT, SHOULD NOT EAT YOU.

AT TEN AND ELEVEN O'CLOCK IT CALLED ME
AND I TOLD IT
I CANNOT, WILL NOT, SHOULD NOT EAT YOU.

AT TWELVE O'CLOCK
IT WAS PRACTICALLY CRYING,
IT WAS LONELY,
IT HAD MY NAME ON IT.

BUT I STRUGGLED AND RESISTED
AND SAID
I CANNOT, WILL NOT, SHOULD NOT EAT YOU.

AT ONE O'CLOCK,
THE TRUTH BE TOLD.
I ATE THE DONUT

LET US LOOK AT PAUL
WHERE HE WRITES IN ROMANS












































I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT I DO.
FOR WHAT I WANT TO DO
I DO NOT DO,
BUT WHAT I HATE TO DO
I DO.
FOR I HAVE THE DESIRE
TO DO WHAT IS GOOD,
BUT I CANNOT CARRY IT OUT.
FOR WHAT I DO
IS NOT THE GOOD
I WANT TO DO;
NO,
THE EVIL I DO NOT WANT TO DO-
THIS I KEEP ON DOING.
FOR I SEE ANOTHER LAW AT WORK
IN THE MEMBERS OF MY BODY,
WAGING WAR AGAINST THE LAW OF MY MIND,
AND MAKING ME A PRISONER,
OF THE LAW OF SIN,
AT WORK WITHIN BODY.
WHAT A WRETCHED MAN I AM!
WHO WILL RESCUE ME
FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH
LISTEN AGAIN TO WHAT HE SAYS
FOR WHAT I WANT TO DO
I DO NOT DO,
BUT WHAT I HATE TO DO
I DO.
FOR I HAVE THE DESIRE
TO DO WHAT IS GOOD,
BUT I CANNOT CARRY IT OUT.
FOR WHAT I DO
IS NOT THE GOOD
I WANT TO DO;
NO,
THE EVIL I DO NOT WANT TO DO-
THIS I KEEP ON DOING.
FOR I SEE ANOTHER LAW AT WORK
IN THE MEMBERS OF MY BODY,
WAGING WAR AGAINST THE LAW OF MY MIND,
AND MAKING ME A PRISONER,
OF THE LAW OF SIN,
AT WORK WITHIN BODY.
WHAT A WRETCHED MAN I AM!
WHO WILL RESCUE ME
FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?

NOW PAUL IS A GREAT THEOLOGIAN
BUT HE GETS COMPLICATED
AND I MUST CONFESS
HE OFTEN CURES ME OF INSOMNIA.
HE COULD COMPLICATE A ONE CAR FUNERAL
TO MY SIMPLE WAY OF THINKING
PAUL COULD HAVE SAID
I ATE THE DONUT
AND I WOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD.

BASICALLY WHAT PAUL IS SAYING
IS THAT WE ARE ALL FLAWED INDIVIDUALS.
AND WHEN HE CRIES OUT WHO WILL RESCUE ME,
HE KNOWS THE ANSWER.
IT IS JESUS CHRIST

WHO IS THIS JESUS
THAT PAUL TRUSTS SO IMPLICITLY
LET US LOOK AT THE GOSPEL MESSAGE
WHERE MATTHEW WRITES
THAT JESUS SAID TO THE CROWD
WHO WERE COMPARING HIM TO JOHN
AND FINDING FAULT IN THE DIFFERENCES

I COMPARE YOU
TO A GROUP OF CHILDREN
SINGING SILLY SONGS
WE PLAYED THE FLUTE
YOU WOULD NOT DANCE,
WE WAILED
YOU WOULD NOT MOURN

IS THIS NOT A SONG
WE OFTEN SING TO JESUS
IF YOU WERE MORE
LIKE
WE WANTED YOU TO BE
WE COULD FOLLOW YOU WITH EASE
BUT YOUR WAY
MEANS GIVING UP DONUTS
AND WE DON'T WANT TO

JOHN LIVED
LIKE A HERMIT IN THE DESERT
WE DIDN'T LIKE THAT
JESUS LIVED AN ORDINARY LIFE
AMONG SINNERS
WE DIDN'T LIKE THAT





AND SO WE SING OUR SILLY SONG IN A CIRCLE
UNTIL WE ARE DISTRACTED
BY THE SOUNDS OF A PARADE IN THE DISTANCE.
WE HEAR THE HURRAHS,
THE SINGING, THE JOYFUL SHOUTS
AND WE WAIT
FOR THE PROUD RULER
TO COME BY
FOLLOWED BY HIS SLAVES
BUT INSTEAD WE ARE GREETED
AS ZECHARIAH SAYS
BY THE SIGHT
OF A MAN RIDING A DONKEY
FOLLOWED BY LAUGHING SINGING CHILDREN
WE CRY STOP THE CHILDREN FROM SINGING
THIS IS NO VICTORIOUS RULER
THIS CARICATURE

WE DO NOT SEE A KING
ARROGANT AND SUPERIOR
RATHER WE FIND
A PERSON GENTLE AND HUMBLE
RIDING ON A DONKEY

WHERE IS HIS WAR HORSE
WHERE IS THE MOUNT SUITABLE FOR A KING
WHO..WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM
THIS POOR EXCUSE FOR A RULER
THIS FLAWED PICTURE OF A RULER
WHO..
WHO WOULD FOLLOW HIM

BUT AS HE COMES PASSING BY
HE LOOKS EACH ONE OF US
IN THE EYE
AND SAYS

COME,
COME FOLLOW ME
DROP
DROP YOUR CHAINS
OF SLAVERY AND SIN
COME,
COME FOLLOW ME
FOR MY YOKE IS EASY
AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT

COME,
COME FOLLOW ME
WITH ME IS FORGIVENESS
FOR YOUR SINS
WITH ME IS A SAVIOR
WHO KNOWS
AND DELIGHTS
IN YOUR HUMANNESS

COME,
COME FOLLOW
LAY DOWN
YOUR HEAVY BURDENS

COME,
COME FOLLOW ME
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST

MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS
SHALL WE JOIN
THE PARADE
SHALL WE SAY
AMEN

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

LET US BEGIN AS WE BEGIN ALL THINGS
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE FATHER
WHO CREATED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE SON
WHO REDEEMED US,
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT
WHO INSPIRES US.

LET US BEGIN IN THE NAME OF GOD,
MOTHER OF US ALL.

LET US TALK
ABOUT THE BAPTISM
OF JESUS


DURING WHICH GOD THE FATHER
SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN
DECLARING
THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON.


THE BAPTISM JESUS RECEIVED
WAS NOT THE SAME AS THAT BAPTISM
WE RECEIVED
WHEN MOST OF US WERE CHILDREN

BAPTISM WAS RESERVED
IN THE JEWISH FAITH
FOR THOSE
NOT BORN JEWS
THOSE SINFUL PEOPLE
NOT BORN A JEW

THE JEW BELIEVED
THAT BEING A SON OF ABRAHAM
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION

AS LONG AS HE FOLLOWED THE LAW
HE WAS ASSURED OF GOD'S SALVATION
THERE FOR HE HAD NO NEED FOR RITUAL CLEANING

BUT THERE WAS A MOVEMENT IN JUDEA
IN JESUS TIME
THAT THE NATION
HAD LOST THEIR PRIVILEGED STATUS
WITH GOD

THE NATION HAD BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
THE PEOPLE
WERE DESPERATELY WAITING
FOR THE MESSIAH
TO FREE THE LAND
THEY FELT THAT GOD WAS ANGRY WITH THEM
ANGRY WITH THEM
BECAUSE OF THEIR LIFESTYLE
THEY FELT
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CHANGE
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A CLEANSING
THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR REPENTING

SO THERE WENT OUT INTO THE LAND
THOSE CALLING FOR CHANGE
SOME WERE CALLING FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
OTHERS LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST AND THE ESSENES
WERE CALLING FOR MORAL CHANGE
AND THE SYMBOL OF THAT CHANGE
WAS THE WHOLE BODY PLUNGING
OF A PERSON INTO A LAKE OR RIVER



BUT THE CANDIDATE HAD FIRST TO STATE
HE WAS SORRY FOR HIS SINS
AND WOULD TRY TO AMEND HIS LIFE

AND JOHN'S MESSAGE OF REPENT
AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE
WAS BEARING FRUIT
MANY WERE FLOCKING TO JOHN
FOR REPENTANCE AND BAPTISM

UNDERLYING THIS MOVEMENT
WAS THE THOUGHT
THAT IF THEY CHANGED THEIR LIVES
THE MESSIAH WOULD COME
BUT THEY WANTED A POLITICAL MESSIAH

WHAT THEY WOULD GET
WAS A SERVANT

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN SURPRISED
BECAUSE GOD HAD DESCRIBED THAT SERVANT
IN ISAIAH

LET ME REFRESH YOUR MEMORY

THE LORD'S SERVANT

THE LORD SAYS,
"HERE IS MY SERVANT,
WHOM I STRENGTHEN -
THE ONE I HAVE CHOSEN,
WITH WHOM I AM PLEASED.

I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH MY SPIRIT,
AND HE WILL BRING JUSTICE TO EVERY NATION.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR RAISE HIS VOICE
OR MAKE LOUD SPEECHES IN THE STREETS.

HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF A BENT REED
NOR PUT OUT A FLICKERING LAMP.
HE WILL BRING LASTING JUSTICE TO ALL.
HE WILL NOT LOSE HOPE OR COURAGE;
HE WILL ESTABLISH JUSTICE ON THE EARTH.
DISTANT LANDS EAGERLY WAIT FOR HIS TEACHING."



AND NOW
THE LORD GOD SAYS TO HIS SERVANT,
I, THE LORD, HAVE CALLED YOU
AND GIVEN YOU POWER
TO SEE THAT JUSTICE
IS DONE ON EARTH.
THROUGH YOU
I WILL MAKE A COVENANT
WITH ALL PEOPLES;
THROUGH YOU
I WILL BRING LIGHT
TO THE NATIONS.

YOU WILL OPEN THE EYES
OF THE BLIND
AND SET FREE THOSE
WHO SIT IN DARK PRISONS.

THE THINGS I PREDICTED
HAVE NOW COME TRUE.
NOW I WILL TELL YOU
OF NEW THINGS
EVEN BEFORE
THEY BEGIN TO HAPPEN."

THIS SERVANT
THIS GOD MADE MAN
WHO DID NOT CONSIDER EQUALITY WITH GOD
SOMETHING TO BE GRASPED,
TO BE CLUNG TO
BUT RATHER
EMPTIED HIMSELF OUT
TAKING ON THE FORM OF A SLAVE
A SERVANT
TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS

THIS GOD MAN WAS BORN IN A STABLE
WAS HUNGRY AT HIS MOTHER'S BREAST
WAS SENT TO SCHOOL
LEARNED TO TIE HIS SANDALS
WAS TRAINED TO BE A CARPENTER
TOOK CARE OF HIS MOTHER
STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES
LOOKED OUT AT THE WORLD
AND KNEW IT WAS NOT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE


SO HERE HE WAS
STANDING
LOOKING AT THE RIVER JORDAN
WHERE JOHN HIS COUSIN
WAS BAPTIZING
KNEW HE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION
KNEW HE HAD TO DECIDE
WHAT HE SHOULD DO WITH HIS LIFE
KNEW THAT IF STARTED PREACHING
THE WAY JOHN WAS PREACHING
THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY KILL HIM

BUT HE HAD HEARD
THE CALL OF HIS FATHER
TO MISSION
LIKE A BUGLE SOUNDING SOFTLY
IN THE DISTANCE

AND LIKE ALL MEN
BECAUSE HE WAS MAN
HE STRUGGLED WITH HIS DECISION
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HIS FATHER'S CALL
TRYING TO DETERMINE
HOW TO BECOME THE PERSON
PAUL WOULD DESCRIBE
IN HIS LETTERS

WHEN HE WROTE
HE DID NOT NEED BAPTISM
THERE WAS NO SIN IN HIM

WHAT WAS IN HIM
WAS A DESIRE
A NEED
TO SHARE HUMANITY'S PLIGHT
TO BE WITH SINNERS
WHERE THEY WERE
AND WHERE THEY WERE
WAS WITH JOHN
ENTERING THE WATER

SO HE JOINED THE LINE
BUT HIS COUSIN JOHN
FELT HE WAS UNWORTHY
BUT JESUS SAID
LET IT BE DONE




SO JOHN PLUNGED HIM INTO THE RIVER
AND HE CAME UP
GASPING FOR AIR
LIKE A NEWBORN BABY
LIKE A REBORN BABY
LIKE ALL THOSE IN LINE WITH HIM

AND FROM HEAVEN CAME A VOICE
THE VOICE OF A FATHER
PROUD OF HIS SON
FOR MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
AND THE VOICE SAYS
THIS IS MY BELOVED SON
IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED

AND JESUS
LOOKING AT ALL
GATHERED AT THE RIVER

AND LOOKING DOWN
THE LONG RIVER OF HISTORY
COMES TO THIS ROOM
WHERE WE ARE GATHERED
AND SAYS
TO EACH ONE OF US
INDIVIDUALLY
YOU
YOU ALL
YOU ALL ARE MY BELOVED BROTHERS
YOU ALL ARE MY BELOVED SISTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED

TELL NO ONE

TELL NO ONE


IMAGINE IF YOU WILL
THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING A PLAY
A DRAMA
A GREEK TRAGEDY
IN WHICH THE HERO GOES ABOUT
DOING GOOD DEEDS
AND AFTER EACH DEED
HE TELLS THE RECIPIENT
NOT TO TELL ANYONE
IT BECAME IN THE PLAY LIKE A CHANT

DO NOT TELL
DO NOT TELL
THE GOOD DEED DONE
DO NOT TELL

HIS DOING OF GOOD
AROUSED THE ANGER
OF THE LEADERS
WHOSE POOR EXAMPLE
AND BEHAVIOR
WERE SHOWN UP
BY THE HERO'S CONDUCT
SO THEY LABORED TO SILENCE HIM
WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK
THEY KILLED HIM

WHEN THE PLAY CONTINUES
THE FRIENDS OF THE HERO'S MOTHER
COME TO TEND THE BODY
THEY FOUND THE GRAVE CHAMBER EMPTY
AGHAST
THEY RUN OFF STAGE
LEAVING IT EMPTY
GRADUALLY THE LIGHT FADES TO DARK
WHILE THE NARRATOR SPEAKS
SAYING
SO THEY RAN FROM THE TOMB
DISTRESSED AND TERRIFIED
THEY SAID NOTHING TO ANYONE
BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID

DO NOT TELL
DO NOT TELL
THE GOOD DEED DONE
DO NOT TELL

IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK
JESUS SAYS ELEVEN TIMES
IN VARIOUS FORMS

DO NOT TELL
DO NOT TELL
THE GOOD DEED DONE
DO NOT TELL

AND THE LAST LINES OF THE GOSPEL OF MARK ARE
SO THEY RAN FROM THE TOMB
DISTRESSED AND TERRIFIED
THEY SAID NOTHING TO ANYONE
BECAUSE THEY WERE AFRAID

DO NOT TELL
DO NOT TELL
THE GOOD DEED DONE
DO NOT TELL

A TRAGEDY OF HEROIC PROPORTIONS
THE DOER OF GOOD
OVERCOME BY EVIL
AND THE CURTAIN FALLS
ON THE WOMEN
WEEPING AND MOANING
AND MUCH AFRAID

IN OUR MIND'S EYE
WE SEE THE WOMEN
HURRYING THROUGH THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM
HURRYING TO THE COMFORT OF THEIR FRIENDS
AND WE WANT TO CRY ACROSS THE CHASM OF TIME
HE LIVES
HIS GREAT DEEDS HAVE BEEN TOLD
AND ARE BEING TOLD
BUT THEY MUST LIVE OUT THEIR TIME
THEY WILL EVENTUALLY KNOW
AND KNOWING THEY WILL TEACH US

BUT WE BEING MOVED BY THE DRAMA
HAVE THIS URGE TO TELL SOMEONE
AND THIS URGE IS WHAT JESUS INVITES
WHEN HE SAYS
GO
YOU ARE SENT
GO
INTO ALL THE WORLD
TELL THE PEOPLE
MY NAME
AND MY LIFE STORY



GO
TELL ALL THOSE PEOPLE
BEWAILING THE DEATH OF GOD
ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO WRESTLE WITH GOD
WHO FEEL THE LACK OF GOD
WHO KNOW THE LOSS OF GOD
THAT HE LIVES
THAT HE IS A KIND AND LOVING GOD
THAT HE WANTS ALL PEOPLE TO BE HIS FRIEND

WE MUST TELL THE WORLD
THAT EMPTY TOMB
IS NOT A SIGN OF DEFEAT
BUT A SIGN OF JOY
THAT THAT JOY SHOULD BE IN OUR LIVES
AND IN OUR BEHAVIOR
FOR WE ARE THE BIBLE
FOR THE SCRIPTURALLY ILLITERATE

THAT IS NOT TO SAY
THAT WE ARE PERFECT
FOR WE TOO WRESTLE WITH GOD
THIS IS NOT TO SAY
THAT THE WAY IS ALWAYS CLEAR

BUT WRESTLING WITH GOD IS NOT A SIN
BUT A TIME HONORED EVENT
AS THAT TIME WHEN A SYROPHOENICIAN WOMAN
SAID TO JESUS

HEAL MY CHILD

HE SAID, BECAUSE SHE WAS A GENTILE AND A PAGAN
IT IS NOT RIGHT TO TAKE THE CHILDREN'S FOOD
AND THROW IT TO THE DOGS
SHE REBUFFED HIM SAYING
EVEN THE DOGS EAT THE CHILDREN'S CRUMBS

YOU CAN SEE HIM SMILING
HE'D BEEN BESTED IN AN ARGUMENT
AND HE REPLIED GENTLY
GO
YOUR CHILD IS HEALED

THE TOMB IS EMPTY
AND WE ARE IMPERFECT MESSENGERS
BUT WE ARE COMMISSIONED TO TELL THE STORY
EVEN THOUGH WE ARE AFRAID

WE MUST TELL
WE MUST TELL
THE GOOD DEED DONE
WE MUST TELL

SIGNS

SIGNS

IN THE GOSPEL OF LUKE
WE HEAR THE PHARISEES
TELL JESUS
THAT HEROD THE RULER
WANTED TO KILL HIM

THEY DID THIS FOR TWO REASONS.
FIRST JESUS WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE
WHERE HEROD WAS RULER
AND HE WAS ATTRACTING CROWDS
WITH HIS TEACHINGS.

AND HIS TEACHINGS
WERE THREATENING
THE PRIVILEGED POSITION
OF THE PHARISEES
SO THEY WOULD LIKE HIM
TO GO ELSEWHERE
TO GO ANYWHERE AND PREACH
BUT LEAVE THEM ALONE.

SECOND THEY HOPED
THAT JESUS WOULD GO TO JERUSALEM
AND GET CAUGHT UP
IN THE POLITICAL INTRIGUE
THAT WAS RAMPANT IN THE CITY
AND AS A RESULT
THE ROMANS WOULD KILL HIM.

THE HEROD
THE PHARISEES WERE TALKING ABOUT
WAS THE SAME HEROD
THAT HAD PUT
JOHN THE BAPTIST TO DEATH.

SO THE THREAT OF DEATH WAS VERY REAL.

BUT JESUS ANSWERS
TELL THAT FOX
THAT I WILL CAST OUT DEMONS
AND WILL HEAL PEOPLE
TODAY,
TOMORROW
AND ON THE THIRD DAY.

WHICH IS THE HEBREW WAY
OF SAYING
I WILL STAY HERE
UNTIL I ACCOMPLISH MY PURPOSE.

IT IS ALMOST AN ECHO
OF LUTHER
SAYING HERE I STAND
I CANNOT BE ELSEWHERE.

WHAT JESUS
IS SAYING TO HEROD
AND TO ALL THE HERODS
OF THE WORLD
HERE I STAND
TO BRING SALVATION.
YOU CANNOT CHASE ME AWAY.
HERE I STAND
LIKE A SIGN.
POINTING THE WAY

LET ME TELL YOU A STORY ABOUT SIGNS

A WOMAN DRIVES HER CAR
ALONG THE HIGHWAY.
SHE SEES THE MANY SIGNS
THAT EDGE OUR ROADS,
SCHOOL AHEAD
GO SLOW,
THE NEXT CITY - WEST OSSIPEE
THE MILEAGE, 12 MILES
LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA-PIZZA.

SHE SEES WASH
HANGING ON THE LINE,
SHE SEES OTHER CARS IN FRONT
OR IN THE CAR MIRROR.
OCCASIONALLY
WHEN THE LIGHT IS RIGHT

SHE SEES
HER OWN FACE
REFLECTED IN THE MIRROR.

SHE IS DRIVING BY A CLIFF,
SET BACK FROM THE ROAD.
IT IS A STEEP CLIFF.
SO STEEP
THAT WHEN SHE SEES THE SIGN,
SHE WONDERS
HOW ANYONE COULD CLIMB
THE CLIFF'S FACE
AND PUT IT THERE.

THE SIGN SAYS
JESUS SAVES
WRITTEN IN LARGE CLUMSY LETTERS
WITH WHITE PAINT,
THAT TRICKLES DOWN
FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTERS
AS IF THE LETTERS
WERE FALLING APART
OR MELTING
OR MAYBE CRYING.

THE SIGN SAYS
JESUS SAVES
THAT'S ALL.
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SIGNS
OF THE HIGHWAY,
LIKE RIGHT TURN ONLY,
TOLL BOOTH AHEAD,
THE SPEED LIMIT
AND DESTINATIONS,
ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER SIGNS
WAS THIS SIGN "JESUS SAVES".

AND THE WOMAN
LIKE MOST OF US
FELT AWKWARD WITH THE SIGN,
FELT AN INTERNAL SQUIRM
AT THE MESSAGE.
EVEN THOUGH
LIKE MOST OF US
SHE KNEW IT TO BE TRUE,
SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE SIGN
AND ITS' PUBLIC MESSAGE.
LIKE SAYING GRACE IN PUBLIC

GOD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT KIND OF PERSON
MUST HAVE CLIMBED UP THERE,
WITH A BUCKET
AND A BRUSH
TO SPLASH THE MESSAGE ON THE CLIFF:
MAYBE MAN
MAYBE WOMAN,
MAYBE YOUNG OR OLD,
DRUNK OR SOBER,
IN DAYLIGHT OR IN THE DARK.

GOD ONLY KNOWS
WHAT DROVE THE PAINTER
TO PAINT THIS SIGN;
SIN OR REDEMPTION,
JOY OR REMORSE,
POSSIBLY A DARE,
POSSIBLY A PRAYER.

WHAT EVER THE REASON,
IN OUR STRANGE TIMES,
AMONG PEOPLE LIKE US
AMONG PEOPLE JUST LIKE US,
AMONG US,
THE EFFECT
0F THE MESSAGE ON THE HILLSIDE
THAT "JESUS SAVES"
MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE.
AND I THINK
WE ARE UNCOMFORTABLE
BECAUSE WE ARE EMBARRASSED.

AND WE ARE EMBARRASSED
FOR MANY REASONS.

EMBARRASSED
PERHAPS
BECAUSE THE WORDS
REMIND US OF OLD TIME RELIGION,
OF SHOUT AND HOLLER,
OF PULPIT POUNDING,
OF GOD'S GONNA GET YOU,
.
WE SQUIRM
BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING
IN THE NAME JESUS ITSELF
THAT EMBARRASSES US
WHEN IT STANDS NAKED
AND ALONE.

JUST JESUS
BY ITSELF
WITHOUT A TITLE
LIKE A FRIEND'S NAME.
IT MAKES US UNCOMFORTABLE.

WE WOULD ACCEPT "
CHRIST SAVES"-
THAT'S HIS JOB.
BUT JESUS SAVES
AS IN JESUS SAVES FRANK
OR BARBARA OR ALICE
OR JOE OR FRED OR WADE
OR WHATEVER YOUR NAME IS,
IS LIKE A LOVER
CARVING HIS AND HIS LOVED ONE'S NAME
ON A TREE.
IT HAS AN AIR ABOUT IT
LIKE A LOVE SONG.

MAYBE "JESUS SAVES"
WRITTEN ON THE CLIFF
IS EMBARRASSING
BECAUSE RELIGION
IN SOME WAYS
HAS BECOME EMBARRASSING.
MAYBE OUR WINCING
IS A WAY
TO HIDE OUR EYES
TO STOP UP OUR EARS,
BECAUSE WE SOMEHOW KNOW
THAT IF THE MESSAGE GOT THROUGH,
IT WOULD SAY DIRECTLY,
CLEARLY,
UNMISTAKABLY
FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE
THAT WE,
YOU AND I,
NEED TO BE SAVED.
RICH MAN, POOR MAN,
YOUNG WOMAN, OLD WOMAN,
EDUCATED,
UNLETTERED,
RELIGIOUS, UNRELIGIOUS,



ALL OF US,
YOU AND I,
ALL OF US,
NEED TO BE SAVED.

AND THAT
IS OFFENSIVE. TO US.
FOR WHAT IT SAYS
IS
YOU HAVE NO PEACE
WITHIN YOUR SKIN-
YOU ARE NOT HAPPY,
YOU ARE NOT WHOLE
YOU ARE NOT SELF SUFFICIENT
IN YOUR LIFE

OUR HUMANITY
REACTS AGAINST THE THOUGHT,
THAT OUR SELF SUFFICIENT HUMANITY
WHICH CONTINUALLY
WANTS THE APPLE
MORE THAN IT WANTS THE GARDEN,
REACTS
AGAINST THE THOUGHT
THAT WE ARE INSUFFICIENT
BY OURSELVES.

WHAT FOOL
WOULD CLIMB THAT CLIFF
TO WRITE A MESSAGE
THAT OFFENDS ME.
WHAT FOOL DARES
TO GIVE ME SUCH ADVICE.
WHAT FOOL DARES
TO QUESTION
MY SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

IF YOU HAD SAID
GOD SAVES,
I COULD ARGUE WITH GOD.
BUT YOU SAID
JESUS
AS IF TO SAY
FRIEND.
AND I SEE THAT FRIEND
FOR WHAT THE WORLD
HAS MADE HIM,
A FOOL.
DESPISED AND REJECTED,
A LAUGHING STOCK AMONG THE NATIONS,
WITH HIS RIDICULOUS SLOGAN "
LOVE ONE ANOTHER".
AND I AM
EMBARRASSED BY HIM
AND THE SIGN ON THE CLIFF.

THE BAD THIEF,
THE ONE ON THE LEFT
SAID IN A TAUNT, "
IF YOU ARE THE CHRIST
SAVE YOURSELF
AND SAVE US."
HOW LIKE HIM WE ARE,
WHEN OUR LIFE'S ACTIONS
HANG US ON THE LEFT CROSS,
WE CRY "
SAVE YOURSELF
AND SAVE US.
NOT BECAUSE WE ARE SORRY FOR YOUR PAIN.
AFTER ALL
WE DO NOT ALWAYS NEED YOU,
ONLY WHEN ALL THE APPLES,
WE HAVE EATEN FROM THE TREE
MAKE US SICK
THEN WE NEED YOU.
THEN WE CRY
SAVE US, SAVE US
ME
MORE THAN YOU,
SAVE US.

BUT THE GOOD THIEF,
THE ONE ON THE RIGHT,
REBUKED THE BAD THIEF
FOR HIS ARROGANCE,
THEN SPOKE
WITH ALMOST THE SAME ARROGANCE,
WHEN HE SAID "
JESUS, REMEMBER ME
WHEN YOU COME IN TO YOUR KINGDOM".

TWO ARROGANT PETITIONS
BUT FROM DIFFERENT HEARTS,
ONE SPOKEN IN ANGER,
ONE SPOKEN IN TRUST
AND HOPE.

AND TO THE TRUSTING,
HOPEFUL HEART
HE SAID, "
TRULY,
TODAY
YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE."

I WONDER
WHAT THE GUARDS THOUGHT
WHEN THEY HEARD THIS CONVERSATION.
DID IT INTERRUPT THEIR DICE GAME,
WERE THEY PERHAPS EMBARRASSED
BY THE GOODNESS
OF THE MAN THEY WERE KILLING
OR DID THEY THINK
THAT THE PAIN
OF THEIR TORTURE
HAD ROBBED HIS MIND OF REASON.
HOW COULD THAT ONE
SAVE ANYONE,
NAILED TO THE TREE
WITH GOOD STOUT NAILS.
WITH THE SIGN ABOVE HIS HEAD
WHICH MOCKED HIM AS KING.
THEY'D BEEN WITH HIM,
WHEN THEY'D WHIPPED
AND CROWNED HIM,
AND THEY HAD HEARD
NEITHER CURSE NOR WHIMPER.
NO KING HE,
A LAMB MAYBE,
QUIET IN HIS SLAUGHTER,
BUT NO KING-

HOW RIDICULOUS A DEATH,
DYING ON A HILLSIDE
LIKE A NAME
PAINTED ON A CLIFF-

HOW RIDICULOUS A DEATH,
DYING ON A HILLSIDE
LIKE A NAME
CARVED ON A TREE BY LOVERS,
AND IN THIS NAME
THE NAME OF JESUS
WE ARE EMBARRASSED.
WHY?

PERHAPS IT IS BECAUSE
WE THINK
THAT WE ARE UNLOVABLE.
WE DO NOT DOUBT
THAT GOD CAN SAVE US,
BUT WE DO DOUBT
THAT SOMEONE COULD LOVE US
SO MUCH
SO MUCH
AS TO DIE FOR US-
TO DIE FOR US
NOT FOOLISHLY,
BUT FULLY KNOWING
OUR UNWORTHINESS
AND STILL WANTING TO SAVE US.

I SUSPECT
THAT THE REAL REASON
WHY THE NAME "
JESUS'
MAY EMBARRASS US
WHEN IT STANDS NAKED BY ITSELF,
IS THAT IT PUTS US
ON A FIRST NAME BASIS.
IT REMINDS US
OF OUR OWN NEED FOR SALVATION,
OF OUR OWN NAKEDNESS,
OF OUR OWN NAMES
BY WHICH JESUS CALLS US.

FOR JESUS HAS COME
TO SAVE D-GUY,
SAVE JJ AND PAULA,
SAVE THERESA,
SAVE MARY,
SAVE KAREN AND PETER,
SAVE MARCIA,
SAVE ALL OF US-

NOT FOR OUR JOBS,
NOT FOR OUR TITLES,
NOT FOR OUR TITHING,
NOT BECAUSE WE ARE RETIRED
OR WORKING,
MARRIED,
SINGLE OR DIVORCED.
NOT FOR ANY REASON
EXCEPT HE LOVES US.
HE MADE US.
WE ARE THE WORK OF HIS HANDS
AND GOD DOESN'T MAKE JUNK.



HE LOVES US.
END OF SENTENCE.
HE LOVES
US.

THE MESSAGE ON THE CLIFFSIDE
CALLS US BY NAME,
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­CALLS ALL OF US, BY NAME.
IT SAYS "
UNCOVER YOUR EYES,
OPEN YOUR EARS,


I BRING TRUTH AND HOPE
FOR ALL THE NEEDING-TO-BE FILLED
PLACES IN YOUR LIVES.
BE LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
AND KNOW THE PAIN OF SURRENDER,
THE PAIN OF KNOWING
THE HELPLESSNESS
OF TRYING TO HELP YOURSELF.
CALL ON ME,
CALL ON ME,
LIKE THE GOOD THIEF
CALL ON ME
SAYING
JESUS, REMEMBER ME,
WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM".
REMEMBER ME,
REMEMBER ME,
REMEMBER ME.
EVEN THOUGH I DON'T ALWAYS REMEMBER YOU'

JESUS SAYS, "I WILL".
AND WHETHER IT SEEMS PREPOSTEROUS
IN OUR JUDGMENT
OR EMBARRASSING,
THE SAME GOD
THAT SAVED THIEVES
HANGING JUSTLY ON THE CROSS,
ALSO SAVES CLOWNS LIKE YOU
AND ME,
NOT FOR ANY OTHER REASON,
THAN THAT HE LOVES US.



SO WHEN
THE PHARISEES SAY TO HIM
LEAVE NOW
BEFORE THEY KILL YOU
HE REPLIES
I WILL STAY FAITHFUL
TO MY TASK
TODAY
TOMORROW
AND THE DAY AFTER
WHICH MEANS
ALWAYS.

FURTHER
JESUS SAYS
COME TO MY SHOP
WHERE THERE IS A SIGN
THAT SAYS
JESUS
CARPENTER
MAKER OF EASY YOKES.
WE MAKE YOUR BURDEN LIGHT.
COME IN
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
LET ME PROVE IT.

AND AS WE ENTER
HIS SHOP.
WE CATCH OUR IMAGE
IN THE WINDOW OF THE DOOR

AND WE ALSO SEE
THE REFLECTION OF THE CLIFF
BEHIND US
WITH THE SIGN "
JESUS SAVES".
AND WE KNOW THE MESSAGE
IS PERSONAL AND FOR US.

AMEN

MANNA - WHAT IS IT

MANNA - WHAT IS IT



ONE CHRISTMAS
WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG
TIME WERE TOUGH
MONEY WAS SCARCE
SO I TOOK A SECOND JOB
TO EARN ENOUGH MONEY
SO THAT THE CHILDREN
WOULD HAVE PRESENTS

CHRISTMAS CAME
AND OUR TRADITION WAS
THAT WE SAT IN A RING
AND EACH CHILD ONE AT A TIME
WOULD UNWRAP ONE PRESENT
WE WOULD KEEP GOING AROUND THE RING
UNTIL ALL THE PRESENTS WERE OPEN
WHEN WE WERE DONE
THERE WAS A MOUND OF GIFTS
IN FRONT OF EACH CHILD

IT WAS THEN THAT ONE OF MY CHILDREN
SAID TO ME
IS THIS ALL I GET DAD

I FELT HURT
I FELT ANGRY
I FELT SHAME
THAT I COULDN'T HAVE DONE BETTER
I FELT CRUSHED
BY WHAT I FELT
WAS MY CHILD'S INGRATITUDE

WE ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH INGRATITUDE

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN UNGRATEFUL TO US
IF WE ARE HONEST WITH OURSELVES
WE HAVE BEEN UNGRATEFUL TO OTHERS
PARENT TO CHILD
CHILD TO PARENT
FRIEND TO FRIEND
MAN TO GOD

MAN TO GOD INGRATITUDE
IS THE TRADITIONAL WAY OF PREACHING
ON THAT PART OF THE STORY OF THE EXODUS
WHERE THE ISRAELITES GRUMBLED AT HARD TIMES


THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN RELEASED
FROM SLAVERY IN EGYPT
PHARAOH'S ARMY
SENT TO RECAPTURE THEM
HAD BEEN DESTROYED
THEY HAD ESCAPED
TO THE WILDERNESS
OF SINAI
THEY HAD PASSED THROUGH A DIVIDED SEA
TO A BARREN LAND
AND THEY WERE HUNGRY

SO THEY COMPLAINED TO GOD
THROUGH MOSES AND AARON
WERE THERE NOT ENOUGH GRAVEYARDS IN EGYPT
THAT WE HAD TO COME OUT HERE TO DIE
IN EGYPT WE HAD MEAT
AND OUR FILL OF BREAD
DID YOU BRING US HERE TO DIE OF HUNGER
THIS THEY SAID TO GOD THE FATHER
THROUGH MOSES AND AARON
THEY SAID
IS THAT ALL THERE IS DAD
IS THAT ALL THERE IS FATHER

WE MIGHT EXPECT A GOD
TO REACT ANGRILY
TO SUCH INGRATITUDE

BUT GOD THE FATHER SAYS TO US
BECAUSE HIS LOVE FOR US
IS GREATER THAN OUR INGRATITUDE TO HIM

GOD THE FATHER SAYS

I HAVE HEARD YOUR COMPLAINING
AND THEREFORE
AT TWILIGHT
YOU SHALL EAT MEAT
AND IN THE MORNING
YOU SHALL HAVE YOUR FILL OF BREAD

SO IN THE EVENING OF THAT DAY
QUAIL CAME
WERE CAUGHT AND EATEN
AND IN THE MORNING
A SUBSTANCE LIKE CORNFLAKES
APPEARED ON THE BUSHES

WHEN THE ISRAELITES SAW IT
THEY ASKED
WHAT IS IT
IN HEBREW
MANNA
AND MOSES REPLIED
IT IS THE BREAD
THAT THE LORD
HAS GIVEN YOU TO EAT

TO ME
THE MORAL OF THE STORY
IS NOT SO MUCH
THE ISRAELITES INGRATITUDE
BUT THAT GOD HEARD THEIR COMPLAINING
AND LISTENED

THAT IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHERE WE ARE IN GRATITUDE
OR INGRATITUDE TO GOD
NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE
HE IS LISTENING
AND ANSWERING OUR NEEDS

I DON'T WANT TO BE POLLYANNA
IN THAT STATEMENT
GOD'S LOVE FOR US
DOES NOT MEAN
THAT EVERY DAY WILL BE SUNNY
OR FREE OF PAIN
HE WILL NOT GIVE
THE ONE LEGGED MAN ANOTHER LEG
BUT HELP THE ONE LEGGED MAN TO LIVE
WITH HIS ONE LEGGEDNESS
FOR GOD ANSWERS OUR NEEDS
NOT OUR WANTS
AND SOMETIMES GOD WEEPS
WHEN EVIL OVERCOMES
HIS LOVE FOR US

WHEN WE
OR THE WORLD
SAY MANNA MANNA
WHAT IS THIS
WE WOULD RATHER LIVE WELL FED IN EGYPT
THAN HUNGRY IN THE DESERT

GIVE US BACK OUR SLAVERY
BECAUSE FREEDOM IS TOO HARD
BECAUSE EVEN
WHEN WE ARE GIVEN
EVERYTHING WE NEED
WE ARE LIKE ADAM IN THE GARDEN
WHO SAYS
IS THIS ALL I GET
AND THEN EATS THE FRUIT

AND IN AWFUL AWARENESS
SHOUTS OUT
MANNA MANNA
WHAT IS IT
AND KNOWS
THAT IT IS SIN

AND CRIES OUT
I HAVE LOST GOD
BECAUSE OF MY INGRATITUDE

BUT GOD HEARS US
IN OUR DEEPEST MOMENT
AND FEEDS US
AS HE DOES IN HOLY COMMUNION

WE CRY MANNA WHAT IS IT
AND GOD REPLIES
SIGNS AND PROOFS OF MY LOVE
FOR JESUS SAYS
I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE
IF YOU COME TO ME
YOU WILL NEVER BE HUNGRY
IF YOU BELIEVE IN ME
YOU WILL NEVER BE THIRSTY

WE CRY MANNA WHAT IS IT
AND JESUS SAYS
I HAVE COME LIKE WHEAT
THAT IS BROKEN AND GROUND DOWN
BY YOUR SINS
BY YOUR INGRATITUDE
AND I SAY
THAT I AM BREAD
AND I LIVE IN THAT BREAD
TAKE
EAT
AND REMEMBER ME

AND JESUS SAYS
I HAVE COME LIKE GRAPES
BROKEN AND CRUSHED
BY YOUR INGRATITUDE
AND I SAY
THAT I AM WINE
AND I LIVE IN THAT WINE
TAKE
DRINK
AND REMEMBER ME

AND THIS GIFT
AMONG ALL THE GIFTS THAT GOD GIVES US
IS THE GREATEST GIFT
THIS GIFT OF BREAD AND WINE
THIS GIFT OF BODY AND BLOOD
THIS GIFT OF GOD HIMSELF

LET US BE GRATEFUL
AND SAY AMEN
LET US SAY AMEN
AND THANK YOU

JESUS' FIRST SERMON AT HOME

JESUS' FIRST SERMON AT HOME



LET ME TELL YOU A STORY.
MOST OF IT IS TRUE.
THE REST IS A PARABLE.

JESUS TOLD PARABLES.
THEY WERE
AND ARE
STORIES TO TEACH A LESSON.

JESUS
FILLED WITH THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT
WAS PREACHING IN GALILEE.
GOING FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE.
AND THE PEOPLE FELT HOPE
AND JOY
IN HIS MESSAGE

BUT THE RULERS OF THE SYNAGOGUE
AND THE WEALTHY
AND THE IMPORTANT
FELT THREATENED

HE WAS NOW IN NAZARETH
AND HE AND HIS MOTHER
WERE WALKING TO THE SYNAGOGUE.
AT THE DOOR THEY PARTED.
MARY WENT TO SIT WITH THE WOMEN
BECAUSE THE SYNAGOGUE WAS SEGREGATED.

AT THE CENTER OF THE SYNAGOGUE SAT
ALL THE IMPORTANT MEN OF THE VILLAGE.
AROUND THEM SAT
THE OTHER MEN OF THE VILLAGE.
THE WOMEN WERE IGNORED
THEY WERE NOT IMPORTANT.

IN FACT THE JEWISH LEADERS SAID
THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER
FOR THE BIBLE TO BE BURNED
RATHER THAN BE TAUGHT TO A WOMAN.

THIS WAS THE WORLD JESUS LIVED IN
AND HE DID NOT LIKE IT.
HE ALSO DID NOT LIKE THE PRAYER
THAT JEWISH MEN SAID DAILY.
THEY SAID
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A GENTILE.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A WOMAN.
BLESSED BE GOD
THAT HE HAS NOT MADE ME
A SLAVE.
THIS ALSO BOTHERED JESUS.
IT WAS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HE
OR HIS FATHER WANTED.

LATER PAUL
IN GALATIANS
WOULD ANSWER THAT PRAYER
WITH A NEW ONE
THAT REFLECTED WHAT JESUS THOUGHT
WHEN HE WROTE

AS MANY OF YOU
AS WERE BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST
HAVE CLOTHED YOURSELVES
WITH CHRIST.

THEREFORE
THERE IS NO LONGER
JEW OR GREEK,
THERE IS NO LONGER
SLAVE OR FREE,
THERE IS NO LONGER
MALE AND FEMALE;

FOR ALL OF YOU
ARE ONE IN CHRIST JESUS.

BUT THAT PRAYER WAS WRITTEN
AFTER JESUS HAD LIVED AND DIED.
BUT TODAY IN OUR STORY
JESUS IS BEGINNING HIS JOURNEY.
AS HE LOOKS AT THE ASSEMBLY
HE IS SADDENED
THAT THEY HAVE WANDERED
SO FAR FROM HIS FATHER'S DREAM.
HE OPENS THE SCRIPTURES
AND READING FROM ISAIAH
HE DECLARES IN A STRONG VOICE
THE NEW/OLD VISION OF THE FATHER
FOR HIS PEOPLE.

TODAY HE SAYS
THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME.
HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO BRING GOOD NEWS
TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED ME
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

AND TO TELL
ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW.

JESUS CLOSES THE BOOK.
LOOKS AT ALL THE IMPORTANT PEOPLE,
LOOKS AT ALL THE NOT SO IMPORTANT PEOPLE
LOOKS AT HIS MOTHER
AND ALL THE OTHER WOMEN
WHO DID NOT COUNT
AND SAYS
TODAY
THIS SCRIPTURE HAS BEEN FULFILLED
IN YOUR HEARING
MEANING THAT THE TIME FOR CHANGE
WAS NOW
AND FOR THAT REASON
JESUS WAS PREACHING.
I HOPE MY SERMON
IS BETTER RECEIVED
THAN JESUS' WAS
BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS FINISHED
HE WAS CHASED OUT OF TOWN.
.

BUT THE RICH MEN
AND THE IMPORTANT MEN
AND THE LEADERS
OF THE SYNAGOGUE
THOUGHT
WHY WORRY ABOUT THOSE
WHO ARE WITHOUT.
ABOUT THOSE
WHO COUNT FOR NOTHING.
THE OTHER MEN WONDERED
WHY THE FUSS,
LIFE IS GOING ON OK FOR ME.

IT TOOK PAUL
AGAIN IN TODAY'S LESSON
TO PUT WORDS TO JESUS' DREAM
WHEN HE WRITES IN CORINTHIANS.
THAT THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
IS LIKE A BODY,
MANY PARTS
ONE BODY.

AND THAT THAT
BODY IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.

AS PAUL WRITES
FOR IN ONE SPIRIT
WE WERE ALL BAPTIZED
INTO ONE BODY.
NO MORE JEW OR GREEK,
SLAVE OR FREE
BUT ONE BODY.

AND IN THAT BODY
IF ONE PART SUFFERS
THE WHOLE BODY SUFFERS.
JUST AS IF
ONE PART OF THE BODY IS HONORED
THE WHOLE BODY IS HONORED.
WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.
THIS IS JESUS' DREAM
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
AS IF HE WERE CHRIST.
THAT WE CARE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR
BECAUSE HE IS ONE WITH US
IN CHRIST'S BODY.

SO JESUS LOOKING AT THE WORLD
THROUGH OUR EYES
AND SEEING
THAT IT IS NOT THE WORLD
THAT HIS FATHER
OR HE WANTS.
ASKS US TO SAY WITH HIM
AS HE SAID IN NAZARETH ON THAT DAY.

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON US.
HE HAS APPOINTED US.

HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO BRING GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR.

HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY
TO CAPTIVES

HE HAS APPOINTED US
TO TELL THE BLIND
THAT THEY SHALL SEE.

TO TELL THE DOWNTRODDEN
THEIR BURDEN IS LIFTED

TO TELL ALL PEOPLE
THAT THE TIME
FOR GOD'S BLESSINGS
IS NOW.

SO I ASK YOU
(PUT IN NAMES)

WILL YOU HELP JESUS
TO MAKE THE WORLD
THE WAY HE WANTS IT

RESPONSE

I WILL AND I ASK GOD TO HELP ME.

FORGIVE

FORGIVE


IMAGINE IF YOU WILL
THAT YOU ARE JESUS
STANDING ON TOP OF A HIGH MOUNTAIN
ON THE NORTH SIDE
OF THE SEA OF GALILEE
YOU ARE LOOKING DOWN
AT THE SEA OF GALILEE
THE MOUNTAIN IS IN GALILEE.

LOOKING SOUTH
YOU SEE THE KINGDOM OF JUDEA
AND THE CAPITAL
JERUSALEM.

LOOKING EAST YOU SEE PEREA
LOOKING WEST YOU SEE SAMARIA
AND YOU ARE SAD
BECAUSE THERE IS MUCH HATRED
IN THE LAND

THE PROMISED LAND
HAS BEEN CONQUERED BY ROME
AND DIVIDED INTO THE FOUR PARTS
OF GALILEE, JUDEA, SAMARIA AND PEREA

THE JEWS HATE THE ROMANS
WHO ARE EVERYWHERE
ACTING AS POLICEMEN

THE JEWS HATE THE SAMARITANS
AND THE PEREANS
BECAUSE THEY WORSHIP GOD
IN A NON JEWISH MANNER





JESUS LOOKS DOWN AT THE LAKE
AND AS HE DOES
HE LOOKS BACK IN TIME
AND REMEMBERS THE EVENTS
Of HIS STARTING MINISTRY



HE REMEMBERS
HIS BAPTISM BY JOHN
WHERE GOD THE FATHER
DECLARED THAT JESUS WAS HIS SON

THEN THE WEDDING AT CANA
WHERE HE CHANGED WATER INTO WINE

THEN HIS FIRST SERMON AT NAZARETH
AND HIS REJECTION BY HIS NEIGHBORS

THEN WE REMEMBERS THE MIRACLE OF THE FISHES
WHERE THE APOSTLES CAUGHT SO MANY
THE BOAT BEGAN TO SINK.

AND TODAY HE REMEMBERS
COMING DOWN FROM THE MOUNTAIN
AND PREACHING THE SERMON ON THE PLAIN
ALSO CALLED THE BEATITUDES



BUT BEFORE HE CAME DOWN OFF THE MOUNTAIN
JESUS LOOKED DOWN
AT THE DIVIDED KINGDOM
AND WAS SADDENED
THIS WAS NOT HIS FATHER’S DREAM
FOR THIS LAND
THIS PROMISED LAND
AND ITS PEOPLE.

RELIGION HAD BECOME
AN OBSERVANCE OF LAWS AND RITUALS
THE PRIESTS ARGUED
OVER SUCH THINGS AS
CAN A MAN WITH A WOODEN LEG
WALK ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE THE WOODEN LEG
WAS A BURDEN
AND ONE COULD NOT
CARRY A BURDEN
ON THE SABBATH
BECAUSE CARRYING A BURDEN
WAS WORK

THE PERFORMANCE OF RITUAL
IN THE TEMPLE WAS SUCH
THAT
ON ANY PASSOVER
OVER 250,000 LAMBS WERE SOLD
AND SLAIN IN ONE DAY
MAKING GOD’S HOUSE
MORE A SLAUGHTER FACTORY
THAN A HOUSE OF GOD

THIS IS WHAT HIS FATHER’S RELIGION
HAD BECOME
AND HE IS SADDENED.

SO HE SLOWLY COMES DOWN THE MOUNTAIN
AND PREACHES THE BEATITUDES


LUKE HAS A SENTENCE
AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE BEATITUDES
THAT SAYS
THERE WERE PEOPLE
FROM SIDON AND TYRE
IN THE CROWD
HE DID THIS DELIBERATELY
BECAUSE THE JEWS ALSO HATED
THOSE FROM SIDON AND TYRE

SO JESUS LOOKS AT THE CROWD
THAT HAD SO MUCH HATE
AND PREACHES A SERMON
ON FORGIVENESS
A SERMON, WHICH SAYS
IF ANYONE HITS YOU,
TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.
EASY TO SAY
DIFFICULT TO DO

JESUS SAYS
FORGIVE YOUR ENEMIES,
DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HURT YOU.
WHEN EVERY PART OF YOUR BEING
SAYS MAKE A FIST
AND HURT YOUR ENEMY
JESUS SAYS LOVE THEM.
JESUS HAS GOT TO BE KIDDING HERE
RIGHT

BUT ULTIMATELY
JESUS IS RIGHT.
FOR WITHOUT FORGIVENESS
NATIONS WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING,



NEIGHBORS WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING,

FAMILIES WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING


HUSBAND AND WIVES
WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING,

BROTHERS AND SISTERS
YOUNG OR GROWN OLD
TILL NEAR DEATH
WILL FIGHT
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY THEY ARE FIGHTING.

WHEN WILL IT END
AS THE SONG SAYS
LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH
AND LET IT BEGIN WITH ME.

WHAT I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DO
RIGHT NOW
AS A REACTION TO JESUS' SERMON
IS WRITE DOWN WITH YOUR FINGER
ON THE PALM OF YOUR HAND
THE NAME OF THAT PERSON
YOU FIND IT HARD TO FORGIVE.

THEN RUB YOUR HANDS TOGETHER
AND ERASE THEIR NAME.
THINKING AS YOU DO IT
THEY ARE FORGIVEN.
TRY IT



LET GO THOSE CHUNKS OF ICE
WHICH WE ALL CARRY
THOSE CHUNKS OF ICE OF HATRED
WHICH WE ALL CARRY
LONG PAST REMEMBERING
WHY WE ARE CARRYING THEM

HARD YOU SAY.
TOO HARD
AND I AGREE.
BUT IT IS JESUS
NOT ME
WHO IS SPEAKING
WHEN HE SAYS
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES,
DO GOOD TO THEM,
LEND ACCORDING TO THEIR NEED
EXPECTING NOTHING BACK
BE MERCIFUL
AS YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS MERCIFUL
STILL TOO HARD

LET ME PAINT YOU A PICTURE.
THERE IS A MAN WHO IS DYING.
CONDEMNED TO DEATH
FOR A CRIME
HE DIDN’T COMMIT.

CONDEMNED TO DEATH
OUT OF JEALOUSY
AND FEAR OF LOSING POWER.

ALL HIS FRIENDS
HAVE DESERTED HIM
OUT OF FEAR


ONE OF HIS FRIENDS
HAS SOLD HIM FOR A PRICE

ONE OF HIS FRIENDS DENIED
HE EVER KNEW HIM.

HIS HEART
WHICH IS STRUGGLING
TO STAY ALIVE
IS STILL FILLED WITH LOVE
FOR ALL MANKIND

AND HE IS GIVING THINGS AWAY.
HE WILL DIE POOR.

HIS CLOTHES ARE GONE.
HE HAS GIVEN HIS MOTHER
TO THE CARE OF HIS FRIEND JOHN

NOW HE GIVES AWAY HIS ANGER.
STRUGGLING UPRIGHT ON THE NAILS
HE CRIES OUT
FATHER FORGIVE THEM
THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.

FORGIVE THE RULERS
OF TEMPLE AND STATE,
FORGIVE THE SOLDIERS
WHO WERE CRUEL TO ME,
FORGIVE THE CROWD
GATHERED LIKE VULTURES
TO SEE ME DIE,
FORGIVE THE THIEF WHO CURSED ME
FORGIVE ALL
WHO HAVE DESERTED ME,
LIED ABOUT ME,
SOLD ME FOR A PRICE






JESUS
LOOKING DOWN FROM HIS HIGH PLACE
ON THE CROSS
LOOKING DOWN THE YEARS
FORGIVING ALL WHO HAD EVER LIVED,
WHO WERE LIVING THEN
WHO WOULD LIVE IN THE FUTURE

LOOKING DOWN FROM HIS HIGH PLACE
HE COMES HERE
AND CRIES OUT
FATHER FORGIVE FRANK
AND BARBARA,
JOE AND TOM,
ALICE AND JAN,
FATHER FORGIVE ALL

AND WE CRY IN RESPONSE
FATHER FORGIVE US
AND FORGIVE THE ONE
WE FIND IT HARD
TO FORGIVE
WE
AND THEY
KNOW NOT WHAT WE DO.




IN THE LIGHT OF OUR FORGIVENESS
CAN WE NOT TAKE
THE NAME OF THAT ONE PERSON
WE FIND IT HARD TO FORGIVE.
WRITE IT ON THE PALM OF OUR HAND.
RUB OUR HANDS TOGETHER
TO MAKE IT DISAPPEAR.

AND SAY TO THAT PERSON
THAT CHUNK OF ICE
THAT I HAVE CARRIED
WITH YOUR NAME ON IT
IS MELTED
I FORGIVE YOU

AND JESUS SAYS
WELL DONE MY BROTHERS
AND SISTERS
WELL DONE

IN YOU
I AM WELL PLEASED.
MAY IT BE SO AMEN

FISHERS OF MEN

FISHERS OF MEN

WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNG
WE SPENT EACH SUMMER
CAMPING IN THE WOODS OF PENNSYLVANIA
OVER TIME
MY CHILDREN BECAME EXPERT FISHERMEN
EVEN TODAY
MY CHILDREN FISH IN PLACES
LIKE ALASKA, MEXICO, MAINE, JAPAN, PENNSYLVANIA AND CALIFORNIA
THEY ARE KIND OF ADDICTED TO FISHING

DAD DID NOT FISH
HE WAS TOO BUSY BAITING HOOKS
COULD EVERYBODY SAY POOOR DAD

SO ONE FATHER’S DAY
MY CHILDREN GAVE ME A POCKET FISHERMAN
WHICH WAS A FOLD UP FISHING POLE
WITH A SET OF HOOKS

SO THE NEXT DAY
EARLY IN THE MORNING
I PICKED UP
MY POCKET FISHERMAN
AND WALKED TO THE LAKE
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL MORNING
WITH FOG
LAYING ON THE GROUND
ABOUT FOUR FEET THICK
SO THAT ALL YOU COULD SEE
OF ME
OR ANYONE ELSE
WAS OUR HEADS

WHEN I GOT TO THE LAKE
I SAW A MAN FISHING
SO OUT OF COURTESY
I MOVE A HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM HIM
I UNFOLDED MY FISHING POLE
BAITED MY HOOK
REACHED BACK WITH MY POLE
MADE A PERFECT CAST
AND CAUGHT THE TREE BEHIND ME

AFTER A TERRIFIC FIGHT WITH THE TREE
I FREED MY HOOK
BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD AWAKENED
EVERY BIRD IN THE FOREST
NOT TO MENTION
SEVERAL SCOLDING SQUIRRELS
AND SORRY TO SAY
MY FISHING COMPANION
WHO WAS A HUNDRED FEET AWAY
LEFT IN ABSOLUTE DISGUST
AT MY AMATEURISHNESS

IF AT THAT MOMENT
JESUS HAD WALKED THROUGH THE MIST
AND SAID TO ME
FRANK
I WILL MAKE YOU A FISHER OF MEN
I WOULD HAVE SAID
YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING

BUT IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW
JESUS COMES UPON FOUR MEN
PETER, ANDREW, JAMES AND JOHN
WHO WHILE THEY WERE GOOD FISHERMEN
WERE NOT THE ONES
ANY OF US WOULD HAVE PICKED

IN FACT AN EMPLOYMENT AGENCY
ONCE REVIEWED
THE FOUR OF THEM
AND THE OTHER EIGHT
FOR THE JOB
OF APOSTLES
AND REJECTED THEM ALL EXCEPT JUDAS

OF THE FOUR
MENTIONED TO DAY
THE ONLY ONE I WOULD HAVE PICKED
WOULD HAVE BEEN
ANDREW
BECAUSE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
ANDREW
ONCE HE WAS CONVINCED
THE JESUS WAS WHO HE CLAIMED TO BE
THAT JESUS WAS THE MESSIAH
ANDREW TOOK JESUS TO MEET PETER

THIS IS THE BASIC WORK OF AN APOSTLE
HELPING PEOPLE TO MEET JESUS

BUT PETER
WHO WOULD PICK PETER
FOR SUCH A SENSITIVE JOB

PETER WAS RASH AND IMPULSIVE
SPOKE WITHOUT THINKING
WE KNOW WHEN FACED WITH DANGER
HE TURNED COWARDLY

BUT JESUS SAW SOMETHING IN PETER
SOMETHING THAT MOVED HIM
TO GIVE PETER
A NEW NAME
FROM SIMON
TO ROCK
IN ENGLISH
PETER MEANS ROCK

THE FIRST WORDS OF JESUS TO PETER
WERE COME
BE MY DISCIPLE
HIS LAST WORDS TO PETER WERE
FOLLOW ME
EVERY STEP OF HIS LIFE
BETWEEN THESE TWO CHALLENGES
PETER NEVER FAILED TO FOLLOW
EVEN THOUGH
AS WE KNOW FROM OUR BIBLE STUDY
HE OFTEN STUMBLED

THE OTHER TWO MENTIONED
JAMES AND JOHN
SEEM TO HAVE JOINED UP
FOR THE WRONG REASONS
THEY SEEMED BE AFFLICTED
WITH SIBLING RIVALRY

JESUS NICK NAMED THEM
SONS OF THUNDER
THEY HAD A BAD TEMPER WHEN CROSSED
BOTH WANTED TO BE IN IMPORTANT PLACES
IN JESUS’ POLITICAL KINGDOM

WHAT DID JESUS SEE IN THEM

WHAT DOES JESUS SEE IN US
FOR WE ARE CALLED TO BE DISCIPLES
AND WE RESPOND WE HAVEN’T THE TALENT
WE ARE NOT WISE
WE HAVEN’T THE TEMPERAMENT
AND JESUS REPLIES
I TOOK A ROCK
AND MOLDED IT
AND PETER WAS THAT GREAT VOICE
WHO PROCLAIMED THE GOSPEL AT PENTECOST
AND KEPT PROCLAIMING IT
UP TO HIS DEATH FOR ME

JESUS HAD CHANGED HIM
AS JESUS WILL CHANGE US
IF WE LET HIM
JESUS DOESN’T WANT ROCKET SCIENTISTS
HE WANTS US AS HE MADE US
HE DOESN’T NEED ELOQUENCE
AS PAUL SAYS
I DO NOT PREACH WITH ELOQUENCE
FOR ELOQUENCE
WOULD TAKE AWAY
THE POWER OF THE CROSS

IT IS THE POWER OF THE CROSS
THAT WILL CHANGE US

SO JESUS SAYS
TO EACH ONE OF US
INVITING US TO BE HIS DISCIPLES
INVITING US
KNOWING WE ARE NOT UP TO THE JOB
INVITING US
KNOWING
THAT AS FISHERMEN
WE OFTEN CATCH TREES

BUT HIS MIGHT
WILL MAKE UP
FOR OUR LACK

HE INVITES US
BECAUSE A LONELY GOD
NEEDS US
FOR A FRIEND
AND CO-WORKER

SO TO EACH ONE OF US
HE SAYS
COME
COME MY BELOVED
COME
MY LITTLE CATCHER OF TREES
COME
I WILL MAKE YOU FISHERS OF MEN

COME
BE WITH ME
BECAUSE I LOVE YOU
COME
COME
AND BE MY FRIEND

CANA - SLAMMING DOOR

CANA - THE SLAMMING DOOR

LET US THINK ABOUT THE WEDDING FEAST AT CANA

WHEN I WAS A CHILD
EVERY SUMMER
WOODEN SCREEN DOORS
WERE PLACED
ON ALL THE OUTSIDE DOORS
THERE WAS A LONG SPRING ATTACHED
WHICH WHEN YOU LET THE DOOR GO
SLAMMED THE DOOR LOUDLY
THIS WAS USUALLY FOLLOWED
BY YOUR MOTHER YELLING
DON'T SLAM THE DOOR.

GRADUALLY
DUE TO MY MOTHER'S INFLUENCE
I LEARNED
NOT TO SLAM THE DOOR.
IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK
FOR MY MOTHER OR ME

SHE WOULD COME TO THE DOOR
AND IN FRONT OF ALL MY PLAYMATES
CALL FRANK ANTONY
GET OVER HERE.
WHEN I GOT OVER THERE
SHE WOULD SAY
FRANK ANTONY
OPEN AND CLOSE THAT DOOR
QUIETLY
I WOULD OPEN THE DOOR
AND CLOSE IT
QUIETLY
THEN SHE WOULD SAY
NOW FRANK MIBUY
YOU CAN GO AND PLAY

TO THIS DAY
IF I SLAM A DOOR
NO MATTER HOW OLD I AM
AND MY MOTHER IS NOT AROUND
I GO OPEN
AND
CLOSE THE DOOR
QUIETLY

ARE YOU PROUD OF ME MOM
ARE YOU PROUD OF FRANK ANTONY

IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
MARY IS AN IMPORTANT GUEST
AT THE WEDDING

LISTEN TO THE STORY AGAIN.
THERE WAS A WEDDING
AND THE MOTHER OF JESUS WAS THERE.
JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES
WERE ALSO INVITED

FOR THIS WEDDING
MARY WAS A MORE IMPORTANT GUEST
THAN JESUS

NOW WEDDINGS
IN THE TIME OF JESUS AND MARY
WERE WEEK LONG EVENTS
AND FOR THE WINE
OR THE FOOD TO RUN OUT
WAS A DISGRACE
TO THE FAMILIES INVOLVED.

SO MARY
WHEN SHE SEES THE WINE RUN OUT
IS CONCERNED FOR THE BRIDAL COUPLE
SHE IS CONCERNED THAT THEIR MARRIAGE
NOT BEGIN WITH DISGRACE.
SO SHE TURNS TO HER SON
AND SAYS
THEY HAVE NO WINE.

HE SAYS
IT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM,
IT IS NOT MY TIME TO BEGIN

MARY LOOKS AT JESUS
WITH THE TIME IMMEMORIAL LOOK
OF MOTHERS
WHO LOOK AT CHILDREN
WHO SLAM DOORS
AND SAYS TO THE SERVANTS
DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU.

THE LEGEND
IS THAT THE WATER
LOOKED WITH LOVE AT ITS CREATOR
AND BLUSHED

BLUSHED AND BECAME WINE

BLUSHED AND BECAME WINE
FINER THAN THAT
WHICH WAS SERVED
AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FEAST

DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

AND WHAT DOES HE TELL US.
HE ASKS US TO BECOME WINE
TO BE DRINK TO THE WORLD
TO SAY TO THE WORLD
WHAT AN ANCIENT GREEK PRAYER
HAS HIM SAY

I AM YOUR GOD
WHO FOR YOUR SAKE
HAVE BECOME YOUR SON
OUT OF LOVE FOR YOU
AND FOR YOUR DESCENDANTS

I NOW
BY MY OWN AUTHORITY
SAY TO ALL
WHO ARE HELD IN THE BONDAGE OF SIN
TO THROW OFF YOUR CHAINS
I HAVE FREED YOU

TO ALL WHO ARE IN DARKNESS
BE ENLIGHTENED
FOR I AM THE LIGHT

TO ALL WHO ARE SLEEPING
AWAKE
IT IS TIME TO AWAKE

AND TO ALL IN DANGER OF HELL
COME BACK TO ME

I DID NOT MAKE YOU
TO BE A PRISONER OF HELL
BUT TO SIT AT MY TABLE
AND DRINK OF MY WINE

THIS IS THE MESSAGE
FOUND IN ISAIAH
AND IN PSALM 36

WHERE GOD SAYS
I WANT WHAT IS GOOD
FOR MY PEOPLE.

YOU AND I ARE ASKED
TO BECOME WINE TO THE WORLD
BUT WE SAY WE CANNOT DO IT.
WE HAVE NO SKILLS.

BUT PAUL REMINDS US IN CORINTHIANS
THAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SKILLS
BY THE SPIRIT

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN WISDOM
KNOWLEDGE,
FAITH,
HEALING,
MIRACLE WORKING,
PROPHECY,
AND THE GIFT OF TONGUES
THAT ALLOW US TO SPEAK
TO ALL PEOPLE IN A LANGUAGE
THEY CAN UNDERSTAND.

WE ARE ASKED TO BE WINE FOR THE WORLD
WE ARE ASKED TO DO WHAT JESUS TELLS US
AND WHAT HE HAS TOLD US IS WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WE ARE ASKED TO INVITE THE WHOLE WORLD
TO THE WEDDING FEAST

TO BE AT PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER
AND WHEN WE SLAM DOORS
TO GO BACK AND DO IT RIGHT

ARE YOU PROUD OF ME JESUS
ARE YOU PROUD OF ME
AND ALL MY FRIENDS
ARE YOU PROUD OF US JESUS

AND THE ANSWER COMES THUNDERING
FROM THE HEAVENS

YOU ARE MY BELOVED SONS
AND DAUGHTERS
IN YOU I AM WELL PLEASED


MAY IT BE SO
AMEN
AMEN

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

THERE'S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
IT IS LARGE AND SQUATTING,
SO IT IS HARD TO GET AROUND IT.
YET WE SQUEEZE BY WITH,
"HOW ARE YOU?"
AND "I'M FINE,"
AND A THOUSAND OTHER
FORMS OF TRIVIAL CHATTER.
WE TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER.
WE TALK ABOUT WORK.
WE TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE,
EXCEPT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.

THERE'S AN ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM.
WE ALL KNOW IT'S THERE.
WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ELEPHANT
AS WE TALK TOGETHER.
IT IS CONSTANTLY ON OUR MINDS.
FOR, YOU SEE,
IT IS A VERY LARGE ELEPHANT.
IT HAS HURT US ALL.
BUT WE DON'T TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM.

OH, PLEASE SAY HIS (HER) NAME.
OH, PLEASE SAY HIS (HER) NAME AGAIN.
OH, PLEASE,
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ELEPHANT
IN THE ROOM.
FOR IF WE TALK ABOUT
HIS (HER) DEATH,
PERHAPS WE CAN TALK A
BOUT HIS (HER) LIFE.

CAN I SAY HIS (HER) NAME TO YOU
AND NOT HAVE YOU LOOK AWAY?
FOR IF I CANNOT,
THEN YOU ARE LEAVING ME....
ALONE....
IN A ROOM....
WITH AN ELEPHANT.

MOM'S MEMORIAL

MOM'S MEMORIAL SERVICE


OPENING MEDITATION: AMAZING GRACE

MY MOTHER KNEW HER GOD BY MANY NAMES
AND MANY FACES
THEY ALL TAUGHT HER THE SAME
BE KIND
BE GOOD
WALK GENTLY ON THE EARTH

DID MY MOTHER EVER LOSE HER TEMPER
WAS SHE EVER WRONG
CERTAINLY
TO DENY THAT
WOULD DENY HER THE JOY OF BEING HUMAN
OF BEING ONE WITH THE UNIVERSE
ASKING THE AGE OLD QUESTION
WHO AM I
WHY AM I HERE


MY MOTHER NOW KNOWS ALL THE ANSWERS
MY MOTHER NOW WALKS AMONG THE STARS

STRAIGHTENING UP MAYBE

HAVING TEA WITH THE ANGELS CERTAINLY

AND TELLING GOD HER LATEST CURE FOR THE COMMON COLD
WITHOUT DOUBT
AND HE BETTER LISTEN

AMONG THE FAMILY SHE WAS KNOWN AS THE GOOD WITCH
IF SOMEONE WAS SICK OR IN TROUBLE
AND SAID
I FELT GRANDMOM'S PRESENCE
IN FACT I SAW HER
NONE OF US WOULD BAT AN EYE
AFTER ALL THAT WAS OUR MOM
KEEPER OF THE UNIVERSE
AND PART TIME PROPHET

THE WORLD WILL BE A HOLLOW PLACE WITHOUT HER

WHEN I WAS IN JAPAN
I READ THE FOLLOWING POEM IN READER'S DIGEST
IT MADE ME SO HOMESICK FOR MY MOTHER
I CUT IT OUT AND SENT IT TO HER

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN


WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN I SHALL WEAR
PURPLE
WITH A RED HAT WHICH DOESN'T GO
AND DOESN'T SUIT ME.
AND I SHALL SPEND MY PENSION ON BRANDY
AND SUMMER GLOVES
AND SATIN SANDALS, AND SAY
WE'VE NO MONEY FOR BUTTER.
I SHALL SIT DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT
WHEN I'M TIRED
AND GOBBLE UP SAMPLES IN SHOPS
AND PRESS ALARM BELLS
AND RUN MY STICK
ALONG THE PUBLIC RAILINGS
AND MAKE UP FOR THE SOBRIETY
OF MY YOUTH.
I SHALL GO OUT
IN MY SLIPPERS
IN THE RAIN
AND PICK THE FLOWERS
IN OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS
AND LEARN TO SPIT
YOU CAN WEAR TERRIBLE SHIRTS
AND GROW MORE FAT
AND EAT THREE POUNDS OF SAUSAGES
AT A GO
OR ONLY BREAD AND A PICKLE
FOR A WEEK
AND HOARD PENS
AND PENCILS
AND BEERMATS
AND THINGS IN BOXES.
BUT NOW
WE MUST HAVE CLOTHES
THAT KEEP US DRY
AND PAY OUR RENT
AND NOT SWEAR IN THE STREET
AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
FOR THE CHILDREN.
WE WILL HAVE FRIENDS FOR DINNER
AND READ THE PAPERS.
BUT MAYBE I OUGHT TO PRACTICE A LITTLE NOW?
SO PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME
ARE NOT TOO SHOCKED
AND SURPRISED
WHEN SUDDENLY
I AM OLD AND START TO WEAR PURPLE.


MY MOTHER WORE PURPLE ALL HER LIFE
NO MATTER HOW POOR WE WERE AS CHILDREN
MY MOTHER WORE PURPLE
WHO ELSE WOULD BUY GRAPEFRUIT
SO THE GARBAGE MAN
WOULD THINK WE ATE WELL

WHEN WE WERE SICK AS CHILDREN
MY MOTHER WOULD CURE US
WITH A MAGICAL POTION
OF TOAST ON A GREEN PLATE
AND TEA IN A YELLOW CUP
BETTER THAN PENICILLIN
BECAUSE IF THAT DIDN'T WORK
IT WAS CASTOR OIL
HIDDEN IN A GLASS OF ROOTBEER
BELIEVE ME THE TEA
WAS BETTER


I KNOW WE ALL HAVE FOUND MEMORIES OF MOM
OR THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO HER
I WOULD ASK YOU NOW
FRIEND OR FAMILY
TO SHARE THEM WITH US NOW



(TIME FOR SHARING)


MY MOTHER LOVED THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM
IT GAVE HER GREAT PEACE
I CAN HEAR HER RECITING IT NOW
AS SHE LOOKS DOWN UPON US
WANTING TO TELL YOU
SHE IS AT PEACE
SHE WOULD SAY


THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED
HE LETS ME REST IN FIELDS OF GREEN GRASS
AND LEADS ME TO QUIET POOLS OF FRESH WATER

HE GIVES ME NEW STRENGTH
HE GUIDES ME IN THE RIGHT PATHS AS HE HAS PROMISED

EVEN IF I GO THROUGH THE DEEPEST DARKNESS
I WILL NOT BE AFRAID
FOR MY LORD IS WITH ME
HIS SHEPHERD'S ROD AND STAFF PROTECT ME

HE PREPARED A BANQUET FOR ME
HE WELCOMED ME AS AN HONORED QUEST
HE FILLED MY CUP TO THE BRIM

I KNOW THAT HIS GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL BE WITH ME
ALL MY LIFE
AND HIS HOUSE WILL BE MY HOME AS LONG AS I SHALL LIVE



ONE FINAL THOUGHT TO MY MOM AN OLD IRISH POEM


MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK IN SUNSHINE
AND GOD'S LOVE AROUND YOU FLOW
FOR THE HAPPINESS YOU GAVE US
NO SIMPLE WORDS WILL SHOW
IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU
BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE
A PART OF US WENT WITH YOU
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME
A MILLION TIMES WE'VE NEEDED YOU
A MILLION TIMES WE CRIED
IF LOVE ALONE COULD HAVE SAVED YOU
YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE DIED


THE SPIRIT OF OUR MOTHER LIVES ON IN ALL OF US
IN LOVING KINDNESS OF HER MEMORY
LET US EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER
SOME SIGN OF PEACE


CLOSING MEDITATION: HOW GREAT THOU ART

MOM'S INTERNMENT

INTERNMENT SERVICE

OPENING MEDITATION: IN THE GARDEN







REQUIESCAT MUM


IN NEWFOUNDLAND
WHERE MOM WAS BORN
THE CEMETERIES IN THE COUNTRY
ARE SURROUNDED BY FENCES

THE ANIMALS EAT THE GRASS
FLAT
AROUND THE FENCE

BUT THE CEMETERY ITSELF
IS ALLOWED TO GROW WILD

I THINK IT'S A NEWFIE WAY
OF TELLING US

WHAT IS IMPORTANT

WE BURIED THE BODY OF MIRIAM
BUT WE DID NOT BURY MIRIAM

SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN WHEN SHE DWELT IN HER BODY

WE HONOR THAT BODY
WHICH GAVE US BIRTH
NURSED AND CARED FOR US
TAUGHT AND ADMONISHED US
HUGGED US
SCOLDED US
LIFTED US UP
AND SET US FREE

WE HONOR THAT BODY






















SHE IS MORE ALIVE TODAY
THAN SHE EVER WAS
ALL THE QUESTIONS OF HER QUESTING MIND
ARE ANSWERED

AND WE WOULD DISHONOR HER MEMORY
AND HER TEACHING
IF WE ALLOWED SORROW
TO OVERWHELM US COMPLETELY

MOM WOULD RATHER WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING

AS HARD AS IT MAY BE FOR US NOW
MOM WOULD RATHER
WE REMEMBER HER LAUGHING


SO WE SEND MOM'S BODY TO THE ELEMENTS
TO BECOME
EARTH
AIR
FIRE AND WATER

AND WE SHALL LEAVE
SADDENED BY HER PASSING

BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY
BE AWARE
OF A CURTAIN
MOVING IN THE WIND
OR THE SUN
SHINING ON A CLOUDY DAY
AND HEAR A VOICE IN YOUR HEAD
SAYING

I AM AT PEACE
ALL IS WELL
TELL THE WORD

DO NOT STAND AT MY GRAVE AND WEEP

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep...
Do not stand at my grave and weep.I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.I am the diamond glint on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you wake in the morning hushI am the swift, uplifting rushof quiet birds in circling flight.I am the soft starlight at night.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.I am not there. I do not sleep.
Anonymous

DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL

DEATH IS NOTHING AT ALL

I HAVE ONLY SLIPPED AWAY INTO THE NEXT ROOM I AM I AND YOU ARE YOU, WHATEVER WE WERE TO EACH OTHER THAT WE STILL ARE.CALL ME BY MY OLD FAMILIAR NAME; SPEAK TO ME IN THE EASY WAY, WHICH YOU ALWAYS USED. PUT NO DIFFERENCE INTO YOUR TONE; WEAR NO FORCED AIR OF SOLEMNITY OR SORROW.LAUGH AS WE ALWAYS LAUGHED AT THE LITTLE JOKES WE ENJOYED TOGETHER. PLAY, SMILE, THINK OF ME, AND PRAY FOR ME. LET MY NAME BE FOREVER THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS WAS, LET IT BE SPOKEN WITHOUT AN EFFORT, WITHOUT THE GHOST OF A SHADOW ON IT.LIFE MEANS ALL THAT IT EVER MEANT. IT IS THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS WAS; THERE IS ABSOLUTELY UNBROKEN CONTINUITY.I AM BUT WAITING FOR YOU, FOR AN INTERVAL, SOMEWHERE VERY NEAR, JUST AROUND THE CORNER. ··· ALL IS WELL.

CANON SCOTT HOLLAND

20TH PENTECOST

TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST



THERE IS A LEGEND ABOUT ST. PETER
THAT SAYS THAT THE FIRST TIME
HE WENT TO PREACH
AFTER THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS
THE SERVANT GIRL
WHO HAD QUESTIONED HIM IN THE COURTYARD
WAS IN THE AUDIENCE.

SHE BERATED HIM
SAYING
HOW DARE YOU PREACH TO US
HOW DARE YOU
ANSWER ME THE COURTYARD QUESTION
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN,
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN.

PETER WAS HORRIFIED
AND MUTE WITH GUILT.
HE MADE TO TURN AWAY,
TO BE SILENT.
UNTIL THE MEMORY OF CHRIST'S LOVE
FILLED HIM.
HE KNEW HE WAS FORGIVEN.
IN THE STRENGTH OF THAT FORGIVENESS
HE WENT AND PREACHED.

AND THEY SAY THAT THIRTY THOUSAND SOULS
WERE ADDED TO THE CHURCH
THAT DAY.



LET ME TELL YOU ANOTHER STORY
THERE WAS A MAN SENT BY HIS COMPANY
TO WORK IN A NEW CITY.
THIS MAN WAS DIVORCED
AND WAS ENGAGED TO MARRY A DIVORCED WOMAN
IT WAS LONELY WORKING IN THIS NEW CITY
AND HE LOOKED FOR A CHURCH TO JOIN,
RATHER HE LOOKED FOR A CHURCH
WHERE BOTH COULD JOIN.
.


HE WAS AWARE THAT BECAUSE OF HIS DIVORCE
SOME CHURCHES WOULD NOT BE HAPPY
TO HAVE HIM.

SO CHECKING THE YELLOW PAGES
HE CALLED THE LOCAL LUTHERAN CHURCH,
EXPLAINED HIS CONDITION,
AND ASKED IF HE AND HIS BRIDE-TO-BE
WOULD BE WELCOME.
HE WAS ASKED TO COME IN FOR A MEETING.
HE WENT.

THE FIRST WORDS OUT OF THE' MINISTER'S MOUTH WERE,

YOU HAVE SINNED,
THE SECOND WORDS WERE
YOU HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
AND FELLOWSHIP WITH US.

YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY GUESSED
THAT THE PEOPLE IN THE STORY
ARE BARBARA AND I.
THOUGH I AM MORE HANDSOME
IN REAL LIFE
THAN I AM IN THE STORY.



IN A PERFECT WORLD
MAN AND WOMAN WOULD LIVE FOREVER
IN LOVE AND HARMONY.
THERE WOULD BE NO DIVORCE.

IN A PERFECT WORLD
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WOULD NEVER BE BROKEN.
PEOPLE WOULD NEVER STEAL OR KILL
LIE OR COMMIT ADULTERY,
DISHONOR PARENTS
OR WORSHIP OTHER GODS.
IN A PERFECT WORLD
IT WOULD BE SO.
BUT IT IS AN IMPERFECT WORLD.
WE ARE SINNERS.

THE SERVANT GIRL CALLS OUT TO US
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN,
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN
AND WE ARE TEMPTED TO TURN AWAY
AND BE MUTE
TILL WE REMEMBER WE ARE FORGIVEN,
TILL WE REMEMBER
WE PREACH NOT OUR PERSONAL WORTHINESS
BUT CHRIST'S LOVE
FOR HIS BROTHERS
FOR HIS SISTERS.

THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH
CHRIST AND HIM CRUCIFIED.
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH
THE CROSS AND OUR REDEMPTION
THIS IS WHAT WE PREACH.


THERE IS A PRINCIPAL IN SCIENCE
THAT STATES
THAT WATER CANNOT FLOW UPHILL.
IT MUST IN OBEDIENCE
TO THE LAWS OF GRAVITY
FLOW DOWN.

BY THAT PRINCIPAL
THE OCEANS ARE LOWER
THAN ALL THE RIVERS,
STREAMS AND BROOKS,
LAKES AND PONDS.
THE SNOWFLAKE THAT FALLS IN 'WINTER
ON THE MOUNTAIN TOP
MELTS
AND WITH NO EFFORT OF ITSELF
FLOWS DOWN TO THE SEA.

IN THE SAME WAY
JESUS LOWERED HIMSELF.

HE DID NOT CONSIDER
BEING EQUAL TO GOD
SOMETHING TO BE CLUNG TO.
BUT RATHER LOWERED HIMSELF,
TAKING THE FORM OF A MAN
AND WALKING THE WAY OF OBEDIENCE,
ALL THE WAY TO THE CROSS.

HE LOWERED HIMSELF
AND BECAME AN OCEAN
INTO WHICH WE CAN FLOW
NOT BY ANY EFFORT OF OURSELVES
BUT BY THE GRAVITY PULL
OF HIS LOVE.

AND HE SAYS TO US
I KNEW YOU WOULD BE SINNERS
WHEN I MADE YOU
BUT I MADE YOU STILL.

I WANT YOUR LOVE
NOT YOUR PUNISHMENT.

IF YOUR SINS ARE SCARLET
I WILL MAKE THEM WHITER THAN SNOW.

COME TO ME
ALL YOU WHO ARE HEAVY LADEN
AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WHEN THE SERVANT GIRL
TAUNTS US
ASKING
DO YOU KNOW THE MAN.
ANSWER YES
I DO
AND HE LOVES ME.
ANSWER
YES I DO
I AM HIS CHILD
ANSWER
YES I DO
AND I AM FORGIVEN.
AMEN.

SERMON THOUGHTS

PRAYER FOR THE SICK

SANCTIFY 0 LORD THE SICKNESS OF YOUR SERVANT THAT THE SENSE OF HIS WEAKNESS MAY ADD STRENGTH TO HIS FAITH AND SERIOUSNESS TO HIS REPENTANCE; AND GRANT THAT HE MAY LIVE WITH YOU IN EVERLAST­ING LIFE."' -
QUOTES

SELF DECEPTION

WE HAVE BEEN SO DISHONEST WITH OURSELVES ABOUT OURSELVES FOR
SO LONG THAT WE TAKE OUR DISHONESTY TO BE THE HONEST TRUTH.



FRED KEEFE

FIRE

THE DAY WILL COME
WHEN,
AFTER HARNESSING SPACE,
THE WINDS,
THE TIDES,
AND GRAVITATION,
WE SHALL HARNESS FOR GOD
THE ENERGIES OF LOVE.
AND ON THAT DAY,
FOR THE SECOND TINE
IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD,
WE SHALL HAVE DISCOVERED FIRE.


PIERRE TEILHARD DE CHARDIN


A BLESSING


NAY GOD BE IN OUR HEAD
AND IN OUR UNDERSTANDING
MAY GOD BE IN OUR EYES
AND IN OUR LOOKING
MAY GOD BE IN OUR MOUTH
AND IN OUR SPEAKING
MAY GOD BE IN OUR HEART
AND IN OUR SPIRIT
MAY GOD BE WITH US AT OUR END
AND IN THE HOUR OF OUR DEPARTING
MAY GOD BE WITH US
MORNING THROUGH DARKNESS
AND THROUGH THE NIGHT
MAY GOD BE ALWAYS WITH US
AND WITH OUR ABSENT BROTHERS AND SISTERS


ANGLICAN PRAYER



------ Galatians 3:27-28

22. Generally, women were deemed unworthy to study the Torah, Evans points out in her Woman in the Bible that the Talmud suggests, "let the Torah rather be destroyed by fire than imparted to woman and "whoever teaches his daughter Torah is as though he taught her obscenities" (qtd. 36.) Although one cannot fully assume practice from these kinds of statements, Jewish men prayed this prayer daily:

Blessed be God that he has not made me a Gentile. Blessed be God that he has not made me a woman. Blessed be God that he has not made me a boor.

Sometimes the word "slave" was substituted for "boor." No­tice the contrast between this prayer and what is thought to be part of the baptismal service in the early church: "As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:27-28).

What does seem to be clear is that women in first-century

Judaism had access to the sacred only in and through the patriarchal

family: "Women are sanctified through the deeds of men" Jacob

Neusner, Method and Meaning in AncientJudaism, Brown Judaic Stud­ies to, Missoula, MT: Scholars Press, 1979, 100).
--------


"For Christians, the problem is not how to reconcile homosexuality with scriptural passages that condemn it, but how to reconcile the rejection and punishment of homosexuals with the love of Christ." - An Open Letter from Rev. William Sloane Coffin to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops 2000this delightful observation by Augustine, made near the end of his life when the doctrine of the incarnation was re­shaping his views about human physicality: "Man's maker was made man that He, ruler of the stars, might nurse at His mother's breast."

------------------------------------------------
POETRY

THE NIGHT IS NOT DARK

THEY TELL OF ADAM:
HOW FRIGHTENED HE MUST HAVE BEEN WHEN,
FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE SAW THE SUN DISAPPEAR,
ENDING THE LIGHT OF DAY.

IT WAS ADAM'S FIRST DARKNESS

HOW COULD HE ACCEPT THE NIGHT,
WHEN HE HAD NEVER SEEN A DAWN?

AFTER THE SPLENDOR OF THE SUN, HOW DARK THE DARKNESS
WAS FOR HIM; HOW DESPERATE THE LONG TERROR OF
THE FIRST FALL OF NIGHT... UNTIL ADAM LEARNED THAT DAWN WOULD
COME AGAIN; COULD SEE THAT THERE IS LIGHT AND ORDER
IN THE UNIVERSE.

AND THEN ADAM BEGAN TO SEE HOW MUCH LIGHT REMAINS
IN THE SKY AT NIGHT: THE STARS
AND THEIR ENDURING PROMISE OF THE SUN,
THE RETURNING STAR OF DAY.

ADAM LEARNED THAT THE NIGHT IS NEVER WHOLLY DARK,
AND THAT NO NIGHT IS ENDLESS.

EVEN AS EACH OF US MUST LEARN IT,
IN OUR OWN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND DARKNESS.

THE LIGHT IS NEVER FAR.



VICTOR RATNER AND RABBI BERNARD MENDELBAUM
POETRY

HOW TO PRAY

WE CANNOT MERELY PRAY TO YOU, 0 GOD, TO END WAR;
FOR WE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MADE THE WORLD IN A WAY
THAT MAN MUST FIND HIS OWN PATH TO PEACE
WITHIN HIMSELF AND WITH HIS NEIGHBOR.
WE CANNOT MERELY PRAY TO YOU, 0 GOD, TO END STARVATION;
FOR YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVEN US THE RESOURCES
WITH WHICH TO FEED THE ENTIRE WORLD
IF WE WOULD ONLY USE THEM WISELY.
WE CANNOT MERELY PRAY TO YOU, 0 GOD,
TO ROOT OUT PREJUDICE,
FOR YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVEN US EYES
WITH WHICH TO SEE THE GOOD IN ALL MEN
IF WE WOULD ONLY USE THEM RIGHTLY.
WE CANNOT MERELY PRAY TO YOU, 0 GOD, TO END DESPAIR,
FOR YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVEN US THE POWER
TO CLEAR AWAY SLUMS AND TO GIVE HOPE
IF WE WOULD ONLY USE OUR POWER JUSTLY.
WE CANNOT MERELY PRAY TO YOU, 0 GOD, TO END DISEASE,
FOR YOU HAVE ALREADY GIVEN US GREAT MINDS WITH WHICH
TO SEARCH OUT CURES AND HEALING,
IF WE WOULD ONLY USE THEM CONSTRUCTIVELY.
THEREFORE WE PRAY TO YOU INSTEAD, 0 GOD,
FOR STRENGTH, DETERMINATION, AND WILLPOWER
TO DO INSTEAD OF JUST TO PRAY,
TO BECOME INSTEAD OF MERELY TO WISH.



JACK RIEMER LIKRAT SHABBAT
SAYINGS OF BUDDHA


WE ARE WHAT WE THINK.
ALL THAT WE ARE ARISES WITH OUT THOUGHTS.
WITH OUR THOUGHTS WE MAKE THE WORLD.
SPEAK OR ACT WITH AN IMPURE MIND
AND TROUBLE WILL FOLLOW YOU
AS THE WHEEL FOLLOWS THE OX THAT DRAWS THE CART.

WE ARE WHAT WE THINK.
ALL THAT WE ARE ARISES WITH OUR THOUGHTS
WITH OUR THOUGHTS WE MAKE THE WORLD
SPEAK OR ACT WITH A PURE MIND
AND HAPPINESS WILL FOLLOW YOU
AS YOUR SHADOW, UNSHAKEABLE.



"LOOK HOW HE ABUSED ME AND BEAT ME,
HOW HE THREW ME DOWN AND ROBBED ME."
LIVE WITH SUCH THOUGHTS AND YOU LIVE IN HATE.

"LOOK HOW HE ABUSED ME AND BEAT ME,
HOW HE THREW ME DOWN AND ROBBED ME."
ABANDON SUCH THOUGHTS AND LIVE IN LOVE



IN THIS WORLD
HATE NEVER DISPELLED HATE,
ONLY LOVE DISPELS HATE.

POETRY

IN MEMORY OF THOSE LOVED

MAY YOU ALWAYS WALK IN SUNSHINE
AND GOD'S LOVE AROUND YOU FLOW;
FOR THE HAPPINESS YOU GAVE US,
NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.
IT BROKE OUR HEART TO LOSE YOU,
BUT YOU DID NOT GO ALONE;
A PART OF US WENT WITH YOU
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME.
A MILLION TIMES WE'VE NEEDED YOU,
A MILLION TIMES WE'VE CRIED.
IF LOVE COULD ONLY HAVE SAVED YOU,
YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE DIED.



TRADITIONAL IRISH


BIBLE QUOTES


I HAVE LEARNED, IN WHATSOEVER STATE I AM,
THEREWITH TO BE CONTENT.


ST. PAUL, PHILIPPIANS 4:11
POETRY

THE OXEN

CHRISTMAS EVE, AND TWELVE OF THE CLOCK
"NOW THEY ARE ALL ON THEIR KNEES,"
AN ELDER SAID AS WE SAT IN A FLOCK
BY THE EMBERS IN HEARTHSIDE EASE.

WE PICTURED THE MEEK MILD CREATURES WHERE
THEY DWELT IN THEIR STRAWY PEN,
NOR DID IT OCCUR TO ONE OF US THERE
TO DOUBT THEY WERE KNEELING THEN.

SO FAIR A FANCY FEW WOULD WEAVE
IN THESE YEARS! YET, I FEEL
IF SOMEONE SAID ON CHRISTMAS EVE,
"COME; SEE THE OXEN KNEEL,

IN THE LONELY BARTON BY YONDER COOME
OUR CHILDHOOD USED TO KNOW,"
I SHOULD GO WITH HIM IN THE GLOOM,
HOPING IT MIGHT BE SO.


GEORGE HERBERT
POETRY

WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN


WHEN I AM AN OLD WOMAN
I SHALL WEAR PURPLE
WITH A RED HAT
WHICH DOESN'T GO
AND DOESN'T SUIT ME.

AND I SHALL SPEND MY PENSION
ON BRANDY
AND SUMMER GLOVES
AND SATIN SANDALS,
AND SAY WE'VE NO MONEY FOR BUTTER.

I SHALL SIT DOWN
ON THE PAVEMENT
WHEN I AM TIRED
AND GOBBLE UP SAMPLES
IN SHOPS
AND PRESS ALARM BELLS
AND RUN MY STICK
ALONG THE PUBLIC RAILINGS
AND MAKE UP
FOR THE SOBRIETY
OF MY YOUTH.

I SHALL GO OUT IN MY SLIPPERS
IN THE RAIN
AND PICK THE FLOWERS
IN OTHER PEOPLE'S GARDENS
AND LEARN TO SPIT.

YOU CAN WEAR TERRIBLE SHIRTS
AND GROW MORE FAT
AND EAT THREE POUNDS OF SAUSAGES AT A GO
OR ONLY EAT BREAD AND A PICKLE FOR A WEEK
AND HOARD PENS
AND PENCILS
AND BEERMATS
AND THINGS IN BOXES.

BUT NOW WE MUST HAVE CLOTHES
THAT KEEP US DRY
AND PAY OUR RENT
AND NOT SWEAR IN THE STREET
AND SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
FOR THE CHILDREN

WE WILL HAVE FRIENDS TO DINNER
AND READ THE PAPERS

BUT MAYBE
I OUGHT TO PRACTICE A LITTLE
NOW
SO PEOPLE
WHO KNOW ME
ARE NOT TOO SHOCKED
AND SURPRISED
WHEN SUDDENLY
I AM OLD
AND START
TO WEAR PURPLE




EARTH PUSHING BACK

IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE
THAT EACH STEP WE TAKE
UPON THE EARTH
IS RESISTED BY THE EARTH
WITH PRESSURE EQUAL TO OUR WEIGHT
OR ELSE WE WOULD SINK
AS IF INTO A MUDDY PLACE

INTERESTING
THAT THE GOD OF NATURE
WHO MADE ALL THE RULES
PUSHES BACK
WHEN I WALK UPON THE EARTH

A CONTINUAL REMINDER
OF MY NEED FOR HIM
LEST I BE LOST IN A MUDDY PLACE

LEAN ON ME LORD
I NEED TO KNOW YOUR PRESENCE

LEAN ON ME LORD
I LIKE THE THOUGHT
OF HAVING YOU
AROUND




DANCE AS IF NOBODY IS WATCHING


YAHUDA BAUER - ISRAELI HISTORIAN

YOU SHALL NOT BE A VICTIM
YOU SHALL NOT BE A PERPETRATOR
ABOVE ALL
YOU SHALL NOT BE A BYSTANDER

----------------------------------

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMASAUTHOR UNKNOWNTHE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS WAS WRITTEN IN ENGLAND MORETHAT 400 YRSAGO BYCATHOLICS WHO WERE TOLD BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND THEYCOULDN'TEXPRESSTHEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. FEARFUL THAT THE CHILDRENMIGHT FORGETTHE IMPORTANTSYMBOLS...AN ALLEGORY WAS WRITTEN. HERE IS WHAT THE12 DAYS OFCHRISTMASMEANS.A PARTRIDGE IN A. PEAR TREEA PARTRIDGE WAS A VALIANT BIRD THAT WOULD FIGHT TOIT'S DEATHTO DEFEND IT'S YOUNG - SYMBOL OF CHRIST.A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE SIGNIFIES THE CRUCIFIXIONOF JESUSTWO TURTLEDOVESTHE OFFERING MARY AND JOSEPH BROUGHT WHEN HE WAS 40DAYS OLD.TWO TURTLEDOVES REPRESENT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS.THREE FRENCH HENSSYMBOL OF THE RICH AND REPRESENTED THE THREE WISE MENWITH GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH.THREE FRENCH HENS REPRESENT THE THINGS THAT WILL LAST-FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY (LOVE).FOUR CALLING BIRDSFOUR GOSPELS - CALLING FOR PEOPLE TO BE SAVED.FOUR GOSPELS SING THE SONG OF SALVATION, REFERENCED BYTHE CALLINGBIRDS.FIVE GOLDEN RINGSFIRST FIVE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.THE GREATEST BOOKS TO THE JEWS - WORTH MORE THAN GOLD.FIVE GOLDEN RINGS ARE THE ORIGINAL BOOKS OF THE BIBLEGIVEN TOMOSES.SIX GEESE A LAYINGEGGS WERE A REMINDER OF NEW LIFE - 6 DAYS OF CREATION.SIX GEESE A-LAYING SYMBOLIZE THE SIX DAYS OF CREATION.SEVEN SWANS A SWIMMINGSEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - CHANGING US FROM UGLYDUCKLINGTO SWANS - NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.SEVEN SWANS STAND FOR THE SEVEN GIFTS OF THE HOLYSPIRIT.EIGHT MAIDS A MILKINGEIGHT BEAUTIFUL TEACHINGS OF JESUS KNOWN AS THEBEATITUDES.EIGHT MAIDS A-MILKING ARE ACTUALLY THE EIGHTBEATITUDES FROM THEBIBLE.NINE LADIES DANCINGNINE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.NINE FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (FROM GALATIANS 5) AREDANCINGLADIES.TEN LORDS A LEAPINGMEN WITH AUTHORITY - GOD'S TEN COMMANDMENTS.TEN LORDS A-LEAPING ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTSELEVEN PIPERS PIPINGELEVEN APOSTLES WHO REMAINED FAITHFUL -PIPED HIS WORD - HE'S ALIVE.ELEVEN PIPERS PIPING REPRESENT JESUS' FAITHFULDISCIPLES.TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMINGREPRESENT THE 12 VITAL CHRISTIAN BELIEFS IN THEAPOSTLES CREED.FINALLY, 12 DRUMMERS DRUMMING ARE ACTUALLY THEAPOSTLES CREED.

LAZARUS

WHEN JESUS FIRST HEARD THE WORD
THAT HIS FRIEND LAZARUS HAD DIED
HE CRIED

NO PLATITUDES
NO EASY SAYING OF HIS BEING IN A BETTER PLACE
NO REMINDERS OF ETERNAL LIFE

HE CRIED
AS ONLY ONE WHO LOVES
AS DEEPLY AS HE LOVES
COULD CRY
HE CRIED

HE FELT THE DEEP
AND EVER WIDENING CHASM
OF SEPARATION

HE FELT THAT THE SOUL OF HIS FRIEND
WAS LIKE A SHIP LEAVING THE SHORE
SENDING BACK RIPPLES OF REMEMBRANCE
SENDING BACK ECHOES OF OLD CONVERSATIONS
SENDING THEM BACK WITH NO WAY TO ANSWER

PEACE WOULD COME LATER
AND RESIGNATION

BUT FOR THE INSTANT
THERE WAS PAIN
TEARS
THE GREAT UNKNOWING
AND TO NEED TO WEEP.



MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST
KENNY IS NOT DEAD
HE DIED
HE LIVES IN GOD
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR NOW
HE LIVES IN US

LET US PAUSE FOR A MOMENT OF CONSOLATION
AS BARBARA READS FOR US PSALM 23
1
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever


AS I SAID BEFORE
KENNY IS NOT DEAD
HE DIED

HE LIVES ON IN THE MEMORIES
EACH OF US HAVE OF HIM

I ASK HIS MOTHER
FRIENDS OR FAMILY
TO SHARE WITH US NOW THOSE MEMORIES

***********PAUSE FOR SHARING AND SOLO**********************

IN THE NATURAL ORDER OF THINGS
WE FEEL THAT WE ARE GUARANTEED
A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS OF LIFE
SO THAT WHEN A MOTHER BURIES A CHILD
WE FEEL CHEATED

BUT LIFE HAS TAUGHT US
THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF DAYS OF LIFE
SO WHAT LESSON DO WE HAVE FROM KENNY'S LIFE
WHAT LESSON WOULD HE
ASK US TO LEARN
IF HE WERE HERE WITH US

THE LESSON WOULD BE
THAT LIFE IS PRECIOUS
AND UNPREDICTABLE
AND THAT WHILE WE HAVE OUR LOVED ONES NEAR US
WE SHOULD TELL THEM
WE LOVE THEM

WE SHOULD HOLD THEM CLOSE
WEEP WITH THEM
LAUGH WITH THEM
KISS THEM AND SAY
I LOVE YOU

WOULD YOU NOW IN KENNY'S NAME
EXCHANGE WITH EACH OTHER
A SIGN OF LOVE AND AFFECTION


MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
WE WILL SCATTER KENNY'S REMAINS
OVER THIS PROPERTY WHICH HE LOVED
AND THEY WILL BE TAKEN UP AND BECOME LIVING THINGS

BUT FOR US THE LIVING
LET US LIVE IN PEACE
WITH THE SURE KNOWLEDGE
THAT GOD'S LOVE IS FAR GREATER
THAN OUR ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND IT

THAT KENNY LIVES IN OUR HEARTS
AND IN THE BOSOM OF GOD
THAT KENNY IS FINALLY AT REST

AMEN AMEN AMEN

20TH PENTECOST

TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST


TODAY’S GOSPEL IS A LITTLE GROWN UP
DO SINCE WE HAVE SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE HERE.
I’D WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN IT
BY TELLING YOU ANOTHER STORY
CALLED “LOVE YOU FOREVER”
BY ROBERT MUNSCH.

MANY OF YOU MAY KNOW IT.


READ STORY


TODAY’S GOSPEL
IN MANY WAYS PARALLELS
THE STORY WE HAVE JUST HEARD.
THE MOTHER’S LOVE IS OVERWHELMING.
SOMETIMES SILLY.
KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES.
THE SON REACTS TO HIS MOTHER’S LOVE
BY LOVING HIS MOTHER BACK
AND OUT OF THE FULLNESS HE HAS RECEIVED
IS ABLE TO LOVE HIS DAUGHTER.

THE VINEYARD
REPRESENTS ALL THAT GOD
DOES FOR HIS PEOPLE.

GOD MADE A VINEYARD ,
LET’S CALL IT A GARDEN
WHICH HAD EVERYTHING IN IT
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
GOD THEN GAVE THE GARDEN
TO OTHERS TO MANAGE.

TO OTHERS
WHICH MEANS
HE GAVE IT TO YOU
AND ME
TO TAKE CARE OFF.



AND THIS GARDEN
WAS MEANT TO BE
FOR EVERYONE.
BUT WE CLOSED THE GARDEN.
WE WOULD NOT SHARE WITH ANYONE.

BUT GOD HAD GIVEN THE GARDEN TO US TO RUN.

SO IF THERE IS WAR,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THERE IS HUNGER,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THERE IS HATRED,
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT
IF THE WORLD IS NOT THE WAY
GOD WANTED HIS GARDEN TO BE
WE HAVE ALLOWED IT

THIS IS OUR FATHER’S WORLD
GIVEN TO US TO RUN

DON’T SAY WE CAN’T CHANGE IT.

JESUS SAID
HE WOULD BE WITH US
FOREVER,
WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
AT HIS SIDE
TO BRING CREATION
BACK TO THE FATHER’S DREAM.

AND TO THE CHILDREN
AT THIS SERVICE
WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION
TO TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD OPERATE
THE WAY GOD WANTS IT TO OPERATE

WE OWE IT TO THE CHILDREN
WE OWE IT TO OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER
WE OWE IT TO GOD
WHO CREATED A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN
DIED THAT THE GARDEN MIGHT FLOWER
DIED THAT THE VINEYARD MIGHT BE FRUITFUL
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW FROM THE VINEYARD
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW FROM THE GARDEN
LIKE GOD INTENDED IT
THAT GRACE MIGHT FLOW
LIKE GRAPES BEING CRUSHED
TO BE COME OUR DRINK
AND COMBINED WITH THE BREAD
TO BE COME OUR SAVIOR
WHEN WE RECEIVE COMMUNION
AT THIS SERVICE

AMEN